More Culinary Mysteries

            Fictional caterers seem to have an ability to solve murders. They can decipher clues while deciphering recipes and create exquisite cuisine while creating order out of criminal mayhem.

            Isis Crawford is the author of the Mystery with Recipes series. In A Catered Fourth of July, sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons cater their town’s Revolutionary War re-enactment. When someone is killed, the sisters go into action to prevent Bernie’s boyfriend Marvin from being charged with murder. In A Catered Mother’s Day, Bernie and Libby help their friend Ellen who is overworked running her pet treat company and underappreciated by her family. They set up a practical joke to help Ellen get the recognition she deserves but instead get her accused of murder.

            Camilla T. Crespi wrote The Breakfast Club Murder, in which her main character Lori Corvino tries to revive her catering business after her divorce. With distractions such as her unhappy teenage daughter and her vegan mother, Lori really has problems when her ex-husband’s new wife is found murdered. Guess who is the prime suspect?

            Joanne Fluke writes the Hannah Swenson Mystery with Recipes! Series. In Double Fudge Brownie Murder, Hannah finds the body of the judge who was to preside over her trial for vehicular homicide. She’s now the murder suspect. Meanwhile, her romantic life gets complicated. In Wedding Cake Murder, Hannah preps for her wedding and for the Food Channel desert chef contest. The celebrity chef judge is found murdered. Hannah conveniently is available to investigate.

            Katherine Hall Page is the author of the Faith Fairchild Mystery series. In The Body in the Birches, caterer Faith and her family become involved when one of the heirs to the Birches manor is murdered. Was another family member willing to kill in order to inherit? And in The Body in the Piazza, Faith and her husband Reverend Tom celebrate their wedding anniversary in Italy but find time to delve into murder and sabotage.

            All of these books include recipes and/or food facts.