Summer is coming to an end in Ocean Crest, but the final festival of summer is in full swing. The festival kicks off with a sand sculpture contest, but the judging leads to some fireworks between local businessman Archie Kincaid and Katie Watson, Lucy Berberian's best friend. Unfortunately, Archie ends up dead and the summer festival is put on hold, leaving the livelihood of most of the town at stake. Worse yet, Katie is a primary suspect for Archie's murder. Lucy knows her best friend is innocent, but can she prove it?
ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE is the third book in theΒ Kebab Kitchen series. Readers new to the series can jump right in and enjoy the shenanigans of Lucy and her best friend, Katie. However, I suspect that once reading ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE, new readers to the series are going to want to devour the earlier books as Lucy and Katie are pure fun!
Archie is the perfect villain. To know him is to want him dead, which means suspects are aplenty in Ocean Crest. Tina Kashian does a marvelous job at painting the portrait of a very rude and unscrupulous man. I don't want to reveal spoilers but the issue of one particular purchase by him exemplifies just how disgusting Archie was. However, one of the things I like about ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE is that there is justice for the victim, even if he is a bit of an ogre.
Tina Kashian's books always make me hungry, as the food prepared byΒ Kebab Kitchen sounds absolutely scrumptious! I'm definitely going to try baking the date stuffed cookies as anything that can convince a 10-year- old that dates are chocolates is worth trying. And yes, I love Niari's reaction to the dates!
ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE is another entertaining and tasty culinary cozy mystery from the very talented pen of Tina Kashian. I love the complexity of her mysteries as things are never quite as they seem in theΒ Kebab KitchenΒ series. I also love that Tina Kashian doesn't hesitate to include real-life issues in her storyline, making it far more relatable. If you love cozy mysteries, particularly culinary ones, don't hesitate to give ONE FETA IN THE GRAVE a try!
As summer comes to an end in her Jersey Shore town, Lucy Berberian continues to manage her family’s Mediterranean restaurant. The Kebab Kitchen also has a food tent at this year’s beach festival. But now a local businessman is under the boardwalk—dead by the sea … With a sand castle contest and live music, Ocean Crest bids a bittersweet farewell to tourist season. Summer will return next year … but Archie Kincaid won’t. The full-of-himself store owner has been fatally shot, soon after a screaming match with Lucy’s best friend. Katie’s far from the only suspect, though, since Archie had some bitter rivals—as well as some relationships no one knew about. It’s up to Lucy to look into some seedy characters and solve the case before the wrong person gets skewered … Recipes included!
Ocean Crest, New Jersey Lucy walked to the stairs leading from the boardwalk to the beach. The music from the bandstand was muted here, and the screams from the roller coaster on the sole pier seemed miles away. A pleasant ocean breeze cooled her cheeks and teased the wayward strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. She slipped off her sandals, and the surf sprayed her ankles. Gulls squawked and circled above. She stopped to pick up a pretty shell, then tossed it back into the water. She breathed in the fresh ocean air and felt her stress melt away. The beach always had this effect, calming and soothing, and she couldn't envision herself living anywhere else than in Ocean Crest. After fifteen minutes, she headed back, but at the last minute she decided she needed a bit more time, and rather than climb the steps to return to the boardwalk, she veered right and walked under it. In a couple of hours, high tide would begin and the ocean would reach under the boardwalk. But for now the sand was cool beneath her feet. A few yards away, a large shadow appeared ahead on the sand. She stared. What could it be? A stack of boards? A sand dune bush? A large trash bag someone had illegally dumped? She changed her mind as she crept closer and a shock of white hair came into focus, then an outstretched arm with a Wile E. Coyote tattoo. It wasn't a trash bag. Oh, no. It was Archie. "Mr. Kincaid?" she asked aloud although deep in her gut she knew he wouldn't respond. He'd never speak again. Her gaze lowered to the bullet hole in the center of his chest. She reached toward him and placed a trembling finger to his neck. She had to be sure. Nothing. Oh, God. Archie Kincaid was dead.
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