Dinner für eine Leiche

Honey Driver Mystery #2

by Jean G. Goodhind, Ulrike Seeberger (translator)

The new Honey Driver mystery - Chefs can be arrogant, competitive and downright murderous at times, so when Bath International Taste Extravaganza (BITE for short) organize a best chef competition, Honey Driver, the Hotels Association police liaison officer, senses trouble. Her instinct proves correct when the winning chef is found dead in his own kitchen. Then a second, and a third . . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, British Literature, Audiobook, Chick Lit

304 pages, Paperback

Published December 11, 2009

About the author

Jean G. Goodhind is a popular writer of women’s fiction, romance and comedy. For many years she owned and ran a haunted guest house on the outskirts of Bath and was one of the founder members of the Bath Hotel and Restaurant Association. Her experiences inspired the international bestselling Honey Driver series. She has won a BBC Radio award for scriptwriting. She also writes women’s fiction as Lizzie Lane and has writes a regular column for the Western Daily Press.

Reviews

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhalt: Honey Driver ermittelt in ihrem zweiten Fall. In Bath findet der Kochwettbewerb 'BISS' statt, an dem nur Sterneköche teilnehmen. Diese Köche haben nicht nur ein überdurchschnittliches Temperament am Herd, sondern fahren auch gerne aus ihrer Haut. Der Sieger gewinnt zwar den Wettbewerb, aber verliert sehr schnell sein Leben und schon sind Honey Driver und Inspektor Steve Doherty am Ermitteln. Hoffentlich hat Honeys Koch ein Alibi ...

Art des Buches: Wohlfühlkrimi

Wie fand ich das Buch? Ich habe mich gut unterhalten gefühlt. Der Krimi mag nicht immer ganz korrekt ablaufen, was die kriminalistische Seite betrifft, aber er hat Spannung und eine ordentliche Portion Humor. Honey liebt es antike Miederwaren zu ersteigern, auch wenn sie nie in diese hineinpassen wird und die Kabbeleien mit ihrer Mutter gehören für mich genauso zu dieser Reihe, wie die Wahrsagerin, die in ihrem Hotel wohnt oder der Flirt mit Steve Doherty. Der Ton ist manchmal etwas schnoddrig, aber ich mag die Charaktere, ob es die eben genannten sind, oder der snobistische perfekte Casper St. James Gervais und dazu natürlich das Setting von Bath. Ich werde jedenfalls wieder mit Honey und Steve auf Verbrecherjagd gehen.

3 passende Wörter zum Buch? Köche - Mord - Wohlfühlkrimi

Wem empfehlen? Ich denke, dass Buch/ Reihe richtet sich besonders an Frauen, die einen Mix aus Spannung, Humor und Liebe mögen.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

How unfortunate that J.G. Goodhind’s publisher bills her as “Britain’s answer to Stephanie Plum.” While Goodhind’s Honey Driver boasts an over-the-top mother (although nowhere in Grandma Mazur’s league!), some eccentric friends, and an unpolished and but sexy love interest, there the similarity ends. She’s not as young or as silly as Stephanie — especially in her most recent outings — nor as lacking in self-knowledge. Honey actually resembles a toned-down version of M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin, albeit more polished and less spiteful or man-hungry, but just as astute and just as loyal.

In this second novel in the winsome series, which is set in resort city of Bath, England, Honey realizes that pompous chefs are murder — although she didn’t realize that that was literally true. As first, it’s the winning chef of a Bath cooking contest that bites the dust; however, soon others turn up dead, as well. Honey, the police liaison for Bath Hotels Association, once again joins forces with handsome Detective Inspector Steve Doherty to make sure the murderer gets his just desserts.

Goodhind’s novel, alternately breezy, humorous, and suspenseful, will provide just the tidbit for readers seeking a fun cozy.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Foul-mouthed American actress Martina Manderly is playing Jane Austen in a period costume drama shooting on location in Bath. Predictably, the spoiled, bullying Martina alienates fellow actors, crew — even extras — and promptly gets herself stabbed to death.

Predictable, unfortunately, pretty much describes Menu for Murder, J.G. Goodhind’s fourth Honey Driver mystery novel. Honey, the owner of the Green River Hotel in Bath and police liaison for the Bath Hotel Association, once again joins handsome (if conceited) Detective Inspector Steve Doherty to discover who done it. The story plods on — although with occasional funny scenes and two rare interesting new characters in the cases of Zoë Valley and Perdita Moody — until it reveals an implausible murderer and then ends with a ridiculously unrealistic final denouement.

If you skip Menu for Murder, you won’t have missed much of a dish.

That said, narrator Patience Tomlinson, as always, is first rate.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book.

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I enjoyed this book because it was refreshingly different. Honey is getting over her last murder mystery, but still managed to get involved yet again in a murder inquiry. I liked the humour, especially the way that her mother is always putting her foot in her mouth, and is blithely unaware of it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A movie company is making a biopic of Jane Austen in historic Bath, England, and hotelier Honey Driver is acting as an extra. When murder is discovered, Honey's significant other, policeman Steve Doherty has a new case. As liaison between the Bath hotel owners and the police, not to mention as Steve's sweetie, Honey insinuates herself into the investigation, helped and hindered by her bossy mother and her almost-grown daughter.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 2 out of 5]

A chef win’s a cooking competition then is murdered, so begins a murder investigation.

I didn’t like this book - the story is more concerned with people’s love lives than the dead bodies the pile up and the reason for the murders is plucked out of nowhere at the end.

