I am a big fan of cold case mystery shows, so I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. The one weak area is Hayley, the main character. She is rude and obnoxious, and has little regard for other people’s time. I did like the supporting characters, especially Miss Gloria.

A Poisonous Palate by Lucy Burdette is a clever mystery novel, another in her series of Key West Food Critic mysteries and it also includes recipes. It’s a tale of a woman who comes back to Key West ostensibly to write a book about Ernest Hemingway and his wives but also to look again for a friend Veronica who disappeared when she visited 40 years ago and was never found.

The writer Catherine contacted Hayley Snow, food critic for the Key Zest e-zine who was known locally for having solved some mysteries. Hayley agreed to meet her for coffee and after talking to her, to help her.

The next day they drove further up the Keys to try to talk to some of the people who might still have been around 40 years ago and unfortunately Catherine discovered the body of Ned, one of the men she remembered, in the office of his hotel.

As Hayley continued her investigation Catherine also disappeared. Hayley continued to talk to waitresses and chefs and retired sheriff’s officers and a veterinarian to try to solve the mystery and the murder, first to no avail, but seemed to be getting closer. She has some really delicious meals along the way. But was it getting dangerous. Then she and someone helping her were shot at. Will she find Catherine? Will she catch the killer? Will she stay alive? You will have to read this delicious and intriguing story to find out.

Lucy Burdette has served up another delicious helping of the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series. Each book is better than the previous one which really seems impossible but is true. I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to read an advanced copy and loved every chapter. .This time Hayley Snow is approached by a stranger to help solve a 40 year old missing person case. The twists and turns keep you mystified until the very end. I laughed and cried and really enjoyed my trip to Key West. The vivid descriptions of the area as well as the character development is very well done. While is is best to start with “ Appetite for Murder” and work one’s way through the series, this book can be read as a stand-alone without feeling lost. Thank you Lucy. Now, I eagerly await the next book in the series.