Member Reviews
This is the first book I have read by Debra Sennefielder. I quite enjoyed it. Even though I was new to the series, it was easy for me to follow along and figure out who everyone is and their relationships to each other. There was only a few things about it that I wish I could change and/or hope to have the author change in the future: 1.) I really really hope that the next book in the series has Hope and Ethan together more often. I would really like to be able to explore more of their relationship. And also I understand that because I am coming into this rather late that all this could've been covered in previous books. 2.) I didn't care for the fact that everyone, including Hope's Sister, was so against her and made her feel like all her efforts were just the result of her being a 'busybody.' Again, that being said it was all fixed in the end but there is a huge difference between sticking your nose where it doesn't belong because you're a drama queen and you live off of other's misfortunes or if you're genuinely trying to help find answers for someone you care(d) about. That being said, it was a positively delightful book and I completely intend to start over from the beginning when I get the chance to be able to fully wrap myself up in this community. The mystery kept you guessing until the end and I quite like that. This will most definitely not be the last book I read by this author.
ARC given to me to review by Netgalley and it no way influenced my thoughts or feelings towards this book. All my opinions are my own and completely honest.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is the fourth in The Food Blogger Mysteries series. This easy to read Cozy can be read as a standalone though.
A former classmate has returned to town to re-investigate her mother's disappearance from twenty years ago for her podcast.. Devon has rented the apartment over Hope's sister store and set up all her notes. Devon also has enlisted Hope to help her but before she can get involved, the apartment has been broken into, the notes are missing and Devon is found dead in her wrecked car. Hope feels Devon's death wasn't an accident and sets out to get answers.
This story has plenty of suspects to have you guessing to the end. The characters are likeable as is the setting. There are recipes included.
I received an ARC from Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
This is part of an ongoing mystery series and full disclosure, I had not come across this Food Blogger series before. I did find the characters well formed though and I could keep up with events ok. I think I may have missed some of the developments of some of the relationships by leaping in at this book, so I would probably advise treating yourself and start at the beginning.
There’s plenty here for the foodie people out there. I often do mystery reading challenges and there’s often one that says read a book about food or has food on the cover, so this whole series would fit those prompts just perfect.
And talking of the cover, I have to say Kensington Books have some of the very best and I just itch to pick one up whenever I see them. They personify cozy mystery to me and it’s very rare they hit a bum note with me.
This was a good paced read, and the fact the novel began with re-investigating the cold case disappearance of our lead character’s mother, gave a more personal feel to the story, with a bit more emotional depth. Very glad I read it and look forward to more in the series.
Hope Early’s food blog is thriving, to the extent that she’s had to hire an assistant and is on the precipice of landing some major sponsorship deals. When the local library approaches her about teaching a class on blogging, she’s thrilled to be able to give back to her community, if a little nervous as she’s never taught a class before.
So she already has her hands full when she hears that her childhood friend Devon Markham is back in town. Devon moved away to a college out west after graduation and never looked back, in large part due to the unsolved disappearance of her mother. Joyce Markham had apparently walked out of her kitchen one morning and never come back, devastating her family. Devon is convinced foul play had to be involved, and built her career as a podcaster on investigating other cold cases involving missing women. Now she’s ready to return to her hometown and get to the bottom of her own mother’s disappearance, despite opposition from some townsfolk, including her sister, who don’t want to relive the trauma of those awful days.
Not being one of those folks, Hope warmly welcomes her old friend home, but is in for a surprise. Devon has found out about her talent for sleuthing and wants her help investigating. Hope is hesitant: her snooping around hasn’t always gone over well with the local authorities, including her boyfriend and chief of police Ethan Cahill, and she’s landed in some pretty sticky situations. But when Devon is found dead in what seems to be a fatal car crash, Hope is reluctant to view her friend’s death as mere coincidence. Someone must have felt that Devon was getting too close to the truth... someone who will turn a murderous gaze on Hope when she picks up her dead friend’s mantle and persists in uncovering what really happened to Joyce all those years ago.
This was another entertaining installment of the Food Blogger Mystery series, with clues carefully seeded throughout the narrative for the keen-eyed reader to catch before the surprising reveal. Character-wise, it was nice to catch up on Hope and Ethan’s relationship. The parts where she considered her strong feelings towards his daughters were especially touching. It was also fun to see what her best friend Drew and retired author Jane were up to, though I could have definitely used less of frenemy Elaine as well as her own sister, Claire, being so obnoxious to her.
There were six delicious recipes included here, and in keeping with my recent trend of hot and yummy comfort foods, I decided to try out this one:
QUOTE
Three-Cheese Lasagna
Olive oil, to coat the baking dish
9-12 lasagna noodles
1 cup full-fat ricotta cheese
1 egg
¼ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Zest of 1 lemon
½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste if you prefer
Ground pepper, to taste
6 ounces grated mozzarella
6 ounces grated sharp white cheddar
6 ounces grated fontina cheese
24 ounces marinara sauce
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil, then set aside to prepare lasagna.
