Friday, June 7, 2013

A Cookbook Conspiracy: Mini-Interview with Kate Carlisle and Review


 
Welcome, Kate! What would you tell new readers to your series about your series, to inspire them to pick them up?
 
The Bibliophile Mystery novels are smart, funny murder mysteries. They’ll entertain you and make you think – and you can test your sits by seeing if you can figure out whodunit before the big reveal.
 
Brooklyn Wainwright is the top rare book expert in San Francisco, and one of the best in the world. In each Bibliophile Mystery, Brooklyn brings a book back to life – discovering treachery, deception, and finally, a murder that only she can solve. She’s surrounded by a cast of quirky but believable characters, and backed by her boyfriend, Derek Stone, a British security expert who knows better than to ask her to stay away from danger.
 
If you like TV shows like Castle, Bones, The Closer, Monk, Criminal Minds… I think you’ll enjoy these books.
 
Do you collect rare books as well? Or have a beloved book in your library?
 
I do! My father collected books, and I caught the passion for it from him. As far as I know, none of the books in my personal collection are associated with any murders, though. I love to haunt antiquarian book shops.
Brooklyn has always been a little obsessed with food, but it was her sister Savannah who became a chef, graduating from the prestigious Cordon Bleu school in Paris. She and her classmates all went on to successful careers, but none of them achieved culinary superstardom like Savannah’s ex-boyfriend Baxter Cromwell.

When Baxter invites the old gang to participate in his new restaurant’s gala opening in San Francisco, Savannah looks forward to seeing her friends, and even asks Brooklyn to restore a tattered cookbook—an old gift from Baxter—as a present for him. But Brooklyn immediately recognizes that the book, which has strange notes and symbols scrawled in the margins, is at least two hundred years old. She thinks that it probably belongs in a museum, but Savannah insists on returning it to Baxter.

Shortly after receiving the gift, Baxter is found dead, with Savannah kneeling over him, bloody knife in hand, and the rare cookbook has disappeared. Brooklyn knows her sister didn’t kill him, and she suspects the missing cookbook might lead to the real villain. Now Brooklyn will have to turn up the heat on the investigation before Chef Savannah finds herself slinging hash in a prison cafeteria.
Buy Links: Book Depository | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.

A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Kate is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America. She loves to drink good wine and watch other people cook.

Despite the appearance of overnight success, Kate’s dream of publication took many, many years to fulfill.

Connect with Kate: Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Cozy Mystery Book Tour is giving away one (1) copy of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends at midnight June 9, EST; US entries only, at the Cozy Mystery Tour’s request.


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My Review: Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile mysteries are always well-crafted puzzlers, and A Cookbook Conspiracy (#7) is no exception.

Brooklyn ends up knee deep in murder and mayhem once again (even though the mere sight of blood makes her faint...I can relate) when her sister, chef Savannah, asks her to repair an old cookbook from 1782 that was written by Obedience Green, an English lady who came to America to cook for a British general. Brooklyn immediately realizes that this is no ordinary cookbook; it is an historical treasure that belongs in a museum! She's horrified to learn that it's to be a gift for celebrity chef Baxter Cromwell, Savannah's ex boyfriend who treated her terribly and is a real cad. Baxter has opened a new restaurant and has invited all of his old friends from their Le Cordon Bleu days to the opening. When Baxter opens the gift he's less than thrilled, and later that evening is found dead in his kitchen...and Savannah is holding a bloody fish knife over his corpse!

With her sister suspected of murder, and the cookbook missing, Brooklyn and boyfriend Derek have a lot of work ahead of them, especially when they realize any one of these visiting chefs had motive to kill. They all had their secrets, and Baxter had made it is mission to uncover each and every one.

The final revelation of the killer made for a satisfying conclusion to this page-turner. Amidst all the drama and suspicion, the appearance of a heavily pregnant cat nicknamed Bootsie at the restaurant's back alley door, brought a special surprise to Brooklyn by the end and I'm really looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series.


I received a copy of this book from the author with the request for a review.
 

69 comments:

Connie - Tails from the Foster Kittens said...

Cute social media buttons! :)

Btw, do you know you have word verification on your comments?

Melissa, Mudpie and Angel Truffles (Mochas, Mysteries and Meows) said...

I think I just turned it off :)

Carol N Wong said...

I love funny and quirky cosy mysteries and this one sounds especially good. Thank you for the interview and this giveaway.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you so much, Carol! I hope you'll love A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY.

Deborah Lacy said...

Sounds like a fun book!

cyn209 said...

A Cookbook Conspiracy is on my WishList!!!!
hope to be moved to my TBR pile!! LOL!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!

cyn209 at juno dot com

My Recent Favorite Books said...

I enjoyed your interview. =)
I love cozies about cooking and cookbooks, looking forward to reading this one! =)

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Deborah! You can read a free excerpt on my website.

Kate Carlisle said...

Terrific, Cyn! Thank you so much for adding A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY to your wish list. Best of luck in the giveaway!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Melissa! I really had a great time writing A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY. I hope you'll love it, too. I've included some great recipes in the book!

Anonymous said...

Great interview. LOVE your books!!!

trichie said...

I have read the first 5 books in this series, loved them and can't wait to read more about them.

Deerwalker said...

I want I want I want did I mention I would love to own this book

Anonymous said...

This is such a cute blog! I am so excited for A Cookbook Conspiracy! I love the Bibliophile mysteries :)

lindy.portlandbookreview at gmail dot com

Booklady said...

