At thirty-four, six years older than her [Sarah],
Bill was too young to die. He still had so much
to do and so many more people to double-cross.
Debra H. Goldstein, One Taste Too Many, Kindle Loc. 91

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she’s the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily—an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant …

Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily’s award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death—being in the kitchen!
https://www.debrahgoldstein.com/one-taste-too-many/


I’ve known Debra H. Goldstein for several years, having met her at the Malice Domestic Conference and worked with her here, at WWK, and on the SinC Guppy Steering Committee. The one single aspect of writing Debra has taught me is that persistence pays off.

The last time I interviewed Debra, her book, Should Have Played Poker had been published by Five Star/Cengage. Then Five Star stopped publishing mysteries and left their authors stranded. Undaunted, Debra has launched a new series with Kensington Press. One Taste Too Many is the first book in Debra Goldstein’s Sarah Blair Mystery series. It was released on December 18, 2018. I found the ending a surprise, but of course I won’t spoil it for you. Authors who surprise me are a pleasure to read. I hope Debra surprises you, too.

If I miss asking Debra a question you have about the book, please pose your question in the comments section, a link to which appears underneath the interview. E. B. Davis

When the story opens, Sarah is already divorced from Bill, the homicide victim. How long ago did the divorce occur?
The divorce was only finalized during the past year, but the proceedings and changes in Sarah’s lifestyle began a little over two years before the book begins.

Sarah works for an attorney, Harlan, but, aside from her cat, RahRah, she seems to have received few assets from her divorce. Where was boss Harlan when her divorce settlement happened?

Harlan didn’t handle the negotiations of the divorce. He came into the picture when no one else in town would hire her because of her lack of skills. Sarah dropped out of college after one week to marry Bill when she was eighteen. During the years she was married, she gained some clumsy domestic skills and built a relationship with Bill’s mother and RahRah the cat, but for most of the time, other than looking good at events on Bill’s arm, she put his wants and needs ahead of hers. Consequently, she was naïve and gullible when the rat wanted a divorce.

Sarah and her twin, Emily, are very different people. They’re twins, raised in the same household by the same people, and yet Emily pursued a culinary career and Sarah married out of high school without fulfilling her aspirations. How did that happen?

Emily grew up having an inner fire to be the best chef she could be and to get out of Wheaton. Throughout high school, whether she was cheerleading or involved in other social activities, she was confident and always had her eye focused on her goals. Sarah was exactly the opposite of her sister in terms of confidence and goals. She did the chores expected of her during Perry Mason commercials and when the six-year-older Bill, who already was established as a wheeler dealer, showed an interest in her, she was swept off her feet.

The story is set in Wheaton, Alabama. Is Wheaton real? How far it is from Birmingham? It can’t be too small since the Food Expo is held in Wheaton’s civic center.

Wheaton, Alabama is a composite of many small Alabama towns, but it pays special homage to Wetumpka, Alabama. Every year, two mystery conferences are held back to back in Alabama using the same authors as panelists. When my first book, 2012 IPPY Award winning Maze in Blue was published, Murder in the Magic City (Birmingham) and Murder on the Menu (Wetumpka) were the first conferences that invited me to be a panelist. Although I had attended Murder in the Magic City for years as a reader, I wasn’t familiar with Murder on the Menu, which is a fundraising luncheon held at the Wetumpka Civic Center sponsored by Friends of the Wetumpka Library (F.O.W.L.). At Murder on the Menu, I fell in love with the people and charm of Wetumpka. Subsequently, I “borrowed,” but modified, Wetumpka landmarks in Should Have Player Poker and in my new Sarah Blair series. The real Wetumpka is over an hour away from Birmingham, but Wheaton is only fifteen minutes from Birmingham.

College applications are spread out in Sarah’s bedroom. If she decides to take classes, what will she major in?

Part of the evolution of Sarah in the Sarah Blair series is gaining the wisdom and confidence to make decisions for herself. Education is something she knows she wants, but she’ll have to get through the core courses before she decides on an undergraduate major. With the love she has for Perry Mason, it could be anything from English, History, Communications, or Criminal Justice, but her growth in the series might result in a Business or Theater major. What we do know is she’ll never major in Foreign Languages or Home Economics.

Is rhubarb a Southern favorite? Was it the rhubarb or the nuts in the crust that killed Bill?

Rhubarb is a more Northern dish (it grows better up there), but I loved the idea that part of it is poisonous. There is no question Bill is allergic to nuts, cats, and many other things, but what did him in is something readers will need to discover for themselves by reading One Taste Too Many.

