By Mary Lee Ashford
What is it with food in mysteries? Or I should say, “What is it with culinary mysteries?” as that’s the proper term for the sub-genre.
As a long time reader of culinary mysteries, from
Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen books to
Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Bear catering stories there’s a wide variety. Some of the main character’s are great cooks like Hannah (current book Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Murder) and some are not. Such as our own
Debra Goldstein’s Sarah Blair. Check out Debra’s latest Four Cuts Too Many!
In my
Sugar and Spice series, it’s sidekick Dixie that’s the blue-ribbon baker while my main character, Sugar’s expertise is on the business side of things as assembler of their community cookbooks. Though she likes to think she’s an expert taster as well.
In my opinion the brilliant thing about food in mysteries is that food brings people together. We talk over coffee and pie, and gather around family dinner or community events. This creates all kinds of opportunities for sharing information (which can include a clue) or overhearing private exchanges (which can often point to a suspect).
Food can also sometimes lead to conflict. Is there a secret family recipe? Is there an element of competition? In
Game of Scones, the first book in the Sugar and Spice series, there’s a disagreement over who makes the best scones. And wouldn’t you know, there’s room for only one recipe in the town’s centennial celebration community cookbook. You can see where this is going, right? I won’t give too much away but very soon someone is missing and someone is dead.
One of the fun things about culinary mysteries, at least for the author is the chance to try out new recipes.
Game of Scones found me trying all kinds of different scone recipes. And with
Risky Biscuits, you guessed it… tons of biscuit recipes. Who knew there were so many? I have a good friend who is an actual, honest-to-goodness blue-ribbon baker and I called upon her skills to perfect the biscuits and gravy recipe featured in the back of that book. Then came
Quiche of Death which meant the testing various types of quiche. Check out my
Pinterest boards for the books to find some of the recipes that were part of the research.
About those recipes often featured in the back of the books. What are your thoughts on them? Do you check them out? Have you ever tried out a new recipe you found in the back of a culinary mystery? Did you find a new favorite? If so, please share!
Currently
Kensington Books is featuring
Game of Scones for only $1.99 in all ebook platforms so if you have not yet read the first in the series, here’s your chance to take advantage of this great deal. If you’ve already read the book, thank-you! If you’ve left a review, double thanks! I
To celebrate the deal, I’ll be doing a giveaway of a Game of Scones tshirt Just leave a comment below to be entered in the drawing! I’ll draw a winner by midnight Friday and announce the winner on Saturday. Good luck!
Mary Lee Ashford is a lifelong bibliophile, and avid reader, and supporter of public libraries.
In addition to writing the Sugar and Spice series for
Kensington Books, she also writes as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey, author of the national bestselling Pampered Pets mystery series from Bell Bridge Books.
Prior to publishing Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest, sponsored by the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA, and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest, as well as Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest.
She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a past board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death the RWA Mystery Suspense chapter, Sisters in Crime, and the SinC internet group Guppies. She loves encouraging other writers and is a frequent presenter for writers’ groups.
Mary Lee has a passionate interest in creativity and teaches a university level course in Creative Management to MPA candidates, as well as presenting workshops and blogging about creativity.
She currently resides in the midwest with her husband, Tim and cat, Zoey. Her delights are reading and enjoying time her two sons and their lovely wives as well as her crazy awesome grandchildren.
Follow her on Facebook for morning coffee posts and Recipes to Die For:
Mary Lee, Your title captured me immediately. One of my favorite things to do is bake scones! Best of luck with Game of Scones. We'll have to compare recipes one day.
Kathleen – Scones are my favorite! Would love to compare recipes!!
One thing that lights me up is the wonderful pun in each of your titles. I can't wait to read books with clever titles, written by clever authors. I do read the recipes, too, but I don't usually test them in the kitchen. I'd rather spend my time reading the next book!
Saralyn – Thank-you! They are fun to think up. 🙂 I have a collection of cookbooks so I have a great start on finding new recipes.
I have loved scones since I loved in Glasgow. I love the books and recipes. Man that tshirt is something I would love to have!!!
I love scones, the title is hilarious, and I’m getting my copy today, Mary Lee.
Gay – Thanks so much! The title still makes me grin. 🙂
love your titles. Scared to try all your recipes, but I know they work.
Debra – Thanks! We share that our main characters are not the cooks in the story. I find tracking down the recipes a lot of fun!
I love Scones and really need to read this book and this series! Can't wait to read the recipes in it too1
Thanks, Chris! The scone recipes in the book are really pretty simple…which is about my skill level. LOL I hope you enjoy the book!
Chris – Scones are my favorite! The book has both English scones and Irish scones. Good luck in the drawing!
Love this shirt! and the book has an adorable cover!
Thanks, Elida! In my opinion Kensington did a really great job with the cover of GAME OF SCONES. It makes me hungry for scones every time I see it. LOL
Elida – Thanks! I think Kensington out did themselves with this cover! Good luck!
Cozies with food (and animals) are my favorites. Love the T-shirt! Thanks for the giveaway.
Riley, those are my favorites, too! Which you can probably tell. LOL
Riley – Those are my favorite books too. Though this one doesn't have a pet them like the Pampered Pets books do, I can't imagine writing a book without animals in it. 🙂
Mary Lee, I love scones, and this blog about food bringing people together. Wouldn't that be nice! Off to download Game of Thrones. Speaking of fellow Stiletto Gang members in addition to you and Debra Goldstein, then to throw in food conflict, Lois Winston's upcoming Anastasia Pollack mystery features a ton of baking competitiveness going on:) Off to burn something on the stove LOL!
Donnell- It sure would be nice. I'll have to check out Lois's book too, I keep wondering if I could do a state fair competition in one of mine. I hear those competitions can be fierce!
Donnell – It would be nice, wouldn't it. Love mysteries with food themes. Will have to check out Lois's when it comes out.