culinary mysteries

One of my favorite types of mystery is the culinary mystery. So many mysteries now include recipes.

One of my favorites is the Laura Childs tea shop series. The book I'm currently reading, Oolong Dead, is the 10th book in her tea shop series.

Besides the mystery, I love going to tea shops. I'm always on the look-out for places serving a fancy tea.

All these authors write culinary mysteries. Have you read any and what did you think? Do you have a favorite?

Amy Myers......................... Auguste Didier (chef)
Cathie John.........................KATE CAVANAUGH CULINARY MYSTERY (caterer)
Cecille Lamalle.....................Charly Poisson Culinary Mysteries (French Restaurant owner)
Claire M Johnson...................Mary Ryan, Pastry Chef Mysteries
Claudia Bishop......................Casebook of Dr. McKenzie & Hemlock Falls lindapanzo
Cleo Coyle.......................... CoffeeHouse Mysteries ......cyderry lindapanzo
Diane Mott Davidson..............Goldy Shulz mysteries .......cyderry
Ellen Crosby.........................Wine Country mysteries ... cyderry
Ellen Hart............................Jane Lawless (restaurant)
.........................................Sophie Greenway (food Critic) lindapanzo
Gayle Trent..........................Daphne Martin Mystery (cake decorator)
Isis Crawford........................Mystery with Recipes (caterer/baker)
J B Stanley..........................Supper Club Mystery (eaters)
Janet laurence......................Darina Lisle Mysteries (caterer)
Jerrilyn Farmer......................Madeline Bean Mysteries (caterer) cyderry
Joanna Carl..........................Chocoholic Mysteries lindapanzo
Joanne Fluke........................Hannah Swensen Mysteries (baker) cyderry lindapanzo
Joanne Pence.......................Angelina Amalfi Mysteries (food critic)
Julie Hyzy............................White House Chef Mysteries
Katherine hall page................Faith Fairchild Cozy Mysteries (caterer)
Kerry Greenwood...................Corinna Chapman Mysteries (baker)
Krista Davis..........................Domestic Diva Mysteries
Laura Childs.........................Tea Shop Mysteries cyderry lindapanzo
Livia Washburn.....................Fresh Baked Mysteries (baker)
Lou jane Temple...................Heaven Lee and Spice Box Mysteries
Margaret Chttenden..............Charlie Plato Mysteries (Tavern Owner)
Mary Kay Andrews................Weezie & Bebe Mysteries (Restaurant Owner)
Michael Bond........................Monsieur Pamplemousse Series (food critic)
Miranda Bliss........................Cooking Class Mysteries (food students)
Nan & Ivan Lyons .................Killing the Great Chefs series
Nancy Fairbanks...................Carolyn Blue Culinary Mysteries (food writer)
Nancy Pickard......................Eugenia Potter Cozy Mysteries (rancher/chef)
Nina Kilham..........................Jasmine March Mysteries (cookbook author)
Peter King............................Goodwyn Harper Mysteries (food consultant)
Phyllis Richman......................Chas Wheatley Mysteries (restaurant critic)
Sammi Carter........................Candy Shop Mysteries - happypoodle
Sharon Kahn.........................Ruby, the Rabbi's Wife (Jewish homemaker)
Susan Conant.......................GOURMET GIRL Mysteries (Food connoisseur)
Susan Wittig Albert................China Bayles Herbal Mystery
Tamar Myers.........................Pennsylvania Dutch Inn Mysteries (Inn Owner)
Virginia Rich..........................Eugenia Potter Cozy Mysteries (rancher/chef)
Michele Scott.......................Wine Lover's Mysteries
Kathleen Taylor.....................Tory Bauer Mysteries (Waitress)

I could go on all day on those. I like the Laura Childs tea shop ones. She's also starting a new series called the Cackleberry Club mysteries. I haven't read the first one--Eggs in Purgatory--yet. I think these involve breakfast (my favorite meal!!!).

Also love the Joanne Fluke mysteries--those all feature a type of bakery good in the title. The new one is Cream Puff Murder.

The Claudia Bishop ones are wonderful--they're set at an upstate NY B&B but the sister of the sleuth (also is the B&B co-owner) is a world class chef.

