The Key Lime Crime is a winner, packed with sweet yet tangy key lime pie and Key West atmosphere,

I love books that feature holidays. I often spend hours reading book jackets looking for another perfect pairing of page turning mystery teamed with festive decor to add to my collection. This book takes place in that fun little time zone between Christmas and New Years. It had a nice amount of holiday charm, and it was woven perfectly into the story, that's something I really look for in a holiday set mystery, and I really appreciate it when it's done well.

This is cozy the way I like it, full of great characters, each one mixed with just enough sparkle and quirk to be interesting and not annoying. This story left me ready to dive into more of Lucy Burdette's titles.

I'd love to say more about this delightful book, but the makings of key lime pie are protesting my absence from the kitchen.

Would you rather face a murderer or the mother-in-law who refused to attend your wedding? Our favorite food critic is back in action in Key West and the turmoil is really rolling now that her mother-in-law is coming to town. When the mother-in-law keeps insisting that she tag along with Haley even though she clearly isn't into food or Haley, the days just seem to keep spiraling out of control! Once again the entertainment is fabulous in this well plotted story that has our favorite reluctant sleuth back in action with a cold and disapproving mother-in-law in tow! You can literally feel Haley's pain as she navigates the interpersonal relationships that are playing out all around her. This time though, she may end up at the end of the line as a killer closes in on her! The characters are delightful and the setting divine, but the plotting will keep you turning pages! These characters just get better with each book! I can't wait to see what adventures await them in the next book!!!

This is the tenth in a series of books, but my first one to read. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this book more had I read the first nine and knew the history of the main characters.

In this book key lime pie aficionado David Sloan has persuaded the city to host his Key Lime pie-baking contest and Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow is on the scene to report it.

In addition to covering the contest and writing a few other articles for her magazine, Haley is attempting to entertain her new husband's visiting mother. While touring the city, Haley and her mother-in-law discover the body of a chef that Haley had just seen while covering the contest. Of course they need to find out who murdered her.....

I enjoyed the book even though I couldn't keep track of all the minor characters.

The Key Lime Crime is Lucy Burdette's tenth installment in the Key West Food Critic mystery series but the first of her books for me and easily read as a stand along. (However, I was never quite certain of the background for Miss Gloria.). Helen, food critic Hayley Snow’s new mother-in-law, arrives with little notice in Key West just in time for the frantic pace of the holidays. Nathan must rely on Hayley, Miss Gloria and Hayley’s parents to entertain his mother while he tries to keep the local police force staffed for the mayhem. While taking a trolley tour of the holiday decorations, Helen discovers a body and the ladies are off on an investigation. The location of Key West, the houseboat community and the foodie twist made for an enjoyable read. This is a series that will stay on my reading list.

This is the latest in the Food Critic series set in Key West. In the midst of a contest featuring key lime pies, one of the chefs is killed. The number of suspects increases by the time the solution is revealed, keeping readers guessing throughout the story. In addition to the main story thread, readers are introduced to Helen, mother-in-law to food critic Hayley. Both of them become involved in trying to solve the crime, assisted by the elderly Miss Gloria. Throw in houseboats, animals, food, and New Year's Eve, mix thoroughly, and you have a cozy crime novel plated and served. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Hayley Snow, food critic and frantic foodie fanatic is covering the key lime extravaganza and contest set up by key lime pie aficionado David Sloan during the hectic Christmas and New Year celebrations in Key West.
The area is packed with holiday-crazed tourists, motorists and now her new mother-in-law has decided to pay a visit.
When Haley doesn't expect is for disgruntled baker Claudette Parker to slam a creamy lime pie into David Sloan's face when she is disqualified from the key lime contest.
Then Claudette is found dead on her porch dressed in a Santa suit.
Someone wanted Claudette dead and the mission to find out who was responsible will take a dangerous turn for Haley and her family.
This is a great addition to the Key West food critic series and I look forward to the next.

"The Key Lime Crime" is the 10th book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series. Key West food critic Haley Snow is getting ready to cover the story of the big contest to determine who in Key West bakes the best key lime pie, being held during one of the island's busiest tourist weeks (the week between Christmas and New Years). The beginning of the contest does not start off well, when the new pastry chef in town, Claudette Parker, gets into an argument with the contest's host, leading her to throw a pie in his face On top of that, her new husband, Nathan, announces that his mother is coming to town to visit. and when Haley and friend Miss Gloria take Nathan's mom on a trolley tour of the island's Christmas lights, they end of discovering the dead body of Claudette on her front porch at one of the stops. Even though Haley has been warned against investigating the murder by Nathan (a Key West police detective), she Nathan's mom, and Ms Gloria set out to do so anyways.

