Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
Gingerdead Man is the seventh installment in the A Five-Ingredient Mystery series set in Bayport, Maryland and featuring caterer, Val Deniston. It's Christmas season in Bayport and the town is hosting a Dicken's themed festival with all of the town volunteers dressed as their favorite Dickens characters. After hosting several public tea parties, Val's last one of the day is for the festival committee and she's feeling apprehensive.
Val's grandfather has been ousted from his annual role as Santa Claus by newcomer Jake Smith. The man is anything but jovial and seems to be rubbing everyone the wrong way as he's swilling from a flask, suffering from a bad cold and making sarcastic comments to all that cross his path including his wife, Jewel. A costumed Ghost of Christmas Present arrives at the tea party and hands out gift bags filled with gingerbread men cookies. After shoving a cookie in his mouth, it's only minutes before Jake collapses to the ground - dead.
With so many people despising the dead man, there's no shortage of suspects. When another local man dies after eating a box of chocolates left on his doorstep, and her best friend Bethany also being poisoned by a separate box of chocolates, Val and her grandfather set out to catch a killer.
A well crafted plot features the return of series regulars and mouthwatering recipes. Val's relationship with her boyfriend, Bram continues to evolve and things between her grandfather and Bram's mother, Dorothy are also heating up. A wonderful addition to the series.
Val's grandfather has been ousted from his annual role as Santa Claus by newcomer Jake Smith. The man is anything but jovial and seems to be rubbing everyone the wrong way as he's swilling from a flask, suffering from a bad cold and making sarcastic comments to all that cross his path including his wife, Jewel. A costumed Ghost of Christmas Present arrives at the tea party and hands out gift bags filled with gingerbread men cookies. After shoving a cookie in his mouth, it's only minutes before Jake collapses to the ground - dead.
With so many people despising the dead man, there's no shortage of suspects. When another local man dies after eating a box of chocolates left on his doorstep, and her best friend Bethany also being poisoned by a separate box of chocolates, Val and her grandfather set out to catch a killer.
A well crafted plot features the return of series regulars and mouthwatering recipes. Val's relationship with her boyfriend, Bram continues to evolve and things between her grandfather and Bram's mother, Dorothy are also heating up. A wonderful addition to the series.
