My Review: I just read this first book in this series in anticipation of this one coming out, I am a sucker for holiday themed books. I enjoyed getting to know some of the side characters we were introduced to in the first book some more and we also got to see a bit more of the small town setting. I have to say, I struggled a bit with this one, it was a similar set up to the first book and I was hoping for some new way for Sam to be involved. I also think her parents kind of stole the show on this one, I absolutely adored her mom. Anyway back to the story, I did enjoy the unique ways of trying to figure out the 'how' Sam works through as she tries to solve the case. I like that things are lightened up a bit with almost a bit of comedy of errors type moment, it keeps the story nice and light. We got some interesting twists as we try to figure out the 'who' and we are kept guessing throughout the story. I will be continuing on with the series.

My Rating: I enjoyed the way this mystery was tied into the holidays, it was a fun way to break up all the more sappy Christmas stories (granted there is a bit of feel good to this one too). It was a good installment to the series and it did keep me guessing throughout but I am hoping for a bit more variety with Sam in the future. I give it a rating of Three Paws.

I love Christmas themed mysteries. This one was fun and I liked the idea of it. The set up was pretty good. I did have trouble keeping up with all the characters because there were so many. This made it hard to get into the book because I was flipping back and forth to see who was whom.

The mystery was enjoyable and nicely challenging. It wrapped up satisfyingly. I liked the main character too and, of course, the newspaper editor. I also like how the Bruno’s who owned the bar played off each other.

Good book, just not a favorite for me. I would recommend it. Other readers may have more bandwidth to keep up with the characters. Probably just a case of Christmas brain for me.

An Eggnog To Die For is a delightful read for the holidays. Especially so if you love food, recipes, family dynamics, and of course, murder. Throw in a mystery, plenty of suspects, controversy, and a wonderful dog, and you have everything you need for an enjoyable few hours in a comfy chair. Sam takes some getting used to. The entire cast adds laughter, intrigue, and action to the story. The introduction of Sam’s parents and other characters round out the main character’s background and allows the reader a deeper insight into who Sam is. No one is left out of the investigation, friends, family, or neighbors. Many readers will not guess the correct identity of the killer. The twist at the end will keep readers wanting more from this series and this author.

Sam has her hands full with holiday plans, coming up with an eggnog recipe, and trying to squeeze in time to enjoy all of the festivities, but when her parents suddenly show up without notice to spend the holidays with her, in her not fit to live in house, her work doubles. After a fun event, Sam finds herself being nosy as usual and stumbles upon a body, not just any body though, it’s Santa, and the man under the costume is not someone anyone will miss.

There are plenty of suspects and the evidence leads Sam from one motive to the next. Before long, she finds herself running around in circles, following red herrings that lead nowhere and putting herself in jeopardy. This is not the holiday celebration she had planned for. It was going to be perfect, the food and the eggnog were going to flow, and everyone was supposed to be happy and content. Instead, she finds herself in danger and the holiday fun in ruins. Sam is impetuous and jumps when she should sit, but no one can argue with her results. There are a number of red herrings that will throw readers in the wrong direction. However, in the end, Sam solves the crime, and justice is done. An Eggnog To Die For is worth taking time out of our hectic schedules this holiday season.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

An Eggnog to Die For, the second Cape Code Foodie Mystery, is full of holiday spirit, food, and murder. It is entertaining and charming from start to finish.

Former chef Sam is now a food writer in the midst of Christmas prep, knocking out a work assignment about holiday cocktails at The Ginger Jar, when she stumbles across the body of local politician and businessman in the office of the local bar and restaurant. Caleb Mayo was a town selectman and on the school board who seemed to relish doing “the right thing” which really meant being pompous and holier-than-thou, wielding his power to ruin some residents’ lives. This provides lots of fodder for suspects and motives, including the owners of The Ginger Jar. Since Sam found the body, she feels compelled to find out what happened to Caleb.

