A Catered PTA Murder - (Mystery with Recipes) by Isis Crawford (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

It's back to school for sisters and caterers Bernie and Libby Simmons when a killer decides to teach a PTA president a lesson...

When Rita Sullivan walks into A Little Taste of Heaven to hire Bernie and Libby to cater a PTA board meeting and supply cakes for an end-of-school-year gala, it's hard to believe she's the same nerdy wallflower they knew in high school. Rita's now an influencer and CEO of Lavish Lipsticks, a hot new cosmetics company. She's also the president of the Longely Junior High School PTA, where she's made a considerable number of enemies. When the sisters go to drop off the cakes, they find Rita lying on the floor with a knife in her chest. What's more, using her company's newest lipstick, Scarlet Shame, the killer has drawn a large red X across her body. Rita has been canceled.

The police zero in on Abby Roth, owner of the murder weapon, but her kids beg Libby and Bernie to clear their mom's name. The sisters soon discover a quorum of suspects with motives to kill Rita, ranging from stolen cosmetics formulas and blackmail to broken marriages and property feuds. Figuring out which of them served Rita her just desserts will be anything but a piece of cake . . .

Review Quotes

Delicious Praise for Isis Crawford and Her Mouth-Watering Mysteries!

"In addition to plenty of quirky characters, there are yummy appended recipes to try." --Kirkus Reviews on A Catered Bake-Off

"Bernie and Libby learned from their retired police detective father and investigate crimes when not at their bakery. Their methods may be unconventional but no one can argue with their success." --King's River Life on A Catered Bake-Off

"Series fans will enjoy catching up with the sister's latest antics...The final reveal of whodunnit and why gives a fascinating look into the kind of small-town crime you don't usually find addressed in culinary cozies." --Criminal Element on A Catered Bake-Off

"Scads of suspects, a paucity of motives, and a bombshell reveal make for exciting reading." --Kirkus on A Catered Quilting Bee

"This is an intriguing installment of the Mystery with Recipes series, as Isis Crawford examines how well we can really know our friends and neighbors. The banter between the sisters is even more on point than usual, as they bluff and charm their way in and out of various predicaments." --Criminal Element on A Catered Quilting Bee

"This was the most complex case I've encountered in the Mystery with Recipes series yet, as our sassy siblings try to sort through their many suspects in the course of figuring out whodunnit and, perhaps just as importantly, why. The banter between the women was sharp and fresh as they combed the town of Longely, interviewing suspects and investigating." --Criminal Element on A Catered Doggie Wedding

"Reading about [Bernie and Libby's] work is bound to make you hungry." --Kings River Life on A Catered Doggie Wedding

"Delectable...Cozy fans will be tempted to curl up with a hot beverage and a pastry while reading this one." --Publishers Weekly on A Catered Book Club Murder

"Fast paced and lively." --Booklist on A Catered New Year's Eve

"An entertaining read." --Criminal Element on A Catered New Year's Eve

"A cover-to-cover, laugh-out-loud cozy!" --Suspense Magazine on A Catered New Year's Eve

"A purr-fectly quirky and funny whodunit." --Woman's World on A Catered Cat Wedding

"[A] mouth-watering mystery that includes a few recipes from the author's Russian grandmother...We devoured this fun cat-themed mystery." --Modern Cat, Connie's Book Club Selection on A Catered Cat Wedding

"Cozy fans will enjoy the lively characters, irresistible food descriptions, and witty dialogue." --Publishers Weekly on A Catered Cat Wedding

"Love the characters, the snappy dialogue, and the creative plot twists. A classic cozy among the best I've ever read." --Suspense Magazine on A Catered Costume Party

"An excellent mystery, full of humor, and seasoned with complex and interesting characters...A great addition to a tasty series." --Mystery Scene on A Catered St. Patrick's Day

"Drool-inducing recipes." --Library Journal on A Catered Fourth of July

About the Author

Isis Crawford was born in Egypt to parents who were in the diplomatic corps. When she was five, her family returned to the States, where her mother opened a restaurant in Upper Westchester County and her father became a university professor. Since then Isis has combined her parents' love of food and travel by running a catering service as well as penning numerous travel-related articles about places ranging from Omsk to Paraguay. Married, with twin boys, she presently resides in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where she is working on the next Bernie and Libby culinary mystery. Visit her at IsisCrawford.com.