It's early autumn, and Phyllis Newsom and her fellow three boarders are on the Texas Gulf Coast in Fulton, keeping an eye on the OakKnoll Bed-'n'-Breakfast while Phyllis's cousin is out of town. The annual SeaFair in nearby Rockport, TX is approaching, and Phyllis is eager to enter the Just Desserts competition.

Before Phyllis accompanies her fellow boarder and boyfriend Sam Fletcher fishing, the pair encounter surly guest Ed McKenna from San Antonio. He is going fishing, too and remarks that he doesn't feel well. Later, Sam gives Ed a friendly slap on the back and Ed topples off the fishing pier, dead in the water. It transpires that Ed was dead before he fell in the water, poisoned by the leftover clam cakes he had for breakfast that morning. Suspicion falls heavily on the bed-and-breakfast cook, Conseula, but all the guests staying at the bed-and-breakfast are under suspicion.

Phyllis is afraid her cousin's business will suffer if the murderer isn't caught soon and begins investigating. When Ed's children arrive to claim his things, it is obvious there was no love lost between their father and them. Some of the guests staying at the bed-and-breakfast have secrets Ed could have stumbled upon. There is also a secret business merger in the works. Unless she uncovers the murderer soon, Phyllis fears it will be the death of her cousin's business.

I wanted to really like this book, but it was just so-so to me. It read quickly, and the writing itself was OK. I read the books before this in the series and enjoyed them more. I figured out the solution to the crime a mile away, and it didn't even seem like a very good motive for murder. Besides lacking a good solution to the crime, Phyllis comes off very sanctimonious and not open-minded in this book. She even seems to have trouble accepting a couple where the wife is taller than the husband. She also keeps important information from the police and doesn't seem to like the police assistant chief even though the woman seems to have done nothing wrong and is friendly. In addition, Sam Fletcher's casualness and bravado all feel forced and ridiculous. I don't know. Maybe it's that I just read a book coming off a five-star review (rare for me to give). I know cozy mysteries are written for enjoyment, and I didn't expect this book to be the epitome of fine literature, but I did want to like to the protagonist and story line. I still requested the next book in the series from my library in the hopes that it won't disappoint and that Phyllis will redeem herself. ( )

I enjoyed Killer Crab Cakes by Livia J. Washburn. Phyllis Newsome's cousin has been asked to help her out at her Bed and Breakfast. Her cousin has to help her daughter out who has a new baby. Sam, Phyllis's boyfriend and some of her other women friends will be there too.

Phyllis does mention going Walmart a lot but in isolated places that may be the only place to get a variety of things. A great cook, Consuela, at the bed and breakfast had made some crab cakes and quickly came under suspicion when one of the guests drops dead. Phyllis wants to help but the local law enforcement team are leery of that at the beginning. The book goes quickly and keeps you reading until the end. I liked Sam's imitation of John Wayne, maybe because I am a distant cousin to Mr. Wayne.

The characters are what shines in this book, the plot was OK but the motive was a little hard to swallow.

If you are looking for a good cozy to ease you through some bad times or when you are not feeling good, this one will definitely do. ( )

Maybe I should try the recipes too! ( )

Cozy mysteries that score 3/5 are different from others. They are the ones to watch. There were many things to like about Killer Crab Cakes, one of them being the seamless way the usual suspects (and I use the term loosely) segue into the brand new background of Fulton. The pacing in this book was out of this world. Though this book could not reach lofty heights it had a lot of heart. The deaths, first by poison, then another by stabbing were solved apparently with much time, while in fact mere days had passed. I will be limiting my consumption of cozy mysteries for now, but this good book is blameless in that matter. I wish the retired cast of teachers will come back to this location, though I suppose there'll always be... other towns. ( )