Lucy Burnett’s takes readers back to Key West for a mystery around the holidays. You take in the fun and fantasy of the Southernmost place in the US while collecting clues about a murder and taking in food ideas and recipes.

This mystery was fun. Mother in law's unexpected visit drives the investigation as she is linked to the murdered woman. Living on a house boat with several animals and three people has it's own challenges. Would love to have the job of sampling all those pies!

This was a very fun read read filled with loveable characters in a cozy little town. It was at times humorous and the mystery was adoreable but clever. It had quite a few twists and turns to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed this quaint little cozy. I definitely recommend it.

A recently wed food critic and Key West resident, Haley Snow, is beset by a “perfect storm” of events. First there’s the annual Key Lime pie baking contest she has been tapped to report on, next an unexpected visit from the mother-in-law she has never met (and who it seems just LOVED wife #1) has her anxiety level boiling, third there’s her police detective husband Nathan who, for a number of reasons, is noticeably absent for most of his mother’s visit. Adding to the cast of players are a number of competitive pastry chefs, a flood of tourists invading the key for the new year, and feisty octogenarian neighbor on whose houseboat Haley and her husband along with a menagerie of pets are residing while their houseboat is being remodeled, and last but not least there is the discovery of the requisite dead body and the mystery of who-dunnit.

KEY LIME CRIME is a cozy puzzle that will challenge your definitions of family and friendship as well as putting your cooking talents to the test when you try out some of the tasty recipes mentioned in the narrative and provided by the author at the end of the tale.

I’m on the fence on how to rate this book. I liked it until about the last 30 pages. Then the murderer did something that can best be described as standing up and shouting “Well, hello, it’s me. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” I don’t like murderers that draw attention to themselves like that.

Hayley Snow, the food critic in series title, is a bit worked up: her mother-in-law is coming for an unexpected visit and she hasn’t met the woman yet (?!) Apparently, Mrs Bransford had reasons not to attend her son’s wedding. She’s cold and keeps her distance, until Hayley and she discover the dead body of a pastry chef on her porch. Helen Bransford becomes an active investigator and Hayley can’t help to keep up.

The pastry chef was new in town and caused a bit of a raucous at a presentation for a key lime pie contest. Hayley is writing about the contest for Key Zest magazine and figures one of the other contestant or the organiser is the murderer, because the new chef was too much competition in a town that already had too many bakers.

The story is well-written and pretty well plotted. I just didn’t like the reveal of the murderer.

The book includes recipes and I’m thinking of trying one out.

This series has such wonderful characters and they get into the most not wonderful situations. And every time I read one I want to pack for Key West.
I know this is fiction, but I also know that Lucy does a lot of research to assure authenticity.
I’m always delighted to see something new with her name on it.
Welcome, T -Bone!

A cozy read with affable characters and an interesting story line. This is my first experience with this series. The descriptions of the food and desserts, especially appealed to me, and the recipes at the end were a sweet finish! I enjoyed all the antics. The author has a way of visually capturing each moment for the reader. Treat yourself and read this lighthearted novel. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

In the 10th book of her Key West Food Critic mystery series. Burdette picks up the story of Hayley Snow, who is newly married to Nathan Bransford, a police detective.
Hayley and Nathan are currently living aboard a boat, which they share with Hayley’s friend Miss Gloria and several animals. When Nathan’s mother announces that she is coming for a visit the week between Christmas and New Year’s, Hayley is horrified. This is the busiest week for tourism in Key West, and she is already assigned to cover the key lime pie baking contest being hosted by David Sloan. Luckily her parents step in and offer Nathan’s mother a room at their place, but her main goal is to spend time with the newlyweds.
Hayley takes her mother-in-law along to the contest and on the Conch Train Tour of holiday lights. When Miss Gloria spots something suspicious along the tour route, Nathan gets even busier — it’s a dead body.
I love the characters in this cozy mystery series and have to admit that reading it makes me want to visit Key West.

I haven't liked the last 2 books in this series but this one is great. We meet new characters and none of the storylines get lost or confused.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Every time I read a book in this series, it is like a trip to Key West. You get the flavour and the feel of this laid back place. I do feel sorry for the locals when they are over run by tourists but you can hardly blame the tourists. In this outing, it is between Christmas and New Years and the place is chockablock with visitors including Hayley’s new mother-in-law who unexpectedly announces she is coming to visit. She knows very little about her but she is going to learn a lot of surprising things as the two of them team up to figure out who killed a newly arrived baker who is shaking up a Key West staple. Key Lime Pie!
Hayley, her mother-in-law and her elderly room-mate Gloria are quite the trio. But Hayley and Nathan’s mom are worried there is more going on than a key lime death. They think one of Nathan’s arrests may be out for revenge and they both know it would not be the first time. There is lots going on including three kitties, lots of tasty delights and a good double mystery. It is a fun series and a tasty read.
Four purrs and two paws up.

I've read a couple books in this series but tgis one definitely had the most twists and unexpected revelations. I love the quirky Key West location and the lovable characters. I thought this was a great blend of cozy with just a bit of edge to it.

Faced with a complex murder mystery that baffles them, Hayley and Helen were left with no other choice but to investigate even though Nathan Haley’s husband and Helen’s son warned them against doing such. Helen is aggressive and straight forward in her questioning while Haley is a bit more subtle, the clues were not adding up, and there were more questions than answers. They find themselves in dire straits having being kidnapped by the killer if this wasn’t enough shock for Hayley her mother-in-law Helen had to reveal then, the truth of her impromptu visit which almost had Hayley blowing a fuse. An entertaining and amusing cozy mystery.

