Sarah Blair is newly divorced and she has traded her luxury lifestyle for a cramped apartment and a receptionist job in a law office. In One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein, the only thing Sarah has to show for her 10-year marriage is a Siamese cat named Rahrah.

Although she wasn't that keen on cats, Rahrah has grown on her and keeps her company. When Sarah's twin sister Emily calls with some dreadful news, Sarah rushes to her side. It seems Bill, Sarah's ex-husband, was found dead at the trade show where Emily was working. Worse still it appears he died from eating a rhubarb tart made by Emily.

Sarah Blair is a young divorcee who now works as a law firm receptionist in her hometown of Wheaton, Alabama with her feisty Siamese cat RahRah. Her fraternal twin Emily is a talented chef who has come back from San Francisco to work at local gourmet restaurant Southwind and working at the upcoming food expo. When Sarah's ex-husband Bill drops dead after eating Emily's award-winning rhubarb crisp at the expo facility, it's Emily who finds him and tries to revive him. Meanwhile, Bill's current girlfriend and rival chef Jane has legal papers that claim Bill left her as RahRah's guardian with an animal trust and the gatehouse property. When another death occurs and Emily also finds this victim dead, the police arrest Emily for both murders. Now it's up to Sarah to find evidence to clear Emily in time for her to participate in the food expo competition, and to save RahRah from the nasty Jane.

This was a good series debut and the killer's identity was a surprise.

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

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Sarah and Emily Blair are twins and as different as night and day. Emily is a fabulous chef with plans to make it to the top of her field. Sarah married young and divorced 10 years later. She is starting over and has taken a receptionist job at a local law office and lives in a studio apartment with her cat, RahRah.

The restaurant where Emily works has a booth at the Food Expo and the staff will be giving demonstrations and sharing tasty treats. Emily will be making her special rhubarb crisp.

But tragedy strikes when Sarah’s ex is found dead at the convention center before the event even begins. Covered in rhubarb, it is quickly determined he was poisoned, by Emily! Also, with his death, it seems Sarah’s cat RahRah no longer belongs to her. A chef that works with Emily has laid claim to the feline.

As someone that hates to cook, Sarah knows she needs to hang around the expo to try to catch the real killer, even if it means filling in for her talented sister. That is if the killer doesn’t get to her first. She also needs to find a way to keep her cat.

This series is off to a stellar start and I am head over heels with the wonderful cat, RahRah. The cat was rescued during Hurricane Katrina my Sarah’s ex-mother-in-law who loved Sarah, so of course, she took the cat when the woman passed away. Her ex left out some key details about his mother’s will. Now, with him dead the secrets are revealed. Let’s just say he was a first-class a**, and I was happy he was the first victim. Yes, first, because the killing didn’t stop with him.

Ms. Goldstein has created a pair of sisters, twins, that are truly each other’s half. They are smart and fun. Best friends that take care of each other. Sarah is an interesting protagonist. I hope she continues to team up with her sister. I believe we have barely scratched the surface on when the author can take these sisters.

The story has a little bit more of an edge than a typical cozy but doesn’t go too far. It is exciting and fresh with plenty of twists and corkscrew turns. The author drops in the clues with such precision. I was up in the air about the killer right up until the big reveal. Someone on my radar but not at the top of my list. The motives were unclear until all the last clues slid into place.

This was a very entertaining story. A great mystery with characters I want to visit again. I am excited to see where the author takes this series. This one was A Perfect Escape!

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein
Kensington
December 18, 2018
10-1496719467
978-1496719478
Cozy Mystery
304 pages


"Bill's dead and, uh, I'm afraid the police think I killed him." A hook like this is sure to compel fans of cozy mysteries to continue reading. 

Sarah Blair receives a phone call in the middle of the night from her twin sister, Emily Johnson. She begs Sarah to come to the Civic Center as soon as possible where she discovered Sarah's ex-husband allegedly poisoned by Emily's famous rhubarb crisp. Before rushing to Emily's side, Sarah calls her attorney boss, Harlan Endicott, asking for his help. Upon arrival, Sarah finds Emily seated at a table with a look of abject horror on her face. What was she doing there with Bill, whom by her remarks at Sarah's and his divorce hearing purported her hatred of him? 

Emily moved back in her Wheaton, Alabama hometown after being offered a position by Chef Marcus who she worked with in San Francisco, to cook at Southwind, an upscale restaurant. She also returned to support Sarah when her ten-year marriage broke up. So now, Emily is at the Civic Center where a Food Expo they are to host is to be held; a fair Emily has prepared diligently for. 

