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The Classical Trio #1
A Taste of Murder
Who murdered a small-town beauty-pageant judge—in a very strange way? Jasmine Delaney must find out. Because she's taken the victim's place. She came to the Kentucky Bar-B-Q festival for a wedding, eager to meet the bride's handsome brother, Derrick Rogers. Yet she's suddenly surrounded by pint-size contestants whose competitive parents will do anything to ensure the crown. Even kill? Derrick fears she's the killer's next target and promises to keep a close eye on her. Yet someone is already watching Jazzy's every move. Someone who's had a taste of murder. And is hungry for more.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Virginia Smith
129 books356 followersUSA Today bestselling author Virginia Smith has written over fifty books with sales exceeding 1 million copies worldwide. Her book, Guilty Secrets, was recently produced as a movie now streaming on Lifetime. She lives in Kentucky with her husband, 27 chickens, a barn kitty, and a barky Maltese named Max. Learn more about Ginny and her books at www.virginiasmith.org
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 26, 2020
Okay, so first off I do not get why professional musicians would sign up to judge contests they have zero expertise for and which would jeopardize their being at the wedding on time. It's unconscionable to think they would scrape in at the last minute without even taking time to warm up together.
The murderer was very transparent and easy to spot, for me.
And then there's the issue of the heroine's sad "germophobic" tendencies. Really, now! A "symptom" was that she needed to wash her hands before eating, after having petted a dog? Uh...didn't everyone's mamma insist on this? It's a proven health hazard not to. That is not a symptom of a germ freak; that's a civilized adult. And so on. It kept getting rubbed in that she was a "clean freak" and yet every single instance was of absolute basic cleanliness. She got dirt all over her at the end and was glad to be alive and somehow she was "cured"? Yeah, I don't think so.
The murderer was very transparent and easy to spot, for me.
And then there's the issue of the heroine's sad "germophobic" tendencies. Really, now! A "symptom" was that she needed to wash her hands before eating, after having petted a dog? Uh...didn't everyone's mamma insist on this? It's a proven health hazard not to. That is not a symptom of a germ freak; that's a civilized adult. And so on. It kept getting rubbed in that she was a "clean freak" and yet every single instance was of absolute basic cleanliness. She got dirt all over her at the end and was glad to be alive and somehow she was "cured"? Yeah, I don't think so.
August 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this clean romance/mystery from Love Inspired suspense. The story flowed well and the character development was spot on. I loved the faith/Christianity throughout and knowing the sweet romance would blossom. It was fast-paced. I've already requested the other 2 books in the series feom the library.
I checked this out of the library and am sharing my honest review.
I checked this out of the library and am sharing my honest review.
September 11, 2023
A quick light read; Christian-based romance/mystery;
February 9, 2012
I was thrilled to get into another one of Virginia Smith's mysteries. I have enjoyed her well-developed characters and attention to detail with settings. She really fleshes out a book from top to bottom which allows a reader to get totally immersed in the story. Also her humor totally shines through, and I love that.
Jazzy is part of a classical trio who have been hired to perform at a wedding that is taking place the same weekend as a colossal Kentucky B-B-Q festival. The girls arrive at the hotel in the midst of pageant moms and beauty queen hopefuls. The hotel is absolutely engulfed in chaos. The girls are taken aback by the crowd and surprised at the wedding's timing, but they are professionals and more than ready for the task at hand. Jazzy is also looking forward to meeting the bride's older brother Derrick whom she met via a Christian online community as he was looking for someone to perform at his sister's wedding.
Jazzy has the slight idea of a little romance on the brain, and is completely blindsided when she and her friends find themselves stuck in the middle of a murder investigation and new commitments as judges for several activities that will be taking place during the B-B-Q festival weekend. Add to that the fact that their host, Derrick is extremely attractive although not really the kind of guy Jazzy is usually interested in.
What ensues is a murder mystery with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Jazzy feels as if she sees the killer at every turn and is convinced that it must be someone who would like to win one of the contests at any cost. However, Jazzy behaves several times in ways that aren't terribly bright for someone who is concerned that a murderer is watching their every move. I expected someone to call her out on this with a little more force though that did not happen.
I quite enjoyed "A Taste Of Murder." I felt like I was on a little vacation with just enough excitement and puzzle thrown in. The romance to me was a little off with everyone and their mother being over-the-top pushy with Jazzy and Derrick, but I would not say that it is unbelievable. I have a friend who met her husband when they were both in a wedding and they fell VERY quickly. As for meeting the man of your dreams online...that happened to me and my husband and I are heading to our fifth year of wedded awesomeness. My only head scratching was that with all the murder and worry going on, who really has time to think about courting? Still that did not take me away from the story.
I understand that there are more mysteries with these characters, and I plan to check out each and every one. Oh, and if I ever find myself in Kentucky, I am hitting up some BBQ and looking for some burgoo!
Jazzy is part of a classical trio who have been hired to perform at a wedding that is taking place the same weekend as a colossal Kentucky B-B-Q festival. The girls arrive at the hotel in the midst of pageant moms and beauty queen hopefuls. The hotel is absolutely engulfed in chaos. The girls are taken aback by the crowd and surprised at the wedding's timing, but they are professionals and more than ready for the task at hand. Jazzy is also looking forward to meeting the bride's older brother Derrick whom she met via a Christian online community as he was looking for someone to perform at his sister's wedding.
Jazzy has the slight idea of a little romance on the brain, and is completely blindsided when she and her friends find themselves stuck in the middle of a murder investigation and new commitments as judges for several activities that will be taking place during the B-B-Q festival weekend. Add to that the fact that their host, Derrick is extremely attractive although not really the kind of guy Jazzy is usually interested in.
What ensues is a murder mystery with a little romance thrown in for good measure. Jazzy feels as if she sees the killer at every turn and is convinced that it must be someone who would like to win one of the contests at any cost. However, Jazzy behaves several times in ways that aren't terribly bright for someone who is concerned that a murderer is watching their every move. I expected someone to call her out on this with a little more force though that did not happen.
I quite enjoyed "A Taste Of Murder." I felt like I was on a little vacation with just enough excitement and puzzle thrown in. The romance to me was a little off with everyone and their mother being over-the-top pushy with Jazzy and Derrick, but I would not say that it is unbelievable. I have a friend who met her husband when they were both in a wedding and they fell VERY quickly. As for meeting the man of your dreams online...that happened to me and my husband and I are heading to our fifth year of wedded awesomeness. My only head scratching was that with all the murder and worry going on, who really has time to think about courting? Still that did not take me away from the story.
I understand that there are more mysteries with these characters, and I plan to check out each and every one. Oh, and if I ever find myself in Kentucky, I am hitting up some BBQ and looking for some burgoo!
May 20, 2012
I love these people at LoveInspired reads, and I have never been disappointed with any of their books. All their books have perfect mix of suspense, faith, and romance and this book was no exception. Set in a small Kentucky town, Jasmine and her friends, Liz and Caitlin play in a music ensemble. They are hired by Derrick Rogers to perform at his sister's wedding. As soon as Jasmine and her friends arrive at the hotel, their happy, excited thoughts are shattered as they discover a dead man in the bathtub in their hotel room covered in BBQ sauce. Ironically enough, the town was having its annual BBQ cook off and festival pageants - the decedent was one of the judges to judge the small town beauty pageant. Jasmine and her friends agree to not only play at the wedding but to also judge the beauty pageant and the cook off. A murderer is on the lose. Is it someone who wants to win the pageant or the cook off, or is it simply a hometown grudge. Although I was not really surprised at the ending, I actually enjoyed the story as it unfolded. I always enjoy how faith is always used to reach out the readers and characters in the book.
November 13, 2008
As a disclaimer, I want to state that I know (and really like) the author. I am also not a reader of Christian fiction.
That said, I thought this book was terrific. Jazzy is one third of a classical trio hired to play at a wedding on the same weekend as that small city's BBQ Festival and Beauty Pageant. The three barely check in before they discover a dead body in the bathroom. Their weekend does not improve.
Jazzy was a character. A neat freak, it wasn't an add-in affection, it impacted everything she did and thought and it made the romance with Derrick more complicated - a good thing because the book takes place over a short time but the romance was clearly going to move slowly.
The Christian or inspirational aspect of this story was interwoven with a deft and natural hand. It felt right for the characters pray when they did so and it never felt preachy. This is the first Smith book I've read (though not the only one I own) but I would highly recommend her even to people who don't read Inspirational fiction.
That said, I thought this book was terrific. Jazzy is one third of a classical trio hired to play at a wedding on the same weekend as that small city's BBQ Festival and Beauty Pageant. The three barely check in before they discover a dead body in the bathroom. Their weekend does not improve.
Jazzy was a character. A neat freak, it wasn't an add-in affection, it impacted everything she did and thought and it made the romance with Derrick more complicated - a good thing because the book takes place over a short time but the romance was clearly going to move slowly.
The Christian or inspirational aspect of this story was interwoven with a deft and natural hand. It felt right for the characters pray when they did so and it never felt preachy. This is the first Smith book I've read (though not the only one I own) but I would highly recommend her even to people who don't read Inspirational fiction.
April 18, 2020
Read this series backwards, so this would have been the intro to the friend's trio. I like the musical aspect to all of these books, and getting to see each friend featured in an adventure is a fun way to see their differences. I could relate to Jazzy's struggle with stage fright; it has plagued me for years, which is tough when you are a musician. I like how she had overcome a lot of it with faith and focussing on her music, not letting it stop her from performing with her friends. A lot more action at the end added some exciting moments, and a reasonable outcome for the romantic interest without being sappy. Overall a good quick mystery with a clean romance.
March 30, 2024
A good mystery. I’ll admit Jazz drove me a bit nuts but overall I liked the story.
May 26, 2011
I wish I could give half stars because, really, this is a 3 1/2.
To be honest, I started reading thinking it was more like Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, were the female lead investigates the murder, so I was expecting the main characters to look for clues, investigate and find the murderer. It is not exactly like that, but I cannot judge a book for what it doesn't pretend to be. It was my mistake. So I was a little bit disappointed at first, but not for long.
It has a nice, steady pace; it's very well written, not overly detailed and not too long. Actually it's rather short in comparison to others. It keeps you guessing, although the killer is not that hard to spot. The main characters do find a few clues, put two and two together, make their own conclusions, but how they get to know who the murderer is was too convenient for my taste. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say this: it is fairly predictable, but entertaining. It has suspense, but it is also lighthearted. It has a little bit of romance, but in a more realistic way.
I enjoyed it.
Hmmmmm, I also wanted to say, and this is me just being picky: I hated the nickname Jazzy. It never clicked for me, and made it difficult for me to get into the story at first. But I will read the next two.
To be honest, I started reading thinking it was more like Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, were the female lead investigates the murder, so I was expecting the main characters to look for clues, investigate and find the murderer. It is not exactly like that, but I cannot judge a book for what it doesn't pretend to be. It was my mistake. So I was a little bit disappointed at first, but not for long.
It has a nice, steady pace; it's very well written, not overly detailed and not too long. Actually it's rather short in comparison to others. It keeps you guessing, although the killer is not that hard to spot. The main characters do find a few clues, put two and two together, make their own conclusions, but how they get to know who the murderer is was too convenient for my taste. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just say this: it is fairly predictable, but entertaining. It has suspense, but it is also lighthearted. It has a little bit of romance, but in a more realistic way.
I enjoyed it.
Hmmmmm, I also wanted to say, and this is me just being picky: I hated the nickname Jazzy. It never clicked for me, and made it difficult for me to get into the story at first. But I will read the next two.
December 24, 2014
Classic Trio
Book 1
Three girls who play instruments make up a three-woman ensemble that goes to various gigs in the area. The one to Kentucky is the furthest they ever traveled and requires a two-night stay in a hotel. But things aren't great - especially when they find a dead body in the bathtub of their hotel room! Things go from bad to worse when the killer apparently starts coming after Jasmine - Jazzy! But never fear, handsome brother of the bride, Derrick Rogers, is there to lend a helping hand and try to keep her out of trouble!
I loved the ending of this - the couple didn't try to rush into anything after knowing each other for a few days...and the romance was rather sweet. They suspense was pretty good, though I had a pretty good idea of who. Great writing on the author's part!
Book 1
Three girls who play instruments make up a three-woman ensemble that goes to various gigs in the area. The one to Kentucky is the furthest they ever traveled and requires a two-night stay in a hotel. But things aren't great - especially when they find a dead body in the bathtub of their hotel room! Things go from bad to worse when the killer apparently starts coming after Jasmine - Jazzy! But never fear, handsome brother of the bride, Derrick Rogers, is there to lend a helping hand and try to keep her out of trouble!
I loved the ending of this - the couple didn't try to rush into anything after knowing each other for a few days...and the romance was rather sweet. They suspense was pretty good, though I had a pretty good idea of who. Great writing on the author's part!
June 27, 2010
Jasmine and her friends are hired by Derrick Rogers' to perform at his sister's wedding. As soon as they arrive at the hotel, their happy thoughts escape them as they discover a dead man in the bathtub in their hotel room covered in bar-b-q sauce. It just so happens that the town was having it's annual bar-b-q cook off and festival and the man that was murdered was one of the judges to judge the small town beauty pageant. Jasmine and her friends agree to not only play at the wedding but to also judge the beauty pageant and the cook off. A murderer is on the lose. Is it someone who wants to win the pageant or the cook off, or is it simply a hometown grudge. I actually enjoyed the story as it unfolded.
October 15, 2008
This was a great book--a fun and exciting mystery. The guy in it was darling and I really liked him. Honestly, I had a hard time relating to the heroine. Her stubborness and perfectionism kind of annoyed me sometimes, but that's probably because that is how I am to some degree. She was really nice and I enjoyed the Christian element a lot. My biggest problem was that the really scary thing that happened to the heroine was a result of her stubborness and because she did something stupid, which I felt was a bit of an idiot plot, but I don't know what the author should have done differently, so it still worked for me. The fear was pretty real and her faith and courage were admirable.
January 24, 2016
I liked it. I didn't love it. I didn't solve the murder mystery ahead of time. So, I kept interested in "who dunnit". This is listed as an "Inspirational" book, which I guess means Christian. I liked that it wasn't preachy though....the Christian aspect seemed natural. Jazzy was a good character. She was a neat freak and although she'd been excited to meet Derrick, who'd hired her to play music at his sister's wedding, his dirty lunch wrappers, dishes left in the sink, etc. was a total turn off for her. I found her seemingly quick acceptance of his ways to be artificial. Watch out Derrick....she'll probably be a nag after the honeymoon! ha!
February 5, 2009
This is a fun, cozy mystery type book that I enjoyed very much. It involves a small town church and potluck supper and you'll never look at mushrooms in the same way again.
March 23, 2009
This was a great murder mystery and romance.
July 2, 2009
Though it's a cliche, it's true: I didn't want to put this book down.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews