Description (from cover):
‘Bean there…done that…
Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is done with bad relationships–well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto. Besides, she has more important things to worry about. Her daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks now. In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia, to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown, to be judged by celebrity chef Carter Donnelly.
But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in the chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him while wearing a giant red chili pepper costume–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father…’
My thoughts:
To be honest, I am not really sure where to start with my review on this one. I wasn’t a fan. It didn’t appeal to me like some other cozy mysteries do. I am pretty sure it is because of the chili cook-off theme and not so much the writing or the characters. I just didn’t enjoy reading about chili and chili contests and while it really didn’t work for me, I suspect that a lot of culinary mystery lovers will love this one. It does have great potential with great characters and a little hint of mystery in the main character’s past and the fact that her father is missing.
I really enjoyed Kylie Logan’s League of Literary Ladies mystery series earlier this year and was surprised to find out that this one really didn’t appeal to me. That’s one of the things that I love the most about reading. While I might not enjoy a book, someone else might adore it. Not every mystery appeals to me and that’s okay. What I love might not appeal to other readers and vice versa. That is the beauty of reading and the complexity of genres. I really did enjoy the main character as she was saucy and packing a punch. She was quite the character and I think that she is a little more outside the normal cozy mystery sleuth. It was a fresh take on the main character and I appreciate Logan’s efforts to make this series stand out.
I am not sure if this is a series that I would continue to pick up and read. I might give the next one a try as I have a thing about debut mysteries in new cozy series and I’ve found that I usually enjoy the second or third book more than the first. So with that being said, I might read the next one, but I seem to think it is the theme that doesn’t quite click with me. I think that cozy mystery readers who enjoy food themed novels will enjoy this one a whole lot more than I did and I encourage readers to give this one a try and see if it works for them.
Overall Rating: 1.5
Title: Chili Con Carnage
Author: Kylie Logan
Series: Chili Cook-Off Mystery #1
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Pages: 304
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.
Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.
Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.
Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (Mayhem at the Orient Express) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.
———————————————————
This has been a stop on the Chili Con Carnage blog tour presented by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. Make sure you check out all of the other stops on this tour!
September 20–StoreyBook Reviews
September 22–books-n-kisses
September 23–A Year of Jubilee Reviews
September 25–readalot
September 26–Books are Life–Vita Libri
September 27–Thoughts in Progress
September 29–Melina’s Book Blog
September 30–Girl Lost In a Book
October 1–Mochas, Mysteries and More
October 2–My Recent Favorite Books
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Great Escapes Book Tours, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
Girl Lost In a Book 
Im also on this tour, and I really enjoy “food” themed cozies. =)Im enjoying this story!
LikeLike
Thanks for your feature and your review. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
LikeLike
I think I'm going to like the Chili theme of the story.
LikeLike
sounds like a fun book.nlb1050@yahoo.coc
LikeLike
I've never been to a chili cook off, it would be fun to go there through this story. 🙂
LikeLike
Adding to the TBR pile!
LikeLike
I like cozy mysteries and I believe a food theme cozy mystery would be a great book.Barbara Thompson barbmaci61@(at)yahoo(dot)com
LikeLike
I like cozy mysteries and I believe a food theme cozy mystery would be a great book. Barbara Thompson barbmaci61@(at)yahoo(dot)com
LikeLike
Our town has a chili cookoff every year during it's fall festival so it just makes me interested in this book—of course, I love cozies with almost any type of food itheme.suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
LikeLike
I would like to win this book as I am a big cozy fan and am always looking for new series. Thank you for the chance to win. griperang at embarqmail dot com
LikeLike