I like Sam. She is intuitive, intelligent, and quite perceptive, often noticing things that others miss. She does tend to jump into situations that are dangerous, but that is common with many amateur cozy sleuths. Recurring characters from the first book in the series are present and accounted for, and I enjoyed seeing these folks again. Sam’s parents’ arrival to spend the holiday in their hometown gives readers the opportunity to see where Sam comes from, their similarities and differences (Sam consistently refers to them as her ‘rents which drives me nuts). There is plenty of talk of food…Feast of Five Fishes – yum…with some recipes included in the back of the book.

The mystery of Caleb’s murder is well plotted and finely executed. Caleb was a nasty guy, and I had a hard time feeling bad about his demise. He knows so many people’s secrets that it is no surprise that there are gobs of suspects to weed through. Author Amy Pershing drops ample clues and red herrings that kept me vacillating until Sam worked it out. I thought I had cracked the case early on which caused me to gloss over the most significant identifying clue. I love it when I do not figure it all out.

An Eggnog to Die For is a lighthearted, Christmas themed cozy with an interesting puzzle to work through. Recommended to any cozy reader any time of year.

This one just did not do it for me. I love a good cozy murder mystery as much as the next guy. And set on Cape Cod, which is one of my favorite places on earth? Yes, please! But this one just dragged for me. The murder “mystery” just didn’t grab my attention or hold my interest. I found my mind wandering more often than not and I just didn’t care to pick it back up once I put it down. I also found the plot lacking in substance, because there was not a whole lot going on besides Sam’s sleuthing. It probably didn’t help that there were no sparks between Sam and Jason either, who is supposedly the most eligible bachelor on the Cape. Overall this was a cute story, but just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This laugh out loud cozy mystery penned by Amy Pershing features foodie Sam Barnes who writes restaurant reviews and makes videos for the local Cape Cod Clarion. She has a lot on her to-do list this Christmas as her parents are scheduled for a visit but finding a dead body isn't one that can be crossed off the itinerary. Sam is a quirky character and I quickly became enamoured with her witty one-liners and her self-deprecating humour. The mystery itself was entertaining with plenty of mayhem. There was an excellent array of suspects in An Eggnog to Die For and I had a great time trying to work out whodunnit. A super read this Xmas -very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Berkley via NetGalley at my request, and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I wuv this series! You will too and not just because of the engaging story or enticing recipes. It is the way you become caught up in the story because it reads like Sam is speaking to you in such an amazing and relatable way. Plenty of backstory is shared so no need to go looking on YouTube for Sam’s most notable moments. An odious victim and a variety of unsuspecting suspects kept me guessing. When I wasn’t drooling over the food, I was laughing out loud more times than I can count! After reading this one, I may just have to break down and make myself some eggnog to go with the amazing recipes and help tide me over until the next installment.

Foodie Sam Barnes has quite the to do list this holiday season. However finding a dead Santa was not one of the things to be scratched off. An Eggnog to Die For is a laugh out loud and twisty cozy mystery.

With videos to make and articles to write, her parents visiting, wondering what going with that man of hers and a big dinner to prepare Sam Barnes doesn’t have time to investigate a murder but somehow she manages to fit it in her schedule. Between writing articles, taking part in holiday festivities, making decorations for her Christmas tree, entering the three things, and being a chauffeur for her parents she found a way to get herself tangled up in helping to solve this mystery. With more suspects than clues Sam manages to ask the right questions to get her thought process rolling. With a few crazy ideas and some good deductive reasoning Sam narrows down the suspect list even though sometimes she allows her feelings to get in the way. She’s a smart woman, sometimes unconventional but yet extremely funny.

I very much enjoyed this foodie mystery. An Eggnog to Die for is a good mystery with a touch of romance and a lot of humor. Amy Pershing caught my attention with this entertaining holiday read.

Cute town and yummy food gave this cozy mystery life. An Eggnog to Die for brings you Samantha, ex-chef and amateur defective, trying to solve a case that involves the murder of a local Santa Claus.