Why did her friends play “Can She Identify What’s in the Box?” at Sarah’s bridal shower?

Sarah is a cook of convenience. She prefers to bring take-out in or make dishes using already prepared ingredients. For a potluck, Sarah always would be the one assigned to bring the soda, paper products, cut fruit, or rolls. At eighteen, when she was given a kitchen shower, her friends knew she wouldn’t know what most of the gifts were. In fact, as the book notes, when she opened a box with nice paper plates and napkins, one friend quipped, “Look, she got her good china.”

A tear slipped down Emily’s cheek. “Honestly, if I’d known Bill
was part of the operation when I was offered the job, I wouldn’t
have touched it with a ten-foot pole.”

Because of advice Sarah’s father told her, she suspects Emily isn’t telling the truth. Why would Emily lie to Sarah?

Sometimes family members lie to protect each other or to protect other people they love. Throughout One Taste Too Many, the core bond of the twins is influenced by acts and decisions based on this premise.

The advice, “If someone told you his actions were honest…you could bet something wasn’t on the up-and-up.” (Kindle Loc. 327) Did your father give you this advice? What other advice did he give you?

No, my father was a trusting creative person; my mother, who was more cynical, advised me that if someone tells you they are honest, they might not be. Both of my parents instilled different things in me – my father taught me to love the sound of the written word, to read anything and everything, to appreciate art, and to be a good, caring, and loving person. My mother stressed family devotion, integrity, reaching for the stars, and persistence when things don’t work out the first or even the second time.

What does a probated will imply? That effects have been distributed to those named?

A will has no legal meaning until it is probated – filed in the court system. Once filed, the executor or administrator must distribute the assets within the terms of the will as overseen by the judicial system.

I thought Colorado was our only state having marble. Alabama has marble, too?

Alabama marble, which is also known as Sylacauga marble, comes from a belt that runs through Alabama’s Talladega County. The marble is pure white in color and crystalline in composition. Alabama has several quarries for this marble, which was used in many of Alabama’s courthouses and other public buildings.

Sarah needs some success to restore her self-confidence. Does solving the murder help bolster her self-confidence?

Solving the murder and interacting with the other characters helps build Sarah’s self-confidence; however, her evolution in all facets of her personality is a major part of the series. The more books the series eventually has (so far three are under contract), the more the reader will see her growth and her stumbles.

I was surprised by Sarah’s reaction to Grace’s (a student chef at the restaurant where Emily works) tattoo sleeve. So many twenty and thirty somethings have tattoos. I always suspect older people of trying to look young by getting tattoos. Why was Sarah so surprised?

Until recently, Sarah’s opinions were formed by the conservative business viewpoints Bill held. Her world would have been comprised of men in white shirts, blue suits, and yellow ties accented with an understated high cost ring or watch. Unlike Emily, who, as a chef, would be immune to surprise at most tattoos, Sarah might have seen a butterfly on an ankle or small tattoos, but not sleeves.
Sarah figures out that Emily and her boss, Chef Marcus, have a personal relationship. How does Sarah react?

Sarah is thrown a little because her twin relationship of sharing food and thoughts no longer belongs only to Sarah and Emily.

Harlan teaches Sarah that every life decision is tied to a relationship, that emotional stimuli prompts business decisions. Do you think that’s true?

I believe that emotion and subconscious thoughts often influence decisions people make.

Working in a law office has taught Sarah a lot about life. She sees that people find themselves in trouble because they assume others live by the Golden Rule. Is Sarah adopting a Miss Marple approach to solving the crime?

I wouldn’t call Sarah’s crime solving a Miss Marple approach, but she is learning that being gullible or innocent in believing what others will do often results in making an erroneous and potentially dangerous assumption.

Why can’t Emily throw out her mother’s worn out can opener and buy a new one?

The can opener evokes sentimental feelings about her childhood in Sarah, but there also is the element of why spend money when she’s not going to use a can opener all that often.

When Sarah has to serve as Emily’s replacement in a Food Expo demonstration, she chooses an embarrassing recipe, one that no chef would consider and one you include at the back of your book. Was it a favorite of yours growing up?

I am not a cook nor am I particularly craft oriented. I was the kid who did my chores during the Perry Mason commercials. Consequently, when I decided to write cozy mysteries, I had a problem because most of them are culinary or craft related. Because I enjoy cozies, I figured there were other people out there who could relate to my lack of skills. Cozies must have recipes, so I researched some. When I found Jell-O in a Can and discovered it was a popular and easy 1950’s recipe, it seemed perfect for Sarah Blair. Until I tested it for inclusion in the book, I’d never had it.

Your book drew me in from the start. That first chapter is so important, and you kept the momentum going. What advice do you have for unpublished writers?

Write, revise, and throw out the darling words that don’t keep the action moving.

Have you developed a character arc for Sarah?

I haven’t developed a character arc per se for Sarah, but I know that for as many books as the series is permitted to continue, she will be an evolving character. She also will be instructing me on her growth because I tend to listen to my characters rather than forcing them into specific situations and reactions.

What’s next for Sarah and RahRah? Will it contain another questionable, but fun recipe?

Two Bites Too Many, featuring Sarah, RahRah, and a few more colorful characters, will be published in October. Although the recipes are for people, look for cat and dog related aspects to them.

Sarah was a fun character and easy to relate to. For me anyway. Maybe that’s because my cooking skills aren’t a whole lot better than hers. And when it comes to investigating her ex’s murder and proving her sister’s innocence, her loyalty shines through. She is able to identify potential suspects with a variety of motives, however an unexpected twist complicates matters – making it harder to identify the true course of events and who was behind them. This well written read is sure to be enjoyed by lovers of culinary cozies.

Sarah's had a a lot of bumps in her life thus far and is starting over, back with her twin, Emily. She can't seem to escape her past and Emily becomes the suspect to Sarah's ex-husband's poisoning. There's lots of small town interactions and conflicts, some within the swanky restaurant where Emily is moving up. Sarah's doing her best to use her new investigative skills to help out her sister, both to prove her innocence and on stage.

Emily and Sarah are twins, yet their personalities complement each other in many ways. Both are likeable in their own way; you can't help but pull for Sarah's new life to be successful, as well as Emily's. There are any number of suspects and some are being eliminated but then something else happens. In the end the silent and not so silent partners and connections come out with an unexpected killer. The story was well-written and enjoyable to read. This is the first in a new series and I look forward to reading more about Sarah.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Sarah Blair is newly divorced and she has traded her luxury lifestyle for a cramped apartment and a receptionist job in a law office. In One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein, the only thing Sarah has to show for her 10-year marriage is a Siamese cat named Rahrah.

Although she wasn't that keen on cats, Rahrah has grown on her and keeps her company. When Sarah's twin sister Emily calls with some dreadful news, Sarah rushes to her side. It seems Bill, Sarah's ex-husband, was found dead at the trade show where Emily was working. Worse still it appears he died from eating a rhubarb tart made by Emily.

Sarah Blair is a young divorcee who now works as a law firm receptionist in her hometown of Wheaton, Alabama with her feisty Siamese cat RahRah. Her fraternal twin Emily is a talented chef who has come back from San Francisco to work at local gourmet restaurant Southwind and working at the upcoming food expo. When Sarah's ex-husband Bill drops dead after eating Emily's award-winning rhubarb crisp at the expo facility, it's Emily who finds him and tries to revive him. Meanwhile, Bill's current girlfriend and rival chef Jane has legal papers that claim Bill left her as RahRah's guardian with an animal trust and the gatehouse property. When another death occurs and Emily also finds this victim dead, the police arrest Emily for both murders. Now it's up to Sarah to find evidence to clear Emily in time for her to participate in the food expo competition, and to save RahRah from the nasty Jane.

This was a good series debut and the killer's identity was a surprise.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sarah and Emily Blair are twins and as different as night and day. Emily is a fabulous chef with plans to make it to the top of her field. Sarah married young and divorced 10 years later. She is starting over and has taken a receptionist job at a local law office and lives in a studio apartment with her cat, RahRah.

The restaurant where Emily works has a booth at the Food Expo and the staff will be giving demonstrations and sharing tasty treats. Emily will be making her special rhubarb crisp.

But tragedy strikes when Sarah’s ex is found dead at the convention center before the event even begins. Covered in rhubarb, it is quickly determined he was poisoned, by Emily! Also, with his death, it seems Sarah’s cat RahRah no longer belongs to her. A chef that works with Emily has laid claim to the feline.

As someone that hates to cook, Sarah knows she needs to hang around the expo to try to catch the real killer, even if it means filling in for her talented sister. That is if the killer doesn’t get to her first. She also needs to find a way to keep her cat.

