Book Review: Condolence Casseroles by J. Lee Mitchell

“Why do you always assume that I’m going to do something foolish and that you have to protect me from myself?”

J. Lee Mitchell, Condolence Casseroles

Review:

I started this installment immediately following the previous book. I just had to know what was going on with Alain!

This book has a much different vibe than the first two in the series. The setup is a bit different and there are other things going on. Though the murders are always intriguing, the highlight for me, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Alain’s existence. He added a new layer to Q’Bita’s ongoing story. 

Once again, this book ends on something of a cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to the series picking up again. After pretty much reading the three books currently published in this series back to back, I’m feeling a bit sentimental. I’m going to miss the antics, humor, mystery, and food Red Herring Inn has to offer!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Alain’s plot and the build-up to it. Most of the time, cliffhangers tick me off, but knowing I already owned the third book I was ready for it.
• The Bigfoot Hunt. Call me a geek, but I love those kinds of things.
• Q’Bita and Andy’s relationship.

What I didn’t like:

• Though played for laughs and deserving as it might be, Q’Bita’s physical aggression toward Alain felt too applauded.
• I would have liked this book to be at least 50 pages longer. There was a lot more going on in this book than in the other two and so it was chaotic.

Afterthoughts:

Yet again, J. Lee Mitchell gifts us with more recipes at the end of the book. I admit to skipping ahead this time to see if they were there.

I’m very grateful to have been able to meet the author and buy the series from her in person because if I didn’t know that two more books were on the way, I’d be frustrated with the cliffhanger and being two years past the year of publication. I must know what happens next! (But I get it. It’s been a weird time across the board.)

Sinister Cinammon Buns (Book 1) review
Moonshine and Malice (Book 2) review

Where to buy the book: