Dying for a Taste is a terrific start to a new culinary series, and makes you want to keep on reading – or listening. Sally Solari grew up working in her family’s old-style Italian eatery in Santa Cruz, California but left home to become an attorney. After her mom dies from cancer, Sally comes home to help her dad in the restaurant. However, even if she might have been getting a little burnt out as an attorney, working the front of the house for her demanding dad isn’t fulfilling her dreams either. Problem is, she’s not sure just what those dreams are and will feel guilty leaving her father.

The story introduces a lot of interesting, well-developed characters and circumstances that put Sally in danger and make her consider her life choices sooner than she may have left at her own pace. I enjoyed the mystery with secret after secret being revealed, Sally’s still-close relationship with ex-fiancé Eric, her Nona and life in an Italian family, and a glimpse into the restaurant business complete with present-day issues regarding sustainable farming. The fact that the scene is Santa Cruz is a bonus – close to home for me and the vivid descriptions took me right there.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dying for a Taste and recommend it without hesitation. I listened to an audiobook and the narration was as wonderful as the content. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ( )

There is a lot about her Aunt Letta that Sally Solari doesn't know, in fact they weren't even really all that close, and it comes a great surprise to her when she inherits her aunt's restaurant. Aunt Letta's murder was quite vicious, but surely no-one hated her that much? And then Sally finds evidence that Letta had been being threatened. She is galvanised into action when, in the absence of any other suspects, the police arrest the head cook of her new restaurant.

Towards the end I felt that there were actually too many suspects and that blurred the plot lines a bit. Ultimately though quite a satisfying read, with a few recipes in the final pages to stimulate your culinary juices. ( )

http://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/2016/04/dying-for-taste-sally-solari-mystery.ht... ( )