Category: 2026 Reviews

The Mango Murders & A Delicious Deception
Key West Food Critic Mysteries
by Lucy Burdette

About The Mango Murders

Now Available in Paperback

The Mango Murders: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Setting – Florida
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 12, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892421652
Kindle ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892421669
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DMTQ5QXH
Paperback
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 7, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892424530
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FV7CYMLC

The turquoise waters of Key West are stained with pink in this explosive 15th installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.

This review was originally posted on August 5, 2025

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Key West’s annual Sunset Celebration has been a huge event since the 1960s. This year, Key Zest – the e-zine that aspires to be the go-to source of information on all things Key West- is throwing a fete to attract new advertisers and draw attention to “outshine” the competition aboard the Pilar Too, a handcrafted wooden Hemingway yacht lookalike on a much larger scale. Hayley’s mom, Janet, is catering the affair, hoping to draw attention to her business as well.

All the guests have arrived and are enjoying yummy mango-infused delicacies and special cocktails when an explosion blows everything out of the water. The Coast Guard, the Key West Fire Department, and even other pleasure boats rush in to rescue people from the water as parts of the yacht, personal items, and even catering items float around them. Hayley was battered from her tumble into the water; some had more serious injuries, but one unidentified person lost their life.

It turns out the death was no accident. A competitor of Janet’s who wasn’t on the guest list is the victim, and Hayley is in the middle of another murder investigation that takes her deep into island and catering business politics filled with secrets and lies.

On top of a murder on her plate, Miss Gloria is turning 85, and her family is coming to Key West for several events Hayley has planned.

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It is so good to be back in Key West with Hayley, Nathan, Gloria, and their friends and family. There is never a dull moment. Hayley and Nathan are blissfully happy most of the time. He doesn’t like her worming her way into his cases, even though he knows she is good at getting to the truth. He just wants to keep her safe. Gloria is a spitfire as always, especially when her daughters-in-law are in town. Janet and Sam are supportive rocks for everyone. Nathan’s mom, Helen, always cracks me up. She loves helping Hayley sleuth. All of Ms. Burdette’s characters are genuine, even the ones that try everyone’s nerves.

The author plotted out a marvelous mystery. A yacht blowing up is a quick way to grab everyone’s attention, mine included. While tragic, it could have been so much worse. Hayley getting involved was a given, but this was a complicated mystery. Was the deceased the intended victim? The ship was filled with Key West movers and shakers. Or was the target Hayley’s boss, Palamina? Or her mom, Janet? Hayley, sometimes assisted by Helen, followed each and every clue, sometimes circling back to approach things in different ways. But it was while Hayley was alone that the case took a surprising twist, followed by a very interesting reveal, an entertaining rescue, and a great takedown.

Amongst all the sleuthing and snooping, people were celebrating Miss Gloria’s 85th birthday with several fun events. It is just sad that when her family comes to town, they only have one mission on their minds. Getting her to leave Key West, her home, and the place where she is happy. She has made strong friendships and built her own Key West family. I think now they have realized that, but you never know.

I loved all the mango drinks, cakes, and dishes, but what hit home with me was Janet’s Tuna Noodle Casserole. Her’s has a few more ingredients in it than our family recipe, and we use cream of celery soup instead of cream of mushroom, but I think every Midwest household grew up with some version of this casserole as a family staple. I added all the ingredients to the grocery list this week, so I will be delightfully enjoying some myself soon.

The Mango Murders is filled with characters that I love who continue to evolve in wonderful ways in each new story. Ms. Burdette has surrounded them with a complex mystery that surprised me in more ways than one. Of course, the backdrop of Key West is an amazing setting that I wish I could run away to and visit often. The final chapters had me smiling ear to ear and so excited to read next year’s 16th installment of this fabulous series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

About A Delicious Deception

A Delicious Deception: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
Cozy Mystery
16th in Series
Setting – Florida
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2026
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892426251
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FWBC8M37
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8892426268
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G3SSHF54

Mother-to-be Hayley Snow bites off more than she can chew in the sixteenth installment of Lucy Burdette’s USA Today bestselling Key West Food Critic mysteries.

When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers asks Hayley for a small favor, she can’t say no. Nine months pregnant and temporarily benched from her food critic duties, Hayley’s itching for a distraction and eager to help. All she has to do is tag along while a young woman picks up her daughter from her father at Monroe County’s safe custody exchange location. Easy, right?

Wrong.

In the chaos of the Sheriff’s Office open house, the mother disappears. Then the father bolts, leaving Hayley with a terrified girl and the realization that something has gone terribly wrong. Hayley and Deputy Rogers head north up the Keys to search for answers.

