This was refreshing mystery. I really enjoy the cast and the younger perspective of the investigating gang. I binged this series and wish for more

**I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Swanson debuts a cozy mystery series with a down to Earth main character, delectable sounding foods, and a murder and a mystery slightly heavier than the traditional cozy mystery. Dani Sloan runs a chef-to-go business that attracts college students, and she offers catering and a home chef experience to those living around town. At first, I was slightly annoyed by Dani, whose beliefs in her father’s words (that suggested she could not live up to her potential) made me dislike her father. But, Dani realizes that she too deserves dreams, even if it means going into debt and finding creative ways to stay afloat following her dream of owning her own company. Language and subject matter make this cozy mystery a tad “meatier” or less cozy than other typical cozies, but the elements are still there – an amateur sleuth; a quirky cast of characters; and a potential romantic liaison.

Overall, an enjoyable read.

This was a nice easy read. Dani Sloan' s life has taken a downward turn. She has had to leave her 9-5 job under questionable circumstances. Her relationship ended badly when she discovered she was not her boyfriend's only love interest. Things begin to look up though when she inherits an old house. She opens up a catering business and begins to supply lunches to local businesses and college students. She even rents out some rooms to help supplement her income. Things take another disastrous turn for the worse though when a friend of one of her tenants is found dead and she, Dani, is viewed as a suspect. I did not expect this at all and I thought it was a good twist to this sweet until this point, story. This was well written and kept me guessing right up until the end. I really did not see the ending coming. I thought it was well thought out and the characters were well written. Each had a purpose and there was just the right number. I enjoyed this story a lot and I would recommend it. I give it 4 stars.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dani has left her high-paying job in Human Resources to follow her passion in cooking, creating a new business in Chef-to-Go as a personal chef and lunch maker in the mansion that a friend of her grandmother left her (side note - how come I am never left huge inheritances by people I've never met?). Combine that with having three college students renting off her, and she feels like things are going well. She is excited to have her first catering gig for Regina, a rich, college student, but it ends poorly when Regina dumps the Jell-O shots Dani made for the luau over her head and demands Dani leave.

When Regina is found dead the next morning, Dani is considered a prime suspect by a vengeful detective. Ivy, one of her tenants, calls her uncle, retired police officer Spencer, to help. Now, Dani and Spencer join forces to figure out who killed Regina before Dani gets framed for the crime.

I really enjoyed this first book of the Chef-to-Go series. Dani is determined to be taken seriously and doesn't need to be taken care of but can appreciate the help that Spencer offers. I enjoy the interactions between the characters, and the mystery was interesting. I have already checked the second book out from my library!

I actually bought the audiobook for this review. Dani reaches a dead end in her job in HR at the same time she inherits a mansion in a college town. Always wanting to be a chef, she decides to open the house as a B&B and start a catering business that makes lunches to go and caters events. She rents rooms to some local college students, one of which has a handsome uncle that is interested in Dani. Unfortunately, after one of the catered events, the hostess is found murdered and Dani becomes a suspect. She joins forces with the uncle (a former cop) to help clear her name.

I like the unique setting of this mystery, in a college town where she has a drive-through lunch to go business. The mystery was well constructed, with enough twists to keep your interest. It wasn't too easy to figure out the killer. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I'm relatively new to Denise Swanson's world, because I started with the Devereaux Dime Mysteries. There are some references to some other titles, (I'm familiar with this style; it's like world-building), but it should not deter you from reading this book, which is the first in a new series, because this is a whole different world you're diving into.

Tart of Darkness begins with Dani Sloan, who just ended a relationship and is out looking for a job. But she is a very talented cook, and when she inherits a house with a professional kitchen, she starts her own business, Chef-to-Go, which provides meals to college students, offers catering services and she can be hired as a personal chef. When she gets a catering job for a wealthy and influential client, trouble happens, and it's up to Dani to clear her name.

Dani is sweet and compassionate, and this is why the other characters easily grow to like her (and respect her). She's nice, but she's not a doormat; she can stand up for herself. She is independent and capable. She herself defines her own story, which is not depending on having a romantic lead, which is what I like with my female protagonists. And she cooks very well! I like to her Chef-to-Go business; it's different from having a full-fledged restaurant/bakery. It's a more realistic portrayal of a business venture she started - her customers are college students because she lives in a college town. I found it convenient though that Dani inherits the house at a time when she is in great need of one, and then establishes her business.

The mystery itself is solid. There are effective red herrings, and at the end, I was stumped at the reveal. As a first book, the story is not heavy on plot exposition, but dives directly into the events and gives readers glimpses of connections to other titles, as I have mentioned, or to past incidents that influenced the characters.

