Review

Fans of: Lila Dare and Sheila Connolly

Lulu Taylor owns Aunt Pat’s restaurant, a BBQ joint located on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.  Aunt Pat’s wouldn’t survive without a lot of help from Lulu’s son Ben and his wife Sara, so when Sara lands a spot as a featured artist in Tristan Pembroke’s charity auction, Lulu promises to attend the event and lend her support – even though Tristan is one of her least favorite people.

A snobby and condescending former beauty queen turned pageant coach, Tristan’s mission in life is to make other people miserable, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise when the woman is found dead on the night of the auction.  There’s no shortage of people in town with a motive for Tristan’s murder, but unfortunately for Sara, she’s the only one who publicly argued with Tristan on the night in question and who doesn’t have an alibi for the time of death.  Lulu knows her daughter-in-law is innocent, but it seems the only way to prove that is to catch the real killer.  Are Lulu’s sleuthing skills up to the task – or will her nosiness earn her a spot as the killer’s next victim?

Hickory Smoked Homicide is the third of author Riley Adams’ Memphis BBQ Mysteries.  I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book; I love the idea of combining barbeque with murder, but I wasn’t a big fan of the previous book in Adams’ series (the delightfully named Finger Lickin’ Dead).  I’m happy to report, however, that my concern was for naught:  Hickory Smoked Homicide is quite an enjoyable read.  The plot is meaty (sorry – I couldn’t resist), the mystery is both compelling and complex, and while I found the book’s climax to be a little far-fetched, I took great joy in discovering the identity of Tristan’s killer.  

Adams’ character work has improved considerably from her last novel.  Lulu and her friends are still larger than life, but they’re less over-the-top here than they were in Finger Lickin’ Good; cartoonish has given way to charmingly eccentric, making for a much more likable and identifiable cast.  Lulu has evolved into a sort of badass grandmother figure (who doesn’t need one of those in her life?), Cherry is equal parts worthy sidekick and great comic relief, and Tristan is a villain you’ll love to hate.

I do wish this book had a stronger sense of atmosphere – Memphis seems like the sort of town that’s got a life of its own, and should almost be a character in its own right – but that’s a minor quibble.  Looking for a spicy culinary cozy to help you pass a chilly autumn afternoon? Check out Riley Adams’ Hickory Smoked Homicide.

Reviewed by Kat