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Dinner Club Mystery #1
Toasting Up Trouble
A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime...
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer...
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
30 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 21, 2016
Toasting Up Trouble ( Dinner Club Mystery #1) by Linda Wiken is a 2016 Berkley publication.
The colorful cast of characters are zany, interesting, and at times very mysterious. I loved the banter between J.J and Ty, as they start off on the wrong foot with each other, but wind up making a pretty good team.
There is a secondary thread running through the book as well. J.J. discovers someone is stealing her event planning ideas, which added a little more depth to the story, without taking too much away from the main mystery.
I think J.J. is going to be a terrific amateur sleuth and I can’t wait to see what mystery she will help solve next and how things will progress with Ty.
The book also has a couple of yummy recipes included!
Foodies and cozy mystery lovers will definitely want to give this book a try!
This review is the copyrighted copy of Night Owl Reviews
To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
The colorful cast of characters are zany, interesting, and at times very mysterious. I loved the banter between J.J and Ty, as they start off on the wrong foot with each other, but wind up making a pretty good team.
There is a secondary thread running through the book as well. J.J. discovers someone is stealing her event planning ideas, which added a little more depth to the story, without taking too much away from the main mystery.
I think J.J. is going to be a terrific amateur sleuth and I can’t wait to see what mystery she will help solve next and how things will progress with Ty.
The book also has a couple of yummy recipes included!
Foodies and cozy mystery lovers will definitely want to give this book a try!
This review is the copyrighted copy of Night Owl Reviews
To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
August 12, 2017
A very nice start to the dinner club mystery series. It was sitting on my to read pile for a while and I'm glad I finally gave it a go. We have to wait a while for the murder to actually happen but then the story takes off at a good pace. There's even the possibility of a future romance which added a little buzz. Lots of twists and turns until the surprising reveal.
July 5, 2016
A delectable first course in what is sure to be an equally delicious series!
I was thrilled when I heard there was going to be a series by Linda Wiken. I’m already a huge fan of her Ashton Corners Book Club series written as Erika Chase. And like her books written as Chase, Wiken does not disappoint!
Ms. Wiken has penned an amazing story in TOASTING UP TROUBLE. I had a great time reading about the event planning business Jennifer “J. J.” Tanner is a planner for. I also loved the Culinary Capers dinner club meetings, and the fun group of characters.
This story has every aspect of a cozy mystery readers look for. Murder, mayhem, fun, and great food are all present and accounted for in TOASTING UP TROUBLE. This fast moving tale was an exciting read all the way to a reveal that I never saw coming.
If you’re looking for a wonderful book, you can’t beat the superb writing of Linda Wiken, and TOASTING UP TROUBLE!
Don’t close the book after you finish the story, or you’ll miss out on some tasty recipes, as well as an excerpt from book two in the Dinner Club Mysteries, ROUX THE DAY!
I was thrilled when I heard there was going to be a series by Linda Wiken. I’m already a huge fan of her Ashton Corners Book Club series written as Erika Chase. And like her books written as Chase, Wiken does not disappoint!
Ms. Wiken has penned an amazing story in TOASTING UP TROUBLE. I had a great time reading about the event planning business Jennifer “J. J.” Tanner is a planner for. I also loved the Culinary Capers dinner club meetings, and the fun group of characters.
This story has every aspect of a cozy mystery readers look for. Murder, mayhem, fun, and great food are all present and accounted for in TOASTING UP TROUBLE. This fast moving tale was an exciting read all the way to a reveal that I never saw coming.
If you’re looking for a wonderful book, you can’t beat the superb writing of Linda Wiken, and TOASTING UP TROUBLE!
Don’t close the book after you finish the story, or you’ll miss out on some tasty recipes, as well as an excerpt from book two in the Dinner Club Mysteries, ROUX THE DAY!
July 10, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner works for her friend, Skye Drake, at Make It Happen, a party planning business. After the first caterer for a birthday party for the daughter of a high-tech millionaire backs out J.J. gets chef Antonio Marcotti to cater the affair. Things go well until he makes an unauthorized addition to the menu that could cost Make It Happen a lot of money. She confronts him about it and the matter is still not settled when she heads home. When she returns to the home the next day to clean up, there are police everywhere. She learns the esteemed chef never made it home. He is dead, murdered…and the police think J.J. killed him.
J.J. is a fine protagonist, independent, persistent, and gutsy. A girl after my own heart, buying cookbooks more for the beautiful pictures than for the recipes. Hoping to change that she joins the Culinary Capers Dinner Club. A group of people who have now become her friends. Each month they choose a cookbook and create a dinner with recipes from the book. They also are great helpers in her quest to find the real killer of Antonio Marcotti.
All the characters we meet fun and engaging, well except for the victim he was quite a “Divo”, the male version of a diva. J.J. is quite a sleuth, I enjoyed the way she talked her theories through, even with her police officer friend, Allison. Allison walks a fine line of “helping” J.J. while not releasing any confidential information. Private Investigator Ty Devine starts out tailing J.J. but soon they end up sharing information and almost working together. This relationship is just starting but it has a lot of potential.
