Hummus and Homicide

March 1, 2018

After losing her job as a patent attorney, Lucy Berberian returns home to the Jersey Shore where her parents run a Mediterranean restaurant. Now her parents want to retire and are thinking of selling it to Lucy's ex-boyfriend Azad. Even worse, the new health inspector, Heather Banks, was a mean girl in high school, and still dislikes Lucy. But that doesn't mean Lucy killed her, although she is the one who serves Heather's last meal, and stumbles over her body outside the restaurant's back door. Of course, the local cop suspects Lucy because Lucy's sister dumped him. This mystery debut by a romance writer (Lady of Scandal) is typical of many first culinary cozies. The amateur sleuth loses a job, returns home to the family restaurant, becomes a murder suspect, and leaves two men dangling while she solves the crime. It also includes recipes. VERDICT While there's nothing new that makes this cozy stand out, its likable characters and colorful kebab restaurant setting may whet the appetite of devotees of foodie mysteries. Competing series include Susannah Hardy's "Greek to Me" books and Kylie Logan's "Ethnic Eats" mysteries.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

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