Poisoned in Port Townsend

Pacific Northwest Cozy Culinary #2

by Dennis Shock

After Marty's on the Bay is linked to a local food poisoning death in the coastal town of Port Townsend, Washington, Lily and Judy Pine set off to clear the restaurant's name. But they soon find themselves deep in a murder investigation.

When their good friend Detective Miller is assaulted, leaving an inept officer in charge of the case, it's up to Judy and Lily to discover the truth. Can the mother and daughter team solve the murder and restore their restaurant's reputation?

Lily shares with readers her recipes for Chicken Lily and Killer Broccoli Salad.

Genres: Mystery

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 27, 2023

Reviews

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable easy to listen too cozy by this author. This is the second book in the series but it does work as a standalone as the mystery does get wrapped up nicely. The story is fairly short, so there isn't a lot of suspects but the author did manage to surprise me and kept me guessing over who the intended victim was. I like the characters and it is nice to have a mother and daughter team that get on so well. I will be looking out for more in the series.
Detective Miller is involved in a car accident just when a man dies after eating a cookie provided by Lily's restaurant. Another detective takes over the case, leaving Lily worried her restaurant won't make its one year anniversary. The man wasn't well liked but how did the killer know he would end up with the poisoned cookie? Lily and her reporter daughter set out to find the killer.
It is unusual to have a male narrator when the main character is female but it works. He does some good voices and the time just flies by.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Annie Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got this book about an hour ago and zipped right through it. I really really liked it and look forward to reading more of Dennis Shock's books. Since I live in the Pacifc Northwest - across Puget Sound from Port Townsend - of course I had to read this book. I love supporting authors who write about our beloved Pacific Northwest.

The other thing I liked about the book was that it involved food. Lily - the protagonist - owns a restaurant.

And of course it's also a murder mystery - a murder mystery with a few twists - one of which I didn't suspect until I actually read the words at the end of the book!!!


There are murders and attempted murders. One does not realize that one of the murders - which occurred many months before the actual murder in the book - was done intentionally and was related to the murder discussed in the book. The attempted murder is also intertwined with the other two events.

I hope that has intrigued people enough to read this wonderful book.

And before I finish - there is a totally spectacular recipe for chiken breasts with broccoli and rice at the end of the book. I just had to go look at that recipe again. I am drooling.

[T K Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much like the mother daughter relationship. The daughter being an investigative reporter is a nice way to have the sleuths ferret out clues. I’m not sure what I think about the potential romance triangle. Jed seems to be leading candidate for “boyfriend” but he was all but missing here. Lily catered to needs of Detective Miller after he’d been in a serious car accident. I’m not a fan of triangles but if this is what happens when they’re written by a male, it’s even more off than when a female tries.

Lily’s restaurant is cleared of guilt early on when her cookie originally thought to poison the victim was actually dunked in poisoned milk. The detective filling in for Detective Miller is written as inept. Questions go unasked and leads unfollowed. Judy does more to keep the investigation on track than the new guy.

Readers are given several options of murderer. Some more viable than others. Shorter than normal at just 115 pages, the story wraps up with a bit of a surprise twist. Looking forward to reading the next. This is a great series when you don’t want to overburden your little grey cells but want to be entertained.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Pine - owner of restaurant in Poulsbo, Washington;
Judy - her daughter, an investigative reporter, who moved to Poulsbo, Washington;
Detective Douglas Miller - is dating Lily, was in a car accident, by a semitruck, Detective Peter Crum is investigating;
Det. Handler taking over the investigation, he was being paid by Donavan to steer investigation away from Donavan, bad cop;
Jed Stine - produce, is also dating Lily;
Norman Creech died of food poisoning, not from Lily's cookie, but from the milk, MURDERED;2025
Laura Creech, his wife, died in a hit-and-run accident, by a semitruck, six months earlier;
Renee Valentine, her dad is Ken Valentine;
Jeff Donavan - Norman's grandson, plans to donate his inheritance to cancer research through Mrs. Carver's foundation; paid the KILLER
Ralph Creech, another grandson, accused of the murder
Semitruck belongs to Leon Hays. His sister is Jeff Donavan's secretary;

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying these characters a lot and it's pretty obvious the author knows his way around a restaurant as explained in the recipe for Chicken Lily at the end. It sure sounded good in the book and even someone like me who doesn't enjoy cooking might be willing to give it a shot.

This was one crazy mystery and as before, Lily and her daughter Judy made an awesome sleuthing team along with Lily's pal Det. Doug. Poor Doug was physically sidelined due to an accident (or was it?) but he fortunately never stopped working the case.

I like that Judy and Lily are kinda co-main characters in this book and seem to get just about equal story time since it's done third person and can easily switch from character to character without specifically saying ‘this is Judy's chapter’. It's more seamless the way this is written and I'm absolutely loving the series!