There are two mysteries in this book, the murder of Antonio Marcotti and the investigation into who is stealing J.J.’s party ideas. She was working on a party plan with a client only to find out another party planner proposed the exact same idea, almost word for word. Skye was a little more helpful with the second investigation. She wasn’t too involved in the first, which was surprising to me. She did stay on top of things at Make It Happen so J.J. could leave to follow up on clues.
I enjoyed the introduction of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club. What a fantastic idea! I love that real cookbooks are used by the characters. This time J.J. chose Nigellissima: Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes by Nigella Lawson. I just took a peek at the pages Amazon previews from this book and can see why it drew J.J. ‘s attention. Of course there are recipes in the back of the book too!
Linda Wiken is off to a fabulous start for this series! I want to get to know these characters better. I want to see what the author dreams up for them next. I hope this becomes a long running series because this first tasty treat was absolutely delicious.
Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner works for her friend, Skye Drake, at Make It Happen, a party planning business. After the first caterer for a birthday party for the daughter of a high-tech millionaire backs out J.J. gets chef Antonio Marcotti to cater the affair. Things go well until he makes an unauthorized addition to the menu that could cost Make It Happen a lot of money. She confronts him about it and the matter is still not settled when she heads home. When she returns to the home the next day to clean up, there are police everywhere. She learns the esteemed chef never made it home. He is dead, murdered…and the police think J.J. killed him.
J.J. is a fine protagonist, independent, persistent, and gutsy. A girl after my own heart, buying cookbooks more for the beautiful pictures than for the recipes. Hoping to change that she joins the Culinary Capers Dinner Club. A group of people who have now become her friends. Each month they choose a cookbook and create a dinner with recipes from the book. They also are great helpers in her quest to find the real killer of Antonio Marcotti.
All the characters we meet fun and engaging, well except for the victim he was quite a “Divo”, the male version of a diva. J.J. is quite a sleuth, I enjoyed the way she talked her theories through, even with her police officer friend, Allison. Allison walks a fine line of “helping” J.J. while not releasing any confidential information. Private Investigator Ty Devine starts out tailing J.J. but soon they end up sharing information and almost working together. This relationship is just starting but it has a lot of potential.
There are two mysteries in this book, the murder of Antonio Marcotti and the investigation into who is stealing J.J.’s party ideas. She was working on a party plan with a client only to find out another party planner proposed the exact same idea, almost word for word. Skye was a little more helpful with the second investigation. She wasn’t too involved in the first, which was surprising to me. She did stay on top of things at Make It Happen so J.J. could leave to follow up on clues.
I enjoyed the introduction of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club. What a fantastic idea! I love that real cookbooks are used by the characters. This time J.J. chose Nigellissima: Easy Italian-Inspired Recipes by Nigella Lawson. I just took a peek at the pages Amazon previews from this book and can see why it drew J.J. ‘s attention. Of course there are recipes in the back of the book too!
Linda Wiken is off to a fabulous start for this series! I want to get to know these characters better. I want to see what the author dreams up for them next. I hope this becomes a long running series because this first tasty treat was absolutely delicious.
October 24, 2019
When event planner Jennifer 'J.J.' Tanner, is planning a high society event, she does not expect the arrogant and persnickety caterer to be murdered, right after she argues with him. Nor does she expect to be the prime suspect in his murder, but she finds herself in that position. She digs into the mystery, with the help of a handsome P.I. who at first is investigating her. There is also something funny going on with her business, so she has to figure out that mystery as well as trying to keep herself out of jail and find out who murdered the caterer. A plethora of suspects, good characters, and a good plot make this a good read.
July 9, 2016
I was really excited to read this first in a series when I read it was a Dinner Club mystery. I am a big fan of dinner clubs and with food and a mystery included, it was sure bet I would love it and I did,
Cookbook lover, J.J. Tanner and her friend, Skye Drake are event planners at Skye's new company "Make it Happen". J.J. is gearing up for an Italian themed princess party for a twenty-one-year-old girl, Angelica.
All the while J.J. is thrilled over her latest cookbook find that she will share with her group of friends also known as the "Culinary Capers" Dinner Club. J.J. is to prepare the main dish and her friends also pick dishes to serve from the book and then they eat their delicious meals together. What a great concept that I just loved.
After the Italian Princess Party J.J. planned J.J. has an argument with Chef Marcotti who J.J. hired to cater the party over a dish that was to be left out of the affair because of budget restrictions and soon after Chef Marcotti was found stabbed to death at the Portovino estate.
All eyes fall on J.J as the prime suspect but soon more start to emerge as the truth about the chef starts to come out that he was a womanizer, his various affairs and questionable business dealings and stolen recipes and another chef that has a past with Chef Marcotti whom J.J. finds help for her recipe for the Culinary Capers. J.J can't help but want to clear hers and her new chef mentor's name with J.J now being in danger after nearly being run down by a care and she will stop at nothing to find the killer before both their gooses are cooked.
J.J. Tanner is my favorite new culinary amature sleuth. I found her very relatable and our shared love for cookbooks, she renewed that love for me. A hint of what I think will be a romance with a certain P.I. kept the pages flowing and the friendships with the Culinary Capers who were fun characters and kept it exciting to read. Anticipating the next book in Dinner Club Mysteries.
FTC Disclosure Thank you to the publisher and/or author or Net Galley for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book are our own.
