[.ca] The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders: A Eugenia ... (ISBN 0440216419)

Try the recipe!:
My mother enjoyed the book and actually made the chili recipe - it was delicious!

The 28th Ingredient is Missing:
I ordered this book before I knew that it was a Eugenia Potter mystery, based on the characters created by Virginia Rich. I always considered Rich's mysteries "lightweight." They are lacking in plot and suspense. Ms. Pickard religiously recreates these flaws. The phrase, "Where's the beef?" for this chili comes to mind. If you want to read a nice romance between Eugenia and a former college sweetheart, then this book is for you. If you want a challenging mystery, look somewhere else. The dead body was found way too late and I guessed who done it way too soon. With respect to the recipes, Diane Mott Davidson's series of Goldy of Goldilock's catering provides more and better ones, some of which I have tried and liked.

A mild case of indigestion:
After Virginia Rich died leaving this book unfinished, Nancy Pickard was asked to complete it. Pickard is a fine mystery writer herself (I've greatly enjoyed her Jenny Cain series), but this book neither shows off her gifts nor achieves the quality of Rich's other "recipe mysteries." Pickard valiantly tries (successfully, most of the time) to preserve the flavor of Rich's cast of standard characters, but the new characters seem sketchily drawn. And the plot is rather lame: plot was never Rich's strong point, so, by sticking religiously to the original outline, Pickard has done her more of a disservice than if she'd followed her own (better) instincts and improved it. The novel is worth reading if you're a Rich (or even a Pickard) fan, but, if you're unfamiliar with either author's work, this is not the book to start with.

A Spicy Mystery:
This book is an enjoyable mystery filled with twists, turns, and surprises. It is a wonderful mix of personalities, cultures, and family generations. The characters, who are truly characters, are believable and distinctive. The relationships that unfold throughout the story are ones the reader can understand and relate to. The use of cultural differences and the variety of ages demonstrate the value of each person and add strength to the book. The recipes included are a delicious bonus. The talents of both authors are easy to see and have produced a delightful book to be enjoyed by any mystery fan.

A Richly Rewarding Experience:
Reading Virginia Rich's mysteries always left me hungry, not simply for the food described within the pages, but for another adventure with Eugenia Andrews Potter, the main character of her novels. In quick succession, I read The Cooking School Murders, The Baked Bean Supper Murders, and The Nantucket Diet Murders. With Genia, I went to her childhood home in Iowa, to her cottage in Maine, and to Nantucket for a reunion with old friends. I wondered where we'd go next and what wrongdoings she would uncover. For years, I anxiously checked the R's in the mystery section of each bookstore I entered, looking for a new release by Rich. NOTHING! Then I learned that Virginia Rich had died. I mourned the loss of that fine writer, but I was consoled to learn that I wouldn't lose Mrs. Potter, too. Nancy Pickard, another of my favorite authors, was commissioned to write the long-awaited, fourth Eugenia Potter mystery. She was even given access to some of Rich's own material, thereby creating a rather unique collaboration. I bought the book, The 27-Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders, the day it was released. The locale of this mystery is Genia's "home on the range" in Arizona. Pickard's own experience as a rancher, as well as her superb writing skills, account for the realism inherent in the book. The plot is more than sufficiently entertaining, and there's even a romantic subplot this time around. Discussions of food abound, as in Rich's previous books, and recipes are again included on the inside covers of the book. The characterization is typical Rich, introducing me to still another circle of Genia's friends. More than anything, I wanted Pickard's word picture of Mrs. Potter to be consistent with Rich's powerful portrayal of this precursor of Jessica Fletcher. Pickard didn't fail me. Genia is back in all her glory, from her introspective nature and her love of food and cooking to her graciousness and the "ubiquitous yellow pads with which she organized her l! ife." It's a difficult task for an accomplished writer, accustomed to his or her own voice, to write in the style of another author. Pickard was more than equal to the challenge, and the product is a beautiful tribute to Rich. Many thanks, Nancy! I have only one problem: I'm hungry again for more of Eugenia Potter. Am I greedy to hope for still another adventure?