Even when you live in paradise, you need a break. That’s why Hayley Snow is taking a few hours with her friend Eric and their dogs and heading to a beach on one of the nearby islands. However, the day takes a sad turn when Hayley’s dog finds a dead body half buried in the sand. The man was G.G. Garcia, a Key West developer who had a bad reputation. The local police think there is something suspicious about his death, and Hayley gets pulled into the investigation. Will she figure out what really happened?

I’ve fallen in love with Key West thanks to this series, and I was happy to be back. Sadly, the mystery was very weak. Even the characters got frustrated by their lack of progress throughout the book. Plus, the victim was a little too evil, with a few things that felt thrown in just to make other characters feel virtuous. The book gets a little dark and edgy for a cozy as well. Finally, there’s a subplot that comes across as half-baked, the characters involved definitely deserved better. On the other hand, I really did enjoy the location and the series regulars. Nathan, Hayley’s husband, gets some good development thanks to a visit from his estranged father. If you are new to the series, this isn’t the book for you, but fans will enjoy catching up with the characters.

A Dish to Die For is book #12 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette.

Haley and a friend go to an isolated beach for lunch when her husband’s dog finds a body. Haley has her hands full with her father-in-law is in town, her job, helping her mother cater, and investigating the murder.

I like Haley and her descriptions of what she’s eating always leaves me hungry. With a victim that most everyone despises, the police struggle with narrowing down the suspect list. I was right there with them trying to figure out who did it. I was completely surprised at the ending and thought it wrapped up really well. At the end, Haley’s boss make a statement regarding her marriage and I agree with it. It will be interesting to see what is in store for Haley. And there are some delicious recipes at the end!

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Dish to Die for is a great entry in the Key West Food Critic series. This time, Hayley Snow investigates the death of a rather unpleasant man found buried on a beach. This present day murder is linked to events that occurred in the past, as well as to a vintage recipe book. Miss Gloria joins Hayley on the investigation, which causes Nathan to worry (of course). We are also introduced to Nathan's father, which was interesting, considering that his mother and sister have appeared in previous books in the series. It is noteworthy to mention that the author tackles a very delicate and sensitive subject in A Dish to Die for, without making the reader uncomfortable. The storyline is solid and interesting, and the conclusion is satisfying. Highly recommended to cozy mystery readers.

Another case for Hayley as she gets used to married life, and poor Nathan was agonizing over his dad being in town. Once we met his dad, I didn't eventually think he was so bad. I could almost picture him as DiNozzo Sr. only less jovial or joking around. He seemed like an acquired taste, lol, but Hayley's probably one of the easiest and nicest people to get along with, so I didn't think he'd have any issues with her. She kinda seemed to charm him a little if that was possible.

I like how Miss Gloria got to help out a little with the sleuthing again and after successfully solving the case of "who killed the rich guy on the beach," she got some good news at work too. Always a yummy time visiting Key West with Hayley and friends!

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

Fast-paced enjoyable read. I haven't read the other books by Hayley, but I truly understood and was able to follow what was going on in the book. Lucy kept the book moving all the way to the end how she brought in how GG was killed. Amazingly written will look forward to reading earlier books and hope there will be more books

It does not matter at all that I have joined this series at #12 because I loved it anyway. Even better I can now go back and read the eleven preceding books.

Hayley Snow is a food critic for a local magazine on Key West. She lives in a house boat with her police officer husband Nathan, Ziggy the dog and several cats. She gets around town on a motor scooter with Ziggy in a special carrier on the back and apparently this is normal for the town. It all sounds very exotic to this reader from Sydney where transport is a little more ordinary.

It seems Hayley is notorious for discovering dead bodies so it is not a huge surprise when Ziggy digs one up on the beach for her. The rest is true to the cosy format as Hayley puts on her sleuthing hat and goes looking for the murderer. Between Hayley as a food critic and her mother as a successful caterer the author also has plenty of opportunity to provide mention of fabulous foods and I would really love to try a Key Lime Pie!

This was a fun read with nice characters, a good mystery and a rather unusual resolution.

Hayley Snow is enjoying a peaceful lunch at Geiger Key with her friend Eric and their dogs when Ziggy disappears. Hayley finally finds Ziggy digging at a shallow grave with a man’s body in it. Local birdwatcher Davis Jager identifies the man as GG Garcia, an unpopular womanizer and Key West developer. Since the body is found outside of Key West's jurisdiction, the death is being investigated by the sheriff's department and not by Hayley's detective husband Nathan. Nathan is distracted by the sudden arrival of his estranged father. Skip Bransford has been brought in as a consultant to oversee a review of Key West Police Department procedures.