Cookbook lover, J.J. Tanner and her friend, Skye Drake are event planners at Skye's new company "Make it Happen". J.J. is gearing up for an Italian themed princess party for a twenty-one-year-old girl, Angelica.
All the while J.J. is thrilled over her latest cookbook find that she will share with her group of friends also known as the "Culinary Capers" Dinner Club. J.J. is to prepare the main dish and her friends also pick dishes to serve from the book and then they eat their delicious meals together. What a great concept that I just loved.
After the Italian Princess Party J.J. planned J.J. has an argument with Chef Marcotti who J.J. hired to cater the party over a dish that was to be left out of the affair because of budget restrictions and soon after Chef Marcotti was found stabbed to death at the Portovino estate.
All eyes fall on J.J as the prime suspect but soon more start to emerge as the truth about the chef starts to come out that he was a womanizer, his various affairs and questionable business dealings and stolen recipes and another chef that has a past with Chef Marcotti whom J.J. finds help for her recipe for the Culinary Capers. J.J can't help but want to clear hers and her new chef mentor's name with J.J now being in danger after nearly being run down by a care and she will stop at nothing to find the killer before both their gooses are cooked.
J.J. Tanner is my favorite new culinary amature sleuth. I found her very relatable and our shared love for cookbooks, she renewed that love for me. A hint of what I think will be a romance with a certain P.I. kept the pages flowing and the friendships with the Culinary Capers who were fun characters and kept it exciting to read. Anticipating the next book in Dinner Club Mysteries.
FTC Disclosure Thank you to the publisher and/or author or Net Galley for providing us with a copy of this book for review.This did not influence our thoughts in any way. All the opinions of the book are our own.
July 5, 2016
J.J. Tanner is an event planner by day and an aspiring chef by night. As part of her event planner job, she’s hired local chef Antonio Marcotti to cater an Italian themed party. But Antonio is a bit egotistically, and after he ignores the contract, he and J.J. get into a fight. Only the next morning, J.J. returns to clean up after the party to find that Antonio is dead. With the police looking at her and a friend in the local dinner club she’s joined as suspects, J.J. needs to find the real killer.
This debut got off to a bit of a slow start, but once the murder happened, it picked up. There were some good twists and surprises before we reached a logical ending. The characters who got a decent amount of page time were well developed, and I’m betting we’ll get to know the rest better in future books in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This debut got off to a bit of a slow start, but once the murder happened, it picked up. There were some good twists and surprises before we reached a logical ending. The characters who got a decent amount of page time were well developed, and I’m betting we’ll get to know the rest better in future books in the series.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 18, 2019
I’d had this paperback since shortly after it came out and finally got a chance to read it. I really enjoyed the main characters and the idea of best friends working an events planning business together. Along with the main murder, there was a side mystery that JJ and Skye needed to address, and I enjoyed their little sting operation to flush out the person stealing their event ideas.
There were several murder suspects and since JJ was last to see the victim alive, she was first suspected. The police got the right person as always, and JJ’s new (somewhat annoying) friend Ty Devine, a PI on the case, was a handy person to have around for the showdown even though JJ was quick thinking and resourceful. It’ll be interesting to see their relationship develop, since JJ’s dating friend Connor seems to be just that, a guy friend to date. I loved the character of retired police detective Ness who handily was JJ’s neighbor. He was a good source of info and general support. I’m thinking this series only has one or two more books, but I definitely want to read them.
There were several murder suspects and since JJ was last to see the victim alive, she was first suspected. The police got the right person as always, and JJ’s new (somewhat annoying) friend Ty Devine, a PI on the case, was a handy person to have around for the showdown even though JJ was quick thinking and resourceful. It’ll be interesting to see their relationship develop, since JJ’s dating friend Connor seems to be just that, a guy friend to date. I loved the character of retired police detective Ness who handily was JJ’s neighbor. He was a good source of info and general support. I’m thinking this series only has one or two more books, but I definitely want to read them.
July 9, 2017
I enjoyed this first in a series. When a chef ends up dead after a dinner he caters, J.J. is pulled into looking for a suspect other than herself, the more she looks the more she finds that he was not a well liked man.
The characters are likable and an interesting mix. I love the idea of the dinner club, it sounds like a fun thing to do. There were plenty of suspects and it kept me guessing until the end. I liked the side mystery that comes up although I had that figured pretty quickly, but I love how it was handled.
I will definitely continue on with this series.
There is also the bonus of some yummy sounding recipes in the back.
The characters are likable and an interesting mix. I love the idea of the dinner club, it sounds like a fun thing to do. There were plenty of suspects and it kept me guessing until the end. I liked the side mystery that comes up although I had that figured pretty quickly, but I love how it was handled.
I will definitely continue on with this series.
There is also the bonus of some yummy sounding recipes in the back.
August 10, 2019
great read, will be reading more of this series!
August 31, 2016
L'idea di un gruppo che si riunisce per una cena, in cui ognuno di loro cucina un piatto tratto da un libro di ricette scelto, a turno, da uno dei componenti è proprio carina. E ha aiutato il fatto che il primo libro era di cucina italiana: almeno capivo di cosa stessero parlando!
