By Gayle Leeson
A Down South Café Mystery #2
Berkley, 2017
Summary
In the latest Southern cozy from the author of The Calamity Café, small-town chef Amy Flowers can’t take her freedom for granted when she’s served up as a murder suspect…
It’s Independence Day in Winter Garden, Virginia, and the residents are gearing up for their annual celebration. The Down South Café is open and flourishing, and Amy Flowers is busy making pies and cakes for the holiday. The only thorn in her side is Chamber of Commerce director George Lincoln, who is trying to buy the café so he can tear it down and build a B&B on the site.
When George collapses while eating at the Down South, everybody assumes it’s a heart attack—until the autopsy declares it to be poisoning. Now, it’s up to Amy to prove her innocence before her liberty is lost.
Includes delicious Southern recipes!
My thoughts
Silence of the Jams is the first of Gayle Leeson’s books that I’ve read – and it is excellent, a cozy mystery in the truest sense. Gayle’s writing flows easily across the page, there’s good character depth, the mystery is well plotted. And of utmost importance to me and most of my blog followers, the story is totally clean. Thank you, Gayle, for showing that excellence doesn’t have to be compromised by profanity and graphic scenes! This is #2 in the series, but stands alone.
The story’s setting is the small rural area of Winter Garden, Virginia – a charming and welcoming community where people are folksy and warm. Amy, owner of the Down South Café, is likeable and easy to relate to. Gayle successfully blends cozy mystery elements with a character-driven story, making a much richer reading experience than with most cozies. I’m eager to see where she takes Amy and her relatives in future books.
One of my favorites is a secondary character named Homer …
Homer’s mom had originally told him that his deceased father was a great baseball player … She’d finally recanted and told Homer that his father had basically been a bum but that Homer didn’t need a dad to inspire him. He could be inspired by someone different each day. He’d taken her advice to heart and had chosen a new hero every day since.
Homer, much more helpful to Amy than he realizes, is a character I’ve taken into my heart. He’s wise, insightful, and full of wisdom drawn from each day’s “hero.”
The mystery plot is easy to follow, has exactly the right number of suspects, and is fun to try and solve. There’s also a couple of developing romances for readers to enjoy. Silence of the Jams is thoroughly enjoyable and I’m eager to read more books by Gayle Leeson / Gayle Trent / Amanda Lee.
Recommended.
I was provided a free copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I’m having a blast writing this new series!
Gayle Leeson's website │ Gayle Trent's website
Facebook │ Twitter │ Goodreads
Purchase Links:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million Indiebound Kobo
GIVEAWAY
Prize package includes a signed paperback of Silence of the Jams, Down South Cafe t-shirt, and Flirty Apron Oven Mitt Set. Please click on this link and share my Facebook post, then leave a comment here.
Thank you, Carole! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover and description of the book. Can't wait to read.
ReplyDeleteI've put both of her books on my wish list. Thanks, Carole. Kim
ReplyDeleteLove the cover.
ReplyDelete