Kate:

What book in your collection is your most beloved? I collect signed Newbery winners and cozy mysteries of course. But my three most precious books are collectible/rare to me. My Battle of the Books students gave me a book that had been on my wishlist and they all signed it. Of course if one of them grows up to be a famous author it might become collectors item. But it will be always be special to me. I love your series. Can't wait to see what happens in the new book.

Marjorie/cenya2 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
beadwizard said...

I loved all the books in The Bibliophile Mystery.Kate I love the way u write and U made me start reading again.Loved the Interview>

beadwizard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
keizerfire said...

I love the covers on this series, not to mention the stories themselves!!

Sue said...

I enjoy all of the TV shows that you mentioned---so I bet I'd enjoy reading this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

All of your books are great and I know this won't be the exception. I am looking forward to reading it.

Dianne said...

I love this series!

diannej at mpinet dot net

shannons said...

I'd love to read this.

Unknown said...

Dear Kate, I am really looking forward to reading another one of your books! A Cookbook Conspiracy combines two of my favorite passions. I love to cook and to scour old book stores. I am looking forward to your recipes as well. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity, too! Best wishes!

Vickie said...

Can't wait to read!!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!!

Maggie said...

I love this series and can't wait to read the next book.

Dolly said...

I've beeen following the lead-up to the release of 'A Cookbook Conspiracy' and can't wait to read it!

I'm glad to have found your blog!

kiki w said...

Sounds like a great cozy mystery. Can't wait to read it.

Toni N said...

This book sounds like so much fun. Food, mystery and a cat - what more could you ask for.

Chèli said...

oooh! a new cozy mystery series!

Sounds great

Mrs. GV said...

Love this series! Can't wait to read this book!

Anonymous said...

Love Brooklyn and Derek! I love this whole series. Would love to win "A Cookbook Conspiracy". Please let it be me!!!!
Regards,
Dinah Colegrove

Unknown said...

Would love to read this. Cozy mysteries are so much fun. Thanks.

Susan said...

Sounds like a great read.

Unknown said...

Great interview!! Sounds like a wonderful book!! I want to read this book.
Thank you for entering me in your giveaway.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenny said...

I love the Bibliophile Mystery series and can't wait to read this latest book. Enjoyed the mini-interview too.

ceblain said...

This new series seems to be everything that all of us cozy readers love. A great author, telling a very interesting story and keeping us going with the talk of food and recipes too. I am a book lover and also a food lover; had well over 1,000 cookbooks before we downsized and retired. So cookbooks especially, are one of my favorites.
Would love to win Kate's new book. Thanks for the chance.


bj said...

You had me at set in San Francisco, my home town. Would love to win it! Would be happy to buy it.

Debbie Carnes said...

I really, really want to win this please :)

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate it!

Kate Carlisle said...

That's great! I'm so glad you're enjoying the Bibliophile Mystery series. Sounds like you missed PERIL IN PAPERBACK, book 6. And of course, A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY is book 7. You'll find free excerpts at www.katecarlisle.com. :)

Kate Carlisle said...

LOL! Love your enthusiasm!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Lindy! That's so great to hear!

Kate Carlisle said...

I have a beautiful leather bound copy of Walt Whitman poems that I treasure. Oh, and fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen with the most astonishing illustrations. Love them!

Kate Carlisle said...

Wow, what an amazing compliment. Thank you!

Kate Carlisle said...

The covers are amazing, aren't they? And they all look so pretty together on the shelves!

Kate Carlisle said...

LOL! That was the idea, making that connection. :)

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you! I hope you'll love A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY. I've included some great recipes at the back!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Dianne!

Kate Carlisle said...

I hope you will, Shannon. :)

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Susan! Best of luck in the giveaway!

Kate Carlisle said...

You're welcome, Vickie, and good luck!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Margaret! I hope you'll love A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you so much, Dolly. And yes, Melissa's blog is adorable, isn't it? The graphics are really cute, Melissa!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Kiki! Hope you'll love it. Today seems like a good day to do nothing but read a cozy mystery!

Kate Carlisle said...

Oh, there's such fun catty moments in this book! I don't want to ruin the surprise, but if you love cats, I think you'll enjoy A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY. :)

Kate Carlisle said...

Oooooh! A new reader! ;)

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you! I love hearing from readers who love the Bibliophile Mysteries!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Dinah! Best of luck in the giveaway!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thank you, Brenda! I hope you'll love A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY.

Kate Carlisle said...

I appreciate that!

Kate Carlisle said...

You're welcome, Barbara, and good luck!

Kate Carlisle said...

Thanks, Jenny! I'm glad you stopped by, and I hope you'll love the latest Bibliophile Mystery!

Kate Carlisle said...

Wow, more than a THOUSAND cookbooks?! You are a serious cook! I think you'll enjoy the recipes I've included at the back of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY.

Kate Carlisle said...

I adore San Francisco! Part of the reason I set the Bibliophile Mystery series there is so I'd have a great excuse to visit often.

Kate Carlisle said...

Good luck, Debbie!

Kate Carlisle said...

Melissa, thank you again for hosting me here and for helping me to get the word out about A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY! I appreciate your hospitality!

traveler said...

Wonderful interview with a great book that sounds special and perfect. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

What an interesting and lovely interview. This book is perfect, food, recipes and a fascinating story. Best wishes. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com