By Cook or by Crook
(A Five-Ingredient Mystery)
New Cozy Series
Kensington Books (November 4, 2014)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617731389
E-Book File Size: 957 KB
ASIN: B00JVW6H8M
Take one burned-out city girl. Add a crusty codger, a dash of romance, and a twist of humor. Stir in a generous helping of murder, and you’ve got the ingredients for one truly delicious mystery …
Haunted by the car accident that ended her career as a cookbook publicist, Val Deniston has traded in the chaos of New York City for a quieter life near the Chesapeake Bay. Living with her curmudgeonly grandfather in the tourist town of Bayport is hardly glamorous, but she enjoys running the Cool Down Café at the local fitness club, and she finally has time to work on her long-planned cookbook. After a club patron is murdered, Val cooks up a scheme to find the killer who framed her best friend. While Val investigates five suspects and uncovers five key clues, Granddad takes up cooking, creating havoc in the kitchen even when trying recipes that have only five ingredients.
Includes 8 five-ingredient recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The number 5 is the key here.
- 5 ingredient recipes
- 5 suspects
- 5 key clues
Maya Corrigan is off to an excellent start with this mystery! Val Deniston is a great character with a tragic past. She is trying to get on with her life but is haunted with nightmares of the night when a car accident changed her life. She thought coming to Bayport would make things easier but a recent murder that has her best friend pegged at the prime suspect has her remembering that fateful night again and again as she tries to find the real killer.
I love the relationship Val has with her grandfather. She thinks he needs her there to take care of him and he does to a certain point but that man has more going on than she gives him credit for. He even turns the table on her and it was so much fun to read. Brought back a few memories of my own grandfather.
The other characters were great too. I think everyone in town has a secret and Val considered them all suspects at one time or another, even the one whose kisses gave her that warm and tingly feeling. The reason for this is a masterfully plotted mystery. There were several red herrings in this mystery’s recipe and they all needed to be sifted through to find the real killer and I figured it out just as Val did. Isn’t that what we readers want?
The author has served up a wonderful story with more than mystery to solve, a pinch of romance and a morsel of humor. It also contains a huge “hang on to your seat” moment that had my heart pumping.
I am truly excited for the next book in this series. I think the author has just given a tidbit of what she can dish up. “What are the chances of another murder in a peaceful small town?” We shall have to wait and see…

About This Author
Maya Corrigan lives near Washington, D.C., within easy driving distance of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the setting for this series. She has taught courses in writing, detective fiction, and American literature at Georgetown University and NOVA community college. A winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, she has published essays on drama and short stories under her full name of Mary Ann Corrigan. Visit her at mayacorrigan.com.
Author Links
WebPage: mayacorrigan.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maya-CorriganBooks/305167769636032
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This sounds like a good new series. Looking forward to reading it.
I really enjoy books with “senior” characters 🙂
This book is on my TBR, I’m a big fan of culinary mysteries.
I love culinary cozies, thank you for the chance to win 🙂
This one is on my list!
A most intriguing and unique cozy. thanks
Dying to know what the hang on to your seat moment will be.
Sounds like a good cozy.
Granddad sounds like fun. Can’t wait to read it.
I look forward to reading this one!
Great new dynamics for a cozy. Can’t wait to start it
Congrats on your debut cozy Maya! This one is already on my wish list. Thanks for a chance to win Lori!
Congrats Maya on your debut cozy! I’d love to read it and have put it on my wish list. Thank you Lori for the chance to win!
Sounds like a great debut and I’m always interested in five ingredient recipes! Thanks for the chance to win!
Recipes and mystery what more can I want. Thanks for the chance to win.
Since I’m retired now I think I should read books with old codgers in them—especially cozy mysteries.
The book sounds like a great start to a new series. I love the idea of recipes with a limited amount of ingredients!
This looks like a fun book – thank you for the chance to win.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR NEW COZY SERIES AND THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Thanks for the chance to win
Congratulations on the publication of By Cook or by Crook! It sounds like a fun cozy mystery. The recipes are an interesting addition to the book.
Sounds like a great title. Love these cozy mysteries!