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A DEADLY FEAST, the ninth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette, is like a tropical holiday vacation without getting on an airplane during the hectic Thanksgiving season. The author provides an amazing assortment of delectable dishes, a gathering of family, entertainment, a wedding, and …murder, all beneath the sunny skies of Key West, Florida. Protagonist Hayley Snow is preparing for her nuptials to Detective Nathan Bransford. Most brides would not be joining a seafood tour group in order to write one more article for her employer the week of Thanksgiving. And definitely not mere days before her wedding on top of trying to get her houseboat home remodeled so she and her groom have a place to live. But, Hayley is a hard worker and dedicated to her job and joins the group. Besides that, her groom is on a special case so Hayley isn’t able to spend time with him and wants her job to keep her mind off of her worries for his safety. I have so enjoyed watching Hayley’s journey and personal growth throughout the series and A DEADLY FEAST is my favorite of the bunch. While it can be read as a standalone, I highly suggest starting at the beginning in order to enjoy the character development that occurs, as in real life, with Hayley alongside her family and friends.
When a death occurs at the end of Hayley’s seafood walking tour, her natural investigative curiosity is intrigued. When one of the chefs on the tour asks Hayley to look into the death, worried someone might have deliberately killed the woman to sabotage her restaurant, she can’t help but get involved. Except her groom has asked her to stay out of any dangerous situations because there’s some bad stuff happening in town. I admire Ms. Burdette for how she creatively manages to keep Hayley on the fine line of honoring her groom’s concern while at the same time finding out information. In past books, Hayley has put herself in danger to find the truth, but she’s learned to using her intellect with less risk. Despite that, the author manages to put plenty of excitement into the story and provide enough suspects to keep the plot moving. There was a unique twist that I didn’t see coming and the heartwarming conclusion makes me want to book a flight for Key West immediately!
A DEADLY FEAST is a drool-worthy book and Ms. Burdette provides the reader with recipes at the back of the book to make those drools a reality. Key West screams of mojitos so I was drawn to trying the Mojito Cookies. These (almost) shortbread-style cookies incorporate fresh mint and fresh limes, while a sweet, lime-infused icing is the proverbial “cherry on top”. I loved the light green color of the cookies and the refreshing flavor is perfect for warm summer days!
Amazon Synopsis
Key West food critic Hayley Snow scents-es something fishy when a customer falls stone-crab cold dead on a seafood tasting tour.
Thanksgiving is nearly here, and Key West food critic Hayley Snow has just one more assignment to put to bed for Key Zest magazine before she gets to celebrate with her family and her police officer fiancé, Nathan Bransford. Then, just days later, wedding bells will ring—if death doesn’t toll first.
The sweet potatoes and stuffing will have to wait when Hayley picks up a distraught phone call from her friend, Analise Smith. On the last stop of a seafood tasting tour run by Analise, one of the customers collapsed—dead. With the police on the verge of shutting down the tour—and ruining Analise’s business—Hayley can hardly refuse her friend’s entreaties to investigate.
As if wedding jitters and family strife weren’t enough for Hayley to worry about, there’s crusty pastry chef Martha Hubbard, whose key lime pie may have been the murder weapon—but did she poison her own pie or was she framed? As the hours to Turkey Day tick away, the pressure cooker is on for Hayley to serve up the culprit on a silver platter in A Deadly Feast, national bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s taste-tempting ninth Key West Food Critic mystery.
A special thanks to Lucy Burdette for providing a winner with a hardcover copy of A DEADLY FEAST. Contest ends Monday, May 21, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. 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!)
These cookies are a lovely pale green and would be excellent as a spring dessert or as part of a Christmas cookie platter. You can make the icing or not, as you prefer. But Hayley's tasters loved the frosting with its subtle rum flavoring!
- 1-1/2 teaspoons lime zest (from 1 lime)
- 1 bunch fresh mint, enough for one tablespoons chopped (or more to taste)
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder (low-sodium works fine)
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon light rum (I used silver rum to keep the glaze white)
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Zest the lime, reserving the fruit for the icing. Wash and dry the mint and chop it into very small pieces.
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Cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the vanilla, egg, lime zest, and mint and mix well.
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Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then add this to the butter/sugar mixture and mix on low speed only until combined.
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On a sheet of parchment paper, shape the dough into a log, cover with the parchment, and refrigerate for two hours or more.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
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Place a second sheet of parchment on a baking sheet. Slice chilled dough into 1/4-inch slices and transfer to prepared pan.
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Bake 10 - 12 minutes, or until bottoms and edges are a light golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Mix the powdered sugar with the lime juice and rum. Beat until smooth. Ice the cookies once they are cool.
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You can adjust the amounts of lime versus rum to please your palate. And add more sugar if it seems too runny.
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If you want a stronger mint flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon mint extract to the dough.
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Use the method of lightly spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
No, I’ve never participated in a food walking tour.
I’ve never participated in a walking food tour, but it sounds fun!
I’ve never heard of it but I’d love to go. Thanks for the contest!
