It is the Christmas season on the Jersey Shore. There is a nip in the air and the sea when takes a dip in the Polar Bear Plunge and finds herself involved in yet another murder mystery. Lucy doesn't really have time to be involved but once again the number one suspect, baker and fellow business owner Susan Cutie, has pleaded with Lucy to help clear here name. This series has developed quite nicely, especially the relationship between Lucy and her fiancé, Azad. I really enjoy reading about a couple who are supportive of each other and even go as far as to sleuth together. While Lucy and Katie are running around town looking for clues and wedding venues, the evidence is mounting against Susan. On the plus side, Lucy does learn how to make moussaka, and you can too thanks to the recipe at the end of the story. I would suggest you make or pick up some hummus (recipe found in Hummus and Homicide) and sit back with this Christmas cozy sure to entertain while also enthralling. The solution is not an easy one to figure out but it certainly does explain things. Looking forward to the next book and Lucy's upcoming nuptials.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Bundle up for this one. Lucy Berberian and her BFF Katie are taking part in the Polar Bear Plunge to raise money for the renovation of the Senior Center. They plunged into the frigid ocean waves along with about 40 other Ocean Crest residents and business owners and it did not go swimmingly. One plunger didn’t make it out alive. Reception hall co-owner Deacon Spooner’s dead body washed up on the beach from an apparent drowning. It wasn’t the chill in the air and water that took the man down, no, it was MURDER and one of Lucy’s friends is the prime suspect. Wedding cake baker Susie Cutie had a beef with the man but would she murder him? Lucy doesn’t think so. She met the man once and while not wishing him dead, she couldn’t stand him. He must have pushed someone else over the edge. She just needs to find out who . . .

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is the 5th book in the series and the characters feel like old friends. Lucy and Asad are now engaged to be married and Kate is trying her best to get Lucy’s wedding planning on track like any good Matron of Honor would do. Her parents, Angela and Raffi, now retired still help out at the restaurant when needed and Lucy’s cooking lessons with her mom continue. It’s the holiday season so all of them are making plans for the Christmas party at the Kebab Kitchen for all the Ocean Crest merchants. These characters are so genuine and engaging, people I would like to meet and spend more time with. I grew up in a family-run restaurant business and everything sans the murders rings true to life. I am also loving the relationship between Lucy and her landlord Eloisa, her infatuation with Azad, and the way he handles it is so funny.

Ms. Kashian has a great descriptive writing style. She takes us to the Jersey Shore with its snow-covered sand, the frigid temperatures of the ocean, the sound of a band playing under the boardwalk, the food at the Kabab Kitchen, a lovely Victorian B&B, and more. The food, moussaka to cupcakes and pies, the party attire, and a certain wedding dress are so easy to visualize.

The murder mystery was very well-plotted. Deacon Spooner was not a nice man so there were several viable suspects. I had pared down my guesses to two when the tension really picks up. The big reveal was very exciting and Yes! one of my guesses turned out to be right!

I look forward to each and every visit to Ocean Crest, New Jersey. Lucy and her family never fail to keep me totally entertained. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder sure didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed every bit of this story. Will the next book include a wedding? I can’t wait to find out!

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, and I like to sample various series & authors to make sure I’m not missing out on a new fave. But there are some current faves that I follow most closely and am always thrilled when a new book comes out. Tina Kashian’s Kebab Kitchen Mysteries is one such series, and I also love that I’ve been with it from book one (even the cover reveal haha!). I enjoy all of the characters, the setting, the plots, the romance, the humor, the writing style, and of course the delicious food served up at the Kebab Kitchen! It makes my mouth water for some good hummus – which I recently discovered I can have delivered to me from a fave local restaurant, courtesy of Uber Eats. #winning

But I digress.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a delightful addition to the series. Lucy is such a great protagonist, and her relationships with the various supporting characters are layered and engaging. I especially enjoy her interactions with her fiance Azad, her best friend Katie, and her landlady Eloise (who is a hoot!). Beyond the mystery that gives the book its framework, the heart of this series is family – the one you’re born into and the one you assemble around you as you go through life. Kashian does a marvelous job of blending both dimensions to this story so that the relationships don’t take away from the cozy mystery feel, and vice versa. It makes for an engrossing read from start to finish.

Another thing that makes this series a fave for me is that the culprit isn’t as obvious as it can sometimes be in the cozy genre. More often than not, when reading a Kebab Kitchen Mystery, I’m stumped as to whodunit. Yet after the reveal it all makes sense & I feel like I should have seen it all along. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder does it again, and I think this time I was more clueless than usual. Very well-plotted & perfectly executed (if such a word is permitted when discussing a murder mystery lol)

Bottom Line: Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a feast for the senses – yummy food to make your mouth water, sea breezes to appease the beach lovers among us, the sights & sounds & aromas of a bustling boardwalk, family, friends, humor, heart, and a puzzling mystery to unravel. Kashian creates dynamic characters and layered plots, and readers will find her writing voice delightful and appealing. Another great adventure with Lucy & crew!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder is book #5 in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series by cozy author Tina Kashian. I love the title and holiday theme of this charming next in series. I have read the entire series and highly recommend this series for great charcters, fun sleuthing and always a fun dose of New Jersey culture . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own .

Lucy is busy helping her family prepare their restaurant, the Kabab Kitchen for the Christmas season with fantastic holiday theme receipes and decorations. Lucy is also planning her wedding and even with her busy holiday season and wedding she decides she must participate in the polar bear plunge on the Jersey shore. Her fun is short lived when she swims up against a corpse. After recovering from the shock Lucy once again puts on her investigation hat and soon is swimming in clues and red herrings.

I loved this next in series for its fun charcters, the descriptions of the kitchen and the vibrancy of New Jersey. I highly recommend this next in series for your reading enjoyment.

I love taking trips to the Jersey Shore and imagining this cozy touristy town with a boardwalk situated next to the beach. And of course, I imagine the food at Kebab Kitchen and can picture all of the deserts at Cutie's Cupcakes. I think I might have gained a few pounds just reading this book, the recipes at the end sound divine.

Lucy is back on the case after a fellow polar bear plunge swimmer washes up dead. Who killed him? Why? Lucy is determined to discover the truth especially when her friend Susan of Cutie's Cupcakes is arrested for the murder. There is no way Susan could have done it, but the evidence is stacked against her. Lucy tries to stay out of the situation but her instincts take over and she investigates with her best friend Katie. 

From reading all of the other books in this series, the killer has been someone you would never expect. Perhaps they had a small role, or it just doesn't seem like they have the motive. Well, in this case, my spidey sense went off and while I may not have known the why, I did figure out who the killer was but not until near the end. I was quite surprised to discover they why and that this character was willing to throw Susan or anyone else under the bus. But that is why this person is a criminal, they have no morals. There are several potential suspects, all with good reason to kill Deacon, but which one will it be?

Along with the mystery, there is also the relationship between Lucy and Azad. They dated when they were in college but events led them to break up. After some time, and her mother's interference, these two have reconnected and are now engaged. Lucy has her concerns and has stalled on setting a date, but I think they cleared that hurdle in this book. I enjoy watching their relationship continue to blossom.

I enjoy this series and recommend it to everyone looking for a cozy with some good greek food.  I want that hummus bar here in my town!

We give this book 5 paws up.

This is my third book from what is proving to be a wonderfully entertaining series. Although I hadn't read books #1 and #2, Hummus and Homicide, and Stabbed in the Baklava, I jumped in at book#3, One Feta in the Grave. This one, Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is book #5 in the 'A Kebab Kitchen Mystery' series. Though I am, in part, familiar with the characters' histories, I think anyone who hasn't read any of the books in this series should have no trouble reading this as a standalone.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder started out great and just kept getting better and better! Lucy Berberian is thriving as manager of Kebab Kitchen, her family's Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore. The mystery was really intriguing and it kept me guessing. I enjoyed meeting up with the recurrent characters again and I liked their interaction. Tina Kashian's engaging writing style and detailed descriptions of the charming seaside town of Ocean Crest continued to delight, drawing me into the story straight away so I didn't want to stop turning the pages. With the Kebab Kitchen being a central setting, there were plenty of mentions of mouthwatering and delicious ethnic food dotted throughout. Lucy's family dynamic and the restaurant atmosphere were wonderfully articulated and the locale was fun. She is now engaged to Azad Zakarian, the head chef at Kebab Kitchen. I also really liked that Tina Kashian widened the storyline to include a scrumptious bakery, Cutie's Cupcakes, owned by Lucy's friend, Susan Cutie.

This was a quick, light and joyous read, with plenty of action, worthy suspects and red herrings that ticked all the boxes for me as far as cozies are concerned. Definitely an all-round winner, I highly recommend Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder and I hope this series continues so I can carry on following Lucy in her exploits!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request Tina Kashian, Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I was excited to see the latest instalment in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series available for consumption. The mystery and writing style are just as delicious as the Kebab Kitchen meals. Fantastic!

My usual craving for Mediterranean cuisine started as soon as the food descriptions hit the page. I love how the author incorporates a feast for the senses so naturally within the narrative. Throw in some Armenian vocabulary and coffee cup reading and this book is perfectly seasoned with culture lessons. But back to the food… I really want some of that Moussaka!

The mystery to solve is who killed Deacon Spooner. Although, an easier question might have been who didn’t?! I don’t think we find one redeeming quality about the man as the novel progresses and we discover more about him. He was a thief, a cheat, a liar and generally all ’round horrible guy even to some of the sweetest people. That made the list of motives delightfully long and the list of suspects just as intriguing. Given the plethora of participants in the Polar Bear Plunge, opportunity is quite easy. There are several red herrings thrown in for good measure and poor Susan makes for a very sympathetic ‘wrongly-accused’ (or is she…). I began to suspect who the culprit was by about two-thirds into the story. Maybe I didn’t want him/ her to be guilty… You’ll have to read to see what you decide for yourself.

Aside from the mystery, we are once again treated to the lives of Lucy and her nearest and dearest. Lucy’s engagement to Azad is proceeding with Katie making lots of bridal appointments for her best friend. Lucy, for her part, keeps showing a surprising degree of reluctance to commit to moving forward. Tsk Tsk Lucy… especially as elderly landlady, Mrs. Lubinski will gladly take Azad off her hands if given the chance! Hopefully, by the next book Lucy will be head over heels into her planning as events in this story give her a bit of a kick into gear.

Overall Mistletoe Moussaka and Murder, with its spot-on plotting and developed characters, is ideal for any cozy mystery book lover, especially for those who enjoy a bit of the foodie element!

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is a mystery that is so odd and severe to figure out.

Can Lucy figure out who killed Deacon Spooner?
Lucy Berberian is now engaged to the chef of her family's restaurant, Azad Zakarian, and is working on her wedding. Granted, she and Azad haven't picked a wedding date. It's December in the novel, and it's nearing to Christmas time. Lucy is loving the holiday time, figuring out wedding things, and sadly now solving a murder. She is still a great character, as in the other books that I have read of this series. I love Lucy as she is a great character, and I like what the author has done with her.

The Mystery
Lucy's friend Susan Cutie is the prime suspect for the murder of Deacon Spooner. Deacon was killed during the Polar Bear Plunge as he was one of the Polar Bears. Sadly Susan wasn't the only one that had the motive to kill Deacon, but I don't think that she killed him much like Lucy. Except who would kill him at a public event with everyone watching? It's a challenging mystery to try to figure it all out. I did get the killer but not his motive. Not only that, but who is dealing drugs with the high school students?

4 Stars
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is an excellent book. It seems as I can never figure out the motive for these books. I have to say that it is good for Ms. Kashian. Ms. Kashian does a great job on this series, and I am in love with the characters in this series. I am giving this novel four stars and recommending it to all culinary cozy mystery lovers out there and all who love a good holiday mystery.

Don't forget to check out the recipes at the back of the book.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escape Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

After the first cozy in the series and not loving it. Heck only liking the main character of the series didn’t help. I could have cared less for the secondary characters. The mysteries in the first few fell flat for me as well. However, even though I didn’t like the characters still the mystery in this one was enough to keep me turning the pages and it was also one that I didn’t figure out half way through.

