Crime Brulee

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Summary: The Lady Can Write, perhaps just not mysteries...
Review: This author is a delight. Her heroine, the setting, the charm with which she describes her characters and their environment are unparallel. You know and like these people, you want to go to all the wonderful restaurants and enjoy an evening with these people, you even get a kick out of the police lieutenant making a pass at Carolyn, the only thing missing is the mystery. It was an afterthought?

Rating:
Summary: Lighten up, folks!
Review: To the last couple of reader-reviewers, I can only say -- Lighten up! "Crime Brulee" is comedy, it's meant to be light-hearted and funny. And to my mind it succeeds. Carolyn Blue is a delight, and her emancipation from the kitchen can only be enjoyed. When I want dark mysteries I'll read Patricia Cornwell or Ian Rankin. When I want to be amused, I'll look for more titles by Nancy Fairchild.

Rating:
Summary: An insult to New Orleans and its residents
Review: While the writing in this book is not technically awful I was offended by everything else about it. None of the characters were in the least bit appealing and it portrayed New Orleanians as either extremely rude or backwoods hicks. The horrible attempt at writing the local accent fell extremely flat. And the premise that someone can so easily land a book deal by simply writing one article is ridiculous. I sincerely hope the author never darkens the doorstep of the beautiful city of New Orleans again. If you want to read about the real New Orleans, try O'Neil De Noux or Tony Dunbar.

Rating:
Summary: Swamped By This Purchase
Review: With such a catchy title, I couldn't wait to read this one. I thought the beginning so tedious and smug, however, that I put it away and didn't read it until I was desperate a few months later. I should have never gone back. It is a very strange and stagnant,erratic book. The heroine is so prim and stuffy about other people, yet continues to try to let the audience know how wonderful, mature, and faultless she and her husband are. It goes ON and ON and ON about this missing friend and how the friend's hubby is rude, curt, uncaring,etc., and when she finally gets assistance from the police, even the detective has to end up with a faulty character. It is difficult to warm to the main character enough to want to hear more of her adventures. Normally, it is fun to read this type of book, but it was such a letdown that I'll get a cookbook next time instead. The book does have its "moments" but not enough. If this is the author's first book, perhaps she will accrue some honest tips from those in her circle before embarking on another beignet foray.