Times are a bit tense for newlyweds Hayley and Nathan. Nathan is slammed at work-not enough policemen to help during the crazy week leading up to Key West's New Year's Eve. Haylie is grumpy trying to get around the island for work with tourists clogging the streets and ignoring traffic laws. Their houseboat is not ready for moving into with the work crew working on other projects. They are all crammed into Miss Gloria's boat with pets competing for space. And then Nathan's mother announces she is coming to visit. Tomorrow. She did not come to the wedding. Hayley has not met her yet. So, what could possibly go wrong? Murder, for starters. I loved this latest slice of Key West life from Lucy Burdette. So many of the places mentioned are authentic that it is like a return trip to the island or at least a colorful travelogue. The murder case is wonderfully convoluted with plenty of suspects. But motive? Much harder to figure out. You'll enjoy this story.

A laugh out loud cozy mystery with charming characters, plenty of suspects, and multiple red herrings that kept me guessing the entire time. Not having read the previous books in the series, there was some back story referenced that I didn't fully understand, but it definitely didn't take away from me enjoying the book.

I'm a fan of the blog Jungle Red Writers (of which Lucy Burdette is a featured contributor), and enjoy many of their books and recommendation. I'm embarrassed then to say that this is the first book by Burdette that I've read. I should have known that JRW wouldn't steer me wrong.

This is a great cozy mystery set in Key West, the southernmost tip of Florida that has a style all its own. Haley Snow is a food critic that discovers a dead body while trying to show her new mother-in-law the sites on the Conch Tour Train. Haley is torn between needing to taste all the entries in a key lime pie contest, trying not to get involved in the case so as not to upset her new husband, and getting to know her mother-in-law. She is surprised to find herself being dragged around town by her MIL as she questions witnesses in an effort to solve the crime.

While this is part of an ongoing series, I had no difficulty getting into the story and characters without having read previous entries. Great fun to read and I must add the Key West Food Critic series to my reading list.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to a digital ARC.

I was so excited to get the ARC of this book from NetGalley as I love the series and have read all of them. This one was not exception.

During the week between Christmas and New Year's, the year-round population of Key West, Florida, faces a tsunami of tourists and snowbirds. It doesn't help that outrageously wealthy key lime pie aficionado David Sloan has persuaded the city to host his pie-baking contest and Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow is on the scene to report it. Meanwhile, Hayley's home life is turned inside out as Hayley's new hubby, police detective Nathan Bransford, announces that her intimidating mother-in-law is coming for a surprise visit. Hayley offers to escort Nathan's crusty mom on the iconic Conch Train Tour of the island's holiday lights, but it becomes a recipe for disaster when they find a corpse among the glittering palm trees and fantastic flamingos. The victim--Au Citron Vert's controversial new pastry chef--was a front runner in Sloan's contest. Now Hayley and her mother-in-law investigate the crime.

Nothing makes a new bride more tense then having her new mother-in-law drop in unexpectedly. Hayley Snow is up to her eyeballs in key lime pie tasting when Mrs. Bransford arrives. At the Key Lime tasting, one contestant decides to break the rules and enter a key lime napoleon. This leads to flung pies and accusations. The next day when one of the contestants is found dead, Hayley knows she shouldn't get involved, but with her mother-in-law's urging, she begins to dig into the background of the contestants.

Be sure to have key lime pie handy because even though Hayley and Helen eat a ton of pie, you will be craving a slice. Another delightful entry in the Key Wet Food Critic series.

This is one of my favorite cozy series. Each book is top-quality and this one was no exception. I loved returning to Key West and spending time with Hayley, her new husband, and her friends and family. Completely enjoyable. The only drawback is that now I want key lime pie! I might have to try the parfait recipe from the back of the book to get my fix. Recommended.

The Key Lime Crime was an action packed edition to this series. Between pies in the face, a key lime pie contest,mother-in-laws from hell and murder victims dressed as Santa. Hayley, "Key Zest" magazine food reviewer is on the lookout for a killer along side her mother-in-law, Helen who also is proving to be an excellent amateur sleuth who has a steak in finding the murderer. Hayley and Helen made a great crime fighting team. I hope to see them solving crimes in future books. Writing flowed so well.. It will easily be a favorite as it was mine. Hope to read and review future books in this series.

Haley Snow's recent marriage to Nathaniel hasn't changed her a bit! She's still flitting about the island like a hummingbird, darting from here to there. Her full schedule becomes over-stuffed when her new (and unmet) mother-in-law, Helen, comes to town for the week between Christmas and New Years. I doubt Helen could have picked a busier time, but she goes along with Haley's plans while Haley researches and writes articles about food. The Key Lime Pie contest is during this time, and both Haley and Miss Gloria indulge, willingly. It seems Helen is the opposite of a foodie, and is opposed to all things Key Lime...until murder enters the picture. The it's Key Lime confections full speed ahead as Helen and Haley seek to find who murdered a local baker.

Guaranteed to make you crave a Key Lime pie or treat as you try to keep up with Haley and Helen. New characters and old favorites mix together to make the island, the holidays, and the food fun for readers who have or haven't read every book. It will leave you wanting pie and more of Haley and Key West! Most enjoyable!

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review.