Cook the lasagna noodles, according to the package directions, until al dente. Then rinse under cold water and lay the noodles flat while you prepare the filling.
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, Parmigiano Reggiano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
In another bowl, combine the remaining three cheeses. Set aside.
Begin building the lasagna. Spread a light layer of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Lay 3-4 noodles lengthwise over the sauce.
Layer one-third of the remaining marinara sauce over the noodles. Then cover with half of the ricotta cheese and then spread one-third of the three-cheese mixture over the ricotta. Repeat the pattern of noodles, sauce, ricotta cheese, three-cheese mixture one more time.
Top with a final layer of noodles, then add remaining three-cheese mixture.
Bake lasagna for about 45 minutes or until the top cheese is melted and golden.
Remove from oven and allow to cool, between 10 to 15 minutes, before serving.
END QUOTE
I’m a big fan of no-boil lasagna noodles, as they save so much time when putting these dishes together! So of course I used those in this recipe, skipping the second step. I also made another substitution, though this one wasn’t by choice: my husband couldn’t find fontina at the store, so we replaced that with sharp provolone. I also cheated a bit and added some ground beef to the sauce, as my family tends to prefer meat in our lasagnas.
For whatever reason, the top of this lasagna was definitely past golden in my cool-running oven at the 45 minute mark, so I’d recommend that other home cooks attempting this recipe cover or tent the top with foil for the first half hour or so. While the lasagna was not, unfortunately, terribly photogenic or as gooey as the text taken from Hope’s blog had advertised, it was still very delicious, with the lemon zest adding a lovely brightness to the dish, cutting through the richness of the cheese.
Next week, we gear up for spooky season with a thematically appropriate cake while investigating a murder done under the cover of the costumed holiday. Do join me!
This is the 4th release in the wonderful cozy series "The Food Blogger Mystery Series" by cozy author Debra Sennefelder. I highly recommend this series . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity.
My review opinion is my own. This is a delightful series that I always enjoy returning to and one of my top favorite cozy series.
In this new release our favorite food blogger Hope is juggling responsibilities and busy working on her popular food blog. The author was a former blogger so she incorporates her knowledge into this series and its interesting to read about all that goes into maintaining a popular blog. I am not a blog reader as I find most of them unimaginative and far to simplistic to waste time on but the author creates a world here that centers around Hope's food blog and is fun to read about. Hope is also teaching a class on blogging at the local library and that research and presentation is keeping her busy.. She also does other writing projects and is busy with a farmhouse remodel . I like the way the author incorporates all of Hope's duties as realistic and portrays her as hard working. and a realistic single women juggling her life and enjoying what she does without depending on a man or family for money. This is rare in the cozy world to portray a woman as independent and appreciated by this reader. I tire of reading about the 30 something trust funders that are pretty and depend on family money and men . This is a refreshing series and a enjoyable read with each release with its realistic portrayal of the main charcter.
Hope becomes involve in a cold case and a new murder that may possibly be related. . Her investigation leads to clues that take her in opposite directions and may put her in danger as well. The author weaves the two story lines of the murders and different times together seamlessly for the reader. This was a satisfying sleuth and a enjoyable read . I highly recommend this cozy mystery .
I must admit I haven't read the previous two books in this series but I saw this cozy mystery and couldn't resist jumping in. I loved the small town feel that is portrayed in this book and the characters were all quirky and well developed. I appreciated the modern-ness of the food blogger and that part of the storyline includes a podcast it felt real and I was able to relate to the story easily. In terms of the mystery and the puzzle, I was flipping pages so quickly to see who had done it! As far as cozy mysteries goes this was one of my favourites this year,
I really enjoy this fun series! This is book 4 and it can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the others as well just for background info. Hope is a food blogger and a busybody but she's a strong character and perfectly enjoyable.The cast of secondary characters are likable as well. This book involves a cold case and 2 current murders. The plot is well executed and it's a fun mystery to solve. Throw in a true crime podcast and a blogging class and you have a really great book.
Hope is a food blogger who has a lot on her plate. Between her blog,helping out her sister,home stager,Claire. Her class teaching blogging at the library.Hope's High school friend Devon comes back home in hopes of finding out what happened to her missing mother. Devon. Has started a podcast "Search for the missing".
This episode Devon will speak about her mother's case. When Devon and her research go missing.Hope as per Devon and her sister 's request set out to find out a 20 year old mystery.Could Devon who is missing be connected to her mother.
