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I love the premise for the plot of S’MORE MURDERS, the fifth book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series by Maya Corrigan! Who can resist a re-creation of the last dinner served on the doomed Titanic? Throw in a murder mystery game for the invited guests to participate in aboard a luxurious yacht and it sounds like an ideal evening. Protagonist Val Deniston was given an offer she couldn’t refuse (although she’d have liked to) by the yacht’s owner, Otto Warbeck, to prepare the ten-course dinner for his guests that he has meticulously researched. Needing help to make the dinner a success, she drags her granddad, Don Myer, and her best friend, Bethany, to the yacht to help out. Instead of a fun-filled evening, Val is greeted by a group that doesn’t like each other. The author weaves together an unlikely group of a chicken industry lobbyist, an animal’s right activist, an older ex-wife and a new young wife along with a Titanic enthusiast. When the host disappears from the boat during dinner, Val has a real-life mystery on her hands and soon finds out that the dinner party mystery could have been based on an unsolved murder from long ago.
Ms. Corrigan has created an intriguing plot that is well-paced with well-developed characters. Her twists and turns that incorporate details from the Titanic captured my imagination and I was pulled into the story, unable to put the book down. As a fan of Agatha Christie, I appreciated the author’s use of the ‘closed room’ style of mystery. The suspects were limited to the dinner guests and the yacht’s captain, but as Val digs deeper, finds they all had reasons to commit a crime. I’ve always enjoyed Val’s granddad, also known as the Codger Cook, because he adds both humor and chances for banter which allows the nature of the characters to be shown. The suspenseful conclusion wraps up the threads of both mysteries in a satisfying way which left me wanting to read more by this author.
The Codger Cook writes a newspaper column that features five-ingredient recipes. Val’s granddad might “borrow” her recipes to write his column but she doesn’t complain. Ms. Corrigan includes several five-ingredient recipes at the back of the book that Granddad would approve of. She also includes the menu of what was actually served at the Titanic’s last dinner along with what Val tweaked to serve aboard the yacht. While s’mores weren’t served aboard the Titanic, the new Mrs. Warbeck insisted that this casual fun-filled dessert be served at the party. The author includes some delightful twists to this yummy campfire classic and I’m sharing her recipe for S’mores Tartlets. I loved that these could be made ahead of time and you don’t have to have an open flame available for toasting the marshmallows. I’ve always been a tad bit disappointed with the old style of s’mores because the graham cracker, chocolate, and marshmallow ratio always seemed off. These tartlets are perfect and my guests snatched them off the serving platter faster than I thought possible! I tweaked the author’s recipe just a bit, using vegan chocolate chips and vegan margarine for some so that my dairy-intolerant husband could enjoy. They turned out amazing and I liked the ease of using chocolate chips, although they didn’t melt quite as nicely as the chocolate bars. S’mores Tartlets will definitely become a classic summer dessert in my household!
Amazon Synopsis
Managing a fitness club café and collaborating on a cookbook with her grandfather are Val Deniston’s usual specialties, but she’s about to set sail into nearby Chesapeake Bay—straight into a murder case . . .
Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Now Val has to reel in a killer before s’more murders go down . . .
A special thanks to Maya Corrigan for providing a winner with a print copy of S’MORE MURDER. Contest ends Sunday, August 5, 2018 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!)
These treats bake in a mini muffin pan, no campfire or grill needed. They're more buttery than the classic s'mores, and less messy. You're likely to have crumbs instead of gooey marshmallows on your fingers and clothes.
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 milk or dark chocolate candy bars (approx. 1.55 ounces each), divided into rectangles*
- 12 standard size marshmallows, each cut in half to make two circular pieces
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Combine the crumbs and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in the melted butter and mix until blended.
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Lightly grease 24 cups (1-3/4-inch diameter) in a mini muffin pan.
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Divide the crumbs among the cups. Press the crumbs down and around the sides with a tart tamper, a spoon, or your fingers.
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Bake 6 - 7 minutes.
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Remove the pan from the oven. Put one chocolate rectangle** in each cup and top with a marshmallow, cut side down, on top of it. Return pan to the oven for 3 minutes or until the marshmallows are softened. To brown the marshmallows, put the pan under the broiler for a minute.
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Cool the pan on a rack for 15 minutes. Carefully lift each tartlet from it's cup. Serve warm immediately or serve at room temperature after the tartlets have cooled down.
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*Or substitute 2 - 3 teaspoons mini chocolate chips for the chocolate bars. I found that the tartlets were easier to remove from the pan and stayed intact using the chips.
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**I used 2 chocolate rectangles since my mini-muffin pan has a large diameter for each cup.
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If marshmallows cool too much making it difficult to remove tartlets from pan, place the pan back into the warm oven for a minute or two to soften edges.
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Store leftover marshmallows in a freezer-safe ziplock bag and place in the freezer to keep them fresh.
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I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I never had I would like to. I have played Clue many times when I was a kid, Great review thank you
Penney
No, I haven’t, but they sound like fun.
I have not but it is on my bucket list.
No I haven’t, but it sounds so fun!
No, but they sound fun
No murder mystery party just scavenger hunts.
Sounds well worth trying. I’ve been making a quick smore in the microwave. Lol.
Thanks for the new series. The author lives in my area and I enjoy books about Md
looks good
I have not participated in a murder mystery party, but I think it would be a lot of fun!
