I had high expectations for A Catered Costume Party.  The introductory chapter where Darius murders his wife has just the right dash of humor.  After reading it, I was eager to discover what comes next.  

On the whole A Catered Costume Party is a fun fresh mystery.  Many of the passages are cleverly written and the dialogue is excellent.  I was disappointed, however,  by the lack of individual characterization.  Each of the characters were referred to by name, but there was little to distinguish one from another.  Even Libby and Bernie could only be told apart by their different choices in footwear- and they were the main characters. A bit more effort was spent on the suspects, but still far too little.  I think that Isis Crawford has a lot of potential as a mystery author.  The book would be great if she spent more time breathing life into her characters, making them unique, memorable individuals.  That weakness in characterization leads me to give a 3 rather than a 4, but I am definitely willing to give one of her future novels a try.

3 / 5

I received a copy of A Catered Costume Party from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

Loved reading the back and forth between sisters Bernie and Libby as they try to solve the murder of their client Darius who is not, btw, a good guy! I hadn't read this series before so thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You'll like this if you like cozies with intrepid women who find themselves seeking the truth. These two do it with the assistance of their father, a retired police officer, so at least they've got some professional assistance (which is not appreciated by the current police chief.). Halloween isn't the focus of this nicely plotted mystery, it's only the background, but the recipes are on point. Try this one for a light read that's got enough twists to keep you guessing!

I have read every book in this series and they just keep getting better and better! Bernie and Libby are starting to feel the pinch from local competition so they are trying to get as many catering jobs as they can. They are set to cater a Halloween event in their hometown. As they set up , the host of the party is nowhere to be found. AS the party starts to get in full swing, the host is found dangling outside. Libby, Bernie, and the rest of the gang can't help but investigate to get to the bottom of the mystery.
This book has a strong plot and is simply just a really good mystery. The characters are always funny, the relationships between characters as endearing and complex as always. This series is always a good time, this latest installment is no exception.

This is the thirteenth book in the mystery with recipe series. Sisters Bernie and Libby, are catering a Halloween costume party for Darius Witherspoon. When his wife, Penelope, mysteriously disappears the sisters expect him to cancel the party, but he insists it go on as planned. During the party Darius appears to have hung himself in an apparent suicide. Bernie and Libby think he was murdered after reading the note he left them with a large sum money and for them to find out what happened to him.
I liked how the author started the book with us knowing part of the murder plot. That is something different than her previous books that I really enjoyed. I love the closeness the sisters have with each other and also with their farther. While I could have done without the fathers girlfriend, she was an okay character and I am curious as to how she will fit in the next book. The mystery was ok. I liked the different twists that kept me guessing. I also love the Halloween theme.
I received an ARC from net galley for review.

A Catered Costume Party by Isis Crawford is a Halloween themed cozy mystery. Sisters Bernie and Libby are catering a Halloween costume party for Darius Witherspoon. Even though his wife recently disappeared, he carries on with the party. Unfortunately Darius' grand entrance to the party is at the end of a rope. Bernie and Libby get pulled into the mystery of Darius' death and his wife's disappearance. I like how Bernie and Libby play off each other. Although they are sisters, they have very personalities, and it works great. I had not read any of the previous books from this series, but I was not lost at all. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Crawford!

Sisters Bernie and Libby Simmons run a bakery/catering shop that used to be their mother's. Both girls also take after their dad, a retired police detective, in the way they think. It seems the girls have run afoul of the new police chief by consistently solving the crimes they run across before he does...even so far as solving this crime...one he has pegged as a suicide.
Darius Witherspoon hires the pair to cater his Halloween party ….and then gives them an envelope to be opened in case of his death.
When he does die..in a horrific fashion at the party, the ladies open the envelope and find $5000 and a request to find the killer.
Since they have the money the girls decide to try to fit investigating the death into their schedule. It's not easy with trying to run the business, dad's new girlfriend trying to steal their customers and the police chief's interference.
And ..Oh...Did I mention it's on the property of the old Peabody School..the one they catered a Halloween party at last year and a head came rolling down the steps.
This is a fun funky addition to the 'Catered' series, complete with a few recipes.
I requested and received an ARC copy from NetGalley as soon as I saw this was available. This tale will draw you in, make you laugh and alternately give you the willies. The characters are vivid enough for you to clearly see them.

do love a good cosy mystery that is centered on food, this one was rather disappointing.

The sisters spend most of the book bickering about everything and it just did not come off as believable. In the beginning they are worried about business but instead of getting down to business, they don't seem to care that much about it. 

A few really good desserts were mentioned in the book, but the recipes had nothing to do with any of those dishes.

For me this was a no.

