Cook Up a Crime

by Charlotte Murray Russell, Enid Schantz (Introduction), Tom Schantz (Editor)

Book by Russell, Charlotte Murray

154 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

Reviews

[Mary Davidsaver]

I wanted to read one of the author's books and this was the first one I found that I could check out. The Rock Island library has a collection of her older books, but they could not be checked out. Since this is her last book, I had the feeling that I was late coming to the party. There were so many characters to keep track of that I often got a little lost. Still, I liked Jane Amanda Edwards. She's a tougher, crustier, and sassier spinster sleuth. I would like to have gotten to know her better by reading the books in order. Charlotte Murray Russell's need to be out there and available to cozy mystery readers.

[Susan]

Jane Amanda Edwards decides to collect local recipes in a cookbook. Unfortunately, avaricious, tyrannical Jessie Cloud Newman jumps at the chance to write a competing book. When Jessie is found dead, Jane's motive pales next to those of Jessie's family and close neighbors. Jane is faced with clues like a graffito on the wall above Jessie's body, a mysterious stranger who steals only a stamp box from the local minister, and a scrap of recipe that was promised to Jane.