E italiani sono molti dei comprimari della storia gialla (ben costruita). Peccato che in ben due casi, pur essendo italiani doc, immigrati negli States in tempi diversi, abbiano dei cognomi che più anglofoni non si può...
Un'altra cosa a cui mi sono dovuta adattare è il fatto che la protagonista si immagina sempre lo sviluppo più disastroso per varie situazioni difficile in cui si trova coinvolta. All'inizio pensavo che tendesse al melodrammatico, poi ho capito che è il suo modo per affrontare i problemi. Un po' troppo intenso per i miei gusti, ma posso passarci sopra, una volta capito come funziona.
Comunque sia, un buon libro, con un bel cast di personaggi. Spero che la serie prosegua con questo livello. Sono curiosa di vedere come va a finire una situazione "rosa"...
E italiani sono molti dei comprimari della storia gialla (ben costruita). Peccato che in ben due casi, pur essendo italiani doc, immigrati negli States in tempi diversi, abbiano dei cognomi che più anglofoni non si può...
Un'altra cosa a cui mi sono dovuta adattare è il fatto che la protagonista si immagina sempre lo sviluppo più disastroso per varie situazioni difficile in cui si trova coinvolta. All'inizio pensavo che tendesse al melodrammatico, poi ho capito che è il suo modo per affrontare i problemi. Un po' troppo intenso per i miei gusti, ma posso passarci sopra, una volta capito come funziona.
Comunque sia, un buon libro, con un bel cast di personaggi. Spero che la serie prosegua con questo livello. Sono curiosa di vedere come va a finire una situazione "rosa"...
July 24, 2017
I like this series. The characters are very interesting.
JJ Tanner is getting the hang of the event planning business when a birthday party she planned turn into a murder scene. On top of that, she must pick a cookbook and create the main dish for the dinner club she belongs to. What will cause more problems: the dish or the murder?
JJ Tanner is getting the hang of the event planning business when a birthday party she planned turn into a murder scene. On top of that, she must pick a cookbook and create the main dish for the dinner club she belongs to. What will cause more problems: the dish or the murder?
June 24, 2017
Event planner J.J. is organizing a special party, but the chef tries to overcharge her for a dish she'd specifically said is not in the party budget. Naturally, she's irate. Next morning, however, when the chef is found murdered, she's more frightened than irate, as she seems to be one of the leading suspects. Then one of her close friends also becomes a suspect. J.J. turns to him and other members of her dinner club for the latest scoop on the womanizing chef, but they're not as much help as handsome, cynical private eye Ty Devine.
July 14, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/to...
Toasting Up Trouble
Dinner Club Mystery, Book #1
By Linda Wiken
ISBN13: 9780425278215
Author website: http://www.lindawiken.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime…
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer…
Review:
Toasting Up Trouble is an enjoyable first book in a new cozy mystery series. The series is entitled “Dinner Club Mystery” which references a culinary dinner club character JJ (Jennifer) Tanner has recently joined. JJ and her friends, Evan, Allison, Beth and Connor chose a cookbook each month. One member gets to make the choice and cooks the main course. The other members do the other items. Although JJ does not consider herself a wonderful cook, she does have an addiction to cookbooks and especially their photos. So it seems a good fit. While the dinner club itself (the meals that it is) are not the main scene of any of the mystery, several members do become suspects in a murder, including JJ.
JJ is an event planner, working with her friend Skye. Her next big event is a glam 21st birthday party for an Italian “princess” whose father is a high tech king millionaire. JJ’s caterer bugs out on her with little time to spare. So she scrambles to find a replacement. On the recommendation of her friend, she turns to Chef Antonio Marcotti. He is not easy to deal with, but she is in a bind. JJ feels everything is settled with the over-bearing chef and the party goes well. Until she realizes he has slipped a very expensive item on the menu that she specifically told him not to use. After the party the revelers have left, JJ confronts him. They argue and she leaves before saying something she should not. And as far as she is concerned that is that.
JJ is shocked to find the police stopping traffic when she goes to oversee the cleanup from the party the next morning. She is even more shocked when she finds out Chef Marcotti has been murdered. That is not the worst part either. After their argument becomes known, JJ becomes a prime suspect. She is not alone though. Her friend Evan is also one. Along the way a dear and helpful restaurant owner she has befriended also is a suspect and he is arrested.
Old feuds between Chef Marcotti and JJ’s friend/restaurant owner Rocco and the murder weapon, a knife belonging to Rocco, point to him as the killer. JJ cannot get any answers from investigating officer Hastings or her police officer friend Allison. Soon JJ and her neighbor find a private eye is involved as well and following her. With her gang of dinner aficionados, P.I. Ty, neighbor and former policeman Ness and others, JJ hunts for answers. Murder victim Marcotti was not very likeable and there is no shortage of suspects. Most, however, have alibis. So many things are going on and a lot of back stories, history, deceit, affairs and the like, however it was not at all hard to keep track. I figured out the killer one chapter before JJ, so that was pretty good.
