Truffled Feathers

Rating:
Summary: a fun read
Review: Budding food columnist (amateur sleuth) Carolyn Blue finds herself knee deep in another murder mystery -- this time in New York City. And while "Truffled Feathers" is not as quirky as "Crime Brulee," this second Carolyn Blue murder mystery is as interesting and as engrossing as the first.

The Blues have come to New York on business: Jason is being recruited by Hodge, Brune and Byerson for a consultancy gig, while Carolyn has an appointment to meet her agent (face-to-face) for the first time. And while Jason is looking forward to his interview, Carolyn is girding herself to let her agent know that she has no desire to write the book on New Orleans culinary delights, esp because of the traumatic memories attached to that trip. However minutes after landing in the city, they learn that the head of research and development who had been responsible fore recruiting Jason, Max Heydemann, had keeled over and died over a pastrami sandwich. (Actually he was murdered in a manner that suggests a professional hit.) The Blues are shaken, and things at Hodge, Brune & Byerson seem to be especially tense. Gossip reveals that while Max was well liked by nearly everyone, he was hated by his ex-wife and children. And then Jason discovers that there have been some rather shady goings-on at H, B & B, that Max was investigating. Could that have been the reason why Max was murdered? Jason leans towards that theory, and determined to keep Carolyn from getting herself entangled in another murder mystery, he starts poking around H, B & B hoping to unmask a killer. In the meantime, Carolyn is lunching with the wives of H, B & B and picking up all kinds of gossip that leads her to suspect Max's neurotic ex-wife and his poisonous children of having offed him. Who is right: Jason or Carolyn? Both the Blues are determined to get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery.

While "Truffled Feathers" did not have quite the same wry tone that "Crime Brulee" did, it was still an entertaining read. I think that Nancy Fairbanks did a rather good job at capturing the tone and essence of New York City; I also liked the manner in which she portrayed the different scientists at H, B & B, as well as those she ran into in the publishing world. And for a mystery novel that was divided into two different narratives -- since both Carolyn and Jason were independently investigating Max's murder, but from different angles -- the book unfolded smoothly and flawlessly.

"Truffled Feathers" is a fun read: Fairbanks has peopled this mystery novel with enough eccentric and shady characters and red herring plots that should keep any avid mystery readers happily guessing for a couple of hours. I liked her first novel, and her second one has proved to be as good. This series is shaping up to be a rather drool and fun one, and one that is worth recommending.

Rating:
Summary: a fun read
Review: Budding food columnist (amateur sleuth) Carolyn Blue finds herself knee deep in another murder mystery -- this time in New York City. And while "Truffled Feathers" is not as quirky as "Crime Brulee," this second Carolyn Blue murder mystery is as interesting and as engrossing as the first.

The Blues have come to New York on business: Jason is being recruited by Hodge, Brune and Byerson for a consultancy gig, while Carolyn has an appointment to meet her agent (face-to-face) for the first time. And while Jason is looking forward to his interview, Carolyn is girding herself to let her agent know that she has no desire to write the book on New Orleans culinary delights, esp because of the traumatic memories attached to that trip. However minutes after landing in the city, they learn that the head of research and development who had been responsible fore recruiting Jason, Max Heydemann, had keeled over and died over a pastrami sandwich. (Actually he was murdered in a manner that suggests a professional hit.) The Blues are shaken, and things at Hodge, Brune & Byerson seem to be especially tense. Gossip reveals that while Max was well liked by nearly everyone, he was hated by his ex-wife and children. And then Jason discovers that there have been some rather shady goings-on at H, B & B, that Max was investigating. Could that have been the reason why Max was murdered? Jason leans towards that theory, and determined to keep Carolyn from getting herself entangled in another murder mystery, he starts poking around H, B & B hoping to unmask a killer. In the meantime, Carolyn is lunching with the wives of H, B & B and picking up all kinds of gossip that leads her to suspect Max's neurotic ex-wife and his poisonous children of having offed him. Who is right: Jason or Carolyn? Both the Blues are determined to get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery.

While "Truffled Feathers" did not have quite the same wry tone that "Crime Brulee" did, it was still an entertaining read. I think that Nancy Fairbanks did a rather good job at capturing the tone and essence of New York City; I also liked the manner in which she portrayed the different scientists at H, B & B, as well as those she ran into in the publishing world. And for a mystery novel that was divided into two different narratives -- since both Carolyn and Jason were independently investigating Max's murder, but from different angles -- the book unfolded smoothly and flawlessly.

