Truffled Feathers

by Nancy Fairbanks

Book Overview

Carolyn Blue decides that life as a homemaker is too dull for her, so she embarks on a career as a food writer. But, when one of her husband's colleagues keels over and dies at the dinner table, Carolyn wonders whether foul play may be the cause.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 042518272X
• ISBN13: 9780425182727
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.7"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

thumbs down on this one

Sorry but this book didn't get good until chapter 29 and then it went on and on at the end. There was swearing in it which I don't think belongs in a cozy mystery. The peoples names were hard to pronounce. This was the first one I've read I hope to try one more of her books and see if this book just wasn't for me.

A slightly sour sequel

Forty-something food writer, Carolyn Blue, used to love cooking. Now, she loathes being in the kitchen, but that hasn't stopped her from cashing in on her love of the edible. Putting pen to paper, Carolyn has begun placing her culinary expertise in an arena that can't be missed: the local newspaper. Now, however, as publishers begin showing an interest in her writing, Carolyn has taken the title of culinary gourmand, traveling to different areas of the country - from New Orleans to New York - to taste some of the most delectable dishes, and put her opinions in one very illustrious volume. This time, Carolyn is accompanying her husband, Jason, a research scientist and professor, on a trip to New York, where Jason is being wooed - not to mentioned wined and dined - by a big-time corporation interested in hiring him on as a consultant. While saddled with her husband, however, Carolyn plans on getting a little work done herself, meeting her agent and publisher for the first time, tasting the best of what the Big Apple has to offer, and shopping for new clothes, as well as small decorative touches to spruce up her and Jason's new home in El Paso, Texas. But shortly after stepping off the plane and into the freezing metropolis weather, Carolyn and Jason are greeted with a piece of shocking news that instantly threatens to throw their so-called relaxing vacation completely off course. Dr. Heydemann, Jason's contact at Hodge, Brune, was stabbed by a sharp object - perhaps an ice pick - while dining at the local coffee shop, where he was indulging in his weekly artery-clogging treat - a pastrami sandwich. The stabbing has left Dr. Heydemann dead, and the entire company up in arms. Jason is shocked by the news, while Carolyn is more interested in doing a little digging into the dead man's life to find out who was desperate enough to kill him. Now, between being forced into clothes shopping by her demanding agent, being dragged to a handful of restaurants by Dr. Heydemann's colleagues day and night, and writing a portfolio-filled amount of food columns, Carolyn finds herself in a frenzy to fit in as much sightseeing, as well as sleuthing, into her tight schedule, before she's forced to board her flight, and say farewell to the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple. Jason, on the other hand, finds that Dr. Heydemann's sudden death is more than unsettling, and, unbeknownst to Carolyn, begins his own semi-investigation to finger the perp. Unfortunately, the more digging he does, the more bizarre clues and information he turns up - from references to the Russian mob, to a slew of employees who had the means, and the motive to do Dr. Heydemann in. While this trip was meant to provide a little R & R for Jason and Carolyn, the two middle-aged lovebirds have begun to realize that seeing even more than a few hours of one another each day - usually in the company of Hodge, Brune employees is the best they'll be able to do until this investigation, and this trip are co

a fun read

Budding food columnist (amateur sleuth) Carolyn Blue finds herself knee deep in another murder mystery -- this time in New York City. And while "Truffled Feathers" is not as quirky as "Crime Brulee," this second Carolyn Blue murder mystery is as interesting and as engrossing as the first.The Blues have come to New York on business: Jason is being recruited by Hodge, Brune and Byerson for a consultancy gig, while Carolyn has an appointment to meet her agent (face-to-face) for the first time. And while Jason is looking forward to his interview, Carolyn is girding herself to let her agent know that she has no desire to write the book on New Orleans culinary delights, esp because of the traumatic memories attached to that trip. However minutes after landing in the city, they learn that the head of research and development who had been responsible fore recruiting Jason, Max Heydemann, had keeled over and died over a pastrami sandwich. (Actually he was murdered in a manner that suggests a professional hit.) The Blues are shaken, and things at Hodge, Brune & Byerson seem to be especially tense. Gossip reveals that while Max was well liked by nearly everyone, he was hated by his ex-wife and children. And then Jason discovers that there have been some rather shady goings-on at H, B & B, that Max was investigating. Could that have been the reason why Max was murdered? Jason leans towards that theory, and determined to keep Carolyn from getting herself entangled in another murder mystery, he starts poking around H, B & B hoping to unmask a killer. In the meantime, Carolyn is lunching with the wives of H, B & B and picking up all kinds of gossip that leads her to suspect Max's neurotic ex-wife and his poisonous children of having offed him. Who is right: Jason or Carolyn? Both the Blues are determined to get to the bottom of this perplexing mystery.While "Truffled Feathers" did not have quite the same wry tone that "Crime Brulee" did, it was still an entertaining read. I think that Nancy Fairbanks did a rather good job at capturing the tone and essence of New York City; I also liked the manner in which she portrayed the different scientists at H, B & B, as well as those she ran into in the publishing world. And for a mystery novel that was divided into two different narratives -- since both Carolyn and Jason were independently investigating Max's murder, but from different angles -- the book unfolded smoothly and flawlessly. "Truffled Feathers" is a fun read: Fairbanks has peopled this mystery novel with enough eccentric and shady characters and red herring plots that should keep any avid mystery readers happily guessing for a couple of hours. I liked her first novel, and her second one has proved to be as good. This series is shaping up to be a rather drool and fun one, and one that is worth recommending.

Cute culinary mystery

Scientist Jason Blue specializes in how to clean toxins from the environment while his wife Carolyn is a gourmet chef. Carolyn receives an advance to write a cookbook on New Orleans cuisine. They travel to New York because Hodge, Bruce & Byerson want to hire Jason to help them with their "Cleaning the Environment Through Chemistry" mission while Carolyn meets with her editor. Upon their arrival in the Big Apple, they learn that someone murdered the person who recruited Jason. Without informing one another, Jason and Carolyn independently investigate the homicide. Though approaching the puzzle differently, each of them draws the same conclusions about the perpetrators. This reviewer provides two tips before reading this complex mystery. First fill up with a big meal before starting because the descriptions of food are salivating and torturous. Second ignore why two amateurs would investigate a killing especially since they are at best remotely impacted. Nancy Fairbanks writes a delicious, often amusing amateur sleuth story that will satiate the sub-genre's gourmands.Harriet Klausner