Chili Con Corpses
J.B. Stanley
Reviewed by Barb Radmore
Chili Con Corpses is the third entry into J.B. Stanley's The Supper
Club
series. It is also the strongest one yet. It has the same familiar
characters but they have grown in personality and depth (but not
girth.)
In the last books James has had a growing romance with his fellow diet
club member Lucy. In this book Lucy takes a background role as James
and she are no longer the hot item. Speaking of hot items, the Flab
Five have joined a Fix and Freeze class that specializes in Mexican and
Spanish cooking. Also part of the class are the local reporter, Murphy,
and her friends from college, two gorgeous, blonde twins. The twins,
Parker and Kinsley, are new in town but they settle in quickly by
joining the cooking class and getting jobs, Parker as a vet and Kinsley
as a substitute teacher. But Lindy is not pleased to have the
competition at school for the eye of Principal Chavez, a fact she
announces loudly at the cooking class "-that if she goes anywhere near
Luis Chavez, I will kill
her!" So, of course, Kinsley is murdered on a field trip
organized but none other than Lindy. James and friends must solve
the crime before it can be pinned on Lindy. It is a well developed cozy
mystery. Stanley is able to bring in a cast of characters from the
twins past who each may have reason to kill her.
But it is the secondary plot lines that add the spice to this book.
James' new budding romance is a deftly handled addition, also a
surprising, welcomed one. It is unusual for such a plot line (his
relationship with Lucy) to change so early in a series. It was a nice
surprise. James' relationship with his father and his father as a
character unto himself have developed as well. It is a treat to the
reader to watch his father become a story line himself as he becomes
less of a loner and his artwork expands. And there is, as usual, a
story taking place in James' library so that we can hear about his twin
assistants. This time it is a winning lottery ticket that is found in
the book return slot. The resolution to this is a sweet, Thanksgiving
moment.
James has discovered he has high blood pressure so each chapter is
named after a food mentioned in the chapter and lists the sodium for
that dish. As always the book also includes recipes. This time they are
the ones taught in the Fix and Freeze class so are of Mexican or
Spanish origin.
Chili Con Corpses can be read as a stand alone mystery. But readers
will
not get the full impact of J.B. Stanley's growth as a writer or the fun
of watching the characters develop if they do not read the first two.
It will be interesting to see what Stanly has in mind next for the Flab
Five. She has left a lot of plot suggestions she could follow in the
lives of the characters- at least three or four beginning romances to
follow and there is sure to be more crime in the future. Stanley is
proving she is capable of becoming a major player in the world of cozy
mysteries with this one.