Monday, February 7, 2011

Review & Giveway: Town in a Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood


Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley (February 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425240010
ISBN-13: 978-0425240014

It's just before Memorial Day in the little town of Cape Willington, Maine and the residents are getting all excited in anticipation of the town's 29th annual lobster Stew cook-off. Much prestige is associated with winning the coveted trophy so the competition is very cut-throat.

Candy Holliday, part time writer for the Cape Crier and part owner of Blueberry Acres has a bit of a reputation as a detective. When she is asked by the elderly Wilma Mae to help her find her trophy winning lobster stew recipe, Candy  was a little reluctant at first but then events started heating up and Candy is sucked into the intrigue as Wilma Mae insists it was stolen from her secret drawer.

Who knew emotions would run so high over this competition or is there something else at stake? Enough to inspire theft, rigged entries, clandestine meetings,family secrets,skulduggery,collusion, jealousy and backstabbing? Oh, and did I mention a missing person and murder? Ayuh, seems it does!

Despite Chief Durr warning her to mind her own business, Candy and her best friend Maggie just can't seem to leave well enough alone. Candy keeps thinking whoever stole the recipe is the murderer. And so the adventure begins . . . .

In this second in the Candy Holliday series, B.B. Haywood ingeniously incorporates all these elements in a cohesive and well plotted mystery. There are enough red herrings to keep any reader guessing. Just when I thought I knew for sure "whodunnit", I was wrong. Several times, in fact! There are some really good twists in the story to keep cozy/mystery fans very happy.

B. B. Haywood is a pseudonym of writing team Beth Feeman and Robert Feeman. They conceived the idea for the Candy Holliday mysteries while driving around the Maine countryside, stopping at different small towns throughout the state.  They sure have the flavor of New England and the characteristics of it's inhabitants down to perfection. So many wonderfully quirky characters that could populate any small town; some with stronger personalities and less ethics than others! I could picture the fog, and hear the foghorns in my head as Candy tootled around the waterfront back roads in her little jeep looking for clues. Some of the descriptions of the area actually made me homesick!

I really liked the ending to this one too; a little bit of ominous foreshadowing and a preview has me anxiously awaiting the next in the series: Town in a Wild Moose Chase. If you'd like to read the first in the series, read Town in a Blueberry Jam. Lobster and chowder recipes are also included at the end of the book. 4*

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Berkley Signet Mysteries  in exchange for my honest opinion.

To celebrate this month's release of Town in a Lobster Stew, Berkley is allowing me to give away one copy of the book; open to US only. Deadline to enter is Feb 17th at 5 PM (est)

To enter, leave me a comment telling me why you want to win.

If you do not have a blog or google account and would still like to enter ( I don't allow anonymous comments) just send me an e mail with Town in a Lobster Stew entry in the subject line. Include why you want to win and your name and preferred e mail contact. Send to florida982002[at] yahoo.com and I will enter your comment for you.

As always, bonus entries can be earned by:

+ 2 being a follower, Tell me under what name you follow
+3 tweeting or posting about and linking to contest (sidebar is ok) Just be sure to give me the link in a comment.  Please be sure to leave an e mail contact in your comment. Good luck!

35 comments:

  1. This series really appeals to me. I love the sound of New England. Maybe I will get there some day! Might have to investigate this series.

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  2. I haven't read this series, but it sounds like my kind of reading, I like cozy mysteries. Please enter me in the Giveaway.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

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  3. Oh.. I forgot I am also a follower, I think the little tiny picture says I am Ann.

    iowagramma.ann@gmail.com

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  4. E mail entry

    Leslie
    LFConnell [at] aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. E mail entry

    Sandra

    Sgiden [at] anadigics.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a fun book. And I need fun once in a while!

    I'm a GFC follower and google reader.

    undermyappletree at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Kaye! Please enter me. I am a follower, and have shared it through Google Reader, which means it will appear in my sidebar under "shared items."

    word_trix (@) yahoo.com

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  8. I love that this book is full of twists!

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  9. e mail entry

    kathy

    milou2ster[at]gmail.com

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  10. I love cozies that take place in Maine. Plus, I don't know this cozy author by the B.B. name or the pseudonyms. I like reading new to me author cozies.

    teakettle58(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. I'm a follower. I follow under the name Tea.+2

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  12. I blogged about the contest in my sidebar.

    http://readwithtea.blogspot.com

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  13. e mail entry carol W

    carolnwong[at]aol.com

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  14. I so love cozies where food is involved..I wonder why???

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  15. I really enjoyed the first book and would love to read this one.

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  16. I would love to read this! I only just recently started to read cozy mysteries and I am really getting into them :)

    +2 follower

    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

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  17. I want to win...because there is a LIGHTHOUSE on the cover. Need I say more? I think not!

    +2 I follow on GFC and Google Reader

    caitemaire@hotmail.com

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  18. I visited Maine with my folks back in the 50's and enjoyed the small towns we visited. Foghorns are a big part of my memories of growing up in Duluth Mn.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

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  19. +2 - GFC follower as Karen B.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol[dot]com

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  20. I love these type of mysteries.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I follow your blog via GFC & Google Reader.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam
    pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love plot twists. Please enter my name too. molokaisurfer(at)gmail(dot)com.

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  23. I follow you in Google Reader and GFC. +2 molokaisurfer(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Howdy--living in Vt and loving NE despite this year's snow--I really enjoy reading books set in my neighborhood! This is a new author to me and I'm always looking to expand my cozies series. I follow at kt and blog under daydreamer where I will post this newest giveaway.email: citygal65@myfairpoint.net

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  25. I live in Maine and always enjoy seeing how different authors can portray the beautiful life here. Would love to win.

    tbranco AT hughes DOT net

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  26. +2 I'm a GFC follower, and you're in my blog roll.

    tbranco AT hughes DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your giveaway is posted in the sidebar on Tutu's Two Cents

    tbranco AT hughes Dot net

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd love to read this one. Sounds like my kind of book.
    ericandsarita(at)gmail(dot)com
    +2 follower

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  29. E mail entry

    Anne

    booklady85[at]hotmail.com

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  30. Thanks for the review...sounds like a great read! I love twisty-turny whodunnits!

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  31. Cozies are my favorites and this one sounds great! Please enter me in the Giveaway.

    Thanks!

    nc.eads@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'd like to win because this seems like an inviting story.
    Thanks for the chance!
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. GFC follower (CherylS22)
    #1
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. GFC follower (CherylS22)
    #2
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete

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