While I enjoyed the coziness of this read it got a little long in the middle. I enjoyed the red herrings and didn’t have the murderer figured out but I needed the pace to pick up. I also found the main character a tad annoying. I wasn’t invested in the love interest or the side characters. It’s possible I would have felt more connected to them if I’d read the first one in the series first. This one does stand alone in its own okay though and don’t think it’s necessary to read in order.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this Christmas themed cozy mystery very much. Just when I think I'm over the entire cozy genre, I run across a great one like this! I totally did NOT figure out "whodunnit" in this fun, food-themed mystery. Well worth a read!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am so happy to be back on Cape Cod with Sam, Helene, Miles, Krista, Jason, and of course Diogi. I am loving the Selebration (ha), Sam’s worrying (kinda) about her hippy parents, and the dilemma over which eggnog reigns supreme (could Sam maybe ask one of the murder suspects to share their recipe? Cause that’s not weird). I’m going to visit my parents this weekend, and I just ordered my mom a copy for her birthday (she loved the first book, A Side of Murder, as much as I did). If you are a seasonal reader, read A Side of Murder now (and join us at @cozychallenges as we discuss it as the end of the month) but order a copy of this so you are ready when December starts.

An Eggnog to Die For: A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
By Amy Pershing
Berkley
November 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

As the holiday season rolls in, restaurant reviewer Samantha Barnes is thoroughly enjoying being able to treat her (picky) friends as they taste-test the best of Cape Cod Cuisine. Since she’s also been hired to film short foodie videos for the local newspaper’s online edition, Sam is thrilled to have more excuses to eat out when she receives the news that her newly-retired parents are flying in from Florida for the New Year’s holiday. Sam is less enthusiastic about hosting them in her late Aunt’s house though, but at least the kitchen has been completed on the list of the much-needed renovations. Downscaling their traditional holiday dinner of the Feast of seven fishes to five will help, but the requests and suggestions for soy, “non-fishy fish,” or simply Chinese takeout are rather frustrating. The town’s Santa Seashore Selebration event that’s designed to promote Fair Harbor during the holidays gives Sam the somewhat traumatizing experience of seeing her hot harbormaster boyfriend Jason Captiva dressed up in elf tights as he pilots in Santa’s boat. That vision has barely been burned into her eyes – and memory – before Sam encounters that very Santa, bludgeoned to death in the office of her latest review site, the Ginger Bar.

Tradition has it that the town’s Santa is always played by the latest select board member, and this year it happens to be Cape Concrete owner Caleb Mayo. He was also the person rumored to have made complaints about the Ginger Bar’s owners, siblings Julie and Martin Bruni. Their food and craft cocktails are delicious, but accusations that they were not of “good moral character’ could have cost them their liquor license. The motive and means places both of them high on the Police Chief’s suspect list, but it’s a quickly growing list. It becomes apparent that Fair Harbor’s late select board member considered himself to be the town monitor of correct and proper moral behavior, threatening many with his refusal to waiver and show compassion when enforcing the rules. As much as Sam might wish she could focus on creating her version of Martin Bruni’s secret eggnog recipe, her own mother’s enthusiastic immersion back into her (retired) role as an investigative reporter means that the Barnes family will be deep in the case and sifting through rumors, past crimes, and blackmail.

This second in the series quickly picks up with the life of Sam Barnes, who was driven out of Manhattan and her dream career as a chef ended due to a cheating boyfriend and a YouTube video gone viral. While Sam considers her mother to be reckless when following up with shady mob sources, it is Sam who interrogates suspects on her own and without proper back-up. So it’s fortunate for her that she has the harbormaster as her emotional and legal support, and Jason is as adorable as her quickly growing Lab-mutt-possibly-Shetland-pony pup Diogi (sound it out). Interwoven throughout are Sam’s loving food preparations in the kitchen, with helpful food tips included for those interested in puff pastry hacks and seafood shopping advice. Readers will become immersed in Fair Harbor’s winter holiday season as it leads up to Sam’s New Year’s birthday, making this a seasonal delight for cozy and foodie mystery reading fans.

