Liz LippermanRecensioni

Quick read, cute story. I didn't realize it was fourth in a series when I started, so I didn't know some of the backstory, but that was okay, it wasn't necessary to the story. Fun characters, quickly paced. I didn't see the end coming, I was wrong on who the killer was. I might have to look into the other books in the series. Plus, there are recipes at the end for all the delicious food described in the book. I definitely recommend if you want a feel-good, light mystery to read.

good mystery but the main character was super annoying.

good mystery but the main character was super annoying.

Synopsis: Jordon, along with a celebrity chef and a confectioner, are tapped to judge a cook-off on a cruise. All the members of her 'family' end up on the cruise, as well; some are actually working while others are simply keeping their partners company. Murder begins with the death of one chef and continues through the head of security and the wife of the confectioner.
Review: Fun to read, this cozy mystery actually has an unexpected twist that makes it rather gritty.½

Well, I didn't love it. But I didn't hate it either. The protagonist didn't come across very consistently - acting timid and meek one minute and throwing very smart sassy and sarcastic around the next. The main plot was transparent and the secondary one only slightly less so. Still, the rest of the characters were engaging and likeable, and perhaps in the next book the main character will find her place. I won't be against reading the next one to see if the series improves.

I probably would rate this one 3 1/2 stars, so it gets 4. It was a good, solid cozy mystery with lots of possible suspects and a not so obvious ending. All of the characters are likeable although I have to admit, none of them totally clicked with me (hence the 3 1/2 instead of 4 stars). I like Jordan and her cast of friends, the book just didn't suck me in the way 4 stars normally do. I really like the interaction between her and Alex, and sadly, in this book, there was very little of Alex, although the ending suggests perhaps the next book will see more of him (although I'm guessing from the setup, the next book will take place on a cruise).

All in all, an enjoyable, quick read I'd recommend to most cozy lovers (although probably not vegetarians). :)

I had a hard time getting into this book and I'm going to blame it on the "remote location" nature of the plot. I'm not a fan of the 'away from home' stories and this one just didn't do it for me as well. The series has likeable interesting characters, and the plot of the murder mystery was clever and very well thought out. I'll admit I suspected who the murderer was early on, but never the reasoning behind it. There ended up being a lot of complexity to the plot by the end of the book.

I'll look for the next book in the series.

4 STARS

This cozy mystery was pretty good. Kept me guessing on a lot of it. Did figure out a few clues. Yea Me!
The plot was good. Characters were fun for the most part. Clean read. Romance of the story was weak.

Maddy was alone at the police station with the prisoners on Thanksgiving. When things went really wrong for her and the two prisoners. Her dead sister Tessa shows up to help her.

This is the second book in the Dead Sister Talking. Last time only Lainey saw her. This time it is Maddy's turn.

Maddy is arrested for murdering her prisoner. Everyone knows she did not do it, but the evidence is stacked against her. Colt had to suspend her from the force with pay while they look into it. He tells Maddy and all her sisters to stay away from the case.

A expensive lawyer contacts Maddy he wants to take her case for the publicity at a fraction of the cost. A ex-cop wants to rent Maddy's upstairs rooms for a month while he is in town on a case.

Lots of action, humor, as they try and figure out who the dead guy was.

I like Maddy and her sisters. They are close and care for each other. You want things to work out for all of them. I wonder if each of the four sisters will have the chance to see Tessa in the future. I would read more in this series.

The setting is Grapevine, Texas

The pacing is pretty fast. The story is always moving forward. Did not put the book down till I finished reading it.

I was given this ebook to read for purpose of giving honest review of it by Netgalley.

publication: May 8th 2014 by Midnight Ink 288 pages ISBN 9780738739939

The Dead Sister Talking Mysteries series by Lizbeth Lipperman merges contemporary, small town mystery with a touch of romance and a twist of the paranormal. Jailhouse Glock, the second installment, features rookie cop and single mom Maddy Castillo (nee Garcia), elaborately framed for the murder of a drunken lech in the station lock up. With the evidence mounting against her, Maddy turns to her sisters for help to unravel the conspiracy between an impersonator, a murdered witness and a stolen necklace, to clear her name.

Maddy is oldest of five sisters, one of whom, Lainey, was featured in book one, Heard It Through the Grapevine and another, Tessa, who despite being dead, is never far away when her siblings are in trouble. Each ‘Garcia girl’ differs from one another but share a tight, sisterly bond, and a penchant for getting into trouble. Their dynamic is believable and entertaining and I particularly enjoyed their banter, especially Tessa’s unfiltered wit.

I thought the plot of Jailhouse Glock was interesting and well thought out with a complexity often missing from cosy mysteries. It takes some careful planning, and a little luck, to so thoroughly frame Maddy as a corrupt cop. Despite the warnings from Vineyard’s police chief, who is also Maddy’s brother in law, the girls have few qualms about interfering in the investigation, and side with Maddy as she sets out to find the real killer, following a trail that reveals greed, betrayal and more bodies, one of which is very nearly her own.

This was such a fun read with appealing characters, a cleverly crafted mystery and I’m looking forward to reading the next one.½

Synopsis: Once again Jordon McAllister’s writing career plunges her into danger, but this time it is in connection with cattle barons and cowboys. And just to add a bit of spice, Jordon’s newest friend is plagued by ghosts.
Review: This second offering by Ms. Lipperman is more subtle than her first book. The characters continue to develop, as does Jordon’s back-story. The plot is a bit more complicated, making guessing the identity of the murder more difficult.½

Synopsis: Jordon McAllister is a wanna-be sports reporter stuck writing the Personals for a small town Texas newspaper until the culinary reporter breaks a hip and ends up in the hospital. Jordon’s ‘big break’ is to take over the Kitchen Kupboard column until Loretta is back on her feet. The only real issue is that Jordon knows nothing about cooking. Murder and mayhem follow and Jordon is pulled into the mix.
Review: This book reads like a cross between Elaine Viets, Janet Evanovich and Diana Mott Davidson, with a Texas twang. The characters are well developed, the writing is crisp, and the plot is entertaining.½

This book is the first in the A Cluelass Cook Mystery, by new author Liz Lipperman.

Liver Let Die is a very entertaining addition to the mystery genre.

Jordan McAllister has always dreamed of being a sports columnist. After breaking up with her boyfriend, she has moved to the small Texas city of Ranchero, TX and has gotten a job at Ranchero Globe. Okay, she is writing personal ads for the paper, but she has hopes. The culinary columnist has just broken her hip and will be rehab for six weeks. Jordan is offered the opportunity to take over her column, The Kithen Kupboard. there's the problem, Jordan's idea of cooking is to put something in the microwave and hit start. The second problem is that the first review she is asked to do is The Longhorn Prime Rib and she has an aversion to red meat. So she agrees, hoping that the job she really wants will open up.

Jordan lives at the Empire Apts. along with a real cast of characters that really shine. Rosie the fiftyish something seller of handmade jewelry, Michael, Victor, Lola a local psychic and Ray a retired cop.

Jordan heads off on her first assingment and Jordan explains to her waiter, JT, that she does not eat red meat and ask what else is on the menu that is good. She goes with JT's suggestion and when he returns with the entree, she asks what is it. Well the thought of being able to enjoy foie gras, ranks up there with red meat. She promtly stuff it in her first and offers her compliments. In the morning she is awakend to find that her waiter is found dead in the lobby of her aprtment with her name and phone number in his pocket.

The author skillfully provides the reader with several possible killers, all with reason to do it. Could it be the college football star, the local lawyer who might also have a bookie business on the side. Jordan and her neighbor must pull out their playbooks and work on their game plan before time expires---for someone else.

A very fun read and I am looking forward to the next book.

Murder For The Halibut is the third book in the A Clueless Cook Mystery series.

Jordan McAllister may just be in over her head in this book. She has been volunteered, more or less, one of three judges for a week long cooking competition aboard the Carnation Queen. At the first nights competition, Chef Stefano Mancini is about to present his signature Halibut dish to the judges, when he falls face fist into it and dies. Shortly after this is learned from Chef Thomas that Mancini was allergic to nuts and it is learned that a small bottle of spices that he was using had ground nuts in it.

The prize going to the winner of this competition is substantial and Jordan wants to know who would go to such lengths to win the coveted prize. Two of the chefs, Marsha and Casey, seem willing to do whatever it takes to win, even giving favors to one of other two judges. Or Chef Thomas who knew of his allergy, but kept quiet until after he died.

The whole gang from Jordan apartment building is along on the cruise, too. They all, in one way or another, help Jordan to uncover just what who is killing who aboard ship,

As always there is a little humor included too. Can't be serious all the time. One of the funniest is read how Jordan will dispose of a bit of sweetbread once she learns what it is. And Alex comes in towards the end to help Jordan wrap things up.

As always, a very entertaining read. Looking forward to the next book.

