Description:

From Publishers Weekly

The pseudonymous Cavender (Tim Myers) offers few surprises in his talky second mystery starring Timber Ridge, N.C., pizzeria owner Eleanor Swift (after 2009's A Slice of Murder). When someone bashes in the head of Wade Hatcher, the brother of Eleanor's best delivery guy, Greg Hatcher, with Eleanor's maple rolling pin in her pizzeria kitchen, it appears at first that Greg killed Wade, who was contesting their grandparents' will. Eleanor and her sister, Maddy, join forces to investigate after the local police chief, Kevin Hurley, who always knows how to ruffle Eleanor's feathers, doesn't do much. As the sisters pursue some sticky but somewhat predictable clues, their suspect list grows. Could the killer have been Greg's estranged girlfriend, Katy Johnson; ill-tempered Sandi Meadows, who was dating Wade; or Roger Henderson, Wade's boss, who claims Wade was stealing from his customers? Some readers might wish that Cavender had added a little more spice to his comfortable recipe of food, mystery, and smalltown vibes.
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From

Widow Eleanor Swift, owner of A Slice of Delight pizzeria, turns investigator after Wade Hatcher is found murdered in her pizzeria, killed with her rolling pin. Wade’s brother, Gregg, the pizzeria’s deliveryman, is the chief suspect, due to wrangling over their grandparents’ estate—with Wade demanding more than his fair share and Gregg refusing to capitulate. When Gregg goes on the run, Detective Kevin Hurley is sure he has found his killer; but Eleanor and her sister, Maddy, don’t believe their deliveryman is guilty and look into other possible suspects, including Wade’s boss and girlfriend. Details of running a pizzeria, including recipes for pizza sauce and dough, frame the entertainingly light story. The small-town setting, the small-business focus, and the relationship between sisters Maddy and Eleanor are all reminiscent of Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries. --Sue OBrien