The Ellen Hart mysteries--the Jane Lawless ones--are set in Minneapolis restaurant.

Other favorites are the Joanna Carl mysteries--set in a Michigan chocolate shop-- and the Cleo Coyle coffeeshop mysteries.

Linda,
Girl you are way ahead of me!
I have Joanne Fluke, Laura Childs, Diane Mott Davidson, Susan Wittig Albert,and Cleo Coyle on my list for 999 this year.

I've read the first of Ellen Crosby's Wine mysteries. I'm never realized that there were so many culinary mysteries out there. I will never get done!

I have a lot of these authors on my TBR list, I finished the second of the joanne fluke mysteries a little while ago but haven't started the third yet. I also love the Sammi Carter candy shop mysteries, although i've only read the first one so far!

I've never heard of the Candy Shop Mysteries. I'm going to have to go hunting for those. I could stand some candy right now. Glad you joined us!

Had to request an ILL but should get it in a few weeks. Thanks for letting me know about this series.

Linda,

I bought the Eggs in Purgatory cacklebery Club book but haven't gotten to it yet. I won't race you to see who reads it first, because I think I'm saving my "owned" books for later in the 999 when I can't get what want from the library.

This new tea shop one also lists the next one in each of her three series. The next Cackleberry Club one is something like "Eggs Benedict Arnold" or something like that.

I read the first Sammi Carter candy shop mystery and enjoyed it. I've got the second one around here someplace and should read that one, too. I think the third is out or out soon.

So many books, so little time...

I marked up the list of authors so that we had some reference as to what kind of culinary area the characters/mysteries were about .. what kind of recipes might be included. Will we ever read them all?

Cheli, I also enjoyed the Kathleen Taylor waitress (Tory Bauer) series. I don't think Taylor is writing these anymore but they were favorites of mine.

Similar now is the newer series by Jimmie Ruth Evans set in Mississippi. That one also features a waitress and much of the action is set in a diner.

Oh, also loved the Livia Washburn baker series.

On many of the others, I've read one and thought they were ok. At some point, I will probably get back to them. The Julie Hyzy White House chef series sounds promising.

Though they're not food-related, some of the Deb Baker mysteries have recipes--I think it was her Yooper series, not the doll series.

When I read the title of this topic, somehow I thought of the Colonel's secret recipe for KFC. I thought it was going to be a thread about secret recipes (duhhh). I'm high on Benadryl fighting a cold so please excuse my mental slowness. No wonder they tell you not to drive while taking this stuff.

I see what you mean, Phlox72. Kind of like the secret formula for Coca Cola.

I hope you feel better.

Wow! I didn't realize there are so many cooking series! The only ones I've read are Diane Mott Davidson and Tamar Myers, and it's been a while.

Besides Joanne Fluke, which I just ordered, which ones are the best?

I really like Laura Childs Tea Shop Mysteries. Like you, Ivy, I didn't realize that there were so many culinary mysteries, but I have only read a few of them. Obviously, I have a lot of readig ahead of me!

The amount of food in each book varies, though. In the tea shop books, they are constantly talking about what new tea blend Drayton has created or what sort of scones or other foods Haley has developed.

In the two series featuring waitresses, food isn't as important to the plot--Kathleen Taylor (if I recall correctly, it's been many years since I read these) or in Jimmie Ruth Evans series.

Besides the Laura Childs tea shop series, among the newer series I've discovered, I like the Joanna Carl chocolate shop series, as well as the Joanne Fluke and the Livia Washburn baker series--she and one of her tenants are always competing in baking competitions.

Among the long-time series I've been reading forever, I like the Ellen Hart series, though, in these, again, food is not as central. I also love the Claudia Bishop B&B series (this is the Hemlock Falls series), but again, food does not figure as prominently in these.

In the "don't like category," I've read all but the last few of the many Diane Mott Davidson caterer series and have gotten tired of them. Someday, maybe I'll pick this up again.

Back in January, I picked up the first Miranda Bliss book (where the sleuth takes a cooking class) and did not like this one, though I admit it had potential and will likely give her another chance sometime.

Years ago, I think I read a Joanne Pence and didn't care for it, though I can no longer remember why. I might give her another chance, too.

On Amazon, I see that Livia Washburn's next one is due out in Oct or Nov and it'll be called "Killer Crab Cakes." Cheli, this is something a Baltimorean (sp) could sink her teeth into, right?

Washburn also has a Literary Tours series that's fun but has nothing to do with cooking/food.

Cheli, did I see somewhere that one of your upcoming books is an Isis Crawford mystery? I think I own one or two but haven't gotten around to them.

Re #15 - 17

Thanks, Linda, for your comments. I'll keep Laura Childs in mind.

Speaking of scones, does anybody have a good recipe for scones? I've tried 3 or 4 recipes. They weren't bad (how can a scone be bad?) but I'm not completely satisfied with any of them.

Ivy
I don't have a scone recipe - I'll keep an eye out for one.
I do have a great family recipe for cinnamon rolls.

Linda - you are right, anything with a good crab cake is great!

I started Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder last night, and so far am enjoying it very much -- also eager to try the recipes!

Re Scones: I tried another recipe yesterday, and the disastrous result was actually very funny! My husband's comment: "These look awful, but they taste pretty good!"

First of all, something was wrong: I ended up with more of a batter rather than a dough. Don't know why, I think I measured correctly. Maybe I should have added some more flour, but instead I just sort of spooned it onto the cookie sheet, causing the 2 circles to run together. And of course it ended up having more of a cake consistency than scone consistency.

But the major disaster was that the recipe called for fresh raspberries. Nope, none available this time of year, so I used thawed frozen raspberries. (Maybe that was what caused too much liquid, though I did drain them pretty well.) Anyway, they didn't hold their shape much and sort of bled into the dough, and I ended up with GRAY scones. Why gray, I don't know -- I would think the red/pink mixed with the yellow batter would produce pink or maybe orange scones, but they were GRAY!

Still looking for a good scone reicpe....

Ivy,
I think I have one, I 'll see if I can track it down.

I just started a new series by Jerrilynn Farmer called Sympathy for the Devil A Madeline Bean Culinary Mystery. It had me hooked in the first paragraph talking a cooking Maine lobsters and frying butter with garlic. I can smell now!

Cheli, you are constantly reminding me of series I have started and sort of fell by the wayside with. I think I liked Jerilyn Farmer but haven't moved on in this series in series.

I love scones, btw, but am picky about them. The best ones ever were at a place not far from the mystery bookstore in Madison, WI.

I was cruising around my library site and ran across this book/series - it sounds like a hoot!
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

In order to introduce herself to the picturesque English village where she has just retired, Mrs. Agatha Raisin enters a quiche in a local competition and promptly finds herself a murder suspect when the judge dies from her poisonous pie.

I'm going to check it out

Just heard about culinary crime books, and can't wait to dive in! I realize I'm on the late train, but these are two of my favorite subjects, food, and mysteries.
Heading to library, thanks for all of your posts or I wouldn't know where to start!

>18 ivyd:
I make gluten-free scones that are rather fabulous (IMHO; but even my gluten-eating parents like them). The recipe is from The Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook by Cybele Pascal . . . though I make some minor modifications to avoid corn (not considered one of the top allergen's though many of us are allergic to it). Let me see if mine is different enough from hers to post (I don't post recipes that are directly from someone else's cookbook). I'll also try to remember which recipe I used to use for regular gluten-full scones.

I love the Ellen Hart Jane Lawless mysteries . . . but even though they are set in a restaurant, I don't remember them as having food or recipes as a central element.

Some of the early Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta books included great food sections . . . even resulted in a cookbook Scarpetta's Winter Table.

Searched my files and I'm pretty sure my basic Cream Scone recipe (from my gluten-eating days) came from The Pooh Cook Book.
You can find it online here:
http://lifeandsundry.com/food/2011/5/27/scones.html

I may have also tried one from the Food Network (maybe Ina Garten?) but I'm not finding it in my recipe file.

Enjoy!

Culinary Mysteries are my hobby! I am just a mom living in Phoenix, Arizona and I would love for you to check out my page, Culinarymysteries.net. Enjoy and fee free to keep in touch :D