Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking

By: Linda Griffin

Narrated by: Catherine Hein Carter

Software engineer Reid Lucas loves to cook and has a history of falling in love with married women. When he leaves his complicated past in Chicago for a job in California, he runs into trouble and must call a virtual stranger to bail him out of jail. Alyssa Knight, a tough street cop waiting for a church annulment from her passive-aggressive husband, is the roommate of the woman Reid calls for help, and she reluctantly provides bail for Reid. He falls for her immediately, and cooking for her is an act of love. She just wants to be friends, but they keep ending up in bed together. When his boss is murdered, Reid is a suspect. Or is he the intended target?

©2021 The Wild Rose Press (P)2024 Linda Griffin

A Delicious Romantic Murder Mystery

In Love, Death & The Art of Cooking, Linda Griffin introduces listeners to Alyssa Knight, a resilient street cop whose life takes an unexpected turn when she gets a late-night call about her missing roommate, Jane. This unforeseen situation leads her to Reid Lucas, a newcomer to California who finds himself behind bars. Reluctantly, Alyssa bails him out, setting off an appealing chain of events.

The chemistry is palpable from the moment Reid steps into Alyssa’s life. He’s smitten and wants to express his feelings through his love for cooking, a gesture that Alyssa views as merely platonic. Still reeling from her turbulent marriage, she's not ready to dive into a new relationship, which adds an intriguing layer of tension to the story. The plot thickens when Reid's new boss is murdered, and suddenly, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a police investigation. Despite having an alibi, he becomes a prime suspect. As the stakes rise, Alyssa’s protective instincts kick in, and readers are left rooting for both characters’ safety and potential romance.

Jane, Alyssa, and Reid's masterful, relatable character development adds to the delightful blend of humor, suspense, and culinary charm. Their wit and charm are reflected in the snappy dialogue. Reid’s cooking extravaganzas serve as a tasty backdrop and offer mouthwatering inspiration for listeners to experiment with new recipes.

Catherine Hein Carter delivers a tell-timed, flawless narration with perfect speed and intonation. The voices of each character emphasize their subtle personalities and genuine caring. Ms. Carter’s voice-acting skills align perfectly with this romantic suspense and mystery that is nearly impossible not to finish in a single session.

This story is a sweet exploration of love, trust, and the complexities of building new relationships in new locations. Love, Death & The Art of Cooking envelops listeners into the dynamic chemistry between Alyssa and Reid that is both hilarious and heartwarming in this fun and engaging novella, leaving fans eager for more.

5+ stars for this romantic suspense!

Story Impressions –

Two perfect strangers, a suspicious murder, and the sublime power of cooking… can one man’s gift for culinary creations convince Alyssa to drop her guard and let love in? The first time Alyssa meets Reid, she’s bailing him out of jail. Years on the police force raise her hackles about how nice he’s being, cooking and all. She knows he’s up to no good and makes rash judgments, even as he’s creating mouth-watering food. When Reid’s boss shows up dead, she’s even more convinced. But the more time they spend together, her walls and convictions begin to crumble. Is he a serial killer type who has an angelic face or is he telling the truth? While she sorts out her own heart, she investigates what could be a frame-up. One thing is certain: his food is straight from heaven as is his love for her. Love, Death, and the Art of Cooking is a brilliant romantic suspense I couldn’t put down. It has all the elements I enjoy in an unputdownable story: independent heroine, suspenseful plot with a few red herrings, unexpected romance, great amounts of food, witty dialogue, murder, and a happily for now ending.

Narrator’s overall voice – Catherine narrates this romantic suspense to perfection. Her voice is engaging yet doesn’t detract from the overall story.

Does the narrator fit the characters? Yes, Catherine uses her voice like an instrument, differing it to fit the characters.

Narrator’s reading style –There’s an effortlessness to Catherine’s style which makes listening to this audiobook a breeze.

Narrator’s impact on reading experience – Catherine makes the characters come alive. Readers can enjoy listening to her and ponder this delightful romantic suspense.

Narrator’s pacing –The pacing is even and doesn’t detract the reader’s attention.

Audiobook flow –The audiobook flows well. I found myself listening late into the night.

What makes this audiobook unique –What I found so unique about this audiobook was the way Catherine conveys emotion and tension. I actually liked listening to the audiobook more so than reading the book. A lot of that has to do with the way Catherine narrates.

Would I recommend this audiobook –Yes, I would recommend it to any listener. You’ll be entertained for hours.