Review & Giveaway: If Fried Chicken Could Fly by Paige Shelton

Paperback, 304 pages

Expected publication: January 3rd 2012 by Berkley

more details...

ISBN: 0425245853 (ISBN13: 9780425245859)

edition language: English

series:Gram’s Country Cooking School Mystery #1

From the publisher:

At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served.At Gram's Country Cooking School, Betts and Gram are helping students prepare the perfect dishes for the Southern Missouri Show-Down, the cook-off that draws the first of the summer visitors. Everything is going smoothly until they discover the body of local theater owner Everett Morningside in the school's supply closet, and Everett's widow points an accusatory finger at Gram. Now, Betts has to dig deep into Broken Rope's history to find the modern-day killer-before the last piece of chicken is served...(less)

My thoughts: It's not going to be easy for Betts to clear her Gram's good name as Gram is not too forthcoming with info about her relationship to the victim. Having Cliff, the former love of her life, back in town as part of the police force is throwing her for a loop. She's still hung up on him. Along with this she has to keep the cooking school up and running.

 Paranormal elements in a cozy mystery don't really appeal to me but somehow, in this one, it worked. Some of the things I liked about this mystery were the characters and the history about the fictitious small town of Broken Rope, Missouri. Gram, Betts and the ghostly Jerome were likeable, well fleshed out and rang true to me even though one was a ghost. Go figure!

One thing I would have liked to have seen more of is viable motives at the beginning. The book is well under way before motives start to pop up even though the body is discovered right at the beginning. That's another thing I do like - action right off the bat!

This is the first in Gram's country cooking series and I think I would read the next one. The recipes included at the end sounded really tasty. All in all, a good start to a new series. 3***

Paige Shelton is also the author of the Farmer's Market series. Paige is a Goodreads author and can also be found at her website.

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

Due to the ever so generous Berkley, I am able to offer a giveaway of one copy of this book. Open to US only with the deadline to enter being Jan 18th at 5 PM (est). Bonus entries are as follows:
NOTE: Paige just e mailed me she will send a copy also. So, now the giveaway will be 2 copies! US only.
+1 for being a follower, old or new on GFC  . .OR

 +3 for following on Networked blogs. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.

+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you cannot comment you can still enter by sending me an e mail with Win Fried Chicken in the subject line. Include your name and e mail and send to florida982002[at]yahoo.com

Good luck!