October 3, 2020 – mjbreviewers

Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder
Kebab Kitchen Mystery, Book #5
Tina Kashian
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float–for real . . .

Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose–and his price–at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .

Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration–and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .

Recipes included!

“With a warm cast of characters and an ingenious main character, this is a series that will prove delightful for cozy fans.”
–Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Stabbed in the Baklava

“Clever and charming . . . A culinary delight that will have readers salivating over the food and hungry for literary answers.”
–RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars, on Hummus and Homicide (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well rounded. Lucy and Katie agree to doing a Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the renovations for the senior center. It will be easy, in and out of the frigid water, all for a good cause. What’s not so easy is the dead body that is found floating in the water. Now Lucy and Katie have to find who killed Deacon, the reception hall owner. Between the two of them, along with Lucy’s landlord, Eloisa, they will have their work cut out for them. Eloisa is a fiesty senior citizen and brings a lot of humor to the story.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing, and through most of the book,I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place, whether it was plunging into the ocean or checking out wedding venues. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not that easy to solve. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong!!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Maybe the next book will have the wedding.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (A Kebab Kitchen Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2020)
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1496726073
ISBN-13: 978-1496726070
Digital ASIN: B082WR6DMT

Purchase Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Google Books
iBooks
Kobo

About The Book:

Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore’s annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man’s float—for real . . .

Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey’s most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose—and his price—at her wedding plans, she can’t help wondering who wouldn’t kill the pompous caterer . . .

Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy’s wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen’s mouthwatering Christmas celebration—and before her hometown’s holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .

Recipes included!

About The Author:

Tina Kashian is an attorney and mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. She is the author of the popular Kebab Kitchen Mediterranean cozy mystery series for Kensington Publishing. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two daughters. Please visit her website at http://www.tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more!

Author Links