Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 5/12/2018 + 457 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Expiration Date is the debut of the A Cook-Off Mystery series set in the small town of Augustin, Connecticut and featuring Sherry Frazelle, a recently divorced competitive cook. Sherry lives in her small house, still cluttered with her ex-husband's belongings, accompanied by her small Jack Russell terrier, Chutney and works part time at her father's hooked rug store, Oliveri's Ruggery.

Sherry is looking forward to competing against contestants from all over the country in the OrgaNick's cook off and winning the ten thousand dollar prize. Her sister, Marla, who lives in Oklahoma has flown in and is also competing in the contest sponsored by Nick Andime's company. As the competition winds down and the judging is about to commence, Chef Tony Birns, a lead judge lands face down in a Seafood Flat Bread Pizza.

Detectives Ray Bease and Cody Diamond appear on Sherry's doorstep with the news that the Chef had died from an adverse reaction to something that he ate, and they suspect the ingredient was something in the Chutney Glazed and Farro Stuffed Pork Tenderloin that Sherry had prepared. Knowing that there was nothing poisonous in her meal that could have led to death, Sherry sets out with the help of fellow contestant Amber Sherman to track down a killer.

The premise of the story was good, but there was nothing really likable about any of the characters. Sherry is a little too angst ridden and she obsesses constantly about the proper pronunciation of her last name. There is no real relationship between Sherry and her family members, they seem to be written in only as fillers. The puns and plays on character names are a bit tedious and distract from the main mystery. With so many secondary characters it is often difficult to keep them straight.

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