This series is off to a stellar start and I am head over heels with the wonderful cat, RahRah. The cat was rescued during Hurricane Katrina my Sarah’s ex-mother-in-law who loved Sarah, so of course, she took the cat when the woman passed away. Her ex left out some key details about his mother’s will. Now, with him dead the secrets are revealed. Let’s just say he was a first-class a**, and I was happy he was the first victim. Yes, first, because the killing didn’t stop with him.

Ms. Goldstein has created a pair of sisters, twins, that are truly each other’s half. They are smart and fun. Best friends that take care of each other. Sarah is an interesting protagonist. I hope she continues to team up with her sister. I believe we have barely scratched the surface on when the author can take these sisters.

The story has a little bit more of an edge than a typical cozy but doesn’t go too far. It is exciting and fresh with plenty of twists and corkscrew turns. The author drops in the clues with such precision. I was up in the air about the killer right up until the big reveal. Someone on my radar but not at the top of my list. The motives were unclear until all the last clues slid into place.

This was a very entertaining story. A great mystery with characters I want to visit again. I am excited to see where the author takes this series. This one was A Perfect Escape!

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein
Kensington
December 18, 2018
10-1496719467
978-1496719478
Cozy Mystery
304 pages


"Bill's dead and, uh, I'm afraid the police think I killed him." A hook like this is sure to compel fans of cozy mysteries to continue reading.

Sarah Blair receives a phone call in the middle of the night from her twin sister, Emily Johnson. She begs Sarah to come to the Civic Center as soon as possible where she discovered Sarah's ex-husband allegedly poisoned by Emily's famous rhubarb crisp. Before rushing to Emily's side, Sarah calls her attorney boss, Harlan Endicott, asking for his help. Upon arrival, Sarah finds Emily seated at a table with a look of abject horror on her face. What was she doing there with Bill, whom by her remarks at Sarah's and his divorce hearing purported her hatred of him?

Emily moved back in her Wheaton, Alabama hometown after being offered a position by Chef Marcus who she worked with in San Francisco, to cook at Southwind, an upscale restaurant. She also returned to support Sarah when her ten-year marriage broke up. So now, Emily is at the Civic Center where a Food Expo they are to host is to be held; a fair Emily has prepared diligently for.

Sarah, now happily ensconced in her tiny studio apartment is happy to be single again, though all she received in the dissolution of her marriage from her well-to-do ex-husband was his aunt's Siamese cat, RahRah. She received custody of the beloved feline after the aunt's death and to Sarah, a bequest better than anything.
Something weird is happening, and Emily's reticence with what she knows confuses Sarah. She can't understand why Emily would meet Bill in the wee hours. What is more confusing is how anyone could think Emily would kill him. She is just not capable of murder.

The twins are as different as night and day as Sarah is totally inept in culinary matters, yet Emily hires her to help up at the Expo. This way, they both can keep watch on others and do some sleuthing, to try to put the puzzle pieces together regarding Bill's death. Then Emily stumbles upon her colleague Richard, with a knife in his back and is taken in for questioning by police Chief Peter Mueller. Things keep getting worse . . .

"The evidence Peter has looks bad. Maybe it won't justify a finding of premeditated murder in Richard's case, but between the fingerprints on the weapons and the blood and rhubarb all over your sister and her clothing, and Richard and Bill apparently having enough dirt on Emily to get her kicked out to Southwind and maybe even the cooking field, Peter had good reason to arrest Emily."

Sarah soon learns that Jane, Bill's latest "floozy" who is in competition with Emily for the promotion to sous chef inherits everything of Bill's, including RahRah! And it is uncovered Bill became a partner of the business with Chef Marcus who was dealing with financial woes. Though Emily is endorsed for the new position, Sarah cannot picture Emily working for Jane.

No, not only must Sarah deal with clearing her sister, but she needs to keep RahRah in her possession, knowing Jane doesn't give a fig about the feline and only wants the money left to care for him.

Many are suspect in the killings. Jane can gain a lot from Bill's death—not only all his assets, but part ownership of the eatery as well as RahRah whom she doesn't want, but wants to be spiteful toward Sarah. Chef Marcus and Bill weren't actually on friendly terms, and the employees may have problems with him too. Then there's Richard? Could he have killed Bill, and what did he know that would cause his death? Someone is out to frame Emily, and Sarah is determined to clear her name at all costs. With plenty having motives for both deaths, it is difficult to discern the perpetrator(s); however, the actual architect of the whole scenario comes as a complete surprise.

"One Taste Too Many", the first edition of the Sarah Blair Mystery series, is sure to whet the appetites of whodunit lovers. Set with colorful and charming characters, the plot offers a bit of humor as the twins face challenges they never expected. The author also graciously includes two recipes for her readers to enjoy.