When Hayley’s caterer mother Janet is hired to provide food for GG’s memorial service reception at the Key West Women's Club, Hayley and her elderly friend Miss Gloria provide help while watching the mourners for potential motives and suspects. Jager is attacked leaving a Geiger Key bar and Hayley wonders if the incident is related to GG's murder. As Hayley works on her latest Key Zest articles, she peruses a 1949 Key West Cookbook and finds intriguing handwritten recipes, drawings and secrets which point her in a new direction to identify the killer.

This was another enjoyable entry in the long-running Key West Food Critic mystery series. I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

Spending time in Key West with Hayley Snow, Miss Gloria and Nathan is always a treat. I can enjoy the sights, sounds, sun and food without the sun screen and the calories. Just sit back and join them as a killer is unmasked. In this, the 12th in this entertaining series, Hayley takes an afternoon break with her friend, Eric, a psychologist, heading to a beach with the dogs and a good lunch. Too bad the refreshing beach time is followed by the discovery of a body in a shallow grave. Hayley's husbands' dog, Ziggy, runs off and is found digging for the bones. Tears are not shed when the dead man turns out to be an unpopular local developer who's projects have threatened the local environment not to mention that he's a womanizer. Hayley is not inclined to get involved until a friend is attacked soon after meeting with her. How are the dead man, the attack and a 1940's cookbook connected? It makes for a very good puzzle to solve. If you are new to the series this entry works fine as a stand alone.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A relaxing afternoon turns into another investigation for Hayley.
You will gain five pounds reading all the yummy food mentioned in this mystery.
Readers will also learn quite a bit more about Nathan’s family.
What I love the most about this series is the location of Key West. Sun, sand, and murder!

Although this is the 12th book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, it’s the first one I’ve read, and it was pretty good. Each chapter starts with a food-related quote - from a book, from an online comment to a New York Times recipe, etc. The main character is Hayley Snow, who works as the food critic for “Key Zest.” The author did a great job of making a new reader comfortable, and also occasionally referred back to previous adventures, which I’m sure will make regular readers of this series smile in recollection.

Key West is a very interesting place, filled with tourists of all sorts, but this is a kind of behind-the-scenes look at how the people who live there all year live. Our main character and her husband, a Key West police officer, live on a houseboat, which I thought was pretty interesting. They have a feisty neighbor, Miss Gloria, who is in her 80s, who plays a fairly large role in this story. I assume she pops up in the other books as well.

The mystery this time is who killed GG Garcia, a well-known, but not well-liked local. Hayley was the one who discovered the body, when she chased after her dog Ziggy, and found him digging in a wooded spot near the beach.

Food descriptions were lovely and did not overwhelm the story, as some food-oriented cozies seem to do. There are some recipes at the end of the book, along with an interesting author’s note, about the Key West Women’s Club and their 1949 cookbook, which features in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Hayley Snow, food critic for Key Zest magazine, is having lunch with a friend outside of town. Afterwards, she discovers her husband Nathan’s dog, Ziggy, has disappeared. She follows his barking and finds him digging at a shallow grave with a man’s body in it. Davis Jager, a local birdwatcher, identifies him as GG Garcia, a Key West local and developer. When Davis is attacked in the parking lot of a local restaurant after talking to Hayley and her friend, Miss Gloria, Hayley is slowly but surely drawn into the case. Can she find the truth and the culprit?
This cozy mystery was a good read. I liked Hayley and how she worked with her husband and the police to solve the crime. Miss Gloria was the standout character to me, being the wise and wild older friend. I loved the descriptions of Key West, Florida, and it’s now on my list of places I want to visit. The plot was a dastardly diabolical puzzle, and I was surprised in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Hayley is having a day off at the beach with her friend, Eric. Ziggy, Nathan's dog, discovers a body buried in the sand. Hayley gets drawn into the search for the murderer and it leads to some interesting and creepy history on the Keys. Great writing and plotting keep you guessing until the end. The characters are like a bunch of old friends you enjoy visiting every year. I'm excited about what comes next after this installment.

I fell in love with Key West the one time I got to visit there. What a fun job getting to eat good food and write a review about it. Kind of like reading a good book and writing a review. The characters are great. I think my favorite is Miss Gloria. I think old cookbooks are treasures. Not that I cook much, but I love going through them. I really liked the storyline, which was very believable. You may even know some people like those in this story. I hope I can make another trip to Key West in the future. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own. Oh, you’ll find some tasty recipes at the end of the book.

I love Hayley and her family. I love Hayley's very real relationship with Nathan. I love Nathan's complex relationship with his dad. I love Miss Gloria. This was a good mystery with Hayley using all her skills and resources to gather information on the dead man. I love when the past and present combine to solve a mystery. Fantastic read!

This is the twelfth in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series. It is set in Key West with the murder having been committed on another key. This murder was intriguing. Nathan’s dog discovers the body on the beach.

