Riley Adams – Finger Lickin’ Dead

The second book in the Memphis Barbeque Mystery series, published June 7, 2011.
Genre: cozy mystery with recipes
Cover: inviting



Welcome to Aunt Pat’s barbeque restaurant – family run and located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. Named in honor of Lulu Taylor’s great-aunt, the restaurant on Beale Street is famous for its ribs and spicy corn bread, but sometimes, Southern comfort food can come with a side of murder...
When an anonymous food critic blasts several local restaurants – including Aunt Pat’s – with bad reviews, Lulu and her most loyal customers are burning mad, especially when they discover that Eppie Currian is the pen name of their friend Evelyn’s cheating boyfriend. When “Eppie” gets his own fatal review, the list of suspects is long: two fuming ex-wives, an irate former restaurant owner, and even someone from Aunt Pat’s own kitchen. Now, to catch the real killer, Lulu is going to have to put down her barbeque tongs – before her loved ones get sentenced to a strict diet of prison food.


It was fun and really nice to visit Aunt Pat’s in Memphis again. To catch up with her family and friends, join them while eating the best barbeque in town, and catching a killer. It felt like I read the previous book yesterday instead of weeks ago. I so want to visit Memphis and eat some of the dishes described in this book. And if you love to cook, there are some awesome and short recipes in the back of it.

The mystery was very well written, there were so many suspects, and the one I suspected, did not do it after all. It sure was suspenseful till the end. I love being surprised in my books. The whole cast of characters is delightful in their eccentricity. I love their, to my Dutch eyes, very strange sayings and dishes. It is also refreshing not to have a younger sleuth and a possible love interest to deal with. Lulu is a grandmother, who cares for her restaurant, her son and daughter in law, and their twin girls. Coco is a future beauty queen, but Ella Beth wants to be a detective and is helping her grandmother with her sleuthing. And she is good at it!

All in all, a delightful read and one that makes you hungry. Love the setting of Memphis, and of course Elvis’ estate Graceland is visited. I enjoy all the repeating characters, and I will read book 3 soonish.

8 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian