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THE MANGO MURDERS is the fifteenth book in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries by Lucy Burdette. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of a sunset cruise in Key West, protagonist food critic Hayley Snow is busy hosting the city’s movers and shakers on behalf of her Key Zest online magazine employer. Hayley’s mother and stepfather, Janet and Sam, are catering the event hoping to expand their business. I just adore the characters of this series and can’t help but admire the close relationship Hayley has with her mother and stepdad…as well as her friendships with other key characters, in particular, octogenarian Miss Gloria. These are people you’d count yourself lucky to call friends, which adds to the appeal of the book. From the very start, Ms. Burdette captures the intricate details of the setting, from the sights, sounds, scents, and flavors… and the mango-themed menu evokes the tropical feel of the locale. As inviting as the balmy breeze and mango daiquiris are, discord comes aboard the yacht, and it doesn’t take long for chaos to ensue.
One of the things you can count on from this author is that the action always starts off early on and the pace holds its own throughout the book… there is never a dull moment. In this latest release, a fire and then an explosion happen aboard the yacht, causing the guests to abandon ship, starting the mystery. Was it accidental? Who is the unidentified victim, and why were they on board in the first place? Could Janet, the caterer, have been the target, or is someone trying to drive her thriving company out of business by setting her up to take the blame for the explosion? Hayley has so many questions and feels the need to find the answers and protect her mother. Her sleuthing takes her around Key West, and it feels like a mini travel guide as I followed along, while the mystery is well-plotted and kept me turning pages. Interspersed with the investigation are the celebrations planned for Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday party and the upheaval her arriving family creates, adding to the fast pace and intrigue. This character-driven story has all the right ingredients that keep me coming back and keep me anxiously awaiting each new release.
There are so many yummy mango-themed foods mentioned throughout the book, and luckily there are several recipes at the back of the book to tempt your tastebuds. I couldn’t wait to dive in and try out the Mango Scones with Cream Cheese Frosting and they were every bit as delicious as I’d expected. The scones are flaky and rich thanks to a generous amount of butter and sour cream, but it’s the chunks of mango and cream cheese frosting that make them exceptional.
Synopsis
Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.
In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.
With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.
A special thanks to Lucy Burdette for offering a print copy of THE MANGO MURDERS to one lucky winner! Contest ends August 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. 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!)
Hayley's neighbor Miss Gloria is celebrating her eighty-fifth birthday in this book. Lots of visitors have arrived on the island, included her two thorny daughters-in-law. Mis Gloria gets the idea of inviting them for a tour of residences on Houseboat Row, with scones and coffee on Hayley and Nathan's deck at the end. Hayley makes these mango scones, and my, they are delicious! You could make them without the icing, but as my husband would say... why?
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon almond flavoring
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (aka 1 stick or 8 tablespoons) frozen unsalted butter
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2-1/2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 cup ripe mango, peeled and cut into small chunks
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).
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Combine the dry ingredients with a fork. Take care to mix the brown sugar in thoroughly.
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Placed a grater over the bowl of dry ingredients, grate the frozen butter into the bowl using the largest holes. With a fork, mix the butter in well with the flour mixture.
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In another bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the egg, sour cream, almond flavoring, and milk. Stir the combined wet ingredients into the dry and mix just until moist. Fold in the mango.
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Dump the batter onto a piece of parchment paper lightly dusted with flour and shape it into a circle. The batter will be wet and crumbly, but don't overwork it.
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Cut the circle of dough into eight wedges and separate slightly so there is space between each scone. (I cut mine into six wedges, which were very generous!)
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Bake until beginning to brown, about 18 minutes. Serve as you like with more butter, whipped cream, the cream cheese frosting, or just as they are.
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Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar and beat until smooth.
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Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.
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These freeze well and can be warmed up for a treat on another day.
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As a side note, I asked my hub if he wanted his frosted and he first said no. He changed his mind when he heard I was having frosting. After tasting it he said, "I don't know why you even asked me about the icing, it's amazing!"
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I resorted to using frozen mango when I realized I couldn't find ripe mangos at the store, nor did I have time to wait for green mangos to ripen. I defrosted the mango chunks (overnight in the refrigerator). After blotting the excess liquid from the defrosted mango, I chopped it into smaller chunks to use in the scones. The scone dough was very sticky and the mango chunks tended to disintegrate as I folded them in. I ended up having to add an extra tablespoon of flour. However, the scones were still delicious but next time I'll plan ahead and buy fresh mangos to use.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