I enjoy this series and am looking forward to reading the newest book.
I went to a murder mystery restaurant once. That was fun. But I haven’t been to a murder mystery party.
I work at the public library, and I have participated in two murder mystery parties there with the teens group. It’s a lot of fun trying to find the “killer”! Thanks for the contest. I love smores.
I’m not sure what your husband’s dietary restrictions are (whether he’s actually vegan or just averse to milk products), but many marshmallows are not vegan. So if the goal is to make these vegan, I’d also make sure the marshmallows you’re using don’t contain gelatin. And no, I have never participated in a murder mystery party. They sound like fun though!
Thanks for clarifying, Marla! My husband is dairy-intolerant so I made sure to note that in my blog post.
I have never went to a Murder Mystery Dinner, but would love to. I have played Clue and have been reading Mystery books since 2nd grade, started with the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
Thank you for the review and receipe, also for the giveaway.
No I haven’t. Maybe someday. Also, I loved your recipe for Smores Tartlets. Yummy!!
No, but I would love to go to one!
No, I haven’t, but I would like to some day. Yummy recipe! Thanks.
No, I’ve never participated in one.
I have participated in two – the first one as a guest. It was a manager meeting entertainment. Then we put one on for our teams! Fun both times!
I have always wanted to take part in a mystery weekend/party. Hopefully one day I will!
I’ve been to a few local Murder Mystery Dinners and one on a train, I love them! I have even won a couple prizes for figuring out “who dunnit.” Mystery runs through my blood… my mom had shows like Perry Mason, Murder, She Wrote and Matlock on constantly when I was young. I started on Nancy Drew and Sherlock as soon as I could read books without pictures. Those desserts are making me drool and I’ve been such a good kid lately… Well, grandma used to tell me, “You’re such a good kid, too bad there’s no market for good kids.” Lol, I guess that means I should make them!
No, but I would love too! Thanks for the chance to win!
I have never participated in a murder mystery party, but I would LOVE to. Sounds like so much fun!
No, but I always thought it would be fun.
No, but I always thought it would be fun.
No, I’ve never participated in a murder mystery party.
I’ve never been to a murder mystery party but I love mysteries and I’m sure I would enjoy it. I’m pretty good at solving them, too! I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading the next one!
I have never attended a murder mystery weekend/night/dinner but i am holding tickets to a murder mystery dinner that will be held next month locally….very excited to go!!
I haven’t participated in a murder mystery dinner yet but I am going to a murder mystery party on a boat in October. I’m looking forward to it!
I have been to a couple murder mystery dinners and it was a lot of fun.
Yes – it was fun.
I went to a Jane Austen themed murder mystery dinner. It was a lot of fun.
I participated in a lot of book parties but I don’t think I participated in a murder mystery party. Sounds like it would be a lot of fun. Thank you for a chance to win a print copy of S’mores Murders.
I haven’t been to one, but always wanted too.
I’ve participated in many murder mystery parties. If you ever see me at one…I did it! Each and every time I end up being the murderer. I don’t mind too much. It makes my husband and me laugh!
No, but I have always wanted to. I can’t wait to try this delicious looking recipe and looking forward to reading the new book.
No I haven’t but in Ft Myers, FL they have a mystery dinner train. My husband and I are going to do this some day. I’m the mystery nut but he watches what I watch on tv sometimes and he can get into trying to solve the mystery. Thank you so much for this chance.
No, I haven’t.
One Halloween season and local inn held a murder mystery dinner that was based on Edgar Allen Poe’s, The Bells. It was so much fun being that the inn was also a stop on the Underground Railroad and we were able to tour the whole inn. Thanks for Maya Corrigan’s book review and the recipe for the S’more Tartlets.
I love s’mores and occasionally get a craving for them.
This looks like a great solution.
Yes. It was at a movie theater last year when we went to see the movie Clue. My husband won a prize for best actor. It was a lot of fun!
Yes. The Murder Mystery Party was fun! We dressed up in character and took on the perceived persona and just had a ball.
Yes I have participated in a Murder Mystery dinner and it was so much fun! They tagged me to play the floozie “Enny Price”
I have never been to a Murder Mystery Party but I would love to attend one!
Looks like a fun read and delicious recipe, I can’t wait to make it!
This sounds really fascinating! Just being stuck on a yacht with a bunch of unfriendly people is interesting enough, but to re-create the final meal on Titanic and have a mystery for the diners really is appealing – along with the cover! I would love to go to a mystery dinner theater, hoping to take time to find one here. Thank you for the chance to win!
These look so delicious! I need to try this recipe!
No, but it sounds like fun!
No I haven’t, but I think it would be a lot of fun!
I cannot wait to read the book.
At the library and I was a suspect. The recipe looks delicious. I want to read this book! And the rest of them too.
These sound so yummy and the book sounds good too.
That recipe sounds delicious.
Yes, we have attended quite a few interactive mystery parties. We’ve participated in the dinner and show combination events but it was hard to catch all the conversations. We’ve done interactive stage murder mysteries, and some where audience members participate as part of the show. All are fun but not all made it easy to hear and follow the way we would have liked to.
Yes I have been to a murder mystery dinner. My one son played the detective and the other was the butler. I never figured out who was the culprit. It turned out be a disgruntled relative.
I never have but I always thought it would be fun