I enjoyed this book. It feels a little more hectic than previous books. There’s a lot of characters & running around. A lot of people from the past show up as well as all the family. I did suspect the news toward the end. Is this the last of the series? #TheMangoMurders #NetGalley

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE MANGO MURDERS (Book 15 of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series) by Lucy Burdette in exchange for an honest review. Hayley Snow’s employer Key Zest Magazine is trying to survive the death of publications everywhere by transitioning into news as well as promoting local food and events. To kick off the transition, Key Zest hosts a cocktail cruise catered by the winner of their mango recipe contest, Janet Snow, and attended by local luminaries, food celebrities, and politicians. However, the cruise is more of a bang than a hit as someone blows up the yacht shortly after it sets sail! Hayley learns that one person died in the explosion, and some people are trying to blame her mother for the explosion. Hayley investigates the participants and any motives they may have had for destroying the ship, the event, or any of the attendees. Meanwhile, Hayley and her friends and family are spending an entire week celebrating the birthday of her good friend and neighbor (and trying to protect the birthday celebrant from the bullying of her own family).

I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries in an island setting with food themes.

#TheMangoMurders #NetGalley

I have been a fan of Lucy Burdette and the Key West series from book one! Every new book is as fresh and fun as the first, from the character
development, the location, the clever plots and always surprises along the way. It's the ideal cozy read at the end of a hard day.

I highly recommend The Mango Murders and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a great read!

My thanks to Lucy Burdette for this wonderful series and to Net Galley for the opportunity to read the ARC.

So many cozy mysteries seem to be moving in the same direction and this installment is no different. The story was interesting, but Hayley was more obnoxious than usual.

Sun Soaked..
The fifteenth outing in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series and the event of the season is on the horizon - a lavish cocktail party on board a cruise ship. When an unscheduled and unexpected explosion rocks the boat and a person is killed it seems that there is almost certainly a killer aboard. Can Hayley defeat the odds and catch a killer? A fun and frothy cosy with a solid mystery at heart, a cast of eclectic characters and a well imagined and sun soaked backdrop.

This was the first Key West cozy I've ever tried and wasn't sure how it would translate as a location setting, but it so works! The characters are great and well thought out. I loved this book!

Review of eBook

Hayley Snow’s life is suddenly dizzyingly busy. There’s the cocktail cruise co-sponsored by “Key Zest magazine and her mother’s catering company. And all of Miss Gloria’s family will be descending upon Key West to celebrate as she celebrates her eighty-fifth birthday.

Mallory Square is filled with visitors in town for the Sunset Celebration. Hayley welcomes the guests at the dock; soon the boat is moving away from the wharf and drinks are being served.

And then there’s a panicked shout: “Fire!”

=========

“The Mango Murders,” fifteenth in the author’s Key West Food Critic Mystery series, has sufficient backstory for the book to work as a standalone for readers new to the series. All the expected characters are in place for this exciting adventure filled with surprises.

This cozy mystery keeps readers guessing as the unfolding story slowly reveals its secrets. The story moves along at a brisk pace, keeping readers involved in the telling of the tale and turning the pages as fast as possible. [And there are recipes, too!]

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries will find much to appreciate in this unputdownable addition to the author’s delightful series.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#TheMangoMurders #NetGalley

I would highly recommend this book. A great addition to a series I love. Hayley finds herself in the center of a murder mystery. She was on board the boat when it exploded and feels she needs to investigate.

Hayley is just as nosy as ever in this installment, but don’t take my word…the characters say it more than enough. 😅

I felt the beginning was super slow and I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve been removed from the series for awhile or if it’s because the mystery started early on. I enjoyed the setting for the mystery and the running parts but it did end up dragging a bit. It was nice to see some characters pop back up that we’ve met in the past but there was definitely an overload of people in this book.

Palamina, Hayley’s boss, was quite tolerant of the sheer volume of questions. I can’t remember if there was a seed planted last book about no one really knowing Palamina but it played out in this book, finally.

The ending was…..expected. That’s all I can say!

One of my favorite authors and books. I really enjoy reading this series. Looking for more from this author. I hope you enjoy it also

The Mango Murders is the 15th book in this wonderful Key West Food Critic cozy mystery series, and it is a delicious delight. Last year, I was fortunate enough to read #14, and that got me hooked to where I went back and am working my way through the entire series. However, this book can be read as a standalone because Ms. Burdette does a great job of providing just enough background to give a new reader context.
In this installment, the main character, food critic (and amateur sleuth) Haley Snow, and her colleagues at Key Zest magazine, are hosting a sunset cruise around Key West to bring more ad revenue and interest to the publication. Her mother, Janet Snow, is the caterer, also hoping to bring in new business to her catering company. Shortly after the boat leaves the dock, there is a fire onboard, and everyone must abandon ship. It is discovered later that one attendee, who was below decks, died. Haley gets drawn into another murder mystery. The plot moves along at a steady pace, with enough twists and turns to keep me going and guessing until the very end. There’s a wonderful revelation at the end that already has me champing at the bit for Book #16!