I enjoyed author Linda Wiken’s Toasting Up Trouble. It had a lot going on, but it still had a nice flow. There were several layers of stories that did not over shadow or interfere with each other. Main character JJ is likeable and intelligent. Her friends are a diverse group and enjoyable. There is a hint of future romance. I think my favorite characters were Ness and Rocco. I do hope they continue to be a part of JJ’s circle. Her ocicat Indie was a wonderful addition as well. The mystery is entertaining. Foodies and cozy fans will definitely enjoy this book and I imagine the series. A good start to what I am sure will be an appetizing series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Toasting Up Trouble
Dinner Club Mystery, Book #1
By Linda Wiken
ISBN13: 9780425278215
Author website: http://www.lindawiken.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime…
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer…
Review:
Toasting Up Trouble is an enjoyable first book in a new cozy mystery series. The series is entitled “Dinner Club Mystery” which references a culinary dinner club character JJ (Jennifer) Tanner has recently joined. JJ and her friends, Evan, Allison, Beth and Connor chose a cookbook each month. One member gets to make the choice and cooks the main course. The other members do the other items. Although JJ does not consider herself a wonderful cook, she does have an addiction to cookbooks and especially their photos. So it seems a good fit. While the dinner club itself (the meals that it is) are not the main scene of any of the mystery, several members do become suspects in a murder, including JJ.
JJ is an event planner, working with her friend Skye. Her next big event is a glam 21st birthday party for an Italian “princess” whose father is a high tech king millionaire. JJ’s caterer bugs out on her with little time to spare. So she scrambles to find a replacement. On the recommendation of her friend, she turns to Chef Antonio Marcotti. He is not easy to deal with, but she is in a bind. JJ feels everything is settled with the over-bearing chef and the party goes well. Until she realizes he has slipped a very expensive item on the menu that she specifically told him not to use. After the party the revelers have left, JJ confronts him. They argue and she leaves before saying something she should not. And as far as she is concerned that is that.
JJ is shocked to find the police stopping traffic when she goes to oversee the cleanup from the party the next morning. She is even more shocked when she finds out Chef Marcotti has been murdered. That is not the worst part either. After their argument becomes known, JJ becomes a prime suspect. She is not alone though. Her friend Evan is also one. Along the way a dear and helpful restaurant owner she has befriended also is a suspect and he is arrested.
Old feuds between Chef Marcotti and JJ’s friend/restaurant owner Rocco and the murder weapon, a knife belonging to Rocco, point to him as the killer. JJ cannot get any answers from investigating officer Hastings or her police officer friend Allison. Soon JJ and her neighbor find a private eye is involved as well and following her. With her gang of dinner aficionados, P.I. Ty, neighbor and former policeman Ness and others, JJ hunts for answers. Murder victim Marcotti was not very likeable and there is no shortage of suspects. Most, however, have alibis. So many things are going on and a lot of back stories, history, deceit, affairs and the like, however it was not at all hard to keep track. I figured out the killer one chapter before JJ, so that was pretty good.
I enjoyed author Linda Wiken’s Toasting Up Trouble. It had a lot going on, but it still had a nice flow. There were several layers of stories that did not over shadow or interfere with each other. Main character JJ is likeable and intelligent. Her friends are a diverse group and enjoyable. There is a hint of future romance. I think my favorite characters were Ness and Rocco. I do hope they continue to be a part of JJ’s circle. Her ocicat Indie was a wonderful addition as well. The mystery is entertaining. Foodies and cozy fans will definitely enjoy this book and I imagine the series. A good start to what I am sure will be an appetizing series.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
July 26, 2016
Synopsis:
A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime...
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer... (Goodreads)
Review:
J.J. is an event planner and she is keeping very busy. She is planning a twenty-first birthday party and she wants the event to go flawlessly because she knows it will bring in a lot more business. She has been meeting with all the vendors, and things seem to be going well. Until she meets with the caterer, Antonio Marcotti, a famous chef. She argues with him, telling him that the party budget cannot include funghi, an expensive dish that he insists that the party needs. She is sure that he understands and even has the contract to prove that she did not want that dish. So, when she sees the dish at the party, she is livid. She has words with the chef when the party is over, and she is still fuming when she gets home. The next day when she goes back to the party to supervise the clean-up, she is shocked to learn that the chef had been murdered. And since she was the last person to see him alive, except for the murderer, she is high on the list of murder suspects. She knows that she will have to solve the mystery herself to keep out of jail.
The characters were well rounded and well developed. I am not sure why but I did not connect with J. J. as much as I would have liked. Some of her actions did not make sense to me. If I did not like to cook, I would not join a dinner club, but J. J. did. She joined the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, where she has to plan and host a dinner party every so often. I would definitely not do that. And she was dating someone who she knew she had no sparks with, which seems like a waste of time to me. This is only my opinion and other readers may really like her. I did like Ness Harper, a neighbor of J. J. Even though he is not a man of many words, he was someone she could always count on. I also enjoyed getting to know Rocco Gates. I did like the potential new love interest for J. J. and look forward to seeing where that goes in the coming books.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. At times I felt like it was a little slow moving and there was some repetition that added to this slowness.The mystery was carried on well through the book and there were enough twists and turns to keep this reader guessing. I was sure I had the mystery figured out and then the author would throw in a red herring and I had to rethink my choice. I like when that happens.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a culinary cozy mystery. There are a few recipes at the back of the book that readers can try their hand at. I did like this book and I will read the next book in the series, I am curious to see which direction J. J.’s romance will take.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A delicious new cozy mystery series featuring the Culinary Capers Dinner Club—who are fearless when it comes to cooking up new dishes and putting the lid on crime...
