Book 123, 2023

[chez_jae]

A Spoonful of Murder by Connie Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I only had a few chapters left in my 'work' book, and I didn't want to leave it languishing for four days; therefore, I brought it home and finished it mid-morning today. It was A Spoonful of Murder by Connie Archer, and it's the first in her "Soup Lovers" mystery series. The main character is Lucky Jamieson.

After Lucky's parents die in an accident, she inherits their house and soup shop in Snowflake, VT. Not sure what she plans to do yet, Lucky spends her time cleaning out the house and helping her grandfather, Jack, at By the Spoonful. When she realizes that Jack may be having cognitive issues, Lucky realizes how much the shop means to him, and she decides to keep it open. Her plans go awry, however, when a tourist is found in the alley behind the shop, the victim of murder. Local police arrest Lucky's chef, Sage, for the crime. Lucky is sure Sage didn't do it, and with business dwindling, she sets out to do some investigating of her own. The questions she begins asking around town endanger her relationships and even her life, but she is determined to get to the bottom of the crime before her business goes bottoms up.

A good story, as cozies go. I thought Lucky took some foolish risks and was too abrasive in her questioning, but she did get results. I enjoyed her relationship with Jack and her budding relationship with Elias, one of the doctors at the local clinic. The soups and sandwiches on tap sounded amazing! Characters were portrayed well, and the plot progressed smoothly. I hate to say it, but if ever someone deserved to be murdered, it was the victim. She seemed to enjoy ruining people's lives out of sheer spite and malice. I also feel compelled to question how the soup shop's business tanked after the murder. For one thing, the woman wasn't killed in the shop; she was found in the alley. For another, tourists wouldn't know what happened. Finally, locals would show up for gossip and the lookey-loo factor.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Never drag the past into your future."
♦ "She asked for you too." // "I hope you told her I died three weeks ago!"

Enjoyable for the most part, four stars.


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? Yes, a soup shop (which totally counts)
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? No, she doesn't.
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) No--hallelujah!
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? No, she does not have a pet.
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? No
6. Did the mc find the body? No--another hallelujah!
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? No--wow, this is getting better and better!
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, mother is dead
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? Yes, the mayor (Elizabeth) seems to fill that role.
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes