Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: Turn Up the Heat
Author: Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime/Penguin Group
ISBN: 9780425219478
Release Date: March 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: Cozy/Romantic Mystery
Year/Setting: Present day - Boston
Overall Rating: 3.75
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Jessica's Website:
conantpark.typepad.com
Trouble just seems to find (or follow) Chloe Carter. She never would have thought an enjoyable evening with friends at her boyfriend’s restaurant, Simmer, eating fabulous food, talking about new careers, babies, and final exams would lead to her discovery of a dead body…
Owen, fiancé to Chloe’s best friend Adrianna, just wanted to show off his new fish delivery truck. Not exactly on Chloe’s top ten list things to see, but for Owen she’d be enthusiastic. And she was, she tried, at least until she discovered the dead body of their server, Leandra, from the night before.
First and only "person of interest" seems to be Owen. It was his truck, so of course he did the crime. Not! At least Chloe’s pretty sure he didn’t and she’s right there for Adrianna and Owen, lending her support.
It soon becomes apparent that Gavin, the restaurant’s owner, is practically devastated by Leandra’s death. Too devastated to be the person to put together a remembrance book for her memorial, Gavin asks Chloe to do it. Again, not on her top ten list of things to do (neither is studying for exams), but she does it for Josh, her yummy boyfriend. Even with rumors swirling there’s bound to be someone with something nice to say about Leandra...
However, with a few well placed questions Chloe learns the employees, from the cleaning staff to the sous chef, had little regard for Leandra. But neither did the people she’d worked with before coming to Simmer. It’s clear at least one of them was her enemy, but which one?
Chloe has become one of my favorite characters. She’s compassionate, fun, always willing to lend a hand. Her friends are a good foil for her personality, placing her in sometimes awkward situations.
While Chloe seems to be amid the suspects and aftermath of murder she doesn’t purposefully go after clues in order to solve the mystery, she sort of stumbles onto them. That being the case this series couldn’t be labeled as a highly suspenseful, intricate mystery series. Yet the elements are there for the reader to stumble along with Chloe, guess and deduct who done it and why.
Make no mistake, I always enjoy reading a Gourmet Girl Mystery and Turn Up the Heat was no exception. Tagging along with Chloe is always fun and entertaining. You never know what she’ll say or do next...
Connie
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