Meanwhile, while the investigation is going on, we are treated to a delightful birthday celebration for another character’s birthday. It’s a multiple day (and multiple meal) extravaganza for Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday. Miss Gloria is like a grandmother to Haley, so everything must be perfect. Lots of great food descriptions and party fun are woven throughout the story, which makes for a pleasant respite from the murder investigation. It’s also a great opportunity for Ms. Burdette to share more about Key West, and yes, I always pause to look up a location or restaurant. I can’t wait to visit someday!

The dialogue sparkles, and I loved getting to know more about recurring characters, including Haley’s husband, deputy chief of police Nathan, and his mother, Helen, as well as some new ones. I would want to hang out with all of them any time.
This is a terrific series, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to dive into cozy mysteries. You won’t be disappointed, but like me, you may become hooked! Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy. I happily, and voluntarily, am providing this honest review.

Who knew catering was such a treacherous business. Hayley and her mother are involved in a cruise to promote the Key West e-zine, but the cruise literally blows up. One person killed and lots of finger pointing. Naturally Hayley is involved much to her husband’s chagrin. Entertaining as always with this series with some surprises.

This was another lighthearted fun read with Hayley Snow and the gang. I have read every book in this wonderful series and have enjoyed every single one! When Hayley's mom is implicated in a murder, Hayley pulls out all the stops to clear her mom"s name. This is a fast paced mystery with a great setting, wonderful main characters, lots of red herrings, and a touch of humor. I can't wait to read the next book in this highly addictive series.

I am always happy to return to the crew of Key Zest as well as the house boat slips in Key West. This episode was no exception! This follows with the usual formulaic nature of this cozy mystery series which is entertaining as well as comforting. These characters, especially Miss Gloria, really know how to make the series. I am always excited for the next installment and was so happy to get a chance to read and ARC of this one.

A great cosy crime mystery and perfect for the summer holiday or if you have a surplus of mangoes. This book combines a murder or two with some great ideas for using mangoes and what I love is the recipes at the end. Well worth a read either as a standalone, as I did or as part of the series. I would certainly read more if I came across them

Life for Haley Snow is just about perfect. She's enjoying life with her new husband on their newly renovated houseboat. Her mother's catering business is taking off. She has a good relationship with her new boss at Key Zest and she's happily preparing for a series of celebrations for her beloved neighbor Miss Gloria's 85th birthday. Surely nothing will happen to dim this happiness.

Guess what! Just minutes into a Key Zest sponsored cruise that's going to boost sales and promote Haley's mother's company, an explosion rocks the boat. Not only is this a promotional disaster, not everyone escapes. On top of that, suspicion falls on Haley's mother. Hayley is determined to clear her mother and find the real culprit. Along the way, she'll have to deal with tension in her marriage, a slew of parents and in-laws, and Miss Gloria's unpleasant relations.

This one kept me turning the pages to see what new challenge Haley would face.

The Mango Murders by Lucy Burdette is the 15th installment in the Key West Food Critic cozy mystery series. Every time I read a book in this series, it's like taking a mini trip to Key West. I can taste the food, feel the breeze and picture myself living in a houseboat in houseboat row. I highly recommend The Mango Murders and the Key West Food Critic series.

Hayley is a food critic in Key West, Florida. Her employer is sponsoring a big shindig on a boat, and her mom is the caterer. Everyone is shocked when there is an explosion onboard and there are many injuries and one fatality. Of course Hayley feels she must investigate despite her police officer husband's request to let his office handle it. The Key West ambiance is fun, but I did question the wisdom of Hayley's judgement when she goes to a deserted area to investigate without informing anyone and gets into trouble. Recipes are included. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Mango Murders begins, literally, with a bang when the boat Key Zest is renting for a special party explodes. What follows is a twisty, maybe murder, mystery featuring the usual characters like Miss Gloria, Lorenzo and Hayley’s mother and stepfather Sam. But, this mystery adds in more members from Hayley’s family, Nathan’s family and Miss Gloria’s children as they all gather in Key West to celebrate Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday. And, Hayley’s boss Palamina’s past becomes part of the mystery as well. Nathan’s mother enthusiastically joins in to solve the mystery of who set off the explosion and why. A partial body leads to confusion as to the victim. It’s mango season in Key West so the fruits feature prominently in dishes and events. Someone isn’t happy they are asking so many questions. Just as it seems everything will be resolved, another big reveal comes along. A thoroughly enjoyable installment in the Key West Food Critic series.

Key Zest Magazine is hosting a cocktail party on a boat to promote the magazine. The affair is being catered
by Hayley Snow's mother, Janet, to promote her catering business. Unfortunately, the boat is rocked by an
explosion shortly after the affair starts, requiring the attendees to be rescued. The aftermath uncovers a
woman's body - who is she? As Hayley seeks to discover the identity of the dead woman, the question of why
remains. In addition, Hayley is dealing with the ccelebration planned ffor Miss Gloria's 85th birthday, attended by
family and friends. Is the explosion related to the magazine, Janet's business or the captain of the boat?
Another wonderful read added to the series.
#TheMangoMurderst #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley