Friday, January 17, 2014

Review/Giveaway: Eggs in a Casket by Laura Childs

Eggs in a Casket (Cackleberry Club Series #5)


Blurb: The ladies of the Cackleberry Club are always ready to serve—whether they’re cooking up breakfast or sniffing out a bad egg.

While Petra handles the breakfast rush at the Cackleberry Club, the café’s other two owners, Suzanne and Toni, head to Memorial Cemetery to help prepare for its 150th anniversary celebration. But as they search the winding paths for the historical society tent, they discover something else out of place: the body of ex-prison warden Lester Drummond lying facedown in someone else’s freshly dug grave.

In the small town of Kindred, everyone knows everyone, and Lester was no exception. Suzanne knew him as the creepy guy who made unwanted advances on her friend Missy Langston. But now it appears the man was hiding a few secrets… and at least one of them was worth killing for.

As the case cracks open, there are plenty of suspects to consider—from recent parolees to Missy herself, who Suzanne and Toni saw speeding away just before they found the body. Now, with a cemetery celebration in the offing, and the local authorities in over their heads, it’s up to the Cackleberry Club to unscramble the clues and clear their friend’s name.

Review: Laura Childs' Cackleberry Club mysteries is one of my favorite concepts for a cozy series. A trio of ladies who run a café that specializes in eggs and becomes a local gathering spot for the citizens of Kindred...imagine the juicy gossip that could be overheard in a small town where everyone knows everybody else's business?

Things are really hopping for the Cackleberry Club as Suzanne, Toni and Petra are preparing for the 150th anniversary celebration of the Memorial Cemetery. While unloading the car of large floral baskets, Toni's umbrella takes flight. As they chase it all over the cemetery, Suzanne discovers the body of former prison warden Lester Drummond, "borrowing" someone else's grave. The prime suspect ends up being Suzanne's friend Missy (who had issues with the victim along with several others), who had nearly crashed into Suzanne and Toni fleeing the cemetery as they had been driving in. When the local sheriff is taken out of commission as well, it's up to Toni, Petra and Suzanne to catch a killer. The killer's reveal takes place during a severe storm with Suzanne and her horse Mocha on a thrilling, life-threatening ride.

One of my favorite things about any Laura Childs mystery is how atmospheric they are; I always feel like I'm a part of the action. A favorite scene in this book takes place during a spooky candlelight tour of historic graves (a tiptoe through the tombstones!) Creepy, campy fun at it's best!

I can't imagine anything more enjoyable than chatting with the ladies of the Cackleberry Club over coffee and a delicious pastry, and I eagerly look forward to their next adventure. In the meantime I'm planning to try out some of the yummy recipes at the end of this book, starting with Cranberry Muffins!

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

GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post by noon EST on January 22, and you will be entered for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Eggs in a Casket.  Two (2) winners will be chosen at random.  U.S. entries only.

22 comments:

YourSpecialDog said...

Great book , and great review

Karen B said...

Cemeteries certainly lend themselves to stories of death and disaster. A cozy in this setting should be remarkable spooky - and fun! Looking forward to the recipes.

kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

The Mistress of the Dark said...

Oh I didn't she had a new one out. I have Steak and Eggs on my TBR pile and I love her tea shop mysteries!

The Mistress of the Dark said...

oops and achickwhoreads@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

It sounds cute and creepy. Cackleberry Club. Love that name! I'd like to give it a read.
pacificcattoys@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

What fun ! I'd love to read it.
libbydodd@comcast.net

Unknown said...

What fun ! I'd love to read it.
libbydodd@comcast.net

Unknown said...

What fun ! I'd love to read it.
libbydodd@comcast.net

carol weston said...

Hoping for a chance to read and review this book!

Unknown said...

This sounds like fun. My imagination went a little crazy when I read the part about a cafe that specializes in eggs. michelle_willms at yahoo dot com

Sue said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sue said...

I really like the idea of a restaurant specializing in the versatile egg. Can you tell that breakfast is my favorite meal? Cozies are my favorite books, too, so please put my name in the hat for this contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

Carol M said...

I'd love to read this! It sounds really good! Thank you for the giveaway. Now I'm in the mood for eggs! lol

ReadingMama922 said...

I love cozy mysteries, and would love to win a copy of this!

Unknown said...

I love the title, thanks for the giveaway !

Unknown said...

I love the title, thanks for the giveaway !

Anita Yancey said...

It sounds like a fun series. This book is so good, and I just love mysteries. Thanks for having the giveaway.

ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

Kaye Killgore said...

I love this series. The characters are all such great fun.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net

Unknown said...

I love cozy mysteries. Wonder how these women came up with the name Cackleberry for their club name.
marybrandis@gmail.com

NoraA said...

I love the series and own all of them to date. I'd love to have this hard cover copy to fill out my collection. I collect all of Laura's books and I will tell you honestly, they take up more then one bookshelf. LOL

NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com

Rita Wray said...

What a great review. Sounds like a good book.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Michelle Fidler said...

I'd love to win it! I love her tea shop series and have read all of them except for one. I have read one of these Cackleberry books and have two more at home to read.

catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com