Book 5, 2026

[chez_jae]

Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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Shortly after midnight, I finished reading my “spare” book, Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs. It’s the third in her “Cackleberry Club” series of cozy mysteries. The main character is widowed Suzanne Dietz, who owns and operates the Cackleberry Club diner with her friends, Toni and Petra.

The Cackleberry Club dips into the dating scene by hosting “read dating”, which tries to match couples up based on their reading preferences. Things are going well until Chuck Peebler, mayoral candidate, is killed as soon as he steps outside the diner, with Suzanne right beside him. She takes it personally, not just because Peebler was killed on her property, but because the murderer continued firing crossbow bolts long after Peebler was down. When the sheriff shifts his attention to the woman whom Peebler argued with at the event, Petra asks Suzanne to help prove her friend is innocent. Suzanne agrees to investigate, and she thinks she’s being subtle...right up until her own life is threatened. With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to unmask a killer.

Thoroughly enjoyable. I wish I’d read it in October. LOL! Characters are three-dimensional, the plot was well-paced, and Suzanne was depicted working and socializing—not just investigating. Her fledgling romance with Sam is progressing nicely, and I like the slow pace of their relationship. This may be my favorite book of the series so far.

Favorite lines:
♦ “Boy couldn’t find his butt crack at high noon in the hall of mirrors.”
♦ “You can give away a nameless dog, but never a dog with a cute name.”
♦ “The only date I have this Friday is with Brad Pitt. And he’s easy. I can pick him up any time at the video store.”
♦ “Welcome to my Halloween party, Harry Potter!”

Excellent book, five stars

Comments

[felaine]

I read that one and enjoyed it. Got my attention when the arrows began, and an exciting ending.
Love the lines about Brad Pitt and Harry Potter weekend dates.

[chez_jae]

If there's one thing I'm not liking about this series, it's that the killer comes out of left field at the end of each book (so far). I mean, give us a chance to figure it out!