AN EGGNOG TO DIE FOR is the second book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing. This delightful holiday read starts out with an entertaining quote from Clark Griswold (of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation fame) and sets the stage for plenty of humor and memorable characters on the pages. Protagonist Samantha Barnes (aka Sam) is a foodie, writing restaurant reviews and making videos for the local Cape Cod Clarion. Sam is a quirky character but I quickly became enamored with her witty one-liner zingers and her self-deprecating humor. She doesn’t take herself entirely seriously. Surrounding Sam is an equally endearing set of supporting characters—human (friends & family), animal (her overly large dog named Diogi), machine (her ancient and cranky pickup truck, Grumpy), and setting (Cape Cod). All are well-developed and unique in their own ways. The author’s descriptive voice shines so the reader feels like they really get to know each aspect. And I just love that Sam’s parents are included in this newest release, having decided that it wouldn’t feel like Christmas celebrating in tropical Florida. They add another dimension of character development in the reader getting to know Sam along with them being a great support system for her.

While murder is never funny, Ms. Pershing sets the stage with humor and you can only shake your head and think “it could only happen to Sam.” With a curmudgeonly Santa dead and Sam “starring” in another embarrassing viral video, the mystery of whodunit pulls Sam into the investigation. Well-plotted and with a quick pace that begs the reader to keep turning pages, there were suspects galore. Even Sam’s mother gets the investigation bug and with her background as a reporter, she’s ready to steamroll everyone around her in her quest to assist her daughter. Sam most certainly has her hands full keeping her mother out of trouble, finding the grinch who did Santa in, all the while preparing to host her Christmas Eve dinner of the Feast of Five Fishes for all her friends and family. With so much going on, Ms. Pershing does an admirable job of juggling the characters, the action, and the murder investigation and kept me glued to the pages until I’d read the very last word. This series is quickly becoming one of my top favorites and I can’t wait to find out what’s next in store for Sam!

As you read through An Eggnog to Die For, be prepared to be hungry during the entire book! Not only are there mouthwatering dishes mentioned and described, there are numerous tips on preparing the ingredients and dishes, that, as a foodie myself, I found intriguing.

Sam Barnes is definitely an acquired taste as far as main characters go, but now that it's the second book, I'm finding I like her much better now than in the first book. I've always enjoyed her sense of humor though. Sam's realized she's where she belongs now and is even getting her sweet Diogi to listen better, well maybe a little better. It's hilarious how the pup responds and learns from Helene though.

It was fun (for us readers) having her parents in town although Sam didn't seem to enjoy it much until closer to Christmas. Her mom was in her element again, and Dad was just being secretive about something. The mystery was complex and really good. I like how Sam and an old acquaintance worked on the last part of the case, and I sure didn't realize who it was until Sam said their name. The showdown was a really good one with some surprising help from someone I never would've expected to be there.

All in all, Sam survived her first Christmas in Cape Cod. The ending was pretty hilarious since it ended on New Year's Eve which was supposed to be a nice quiet romantic evening for Jason and Sam. But this was Sam, of course it couldn't be the way she hoped things would go. I was laughing while picturing the scene and I think others will too!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

Samantha “Sam” Barnes is settling back into life at Cape Cod after an unflattering viral video caused her to leave New York City. Sam now writes restaurant reviews and creates food videos for the local newspaper. She spends her time off with her childhood friend Jenny and her “maybe boyfriend” Jason. She’s looking forward to relaxing over the upcoming Christmas holiday. Plans change when Sam’s parents call to say they’re coming in from Florida for a visit. Sam then finds a dead body and goes viral again when while being recorded, she declares that Santa is dead!

This is the second book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series, but the first I’ve read. The book gets off to a great start with a quote about eggnog from the movie Christmas Vacation. The book lives up to the expectation that it will be full of humor. The descriptions of Cape Cod are detailed and really help me picture the setting. I also like the premise and the plot of the book with a food reporter taking on a murder investigation. I like when she and her mom, a retired reporter with the same newspaper Sam now works, interview suspects together. Sam is less relatable when she is investigating on her own as she repeatedly accuses the wrong person, and takes unnecessary risks to get the information she is looking for.

I really like Sam’s rapport with her friend, Jenny, and their dialogue really shows that they’ve been friends since childhood instead of just telling us that in the narrative. Her relationship with Jason is less successful to me. When things are going well, they have all kinds of chemistry and Jason says all the right things to her. What is confusing is that Sam hints at unresolved issues and things the two of them need to discuss without going into too much detail. Perhaps this was covered in the first book, but I felt a bit lost.

