The remarkable thing about Killer Mousse is that
it is Melinda
Wells' debut cozy. It is has much more depth in both writing and plot
line that
one would expect from a new author. It will be winner for readers who
like a
well written book with a deftly plotted mystery.
Cooking school owner, Della Carmichael, has been hired to star in a
television
cooking show. She is understandably nervous for her fist shoot,
especially
since they are going on the air live. She is afraid it is the beginning
and end
to her career when a taste of her mousse kills an audience member. The
audience
member is actually Mimi Bond who used to be the star of her own cooking
show,
before they hired Della to take her place. Mimi
had first threatened her before the show but the police believe
Della may be the one who made the final move. Della and her Killer
Mousse are
the prime suspects until they can prove otherwise.
Della, the widow of a policeman, has the utmost
respect for
the local police but events keep thrusting her back into the
investigation. Her
friend on the force, John and the reporter who will not stay away, the
handsome
Nicholas D’Martino, are the insider characters who allow her to see the
case
unfold. The mystery is tight enough to keep the attention of the reader
until the end. The suspects are numerous, the possible scenarios are
well laid out with the necessary red herrings abounding. The main
character is nicely developed as a mature woman, one who is comfortable
with her self, her past and her hopes for her future. The secondary
characters all fill needed and well thought out roles.
We can only hope that her next entry into the "Della Cooks Mystery"
series, Death Takes the Cake is as strong a cozy as this one. Even if
one feels burned out on the culinary mystery market (there are so many
series now) this is not one to miss. It is a fear that Wells' writing
ability will not get the appreciation it deserves on the crowded
culinary mystery shelves. Her future as a writer is a bright one
for Wells.