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CRYPT SUZETTE, the sixth book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series, by Maya Corrigan is a treat for readers with plenty of tricks to keep them guessing. Halloween season has come to Bayport in the Chesapeake Bay area. Protagonist, Val Deniston, along with her roommate/granddad, Don Myer, are gearing up for the town’s spooky festivities. I adore Val and Don’s close relationship and the way they work together. There’s plenty of sass and humor between the two as they interact. I especially admire Granddad…he’s a hoot. I greatly enjoy the way he keeps himself active and motivated by becoming the Codger Cook, writing a newspaper column; a private eye; and in this book, a ghost hunter, in which he solves ghostly cases.
Ms. Corrigan does an admirable job interlocking Granddad’s cases with the murder Val finds herself involved in. In CRYPT SUZETTE, Granddad’s young college boarder, Suzette, is killed in a hit-and-run accident. The police aren’t sure if the accident was intentional, but Val is certain the very secretive college girl was living in fear. As her quest for finding the truth progresses, Val finds many people have secrets they’re trying to keep hidden. I enjoyed how the author weaves the plot into the Halloween festivities and even the town’s haunted house inspires clues that help Val solve the case. While I’d say I’m not a huge fan of Halloween, this book provides just enough chills and thrills for a delightfully spooky read without needing to sleep with the lights on.
The Codger Cook has become quite skilled at creating Five-Ingredient recipes without his granddaughter’s help. I love the recipes the author includes at the back of the book that would make Val and Granddad proud. I was excited to try the recipe for Crêpes Suzette, which is actually two recipes: 1 for the crêpes and 1 for the orange sauce. Our family loves crêpes and I knew the addition of the “Suzette” would be a huge hit. A few staple ingredients whisked together ahead of time, paired with a few simple ingredients simmered together, and voilà, a scrumptious treat for breakfast or dessert will be on the table in no time at all!
Amazon Synopsis
Val Deniston is catering the debut of Bayport’s newest bookstore—but the death of a customer is about to draw her into a real-life murder mystery …
Suzette Cripps has been occupying a spare bedroom at Val’s granddad’s house while she takes classes in this Maryland Eastern Shore town—but she’s always seemed a little secretive and fearful, and any talk about her past is a closed book.
After winning the costume contest at the Halloween-themed bookstore party, Suzette is mowed down by a hit-and-run driver—and Val and her grandfather start to wonder whether it was really an accident or if someone was after Suzette. Granddad is a little distracted by his new enterprise as a ghost-buster, but as Val talks to Suzette’s coworkers and fellow creative writing students, she grows more convinced that the dead woman’s demons weren’t imaginary—and that she needs to rip the mask off a killer …
A special thanks to Maya Corrigan for providing one winner with a print copy of CRYPT SUZETTE. Contest ends Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
You can't make Crêpes Suzette with just five ingredients, but you can use two recipes with five ingredients each. The first step is to make the crêpes. You can serve them as is with sweet or savory fillings or toppings, or you can proceed to the next recipe to make the orange sauce for Crêpes Suzette.
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup flour
- 1-1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oil for the pan plus additional oil as needed
- 10 - 12 Crêpes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 orange for 1 tablespoon grated orange zest and 1/3 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup Grand Marnier, Cointreau, or other orange liqueur (optional)
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Whisk the eggs, milk, and salt until well mixed.
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Slowly whisk in the flour.
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Note: You can cook the crêpes immediately, but refrigerating the batter for 20 minutes will smooth out any lumps or bubbles. Letting the batter rest makes it less likely the crêpes will tear in the pan. The batter can keep for a day or two, refrigerated. Whisk before cooking.
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Heat a 10-inch skillet or crêpe pan at medium setting. To keep crêpes from sticking, do not put the oil or batter in until a few drops of water sizzle in the pan and disappear in 2 seconds.
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Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the heated pan. Pour a scant 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and tilt it so the batter spreads into a thin circle coating the bottom. Cook at medium heat until the edges turn light brown and the center of the crêpe has hardened past a liquid stage. Gently loosen the crêpe with a spatula and flip it. Cook for another minute and transfer it to a large plate or platter, where the crêpe can lie flat.
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Repeat the preceding step, stacking the cooked crêpes on the plate, until the batter is gone. Add a small amount of additional oil after every other crêpe to keep the batter from sticking.
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Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until it foams. Stir in the sugar, orange juice, orange zest, and liqueur. Simmer on low heat until the sauce thickens a little and looks syrupy. Remove the skillet from the heat.
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With tongs, add a crêpe to the pan, coat both sides in the syrup, and fold it into quarters or roll it into a flattened cylinder. Put it on a warm plate.
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Repeat the previous step for each crêpe.
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Serve crêpes as is or with ice cream with dessert.
Yield: 10 -12 eight-inch crêpes.
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I was provided an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I do love a good haunted house! Would love to read Crepe Suzette! Thanks for the chance!
Thanks for commenting, Alma, and good luck in the raffle.~Maya
I do like Halloween haunted houses, but not enough to go to one. Congratulations on the new release!
Thank you, Autumn. I prefer writing about haunting houses, rather than visiting them. ~Maya
I think Halloween haunted houses can be lots of fun. However, we live in a small rural town and our opportunity to go to any or slim to none.
Cant wait for the opportunity to read “Crêpes Suzette”. Great cover that says READ ME.
Thank you for commenting, Kay. If there were a haunted house near me, I’d probably skip it, for the same reason I avoid roller coasters. Too scary for my tastes. Good luck in the raffle. ~Maya
Halloween haunted houses are cool. It’s been a long time since I been to one. Thank you for the chance to win a print copy of Crypt Suzette.
Hi Cathy, Thank you for commenting and good luck in the raffle. ~Maya
I love crepes, but don’t like Haunted houses. Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year.
Hi Melissa, I agree about the haunted houses and the crepes. Thanks for commenting. ~Maya
As along as the haunted house are to scary I love going through them during Halloween.
I’m not that much of a fan of haunted houses on Halloween. I think they are ok for others, but not for me. I’m not scared of them, I just kind of think they are a waste of money.
I like Haunted Houses as long as they are not too scary. They are fun to go to with a group of friends. I prefer to read about haunted houses. Thanks for the chance!
I love haunted houses. Love the cover.
Thank you, Kim, for reviewing my book and featuring a recipe from it. Your food photos and video are beautiful as always. I appreciate the time you spent on making (and improving) the recipe and your talent in the kitchen.
~Maya
It’s always a pleasure hosting your wonderful books and recipes on the blog! Thanks for the opportunity to help you celebrate your new release!
Haunted Houses are fun, as long as there are not too many people jumping out at you!
Thanks for your comment, Celia. Fear of someone or something jumping out at me keeps me from going to haunted houses.
great book!
I loved them when I was a kid, but not anymore. This series sounds fun.
I don’t mind haunted houses if my husband is by my side. Lol!
I used to enjoy haunted houses but now the flash lighting in most of them bothers me.
Love this series. I stumbled across it by accident at the library and have been waiting for this new one. Recipe looks good too. No haunted house for me 🙂 I live next door to a grave yard if that counts .
I am definitely a fan of Haunted Houses and it reminded me of the summer at camp for the Jubilee my bunk “created” a haunted house on the stage in the playhouse. Not that great but fun to play with the makeup and costumes.
Yes, I enjoy Haunted Houses.
I really liked them when I was younger..not so much now.
Haunted Houses are always a sign of Halloween and I get excited when I see advertisements for haunted houses. I don’t enjoy the ones that have a lot of gore but it is fun to walk through those that have a little scare to them.
I’m not personally a fan but some of my friends are.
I’d rather read about a haunted house than experience one.
This book will take care of that.
I personally do not care for Haunted houses.
I love haunted houses in fun, just not the super-gory stuff.
As long as they aren’t too scary.
I love crepes and haunted houses are ok as long as I have someone with me.
I’ve never been to a haunted house- don’t have much near here. Sure would like to go to one though.
Live this series and a Halloween one all the better.
I used to be when I was a kid, but am no longer interested in haunted houses – the book sure sounds fun, thanks for the chance to win.
I haven’t been to a haunted house since I was a teenager.
When I was young they were fun. Not anymore! Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m not into haunted houses, when my son was growing up every year we would go to this haunted trail and at the end of it they had a witches garden party with hot apple cider donuts and hot chocolate. The book looks great, Thanks for your generous giveaway.
I enjoy the ones that are geared for children/
not at all!
I’m not a fan of haunted houses.
I am a fan of haunted houses, I just haven’t been through one in years. I love Halloween though! Thanks for the chance!
I don’t like haunted houses–they’ve become too gory & graphic.
I like a mildly haunted house. ?
Great title!!
No, I don’t like them.
Not a fan of real haunted houses. Like mine in books. Thanks for the chance to win!
No, I am not a fan of haunted houses.
I can’t say that I can deal with them, I wish I had the courage to enjoy them, I went through one once with my eyes shut hanging onto hubby the whole way, LOL.
Haunted houses are fun as long as not too many things jump out at you. Thank you for the chance The recipe sounds delicious.
I love haunted houses I just stay outside of them and let my kids going because the jumping out just gets on my nerves I’m a nervous wreck but my kids love them and we go every Halloween season to a couple of them it’s like a little tradition we have now they go in I wait outside ?????
I used to enjoy them when I was younger, now not so much, too scary!
I am the world’s biggest chicken. I am not a fan of haunted houses at all.. I was scared when I was little, and it ruined that for me. (Imagine walking in the haunted house (mind you I knew most of the people who were inside).. stepped in the door while holding on to my older sister’s hand.. the floor moved slightly and someone grabbed my foot.. that was it. That’s all she wrote, I was done. I screamed and cried for the entire time in there… I tried to go in one when hubby and I first met.. nope stood outside for almost 2 hrs in the cold, wind and sprinkles.. next in line and I told him I couldn’t do it. ?? (And we were blessed with our son’s birthday to be on Halloween.. yep he loves all that stuff.. (he turns 9yrs old this year) I’m in sooo much trouble ?
Sorry I shared a lot more info than you wanted ???
The only haunted house I like is the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. I do love the idea of them though!
I don’t do Haunted Houses…had a bad experience when I was young where someone grabbed my ankles!
I liked them when I was younger. Not so much any more.
I like reading about them…but don’t think I would like to see one in person. Some folks’ sense of humor in scaring people may be different than mine. ? I love the cover of this and am thankful for the chance to win it!
I think they are mostly silly.
the cover of this book is so pretty. I would love to win this. I went to a haunted house at MN state fair last year first haunted house ever. Was so much fun!
I kind of like them. Someone just has to be with me so I can grab onto them. I’m a massive jumper, screamer, & have trust issues with strangers in the dark. You just don’t know the type of people these days that are getting hired for the job. Now that I think of it, when I was younger too.
I am not a fan of Halloween Haunted Houses. I don’t like scary or horror things. I guess if there is more just fun things, and not scary ones, it could be ok. But so many I have known about were the ‘horror / very scary’ ones.
I’ve tried to reply to individual comments, but I’ve gotten error messages and my replies don’t show up. So I’ll just say ‘thank you’ to everyone who posted in hopes that this comment will appear. Good luck in the raffle.
~Maya Corrigan
I don’t mind a haunted house but I don’t like anything too scary! I don’t think I’d ever set foot in one of the Bane haunted houses. I do love a good cozy mystery and I love this series!