I was surprised when the identity of the killer was revealed and liked the way the story wrapped up overall. However, it takes a while to get there and the pace of the story is uneven. The way the story is narrated, there are food tips given in parenthesis in the middle of dialogue or other parts of the narrative. This really distracted me from what the real focus of those sections should have been. I would have preferred a list of food tips organized at the end of the book before the recipes that are included. I was actually surprised to see only four recipes at the end of the book when so many details about food are included throughout the story. I like the book, but wish it had been more focused. Readers who enjoyed the first book in this series or fans of Lucy Burdette or Lee Hollis will want to give this one a try.

~ Christine

The Holiday season is here and you need to add An Eggnog to Die For by Amy Pershing to your TBR pile, as well as get gift copies for any cozy mystery lovers that you know!

In book two of the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries we are able to reconnect with all the great characters from book one, A Side of Murder, and are introduced to some new characters including Samantha’s parents and the brother-sister duo who are running the chic, new restaurant in town.

While Pershing excels with character development, what really delights me with this series is all the cooking scenes and recipes, and the reno/interior design Sam is doing to the house that she inherited from her aunt. Sam’s mom finds some treasures in the house that will make any Antiques Roadshow fan swoon, and it’s a wonderful find since Sam is a bit low on funds.

As with most cozies there is a romantic aspect, and in this series it’s Jason, the Harbormaster. Their relationship is progressing, and Jason’s gift to Sam towards the end of the book is the sweetest ever… but, for the love of whatever you believe in, they need to communicate more. I’m not saying they need to finish each other’s sentences, but….

Finally there’s the mystery, and this one was very well written with some red herrings. And while the suspects were few and far between at first, the more Sam talked with people around town the more she found out that Santa had been a very, very naughty boy.

I’m looking forward to seeing what wonderful recipes and interior design Pershing comes up with for book three in the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries, as well as reconnecting with all of her fantastic characters!

The first chapter or two I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this mystery. Sam was a bit difficult to warm up to and I had a hard time getting into the story. However, once I got through the very beginning I was pulled in and really enjoying the story. Sam is a bit different then the usual cozy mystery character. She's very much in a transition period of her life. While she has inherited a house it isn't in the best shape and there isn't exactly a fortune to maintain it. As well she's not exactly sure what she's going to do career wise since her restaurant jhchef career ended with a bit of a bang. \y

Once I was hooked (which didn't take very long) I really enjoyed the mystery. Not only do we have Sam, her harbor master kind of boyfriend Jason, best friend Jenny and newspaper editor/old friend Krista but we also have Sam's parents who are retired journalists itching to do some investigating. As well there is also neighbor Helene and Sam's dog Diogi (pronounced d- O -g). It made for a fun team and I always enjoy a team effort when it comes to solving mystery.

The mystery was the type I really enjoy. Santa (aka Caleb Mayo) turns out not to be quite the person everyone thought he was leaving the number of suspects in his murder growing with every conversation. I wasn't sure who was the bad guy until just before the reveal though I had lots of guesses. I couldn't wait to see how it would all unravel.
Despite the slower beginning I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Sam's parents and all the side characters. I like the asides about food preparation and just food in general and felt it really developed Sam's love and knowledge of food. My only real issue is that I wish Sam and Jason would just communicate! I get they're both a bit reserved and whatnot but seriously I wanted to yell at them sometimes. That aside I'm looking forward to the next book and am so glad that I have found a cozy that has a dog and not a cat!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

To say professional foodie Samantha Barnes has a lot on her list is an understatement this Christmas season. Her parents have arrived unexpectedly reporting Christmas in Florida is just not the same. Without a rental car, Sam becomes their chauffeur. She has articles to write and videos to make for her job at the Clarion. She also has a Christmas Eve dinner planned, a Feast of the Five Fishes, including eggnog for her family and friends. All that plus a Santa’s Seashore Selebration happening complete with a 5K Santa Stroll and Santa Trolley and Santa arriving at the harbor on Sam’s boyfriend’s boat with Jason decked out in an elf costume.