"Truffled Feathers" is a fun read: Fairbanks has peopled this mystery novel with enough eccentric and shady characters and red herring plots that should keep any avid mystery readers happily guessing for a couple of hours. I liked her first novel, and her second one has proved to be as good. This series is shaping up to be a rather drool and fun one, and one that is worth recommending.

Rating:
Summary: Better than the first in the series
Review: I enjoyed this second entry in the series much better than the first one; in fact, I had almost decided not to buy this one. I am glad, however, that I did.
Both husband and wife, Carolyn and Jason Blue, take part in solving this mystery and I like both characters. Jason was not an essential part of the first book. The mystery, revolving around industrial espionage, murder, and the Russian mafia, is intriguing and Nancy [Herndon] Fairbanks does a good job balancing the husband/wife interfacing, the humor, the mystery, the zany characters, and the recipes. I give it three stars rather than four because one of the articles that Carolyn Blue writes for a potential newspaper job is rather offensive to Japanese-Americans (sorry if that sounds too politically correct).
I am looking forward to the third entry in the series and will definitely buy & read it.

Rating:
Summary: Cute culinary mystery
Review: Scientist Jason Blue specializes in how to clean toxins from the environment while his wife Carolyn is a gourmet chef. Carolyn receives an advance to write a cookbook on New Orleans cuisine. They travel to New York because Hodge, Bruce & Byerson want to hire Jason to help them with their "Cleaning the Environment Through Chemistry" mission while Carolyn meets with her editor.

Upon their arrival in the Big Apple, they learn that someone murdered the person who recruited Jason. Without informing one another, Jason and Carolyn independently investigate the homicide. Though approaching the puzzle differently, each of them draws the same conclusions about the perpetrators.

This reviewer provides two tips before reading this complex mystery. First fill up with a big meal before starting because the descriptions of food are salivating and torturous. Second ignore why two amateurs would investigate a killing especially since they are at best remotely impacted. Nancy Fairbanks writes a delicious, often amusing amateur sleuth story that will satiate the sub-genre's gourmands.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Cute culinary mystery
Review: Scientist Jason Blue specializes in how to clean toxins from the environment while his wife Carolyn is a gourmet chef. Carolyn receives an advance to write a cookbook on New Orleans cuisine. They travel to New York because Hodge, Bruce & Byerson want to hire Jason to help them with their "Cleaning the Environment Through Chemistry" mission while Carolyn meets with her editor.

Upon their arrival in the Big Apple, they learn that someone murdered the person who recruited Jason. Without informing one another, Jason and Carolyn independently investigate the homicide. Though approaching the puzzle differently, each of them draws the same conclusions about the perpetrators.

This reviewer provides two tips before reading this complex mystery. First fill up with a big meal before starting because the descriptions of food are salivating and torturous. Second ignore why two amateurs would investigate a killing especially since they are at best remotely impacted. Nancy Fairbanks writes a delicious, often amusing amateur sleuth story that will satiate the sub-genre's gourmands.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Amusing soufflé dished out in 'Truffled Feathers'
Review: The premise is fine. ...Part of the story is told from Carolyn's point of view and part from Jason's. Both character's put their own spin on what has transpired, with very different results.

Nancy Fairbanks likes her characters and makes this a fun read. The finish may leave you shaking your head in wonder, as it did me, but I would like to check out Carolyn's other adventure (in New Orleans) and see what's cooking at the Blue's.

As for 'Truffled Feathers', it was a nifty way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. I give it three stars: Five stars for interesting, likable characters and two stars for the slightly muddled ending.

Rating:
Summary: Amusing soufflé dished out in 'Truffled Feathers'
Review: The premise is fine. ...Part of the story is told from Carolyn's point of view and part from Jason's. Both character's put their own spin on what has transpired, with very different results.

Nancy Fairbanks likes her characters and makes this a fun read. The finish may leave you shaking your head in wonder, as it did me, but I would like to check out Carolyn's other adventure (in New Orleans) and see what's cooking at the Blue's.

As for 'Truffled Feathers', it was a nifty way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. I give it three stars: Five stars for interesting, likable characters and two stars for the slightly muddled ending.