An intriguing mystery,well plotted. Couldn't help feeling sad for the characters. Mystery and foodies will love this.The beginning was slow but soon picked up.A page turning read
Thank you Netgalley for this book. This was a honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
This has been a series that I have enjoyed from the beginning. I like Hope who just can’t stop herself from being a nosy busybody. That is, after all, the whole point of these books.
There is a solid cast of characters, her police chief boyfriend, the detective who drives her crazy, her overbearing sister, and her best friend the reporter. Along with numerous supporting characters including the mayor and her husband. Not to forget her cute dog, her snooty cat and assorted chickens.
I liked the addition of a podcast and a blogging class to go along with the mystery.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is an interesting and challenging read. With food blogger, Hope Early, as the heroine, the book led us on a merry chase to find a supposed murderer from twenty years earlier who has now killed twice more. Hope's boyfriend, Ethan, the police chief, has done all he can to do discourage Hope from investigating but it is falling on deaf ears. She is just plain curious, or is it nosey? Twenty years ago Devon and Felice came home to an open door and no mother. Thinking she'd be back shortly, they carried on. She never came back. Now there's a new true crime podcast, starring...Devon, and she is now working on her mother's case and has come back to town to investigate and has moved in to the small apartment above Claire's shop. Next thing you know, she's found dead on the side of a road. An accident or murder?
What a fun book and terrific cast of characters. Hope is a very entertaining woman with lots of friends and acquaintances who round out her life. She has worked hard to become a success and is constantly surprised by the locals who follow her blog. She loves to cook and bake and uses the items she creates for her blog to gain entry into various houses and offices to further her knowledge of the crime at hand. Hard to turn away someone with food in their hands. She has a contentious relationship with the local detective, who turns out to be just as protective of Hope as his boss. The plot was a good one with hints of the perpetrator early on, but misread, nearly to her own demise. I have never read Sennefelder's work before but it won't be the last time. I recommend The Corpse Who Knew Too Much.
I was invited to read a free ARC of The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thecorpsewhoknewtoomuch
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is the 4th book in a Food Blogger Mystery series, and another good addition to the series. Hope Early is a food and lifestyle blogger, Hope at Home, who lives in Jefferson, Connecticut. Hope childhood friend, Devon, returns to Jefferson to solve her mother's disappearance twenty years ago. I really enjoy this series, the stories are so creative. This book has twists around every corner, which I enjoyed. I love the unique people and situations in this book. At one point a lot of people were verbally attacking Hope, I was thinking she is a far stronger person than I am. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.5 Stars
Hope Early is happy with her life as a full-time food blogger in Jefferson, Connecticut. Hope is busy growing her business and beginning to teach a class on blogging at the local library when her old friend, Devon Markham, returns to town. Devon hosts a true-crime podcast about women who are missing, inspired by her own mother’s disappearance twenty years before. Devon is back in town to get answers and asks Hope for her help. When tragedy strikes, Hope is more determined than ever to get answers about Joyce Markham’s disappearance even though it’s clear someone in Jefferson wants that case to remain cold.
This book is the fourth in a series, but the first I’ve read. Although the mystery doesn’t require reading any of the other books, I think it would have helped me to better connect with the characters. I like Hope, but other characters who are supposed to be good, like her boyfriend Ethan and her sister Claire, just didn’t impress me. Claire seems very self-centered, and I saw more chemistry between Hope and a detective she doesn’t care much for than with her police chief boyfriend. There are a lot of other characters in the book and it was hard to keep track of all the residents of Jefferson. I like a couple of her friends but never felt I got to know them well, and I would have enjoyed the book more if I would have.
The best parts of the book are the blogging class and the podcast. I actually wish there have been more details included as Hope was conducting her class. However, she does mention some of the things that are necessary in making a living from a blog that most readers like myself wouldn’t have thought about which was interesting. I like the podcast aspect of the book and the fact that a couple of the actual podcasts are included really brings that part of the book to life. Hope’s persistence is admirable and she refuses to give up until she gets justice for those who deserve it, even when the situation becomes dangerous. There is a lot of sadness, but the book ends on a positive note. Those who follow the series, as well as fans of Lynn Cahoon, should enjoy the book.
~ Christine
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much is the 4th book in the Food Blogger Mysteries series. I picked up this series with The Hidden Corpse (book 2), and I also thoroughly enjoyed book 3, Three Widows and a Corpse.
In this fabulous cosy mystery, Hope Early is looking forward to teaching her first blogging class at the local library in Jefferson, Connecticut, whilst continuing with her food blog, 'Hope at Home' as well as learning about Podcasts. An old school friend, Devon Markham, is hosting a true crime Podcast 'Search for the Missing' and Devon's own mother vanished without a trace twenty years ago. She has asked Hope for some help with the cold case and Hope readily agrees, but then Devon is found dead at the scene of a car crash...