Very enjoyable book. The first one I've read by Tina Kashian. Lucy is planning her wedding with the help of her friend Katie. They go to look at a place for the reception and one of the owners is murdered at an event. Lucy is determined to find the murderer. I would purchase this book and others in the series

MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, & MURDER by Tina Kashian
The Fifth Kebab Kitchen Murder

With a lot of community spirit and with the benefit of the senior citizen center in mind Lucy Berberian and her best friend Katie are braving the December cold and participating in the town's polar plunge. Almost all of the Ocean Crest merchants are represented, even Deacon Spooner, the unpleasant reception hall owner. The pair are chilled to the bone from their icy dip, but chilled even more when Deacon's lifeless body is found on the shore. It wasn't a heart attack, someone drowned the man in broad daylight, with most of the town present!

Winter on the boardwalk is a different kind of wonderful. I can barely imagine snow and sand combined. What's not as hard to imagine is Lucy getting involved in another murder! The fifth Kebab Kitchen mystery has Lucy perplexed. Despite her quiet digging, she can't figure out the latest murder, until she quite literally walks into the answer. There is some brilliant foreshadowing here. In one case it was the complete antithesis!

I love the relationships between all of the characters and the verisimilitude of the setting. Detailed descriptions make me feel that I'm right there with Lucy and her friends and family. Lucy's hesitancy regarding her upcoming nuptials is honest, as is her love for Azad. I also smile at the relationship between Lucy's parents, especially when celebrity Chef Kurt is involved. As for Gadoo, I want to cuddle him and give him lots of extra treats!

MISTLETOE, MOUSSAKA, & MURDER is a heartfelt family mystery that combines good food and the warmth of community against the backdrop of cold blooded murder.

First I must say how much I adore the cover! So playful and cute! As for the story, it was quite the pleasure to read and not guess who dunnit before it was disclosed! I was so excited about that and my stomach did somersaults the whole time I was reading about all the yummy food! Toss in the beach setting and I'm all over it!

This is the first book I have read from the series but hope to get to more of them in the future after seeing how entertaining this was!

Mistletoe, Moussaka and Murder
Kebab Kitchen Mystery, Book #5
Tina Kashian
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Not even her impending nuptials can keep Lucy Berberian, manager of her family-owned Kebab Kitchen, from the Jersey Shore's annual Polar Bear Plunge. But her dive into the icy ocean is especially chilling when she finds a fellow swimmer doing the dead man's float--for real . . .

Who would kill a man in cold blood during Ocean Crest, New Jersey's most popular winter event? When Lucy learns the victim is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose--and his price--at her wedding plans, she can't help wondering who wouldn't kill the pompous caterer . . .

Perhaps the culprit is the wedding cake baker whose career Deacon nearly destroyed? Or the angry bride whose reception he ruined? With her maid of honor, Katie, busily planning Lucy's wedding without her, Lucy will have to get to the bottom of this cold-hearted business in time for Kebab Kitchen's mouthwatering Christmas celebration--and before her hometown's holiday spirit washes out to sea . . .

Recipes included!

"With a warm cast of characters and an ingenious main character, this is a series that will prove delightful for cozy fans."
--Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Stabbed in the Baklava

"Clever and charming . . . A culinary delight that will have readers salivating over the food and hungry for literary answers."
--RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars, on Hummus and Homicide (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well rounded. Lucy and Katie agree to doing a Polar Bear Plunge to benefit the renovations for the senior center. It will be easy, in and out of the frigid water, all for a good cause. What’s not so easy is the dead body that is found floating in the water. Now Lucy and Katie have to find who killed Deacon, the reception hall owner. Between the two of them, along with Lucy’s landlord, Eloisa, they will have their work cut out for them. Eloisa is a fiesty senior citizen and brings a lot of humor to the story.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing, and through most of the book,I felt like I was right there, watching all the action taking place, whether it was plunging into the ocean or checking out wedding venues. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not that easy to solve. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong!!!!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Maybe the next book will have the wedding.

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

If you like warm-hearted cosy mysteries then this series is a lot of fun. It has a vibrant cast of characters and the distinct setting of Kebab Kitchen, main character Lucy's family restaurant. When a venue owner is killed, Lucy is dragged into the mystery. She's bold, inquisitive, intelligent and has a great spark of energy that comes across the page really well. There's a satisfying conclusion, and lots of engaging personal drama along the way. It's set just before Christmas, has lots of yummy food references, and is a fun cosy seasonal read.