When a body turns up, Hayley realizes this isn’t just a missing-persons case—it’s a race against time. With the little girl’s safety at risk, Hayley must trust her instincts—and her heart—to uncover the truth.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Hayley Snow is due to deliver very soon, and she and Nathan are equal parts nervous and excited about the baby’s arrival. The news of this little one has also brought some big changes. Their houseboat simply doesn’t have room for a newborn and everything that comes with one, so the search for a new home became a priority. Thankfully, that search was a real success. The house needs some work, but they found a place that feels perfect for their growing family—and it even has a two-bedroom guest house for Miss Gloria and her best friend, Annie Dubisson, a neighbor from Houseboat Row.

Hayley isn’t reviewing many restaurants right now, so she has a little more time on her hands. When Sheriff’s Deputy Darcy Rogers asks for Hayley’s help with a child exchange at Monroe County’s safe custody exchange location, Nathan isn’t thrilled when Hayley quickly agrees. Hayley assumes it will be a simple, quick favor. She picks up the mother, and they arrive early at the Sheriff’s Office, which is hosting an open house. Then the mom disappears into the crowd. When the father arrives with their daughter and realizes the child’s mother is missing, he rushes off, leaving the little girl with Hayley.

Deputy Rogers is caught in a difficult spot, so she and Hayley team up to look for answers. Instead, they find a dead body. With a murderer on the loose, Nathan wants Hayley to leave the investigation to the police. But worried about the little girl’s safety and the fate of her mother, Hayley can’t just walk away. She promises to be careful and to keep the baby on board in mind, knowing one wrong step could lead to tragedy.

I was so excited to get my hands on this book because life was about to change in big ways for Hayley, Nathan, and Miss Gloria. Yes, Hayley’s restaurant reviews take a back seat this time, but her boss, Palomina, still makes an appearance, and it is a very interesting one. Of course, Hayley wouldn’t be Hayley if she didn’t end up tangled in a mystery. She does take some risks, but her baby is always on her mind. Nathan is away for much of the book, spending time in Miami with his father, who is dealing with medical issues. Miss Gloria and her friend Annie are nearby in the guest cottage, and Hayley’s mom is on call to help with anything she needs. They also plan an amazing baby shower for her. Ms. Burdette’s characters continue to feel wonderfully true to life. I have been invested in them for 16 books now, and every visit still feels fresh.

A simple child exchange takes a drastic turn. First, Hayley becomes concerned when Reba Dunbar, Tamara’s mom, goes missing. Then Tamara’s dad, Mack, dashes away just as quickly. Clearly, there is much more going on with this family than Hayley first realized. What has Deputy Rogers kept from her? When a body is found outside Reba’s home, everything changes. Could Reba be a killer? Was the body meant as a message? Hayley uses her sharp observation skills and questions a few neighbors, but she knows she has to be careful. Deputy Rogers knows there will be serious consequences if anything happens to Hayley or the baby. The story takes another sharp twist when Tamara is taken from a place Hayley was sure would be safe. At that point, Hayley is on an even more urgent mission. I was so happy when all the clues fell into place and Hayley called the police to handle the takedown. She was nearby, but she stayed safe.

A Delicious Deception has a slightly different tone than some of the earlier books, with more emphasis on family, but I loved it just as much as the rest of the series. Ms. Burdette has created characters who have grown in such natural, believable ways. She delivers an excellent mystery while also weaving in a major, emotional turning point in their lives. There is drama, murder, secrets, late-pregnancy feelings and hormones, a sick father-in-law, home renovations, a fun baby shower, and friends and family ready to tackle whatever comes their way. And in the end, a beautiful baby!

I am looking forward to seeing how Hayley handles motherhood alongside her food critic job and the mysteries she always seems to get pulled into. I know it may be tricky, but I trust Lucy Burdette to make it work.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

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About Lucy Burdette

Clinical psychologist Lucy Burdette writes the USA Today best-selling Key West food critic mysteries, a cozy, culinary mystery series starring food critic Hayley Snow, including #16, A DELICIOUS DECEPTION. A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS, won the Florida Book Award’s gold medal for popular fiction. Both the 12th book in the series, A DISH TO DIE FOR, and the 10th, THE KEY LIME CRIME, won the bronze medal for popular fiction from the Florida Book Awards. Lucy’s first women’s fiction title, THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS, came out in July 2023.

As Roberta Isleib, she wrote the golf lover’s mystery series (SIX STROKES UNDER) and the advice column mysteries (DEADLY ADVICE.) Lucy loves using her psychology background in her stories. She also loves to cook and to eat and to talk and write and read about food. She blogs with the wonderful crime fiction writers at Jungle Red Writers, and shares recipes and stories with twelve other cozy mystery writers at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.

Lucy’s books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s a past president of both Sisters in Crime and the Friends of the Key West library.

Author Links
Website      Facebook     Instagram    BookBub

Purchase Links – The Mango Murders – Amazon – B&N – PenguinRandomHouse

Purchase Links – A Deadly Deception – Amazon – B&N – PenguinRandomHouse 
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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.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.