A PARFAIT MURDER is the cozy mystery at its best— complex characters, family drama, a hint of romance, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. The third book in the Mystery a la Mode series, I think it's the best one so far (though I thoroughly enjoyed the first two). Ms. Watson has created the quintessential small Texas town and populated it with smart and caring characters with just a hint of Texas country chic. Take an evening and treat yourself to your favorite scoop and this engaging mystery.

Tallulah "Tally" Jones is being pulled in lots of different directions. She's running her ice cream shop with the help of her family, manning a booth at the Lantana County Fair, and serving as a judge for the edibles competition. Helping her are her cousin Bree, Bree's daughter Alice, Alice's boyfriend Kyle, and Grandma Peachy. Tally's boyfriend (whose name I won't reveal here since book two ended with a cliffhanger!) pitches in when he can. Controversy is brewing in the ice cream competition when Tally gets a 911 call from Bree, who has just spotted ex-husband Sonny strolling the fair with a beauty on his arm and a fat wallet in his pocket. The man who abandoned his family years ago is back with no warning and Bree is understandably mad. Before she can decide what to do, Sonny's lawyer is demanding proof of Alice's paternity. Bree is ready to kill somebody, so it's unfortunate that she is found standing over the body of Sonny's lawyer holding a gun. It's up to Tally and her team to prove Bree's innocence.