This is one of those books I picked up on a whim because the title caught my attention. I enjoyed the story - it was a bit predictable but none the less it was a good "who done it" novel that I found myself flying through it was such an easy read and it flowed really well. A good book if you are caught in the car traveling and there isn't much else to do.

This was definitely a quick read! I flew through this book because it was entertaining and I really enjoy the characters in the book. They each have such interesting quirks. The mystery in this one was a little more developed which kept me guessing after I thought I had it figured out. So more of a doh than an ah moment. Can't wait to pick up the next one!

5 STARS

Heard it Through the Grapevine (A Dead Sister Talking Mystery) is a cozy mystery. Their is some love scenes and sex talk with different characters in the story. One character is even a porn star.

I enjoyed reading Heard it Through the Grapevine. Elaina comes home for her sister's funeral. Never mind that they have a feud and have not spoken for years.
Lainey has not been home for years. She sees her other sisters and talks with them. Did not even tell her boss/boyfriend that she even had another sister named Tessa.

When Lainey sees her sister in the casket she screams because her sister is also standing by the casket. No one else can see or hear her. Her three other sisters thinks she broken down because she and her sister never made their fight over.

It takes a lot of talking with Tessa's ghost giving a lot of private information that the sisters kept secret from each other. Then started to believe Lainey was really seeing Tessa. Tessa asks them to solve her murder. She has no idea who would kill her.
She leaves most of belongings to her daughter and Lainey. Tessa owned a half of a winery.

Tessa slept with lots of guys. She had two ex-husbands. One little girl that lived with her father Colt the Sheriff of Vineyard, Texas.
Lainey had loved Colt since she was 15 years old and Tessa marrying him was what their feud about. Colt only thought of her as Tessa's little sister.

While Lainey and her sisters try and find out who had motives people keep ending up dead or threatened.
Colt keeps warning them off the investigation but Lainey does not listen to him. Lainey ends up staying on his ranch in the guest house after the hotel turns out dangerous.

They have to get around the knowledge that Tessa tells them about her last day and information they should not have.

Tessa is a wise cracking ghost and makes Lainey laugh at the wrong times. Their is a lot about Tessa's character that I don't like. But their are a lot of different characters who have reasons to kill her.
I would read another book from Lizbeth in the future. I can see some more books in Dead sister talking.
I was given this ebook and asked to give honest review of it when done by Netgalley.
05/08/2013 PUB Midnight Ink Books 336 pages ISBN-10: 0738736023

A potentially good concept, but was executed poorly. The author indicated this was her first effort and it shows. The book is set in a town north of Dallas, but could be anywhere USA. As such the author missed an opportunity to tell us more about Texas. Likewise the characters are stereotypical - gay guys running an antique shop, fatherly retired cop,jerk ex-boyfriend etc. etc. and seem to be more from California than the Texans I know. The food critic gimmick is just that a gimmick and once again poorly executed. The plot is also very predictable not particularly interesting. I would not read any further books by this author.

Rating: 3.5/5

I think it was the clever title that first drew me to this book. "Liver Let Die: A Clueless Cook Mystery" fit the story perfectly. The clueless cook in question is Jordan McAllister. Her ambition in life is to be a big time sports reporter, but instead she's stuck doing the personal ads for a small town newspaper. When the paper's food critic takes a leave of absence, Jordan's boss insists that she take over the weekly Kitchen Kupboard column. There are only two problems: Jordan can't cook, and she knows nothing about gourmet food.

Jordan's first assignment is to review a new steak house in town. Oh no! Up pops another problem: She doesn't eat beef. Her waiter, J.T., suggests she order the very expensive foie gras. Of course, Jordan is clueless as to what it actually is, and after taking a tiny nibble, she ends up hiding the rest of it in her purse. Ruining the purse wasn't the worst thing about the dinner; later on, her waiter is found stabbed to death outside of her apartment. Because J.T. was on his way to visit her, the police suspect she is the murderer.

Overall, I thought LIVER LET DIE was a fun read and well constructed cozy mystery. There were two stories going on that were loosely intertwined, and you don't find out until the end which one J.T.'s death fit into. This book was full of colorful characters, humorous moments and witty dialogue. One thing that had me giggling was how Jordan would take her friends' common recipes and make them "gourmet" for her column by giving the dishes foreign names. For the most part, Jordan was a very likable, down-to-earth "every woman," but she did have a couple TSTL moments. Though, it was funny because she pointed out her stupid moments as they were happening. There's also a budding romance between Jordan and the mysterious Alex Montgomery, someone she's not quite sure she can trust.

