Scoop to Kill

A Mystery à La Mode #2

by Wendy Lyn Watson

Read Wendy Lyn Watson's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community.

A sleuth sure to melt readers' hearts-from the author of I Scream, You Scream

During the local college's annual Honor's Day festivities, a graduate student is killed. When the English professor suspected of his murder also meets an untimely end, Tallulah Jones steps out from behind the counter of Remember the a-la-Mode to clear the professor's name-before anyone else gets put on ice...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Suspense, Adult, Food

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 29, 2010

About the author

Wendy Lyn Watson's checkered past includes stints as a graveyard shift Denny's waitress, a nanny, a video arcade attendant, and a federal court law clerk. These days, Wendy's day job is teaching constitutional law to college kids.

She also writes mysteries ... light, funny mysteries (because what could be funnier than murder?). Following the Mysteries a la Mode, Wendy's adding some history to her mystery. Once Upon a Wallflower, a Regency-set romantic mystery, will be released in August, 2013.

While she doesn't commit--or solve--murders in real life, she can kill a pint of ice cream and not even blinkl. She's also a devotee of Asian horror films, 80s music, and reality TV.

Series:
* A Mystery a La Mode

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reception to honor outstanding achievement at the local college turns tragic when Tally Jones’s niece, Alice, finds the body of grad student Bryan. Bryan was another local attending the college, although he had clearly been making some enemies along the way. With Alice in the thick of things, Tally starts spending a little less time at her ice cream shop, Remember the A-La-Mode, and more time at the college looking for clues. Will she find the killer?

While the mystery starts strongly with the discovery of Bryan’s body just a few pages in, the book still seems to wander a bit. We are gathering clues and information on the suspects, but it isn’t until the second half that it feels like Tally is truly investigating and we are beginning to find clues and disregard the red herrings. Once this happens, the book gets very good, and I was fully hooked. Tally and her immediate circle are a fun group, and I enjoyed spending time with them. I also enjoyed the cameos by some of the supporting cast from the first book. The suspects were strong enough to help us tell them apart, but they could have spent a little more time on the page to be fully developed. I had forgotten that there is a love triangle in this series, although it looks like that is coming to a head, which I appreciated. There is more language scattered throughout this book than is typical for a cozy, but this is still a light, fun cozy sure to keep you cool on a warm summer day. You might want to make sure you have some ice cream on hand first, however, to satisfy any cravings.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has leapt to the top of my *very short* FAVORITE series list. I rarely give a 5-star rating to a cozy, but this clearly earns it in my book. This series by Wendy Lyn Watson is so well-crafted. You are immediately drawn to the humor, but the stories are surprisingly textured for a cozy series. Such rich characterization, laugh-out-loud humor (with a bevy of hilarious analogies I just want to add to my lingo!), touching moments, some true shocks of sadness (not just a cozy where the despicable character gets offed), and a total cliffhanger in the love triangle department. All of these elements deeply enrich the mystery, which is also detailed, interesting, with a subtle peeling away of layers to the final conclusion.

I think what truly sets this series apart is the honesty of the characters. I find it refreshing that Tally, the main character, is not one of those women who dominate cozies. She is not one of the "I gave up my amazing job as a lawyer [or insert other high profile career here] to return to my home town and open a business" main characters. She is a true, blue-collar woman, with no college degree, no convenient nest egg from a dead husband/good investment/prior income/lucky windfall/recent inheritance. She is not a former big city gal, but instead she is a hometown proud gal, with strong ties to her family, community and business. She is a realistic woman we can all identify with.

I am totally torn, because I can't wait to read the next one, but I am devastated there is only one more book. I will have to pick up her series written as Annie Knox.

Please, Wendy Lyn, give us some more series!

[Monica Gearhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have thought the killer was who it was. I hope Tally decides who she wants to be with. Geez.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. The main character has an amazing voice, strong and smart but humble and sweet at the same time. Bree and Alice are a quirky mother-daughter duo, their relationship typical even though they're so totally unique. The budding romances between Tally and both Cal and Finn are complicated but Tally isn't playing either one of them. The mystery was really intricate and I really thought I had it figured out... But I didn't! Then the cliffhanger at the end made me want to jump right into the next book. I listened to part of it as an audiobook and I love the reader, she did a wonderful job!