One can never leave the past behind in a small town, or in this case an ex-husband. Sarah Blair is seeking to start over, not accustomed to the small quarters and the new job yet she puts a smile on her face and moves forward, till she is faced with the murder of her ex-husband. This mystery has it all, the food, characters, setting, and feline!

One Taste Too Many is a decent start to a promising new mystery series. I like the main character, Sarah Blair, and her twin sister Emily. I spent most of the book not knowing what to think about all the other characters because they all seemed guilty at one point or another. But I was still very surprised at the conclusion of the mystery. It was definitely a very satisfying read for me because the ending was so unexpected. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next.

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I love this debut mystery ! This writing captured me from the start of the book to the last page. I loved the plot, the charcters and the well crafted sleuth that kept me guessing until the end. Very well done to the author ! l
This is a perfect cozy mystery debut with all the right elements that make it the perfect cozy mystery.

In this new series debut we meet our protagonist Sarah Blair. She is newly divorced and working at a law firm as a receptionist. She’s not very good at it and does not like her job. The only thing in her life that she is happy about is her charming Siamese cat named RahRah. Her twin sister, Emily has a brilliant career as a chef. much to Sarah's chagrin but they do get along well. But when her sister is the prime suspect in the murder of her ex husband Sarah is determined to clear her sister's name.

Sarah has another challenge when her ex-husband’s girlfriend claims ownership of RahRah! Sarah is shocked to her core that her vindictive ex would give her beloved cat to the woman that destroyed her marriage. She is determined to find out what her ex-husband was up to and investigates under the radar while struggling to keep ownership of her beloved cat. .

The characters are written to perfection. .The plot very well crafted with enough twist and turns to keep me reading into the night. I loved RahRah the Siamese cat and his part in the book. I did not figure out the killer at the end. Sarah is a savvy smart protagonist rebuilding her life . i look forward to reading the next in series and see where life takes her. Very well done to the author.

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the first book in the Sarah Blair Mystery series, and my first book by this author. What a great start to a new series! Sarah and Emily are twins who are very different. Sarah recently divorced, is working at a law firm as a receptionist. Emily is a chef, who is high achieving. When Emily is found standing over the body of Sarah's ex husband, the mystery begins. Sarah is determined to find the real killer, knowing her sister is innocent. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A good start to a new series. A surprise ending. Many of the typical cozy ingredients: cat, cop, amateur sleuth, wrongly accused family member, and recipes. I will read the next one.

Synopsis:

For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there's only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch--murder!

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty-eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she's the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily--an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant . . .

Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily's award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death--being in the kitchen!

Includes quick and easy recipes! (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoyed getting to know Sarah and Emily, twin sisters. Sarah has not had it easy, being divorced and not having very much money. Her sister, Emily, is a very good cook, not so much Sarah. But Sarah will help Emily any way she can, especially when Emily is a person of interest in a murder (or maybe two). Hopefully Sarah is a better detective than a cook.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I could picture the Civic Center and all of the booths that were there. It looks like a great event to go to, with lots of good food. The mystery is well plotted and was carried on well throughout the entire book. There were a lot of twists and turns and red herrings thrown in to make this a more difficult mystery to solve.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well crafted cozy mystery. This was a very good start to a new cozy series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Twin sisters, Sarah Blair and Emily Johnson, find themselves embroiled in the murder investigation of Sarah’s ex-husband, Bill, in which Emily is the prime suspect. Seems Bill called Emily to meet him and she found him dead when she got to the Civic Center.

Next, complications arise over custody of RahRah, a Siamese cat, owned by Bill’s deceased mother who left a hefty trust for the care of the pet. Bill asked Sarah to take RahRah since he was allergic to cats.

Obviously, red herrings contribute to confusion over motives and opportunity. Sarah persuades her boss, a lawyer named Harlan, into representing Emily. Then she asks for his help on keeping possession of RahRah.

The first in a new mystery series featuring Sarah Blair, One Taste Too Many breaks the ice nicely.

Sarah Blair is starting over at twenty-eight. She’s newly divorced and working at a law firm as a receptionist. She’s not very good at it, but she earns money so it will have to do. The only thing she got out of her marriage is a Siamese cat named RahRah. Her twin sister, Emily, is doing much better than Sarah. She has a brilliant career as a chef. However, things take a dark turn when Sarah’s ex is murdered and the prime suspect is her sister.