*** I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. These are all my own opinions.

Dani has decided to start over in life when she inherits a house in a small college town. Always wanting to have been a chef, Dani starts a take-out/catering business as well as renting some of the rooms in the house to College students. When a friend of a boarder is found murdered, Dani is deep in the fire and has to find the murderer before her goose is cooked.

A fun start for a series with great characters and lots of room for adventures in the future!

This is a she said/ he said story which just made me want more when it go to the end because I knew what they were thinking but they didn't LOL.
Danielle aka Dani Sloan is my hero! She goes from a 9-5 white collar job to a white hat job becoming a personal chef/small time caterer/lunchette creator. Mind you the inheritance of a mansion style house was key but one can still live vicariously through her, right! A big house requires big money so Dani becomes a makeshift resident advisory taking in her former neighbor and #1 taste tester and college student Ivy and Ivy's roommates.
Spencer Drake, former undercover cop and uncle to Ivy is also the current head of campus security at Ivy's college. He thought his retirement from the force would be relaxing, after all how hard could it be to keep a college campus safe compared to the mean streets and an even meaner biker gang.
Dani lands her first catering gig, a small birthday luau for an over the top college student named Regina. Things don't go so well from the small fire to the death of the birthday girl. Dani knows that it wasn't her cooking even if it is good enough to "die for". She could lose everything she has started and the crazy Detective Mickelson who has an axe to grind for some unknown reason is breathing down her neck. On top of all this, unlike whipped cream on top of a sundae, if Dani's cheating ex-boyfriend who is worrying her sick over an old book of poetry. All Dani wants to do is cook for people and be a pseudo big sister to her three roommates. Oh and maybe have a date with Ivy's hunky uncle.

Great story line and excellent character development. I didn't see it coming and was surprised all the way to the end in a variety of ways. Looking forward to the next installment and liking the 2 people format.

Dani Sloan leaves behind corporate dronedom and takes a chance on her own business - Chef-To-Go.
She lives in a college town and the lunches she makes for college students are a hit. A friend of her grandmother left her a large Victorian home with a large well appointed kitchen.
She takes on three college girls as tenants. Ivy has a handsome uncle Spencer and is dipping her toes into the social waters of really rich kids. One of the rich girls, Regina, holds a party that Dani agrees to cater. The next day Regina is dead and a police detective with a grudge is looking at Dani and Ivy as suspects. Spencer and Dani investigate. The murderer is a bit of a surprise and sad at the same time.
The story is good. The author brings in a couple characters that we meet in Dead In The Water, another mystery series she writes. Interesting to get to know Spencer better in this book.
One thing I have noticed with this author, she seems a little more into physical relationships or talking about sexual situations than most cozy mystery authors I am familiar with. It's not to much but for me it detracts a little from the overall mystery story.

Tart of Darkness is a first book to a new series by Denise Swanson .
The book was a great read I couldn't put it down , I enjoyed the banter between the three girls and Dani , the love interest with Spence hope we see more in the next book (hopefully). .
I never guessed who the killer was until it was reviled, I also don't think we have seen the last of Detective Mikeloff yet as he's has a grudge to deal with . Looking forward to Denise next book in the series.

Great new series by Swanson! Great characters and a riveting mystery! Dani is starting over and has discovered her happiness in being a personal chef and providing lunches for hungry college students. She’s also having 4 college students room with her. Dani is an interesting, talented, and believable character as are the others in this great read! Fun, engaging read and I hope there will be more in this series!

Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson is the 1st book in Chef-To-Go Mystery series, and I loved it. Dani leaves her high paying corporate job at the same time she inherits a mansion with a commercial kitchen. Dani starts Chef-to-go, where she makes meals to go for students, and catering for special dinners. Dani rents rooms to three college students who also help her out as part of the rent. When one of Dani's clients is found dead the mystery starts. This book has more twists and turns, that keeps you turning page after page. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I strongly recommended this book and series for any cozy mystery lovers like me.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the first book in the Chef-to-Go mysteries and I really liked it! The concept of the book is great and the characters interesting enough to sustain as a series in the future books. Dani Sloan, the main character, starts a personal chef business after she unexpectedly inherits a house. She provides meals to go for college students and acts as a personal chef for wealthy clients. She also discovers a body and solves a murder along the way! I'm looking forward to the next installment of the series.

