This book can be read as a standalone. Great characters! The food described is familiar to me- I can almost taste them- recipes included! Lots of suspects- surprise twist. Well written! Will read more by this author.

I just love this series! Lucy and her crew are so much fun. Plus I love the idea of a restaurant with a hummus bar. I seriously need one of in my life!

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

At the end of the first book Lucy Berberian has decided to take over her parents restaurant (The Kebab Kitchen) and they are doing a phased takeover, in order to keep the standards of cooking high Lucy's ex-boyfriend (and potential re-boyfriend!) Azad has stepped up to be the head chef, their first major catering deal is a wedding, an actress is getting married and her fiance wants the Kebab Kitchen to cater, this isn't a problem (err apart from the fact that it is for 250 people and the most they have catered to before this was 100!), still they manage to get this done and head to the hotel where the reception will be held. Before they can get fully set up a drunken guest wanders in and Azad ends up threatening him, this would normally have been the end of it only he ends up dead and Azad appears to be the only candidate for the murderer!

Lucy and Katie don their sleuthing caps again and set out to find out the truth, and on the way they discover just how untrustworthy the dead man was, which means that more people could have wanted him dead, if only the Detective would look at other potential killers!

Another great story, with Lucy settling in and finding her feet, I will say that I hope the love triangle gets resolved quickly as that is something that can put me off a series, however good the rest of the storyline is, and Tina Kashian has crafted a wonderful storyline with some great characters!

Stabbed in the Baklava
This is the second book of the series .
I enjoyed this book a good cozy feel.
Lucys head chef Azande becomes a suspect of Henry after he’s body been found , they had been seen having a argument earlier..
As Lucy knows he’s innocent she goes sleuthing again.
Thanks to the publisher and Nettgalley for a copy,my review is my own.

A novel/series based around a Greek family restaurant that will leave you hungry for more. If you like food, strong family values, a strong female protagonist, and murder mysteries, this book is for you!

With the amazing core character development in this series, it is easy to visualize that story as it unfolds.

In this book, second in the series, Lucy is settling back in around the restaurant taking on her new role as manager. She is becoming so comfortable that she is allowing her mother to teach her how to cook a few common recipes. Despite the awkwardness of working with her ex-boyfriend, Azad, again, things seem to be going smoothly for Lucy, that is until another body turns up.

Working on a catering job for a high profile and top secret society wedding, Lucy discovers a dead body in the catering van at the end of the night. When Azad is the prime suspect, Lucy and Katie set out to solve another murder mystery. With everyone having a motive and the having the opportunity, Lucy is determined to find the killer and clear Azad's name. How far is she willing to go? Will she be able to identify the killer before the killer tries to silence her once and for all?

Ms. Kashian does a fantastic job with keeping you guessing until the end. She also has a way of making you very hungry! I cannot wait to try the grape leaves recipe in the back of the book.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. One Feta in the Grave, book 3 in the series, release on February 26, 2019. May I recommend binge reading the series.

I received an advance copy of Stabbed in the Baklava from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

If you are looking for an easy-to-read, cozy culinarily mystery, then you will enjoy Stabbed in the Baklava. It's the second book in a series, but I had no difficulty following the story even though I hadn't read the first book. It's a cute story following the typical cozy mystery pattern.

Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian, is the second in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. This book is a delightful and lighthearted cozy with well-developed characters that are relatable to people most of know in real life. Of course, since it’s a culinary mystery, it also includes recipes, Mediterranean recipes, actually, and they are perfect for preparing to eat while reading this fun mystery. Kashian is an excellent storyteller, and the book is organized and flows well. Most readers will like the characters, and will be surprised at the dénouement when the murderer is unveiled. Stabbed in the Baklava is a fast read – perfect for a trip or when spending time on the beach.

Lucy's return to the Jersey Shore hasn't been uneventful, but when her plans to cater a wedding run up against another murder, there's a lot to be done. When her ex is under suspicion, Lucy takes the reins and tries to figure out what happened.

Lucy has ditched her legal career in Philadelphia and has taken over the family restaurant in Ocean Crest, in South Jersey. The Greek Kebab Kitchen is hired to cater a celebrity wedding but it's bad news for Azad the head chef when the best man is found dead. Lots of yummy recipes are included. Lucy has to clear Azad without rekindling their earlier romance, he's now an employee. I particularly enjoyed the setting of South Jersey as I spent many years as a resident. Good cozy and I'm looking forward to the next installment. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a great cozy mystery and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I hadn’t read the first book in the series but that didn’t affect how much I liked this one. I found the characters to be engaging and likeable and I loved all the food descriptions. Many of them had my mouth watering! I would definitely recommend this series to fans of cozy mysteries and I look forward to reading more books in the series.