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer... (Goodreads)
Review:
J.J. is an event planner and she is keeping very busy. She is planning a twenty-first birthday party and she wants the event to go flawlessly because she knows it will bring in a lot more business. She has been meeting with all the vendors, and things seem to be going well. Until she meets with the caterer, Antonio Marcotti, a famous chef. She argues with him, telling him that the party budget cannot include funghi, an expensive dish that he insists that the party needs. She is sure that he understands and even has the contract to prove that she did not want that dish. So, when she sees the dish at the party, she is livid. She has words with the chef when the party is over, and she is still fuming when she gets home. The next day when she goes back to the party to supervise the clean-up, she is shocked to learn that the chef had been murdered. And since she was the last person to see him alive, except for the murderer, she is high on the list of murder suspects. She knows that she will have to solve the mystery herself to keep out of jail.
The characters were well rounded and well developed. I am not sure why but I did not connect with J. J. as much as I would have liked. Some of her actions did not make sense to me. If I did not like to cook, I would not join a dinner club, but J. J. did. She joined the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, where she has to plan and host a dinner party every so often. I would definitely not do that. And she was dating someone who she knew she had no sparks with, which seems like a waste of time to me. This is only my opinion and other readers may really like her. I did like Ness Harper, a neighbor of J. J. Even though he is not a man of many words, he was someone she could always count on. I also enjoyed getting to know Rocco Gates. I did like the potential new love interest for J. J. and look forward to seeing where that goes in the coming books.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. At times I felt like it was a little slow moving and there was some repetition that added to this slowness.The mystery was carried on well through the book and there were enough twists and turns to keep this reader guessing. I was sure I had the mystery figured out and then the author would throw in a red herring and I had to rethink my choice. I like when that happens.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a culinary cozy mystery. There are a few recipes at the back of the book that readers can try their hand at. I did like this book and I will read the next book in the series, I am curious to see which direction J. J.’s romance will take.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 6, 2018
I really wanted to like Toasting Up Trouble more than I did. I wish that the book spent more time with the Culinary Capers dinner club. I found that idea so inviting. Her day-to-day operations as an event planner were less exciting. Wanted to see more of the cat. Not sure if I would read another. 3 stars
July 9, 2016
FIRST IN A NEW SERIES! When I see those words it makes me shiver. I am an avid cozy mystery reader, so when a new series comes to town, I get excited and anxious. Is it going to be good and do I get to meet new characters or is it not going to be what I thought and I get disappointed? If you are a lover of any genre, I am sure you know what I am talking about.
When I saw the cover and it had a cat, cookbooks and a lake, I told self, "it has to be good, calm down!" The dinner club mystery was the next thing I saw and that did it! Before I even opened the cover and read the first page, I knew I was going to be hooked and I knew that there were going to be some great recipes to try. By the way, antipasto recipes are a weakness of mine.
J.J. is the main character and she is a great lead character. The dinner club group is called Culinary Capers and what a great name and group! You do not find out a whole lot about each of them, but just enough to get to know them and like them. Ness is not a part of the Culinary Capers, but I am being drawn to him and hope he is in future books. I have a feeling that we will be getting to know each of the Capers better in the future and I cannot wait to see them develop.
I absolutely love the idea of the dinner club and being that the Italian food was the pick, my mouth was watering after I read about their first meeting. In fact, I had to look up the cookbook that they were trying the recipes from and I purchased a copy of it. Yes, besides cozy mysteries, I am a cookbook hoarder, so I am looking forward to learning about other cookbooks that I may not have heard of.
As far as the mystery goes, oh boyie! Just as I thought I might have it figured out, BAM, another red herring was around the corner. I loved that about this book. I was truly surprised who did it.
Most cozy mystery readers tend to drink tea and that is not a bad thing, but I prefer coffee, so it was nice that J.J. loved her latte's and espresso drinks. So, as I raise my coffee cup, I toast you Ms. Wiken for a great job and I cannot wait for your next book in this new series. I think you have a great beginning to a series that is going to be around for a good long time.
Note: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by the publisher.
When I saw the cover and it had a cat, cookbooks and a lake, I told self, "it has to be good, calm down!" The dinner club mystery was the next thing I saw and that did it! Before I even opened the cover and read the first page, I knew I was going to be hooked and I knew that there were going to be some great recipes to try. By the way, antipasto recipes are a weakness of mine.
J.J. is the main character and she is a great lead character. The dinner club group is called Culinary Capers and what a great name and group! You do not find out a whole lot about each of them, but just enough to get to know them and like them. Ness is not a part of the Culinary Capers, but I am being drawn to him and hope he is in future books. I have a feeling that we will be getting to know each of the Capers better in the future and I cannot wait to see them develop.
I absolutely love the idea of the dinner club and being that the Italian food was the pick, my mouth was watering after I read about their first meeting. In fact, I had to look up the cookbook that they were trying the recipes from and I purchased a copy of it. Yes, besides cozy mysteries, I am a cookbook hoarder, so I am looking forward to learning about other cookbooks that I may not have heard of.