She wants to check the video for a new restaurant, The Ginger Jar, off her list, so they agree to do it after Santa’s big arrival. The taping went great but Sam finds a terrible gift on her way to the bathroom, a very shiny black boot, a hand clutching a manilla folder, all attached to a very dead Santa. She quickly realizes her Christmas List has gotten suddenly longer. She may need a miracle but she is going to get everything on her list checked off and track down the killer that struck down Santa Claus.

I fell hard for Samantha Barnes in the first book, A Side of Murder. She is such a smart sleuth and she has a terrific sense of humor. She is tall in stature and uses that trait wisely. In An Eggnog to Die For, we see where she gets her drive from. Her mother is like a steamroller when she gets an idea. It is best to get on board to get out of the way. She falls into her old reporter’s shoes quickly to help solve the murder even if it means questioning some dark individuals. Her father is more laid back, a real teddy bear. A man that brings balance to any situation is his own quiet way. I really enjoyed meeting Sam’s parents and am so glad they arrived for the holidays. Of course, the wonderful Diogi returns. Such a great doggie.

The other characters we met in the first book return but there are a couple of newcomers. Julie and Martin Bruni, the brother and sister are the owners of The Ginger Jar. a small plates and craft cocktail restaurant that has been a big hit with the younger crowd of Fair Harbor. Martin is the brains behind drinks like Caribbean Christmas Eggnog and Santa Clausmopolitan. Julie is a terrific chef serving up yummy oyster stew and peekytoe crab dip with wonton chips. I would love a place like that but sadly both owners are on the suspect list.

The author has reeled in a bunch of red herrings to distract and misdirect. Sam is an awesome multitasker juggling her dinner plans, work, and the murder. I really like the way she discusses her findings and theories with Jason. She does notice things other people miss. It was fun following the clues with Sam. The culprit was on my radar for a second or two but was dismissed only to circle back around as the clues really fell into place.

The setting of this series is something that really resonates with me. Sam inherited a wonderful home from her Aunt Ida. There is an ell where she lived her last days but the main part of the house needs work and in this story, we found it holds some treasures. It also has a spectacular view. The descriptions of the wonderful home made me so happy. Years ago when I was just starting my married life I would have loved to find a home like this and bring it back to its glory. Now I can get a taste of the renovations by slipping into Sam’s world.

Ms. Pershing has written a story that will get you in the Christmas spirit. The characters are well crafted and all feel like they could be neighbors and friends we could meet anywhere. The mystery was entertaining and fun. And the food . . . oh! the food! There are recipes for a delightful dinner at the end of the book and I plan to try them all as soon as my own personal chef/husband prepares them. Be sure to add An Eggnog To Die For to your Christmas reading lists.

An Eggnog To Die For by Amy Pershing

Samantha Barnes is hoping that her notoriety as a viral YouTube star for slicing off her (now ex-)husband’s fingertip during an ill-advised knife fight has died down, so she can concentrate on her life as a restaurant critic and maker of far tamer accompanying food videos. With the holiday season coming up, she’s also preoccupied with her parents’ imminent return to their hometown in Fair Harbor, Massachusetts, from where they’ve retired in Florida. She’s especially nervous about reintroducing them to her boyfriend, Jason Captiva, whom her father had warned away from her when she was seventeen and he was twenty-one, many years ago.

Unfortunately, Jason has been behaving somewhat cagily recently, causing Sam to start doubting their relationship altogether. But all thought of family and love life problems fly out the window when Sam accidentally walks into a restaurant office and finds a man dressed as Santa dead on the floor. Dazed, she walks back out to the dining area and announces, to fellow diners and their already recording cameras, “Santa is dead.” And finds herself going viral again for all the wrong reasons.

The dead man, Caleb Mayo, was an unpopular town selectman who had dressed up as Santa Claus for Fair Harbor’s annual celebrations. What he was doing rifling through the files at The Ginger Jar, owned by brother-sister duo Martin and Julie Bruni, is anyone’s guess. Sam has been trying to get the recipe for Martin’s amazing eggnog for her at-home Christmas parties for a while now, but that’s not the only reason she feels compelled to investigate this mystery. Her mother Veronica is raring to get back to work as an investigative reporter, and is asking questions of all sorts of unsavory characters. Sam is eager to close the case and help keep her mom out of trouble… but will she land herself in the middle of a whole murderous mess instead?