Although "The Key Lime Crime" is the 10th book in the series, this was the first one that I have read. It easily reads as a stand-alone book, and was able to get enough tidbits to give me enough of an idea of the story of Haley in the novels leading up to this one. The characters were likable (yes, even the mother-in-law by the end of the book). While the ending was a bit unbelievable, it was still an enjoyable read, and I would definitely be interested in reading the other books in the series.

And as a bonus, there are a number of recipes at the end, and I love how the author gives a reference to each one on where it came up in the story. YUM!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. "The Key Lime Crime" is schedules to be released on July 7, 2020.

Every single time a new Hayley Snow Key West Food Critic Mystery is published it immediately bumps to the top of my TBR pile because I just know it's going to be fab, and The Key Lime Crime was no exception! Hayley and Nathan are recently married when his mom (and Hayley's MIL!!!) announces she's popping down to the island for a visit during the busiest week of the year. Nathan's working round the clock, so it falls to Hayley to entertain Helen, and when they discover a murdered woman during their Christmas light tour of Key West, Hayley's torn between Nathan's adamant requests not to get involved, and Helen's appeal to do a little digging - and since Hayley's anxious to please her new mother-in-law you can guess who she's listening to! With key lime pie everywhere (there's a contest going on!), Hayley (as usual) is eating her way around the island, and author Lucy Burdette includes several delicious recipes from Hayley's travels! 5 stars!!!

No better way to spend a rainy day than on the couch with Haley Snow, Miss Gloria, Nathan and their families and friends. Another trip back to Key West, Florida. New Year's is approaching and Key West is as crowded with tourists as it can be.
Haley and Nathan get an unexpected visitor, Nathan's mother Helen Bransford. No room for her on the houseboat as already crowded with Haley, Nathan, Miss Gloria and all their pets. Bed and Breakfasts are all booked so Haley's mom offers for Helen to stay with them.
When a murder takes place an unexpected partner is helping Haley poke around for answers, as they taste test Key Lime pies along the way.Although the police are not happy about it.
An enjoyable series, with characters I have grown to love. A fantastic setting and food to make you hungry.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Description
National bestselling author Lucy Burdette's tenth Key West Food Critic mystery is piping hot with pie-enthusiasts and murder suspects.

When a fierce rivalry between key lime pie bakers leads to a pastry chef's murder, food critic Hayley Snow is fit to be pied.

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. Every pie purveyor on the island is out to win the coveted Key Lime Key to the City and Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow is on the scene to report it.

Meanwhile, Hayley's home life is turning more tart than sweet. Hayley's new hubby, police detective Nathan Bransford, announces that her intimidating mother-in-law is bearing down on the island 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 frontrunner in Sloan's contest.

It's bad enough that Hayley's too-curious mother-in-law is cooking up trouble. Now, the murderer is out to take a slice out of Hayley. Can she handle the heat of a killer's kitchen?

My Review
The Key Lime Crime is a great cozy mystery set in of course Key West one of my favorite places.

The novel starts off with Haley pondering the question of who owns this island of paradise she calls home. Too many tourists in town is good for business but no one really wants them there right?

One of the busiest times in the year has Hayley struggling to get through traffic. Of course things don't go as planned as she is pulled over by rookie cops for running a stop sign. What will her husband think? But, that's the least of her problems. As food critic Haley attends David Sloan's Key West event just in time as he announces he will be calling chefs up to the podium to describe what they are making and how it stands out from the other chefs.

When Claudette is shunned in public you know trouble will follow. Haley's mother-in-law finds a body in the porch of a house she wanted to visit again after the Christmas Conch Tran Tour.

Will Haley figure out who the murderer is before it's too late? Well, read it to find out you will not be disappointed.

I give this a 5 Star!! The ending was unexpected, just the type of cozy mystery I enjoy reading - keeps you guessing until the very end.

Awesome addition to a wonderful cozy series! I’ve always liked Hayley and the pretty accurate portrayal of the Florida Keys along with nicely plotted mysteries. As always, the whodunit in this one was excellent. What I’ve really liked seeing though has been character development and growth as the series has gone on, along with the great secondary characters.

Well written cozy with a definite feel of the Florida Keys. A fun read! I look forward to reading more from this author.

