What a great start to what is sure to be an awesome series! I loved the family in this book and the characters overall were just great. The love they have for each other leapt off the page and brought the story and characters to life for me. And really, who doesn't love hummus? I know I drooled my way through this book and every time they mentioned a different dish they were serving in the restaurant or making to serve, I was hoping to flip to the back of the book and find that recipe listed. I very much enjoyed the mystery in this book and I was shocked when I pegged the wrong person! Overall this book was just delicious and left my mouth watering for more of Lucy and the entire Berberian family. Luckily we won't have to wait long, because book two, Stabbed in the Baklava, is set to be released in September!

I really loved this new book by Tina Kashian. This was such a cute and fun cozy mystery. I REALLY wish they would open a Kabob Kitchen in my neck of the woods! Who could say no to a hummus bar??

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

This is an exciting new series with a mystery to solve and lots of good food to drool over (recipes too!).

This story flowed quite well and it was hard to put down. I enjoyed getting to know Lucy and her crazy family – well most families are crazy, but when you throw in a different ethnic background they seem to get crazier. If you have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding you will understand what I mean.

I did figure out who the killer was early on but only because of a few clues that you may or may not interpret as clues. A hazard of reading so many mysteries I think. Now while I guessed who, I did not know the why. I’m not sure anyone might have figured out that part until it was revealed. The only issue I have is trying to figure out how the killer killed Heather. I don’t want to give away too much, but considering how it happened there just did not seem to be the opportunity for the killer to act.

And no book would be complete without a romantic triangle. Will Lucy give Azad, the known man, another chance to right his wrong from so many years ago? Or will she give Mike, the bad boy on the motorcycle a chance to fill a role in her life?

Overall a great book and a killer series in the making.

This debut made me hungry! The story flowed smoothly and I really enjoyed the characters. Looking forward to more adventures with Lucy.

Great story and the murder mystery was interesting.
I think it's interesting that Gadoo the calico cat is a male. All calico cats are female. It's possible for a tortoiseshell cat to be a male but that's rare.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

If you love cozies (but want something different than tea and cupcake themes) then you will love this first book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series by Tina Kashian! The characters in the Barberian family are likable and the setting is unique and engaging! You will be rooting for Lucy to skewer the murderer and redeem the good name of her family's restaurant. A bit of romance along with some twists and turns will have you wanting more quickly turning the pages!
I will definitely look for the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed this book via NetGalley.

HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE by Tina Kashian
The First Kebab Kitchen Mystery

After being passed over for promotion yet again, Lisa Berberian quits her job as a patent attorney in Philadelphia and returns home to the Jersey Shore for an extended visit. Despite a warm welcome from friends and family, who are pleased to have her helping out in the family restaurant, Lisa has a run in with her old high school nemesis, who has just taken over from her father as health inspector. Although her father never found fault with the Kebab Kitchen, Heather amasses numerous bogus citations. What could be worse than that? Heather being found dead behind the restaurant, with her death being ruled suspicious. Will the detective put his grudge against the Berberian family aside and find the real killer or will Lisa be charged with murder?

The first Kebab Kitchen Mystery is all about family and coming home. It's about sticking together, even after being apart; a balance between nostalgia and moving with the times. Richly detailed writing makes me feel as if I'm in the midst of all the action while plenty of humor and the right amount of drama flavor this tasty mystery.

Lisa is a smart likable protagonist with a good head on her shoulders. Although charged by her father to solve the murder, Lisa knows when to investigate and when to call in the professionals. The rest of the characters are as interesting and varied as the flavors of hummus Angela creates, some traditional, some spicy, some tart, and some a bit nutty.

HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE is the start of a delectable new mystery series. I urge you all to dig in!

Recipes included.

A cozy mystery with a lot of tasty references to the greatly unknown Armenian cuisine, Hummus and Homicide by Tina Kashian keeps you interested despite the slow pace. The story is populated with characters with strong personalities and promises a series which local American countryside flavor and ethnic cuisine mysteries.

When the most antipathic character is found dead in the parking place, you may not feel any regrets and remorse for feeling so, but her death may put under question the future of the Kebab Kitchen, an Armenian restaurant. 'A murder in Ocean Crest is big news', especially when it happens for the first time in at least 40 years. From now on, nothing is as simple as the uneventful life of the Ocean Creast residents. It happens that the death of the freshly sanitary inspector Heather Bank occurs after she ate at the hummus bar from the Kebab Kitchen, being served by Lucy Berberian, the daughter of the Armenian couple running the restaurant, recently back for a sabbatical after years of hard work but no right reward as a patent lawyer. The fact that Heather and Lucy did have old disputes from the school years, and only a couple of days ago their disagreements reignited in a public space, which means everyone around may know about it, places Lucy in the first line of suspects.

Lucy doesn't give up and without waiting as the good citizen the results of the police investigations, she starts her own research leading to the spectacular discovery of the real murder, who before being delivered to the police, is stopped from comitting a new victim by being hit between his eyes with a jar of tahini. As foodie as that!

Although the pace of the investigation is relatively slow, the details leading to the final revelation are parcimoniously yet spectacularly outlined. There are plenty of characters in the book, enough well defined to be loved or hated by the reader. As for the tasty mouth-watering descriptions, it just makes me run to check the first Armenian restaurant. Anyway, I didn't know that hummus, for instance, is part of this cuisine.

Overall, a pleasant read for a relaxed weekend. I am personally looking forward to the next installment in the series, as I am already curious about what will happen with some of the characters I've got acquainted with.

Tina Kashian debuts on the cozy mystery scene with a delightfully multi-cultural cast and setting. Hummus and Homicide joins the ranks of other recent ethnically-diverse cozies such as Leena Clover’s Meera Patel series and Vivien Chien’s Noodle Shop Mysteries – and I love it!

Lucy Berberian is a first generation American (meaning her parents immigrated to the States before she was born) with a rich cultural background. Both parents have Armenian roots, while her mother also claims Lebanese and Greek heritage. Family is key – and food is central. Yummy food like kebabs and hummus and stuffed grape leaves and warm-from-the-oven pita bread. My mouth is literally watering right now, y’all.

The murder mystery is very well-constructed, and just when I thought I had it figured out Lucy and her investigative skills proved me wrong. Lucy’s love life has a couple of intriguing possibilities for future books in the series – her first love Azad (who wants her back) or the hot new guy Michael (who totally rocks the bad boy vibe). I’m pulling for Azad but we’ll see where the story takes them. Her relationship with her best friend Katie is fun, too, and they make a great sleuthing team. The way Katie conveniently took off work whenever she wanted to seemed a tad unrealistic but it still added to the overall charm of their friendship – and to Katie’s character itself.

Bottom Line: Hummus and Homicide is charming and well-written, setting things up nicely for the rest of the series and keeping readers invested in Lucy and her life. The murder plot is nicely paced and full of twists and turns and red herrings, and the characters are layered and endearing. I would love to hang out at the Kebab Kitchen with its warm atmosphere and tantalizing food. Looking forward to book #2!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Hummus and Homicide by Tina Kashian is the first story in A Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. Lucy Berberian is returning home to Ocean Crest, New Jersey after quitting her job as a patent attorney in Philadelphia. Lucy’s parents own Kebab Kitchen and can certainly use her help in the restaurant since they are down a waitress. Lucy is happy to reconnect with her friend Katie Watson. Lucy is staying with Katie and her police officer husband, Bill while she is in town. Lucy is surprised to learn that her parents are contemplating selling the restaurant. They already have three potential buyers that include Lucy’s former boyfriend, Azad Zakarian. The one thing marring Lucy’s enjoyment at being home is Heather Banks. Heather was the mean cheerleader girl in high school, and now she is the new health inspector. She quickly learns that Heather has not changed one iota since high school. Heather comes to do an inspection of the premises before the restaurant can be listed for sale and, despite the cleanliness of the facility, she lists nitpicky (and bogus) violations. The next day Heather returns to eat from the new hummus bar (which she criticized the day before). After Heather departs, Lucy takes the trash outside and finds Heather dead in the back-parking lot. Detective Clemmons is assigned the case, but he holds a grudge against the Berberian family (thanks to Lucy’s sister). Raffi, Lucy’s father, wants her to investigate Heather’s death and find the culprit before their business is ruined. Lucy, with help from Katie, retraces Heather’s steps the day she was killed and delves into Heather’s life looking for suspects. Who disliked Heather enough to murder her? The bike shop owner, a restaurateur, the mob boss, the suspense author who was dating Heather, or the loan shark? Join Lucy in her investigation in Hummus and Homicide.

Hummus and Homicide is nicely written and has a steady pace. I like that the author sets the stage for the series by giving us Lucy’s background and introducing us to her family and friends. The mystery was interesting, but the killer can easily be discerned early in the book (one detail is the key). There are some interesting suspects that Lucy questions. I just wish that there had been more action. If Lucy is going to continue to be a sleuth, she needs to work on her questioning technique. Her queries sounded more like accusations. Lucy also has a temper (triggers easily) and loose lips. You can tell that Tina Kashian (aka Tina Gabrielle) has written romance novels. We have Lucy’s ogling her romantic interests. She admires the attractive and handsome Azad (many times) and appreciates Michael Citteroni’s physique. The family kept pushing Lucy and Azad together trying to rekindle their romance. I prefer romances that progress slowly over the course of a series and for it not to overshadow the mystery element. As usual, there was repetitive information (Cooking Kurt’s show was mentioned five times for example). Hummus and Homicide was a typical cozy mystery where the main character returns home, someone dies, she investigates and solves the crime, there are love interests, potential sidekick, the amateur detective is inept in her questioning, and the main character realizes she likes being home and is going to stay. There are some nice cozy moments in the book. You can tell that Lucy’s family loves her and the mother is especially happy that her daughter has returned to Ocean Crest. My rating for Hummus and Homicide is 3 out of 5 stars. I will check out Stabbed in the Baklava when it releases in August. Hummus and Homicide is just the first book in the series, and I hope Tina Kashian ups her game in the next book in A Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. There are recipes (hummus) at the end of Hummus and Homicide.