I enjoyed meeting Nathan’s father. I like the police treat her opinions with respect and seek her out for information. The characters in Hayley’s inner circle are wonderful and diverse. Her father-in-law brings a different point of view to the investigation and works well with Nathan.

The next books should be interesting with a change in Haley’s work life.


I was given an advanced readers’ copy and am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.

📖My Thoughts📖

This was a very delightful treat of a book to read! Like all good cozy mysteries, this one included a little romance, lovable characters, and of course, a murder, but it also some very descriptive mouth watering dishes, a dog named Ziggy and even some amazing recipes at the end! I’m beginning to think that it’s best to start reading cozy mysteries on a full stomach so as not to suddenly get a hankering for one of the delicious dishes that gets described. I loved this book and meeting all the characters. This was the 12th book in the series A Key West Food Critic Mystery, but it was completely fine to read as a stand-alone. Very cute, entertaining and easy to read, this book would be perfect for either a beach day, lounging by the pool, or even snuggling up in a warm blanket with a cup of coffee or tea on a cool fall day. Another great cozy mystery that I would absolutely recommend.
Thank you Netgalley, Lucy Burdette and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Having been a huge fan of this entire series for a long time, I found this book to be exceptionally good. I consider Hayley Snow, food critic for a magazine to be my favorite amateur sleuth of all time.
My interest in the murder of the birdwatcher, developer and womanizer was not strong enough to make me interested in the mystery behind the murder. Despite the fact that this guy was exceptionally bad.
GG, the murdered man's memorial service reception was catered by Janet, Hayley's mother. Using recipes from a old Key West Cookbook. What I found really fascinating.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.

A DISH TO DIE FOR is the twelfth book in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette. Filled with endearing characters, mouthwatering food, a tropical locale, and a doozy of a murder, this book will satisfy both armchair detectives and travelers alike. Protagonist Hayley Snow is settling into married life with her detective husband, Nathan, and making their houseboat in Key West a home. Her close friend, octogenarian Miss Gloria, lives next door, and between them, has a menagerie of adorable pets. The author has created a loveable cast of characters that make each book feel you’re visiting with friends. I love the close relationship Hayley has with her friends and family, and am glad that with each book, a new family member is introduced. In this newest release, Hayley’s father-in-law—a retired detective turned consultant—decides to visit the newlyweds. This gives the characters an opportunity to change and grow while giving the reader a glimpse into the psyche of the characters as each conflict is faced.

Set against the backdrop of the Florida Keys, Ms. Burdette captures the tropical spirit of the islands: gentle lapping waves, sandy beaches, seafood dishes, and fruity libations. It draws the reader in, lulling them into a sense of relaxation… that is until murder strikes. And, of course, Hayley, known as the murder magnet, is there when Nathan’s dog finds the victim. Hayley doesn’t plan on getting involved, but when a second attack occurs, she decides it’s time to ask questions. I appreciate that both her husband and her father-in-law don’t tell her to stay home and stay safe. Instead, they recognize her intelligence and pay attention to the information she uncovers. Entwined with the current day murder is a mysterious diary connected to a vintage cookbook. At first, I didn’t see how it was connected at all, but under the expert plotting of Ms. Burdette, it all came together in a cohesive story. The reveal was quite unique and I appreciated the gentle approach the author took. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and the opportunity to join Hayley and her friends for another Key West adventure!

Being a food critic, Hayley’s life revolves around food. Not only does she visit restaurants galore, but her mother is a caterer, and Hayley herself enjoys cooking. I loved how the author uses the Key West Women’s Club vintage cookbook along with their updated cookbook, not only for the mystery, but for the food and recipes included at the back of the book as well. It’s well worthwhile to read the afterward in the book, along with perusing the recipes.

Sit back, get comfortable and get ready for another enjoyable trip to Key West. The vivid descriptions, interesting characters and well woven mystery will keep you engrossed in the book until the very end.

I have read this series from the very beginning and love it. The author does such a good job describing things that you can visualize both the characters and setting. Every book seems to have a new interesting character. (Hint -this time it is a family member.) In addition, I really enjoyed the ending with an interesting twist to the murder, further insight to Nathan and something exciting for Hayley. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Oh jeez. The last thing Hayley needs right now is another dead body but Ziggy the dog has found CC Garcia. Now no one on the island liked the developer not only for his business practices but also for the way he treated women but really, murder? So in between trying to write her column and perusing a vintage cookbook, Hayley sets out to solve the crime with the grudging acceptance of her new husband Nathan, a police officer. Oh-and Nathan's father, an intimidating man, is coming to town. It's a cozy so you now there will be red herrings. Even though it's the 12 in the series, Burdette gives enough back story to catch up new readers (and remind old fans like me). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. AND- there are recipes!