And Murder for Dessert

Kathleen Delaney
Poisoned Pen Press (2007)
ISBN 1590584236
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (3/07)

Ellen McKenzie has a lot on her mind. Her boyfriend, Chief of Police Dan Dunham, had just asked her to marry him. She loves him, but she is clearly afraid of being hurt again. Her niece, Sabrina, and Sabrina’s husband Mark are staying with her – temporarily, but it has been a bit too long for Dan’s liking. Sabrina and Mark got new jobs in the winery located nearby. What happened to their old jobs? It seems that their departure there was a bit abrupt.

Sabrina and Mark are hosting an upscale dinner at the winery. Their jobs might well depend on its success. Their guest chef, Otto Messinger, is well known for his volcanic temper. To top things off, he feels that he has unsettled issues with Mark’s father. Otto’s assistant Larry is an old acquaintance of Ellen’s – and he seems to be very keen on taking her to dinner – and more. This does not make Dan particularly happy.

The dinner starts – and we meet yet more people who have argued or fought with Otto in the past. Then Otto turns out dead – in a wine fermenting tank. Sabrina seems to be the most likely suspect. Did she do it?

Kathleen Delaney’s “And Murder for Dessert” is an enjoyable, if a bit too predictable mystery. I was pretty sure I knew who’s-done-it by page 80 or so – and I was not wrong. This slightly diminished my enjoyment of the story – I like my mysteries more mysterious. On the other hand I did enjoy the plot and the characters greatly. Ellen McKenzie sounds very real – a real woman struggling with a lot of middle-age issues. Aunt Mary is too cute for words. I sure hope I am like her when I reach her age – well, maybe without her “interesting” outfits. Even the villains are endearing in their own way – if slightly irritating the entire time.

I’d recommend “And Murder for Dessert”  as this is a nicely readable book, which should provide a couple of hours of good reading fun.

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