Publication Dec. 26, 2023
Delilah O'Leary is impulsive and her mouth frequently tends to operate well ahead of her brain. She loves her cat, Butterball, and her best friend Sonya, the "Son" of Delilah and Son, their pizza/food business. She also has a serious, apparently long-time crush on Detective Calvin Capone (yes, that Capone family) and is frustrated that he seems to be ignoring all the signals she's sent him of her interest. We do find out why, however, this go-round and it's actually rather touching. We also get to spend some time getting to know his mother Lola. She's also on Delilah's side.
Yes, the trope of being stranded in an isolated spot on a dark and stormy night while a killer lurks within is just that, a classic trope. Think Agatha Christie. That said, who doesn't love what's basically a good locked room mystery? While it's been awhile since I've read "And Then There Were None", I don't recall Christie's characters being quite as, well, quirky. Even after a murder, humorous bits keep creeping in, such as even in the midst of discovering a bloody murder weapon there is a great scene. I also don't think Christie's best works featured a cantankerous cat. A stowaway cat, at that. I have to admit, I did somehow see that one coming, maybe because I hoped to see Butterball play a role in the book. He is a character, that's for sure, with his own style, quirks, and ability to find and make trouble. His scene with Pamela's cat is a hoot.
All the characters are interesting, actually, and the interactions between them intriguing. Are those interactions clues to the murder of ol' fashioned Edgar Clemmons? What coded message was he trying to send to Sonya via Delilah? Why is Jarka, one of my favorite characters whose story emerges more in this book, arguing with Count Victor? Why does Biz, who appears briefly, hold a grudge against some of the suspects? What will Calvin's mom, Lola Capone, think of the humorous depiction of Al Capone in Delilah's shop? What less than subtle hint does Delilah send Calvin's way?
Oh, no more teasers. So many suspects and red herrings. I didn't really have it figured out, have to admit, though the ultimate conclusion made sense of the frequently conflicting clues, even if Delilah's hunches as fluctuated about as often as my own did. And, oh, the recipes at the end, all given in the voice of different characters. Such fun and I'm not usually one to read completely through recipes. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #StMartin'sCozies for inviting me to the party at Pamela's. Who knew Calvin Capone could play the piano, too.
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