The book includes several recipes that were mentioned in the story. I especially want to try the Budin de Papitas Fritas con Pollo. I give LIVER LET DIE 3.5 out of 5 stars!

I received my copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Even though I have not yet read the first book in this series I can see by this one that Ms. Lipperman has a great series. The characters are greatly formed yet there is room for more development. The story moves at a very good pace and keeps you interested. Can't wait for the next book.

Second in new cozy series, Jordan McAllister's cooking column for the Ranchero, Texas newspaper has taken off, even with her lack of cooking skills still evident. Trained as a sportswriter, Jordan hopes this will be her in at the Globe. I liked the Texas setting and plot of this story. There's cattlemen, rustlers, restaurants--a lot going on in this mystery as Jordan's blind date for the Cattleman's Ball winds up dead during the fancy evening. I was glad Jordan was able to make a friend of sorts at work, and her brother Danny brought another nice angle to the story.½

My mama always told me "If you cook, you have to clean up". She sewed while I cooked and I cleaned up. I did the same for about twenty years after I got married. But my second husband is a great cook and he cleans up. It is like a long vacation to me. This is the first culinary cozy that I have read where the main character is "clueless" about cooking. I figure that she doesn't have to clean up. Pretty smart right?

In "Liver Let Die", by Liz Lipperman, Jordan McAllister was writing personals for a scrawny salary but she is plunked into the job of writing restaurant reviews but she knows nothing about cooking, except that is how make a fried bologna sandwich.

Jordan's real ambition is to be a sport writer, she is athletic, loves watching sports and would so much love to write sports articles. But when you can barely buy the bologna, you take what you can get. Just because she doesn't cook, it doesn't mean that she hates food. When Jordan tastes something wonderful, she closes her eyes and savors it. The easy but mouthwatering recipes for the food that makes her heart sing are in back of the book. Jordan is a non-beef eater except for hamburger due to a bad childhood experience. I am a vegetarian and I don't eat beef for other reasons so we would get along just fine. I grew up eating casseroles and eating rich desserts and that is the kind of food you will find in this book.

This is a great cozy, not just food wise. It is loaded with the quirky characters that live at the same apartment that she does, they cook and take care up her like a mother would. Liz Lipperman's mystery kept me guessing, action plus twists and turns. I am already looking forward to the second in this series, 'Beef Stolen Off". I loved the characters in `Liver Let Die' and I look forward to meeting up with them again.

What would do if you found out your nephew was dying? Dani Perez’s twin sister’s son is dying. There is a long shot cure that would save him but can Dani follow through on the crazy plan the sisters come up with. She is also trying to clear her husband’s name. He was killed during a bust and has been labeled a “dirty cop”. Her entire world is turned upside down as she tries to complete and survive both missions.



Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is one of those stories that I don’t want to tell you too much about so that I don’t ruin any of the suspense. I read the whole thing in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.

This is a exciting story with really strong family relationships. The things we do for love. Dani puts her life on the line for both her nephew and her husband’s memory.

The author takes us with these characters on a journey of love, loss, surprise, tension, fear, worry, and hope in an extraordinary way.

This is my first Liz Roth novel that I would classify as a romantic thriller. I hope she has another one it the works because I definitely want more!! I highly recommend this one.

Jordan McAllister always wanted to be a sportswriter. But after graduating from journalism school, she followed her boyfriend to Dallas, where she was unceremoniously dumped. Wanting to get away from him, she took a job writing personal ads for the newspaper in tiny Ranchero, Texas, "just until something more suitable turned up".

The paper's resident food critic has an accident, and Jordan is "called up" to cover for her. The only problem is that Jordan knows nothing about food. Has first assignment is to review an upscale local restaurant. She allows the waiter to convince her to order the foie gras, even though she has no idea what it is. Reluctant to eat it, she stuffs it into the lovely evening bag she's borrowed from her landlady.

Late the following night, she gets a phone call from the waiter asking if he can come over to talk about something. She falls asleep while waiting for him, and only realizes that he hasn't turned up when the police knock on her door wondering why a young man found murdered outside her apartment has her contact information in his pocket.

This is a promising start to a darkly comic small-town mystery series. Jordan is a smart, tough protagonist who, like many sit-com characters, doesn't let lack of knowledge about a subject keep her from tackling it.

The book closes with some of the recipes Jordan uses in her food column.

*FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.