MURDER MOST FINICKY is Book 4 in Liz Mugavero's Pawsitively Organic cozy mystery series. I love this series, but MURDER MOST FINICKY might be my favorite book yet. In this installment, organic pet treat chef Stan is on the train to culinary crazy town. Unlike previous books in the Pawsitively Organic series the setting is not in the small town of Frog Ledge, complete with town regulars, but in Newport, RI. Although I love Frog Ledge and the favorite familiar characters, this change of scene provides a diverting dose of both hilarity and homicide.

The celebrity chefs that foodie guru Sheldon Allyn has rounded up for a retreat, with Stan as a newcomer, are an odd assortment of strong egos and eccentrics. This setting is delicious and makes an intriguing backdrop for murder. As a reader, I was able to put myself in Stan's place and be alternately amazed by the characters and quick to suspect them of all manner of fishy things that go on in MURDER MOST FINICKY. As chefs either kick the bucket or disappear under strange circumstances, Stan is a very reluctant sleuth. Liz Mugavero does a fantastic job of providing numerous plausible suspects and equally strong motives. With so many over-the-top personalities it is difficult figuring out who to believe and what is real versus what might be a red herring.

There are a few things, in addition to the murder and mayhem that make MURDER MOST FINICKY so enjoyable. Even though Jake is a presence mainly through encouraging phone calls, I enjoyed the snippets between Stan and her boyfriend. Through all the craziness, Stan manages to advance the relationship with her man, and the tentative friendship she has with his state trooper sister. Jake and his sister Jessie offer Stan a lot of support as she faces danger and hunts down clues. The subplot involving Stan's sister is interesting without being distracting or making things too convoluted.

MURDER MOST FINICKY is a superlative cozy mystery that makes it fun trying to puzzle out whodunit. There is enough humor and truly laugh-out-loud moments to balance the suspense and danger. Each book in this Pawsitively Organic series just gets better. I can't wait to read the next installment by Liz Mugavero.

Book Summary

The dog days of summer have arrived in the small town of Frog Ledge, Connecticut, and business is booming for Kristan "Stan" Connor. Her Pawsitively Organic pet food has even caught the attention of celebrity pastry chef Sheldon Allyn, who helps Stan open a fancy pet pastry shop in Frog Ledge. A partnership is born, and Sheldon invites Stan to Newport, Rhode Island, for an appreciation weekend he's hosting for all his independent chefs. But the gourmet getaway turns sour when one of the chefs turns up dead, and a second one goes missing. . .

As Stan tries to figure out who had a recipe for murder, the pool of suspects expands. And if she can't sniff out the culprit soon, this killer may just serve up a second helping of murder. . .