Leslie Karst schöpft aus einer einzigartigen Mischung von Einflüssen, darunter Familiendiskussionen, die sowohl sorgfältige Analyse als auch die Künste schätzten, und verfasst fesselnde Kriminalgeschichten. Diese grundlegende Ausbildung wendet sie in ihrer Arbeit an, indem sie eine kulinarische Krimiserie kreiert, die in Santa Cruz, Kalifornien, spielt. Als ehemalige Anwältin mit Abschlüssen in englischer Literatur und kulinarischer Kunst prägt ihr Hintergrund ihren unverwechselbaren erzählerischen Ansatz. Karst widmet ihre Zeit verschiedenen kreativen Tätigkeiten, vom Kochen und Singen bis zum Gärtnern und Schreiben, und verleiht ihrer Arbeit eine reiche, vielschichtige Perspektive.
When a head cold knocks out restaurateur Sally Solari's sense of taste and smell, at the same time her old acquaintance Neil Lerici is murdered at the annual Artichoke Cook-Off, she plunges headfirst into the case, risking alienating everyone she knows. But soon it's not just her restaurant and her friendships on the line - it's her life ...
Sally Solari quits her job as an attorney to help her recently widowed father run his restaurant. When her aunt is found murdered and her sous chef is the prime suspect, Sally is determined to clear his name and find the real murderer.
Chef Sally Solari has unexpectedly gained a reputation as a talented sleuth, but her latest case involving a cookbook killer could be her last. During the bustling tourist season in Santa Cruz, California, she manages her French-Polynesian restaurant, Gauguin, while also dealing with her father's concerns about the homeless population near their family’s Italian seafood restaurant on the historic wharf. When Sally volunteers for a farm-to-table dinner at the trendy restaurant and culinary bookshop, Pages and Plums, she sees it as a chance to support an organization for the homeless and seniors. The highlight is a signed boxset of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a prized item for auction. However, the event takes a dark turn when the dining room manager is found dead and the cabinet with the valuable books is empty. Once again, Sally is drawn into a criminal investigation. With her knack for uncovering murder, can she outsmart a cunning killer with a taste for French cuisine before she becomes the next victim? This culinary cozy mystery promises a thrilling ride filled with intrigue and deliciousness, perfect for both new and returning fans of Sally's adventures.
A glimpse of a melting corpse at the foot of a volcano leaves amateur sleuth and food enthusiast Valerie Corbin shocked. How can she investigate a murder when there's no evidence the victim ever existed? Set in tropical Hilo, Hawai'i, this cozy mystery introduces a fun LGBTQ+ couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing. Retired caterer Valerie and her wife Kristen are on the Big Island for a well-deserved vacation, seeking distraction after Valerie's recent loss. One morning, the couple and their friend Isaac head to see an active lava flow. Valerie is captivated by the shifting mass of orange and red until she spots a boot in the distance. As she approaches, horror strikes when she realizes the boot is attached to a leg being engulfed by lava. Convinced a murder has occurred, Valerie is determined to prove what she saw, but as the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, she faces disbelief. Launching her own investigation, she navigates a Hawaiian culture far removed from the typical tourist experience, fearing she might become the next victim entombed in black rock. With amiable characters, a stunning backdrop, and culinary delights, this cozy mystery offers a tropical vacation twist, complete with recipes for local dishes.