As far as the mystery goes, oh boyie! Just as I thought I might have it figured out, BAM, another red herring was around the corner. I loved that about this book. I was truly surprised who did it.
Most cozy mystery readers tend to drink tea and that is not a bad thing, but I prefer coffee, so it was nice that J.J. loved her latte's and espresso drinks. So, as I raise my coffee cup, I toast you Ms. Wiken for a great job and I cannot wait for your next book in this new series. I think you have a great beginning to a series that is going to be around for a good long time.
Note: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by the publisher.
February 1, 2017
Tidy plot reminiscent of a traditional amateur sleuth mystery and strong pacing makes Toasting Up Trouble an entertaining diversion in these winter months. Hints of a need to read 'just one more chapter.'
Young, strong-willed event planner, J.J.Turner has succeeded with a high-end party for a client. The chef is found dead and J.J. becomes a suspect. Chefs who change menus with pricy alternatives are prone to consequences.
The dialogue is bright, occasionally a bit too sunny, but the story is a good one. The sleuthing is edgy with pacing that gets you to the conclusion. The craftsmanship of the pen is polished.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
Young, strong-willed event planner, J.J.Turner has succeeded with a high-end party for a client. The chef is found dead and J.J. becomes a suspect. Chefs who change menus with pricy alternatives are prone to consequences.
The dialogue is bright, occasionally a bit too sunny, but the story is a good one. The sleuthing is edgy with pacing that gets you to the conclusion. The craftsmanship of the pen is polished.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
November 6, 2016
One of my cozy pet peeves happens in this book: the heroine flat out asks someone if they killed the murdered guy.
Lots of expositional dialogue, flat side characters, and a downright annoying lead. The next book isn't high on my list, unless I get desperate or something.
Lots of expositional dialogue, flat side characters, and a downright annoying lead. The next book isn't high on my list, unless I get desperate or something.
October 2, 2016
7/3/16 Full review tk.
10/1/16 http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/...
10/1/16 http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/...
September 16, 2018
Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner is an Event Planner and the book opens with her organizing a big birthday party for a 21 year old and finding she unexpectedly needs to find a replacement caterer. She takes the recommendation of a friend and hires Antonio Marcotti to cater the event. It’s a huge event and when she and Chef Marcotti bump heads, J.J. confronts him after the party. It is super late and she storms off in her car only to learn that after she leaves, the Chef is murdered.
Also, J.J. is up next to pick the Culinary Capers Dinner Club next recipe book. The club members take turns each month picking a book and then a recipe to try from it. The rest of members then choose a course to make to go along with that choice. I think this sounds so fun! I would join that club in a heart beat! Well, J.J. isn’t much a cook, so she is stressing about two things now.
J.J. is a suspect, and a few of her friends are also. After finding a P.I. has been following her, J.J. decides she better clear their names. As she finds answers she becomes a killer’s target, but who is the killer?
Solid story with great characters. Beautiful scenery, and since J.J. walks around town a lot, we get to “see” more of the town!
I would most certainly recommend this to friends as a great cozy! Plus, there are some great recipes included!
Also, J.J. is up next to pick the Culinary Capers Dinner Club next recipe book. The club members take turns each month picking a book and then a recipe to try from it. The rest of members then choose a course to make to go along with that choice. I think this sounds so fun! I would join that club in a heart beat! Well, J.J. isn’t much a cook, so she is stressing about two things now.
J.J. is a suspect, and a few of her friends are also. After finding a P.I. has been following her, J.J. decides she better clear their names. As she finds answers she becomes a killer’s target, but who is the killer?
Solid story with great characters. Beautiful scenery, and since J.J. walks around town a lot, we get to “see” more of the town!
I would most certainly recommend this to friends as a great cozy! Plus, there are some great recipes included!
July 18, 2017
Wasn't a fan of this novel. There was way too much going on for me to get into.
JJ is an event planner, who is planning a 21st birthday party. The party goes well, until the chef is found dead. This is after him and JJ had a big fight about the food for the party. JJ is also planning a dinner at her house for her dinner club party and she has to make the entree. And then JJ is also planning another future event, however she has competition. Someone is proposing the exact same ideas as JJ to the client as well. There was also a PI thrown in as well as a love interest.
I didn't get the point of the dinner club. Was this just to add a food element and recipes? I found that the writing was hard to get into and I thought of giving up in the first 50 pages. Nothing seemed to flowed.
The mystery of the dead chef was surprising and I didn't guess the conclusion. However, there was just too much going on that the murder was almost on the back burner.
JJ is an event planner, who is planning a 21st birthday party. The party goes well, until the chef is found dead. This is after him and JJ had a big fight about the food for the party. JJ is also planning a dinner at her house for her dinner club party and she has to make the entree. And then JJ is also planning another future event, however she has competition. Someone is proposing the exact same ideas as JJ to the client as well. There was also a PI thrown in as well as a love interest.
I didn't get the point of the dinner club. Was this just to add a food element and recipes? I found that the writing was hard to get into and I thought of giving up in the first 50 pages. Nothing seemed to flowed.
The mystery of the dead chef was surprising and I didn't guess the conclusion. However, there was just too much going on that the murder was almost on the back burner.