If you enjoy murder mysteries then this is one, in my opinion, to avoid.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Und wieder ein tolles Abenteuer mit der unglaublich lustigen und sympathischen Honey Driver.
Insgesamt sogar besser als der erste Band, wobei hier der Schluss weniger spannend war.
Ich freu mich schon auf Band 3 :)

[Remi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did it. I FINISHED THIS BOOK. I only finished it because I literally had no other option, which was the only way I was ever going to finish this book. I won't give it one star because I think it's worth at least 2, but I did not like this book. Since I didn't enjoy reading it, it was hard to get through, so it took me a LONGGG time. Since it took me such a long time, I forgot who everyone was, which made it even harder to get through. There are so many characters in this book that are important enough to mention in connection to the murder, but not important enough to meet, which makes it harder to keep track of everyone. Also, since the central storyline of this book is not (let's face it) the murder and its investigation itself, I found myself not caring abt it at all. In the end, when they caught the murderer and all was well I was just like... okay. I also think Hannah and Steve are lowkey weird and I feel like the author was trying to do a slow burn vibe that didn't work because they're ALREADY TOGETHER. Overall, I think I've maybe just ready one too many cozy mysteries. If you like cozy mysteries that focus on romance more than murder and are ready to pay complete attention to keep track of all the characters, you'll like this book!

[Roxx Tarantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the competition is deadly . . .

. . . the result might be fatal.

Honey is on tap again, this time to resolve the issue of a dead chef before tourism numbers are affected. And meddlesome Gloria has a big part to play too.

Goodhind's cast of endearing and sometimes bumbling characters all have their moments in helping to bring down these miscreants. With Doherty on hand for the constabulary, they'll get their just desserts. Menu for Murder serves up mayhem and chicanery, with several good chuckles tossed in as well.

A fun read to while away a lovely summer afternoon!

[Lina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 sehr random. Die story line war schon relativ gut ausgedacht, aber es war alles sehr aus dem Ärmel gezogen und der Krimi wirkte nicht wirklich gut. Ich war auch nicht wirklich gefesselt an das Buch also nicht umwerfend. Es ging um Hanni eine Frau, die ein Hotel besitzt und einen Chefkoch hat. In der Stadt findet dann ein Kochwerkstatt und einer der Küche stirbt. Dann sterben noch zwei. Dann stirbt noch die Besitzerin vom anderen Hotel und Hanni muss mit ihrem Polizei Kollegen, in denen sie verliebt ist, ermitteln, wer Mörder war. Zum Schluss kommt raus, dass der Verehrer ihre Mutter und FleischlieferantRoland der Mörder ist, weil er eigentlich ein geheimes Drogengeschäft hat.

[Keith Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no point in reviewing the plot, that has been done often enough already.
I enjoyed the story, one of the funniest I have read in a long time, full of innuendos and double entendres, it gave me lots of smiles and a few chuckles. It's the second one I have read, not in order and have another to read before I have to buy any more.

[Maree Croxon Mapperson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ego galore

Time management is a skill Honey needs to find. The story has many twists a good story interesting read I recommend it.

[Brenda carrier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I really like Honey Driver. I'm even starting to like her mother. The book is fun and fast paced. It keeps moving and ends just when it should.

[NhaughtyV says Damn the Zon Save the Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has quickly become one of my fav cozy mystery series! Loved & highly recommend to fans of this genre!

[Suzette Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Menu for Murder

Good book with a lot of of detail. Too many characters for me to relate to the story. I liked the 2 main characters, but they need to get together!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing like a cook-off to upset things, is there??? Who killed Oliver Stafford and why??? And then Brian??? Who is the cowboy??? I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.

[janis c. campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok

Had trouble keeping characters straight. Other than that a pretty good plot and finished it finally. Hard to imagine the English setting when a person has never been there

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Stars

[Denise Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book in a great series set in gorgeous Bath.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! No, just no. I tried, I really tried, but I could not get through this book. At the third time I found myself trying to force myself to read just a little bit more, I finally had the good sense to put the book down, thankful that I can return it to the library.

The characters are terrible, with Honey Driver being the worst. She seems aggressive, violent, arrogant, and condescending. I found nothing likeable about her. She treats her supposed boyfriend as if he is an idiot, she's rude and aggressive toward her daughter, and she seems to be trying to manipulate everyone around her.

I also found the plot points ridiculous. The book starts with one chef coming in second place to another and so then trying, literally, to physically attack the winner with Honey hiding the knives so her second-place chef will not use them on the first place one. Who does that? Then, the hotel owner with the winning chef makes a snarky comment to Honey and Honey goes after the other one in a physical attack; in fact that happens several times in the very short part of the book that I managed to choke down. Again who does that?!? Are they in pre-school?!? Next, a guy, purported from Africa shows up with a spear wearing animal hides - I felt like I was reading a book from the early 20th Century, but no, the copyright date assures me that it is from the 21st. UGH!!!

A large part of the problem is that author seems to treat these ridiculous characters and scenes as if all of this is the way people normally behave. UGH, UGH, UGH!!!! If Goodhind had at least treated everything in a way that was satirizing the behaviours the book might have a modicum of amusement to it, but as it is, it is just horribly ridiculous and not in the least bit worth my time to read.

UGH!

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice easy read about the antics of our Bath hotelier Honey Driver. I think that the characters have developed
from the first book and the plot , although at first a little difficult to anticipate but never that important, had possibilities. I think that the current average score of 3.37 is about right but as I have to mark in whole numbers I will go higher rather than lower as I enjoyed it. Nothing too serious. Just one question remains, who is the actress that I imagine playing Honey?

[Taegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More British mystery. Entertaining.

[Sunflower11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Englische Krimis

[Juliane Kunzendorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun entertaining read.

[Nicola Mayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable - the second in the series is better than the first. The author's physical descriptions of places and settings are fantastic. Hugely amusing - would make a good tv series!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. it's a light chick-lit crime story.

[Vanda Bromwich · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick holiday mystery.