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a few of Denise Swanson’s books before and really enjoyed them, and this book was no exception.
In this book, the main character, Dani, has gotten disgusted with the person she is becoming as a high powered HR executive at a big company, so when she inherits a mansion, she quits to go and live there and start a catering business. Three college girls that she had befriended while living in her previous apartment building move in with her when they get kicked out of their apartment for throwing a wild party.
Dani and the girls cater a party for Regina, the most beautiful and popular girl at their college who also happens to have a ton of enemies because of the awful way she treats everyone. When she is murdered on the night of the party there is no dirth of suspects, including Dani who she got into a conflict with during the party.
Can Spenser, head of security at the college and a former member of law enforcement , help Dani prove she isn’t the murderer? Especially when the detective on the case seems to have a personal grudge against her?
I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading the next in the series.

Tart Of Darkness
Chef-To-Go Mystery, Book #1
Denise Swanson
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Right when Dani thinks she’s hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion—cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.

But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She’ll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears—perhaps to silence the new chef forever. (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really liked the relationship between Dani and Ivy. I liked the way that Ivy was a typical college student and was a little self absorbed. But she really likes Dani and is very willing to help Dani whenever she can. Dani is a good role model for Ivy and her friends and I enjoyed that. I also liked that there were a couple of generations in this book but they worked well together.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me right into the story. The descriptions of the dishes that Dani was preparing throughout the book made me hungry. That is a good thing when reading a culinary cozy!

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a nice pace. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and I did not have any idea who the killer was. I found the fact that Dani did not put herself in any real danger while solving the mystery very refreshing.

I am not really sure that this book is a cozy in the strictest way. There is a little bit of harsher language and there was some mention of sexual tendencies. I did not find anything offensive in the least but I felt I should mention those things in my review.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted mystery. There was so much that I liked about this book and i am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, when it is released.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Dani Sloan's life has been on a downturn lately. She left her corporate job after there were some major issues. She had to sign a non-disclosure document so she can't even discuss what happened. Then on top of that, she discovered her boyfriend was actually engaged to marry someone else. But, things take a positive turn when she suddenly inherits a house and decides to embark on a business venture that's more her style -- cooking bagged lunches for local college students and running a catering service. She hopes Chef-To-Go will take off and be successful. In an emergency, she allows three college students to move into the house with her. She provides their room and board and in return they work a few hours a week for her. It's a win-win situation for all. One of the girls sets her up with a catering job....an upscale summer party. Regina Bourne is beautiful and known for her lavish parties. Unfortunately, the day after the event, Regina is found dead on a lounge next to the pool. Because of some problems during the party, Dani and her housemates find themselves suspects in the murder. One of the girls has an uncle who used to be a police officer. So with his help, Dani starts investigating Regina's death. Who killed the spoiled rich girl?

Tart of Darkness is the first book in a new series, the Chef-To-Go Mysteries. I'm not sure I would classify this book as a "cozy'' mystery....I'm going to say it's cozy-ish. There is no gore, explicit sex or anything completely un-cozy, but there is some language and some minor sexual themes (for example, one minor character enjoys bondage and rough sex) that aren't usually in cozy mysteries. For readers who want to avoid any discussion of sexual themes or for younger readers, this might be one to avoid. As for me, I enjoyed the story. It's a nice start to a new series! I like the background theme of a college town catering business. Dani is an interesting main character, and the 3 college-age girls she rents rooms to are great supporting characters. The hunky uncle is a nice love interest. The ending of the book seemed a bit abrupt...but it definitely made me wonder when the next book will be coming out. :) The romance angle seemed a bit trope-y as did the sudden inheritance of a huge house that allowed the MC to start a new business venture.....but the book is well-written and fun to read. I didn't really mind the trope-y moments.

All in all, this is an enjoyable cozy(ish) mystery! I will definitely be reading more of this series. Denise Swanson is the author of several cozy mystery series including Scumble River and the Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries. I think I will start reading the Scumble River series while I want for the next Chef-To-Go mystery!

*I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Posted on Goodreads. Courtesy of NetGalley I grabbed this cozy mystery to read and then passed it up for other books. Reading is mood related and when I was ready this book fit the bill. The main character, Dani, takes the bold step of quitting her soul-sucking HR job to start her own catering business. Her concept to create take away lunches for college students is very interesting; she provides two daily choices - one healthier than the other. Dani also has a personal chef for hire and catering aspect to the business, but not much time for anything else. Luckily she inherits a mansion from a friend of her grandmother; which she quickly fills with three female student renters. The uncle of one of the girls may be a love interest in future books; the sparks definitely flew between them. The murder of another college girl the morning after Dani catered her luau party puts Dani in the forefront of the police investigation. She, of course, investigates to clear her name. It was a good story with some interesting characters and a bit of heated sexual tension.

I enjoyed the plotting of this first mystery in a new series. The main character is pursuing catering and private chef-ing after leaving a career in human resources. She seems fairly smart likable, always a good sign in a series main character.