I never participated in a food walking tour. But thank you for a chance to win a hardcover copy of A Deadly Feast.
I have done house tours but never a walking good tour….sounds like fun!
I have never participated in a food walking tour, but it sounds like a lot of fun — especially one in Key West!
Sadly. Have never been on a food tour. Closest I came was going down the line at a Seattle market/mall of sorts. That was years ago. Do not remember any names. But. Took up most of the block. Several international food booths. You could see the Needle. The kingdom. It was on the free bus ride loop.
I am sooooo in this recipe a try this weekend. ?
I have never been on a food walking tour! It sounds like so much fun and I would love to do it!
The cookies sound delicious! I’ll have to try them.
I’ve never participated in a food walking tour. I think I’d enjoy it!
No I haven’t although it sounds fun! Thanks for the chance to win your book!
I’ve never been on a food walking tour, but it sounds like something I’d like. These cookies look lovely and I bet they taste even better. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I have not participated in a food walking tour but it sounds awesome.
I’ve never been on a food walking tour. Sounds fun.
Yes I have, actually 2 types! One was inside a convention center with lots of different types of food and drinks. The other was a neighborhood walk. They were so much fun! Thanks for the chance!
Yes! Years ago (decades) Norfolk VA had one. I worked at the newspaper there and we went as an office outing. The only thing I remember is that on a dare I tasted baked clams casino (thats how I remember the name) and LOVED it.
I never have. Sounds like fun, though.
No I have not done a food walking tour it sounds like fun.
Other than wine and bourbon tours I don’t think I have seen food tours. Candy factories, if that counts.
Honestly, could you box up some of the mojito cookies and mail them?!
No I haven’t walked in a food walking tour. Bet it’s fun. Donakutska7@gmail.com
Unfortunately I have not been able to do any food tours due to very bad mobility problems. I did a trolly stop food tour way before it got as popular as it is now in Chicago but nothing since. I have to use a motorized mobility scooter so getting on and of or in and out of a vehicle and even into some restaurants is not possible. I’ll read about others doing them I guess as I know I can’t but that’s ok, I’ve come to terms with mobility issues and still find a way to make life beautiful! ❤️
I have. It was a St. Patrick’s day pub and foodie crawl. The cookies soun amazing
No I have not but it sounds like a lot of fun
Sounds like it would be great fun! Would love to go on the Charleston SC food walking tour. A great way to try the local cuisine!
Sounds like fun but I haven’t.
I love food tours! It’s a great way to learn about a place. We have done them many times on vacation, including New Orleans and St. John’s Newfoundland. I have even done one in my hometown, New York City.
Unfortunately, I’ve never had the opportunity to participate in a walking food tour. Sounds like tons of fun and a way to explore a wide variety of foods.
No. I have never participated in a food walking tour but it sounds interesting.
Would love to try a food walking tour!
I have not gone on one of these walking tours, but they sound wonderful.
I never have gone on a food tasting tour but I’d sure like to!
Huh! Where did my comment go? I’ll try again. I have never been on a food tasting tour but I’d love to go on one so where do I sign up?
I have never been on a food walking tour, but it sounds like fun.
No, I have not.
Those cookies sound awesome – my favorite drink is a mojito, and I love cookies. I have never been on a walking food tour, unless you count my visit to Key West where I walked and ate a lot. Sounds like fun to me. Thank you for the contest.
I have not, sounds like fun though!
I’ve never heard of a food walking tour.
“Do you or have you participated in a food walking tour?” I have been on historic house tours, but no food tours, alas!
No, I have not–sounds interesting!
I have never done a food walking tour but it seems like a great idea! We have done aprogressive dinners with friends and pub crawls though. ?
Never done a food walking tour. Never heard of it. Sounds like fun, I wish we had that kind of stuff around here.
No, I’ve never done a food walking tour before. Never heard of it. It sounds fun, I wish we had stuff like that around here.
I have never heard if a food walking tour…Interesting idea though
One of my vacation/bucket-list items is a pub-crawl in Ireland. A Food tour sounds a little healthier!
No, I’ve never done one.
I learn something new. I have not done a food walking tour before.
Hmmm.. I just printed this recipe and I dare say these cookies will be on my next annual Cinco de Maya Fiesta – where I prepare Mexican food for 40-50 and our margarita machine is a hit! A walking food tour sounds intriguing, may have to find one when retirement life kicks in later this year! Thanks again for introducing me to so many new series!
A food walking tour? No, can’t say I’ve ever participated in one, unless you count walking around the state fair eating the food offered. I can’t say I have even ever heard of one.
The cookies sound scrumptious. But can one substitute something else for the rum in the icing? My daughter is an alcoholic so I’m very careful not to use alcohol in my cooking.
I have not been on a walking tour but I have been on a ghost hunting tour in Savannah GA.
I’ve never done a food walking tour, love the cover of this book,Thanks for your generosity.
I have never been involved in a food walking tour but it sounds interesting.
I haven’t been on a food walking tour, but it sounds interesting!
I’ve never gone on a food walking tour, but it does sound delicious!