Serving Up Suspense: A Critic, a Plot Hole, and a Roll of Antacids

I've been watching season two of The Bear—which might be a mistake because it’s sending my restaurant-opening PTSD into overdrive.

I’ve had the privilege (or the punishment, depending on the day) of being part of several openings. You spend hours agonizing over the tiniest details—the perfect chair, the menu font, the napkin logo. Which plate best complements the chef’s signature tomahawk chop? Flowers on the table or candles? You become an expert in things you never thought you’d care about, like the tensile strength of a soup spoon and what linen company gets lipstick stains out of napkins best.

A lot of people assume opening night is the most nerve-wracking part. And sure, it is. And it isn’t. I’ve sat in an empty dining room minutes before the doors opened, heart in my throat, wondering if we’d just launched the next hot spot or made the world’s most expensive mistake. Held my breath during the fire suppression test. Cried ugly tears installing the last piece of décor I had spent months collecting. Hyperventilated in the private dining room when an overhead water line burst, soaking everything in sight. Evacuated soft-opening diners down eighteen flights of stairs when the computerized smoke alarm screamed from a glitch in the system. And raised a glass to the team…while up to my elbows in dishwater.

But ask any chef or restaurant owner what the most terrifying night is, and they’ll all say the same thing:

The night the critic arrives.

You want every detail to be perfect that night. The right music, the right lighting, the right wine pairing. Because nothing sinks a dish faster than the wrong match—trust me, serve the chef’s famous lasagna with a Burgundy, and the review will read like a post-mortem. A crime against the palate, the critic will write, popping an antacid and cursing your existence while another piercing cramp encircles their gut.

Writing is no different. And preparing your manuscript for your editor, in my limited world, is right there with seeing the restaurant critic’s reservation on your books. Terrifying.

I don’t want misplaced commas or wild run-ons yanking my editor out of the story, breaking the ambiance I’ve spent months crafting. Especially not after that kitchen disaster (aka plot hole) that had me pacing in circles, frantically rewriting, and reaching for my own industrial-sized roll of antacids as my meticulously crafted outline went down the proverbial drain.

I need the first bite of Betrayed on the Promenade to hook her instantly—a swoon-worthy, eye-rolling, a you-have-to-try-this moment. I think I have it:

“You’ve outlived your usefulness.”

Then there’s the chef’s kiss—the OMG moment no one, not even me, saw coming. I’m still amazed when I read it, and I’m the one who wrote it! (Okay, there may have been a splash or two of wine involved.)

And I want the last line to be just as unforgettable:

“She wasn’t sure which yes mattered more.”

While my editor slices and dices to take this book to Michelin star status, I’ll be in the alley, paper bag over my nose and lips, trying not to pass out. There’s no peeking through the swinging kitchen door, watching her either devour what I’ve written or push her fork around until she’s done.

While I wait, I’ll reflect on the last eight months—throwing spaghetti on the wall as I outlined, feeling like a short-order cook slinging out my rough draft, simmering the story stew with impatience, nursing a brain cramp from the plot twist, and calculating how much frosting I’ll need if I’ve baked a flop and have to triage before serving.

And then… then I’ll get the email and read her verdict.

Fingers crossed, I didn’t serve her a Burgundy with her plate of lasagna.

Until next month!
MJ Mac


Hi, I’m author MJ Mac, and I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for taking the time to read this month's blog. The Kennedy Reeves Mystery series is a collection of whodunits that have captured the hearts of over 73K readers! Many say it’s the perfect blend of Murder She Wrote meets The Love Boat. With a crafted mix of eccentric characters, plot twists, “ah-ha” moments, cliffhangers, and a cruise director you can’t help but root for, it’s no wonder the series has garnered a devoted following and over 400 four-star reviews.

I appreciate your support and hope you continue to join Kennedy on her thrilling adventures! Stay tuned for more updates, and happy reading!