A Poisonous Palate (Key West Food Critic Mystery #14), Lucy Burdette

 Publication August 6, 2024

As a former Floridian, I always enjoy the virtual visit to Key West to catch up with Hayley and her circle of friends. As usual, she's beyond busy, keeping her food column fresh, helping Danielle with her wedding, and, yikes, another murder. Well, maybe two murders. One a cold case, decades cold, in fact, and the other a murder Hayley stumbled across while trying to help out Catherine Davitt, a writer who wants Hayley's help delving into the decades old disappearance of a friend. Then, after they stumble across a body, Catherine disappears, too. Was she the murderer and simply using Hayley or has something happened to her, too? Needless to say, Hayley, an admitted snoop, simply feels driven to investigate against all the advice of not just friends but police investigator husband Nathan. He pretty much knows he's wasting his breath, of course, although fears she may stir up the proverbial hornet's nest and find herself in danger. And wait until you hear what Nathan's been up to! I won't detail the plot much further other than to note that there are plentiful suspects. This book is 14th in the series but works well as a standalone although new readers will find themselves wanting to catch up on missed episodes when past sleuthing escapades are mentioned, most in the company of 80-something years old Miss Gloria who is a delightful character and part of the reason Hayley finds herself (and Nathan) living on a houseboat. In the process of reading, you'll find yourself soaking up the atmosphere of South Florida, especially the almost mythical Keys. You'll even get to tromp into a mangrove swamp. When not learning about old hippie havens in the area and some prime eating places, you'll be busy learning a great deal about Ernest Hemingway's Key West era, not to mention delving into his possible inner demons. As for the murder, it's an intriguing one weaving past into present and reviving old emotions and secrets some would wish remained buried. Hayley seems almost obsessed with the case. Honestly, I'm always surprised at the ease with which both sources and suspects respond to her not always subtle questioning. She rarely pushes too far, albeit she frequently has to get in one more question that sours the atmosphere. Will this get her in trouble? Oh, you already know that answer. Even Danielle's wedding seems to take the backseat to her thoughts about the investigation although she tries to focus. There's a great deal of driving around and talk, too, between Hayley and Miss Gloria, much of it sharing bits of Florida lore as well as observations they make. Don't let Miss Gloria's age make you underestimate her. She's sharp and knows when the befuddled ol' lady routine might be helpful, too. Bottom line, there's lots going on with some of the past being shared by journal/diary entries by Catherine about the decades old disappearance of her friend. The explanations of why/what that relationship involved are also quite interesting. Toxic love isn't always romantic love, let's just say. I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with Hayley, Nathan, and Miss Gloria, especially those more relaxed moment on the house boat. It's those relationships and the connections between other friends that keeps drawing me back to this series. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me over for an early visit to the house boat to catch up with Hayley and the rest. I always feel like I've been to the Keys, not to mention in need of something yummy to snack on as I read and ponder those recipes at the end. Yummy.