[Nanya Srivastava · Rating 2 out of 5]

ScoopToKill by #WendyLynWatson is second book in Mystery A La Mode. Tally, the protagonist, runs an ice cream shop (A La Mode) in Texas, and her sister, Bree helps her out and so does her niece Alice, a college student. When Alice gets caught in a murder case, Tally puts on her detective shoes and goes snooping. The story is really juvenile and so is the writing. Pretty much everyone is good looking and blonde. This was published in 2010, and yet the characters are baffled by technology that was quite prevalent by then- pendrives and WiFi. I love mysteries, but I wouldn’t recommend this one. I give it 2⭐️.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly love Wendy’s books. I’ve read them all. This mystery will delight you, just like the others.

Tally’s voice - a small town, wrong side of the tracks in high school kind of girl - mixed with Wendy’s wicked commentary on academia are a fantastic mix for anyone who has spent any time prostrate to the higher minds and also likes ice cream.

Add in a possible love triangle and several dead bodies - and you have the recipe for a really fun read.

Get comfy, find yourself something to snack on - the ice cream talk will have you poking in the fridge - and enjoy!!!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at her cousins Honor's Day festivities Tallulah Jones is drawn into the murder of one of the PH'D candidates murder since her cousin was working in the same program. When a professor from the same college is accused and soon dies the police think the case is over. but not Tallulah.

This was a little hard to get into at the beginning and that could be because I read the first one so long ago it took me a minute to remember everyone. I did enjoy the book and will probably read more in the series. This one I didn't figure out who the murder was and that made me happy.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Tally, has to get from behind the counter of her ice-cream parlor to solve the murder of a graduate student during the annual Honor's Day festivities at the local college. The author did a good job of keeping me guessing on who the killer was. The mystery was interesting and did a good job showing the dark side of academia. Tally and the various side characters were all interesting to get to know. I also enjoyed the recipes that were included.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a quick, fun summer read. The characters were familiar as in actually knowing people like the ones in the book. The author portrayed the small town in Texas with great accuracy which added interest to the book. The mystery was easily solved, which didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book, but the ending shifted too much in the romantic vein.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small university and an ice cream shop are connected in a series of murders in a small Texas town. The book was a little hard to get into at first but in the end it was a fun read. The murderer was someone you'd least expect (isn't it always?).

[Camilla Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this second book in this series. Wish there were more than three. Guess after I read the next / last one in this series I'll have to see if the library has the books she's written as Annie Knox.

[Ashley Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cute story, and a little more developed than the first. The love triangle is a little trite and I found the ending too predictable, but it was still a fun read and I do truly enjoy the easy read.

[Emily Linacre · Rating 4 out of 5]

a perfect cozy mystery for a snowy sick day, full of sass, plot twists, and sweet sweet descriptions of homemade ice cream...love!

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a feeling i read this years ago. Either way, I enjoyed this novel. The familiar bits were the ice cream shop and going back to college to watch over a niece.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute summer cozy.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, and I love this series! Great book with lots of twists and turns. I highly recommend!

[Alaina Thomson]

:}

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this! It was a fun little read, and a solid mystery. The characters were great, and though it has the typical romance mystery cheesiness expected, it was fun and not too ridiculous.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series! This is the first book I've read in a while that the main character didn't have things that irrated me. I quite like Tally.

[Amy Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF... Not my favorite. I found the main character to be irritating and rather immature, especially for everything she has gone through in life.

[quinnster · Rating 3 out of 5]

And here comes the love triangle.

[shannon✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I had a good time reading this one and for once I didn’t guess who done it so that was fun for a change.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Can't wait to read the third installment!

[Chaitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't care for the first book in the Mystery a la Mode series at all, and wouldn't have read this one had it not been for a challenge. But this was, while not being the best ever, quite ok.

We see ice cream parlor owner Tally Jones, a year after her adventures in the first book. She has resolved not to meddle in anything, but when a graduate student is killed and his body discovered by her niece Alice, she becomes embroiled in the mystery of his murder. The main suspect is an English professor, who Tally can't think straight about, because she happens to be an ex-flame of Tally's ex-boyfriend Finn Harper. But she turns up dead also, and Alice might be next. So, Tally Jones to the rescue. With ice creams.

Honestly, it's not much of a plot. The twists can be seen coming from a mile away, and I figured out who the killer was faster than you can say Tiramisu. But, I do like Alice and Bree as characters, and I also liked Cal - the cop. We've seen him before, we get to know him better in this book. Tally was also not as obnoxious as she was in the first book, she actually engaged in some sort of detective work which didn't comprise entirely of wrongly confronting random passersby with the crime. And, it was a fast read. Yes, my bar is that low.

