Chelsea Field (1)

Fascinating premise: the global elites are very secretly poisoning each other for fun and profit, and so there is an equally secret company supplying trained food tasters. It's not quite as dangerous as it used to be, though, because those hired and trained have a genetic mutation that makes them more resistant to poisons than normal people are.

Izzy is motivated to do this because her ex-husband took out a $200,000 loan with a sketchy loan agency, then left her with half the debt upon show more divorce, and the knee-breakers are coming after her. This is the only way she can possibly head them off...

It's a nice, twisty mystery, with various turns I had not predicted. The characters are well-written, except for Conner- the proto-love-interest- who is a cipher waxing hot and cold...and Izzy isn't sure it's a Good Idea to go there, anyway.

It's an interesting world that blends somewhat plausibly with our own, even though I am not a fan of Sekrit Conspiracies- the problem with such is that humans re generally not able to shut up, and so blow the secrecy. Still, as a fictional device it works well and is a fresh twist on the non-pro sleuth.

I will likely read more in the series. show less

I enjoyed everything about this book except for the solve/resolution. The explanation for the murder was so unbelievably absurd to me that it also made the heroine's abilities to solve the murder seem impossible. In other words, the mystery cheats. I get all of the red herrings (necessary) and that you couldn't spend too much time focused on the real perpetrator, but due to the "unique" motivation of the killer, we really needed a lot more than we got to justify this motive. Maybe I was half show more asleep, but it also wasn't fully wrapped up how the victim was killed.

That said, I did stay up past my bedtime to finish it (hence my not being 100% sure whether the lack of explanation about how the murder was carried out was clearly explained lol). That was also partly motivated by the hope that Izzy and Connor would make out.

One other thing, I read two of these books back to back and while they were fun, I would not say they were funny. Seems many other people thought they are though, so that may just be my taste in humor. show less

Eat, Pray, Die has an original and hugely interesting plot about a woman, Isobel Avery, trying to get a job as a poison taster, working for a classified organization known as the Taste Society. The training for the position of "Shade" (Taste Society poison taster) is extensive and grueling:

We'd had to taste every known poison, by itself and in a variety of foods, to memorize the subtleties of its unique scent and flavor. We'd also had to forgo the antidote so we'd be able to recognize the

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distinctive symptoms. Some things can't be learned by textbook.

Some things can only be learned by subjecting yourself to eight months of stomach cramps, projectile vomiting, and diarrhea.

Isobel's first assignment as a Shade is to pose as client Connor Stiles' girlfriend, sticking close by his side in public and tasting all of his food before he does. Connor is a 36 year old millionaire with a PI license, who works in "Private Security and Investigation." Izzy discovers that there's a twist to this assignment (which I am unable to disclose — spoiler). I can say that's where the murder attempt occurs.

I was hooked from the very beginning by Izzy. She's a fantastic character — realistic, funny, engaging, likable, and very caring. I have a lot more favorite passages, but they occur after the assignment twist in Eat, Pray, Die, and I don't want to spoil it for you.

Eat, Pray, Die by Chelsea Field is a fun, fast read. The action is told in first person by Izzy. She has a great supporting cast:
• Roommate Oliver (and his cat Meow), an English ex-pat who's not a big fan of the Queen.
• Nosy neighbor Etta, a little old lady who's a big fan of anything that Izzy cooks. She has big appetites.
• First client Connor. I think you'll be surprised by what you learn about him from the assignment twist. (If you click the link at the end of the e-book, you'll be even more surprised when you read Connor Unmasked, the bonus scene from Connor's perspective you receive when you join Chelsea's Readers' Group.)

All of the plot threads of Eat, Pray, Die come together in the end. There is an exciting and dramatic climax. I was surprised by whodunit.

I love Eat, Pray, Die by Chelsea Field, and recommend it to all fans of cozy mysteries. I think it will have special appeal to fans who are looking for something new and different.


Note: I received a complimentary copy of Eat, Pray, Die in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog at http://janereads2.blogspot.com/2016/07/eat-pray-die-by-chelsea-field-review.html show less

Eat, Pray, Die has got to be the most unique murder mystery, without being a supernatural, I have read! What a way to make a living! Tasting food for the rich and famous for poison and to distinguish between the poisons! Meanwhile, she owes a loan shark a lot of money thanks to a creepy ex- husband, she is stalked by a creepy rich guy that likes to drug his victims...all while working a case pretending to be a girlfriend but really tasting his food. It is full of craziness and lots of fun!