August 13, 2017
Event planner Jennifer “J.J.” Tanner has a full plate, but that’s the way she likes it. First, it’s her turn to choose the recipe for the next meeting of the Culinary Capers Dinner Club, a gathering of foodie friends who experiment with entrées for their creative and gastronomical pleasure. Second, she’s organizing an Italian princess party for the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a high-tech millionaire.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer...
Very good I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
But one thing J.J. didn’t plan on is that the caterer for the event—hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti—would end up murdered the night of the party. Or that she’d end up being a prime suspect after having had a heated argument with the unscrupulous chef. Now it’s up to J.J.—with help from her fellow Club members and a handsome if mysterious private eye—to turn the tables on the real killer...
Very good I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
September 25, 2017
While the book begins with an interesting premise, too many different strands are being juggled, and sometimes become entangled. J.J. Tanner, an event planner, is also a fairly new member of a dinner club, where the five members each make one dish for each of their dinner meetings. When the caterer at her latest event is murdered, and she becomes a prime suspect, J.J. also adds investigating the murder to her already full plate. I had trouble at times keeping the various characters straight, there were so many. In addition, two of the Italian characters did not have (fully) Italian names, which distracted me from the story. The book seemed too long, and at one point I wondered if the author had written herself into a corner. However, it was good enough that I will most likely read the next book in the series.
July 14, 2017
J.J. Tanner is a partner in a fledgling catering business. She's also a proud member of the Culinary Capers Club, a group of fearless foodies who come together to cook one another dinner and share recipes. J.J. is busy; she's planning the next club meeting, and she's about to cater a multi-millionaire's daughter's 21st birthday party. But things take an ugly turn when J.J. argues with hotshot chef Antonio Marcotti over an item in the menu, and he is found dead not long after.
Now it's up to J.J. and her foodie sleuth friends, with the help of a rather interesting private detective, to clear her name and that of others. There's no end to suspects, since the chef was much disliked.
This is a clean delightful cozy that you'll finish quickly and be glad you read.
Now it's up to J.J. and her foodie sleuth friends, with the help of a rather interesting private detective, to clear her name and that of others. There's no end to suspects, since the chef was much disliked.
This is a clean delightful cozy that you'll finish quickly and be glad you read.
October 30, 2021
I REALLY need to quit trying these 'cozy" mysteries which the lying reviewers claim is "humorous/ charming/ witty"
theyre all the same tired hackneyed formula.. Some yenta annoying , interfering female thinks she is a detective and gets in the law enforcements way and because they solve it only on luck and NOT on brain power (you notice how its always the very last thing 2 chapters before the end that they "find the killer " .. AND always end up in trouble needing help and nearly getting killed or often injured.. and often get law enforcement in trouble
Stupid. boring .. and how these females function boggles the mind
PS their oh so earnest babble about their baking/ cookin cracks me up
theyre all the same tired hackneyed formula.. Some yenta annoying , interfering female thinks she is a detective and gets in the law enforcements way and because they solve it only on luck and NOT on brain power (you notice how its always the very last thing 2 chapters before the end that they "find the killer " .. AND always end up in trouble needing help and nearly getting killed or often injured.. and often get law enforcement in trouble
Stupid. boring .. and how these females function boggles the mind
PS their oh so earnest babble about their baking/ cookin cracks me up
June 5, 2017
Great start to this very enjoyable to read cozy mystery. All the more fun because it revolves around food in this instance members of a dinner club. J. J. is an event planner who plans an event for the 16 year old daughter of a executive. However J. J. clashes with the caterer who puts in an expensive dish that wasn't part of the original quote. Said caterer ends up murdered sometime after the event J. J. finds him when she goes to clean up after the event. She investigates and of course runs a foul of the murderer.
January 9, 2019
J.J. (Jennifer June) Tanner is an interesting main character. However, she jumps to conclusions, forges ahead without thinking, and bumbles around asking questions and accusing people; in other words a typical amateur sleuth character. She makes it her goal to ferret out other suspects because she knows she didn't do the killing and she doesn't believe that the other suspects did either. She has a good heart. The dinner club is an interesting idea and it was fun to meet the other members and hear about their cookbook selections. I think that I will read the next book in the series.
May 24, 2024
I enjoyed this "foodie" based first in series with great characters and a fun sleuth . JJ is a event caterer who has a high profile event for a child of a tech magnat. When the chef who was hired for the event is murdered JJ is involved and soon sleuthing with her cooking club friends to find the killer. This was a fun read that I highly recommend. I enjoyed the cooking club and the supporting characters all added to the series with depth and likability. A well crafted mystery that kept me guessing. o
December 10, 2017
This was a nice start to a series.
JJ was fairly likable and her interest in the case was understandable. I liked the event planning and dinner club aspects of the story, too.
The stolen job proposal subplot fell a bit flat though. And I found JJ's italicized thoughts to be out of place, especially since the book was mainly told from her POV already.
Overall though, there was a lot to like.
JJ was fairly likable and her interest in the case was understandable. I liked the event planning and dinner club aspects of the story, too.
The stolen job proposal subplot fell a bit flat though. And I found JJ's italicized thoughts to be out of place, especially since the book was mainly told from her POV already.
Overall though, there was a lot to like.
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