Hayley Snow's wedding to Detective Nathan Bransford is just around the corner, and all of the family is gathering for both the wedding and Thanksgiving. Hayley has one more foodie assignment to complete before the festivities begin, but something goes awry on the seafood walking tour, and now a woman is dead. Hayley's friend wants her help, but can Hayley honor Nathan's wishes at the same time? And just what is going on with Nathan anyway?

A DEADLY FEAST is the ninth book in the Key West Food Critic series, which only gets better and better with each new installment. Most of the books in the series can be read as standalones, but I would suggest reading at least one or two books just prior to A DEADLY FEAST in order to gain an appreciation and understanding of Hayley and Nathan's relationship. Otherwise, newcomers to the series may develop a distaste for Nathan due to his constant disappearing acts in A DEADLY FEAST.

Hayley and Nathan are facing some very real-world issues in A DEADLY FEAST. From prewedding jitters to conflicts over Hayley's tendency to play amateur sleuth, and even to housing issues exacerbated by a recent hurricane, the relationship between Hayley and Nathan is put through the wringer in A DEADLY FEAST. I love that Lucy Burdette allows us to see the more emotional side of both Hayley and Nathan!

Visiting the Keys is always a treat, and A DEADLY FEAST reminds me that it's time to plan a trip again. Lucy Burdette takes us to real Keys restaurants, showcasing the tasty treats one can find in Key West. I love when I recognize various locations I've visited already and use Lucy Burdette's books as a guide to planning where to eat on future trips. Hayley is the perfect guide for the various restaurants in her role as a food critic, and I love each and every trip with her- as well as my own ones in the real world!

Lucy Burdette continues to delight readers with tantalizing mysteries, scrumptious foods, and darned good characters in the Key West Food Critic series. A DEADLY FEAST is perhaps my favorite installment yet as we see a lot more emotions flowing, between the wedding, the mysterious disappearances of Nathan, and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The Key West Food Critic series is one of the best culinary cozy mystery series out there, and Lucy Burdette hits it out of the park with A DEADLY FEAST!