"Fun cozy mystery with great characters!"
Reviewed by Miranda Owen
Posted July 11, 2014
Mystery Culinary | Mystery
A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER is Book two in Christine
Wenger's Comfort Food cozy mystery series. I was able
to
follow and enjoy A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER without having
read the previous book in this series. There are a lot of
elements that make A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER a fun cozy
mystery -- the main characters are likable, and there are
some light moments as well as a dash of romance. This is
what I usually look for in a cozy mystery. The series
revolves around Trixie Matkowski's diner in a small town in
upstate New York. The murder that happens in the present is
linked to a murder that happened in the same area when
Trixie was just a young girl.
I love dual mystery plots and when a present day murder is
somehow connected to one that happened years ago. I think
Christine Wenger does a great job of creating a legitimate
reason for Trixie to want to get involved in the
investigation. She has a personal connection to the victims
and both murders happened on her property. I like the
reluctant investigating partnership between Trixie and sexy
Deputy Ty Brisco. They make a good team, even though Trixie
is frustrated by Ty's inability to give her inside,
official information. I think he does the best he can to
work with her, without treating her like a misbehaving
child. I like the hint of romance between the two and hope
it continues in future books.
The supporting characters like young computer hacker-turned
busboy Ray, Trixie's dog Blondie, and the diner's staff
make the story more enjoyable and lighten the mood. There
are some exciting moments when Trixie is hunting down
clues. As a reader, I felt as though I was on the case and
searching for clues to the mystery. There a multitude of
suspects to choose from in A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER and
every one seems like a likely murderer. Once friendly-
seeming townspeople are now cast in a sinister light.
A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER is a fun cozy mystery with a
likable female sleuth, great supporting characters, and
lots of puzzles to solve. I look forward to reading the
next book in this entertaining mystery series!
SUMMARY
Trixie Matkowski is warming up to running her family’s diner
in the small town of Sandy Harbor in upstate New York. But
the only thing more demanding than serving up piping-hot
comfort food twenty-four hours a day is getting to the
bottom of a double homicide.... Trixie fondly remembers summers as a child spent visiting
the shores of Lake Ontario. Not much has changed—there are
still vinyl booths at the Silver Bullet Diner, families
eating home-cooked comfort food, and days of swimming in the
lake. But before Trixie can say “Order’s up,” someone’s summer is
abruptly cut short. One of the cottage residents is found
dead, and Trixie suspects the crime might be linked to an
unsolved disappearance in the picturesque town’s past. As Trixie works with Deputy Ty Brisco to solve both
mysteries, their shocking discoveries will shake up the
small town. And when word gets out that she’s on the case,
Trixie’s in trouble—after all, the murderer won’t spare her
life just because she makes a killer corned beef
sandwich.... Includes Delicious Home-Style Recipes!
What do you think about this review?
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