Netgalley/Kensington      August 29th Release

This is the 13th installment of the Mystery With Recipes series, but the first one that I have read. All in all, I found the story quite enjoyable. While the sisters can be annoying at times, the author aptly shows the relationship between the sisters. Of course they are annoying - sisters that live and work together are bound to get on each other's nerves and push each other's buttons. I actually rather liked the back and forth. I also liked Sean, although I would have liked him to have a bigger role in the book - and his obnoxious fiancee to just disappear from the book. Like I said, this is my first read in the series, but good lord, she needs to go!

The best part of the book though were the crows. The symbolism of crows: the fact that a flock is called a murder and the belief that they are the harbingers of death really added to the story. And the fact that they played an actual role in the story is great. Overall, I liked it very much.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33376070-a-catered-costume-party

This is the second book in as many days that I went into thinking it was going to center around Halloween and again the holiday barely rates a mention. Be that as it may, I ended up enjoying this one a lot. I am usually very good at Sherlocking who the baddie is in these cozy mysteries, but this one led me on a merry chase. The writing was great. The plot was interesting. I haven't read any of the previous books and never felt lost (although I was curious to exactly how old Bernie and Libby are supposed to be).

The book wasn't heavy on secondary characters but the few that are around added an extra layer to the story. Both Libby and Bernie were likable (if a little annoying at times). They argued a bit like a couple of old biddies which led me to believe they were older (maybe in their fifties). But both had boyfriends that seemed younger, so who knows. All in all, though it was an excellent way to spend a few hours. Two thumbs up from your truly.

A Catered Costume Party: A Mystery with Recipes
By Isis Crawford
Kensington
September 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

Despite the disappearance of his wife just three weeks ago, Darius Witherspoon has no intention of cancelling plans for his catered Halloween costume party. As seen in the first chapter, Darius’s refusal to cancel the celebration isn’t exactly a stoic honoring of Penelope Witherspoon’s favorite holiday, as he was the one who swung a pipe at her head and pushed her body into the river. That makes Darius’s dramatic hanging at his own party an improbable suicide, especially when he leaves money and a note asking the Simmons sisters to investigate what happened.

Bernie and Libby Simmons had initially only been hired as caterers for the costume party, but their track record at getting involved in multiple murders (including one the previous Halloween) makes another investigation probable. Vehemently disagreeing with this concept is Chief of Police Lucas “Lucy” Broadbent, who has his own reasons for wanting the case shut down and declared a suicide. The sisters’ father Sean Simmons, the former police chief, prefers to believe that the simplest solution is the most probable one, although he may be distracted by his new girlfriend, Michelle. She may not be able to cook, and her new business makes her a rival and the nemesis of Libby and Bernie, but Michelle’s appeal to men is otherwise undeniable. It’s probably healthiest for Libby and Bernie to focus their enmity on Lucy and the uninvestigated murder, but that becomes sketchy when they find another body, bribe their way into a Manhattan apartment, and end up locked out on the roof of the very building where Darius met his demise.

The relationship between Bernie and Libby is the foundation of this mystery series, which in this 13th entry continues to be an entertaining delight. They still know exactly which buttons to push to get the other riled, but they’ve also reached a level of maturity where they at least hesitate before pressing it. Perhaps having a common enemy helps to unite their ire, Sean and Michelle’s romance may be showing cracks but no real sign of slowing down. The sisters’ boyfriends make brief cameos, placing the focus on the women’s highly energetic investigative pursuits as they spur the other on. Humorous dialogue and a plot that zigs when the reader thinks it will zag ensures for a read full of banter and quirky commentaries on society.

This is book 13 in the Mystery with Recipes series. It is very easy to read this story if you haven't read the previous books. Sisters Libby and Bernie are running their mother's bakery and accept a job to cater a Halloween party at what they consider a haunted building . When the host is found dead they start to investigate because the police are willing to push suicide to make the case go away. It's hard to have sympathy for the victim as he wasn't a good guy but when the wife turns up dead they push into full gear. A good cozy, getting a little repetitive for the sisters. The recipes are all easy to make and sound yummy.

Title: A Catered Costume Party
Series: A Bernie and Libby Culinary Mystery - Book 15
Author: Isis Crawford
Genre: Culinary Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington

Bernie and Libby Simmons agree to cater a Halloween party in Longely, New York. They didn’t like a ghost being part of the experience, but it's not like they have a choice. Darius Witherspoon is determined to throw his party even though his wife, Penelope is missing. He never counted on his murder being the entertainment for the evening.

The Berkshire Arms is a haunted house at least as far as Bernie and Libby are concerned. Darius hires them to provide the treats. They wish they could say no, but bills need to be paid, so they accept the job. As soon as the guest start arriving the girls sense something is off with Darius. A short while later, Darius is found hanging from a rope outside one of the ballroom’s French doors.

Was it suicide? Bernie and Libby don’t think so. Once everything has been cleared away, and the decorations are taken down, the sisters begin their investigation and set out to expose a killer.