Protagonist Hope had such a lot going on in this book, but still managed to spend time with her pets - adorable doggy, Bigelow, Princess, the cat, and a couple of chickens; she also enjoys her time with her boyfriend, Chief of Police, Ethan Cahill. Hope is a great character and she possesses the necessary attributes of any great sleuth: intelligence, curiosity and keenness, and she's never too busy to help others.
I was sold on this compulsive story from the very beginning, and Debra Sennefelder continued to impress me with her fluid writing. The details of the plot were very well-executed, the story was amusing and easy to follow, and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on. The story was brimming with humour, scrumptious food, and lots of suspects and clues were scattered throughout. Debra Sennefelder's way of seamlessly fitting Hope's new recipes into the story was excellent, and some yummy recipes are included at the end of the book. The killer reveal was very clever, and although I had my suspicions, the motive eluded me until the very end.
This was a tremendously good novel and I am looking forward to reading book five. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery, don't miss out on The Corpse Who Knew Too Much.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
The pacing seemed a little slow as the story began. But once the crime occurs, the story picks up pace. Hope Early is a blogger so we do get to read the 'inside life of a celebrity blogger'. The blogger theme is the best part of this series. I suppose every blogger can relate to certain things mentioned in this story. Like, Hope starts a class for newbie bloggers. A few have an issue with setting up the site or tweaking the menu and the jitters of writing your first blog post. Totally relatable.
Coming to the mystery behind the disappearance of Devon's mother twenty years ago and fast forward to the present, Devon's murder - I definitely think this is a very well-thought mystery (kudos to the author for coming up with a brilliant plot). The two cases have a connection, no doubt about it. But this also means the killer is roaming freely in Jefferson. And everybody knows of Hope's sleuthing adventures. Including the killer...
I could not identify the killer. Leave it to Hope early to connect the dots. Having said that, Claire (Hope's sister) does warn her - Hope and Ethan's relationship will be strained with each case Hope intervenes. I am certainly looking forward to seeing what Hope's going to do about this. Ethan is the chief of police and he definitely cannot let Hope do her part of amateur sleuthing... girlfriend or not.
Overall, The Corpse Who Knew Too Much was an enjoyable read.
I find cold cases to be very interesting. The resources we have now are so much better than in the past. Go along with Hope, Ethan, Devon, and the good folks of Jefferson as they plow through the snow and the clues. I enjoyed this story and the characters in it. Hope makes some very tasty food for her blog. There are even some recipes included at the back of the book. Maybe it’ll be warmer on my next trip. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
I have read number three in this series and have purchased one and two to read while waiting for book five to be written. I love the blogging aspect of the book as it is a wealth of information. The recipes are outstanding and are presented tongue in cheek.
Hope Early is a food blogger. Her blog, Hope at Home, combines food blogging with DIY projects around her old farmhouse. The farmhouse is in need of almost complete renovation, so she is always busy between cooking, videoing, and renovating.
She has grown her blog enough to be able to have a part time assist with some of the time consuming tasks (posting, social media and more.)
Hope has a cute cat that she talks to as if it can hear and understand. That is one of the things I enjoy so much about these books.
Hope also has free time to investigate the murder of an old friend. She was tasked by the victim’s sister to help find the murderer and to solve a decades old mystery.
Hope jumps in and find that others don’t appreciate her snooping. Someone is out to get Hope as she gets closer and closer to solving both the murder and the mystery.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
Another excellent cozy in the Food Blogger Mystery series! I love in a cozy series when you get to watch relationships changing and growing and actual life happening for the characters and this one does that well. It ties in a lot of interesting, contemporary bits to make this story fresh (such as the mystery relating to a true crime podcast). This series has become solid and reliable and I hope to see many more entries.
I enjoyed this book not only for the mystery but also for all of the information regarding blogs. I admit that cold cases in real life interest me, so this story line had me intrigued from the first few pages,
I thought that the book was well-written with characters that seemed 'believable'. The recipes were also a nice edition.
I look forward to more in this series.,
This was a quick, light, fun read. I liked the writing style and the characters. I would recommend it to others.
Winter Snows and Cold Case Murder
This story is a cozy mystery that takes place in Connecticut. It includes several recipes at the end. This book is part of a series and the first I've read. While the reader may enjoy the series more if read in order, it is not necessary. The story moves right along. Our food blogger heroine has a history of solving murders and getting herself in hot water while doing it. Unbelievably, she continues digging into this cold case even while being threatened and the dead bodies piling up. The story has some creepy nightmare scenes that will give me nightmares. A critical part of the plot and a key ingredient to solving the murder doesn't show up until very near the end of the book. It is hard to put together a puzzle when you're missing some pieces! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.