As cozy mysteries go, this one was pretty darn cute. I really liked Lucy and her cohort Katie. They are both smart, funny and work well together. This was a fast easy read. And while it is part of a series, it worked well as a stand alone. I'm definitely going to check out book #1. I also am looking forward to future books in the series.

My thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley.

Lucy does it again! She is starting to get more comfortable running the family restaurant when they are asked to cater a celebrity secret wedding. Just before celebrating their success a dead body in the catering van spoils the party mood. When Azid becomes the main suspect she finds herself.boxing around asking questions until she ultimately finds herself in trouble again. The culture in this book is fascinating as we keep up with the characters. The food sounds great providing the perfect compliment to the clues sprinkled throughout. If you like culinary cozy mysteries or just ones with characters outside the norm then you should really try this book/series. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Lucy Berberian is back, with her culturally diverse cast of supporting characters, to learn the ins and outs of running her family’s restaurant (and cooking the yummy dishes!), trying to decide between two hot guys who are smitten with her, and solving a murder in her free time. She is a really likable character who you’d want to be friends with in real life – and not just for the delicious leftovers – and she has a host of friends and family who are equally likable. It’s easy to get caught up in the stories, in the subplots, in the humor, and in the FOOD. (Did I mention the baklava?? YUM)

The murder mystery is once again high-stakes for Lucy, since she’s inadvertently involved in more than one way. Kashian weaves in lots of twists and turns and red herrings which keep the interest and tension levels steady. I found myself laughing out loud a couple of times because I could easily picture the scene she’d set – and the antics that Lucy had gotten tangled up in. It’s not punchy humor, though, but just very charming and smartly done.

Bottom Line: Make a reservation at the Kebab Kitchen, dig into all the hummus varieties and the baklava (not together), and hitch a ride with Lucy and her friends and family as she tries to solve a murder to keep her old flame out of jail. Well-plotted and lots of fun, the mystery and the characters will keep you fully engaged from start to finish!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Title: Stabbed in the Baklava

Author: Tina Kashian

Series: Kebaba Kitchen Mystery book 2

Chapters: 26

Pages: 320

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 3 stars

Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian is book 2 in the Kebaba Kitchen Mystery series. Lucy Berberian is settling in to run her parents Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore when catering a wedding goes horribly wrong. When her head chef and ex Azad is the prime suspect but in the police mind he's the only suspect. So it's up to Lucy again to solve the murder, clear Azad name and keep the restaurant afloat. No problem.

I enjoyed returning to the Berberian's restaurant and the craziness that surrounds the tight knit Mediterranean family. Tina Kashian writing makes it feel like you are a part of the family and she makes the Jersey Shore come alive. I also loved the recipes that the author includes at the back of the book.
This book like most cozy mysteries was a quick and enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book in the series and anything else the author writes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This new series is one of my new favorite cozy series ! I love this series and this 2nd in series did not disappoint.,
Stabbed in the Baklava is the second book in Tina Kashian’s Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. This is a well crafted mystery that i enjoyed reading. The characters all add to the story and are engaging to the plot adding depth and humor, This next book finds protagonist Lucy Berberian trying to expand her family’s restaurant business by signing up for a catering job for a celebrity. Helping her is her chef and her ex-boyfriend, Azad. When a murder occurs several suspects present themselves and Lucy is on the case when he is accused of murder.

Her friend Katie is married to a police officer and uses that position to find out information to assist their own investigation and Katie is determined to be the trusty sidekick. Together they find clues but put themselves in dangerous situations. The author provides plenty of suspects and I was kept guessing to the end. Katie is a tried and true friend and their friendship grows in every book to one that Lucy can depend on.

I greatly enjoy the delightful aspect of Mediterranean food, music, and dances that the author incorporates into this series. It adds authenticity and fun. The author includes several recipes at the back of the book, which all sound amazing and are fun to read about. I look forward to the next in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the ARC which does not influence my opinion. I love this series and highly recommend it .