--
A Catered Costume Party is the 15th book in this series. Even without reading any additional books in the series, it is fairly simple to follow the plot. The main characters created by Ms. Crawford are strong in personality and intellect.

Bernie and Libby are typical sisters, they torment each other, find fault with one another but care deeply for each other. They have distinctive personalities that are very dissimilar from each other. Where Bernie is bold and eager to take risks, Libby is quieter, less prone to do anything rash without her sisters goading.

The sister's father is an intelligent and caring man who delights in watching his children succeed, even when they don’t realize it. As a former police officer, he encourages the girls to dig into the crimes they unwittingly keep stepping into. Where most fathers would dissuade their daughters from taking chances or stepping on toes, he has no trouble driving the girls towards confrontation or danger in order to help them figure out a crime. The additional characters in A Catered Costume Party have similar roles to play in the plot, but none of them are as memorable as Bernie and Libby’s dad.

As the narrative unfolds, the reader is taken on a roller coaster ride as each suspect is exposed and their motives brought to light. When the murderer is exposed, many readers will be taken by surprise but satisfied by the outcome.

Although the writing is fluid, and the plot kept at the forefront, the story is not fast-paced. At times the story gets a bit bogged down in too many questions that never appear to go anywhere. More knowledge of the previous books could strengthen the overall story and keep the reader from scratching their head in puzzlement.

However, this book is engaging, the plot is unusual in and of itself. Readers will derive even more satisfaction if they go back and read the other books in this series. Even with some minor issues, this book is recommended. Readers will be inspired to keep turning the page to discover the killer's identity and witness the sisters triumph. Those who enjoy authors such as Jessica Beck or Leighann Dobbs will want to continue reading this series.

An ARC was received from Netgalley

I've read a few books in this series and after starting Catered, I realized why it's not on my must read list. Bernie and Libby don't have much chemistry and the secondary characters don't play a big role at all here (not that they are very personable either).

The story starts with the first person POV of the killer which is unusual. I didn't find it terribly compelling. As the story continues, more elements, suspects and motives come to play, but it wasn't enough for me to give the book more than an OK rating. I also had some questions about what happened to someone (how someone acted/responded which was left off page) but I don't want to give any spoilers.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Normally I am a fan of this series, however, the last few books haven't been as good.
I found this book to be boring and Libby and Bernie seemed silly and childish.
I find their constant complaining to be irksome and I really wanted to tell them both to grow up.
It seems they are still doing the same thing in this book that they were doing in this first.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting through the book and found myself skimming through towards the end.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced ebook copy of this book from NetGalley. When I saw the cover I was excited to read it because I love Halloween themed books.
The book starts with someone killing his wife, only to end up dead himself a few weeks later at his costume party. The sisters are catering the party. Before the party the host gives them an envelope and tells them to keep it in case something happens to him. Turns out that the envelope is full of money and a note asking them to investigate his murder.
The mystery was very good, I had no idea who the killer was. And I loved the twist with the wife.
My issue with the book was that most of the book takes place in November and not Halloween like the cover implies. There seemed to be some references to a previous book (I think the Halloween one) which I haven't read, so I wish she had done a brief recap of why the sisters hated the building the party was at. And I felt like the author spent to much time on the girls being stuck on the roof.
All in all it was a great mystery and now I want to get caught up on the rest of the series.

While the book seems well written, I was just not able to connect to the characters, I really enjoyed how it started off. Nothing like grabbing the reader from the first page.

I found this book to be a bit of a bore. I felt that the sisters stumbled through out the book when solving the mystery and got lucky when finding clues. I love cozy mysteries and normally read through them at a fast pace but this book felt like it was dragging on and I was relieved when I got to the last chapter.

Sisters, Bernie & Libby, are catering a Halloween shindig at Darius Witherspoon's swanky ballroom/apartment complex. This complex is the former Peabody School, which holds creepy murder memories for the sisters. Coupled with the fact that Darius's wife is missing, murder, suicide, or something else, no one knows for sure, makes the upcoming event even creepier, but they need the business. The night of the event, Darius is found hanging from a window and everyone is sure it's suicide, everyone except Bernie & Libby, who just happen to be in possession of a note and money he left them asking them to investigate if something should happen. The two sleuths are in search of what happened to Darius & his wife. These two are a hilarious duo and nothing will stop them from getting to the truth. A very entertaining cozy mystery, so glad I had an opportunity to read an advance copy.

Fun little mystery for one of my favorite holidays. Love the addition of recipes!

A Catered Costume Party reminded me of Scobby Doo minus Scobby Doo trying to solve the mystery of who killed the Witherspoons. Bernie and Libby have a knack at stumbling into clues and getting themselves into ridiculous situations. (ARC)