ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hayley Snow loves her job as the food critic for Key Zest
magazine, tasting the offerings from Key West’s most
innovative restaurants. She’d rate her life four
stars, until she’s forced into the spotlight...and
another murder investigation.
Hoping for some good publicity, Hayley’s boss signs her up to help judge the Key West Topped Chef contest. Stakes are high as the winner could be the next cooking-show superstar. Hayley shows up for the filming nervous but excited, until she sees who’s on the judging panel with her: Sam Rizzoli, big shot businessman—and owner of the restaurant she just panned in her first negative review.
When Rizzoli turns up dead, the police assume his killer is one of his business rivals. But Hayley wonders whether someone is taking the contest a little too seriously. With the police following the wrong recipe, it’s up to Hayley to find the killer before she’s eliminated from the show...permanently.
AN EXCERPT FROM TOPPED CHEF:
Hoping for some good publicity, Hayley’s boss signs her up to help judge the Key West Topped Chef contest. Stakes are high as the winner could be the next cooking-show superstar. Hayley shows up for the filming nervous but excited, until she sees who’s on the judging panel with her: Sam Rizzoli, big shot businessman—and owner of the restaurant she just panned in her first negative review.
When Rizzoli turns up dead, the police assume his killer is one of his business rivals. But Hayley wonders whether someone is taking the contest a little too seriously. With the police following the wrong recipe, it’s up to Hayley to find the killer before she’s eliminated from the show...permanently.
Chapter One
“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, ‘I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?’ ” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.
— A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said.
— A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Evinrude woke me from a sound sleep, first with his rumbling purr and
then with a gentle but persistent tapping of paw to cheek. I blinked my
eyes open—the bedside clock read six fifteen. I hissed softly at his
gray-striped face. “I love you dearly, but you’re a monster,” I told him
as I rolled out of bed. “Spoiled rotten cat flesh.”
Tail hoisted high, he trotted out of the room ahead of me, meowing
loudly. Miss Gloria’s lithe black cat, Sparky, intercepted him before he
reached the food bowls lined up in the corner of the tiny galley of our
houseboat. He sprang onto Evinrude’s back and wrestled him to the
floor. While they boxed and nipped at each other, I poured a ration of
kibbles into each bowl, refreshed their water, and then staggered onto
the deck to check out the morning.
To finish reading this excerpt, visit the author's website HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lucy Burdette is the author of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, launching in January 2012 with AN APPETITE FOR MURDER.
Lucy’s alter-ego, clinical psychologist Roberta Isleib, has published eight mysteries including the Golf Lover’s Mystery series and the Advice Column Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime, and a past-president of Sisters in Crime.
OTHER BOOKS BY LUCY BURDETTE:
GIVEAWAY
THANKS TO KAYLEIGH AND THE GOOD FOLKS
AT OBSIDIAN AND PENGUIN BOOKS,
I HAVE ONE COPY OF TOPPED CHEF,
TO GIVE AWAY TO A LUCKY READER
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!
HOW TO ENTER:
+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT TOPPED CHEF THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK
+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FIND INTERESTING AT LUCY BURDETTE'S WEBSITE HERE
+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT
ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN
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COUNT AS AN ENTRY
+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT
ON A CURRENT GIVEAWAY THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED ON MY
BLOG. IF YOU ENTERED MORE THAN ONE, YOU MAY COMMENT
SEPARATELY FOR EACH TO RECEIVE MORE ENTRIES
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JUNE 4
GOOD LUCK!





This sounds like a really good cozy mystery. I would like to see who did it and find out more about the cooking show.
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I enjoy these mysteries and the setting in Key West sounds interesting.
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I liked the little video. The cats sound cute. The story sounds interesting. I look forward to reading it to find out who the killer is.
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I found this recipe for cough syrup listed under roach poison and cough syrup...strange title: The best cough syrup for a hacking cough is one teaspoon each of gin, lemon juice, and honey.
ReplyDeleteNow, too bad I don't drink and have no gin because I have a horrible cough and need it.
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this cover is GORGEOUS!!
ReplyDeletethank you for the giveaway!!
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She started with Pooh, what else do we need!?! I really liked Hayley's first adventure, would love to catch up and win!
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Sadly, I can't get Lucy's recipe link to work, but I love the watercolor that adorns her blog/homepage.
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A unique cozy. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
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ReplyDeleteAnother great cozy. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
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ReplyDeleteThe author has great recipes featured on the website. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
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ReplyDeleteI love mysteries where the protagonist is also a suspect and has to dig out of that situation.
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when I clicked on the web page link, it didn't work, but the link from her bio did and I saw an awesome list of mysteries ==had to leave in a hurry before my TBR mountain toppled!!!
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This is a parody of Top Chef, one of my favorite cooking shows. I will be looking for ways that the Topped Chef Competition compares to Top. This ine is most read for me!!!
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lOVE THIS SERIES- IT IS SUCH A FUN COZY!
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I am a cozy fan as well as I love the title of this book. Thank you for the chance to win it.
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I have shared the contest on my blog - http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
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ReplyDeleteI don't see my first post so I am going to repeat it here. I like this book due to the fact that I am a cozy fan as well as I enjoy the title of the book. Thank you for the chance to win
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ReplyDeleteI read her receipe for Bread and Butter Pickles on her site. They are among my favorite things to eat. Now if I can just get them sugar free!
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Sounds like a delicious cozy :)
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I love the show Top Chef and am surprised it's never come to murder on the show LOL
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Just the mention of Evinrude in the excerpt reminds me how much I like that cat in this series.
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On the author's website I saw a picture of the huge sheet cake frosted like the book cover that was eaten at the party for the book. What fun.
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I am such a foodie!
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Love the Top chef contest theme.
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Well the cooking reels me in every time and I love a good cooking show, throw in a mystery and you have a recipe for fun! :)
ReplyDeleteloved the trailer!
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I tweeted: https://twitter.com/MippyFoofalina/status/341876474921484288
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I found it interesting on her site that the cake for her book launch looks almost bigger than her! LOL
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I havent read any cozy mysteries. this looks like a good one to try.
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