This book was better than I expected it to be, considering how horrendous I thought the first one was. Will I read the third book? Maybe, for a challenge, but again, I'm in no great hurry to do so.

P.S.: The book ends with a romantic cliffhanger. Who does she choose? Cal or Finn? I know it is Finn, I knew it from the moment Cal was described as reliable and stable. I wonder why these books make those two words seem like curse words, the romantic kiss of death. I wonder why is it that reliable and stable equals boring. Of course, the riskier one, Finn Harper, has to look like a movie star and cook like a master chef. He's also a Grade A douchebag who parades his ex-girlfriend in front of Tally, but to hear Tally tell it, he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I don't really know why this lady has so many suitors, while her cousin Bree, who not only puts herself out there but also has a genuine, sparkling personality, has none. It's got to be some sort of wish fulfillment, right?

[StillReadingBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again... I love the cover. I started with Scoop to Kill because I did not have enough time to find I Scream, You Scream (#1 in the series) at the library. I have to tell you I am glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. It is a perfect summer read. Fast-paced plot, likable characters, and just enough twists to keep you reading. The main character (Tally) runs a local ice cream shop and as the story opens she is attending the Honor's Day activities at the local university where her roommate's daughter (Alice) attends. Of course, a murder takes place... Everyone thinks it is Alice's favorite professor, Emily Clowper, that committed the crime. Naturally it is not that easy, but as Tally gets to know Emily and tries to save her life... she finds herself more and more involved in solving the real mystery of who is responsible for the deaths of Brian and Emily.

Like most cozy mysteries, the sub plots also help engage the reader, and the book ends on a little cliff-hanger regarding Tally's love life. That might make me read more.

The only thing that bothered me was the inconstant attempt at the... shall we say... dialect... of Texans. When one of the characters would use a idioms, I found in jarring. To the point, where I had to stop and re-read it. But it wouldn't stop me from reading another, just a weird quirk that I had to get use too. If I had read my copy and not the library's, I would have underlined them.

[Laudys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just like the first book. The mystery is intriguing enough to keep you reading, but most of the so called plot twists can be deduced wayyyy before Tally figures them out. And once again, the Dalliance Police department is managed by a bunch of morons who have no idea what actual police work should entail. It never takes Tally and Co. more than a bit of snooping to know that things are not what they seem, taking actions that the police, who are allegedly "investigating" the murders, should take by procedure.

But then again, if the police would have been doing their job right then Tally wouldn't have to meddle and we would have no book. Other than that, it's a nice quick read, perfect for when you're without the motivation to indulge in a more taxing book.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice cream and a mystery? A fun series that I was absolutely delighted to return for a visit. Fun colorful characters in a small Texas town setting with a non-contrived death or two and a amateur sleuth getting involved in a seamless manner. My kind of fun. The story moves quickly and I found myself laughing out loud often enough to have the surrounding people looking my way.
Fair warning, there is a mild sprinkle of colorful language. I didn't mind, but I don't often see it in a cozy. I thought it was kind of nifty and non-gratuitous, but some might choose to not read this one because of that....you'd be missing a out on a terrific story, fab mystery, many intriguing characters and a cool premise.
Definite recommend.

[Stewie's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sure do like the characters in this series. Somehow, I think Tally is supposed to get back together with Finn, although Cal, the town police officer, currently looks like a maybe candidate for romance. So, at the books' finish, I still don't know who Tally's love interest is going to be. I sure hope this doesn't turn into a Joanne Fluke style "boy-girl-boy" triangle. That got old really fast in that series and I would hate to see it pop up here, as well. However, it seems like thats the road Tally is headed down. I'll wait until June 2011 to read book three and see what happens.

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this second book in the series - but probably not as much as the first one. I might just not have been relaxed enough to enjoy the book, but it didn't seem to hold my attention as much. The plot was good, although I guessed the final crime and whodunit about midway through. I found all the secondary characters very vivid and felt their backgrounds were expanded from the first book, but I didn't feel the same way about the main character, Tully. Perhaps that was why this one didn't get 4 stars from me. Still, I will look for the next book and see what happens.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I was feeling kind of burned out on series about spunky women business owners who snoop into small-town crimes, Tally Jones and her ice-cream shop cooled me right down. Alice, the precocious daughter of divorced Tally's housemate and cousin Bree, is attending the prestigious local college and finds a body in the copier room. Tally's old boyfriend, recently moved back to town, has a history with Alice's favorite professor, who is suspected of the killing. There's another man who is interested in Tally, too, but she's trying to run her business and protect Alice.