krystlekouture's review against another edition
2.0
Good story but full of typos especially in the first 1/2.
cozyreads1988's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
veronica87's review against another edition
2.0
Eh, not too sure about this one. It was the usual fluffy cozy mystery but I can't decide if I like the female lead or not. She also didn't really solve the murder mystery. It doesn't count if the murderer waltzes in and announces themselves. I may or may not read more in this series.
kaywait's review
3.0
Let me preface by saying this is a cozy mystery novel. That being said, the 3.5/5 stars is not a slight against this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It made me chuckle to myself and kept me on the edge of my seat just waiting to figure out who in the world would be so angry as to murder some one at a chili-cook off. Kylie Logan did an excellent job at mixing the mystery with the hilarity of Maxie Pierce's personality. My one complaint is that the culprit was figured out and caught within a 2 page window and the wrap-up afterwards left me wanting more.
It's about a murder that takes place at a chili-cook off (duh) and ends up getting pinned on Maxie's half-sister, Sylvia. Maxie just KNOWS that her snobbish, stuck-up, money-hungry sister couldn't possibly have done this and takes it upon herself to find evidence that proves her half-sister is innocent. Maxie 'interviews' multiple people within the chili circuit that she grew up in and gets herself into some trouble that Nick (the hunky security guard both sisters are in love with) helps her out of. While she's focused on helping Sylvia, there's a greater mystery that's fallen to the way side - where did their father Jack Peirce of Texas Jack Peirce's Chili Palace go? He disappeared a couple stops ago and no one will tell them anything.
It's an engaging story with interesting characters. Some of them you can't help but become fond of and others will have you grimacing at their arrogance. You want a light, delightful mystery that comes with a chili recipe at the end? This is TOTALLY the book for you.
P.S. The chili recipe was delicious. Y'all gotta make it.
It's about a murder that takes place at a chili-cook off (duh) and ends up getting pinned on Maxie's half-sister, Sylvia. Maxie just KNOWS that her snobbish, stuck-up, money-hungry sister couldn't possibly have done this and takes it upon herself to find evidence that proves her half-sister is innocent. Maxie 'interviews' multiple people within the chili circuit that she grew up in and gets herself into some trouble that Nick (the hunky security guard both sisters are in love with) helps her out of. While she's focused on helping Sylvia, there's a greater mystery that's fallen to the way side - where did their father Jack Peirce of Texas Jack Peirce's Chili Palace go? He disappeared a couple stops ago and no one will tell them anything.
It's an engaging story with interesting characters. Some of them you can't help but become fond of and others will have you grimacing at their arrogance. You want a light, delightful mystery that comes with a chili recipe at the end? This is TOTALLY the book for you.
P.S. The chili recipe was delicious. Y'all gotta make it.
murderbydeath's review
3.0
Even though I love Kylie Logan and this book is excellently written, I'm only going 2.5 stars. I struggled to really like the MC and I HATED her sister.
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/702760/chiliconcarnage
Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/702760/chiliconcarnage
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