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mborer23's review
3.0
A fun, fast-paced story set in the unlikely environment of a traveling chili cook-off. I love the Prime Crime mysteries and this one was enjoyable, even though I'm not 100% sold on the recipe at the end!
kjavery37's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
hugbandit7's review
4.0
good start to a new series. good mix of characters. it isn't obvious who the killer is but I had my suspicions!
git_r_read's review
4.0
A nifty premise for a cozy series. A world I didn't know about, of folks who follow the chili cook-off circuit, set up camp and sell chili-related wares. The main character, Maxie Pierce, sells chili-related herbs and spices with her half-sister and their father, though he's part of the mystery....he's disappeared.
Half-sister Sylvia is accused of murdering and ex of Maxie, so Maxie to the rescue even though she is vociferous in her mild dislike of her half-sister.
I wasn't as fond of this book and characters as I am of Kylie's other two series, Button Box Mystery and League of Literary Ladies Mystery...or Kylie's other id, Casey Daniels. I adore the Pepper Martin Mystery series.
That's not to say I will avoid reading the next of Maxie and Sylvia's adventures. Nope, I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. Will their dad make an appearance? He seems larger than life and I want to meet him...I want to see whose image the two girls are trying to live up to.
Half-sister Sylvia is accused of murdering and ex of Maxie, so Maxie to the rescue even though she is vociferous in her mild dislike of her half-sister.
I wasn't as fond of this book and characters as I am of Kylie's other two series, Button Box Mystery and League of Literary Ladies Mystery...or Kylie's other id, Casey Daniels. I adore the Pepper Martin Mystery series.
That's not to say I will avoid reading the next of Maxie and Sylvia's adventures. Nope, I am looking forward to seeing what happens next. Will their dad make an appearance? He seems larger than life and I want to meet him...I want to see whose image the two girls are trying to live up to.
cozyreads1988's review
DNF at 45% didn’t get a “chili cook-off” like I was hoping or even any chili cooking. Not a fan of the writing style, not very cozy and unlikable characters
cdubiel's review
5.0
I started reading this book because I was stuck at my parents' house without my Kindle. My mom has a stash of cozies, and Kylie Logan is one of my favorites, so I decided to indulge. I have to admit, I was three glasses of wine in by the time I got to the middle, so I had to re-read several parts to figure out what was really going on. This book's main strength is that it's a touch adventurous for a cozy, with some delicious innuendo and a few spicy twists. I did think a traveling chili cook-off was a weird location; I remember Kylie talking about the contract years ago (we are in a mystery group together) and thinking it was weird then too, but she does a great job making it seem real. One day I will get caught up on her whole backlist!
angrygreycatreads's review
2.0
Chili con Carnage is the first in the A Chili Cook-off Mystery by Kylie Logan. I have liked other series by this author, in particular her Button series. The mystery here is good and well done with elements from the past coming out to implicate someone in a present crime. There is also an overarching mystery to be continued in future books, the protagonist’s father is missing. I just had an issue with not liking the protagonist at all. Immature, lazy, and selfish are just words off the top of my head to describe her. “Who died and left you boss?” actually comes out of her mouth as an adult woman speaking to her adult sister, multiple times in a non-ironic way.
dollycas's review
5.0
Maxie Pierce and her half-sister Sylvia are back on the Chili Cook Off circuit. Their daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for weeks. He has a bit of a reputation for chasing the ladies but to go off and leave The Palace in the hands of others is something her just wouldn’t do. People come from far and wide to buy his unique chili seasonings. Maxie was ready to leave Chicago but working side by side with Sylvia in the small quarters of the Palace and living together in an RV wad not what she really had in mind. She needs to find Jack and get the heck back to her own life as soon as possible.
Then a dead body literally falls on top of her and her half sister is the prime suspect. She is also being watched because the dead guy happens to be a guy she had drinks with the night before and things didn’t end well. In fact they had a very public argument just a few hours before he died. She needs to turn up the heat and find the real killer before things get too hot and spicy to handle.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
First thing first, our family chili recipe includes beans and no hot peppers :) or pickles??
Now about this delightfully hot and spicy mystery, I loved it!
Maxine is a fabulous character and Sylvia is truly something else. She is a woman with an ulterior motive who needs to be put in her place and Maxie is just the person to put here there. Maxie’s heart is in the right place but right now her life is a bit of a mess. Going forward this family dynamic could get to be quite volatile and I can’t wait. As they travel the circuit and hopefully a certain handsome security guard tags along you never know what could happen next. Family conflict will be almost as hot as the chili.
There is quite a group of people that travel the circuit and we met a few in this installment. I am sure we will get to know them better and meet others as the series continues.
In addition to introducing us to these fantastic characters Kylie Logan has plotted quite an interesting mystery with plenty of viable suspects. So many had means, motive and opportunity. This reader was surprised.
Kylie you are off to a great start with this one! I am looking forward to the next stop on the Chili Cook Off Showdown tour. I know it will be another tasty treat!
Then a dead body literally falls on top of her and her half sister is the prime suspect. She is also being watched because the dead guy happens to be a guy she had drinks with the night before and things didn’t end well. In fact they had a very public argument just a few hours before he died. She needs to turn up the heat and find the real killer before things get too hot and spicy to handle.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
First thing first, our family chili recipe includes beans and no hot peppers :) or pickles??
Now about this delightfully hot and spicy mystery, I loved it!
Maxine is a fabulous character and Sylvia is truly something else. She is a woman with an ulterior motive who needs to be put in her place and Maxie is just the person to put here there. Maxie’s heart is in the right place but right now her life is a bit of a mess. Going forward this family dynamic could get to be quite volatile and I can’t wait. As they travel the circuit and hopefully a certain handsome security guard tags along you never know what could happen next. Family conflict will be almost as hot as the chili.
There is quite a group of people that travel the circuit and we met a few in this installment. I am sure we will get to know them better and meet others as the series continues.
In addition to introducing us to these fantastic characters Kylie Logan has plotted quite an interesting mystery with plenty of viable suspects. So many had means, motive and opportunity. This reader was surprised.
Kylie you are off to a great start with this one! I am looking forward to the next stop on the Chili Cook Off Showdown tour. I know it will be another tasty treat!
moondance120's review
2.0
"Who died and left you boss?"
This is the first book in the Chili Cook-Off series. Maxie and her half sister, Sylvia, have teamed up to run their dad's spice stand. Jack has been missing for six weeks and the girls are determined to keep the Palace running. Maxie goes on a date with one of the roadies and later has a public argument with him. Later in the day she discovers his body when it falls from a celebrity judge's RV.
Doesn't that sound confusing? This had the potential to be a good start to the series. However, I never connected with the characters. I was very tired of the relationship between the sisters. We never find out why their dad is missing. Roberto/Robert, the dead guy, has little to no redeeming qualities. The pacing was slow, the characters were easy to forget and almost romance was blah.
I don't think that I will continue with this series.
This is the first book in the Chili Cook-Off series. Maxie and her half sister, Sylvia, have teamed up to run their dad's spice stand. Jack has been missing for six weeks and the girls are determined to keep the Palace running. Maxie goes on a date with one of the roadies and later has a public argument with him. Later in the day she discovers his body when it falls from a celebrity judge's RV.
Doesn't that sound confusing? This had the potential to be a good start to the series. However, I never connected with the characters. I was very tired of the relationship between the sisters. We never find out why their dad is missing. Roberto/Robert, the dead guy, has little to no redeeming qualities. The pacing was slow, the characters were easy to forget and almost romance was blah.
I don't think that I will continue with this series.