Add a Pinch of Murder

Angie & Friends Food & Spirits Mystery #2

by Joanne Pence

Gourmet cook Angie Amalfi has big plans for her life as a soon-to-be married woman, but between nervous kitchen remodelers, clever murderers, and possibly ghosts ... what could possibly go wrong?

Angie hopes a romantic evening out with her fiance, Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith, will bring a welcome reprieve from the hectic pace of remodeling the older house she and Paavo bought to make it move-in ready before their upcoming wedding. But circumstances--worldly and seemingly other-worldy--conspire against her. Not the least of which is her newest acquaintance, a lonely heiress, who quickly involves Angie in the heiress's bizarre family history of indiscretions, high finances, and murder.

Angie suspects the key to all the weirdness going on with the family lies in the mansion that is now in her new friend's hands--a place that, if it isn't haunted, certainly looks like it should be. Angie drags several old cohorts into the fray to help her newest pal, but as the situation gets murkier, Angie wonders if she'll ever see her own happy ending.

Genres: Cozy

188 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

About the author

Joanne Pence is a USA Today best-selling and award winning author of two mystery series, contemporary and historical romance, fantasy and thrillers. She is the author of the Angie Amalfi culinary mystery series, which is still in print after twenty years, and now has 15 books (the latest, COOKING SPIRITS was an April 2013 release), and a novella (Cook's Christmas Capers, Dec. 2013). She has just begun a new series, the Rebecca Mayfield mysteries. ONE O'CLOCK HUSTLE is the first full-length novel, and THE THIRTEENTH SANTA is a novella which shows how the two main characters met.

Joanne's books have won many awards and honors, including RWA's Golden Heart and Rita Award nominations, the Independent Book Seller's Golden Quill, the Daphne du Maurier award, the Willa Cather Literary Award in Historical Fiction (for DANCE WITH A GUNFIGHTER), and the Idaho Top Fiction Award for ANCIENT ECHOES.

Joanne was born and raised in San Francisco and now makes her home in the foothills of Boise. She has been president of the Boise chapter of Sisters in Crime, a founder and board member of the Popular Fiction Association of Idaho, and founding member and current board member of the Idaho Writers Guild. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley with a master's degree in journalism, Joanne has written for magazines, worked for the federal government, and taught school in Japan.

Reviews

[Betty]

I have always enjoyed the Angie Amalfi series and I like this book. It filled in some of the story.
Angie is preparing for her wedding when at a fundraiser she watched a man die. She becomes friends with his widow. As Paavo was there he is the lead investigator. Angie decided Paavo needed to solve the case so his mind will be on the wedding. The ending will surprise. Recipes from Angie's kitchen included. I HIGHLY recommend the book and series.

[Judy]

Angie is still planning her wedding (how long can this be drawn out?) and supervising the remodel of her newly purchased (and haunted) house. But, she can't resist meddling with one of Paavo's investigations as she has made friends with the newly widowed wife of the victim in his latest case. The more their parallel investigations continue, the more suspicious circumstances turn up. There's a rousing conclusion to tie everything up satisfactorily.

[Jerry Jares]

While Angie Amalfi and her fiancé, Paavo Smith, are at a gala, the organizer of the event drops dead. Paavo rushes in to take over the case because he cannot rule out homicide, while Angela goes to the dead man's wife, offering help and consolation. From there, the two sleuths learn that the well-heeled socialite's father has recently died, after his second wife fell off a yacht four months before. Things are not looking good for the family.

Then, the murders of two members of the family are linked by cyanide, and Paavo starts searching for clues. Angela tries to help the widowed socialite because she seems to be a duck out of water. However, bodies keep falling.

This is another exciting adventure with Paavo and Angela. I stayed up most of the night finishing this one. It was great. Overall score = 4.5 stars.

Cook and Inspector Mysteries

6. Blind Date's Bitter End (2024)
7. The Taverna Affair (2025)
8. The Music Box Mystery (2025)
9. Truffles to Die For (2025)
** 10. Cooking Spirits (2013)
11. Add a Pinch of Murder (2017)

[Deb Sharp]

One of the best cozy mystery series

I love the interaction of the characters in this series. I feel like I'm hanging out with my best friends, I just wanted to jump in and help solve the Murder. I will be started the next book in the series as soon as I have finished this review!
I'm thinking of going back to the first book in the series and starting the series all over again,as I have enjoyed it so much.

[Christie Marsh]

Another good book

Angie definitely doesn't disappoint. Fun, hilarious, thrilling and a great read. Cannot wait til the next book in this series. Would recommend to anyone and everyone.

[Susan Clark]

Perfect Recipe

Joanne Pence knows how to balance funny parts with her excellent mysteries. I confess that I was wrong with my guess about the identity of the murderer. Excellent reading!!

[Cathy Inboden]

I love this series. And you will too.

[Deb Sharp]

Loved it

[Cyndie Miller]

Weak, inconsistent characters, confusing narratives, horrible grammar, especially subject-verb agreement. Very disappointing.

[Kelly McCarthy Ziemba]

Too short!! 😃

[Lori Long]

Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! If you love mysteries, you will also. They truly get you into the story!

[Cynthia Brown]

Another hit

I love the ongoing storyline about the history of the new house. I look forward to reading more adventures with Angie and the other inhabitants in the house.

[Suzanne Padilla]

Suspenseful and fun!

I've enjoyed all of the mysteries so far and look forward to the next☺️ These mysteries keep me intrigued to continue turning the page.