Hayley is a food critic in Key West (a place I have longed to visit). Filled with vivid descriptions of life in Key West during the holiday season, she and her new husband are dealing with a houseboat under renovation, a surprise visit by a mother-in-law and tourist filled streets, when a pastry shop owner is murdered. Hayley and company set out to solve this crime, bringing in a cast of wonderful players. Totally recommend.

Love this series. Its key lime week in key west and hayley has to write about it and which pies she liked best. She finds out her mother in law is coming for a visit. Hayley and miss gloria took her mother in law out on a tour. When they come across a murder. With the help of her mother in law. They investigate and try to find the murderer before someone else is killed. To hear more read the book.

Another fantastic addition to one of my favorite series! I love the cast of characters. Haley and Nathan are trying to get acclimated to married life which is no easy feat with everything going on in their lives. Hayley finally gets to meet her mother-in-law, and she's beyond nervous, hoping she will like her. Chaos and mayhem ensues, with people and pets. This book does not disappoint. I couldn't put it down, and I can't wait for the next book in this series.

I love the adventures you experience whenever you read about Haley and Miss Gloria.  The food prepared, eaten, and described will have your mouth watering.  Once again Haley and Miss Gloria find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery.  But this time, Haley's new mother-in-law has come for a visit and jumps into the adventure with both feet.

When you add in all the crazy antics, pets, the key lime pie competition, humor, friendship, and mystery, you will be entertained from the first to the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy Burdette's THE KEY LIME CRIME is splendid! The crime is only part of the story, as family and friends have equal importance in the plot, and the food adds so much “local flavor.” (The cheese puff recipe looks almost easy enough for me).
Macabre murder, malicious vandalism, assault with pie . . . and a new mother-in-law for Haley. I did come to like Helen, but my favorite new character is T-Bone, the delightful and most helpful kitten, rescued by Miss Gloria. (Is she really going to go on their honeymoon in the next book? If she does, who will care for all those pets? Time will tell. ;-)
A student once coined a slogan, “Drop Pies, not Bombs.” We decided the pies would need parachutes to arrive in delicious condition and would be perfect overtures for peace. I’ll add Key Lime Pie to the “must have” varieties.
I loved the insights into Cooking with Love and the cooking school, not quite so in love with the idea of croissant corsages. The quotes at the beginning of the chapters are insightful, but my favorite, timely offering is Haley’s “We should fight to the bitter end or die trying.” Never, ever give up. <3

Hayley Snow, the food critic at Key Zest magazine is back with another fun fulled adventure. Hayley is just as busy as ever the week between Christmas and New Year's with her usual restaurant critiques, cover a Key Lime Pie competition and then she finds out her mother in law is coming for a surprise visit. Helen was unable to make it for the wedding so she chose now to come meet her new daughter in law. With the usual cast of colorful characters, a murder, and some fantastic recipes, Lucy Burdette delivers another wonderful mystery wrapped up in lots of fun!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy of the 10th book in this wonderful series!

The Key Lime Crime is the tenth in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. Haley Snow, newlywed to Nathan Bransford, and food critic for Key Zest Magazine has been assigned to attend the Key Lime Extravaganza hosted by David Sloan. It is the week between Christmas and New Years and Key West is bulging at the seams with tourists. One unexpected visitor is Helen Bransford, Nathan's mother and Hayley's mother-in-law. Helen didn't attend Nathan and Haley's wedding so Haley is on the edge to try and put her best foot forward. While their houseboat is under construction they are living in a houseboat with Miss Gloria, a frisky dog and three cats, Hayley knows there is no room for Helen. All the Bed and Breakfasts are booked it is her mother's suggestion to have Helen stay with them in their guestroom. Nathan being a Key West detective, planned to take off a couple days while his mother is there but when Claudette Parker of the Au Citron Vert is found dead and dressed in a Santa suit on her front porch Nathan is pulled into working the investigation. Traveling around Key West on the back of Haley's scooter, Helen is pulled into helping Haley try to determine who is responsible.
Each of the characters in this book are well developed. I love Miss Gloria since she is an older individual who has a weak spot for animals and food.

Whenever I see another book in this series, I immediately get a smile on my face and it doesn't leave me until the last page. I love how wildly imperfect the main character is, flying by the seat of her pants, but always with the best intentions. the setting, plot, and characters are all wonderfully written, making you feel you are scooting along with them in Key West. Another absolutely wonderful story in a spectacular series.