There are a nice variety of characters, and Swanson does a great job of keeping them straight for me. I have a terrible time keeping large casts straight in my mind, but this one is handled very well. Also, the fact that Dani's juggling providing sack lunches for college students with being a private chef/caterer for a few local clients allows her to interact with lots of kinds of people in what feels like a natural manner. The murder itself and the resolution felt well-done to me.

I did have some issues, however. The occasional chapter written from Spencer's point of view feels much too romance-novel-y to me. The fact that the author mentions that Normalton (!) University has a parapsychology department fills me with dread. Is it going to turn into a ghost/cooking mystery series? Don't we have enough of those? The crossover with the Scumble River Mysteries (which I haven't read) feels false and forced. The matter-of-fact conversation/counseling Dani has (at a funeral, no less) with a male college student who's into bondage feels just...weird. And at the end, the narrative voice turns very "moral of the story." "Dani just hoped that those who had been involved in the whole disgusting mess would learn a lesson and be better people because of it." The issues were fairly minor, though. They didn't spoil the book for me, though if it became any more romance-y or paranormal-y, then it wouldn't be a good fit for me, personally. I guess I'll see where this one goes, and I'll look forward to Book 2 to find out what directions it's heading.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson is the first book in Chef-to-Go Mysteries. Danielle “Dani” Sloan has quit her job at Homestead Insurance and given her cheating boyfriend the heave ho. While deciding what to do next, she been cooking for the college girls down the hall and vegging out on the couch watching cooking shows. Then a letter arrives stating she inherited a nearby Victorian mansion that has been remodeled for a bed and breakfast with a fabulous kitchen. This is the perfect opportunity for Dani to pursue her passion—cooking. She opens Chef-to-Go which provides catering for events, personal chef services and ready-to-go lunches for college students. Dani also ends up with three college student tenants (the ladies she cooked for in her old building). Dani is hired to cater spoiled rich girl Regina Bourne’s Summer Palooza. The event goes off without a hitch until a drunk guest sets fire to the dessert table and Regina has a hissy fit. Dani is surprised when Detective Mikeloff arrives at her home stating Regina was found dead by her pool surrounded by Dani’s desserts. The detective has it out for Dani. Dani needs to clear her name before she ends up as chef for the local penitentiary.

I like the premise of Tart of Darkness. It is set in a college town (provides a variety of victims) where Dani inherited a large Victorian home with a gourmet kitchen. I thought it was a clever idea to provide ready-to-go lunches for college students. Dani is a character who keeps trying to please her father and fails (has an inferiority complex). Additional characters are the three female college students living with Dani (Tippi, Starr and Ivy) along with Spencer Drake (Ivy’s uncle and love interest for Dani). The attraction between Dani and Spencer is “instant” (of course). Readers gets detailed descriptions of Spencer’s physique and what Spencer thinks about Dani’s attributes (repeated mentions of her heart shaped derriere). I wish the author had dialed back on the attraction (lust) between Dani and Spencer. The point of view switches between Dani and Spencer. I found it disjointed and it lacked an ease (clunky). The novel would have flowed better if it had been written from Dani’s POV or in the third person (my preference). Unlike most cozy mysteries, Tart of Darkness contains foul language. There is a cliché nasty detective and repetitiveness (especially of the phrase “ass hat”). The authors background in psychology is evident in Tart of Darkness with how Dani listens and dispenses advice (confirming response technique). There is a lot going on in Tart of Darkness (seems to be a common malady in cozy mysteries that I have read recently). I did not feel that the ex-boyfriend showing up looking for a book he gave to Dani was needed. The characters from Denise Swanson’s A Scumble River Mystery series and Welcome Back to Scumble River are mentioned (Wally, Skye) and Frannie Ryan is in the story (she wants to write about the murder—get her big break). The mystery was clever with a unique murder method. There are good clues that will aid readers in solving the crime. I give Tart of Darkness 3 out of 5 stars. Tart of Darkness will appeal to fans of Denise Swanson and cozy mysteries.

Dani Sloan has recently quit her job in HR got an insurance company and gets a surprise letter informing her that she has inherited a large Victorian house that was being renovated to be used as a B&B. This gives Dani the opportunity to start her dream company Chef-to-Go where she works as a private chef and caterer while also selling homemade meals to nearby college students. To help pay the bills, Dani has agreed to house 3 college students: Ivy, Starr and Tippi. Rich spoiled Regina Bourne hires Dani to cater her summer party and things go awry. The next morning, Regina is found dead and an unpleasantly tenacious detective hounds Dani and Ivy as the main suspects. With the help of Ivy's uncle Spencer, Dani decides to do some snooping to clear her name.

This was a good debut to a new series by the author of the long-running Scumble River mysteries.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.