I am so happy to welcome Lucy Burdette here today.
“One cat just leads to another. . . . The place is so damned big it doesn’t really seem as though there were many cats until you see them all moving like a mass migration at feeding time. . . .” Ernest Hemingway
I’m so pleased to be invited to post today on Dollycas’s blog in celebration of Murder With Ganache–-the fourth book in my Key West foodie mystery series. Following along with the theme of “escapes,” I thought I’d chat about my idea of a perfect escape on this island.
Key West, where I live most of the year and where my food critic series takes place, is a busy, lively town, chock full of tourists, and artists, and homeless folks, and people yearning to dodge a dreary winter. Oh yes, it can be crowded and noisy. But there are several spots visit when I need a little peace to unwind.
One of these special places is the estate where Ernest Hemingway lived from 1931-1939. It’s a gorgeous, private piece of land, including a wonderful old home, the attached studio that housed Hemingway’s office, and an amazing pool with tropical gardens. One of the most-loved features of the property is the colony of cats who live on the premises, allegedly descendants of Hemingway’s felines.
When I met a woman who worked as one of the cat caretakers at the Hemingway House and began to learn more about the cats, I knew I’d want to use this place in my next book. Here’s how my main character Hayley describes it in Murder With Ganache:
It’s almost impossible to enter the grounds inside the wall surrounding Hemingway’s house without feeling your blood pressure drop a few points. The house is gorgeous–a two story white structure with tall arched windows flanked by lemon-colored shutters and porches that wrap all the way around both floors. And the landscape is green and tropical, a haven for the fifty plus glossy, polydactyl felines that make their home here. My favorite vacillated between Rudy Valentino, a yellow tiger, and Duke Ellington, a gray striper who spent his afternoons stretched along a railing near the entrance so visitors could admire him. Evinrude hated it when I came home smelling of Hemingway cats, turning his nose and whiskers up at my feeble explanations.
If you look carefully at this photo of the new book (shown here with one of Hayley’s favorite cats, Duke Ellington), you’ll see that the Hemingway House made the cover! In Murder With Ganache, Hayley’s best friend Connie is getting married and all of Hayley’s family has come to help her celebrate. That includes her father, stepmother, mother, mother’s boyfriend, and her grumpy teenage stepbrother. Juggling the personalities and making sure everyone gets enough of what they need–let’s just say Hayley’s got a very full plate.
This book may be about Hemingway cats, and cupcakes, and wedding angst, and a murder mystery, but in the end, it’s also about finding and embracing family in whatever form they come. I hope you’ll settle in and enjoy a few hours of tropical escape–but fix yourself a snack first–you’re going to need it!
~Lucy
About This Author
Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) is the author of 12 mysteries, including the latest in the Key West series featuring food critic Hayley Snow. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s a past president of Sisters in Crime.
facebook: www.facebook.com/lucyburdette
twitter: www.twitter.com/lucyburdette
pinterest: www.pinterest.com/robertaisleib
website: www.lucyburdette.com
Murder With Ganache:
A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
An Obsidian Mystery (February 4, 2014)
Published by The Penguin Group
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0451465894
E-Book File Size: 1598 KB
ASIN: B00DYX9NLC
Hayley Snow, the food critic for Key Zest magazine, has her plate heaped high with restaurant reviews, doughnut and sticky bun tastings, and an article on the Hemingway cats. But this week she’s also in charge of her best friend’s wedding. And then someone adds a side of murder…
Connie and Ray are getting married. Connie’s family is Hayley’s family since her mom passed away and she hasn’t seen her father in years. So Hayley’s parents and their significant others have arrived in Key West for the wedding and brought all the family drama with them. That includes Hayley’s teenage stepbrother Rory. The last thing a teenage boy want to do is attend a bridal shower or go sightseeing with his mother and stepfather. He convinces his mother to let him go off my himself for just a couple of hours but of course he misses his curfew. In fact he still has arrived back my morning. This sets off a search for him and leads to all kinds of trouble. Will Hayley be able to get Rory out of the hot water he has gotten himself or will be extending his stay in a Florida jail cell.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Oh I would love to be in Key West right now instead freezing here in Wisconsin. Thanks to Lucy Burdette I was able to have a mini escape there. She really has outdone herself with this installment.