As Sarah vows to find the real killer and free her sister, her ex-husband’s girlfriend claims ownership of RahRah. Sarah is shocked that her ex would give the beloved cat to the woman who broke up her marriage. She is determined to find out what her ex-husband was up to before his untimely death.

This is the first book of a new cozy mystery series and it sure starts off with a bang. I just love getting in on the ground floor of a new series and this is certainly a good one.

The characters literally jump off the pages (or in my case off my e-reader screen). Sarah and Emily are a wonderful sister pair. They work together beautifully. Both are quite likeable characters. I especially liked Sarah, being we both share the love of cats.

It’s a fast-moving, intriguing plot set in the world of food. The action takes place mainly at a food expo. I couldn’t put this one down until the end. RahRah has a huge part in the story, so I was immediately won over. To add to my enjoyment - I was totally off the track about who the culprit was. I didn’t figure it out until the end when Sarah did. I love stories that surprise me.

One book and I’m already hooked on this series. Great characters, setting and a cat! I’m in :)

One Taste Too Many is the first book in Debra H. Goldstein’s Sarah Blair Mystery series. There’s a lot going on in this well-plotted and steadily paced book, including several subplots in addition to the murders, and there are lots of twists and turns, and suspects. I enjoyed the book, and the reveal came as a surprise.

Sarah Blair married William (Bill) Taft Blair a week out of high school, and now at the age of twenty-eight, she finds herself divorced, struggling, living in a small studio apartment in Wheaton, Alabama, and working as a receptionist for an attorney, Harlan Endicott. After his mother’s funeral, Bill gave her Siamese cat, RahRah, to Sarah. Sarah’s twin sister, Emily Johnson, is a promising young chef and works in Chef Marcus’ restaurant, Southwind. When Sarah receives an early morning call from Emily saying she’s at the police station and the prime suspect in the death of Sarah’s ex-husband, she calls Harlan and then rushes to the police station. Emily, who’s in charge of Southwind’s booth at the upcoming Food Expo at the Civic Center, says Bill, the Civic Center’s chairman, called and told her there was a problem, and to meet him there immediately. She found Bill on the floor of the Southwind booth, called for help, and attempted to revive him. After Bill dies, Sarah learns that when Mother Blair passed away, she left an animal trust for the RahRah and that the cat’s caregiver was given the carriage house. Bill never told Sarah any of this and now his girlfriend, Jane Clark, who works with Emily as a line cook, claims he appointed her as RahRah’s caregiver and is forcing her to give him up. Jane also accuses her of stealing one of Mother Blair’s expensive bracelets. When a second death occurs and Emily is found near the body, Peter Mueller, the Wheaton police chief, arrests Emily for the murders of William Taft Blair and Richard Brown. Sarah is convinced someone is framing her. Peter tells Sarah that he doubts her sister is guilty, but he’s obligated to follow the evidence, and all of it is pointing to Emily.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

3.5 stars

A light mystery that starts a new series. Features a recently divorced heroine as the main character as well as her chef twin. Circumstances are certainly going to change for Sarah going forward but I'm pretty sure she's still gonna find trouble.

One taste too many is the first book to this series.
I enjoyed this book getting to know Sarah , Emily and friends.
A few twists and a surprise killer never would have guessed.
A new author for me ,looking forward to see what happens in the next book.

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the first book in Sarah Blair Mystery series.

Sarah works as a receptionist for a local lawyer after her divorce, while her twin sister Emily is a raising chef. Late one night Sarah gets a call from her sister who is being held up in a police station, after Sarah's ex husband has allegedly died after having some of Emily's rhubarb crisp. Not only that by the walls seems to come crashing down on Sarah as it looks that she will have to give up her beloved cat to her ex husband's mistress.

Steady paced mystery with a well rounded characters, with distinct traits and personalities. Realistic and well described situations.
Nicely presented different kinds of relationships. I liked the sarcastic sense of humor and witty dialogue.
Cleverly thought out story with enough red herrings to keep readers engaged.

Sarah's ex- Bill- was a creep. Geez. She was young when they married and all she took away from those 10 years was Rah Rah the cat, who seems to be her soul mate. When Bill is murdered and Sarah's twin Emily is arrested, things kick into gear. Turns out that there was a trust for Rah Rah which should have allowed Sarah a better lifestyle and now Jane, who Bill left Sarah for, has been named trustee for the cat. Yikes. Sarah's got two love interests- her boss Harlan and Peter the chief of police. There's a fair amount going on here for an intro to a series but it's a quick read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh- and there are recipes!