There are so many wonderful things I liked about this book, I'm not sure I contain my excitement. This is my first book I've read by the author and oh my is it delectable, delicious and down right amazing. I want to move to Ocean Crest and hang out at the Jersey Shore. The description of the place was so realistic I had no problem visualizing it. I could hear the screams coming from people on the roller coaster and smell the delicious aroma of food as I dashed off to the Kebab Kitchen. I am a huge fan of hummus and just reading about the different varieties made me want to run to the store. I confess I did have hummus and crackers while reading the book. The author has convinced me that I need to find a Mediterranean restaurant and take in the rich flavors and exception dishes they have to offer.

Lucy is one great character. I loved that she came home to her parents when things didn't work out for her as a lawyer. It felt comfortable for her to be back home and be surrounded by an amazing family. Her parents were so sweet and gracious that I wanted them to adopt me. Rumors start to swirl that the family business is being put up for sale. I think that kind of shocked Lucy and made her start thinking of how important the restaurant is to the family.

As in every cozy mystery there is always a murder and I try to figure out who the victim will be. The hints are there in the story but it sure does start an avalanche of trouble for Lucy and her family. I know if I had an inspection coming up, I would make sure everything was so clean you could eat off the floor. The inspection should be no worries for the Kebab Kitchen since they always pass with flying colors. What they are not prepared for is someone dying after eating at the restaurant. Lucy is determined to get her name off the suspect list and keep the restaurant open.

I wont go into more details because you need to read the book to see how gifted the author is.I do want to mention one thing. The details of a poison in the story was like hearing it from an expert. The author's research is profound and I learned a lot about the subject. It was extremely fascinating and valuable to the story line. Her writing is outstanding as the murder investigation heats up. I really thought I knew who did it, but was so surprised when the guilty person was revealed. It is an adventure that takes you behind the scenes of how a restaurant works to the different shops in town that made the town so quaint. Is someone trying to give Kebab Kitchen a bad name? Will Lucy escape harm as her life is put in danger? I did really enjoy the hint of several interested men that have taken a shine to Lucy. It is a bit of a cliffhanger for me which I will be anxiously awaiting to be answered in the next book. I leave you with a high recommendation to grab this book, settle down with some snacks and get ready for an exciting journey. Don't miss the recipes at the end of the story.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

A Kabob Kitchen Mystery Series promises to be a series that will delight and keep the reader guessing.
The series begins with book 1 Hummus And Homicide a story that moves the reader through at a steady pace.
Lucy has it a bit tough when she returns home to start a new life with family. Helping the family run the restaurant business seems like a good place to be. Until the local health inspector who happens to someone Lucy knew in high school turns up dead.
Lucy ends up being a suspect!
I enjoyed the family atmosphere and the plot based around the restaurant.
The recipes at the end were a great addition.
I am looking forward to following Lucy and friends in the next
installment in the series.
Hummus And Homicide was a 5 star start to a new series!
I received a complimentary copy.

Another fun cozy series begins! I love all of the characters we meet in Ocean Crest, New Jersey, and look forward to getting to know them better in future books. The Kebab Kitchen, complete with hummus bar, sounds like a great place to eat (too bad it's not real!) Lucy, as well as her family and friends, is a likable character with very relatable issues.



The mystery is very well written and keeps you guessing right up to the big reveal. It's definitely not a predictable mystery plot!

The fact that this series was inspired by the author's own experiences shows in the details and makes the story that much more believable.

Definitely a must read for cozy fans.

Lucy Berberian makes her debut in HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE, the first in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series by Tina Kashian. The novel is Kashian's first, and it was published February 27, 2018 by Kensington Publishing Corporation.

After being passed up for partner, Lucy Berberian quits her job as a patent attorney in Philadelphia and moves back to her hometown of Ocean Crest - a (fictional) small town on the Jersey Shore located near Cape May. Lucy's parents', sister, and friends are thrilled to have her home for an extended period of time. Within hours of arriving home, Lucy is sucked back into working for parents at their Mediterranean restaurant and she has a public argument with the new health inspector. When the health inspector is found dead of an apparent cyanide poisoning behind Kebab Kitchen, business plummets and Lucy jumps to the top of Detective Clemmon's suspect list. In an effort to save herself - and Kebab Kitchen - Lucy teams up with her best friend, Kathy, to find the killer.

I found HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE to be a very fun mystery novel. The characters - especially Lucy, Kathy, and Emma - were all interesting, engaging characters. All major and minor characters were well developed. The murder victim was unlikeable, and there were multiple suspects. The killer came as a surprise. Kashian also brought the Jersey Shore to life in her description. I've been to the Ocean City/Cape May area multiple times on vacation, and Kashian reminded me of all of the sights and smells. I thoroughly enjoyed HUMMUS AND HOMICIDE, and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series.

Hummus and Homicide is the tale of patent attorney Lucy Berberian's return from Philadelphia to her hometown Ocean Crest, New Jersey. For eight years she had devoted her life to her career but had hit her head on the metaphorical glass ceiling for women. She bounces back to her family’s Mediterranean restaurant in the small New Jersey beach town. Unfortunately, a former classmate meets an unfortunate demise after Lucy serves her food at the restaurant, making Lucy a prime suspect.

To save her parents’ restaurant from closure and herself from jail, Lucy sets out to discover the killer. There are many possibilities including rival restaurant owners, a famous author, and the boss of a crime family. Along with solving the mystery, Lucy has some personal romantic entanglements to resolve as well as decisions about her career choice to make. Hummus and Homicide is a fun, relaxing read that moves quickly and has interesting, likable characters.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. This is the first book in the new Kebab Kitchen Mystery Series
2. There are recipes included at the end of the book.

Publication: February 27, 2018—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

If curiosity killed the cat, what would it do to an out-of-work lawyer sticking her nose where it didn’t belong?

Her eyes slid shut as she bit into the hot pastry. the crunch of the thin layers of buttered pastry, the sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts, blended together in a sweet ballet.

She knew how fast news traveled in town. The Internet had nothing on Ocean Crest when it came to the information superhighway.

What a great start to a new series. We get some interesting characters that come with some back history that we get to learn throughout the book combined with a nice ethnic flair that I as really enjoying. The mystery was great moving at a nice pace keeping me guessing until the killer finally revealed himself. This is a must read for fans of cozy mysteries with a culinary flair to them. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars and I can fully admit that I will be keeping an eye on the release of the next installment.

I always look forward to a first in series. I enjoy getting a feel for the setting and learning a bit about the protagonists, their outlook on life and how they handle relationships and the inevitable obstacles. You know that being unofficial investigators they are bound to irritate someone in law enforcement.
Well, Tina Kashian has does an outstanding job with this first novel.
Her characters are developed and the mystery is not overly simplified. It is not predictable or trite.
She gives us more than enough suspects with motive, means and opportunity.
Not only was Heather, the victim, one of the mean girls in high school, she wields her power as health inspector to get her desired ends. Sadly, there are good people around her that allow her to get away with her actions.
Lucy is at a crossroads in her life. Passed over for a promotion at her law firm and not seeing her life plans falling into place, she returns home to find out her parents are ready to retire and sell her childhood home, the family restaurant. Lucy has to figure out where her loyalties fall and what her new plan and direction will be. Her mother wants to see Lucy married and settled before they retire.
So you can tell there is more going on here than a simple murder mystery. It is a well rounded story and the series has potential for excellent growth.

Hummus and Homicide by Tina Kashian if the 1st book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series, and I loved it. Lucy Berberian quits her attorney job in Philadelphia, and returns home to Ocean Crest, NJ to help out in her family's restaurant. When a health inspector dies after Lucy serves her, she becomes the main suspect, so Lucy must find the real killer. This mystery has it all, a great plot that is well developed along with great characters. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, than I strongly recommend this book.

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

This is the first in the new Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. After a stinging loss at her job, Lucy Berberian quits and moves home (though tells her family she is on sabbatical) to help in her family's ethnic restaurant. Lucy stays with her best friend Katie, runs into friends, and then unfortunately finds an old nemesis from high school. After Lucy tells off Heather Banks in a very public way, Lucy finds out she is the new health inspector, which does not bode well for the family business. Lucy trades that set of worries for another, though, when Heather is found dead behind the restaurant, shortly after eating hummus Lucy's mother made. Suspicion falls on Lucy who then feels the need to investigate, with the help of an all-too-willing Katie.

This was a really enjoyable mystery. The writer set the scenes well and the characters are likeable. There were a couple times when I felt the writer was trying too hard to get the reader to understand and appreciate the ethnic nuances, but it did not take away too much. I didn’t figure out who the murderer was until the end, so it was nice to keep guessing. The second book in the series will be called Stabbed in the Baklava released in September 2018, and I will be adding in my “to be read” list. I received an ARC of this to read from NetGalley.