Despite not being a fan of cooking shows or contests and being new to this series, I enjoyed "A Half-Baked Alibi". Author Devon Delaney does an excellent job of showing how high-profile cooking contests work, events she seems to have first hand knowledge of, including the goings on behind the scenes. I have to admit, too, to not guessing who did it until the final reveal. In my defense, the murderer's name was one of those that lead my suspect list at one point or the other but since that list changed regularly, I can't claim any extra-ordinary sleuthing ability. Delaney keeps you guessing.
Sherry Oliveri is a likeable character, as are her friends and family. She is a frequent winner of cooking contests but is sidelined with an injury this go-round although she assists.We get to meet the likely suspects and see the basic set-up of the contest, including some memories shared of how things can go wrong. Hmm, wonder how many of these author Delaney has first-hand experience with? In any case, while doing her assistant duties, Sherry is on hand when a body is discovered. Even worse, one of her dearest friends is a suspect, a friend obviously keeping some secrets.
If you are a fan of cooking shows or contests, this is definitely the book for you. Even this non-fan came away with a new respect for how stressful the evens must be and the pressure on contestants to not just cook but perform for the judges. There's a few episodes on boyfriend Don's boat, too, which gives insight into how much goes into preparing a boat to carry passengers safely. Oliveri blends it all together nicely in an easy read and, oh, goodie, includes some yummy sounding recipes at the end. I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you #NetGalley and #BeyondThePagePublishing for inviting me to watch the cook-off, not to mention have a few rides on Don's boat.
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