Such a sweet cozy mystery. The book's title is what cozy mysteries are made of. I love the word play! This book will be perfect for Cozy Christmas readers.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is an engaging cozy mystery. The mystery and investigation are interesting, and Lucy as well as her family and friends are fun and quirky as always. I love the Kebab Kitchen family restaurant setting and the food references. Recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and culinary cozies.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian has Lucy Berberian gearing up for the holiday season at Kebab Kitchen. Lucy is participating in the Polar Bear Plunge with her best friend, Katie Watson because the proceeds are benefiting the local senior center. It is a madhouse when everyone hits the water which is a balmy 46 degrees and one man does not make it out alive. Deacon Spooner, co-owner of Sea View, was drowned. When Susan Cutie of Cutie’s Cupcakes is accused of the crime, Lucy sets out to prove the woman’s innocence. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder can be read as a standalone if you are new to A Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. The book contains good writing and it is well plotted. I did find the pacing a little slow in places. There are lovely descriptions of the town decked out in all its holiday finery. Lucy has become engaged to Azad Zakarian, the head chef at Kebab Kitchen. It has not been announced publicly nor has Lucy set a date for the wedding. Her best friend, Katie is pushing Lucy to pick a venue, theme, dress, or perhaps a date. Lucy loves Azad, but there is something holding her back (they are meant for each other). Of course, Deacon Spooner’s pompous attitude and high prices did not help matters. When Susan Cutie becomes the prime suspect in Deacon Spooner’s death, Lucy with her trusty sidekick, Katie begins asking questions. There are a few suspects since Spooner was not a nice man. I picked out who I thought was the guilty party early in the book and then waited to see if I was right. There are good clues to help readers solve the whodunit. There is, of course, plenty of food talk in Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder. There are four recipes at the end for lemon meringue pie, Perfect Pilaf, holiday pretzel treats, and Azad’s moussaka. Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder is a cheery cozy mystery with holiday house hop, matrimonial machinations, Christmas cheer, a polar plunge, seashells, seagulls, and snow.

Lucy Berberian, manager of her family's Kebab Kitchen, is preparing to get married. Even though she's busy she still decides to take part in the Jersey Shore's annual Polar Bear Plunge. But the dive turns deadly when she finds a dead swimmer.

The deceased plunger is Deacon Spooner, the reception hall owner who turned up his nose--and his price--at her wedding plans, and Lucy wonders who would want to kill the man. There are lots of suspects, and Lucy has a wedding to plan, and a Christmas fete at the Kebab Kitchen to deal with as well as a murder investigation.

This is the first book I've read in this series, and I have to admit after I'd read the first few pages I wondered if I'd made a mistake picking up a book in an ongoing series. But after that I found myself drawn into the story and wondering why it had taken me so long to try this writer.

I love the setting, I love the characters, and the storyline was intriguing. Lucy is a strong character, and that is always a plus for me. Her relationship with her fiancée, Azad, is great, and her best friend, Katie, adds a lot to the story.

The only thing that kept this from being a five star review for me is I figured out whodunit before the end. But the journey to the last page was fun. But now I have the four previous books in the series to read, and that makes me smile.

If you like culinary cozies and you haven't tried this series you should. It is a fun trip to the Jersey Shore.

I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is book five in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. This is the first of this series for me but it will not be the last.
Lucy's BF Katie is pushing her to get a venue for her wedding and schedules an tour at a local reception hall. Once there, it's decided it's not for Lucy, the manager comes across as a jerk. So it's a huge surprise to both when he is a participant in the annual Polar Bear Plunge. What is a surprise is he found dead and it's not an accident. Someone held him under water. When one of Lucy's friends becomes the top suspect, Lucy again starts her own investigation. But someone is not happy with Lucy. Will she be the next bride in Ocean Crest or the next victim?
There are suspects and plot twists that have you guessing to the end. Kashian has a nice mixture of characters, some made me laugh, There is family and friends. Of course, there is romance and humor. Recipes are also included.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder by Tina Kashian is the 5th book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series, and another good addition. Lucy Berberian runs her family's Mediterranean restaurant to Ocean Crest, NJ. Lucy and the town are busy getting ready for Christmas and the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Lucy and her friend are participating in the plunge, but find out after, a man was murdered, drowned, during the plunge. This mystery has it all, a great plot, great characters and a great mystery. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, than I highly recommend this book/series, you won't be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.