It was fascinating to follow along with Sam as she makes any number of tough moral choices over the course of her investigations, even as she wrestles with examining her own personality traits and insecurities. Her elderly neighbor Helene Greenberg, former criminal psychologist and current town librarian, is fortunately on hand to help sort out her issues, and was just as aghast as I was when Sam went off alone to confront a murder suspect in a remote area perfect for dumping bodies. Fortunately, all’s well that ends well, paving the way for more of Sam’s intriguing adventures.

This second installment of the Cape Cod Foodie mystery series also included four recipes for an entire cozy meal. Tempted as I was to try the Braised Leeks with Parmesan, I knew it was high time to make a dessert for this column, so was eager to attempt the following:

QUOTE
Blender Chocolate Mousse
serves 4 to 6

¾ cup heavy cream (plus more if you want whipped cream on top)
2 large eggs, at room temperature
6 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped (or dark chocolate chips)
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup water
¼ cup strong (brewed) espresso (or very strongly brewed coffee or cold-brew coffee concentrate
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

In a large bowl, whip the cream to medium glossy peaks, about 3 minutes. Set aside in the fridge

Once the eggs have reached room temperature, crack them into a blender and add the chocolate. Cover and blend on medium-high speed for a minute or so. Turn the blender off.

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the sugar and water and stir until dissolved. As soon as the syrup begins to boil, turn off the heat.

Turn the blender back on and slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the chocolate mixture. (If your blender top has a removable filler cap, take it out and pour the sugar syrup through that, which will keep any splattering to a minimum.) The hot sugar syrup will melt the chocolate and cook the eggs. Keep the blender running and add the coffee, vanilla, and salt. Blend for another minute or so until the mixture is very smooth and has cooled to room temperature.

Fold ½ cup of the chocolate mixture into the chilled whipped cream until smooth, then add the rest of the chocolate mixture to the cream mixture and fold until there are no streaks.

Pour into individual bowls or glasses and let the mousse set in the fridge until firm, at least two hours or up to 24 hours. Serve chilled with extra whipped cream, if desired.
END QUOTE

This was so delicious and decadent, and so easy to make! In all honesty, I don’t fully understand the chemistry behind making mousse, but I loved how quickly this all came together. I especially enjoyed the kick from the cold-brew coffee concentrate that I used. I chose not to add extra whipped cream, as I feel that the sweetness of the mousse was perfect as is, but I can see where other people might enjoy an extra touch of creaminess with their chocolatey goodness.

Next week, we head to the Midwest to investigate more Yuletide shenanigans while frying up a tasty treat. Do join me!

An Eggnog to Die for by Amy Pershing is the 2nd A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. The author provides all the information that a new reader needs to know. An Eggnog to Die For has Samantha Barnes getting ready for the holidays. Sam is working on fixing up the home she inherited from her aunt and working as a food critic for the local newspaper, Cape Cod Clarion. She also tapes short food segments for the online paper. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and their upcoming holiday celebrations. This is a quintessential small town that is celebrating Christmas New England style. There are several quirky characters in the story that keep things lively. Sam is filming a holiday drink segment at the local hot restaurant, Ginger Jar. She takes a break to use the ladies’ room and ends up finding the town’s Santa dead in the owner’s office. Sam dons her sleuthing cap once again and sets out to locate the killer. She has a long list of suspects since the victim was not well liked. There is misdirection to throw readers off the track of the guilty party. There are clues to help armchair sleuths solve the crime. I enjoyed the reveal of the killer and I appreciated that the whodunit was completely wrapped up. The food and drink descriptions will have your mouth watering. There is humor in the story to provide giggles. Sam’s snarky comments are amusing. The story is told from Sam’s point-of-view, so we get to know what she is thinking and feeling especially with regard to her harbor master boyfriend. An Eggnog to Die For is a cute cozy mystery with a delightful dog, appetizing appetizers, a sanctimonious Santa, costume crisis, parents paying a visit, and a snooping Sam.