Princess Fuzzypants here: Recently I reviewed a book that I rated down a peg because the author had muddied the plot with too many red herrings. This book shows that you can still have enough stuff going on that the reader is surprised when the villain is revealed without feeling cheated. Lucy returns to her family’s restaurant and now she is in charge. Her parents are semi-retired which means they have lots to say in any decisions Lucy makes. While she is learning the business from the best, it is also frustrating when she wants to make changes. It does not help that her head chef is the guy who broke her heart after college and whom her parents yearn to be their son-in-law.
When they get a fabulous catering job for a celebrity socialite things get even more complicated when the Best Man is skewered by a shishkabob tool right after Azad confronted him for shady dealings. Of course, Azad seems the most likely killer but Lucy knows he is innocent and fears the local cop with a grudge against her family will look no further.
The victim had lots of people with reasons to kill him but as Lucy digs deeper she discovers what seemed obvious at the outset is not always as it seems. The reader goes down several blind alleys before the truth is revealed. I feel vindicated though. One of the big surprises was one I suspected quite early. It’s always fun when you can figure things out but still get fooled about others.
Lucy can be foolhardy but at least she is aware when she is stepping over the line. She has got a great cast of family and friends and the books makes you feel like you are at the shore. I loved that Gadoo, the restaurant cat, got more ink this time. Nothing like a good kitty to increase my enjoyment.
I give this five purrs and two paws up.

Stabbed In The Baklava
Kebab Kitchen Mystery, Book #2
Tina Kashian
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . .

Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I love the relationship between Lucy and her family, you can tell they love each other and will do anything for each other. She does butt heads with them at times, but that happens in all families. I like the time that she spend with her best friend, Katie, and the fact that they get into all kinds of mischief, all in the name of crime solving. You never know what they will do next. Lucy has two men interested in her, and I am not sure which man she will pick (although I know who I want her to pick). I just hope she makes a decision soon, I am not a fan of love triangles.

The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly through their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing without getting too wordy. I felt like I was right there on the Jersey shore, watching all of the action taking place and enjoying the aromas of the restaurant.

The mystery is well plotted and carries on well throughout the entire book. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through, and when you add in the plenty of twists and turns it is not easy to solve. And that is how I like my mysteries.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. It has everything that I look for in a cozy: engaging characters, and intriguing mystery and a charming setting. Do not miss this book (and series).

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

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back at the Jersey Shore where the staff of the Kebab Kitchen is catering a high-society wedding. The food seems to be a hit and that should be great for the business. Then when the crew is packing up to leave they find a grisly discovery in the catering van. The best man has been stabbed in the neck with a shish kebab skewer. Lucy’s parents are not going to be happy but they may become apoplectic when they find out their head chef is the prime suspect in the murder. Lucy knows it will be up to her to prove his innocence because there is no love lost between Lucy’s family and the investigating detective.

Ms. Kashian has written a very compelling mystery with plenty of suspects. The story moves right along with plenty of twists. The victim had his share of enemies and may have made more on the day he died. As in book one Lucy and her friend, Katie start sleuthing. Katie’s husband is a cop and he knows what the girls are up to even though he wishes they would stay our it., If Detective Clemmons finds out he wouldn’t think twice about arresting them for interfering in his investigation.

I was engaged by these characters in the first book and now know them even better. Their relationships are typical of those in a family run restaurant business. I grew up in one of those. Lucy and Katie’s friendship shines and while working with her ex is not easy, Lucy really champions Azad and does all she can to get him out of hot water. Although there is still Michael hanging around as the third limb to this romantic triangle. I know who I would choose but Lucy’s mother may have other ideas.

Then there is the food, the glorious food. I just like saying the word Baklava! Mine would have to be made without the walnuts (allergy), but I could almost taste that and the hummus and the shish kebabs and everything else they mentioned right through the pages. Yes, there are recipes in the back of the book.

Loved it! Appealing characters in an entertaining mystery set on the Jersey Shore. Who could ask for more? Me! I can’t wait for the next installment. One Feta in the Grave hits stores February 26, 2019!!

Stabbed in the Baklava in the second book in the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. It stars Lucy Berberian, a woman who has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore.

In this latest installment, the restaurant is catering a high-society wedding, which brings the restaurant good publicity, until the best man at the wedding is skewered like a shish kebab—dead. And guess who’s the prime suspect? Lucy’s ex, Azad, who is also the restaurant’s head chef. Lucy knows that Azad isn’t a murderer, but she’s going to have a hard time proving it.

I read the first book in the series, and I have to say that I enjoyed the second installment as well. I love the town of Ocean Crest, New Jersey. It sounds like such a beautiful place with its gorgeous weather, stunning structures, and striking buildings. I’d love to visit.

The characters really stuck with me this time around, and I loved that. They were all entertaining and really well-developed, especially the main character Lucy. I could see myself being friends with her, just hanging out.

The mystery itself was very intriguing and really well-plotted. Everything fit together well and kept my attention until the end. The pacing flowed amazingly well, and the writing style really gripped me.

Overall, I love this cozy series, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

* I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley *

Lucy is evolving into quite the sleuth, and I am eager to see more of her skills! This book had all the makings of a delightful cozy mystery; food, murder, charm. Overall, a good read and one that will have readers ready for more.