Immaculate Reception

Madeline Bean #2

by Jerrilyn Farmer

The Pope is coming to breakfast, and Madeline Bean's got frittatas on the skillet. What a coup for gourmet caterer Mad Bean and her company, the event-planning wizards, chosen to mastermind L.A.'s official welcoming extravaganza. Pulling off the early morning meal for His Holiness, and two thousand high profile bigwigs, sounds like great fun for the unflappable Ms. Bean.

But things quickly go from serene to sinister when a young priest turns up dead in the bed of an uninhibited Hollywood star, and a yellowed page of Latin scrawl, found tucked in an old book of mouthwatering Church recipes, reveals a mysterious Jesuit Brother's shocking past. Even the course of Madeline's ragged love life gets a jolt as charming Xavier Jones, the man who left her at the alter ten years ago, reappears and still won't explain why he bugged out. With the Pope arriving any day, it's up to Madeline to sort out this unholy mess of burnt brioche, tantalizing treasure, pesky naked starlets, and homicidal caterers-or a party that should go down in history could be history before it even begins.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Food

242 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Jerrilyn Farmer, the author of the acclaimed, award-winning Madeline Bean novels, is a TV writer who has written for game shows such as Jeopardy! and Supermarket Sweep, and sketch comedy specials for Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz, Timothy Stack, Cheri Oteri, Tim Meadows, and others. Farmer also teaches mystery writing at the UCLA Extension's Writers Program.

Reviews

[Sween McDervish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madeline Bean, the caterer who also solves mysteries. Very LA. This was a quick read with a lot of comic moments though the tone varies dramatically as Bean improbably takes the time to investigate an ancient secret while also planning a breakfast for the visiting Pope. Having not read the first novel, some key characters, such as Bean's catering partner Wesley and LAPD Det. Honnett, are left with very thin characterization here as Ms. Farmer focuses instead on Bean's relationship with Brother Xavier, a fiance who left her to become a Jesuit, and is now back in LA doing groundwork for the Pope's visit. While it suffers a bit from that mystery novel cliche, final chapter massive exposition, still an enjoyable read.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed the characters and story of this book, it is not the usual culinary cozy read in that it did not contain recipes or the description of food prepared for much of the story. No, this is more the story of the relationships of each character and some long ago Catholic mysteries with a few current deaths thrown in.

I did enjoy the mystery and the discoveries, even if I did not come away with recipes to try.

[Katie Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, light-hearted read! Madeline Bean is quite likable, and the situations she gets herself into are a hoot! The first half of the book was pretty slow - definitely considered putting it down and picking it back up in a few months. But the second half - wow! Pace picked up, everything was wrapped up with a nice bow...and the twist at the end was killer!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The adventures of Mad Bean Catering continues with a breakfast for the pope, a muddy confession, & of course multiple murders!

[HatGirl8]

8/20/2005

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like Madeline has her choice of men. Which one to choose? This was another fun book.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Jerrilyn Farmer's Immaculate Reception, the second installment in the Madeline Bean culinary cozy series, things get heated and a bit controversial with past historical topics. Months after the debacle from the previous incident, Madeline and her two associates started a new catering company together. When they received an invitation to cater the pope's arrival in Los Angeles, things get a bit dicey, when she discovered a hidden confession from a Jesuit priest in a folder of recipes for making bread. She became intrigued and asked her ex-fiancé's help, when they talked about the discovery and started investigating into the matter. While preparations are in full swing, during the viewing of a sitcom, a friend of Brother Xavier's had gotten murdered. While the cops believed a gang banger did it, she thought so otherwise. And then she's been harassed after speaking to the monsignor about the letter, and a day later, he turned up died. Later on, she unearthed something in his English journals and dug around by asking Victor Zoda, who had a hidden past. During the pontiff's visit, things turn awry, when Xavier gets handcuffed to a crate, and Zoda escapes the clutches of the cops, when Maddie corners him and fends for himself to find out why he had done it in the end.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd even go 4.5 stars - what an awesome read! I just love this series. I really love Maddie and Wes, and I love reading about their catering and event planning. The mystery was really good, and particularly intriguing as an 'old' mystery became part of the 'new' mystery. I even loved the Papal visit at the very end as Maddie and Xavier are kissing. The discovery of the long lost Amber Room was maybe a tad of a stretch, but it was a nice fantasy to think that this legendary treasure really was found. .

Can't wait to read more of these soon!

[Debbie Maskus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jerrilyn Farmer writes a gentle mystery set in California. The amateur detectives are the owners of a catering service. Madeline Bean and her partner Wesley blunder along until the mystery is solved, and still have time to socialize and to work. In this episode, the Pope will briefly visit Los Angeles, and Madeline and Wesley are the caterers for a breakfast for the Pope. An ex-boyfriend, who is now a Jesuit, throws an unwanted complication for Madeline. Farmer gives a glimpse of the life style of the rich and famous. A whimsical way to spend an afternoon.

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pope is coming to LA, and Madeline is catering the welcome breakfast. But while prepping, she finds a letter that seems to confess to a murder, and it sets her off on a mystery with ties to the past. Still my favorite in the series with a fast paced, twisty plot and such wonderful characters.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened to come across another Maddie Bean story and enjoyed it, so I thought I would try another. I am glad I did because I really enjoy the way these stories are written. They are fun and full of "mystery".

[MB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for a new cozy mystery series, and this isn't it. Too many unbelievable actions by the characters. Too many missed clues that were too obvious to the reader, but the sleuth didn't catch. Found the Hollywood characters to be over-the-top stereotypical. Just not my style.

[Muriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in the Mad Bean series which is just fluffy fun.

[Cybele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another funny, clever book.

[Nancy Savonick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just discovered this series, and it's very exciting. An endearingly-quirky group of characters makes for entertaining reading.

[Ubalstecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second of the Madeline Bean Catering mysteries. Fun, and perhaps better than the first one. This one involves the Pope, an ex-lover who is now a Jesuit priest and the Nazis.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery set in the Hollywood scene but involving an old WWII scandal involving a pope and murder.

[Mandy Huot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was quite tasty, honestly! HAHA. But seriously, it was really well written and I enjoyed it.

[February Four · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phew, talk about ambition. The Pope! Plot twists I cannot address because of spoilers! Nice. On to the next one!