[Rebecca Gregory-Chifos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't Finish

I wasn't really sure, after considering the thought, that this was one of those books that I couldn't finish just because I wasn't really in the mood for it, or because the story was inherently flawed in some way. It wasn't badly written, but somehow, the characters and the tale just failed to spring to life for me. Let's face it, it's a flaw but nevertheless a central premise to all cozy mysteries, this idea that a civilian would become so deeply entrenched in the police investigation of a homicide, no matter whether it is their own life and freedom or the success of their business which is at stake. The way in which that involvement is handled can, for me, make or break a story, and I just felt that this was a tad off.

However, I would say, give it a try, if you like cozies. I've certainly read a lot worse, even if I didn't finish the book.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poisoned in Port Townsend: Pacific Northwest Cozy Culinary Series, Book 2
By: Dennis Shock
Narrated by: Jeff Moon






4 STARS


When Lily’s restaurant is linked to a poisoning death, she and daughter Judy investigate in order to prove they had nothing to do with it. Several suspects emerge as they follow the clues. Judy takes a more active role in this edition.


A quick clean culinary cozy mystery. I’ll keep listening.




The narration was done by Jeff Moon. He gave the characters personality. Quite an enjoyable listen, even if the female voices were still a bit silly.

Bonus recipes included.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the narration of Jeff Moon, perfect for this thriller.

Lilly and Judy, find themselves helping in finding out who caused poisoning at Marty's Bay. But trying to clear the restaurant's name, makes them now in a murder investigation.

Judy and Lily find themselves with a police officer who is not the best, as Detective Miller is assaulted, Now an assault and a murder to solve. Great twists and turns that will keep you wanting to know who.

Ohh and Lily shares her recipes for Chicken Lily and Killer Broccoli Salad.

[Jocelyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Pacific Northwest Cozy Culinary Series, a murder cozy mystery. I loved to follow Lily and Judy Pine in this new murder investigation, filled with danger, and twists and turns. The plot is well crafted, and intriguing. The characters a great, and interesting. Jeff Moon did an excellent job bringing this story to life. Looking forward to listening to Death on Bainbridge Island, the next book in the series.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lily's restaurant is implicated in a poisoning she and Judy begin an investigation. An entertaining short cozy mystery. The characters are excellent, the story is fun and with a decent mystery and the ending is great. Dennis Shock is becoming one of my go to authors for this style of book. Jeff Moon does a fine job with the narration. I received a complimentary copy of the audio from the author and am leaving a honest voluntary review.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marty's on the Bay is linked to a local food poisoning death in the coastal town of Port Townsend, Washington. Lily and Judy Pine set off to clear the restaurant's name.

I enjoyed getting to know Lily and Judy more. I also enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters more. The mystery was good, and I did not guess the killer right away. I also liked that two recipes were included at the end of the story.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily's restaurant, Marty's on the Bay, finds themselves in the spotlight as someone if found dead after eating their food. The police suspect food poisoning. Lily and her daughter Judy start to investigate so they can clear the restaurants name. It seems Detective Miller was in a hit and run accident and an incompetent officer is put in charge and he is eager to close the case without sufficient investigation. Another great story in the series.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am just loving this series from the characters, plot, location and narration. For a short listen there are so many twists and turns. The narration really works.

I loved he epilogue with the recipes, going to try them and also the insight into the author.

[Sandra Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am hooked

This is such a good series. I hooked. Is there romance brewing with Lily and Jed? Judy and Pete? What dog is judy getting? No romance with Lily and Doug? Ah, I need book three to know more!!!☺☺😊😊☺☺

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and easy to read. Lily, a restaurant owner, and her daughter Judy, an investigative reporter, get involved in helping solves murders. This is especially important to each of them because the food that allegedly killed Norman Creech may have come from Judy’s restaurant!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Quick, Twisty, Fun Mystery

This story is similar in plot to the first one but it's definitely also a good stand alone story. The characters are fun, and the story is good.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read. The characters were engaging and the mystery gave a few twists and turns. Great light reading.

[Linda Whitenight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and Judy end up investigating two murders after Doug is injured in a hit and run accident. Will they be next?

[Carla Ling · Rating 3 out of 5]

really fun short reads

[Pam]

See note

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking forward to reading more about the new detective.

[Niecy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-ish stars

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have listened to the Audible version of this book.
Poisoned in Port Townsend
I love short punchy Cozy mysteries occasionally and this second book in the Pacific Northwest Cozy Culinary Series fits the bill perfectly. It is fast paced and as many twists and turns as a corkscrew. As soon as you think you are getting somewhere you find you are wrong! Jeff Moons narration is brilliant and I would highly recommend this book.