Hayley is a super strong character that just jumps off the page but really struck me with this story was the interaction between her mom and step-mom. The usual angst was there of her mom being jealous of the relationship Hayley has with her step-mom but the way a tragedy brings these women together just warmed my heart. In this day and age it is sometimes hard for divorced couples to put their children first whether the children are 2, 15, or 30. I was really happy to see the two sides of the family come together.
The story had a wonderful mystery and plenty of twists in both the main plot and the subplot. There were a lot of characters in this story but it was very easy to follow. I missed the tarot card reader that was prevalent in the previous books. We had a glimpse of him but not the usual Hayley visits.
Lucy Burdette is a great cozy author. I look forward to my visits to Key West. I can’t wait for my next trip.
Thanks to the people at Penguin I have 2 copies to give away!
Contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.
Leave a comment for Lucy for 5 Bonus Entries !
If you publicize the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End February 21, 2014 at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Love Key West, cats and Hemingway, the book is bound to be a winner.
Cats, chocolate and murder…. a good mix! So Lucy; as a child, what books influenced you? What mysteries did you read that stick with you even now?
I have to say, Lucy, I love the series and I love how you describe the food in your books, makes me want to eat. Thanks for the giveaway, hope to win
I enjoy this series.
I haven’t read this series yet but it sounds like a good one. I’m looking forward to starting on the series soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love the sound of this one…time to play catch-up with this series.
Great cover – love this series! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
This is a great series, a cozy setting and stories to entertain. Lucy aka Roberta is a wonderful writer.
Great series!
After this long, cold winter I sure would like to escape to Key West. Maybe reading your book will transport me there. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Great review, sounds like a good read.
A wonderful series which interests me greatly.
I would love to visit Key West and Hemingway’s house! I love that quote about cats lol. I would love it if cats were everywhere 🙂 Looks like a great series!
Love to read it.
No matter which of the author’s incarnations I read, I love her writing. I’d love to add this book to my already burgeoning library.
Lucy. I adore this series and your wonderful descriptions of Key West. I have always wanted to visit Key West Hemingway House . With a combination of cats, Key West and Haley I look forward to this fun book.
I so enjoy this series….Key West, the food and the characters become part of you. Always Waiting between book for the next adventure is hard. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments! I feel so welcome here:). To answer Vanessa, I read a lot as a girl–Nancy Drew, the Hardy boys, Cherry Aames, plus The Little House on the Prairie series, Caddie Woodlawn, The Pink Motel, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase–you can tell, I could go on and on!
i havent read this series yet but it sounds good
I love this series and this book sounds like a great continuation. I actually made it to Key West about 5 years ago, it was like entering a different world, the colorful homes, beautiful flowers everywhere, chickens roaming, a dog wearing shorts, a man playing sax on the street with his dog with sunglasses howling beside him and the beautiful water. I definitely want to go back and explore more, unfortunately I never made it to Hemingway’s.
Looking forward to returning to Key West via Haley’s adventures! Thanks!
I have not read any of this series but would really like to. They just sound great.
I visited Key West one Christmas vacation with my family – maybe 1956? – and only remember that it was HOT!!! We did come home with a 2.5 foot cat figurine that I still have and youngest son has dibs on. Perhaps it came from a Hemingway gift shop? Looking forward to #4 in your series.
I love this series! Lucy had me with Key West and the main character being a food critic. Especially one who doesn’t always hit the chi-chi places, rather the ones where the regular peeps go and like to find. I love that Hayley lives on a boat and has that fab intestinal fortitude to git’r’dun when she could easily just throw in the towel.
I have never been to Florida but have always wanted to visit. I think it’s great that there is a cat sanctuary there for Hemingway’s cats. What a life. This book sounds terrific.
I love Ganache! You have cats, murder and chocolate covered. I’d have to add in Doritos! LOL
Lovely and funny guest post. So nice getting to know you Lucy:)
Any book with cupcakes, cats, and Key West is bound to be attractive to those of us stuck in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin!
Another fun cozy mystery, it sounds like! Key West is one of those places I always wanted to visit.
Key West sounds like a perfect get away about now! Your series is on my wish list, it sounds so fun.
I look forward to checking out this book. This seems like a book I would enjoy very much.
This one sounds like a good read…even to a California girl!
congrats & continued success to Lucy!!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
Thank you for the review and the giveaway. I have added this series to my tbr list. I would love to win this book, it sounds great.
great looking book
I love a good mystery. This sounds like a wonderful series that I’ll have to check out sometime soon 🙂
I have been looking for something new to read!