Death al Fresco

It’s summer in Santa Cruz, and restaurateur Sally Solari decides an open-air painting class is a perfect way for her to learn more about Paul Gauguin, the inspiration for her restaurant. But the beauty of the Monterey Bay coastline is shattered when Sally’s dog Buster sniffs out a corpse tangled up in kelp.

The body is Gino, a local fisherman and a regular at her father’s restaurant, Solaris until he disappeared after dining there a few nights before. Witnesses claim he left reeling drunk, but his waitress swears Gino only had two beers with his dinner. Fingers begin to point at Sally’s dad for negligently allowing an inebriated customer to walk home alone at night.

From a long menu of suspects that includes Anastasia, the mysterious woman who dined with Gino that fateful night, Gino’s deckhand Bobby, and bocce player Frank who accused Gino of cheating, Sally must serve up the tall order to clear her father’s name.

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Series: A Sally Solari Mystery Book – 3
Author: Leslie Karst
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher:Crooked Lane Books

Rating:

Death al Fresco is the third book in the “A Sally Solari Mystery” series. It is a quick, enjoyable read with plenty of plot twists and clues that may or may not be what they seem. Leslie Karst is a wonderful writer who knows how to build suspense and intrigue without getting bogged down in unnecessary verbiage.

Sally has her hands full working in her new restaurant as well as her father’s restaurant, Solaris and things do not look for getting better any time soon. With a big celebration at Solaris add her touchy cook, Javier at Gauguin’s, she isn’t sure whether she is coming or going. Things spiral downhill fast as she races against time to solve a murder before her father, and she ends up out of business.

The cast of characters in this new addition to the series are fan favorites. They are likable and lovable, and readers cheer from the sidelines as each of them plays their part. Sally’s father, as well as her bf and old flame, Eric play a starring role in the story and add to the enjoyment of the book and the reader.

Santa Cruz is a wonderful location to set a series, and Ms. Karst uses it well as the backdrop of an intriguing and highly pleasurable plot. The recipes are mouthwatering and will have readers tracking down their local Italian restaurant to see if they have the delightful dishes described in the story.

When the killer is unmasked, the motive is a bit confusing and the killer although a suspect still seems a bit of a surprise. Although the motive for the murder is not explained very well and is left up to the reader to scrutinize its meaning. Death al Fresco is recommended for anyone interested in a good story filled with action and fun.