Sarah, now happily ensconced in her tiny studio apartment is happy to be single again, though all she received in the dissolution of her marriage from her well-to-do ex-husband was his aunt's Siamese cat, RahRah. She received custody of the beloved feline after the aunt's death and to Sarah, a bequest better than anything. 
Something weird is happening, and Emily's reticence with what she knows confuses Sarah. She can't understand why Emily would meet Bill in the wee hours. What is more confusing is how anyone could think Emily would kill him. She is just not capable of murder.

The twins are as different as night and day as Sarah is totally inept in culinary matters, yet Emily hires her to help up at the Expo.  This way, they both can keep watch on others and do some sleuthing, to try to put the puzzle pieces together regarding Bill's death. Then Emily stumbles upon her colleague Richard, with a knife in his back and is taken in for questioning by police Chief Peter Mueller. Things keep getting worse . . .

"The evidence Peter has looks bad. Maybe it won't justify a finding of premeditated murder in Richard's case, but between the fingerprints on the weapons and the blood and rhubarb all over your sister and her clothing, and Richard and Bill apparently having enough dirt on Emily to get her kicked out to Southwind and maybe even the cooking field, Peter had good reason to arrest Emily."

Sarah soon learns that Jane, Bill's latest "floozy" who is in competition with Emily for the promotion to sous chef inherits everything of Bill's, including RahRah! And it is uncovered Bill became a partner of the business with Chef Marcus who was dealing with financial woes. Though Emily is endorsed for the new position, Sarah cannot picture Emily working for Jane. 

No, not only must Sarah deal with clearing her sister, but she needs to keep RahRah in her possession, knowing Jane doesn't give a fig about the feline and only wants the money left to care for him. 

Many are suspect in the killings. Jane can gain a lot from Bill's death—not only all his assets, but part ownership of the eatery as well as RahRah whom she doesn't want, but wants to be spiteful toward Sarah. Chef Marcus and Bill weren't actually on friendly terms, and the employees may have problems with him too. Then there's Richard? Could he have killed Bill, and what did he know that would cause his death? Someone is out to frame Emily, and Sarah is determined to clear her name at all costs. With plenty having motives for both deaths, it is difficult to discern the perpetrator(s); however, the actual architect of the whole scenario comes as a complete surprise. 

"One Taste Too Many", the first edition of the Sarah Blair Mystery series, is sure to whet the appetites of whodunit lovers. Set with colorful and charming characters, the plot offers a bit of humor as the twins face challenges they never expected. The author also graciously includes two recipes for her readers to enjoy.

One can never leave the past behind in a small town, or in this case an ex-husband. Sarah Blair is seeking to start over, not accustomed to the small quarters and the new job yet she puts a smile on her face and moves forward, till she is faced with the murder of her ex-husband. This mystery has it all, the food, characters, setting, and feline!

One Taste Too Many is a decent start to a promising new mystery series. I like the main character, Sarah Blair, and her twin sister Emily. I spent most of the book not knowing what to think about all the other characters because they all seemed guilty at one point or another. But I was still very surprised at the conclusion of the mystery. It was definitely a very satisfying read for me because the ending was so unexpected. I am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next.

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.

I love this debut mystery ! This writing captured me from the start of the book to the last page. I loved the plot, the charcters and the well crafted sleuth that kept me guessing until the end.  Very well done to the author ! l
This is a perfect cozy mystery debut with all the right elements that make it the perfect cozy mystery.

In this new series debut we meet our protagonist  Sarah Blair. She is  newly divorced and working at a law firm as a receptionist. She’s not very good at it and does not like her job.  The only thing in her life that she is happy about is her charming Siamese cat named RahRah. Her twin sister, Emily has a brilliant career as a chef. much to Sarah's chagrin but they do get along well.  But when her sister is the prime suspect in the murder of her ex husband Sarah is determined to clear her sister's name. 

Sarah has another challenge when her ex-husband’s girlfriend claims ownership of RahRah! Sarah is shocked  to her core that her vindictive ex  would give her beloved cat to the woman that destroyed  her marriage. She is determined to find out what her ex-husband was up to and investigates under the radar while struggling to keep ownership of her beloved cat. .

The characters are written to perfection. .The plot very well crafted with enough twist and turns to keep me reading into the night.  I loved RahRah the Siamese cat and his part in the book. I did not figure out the killer at the end.  Sarah is a savvy smart protagonist rebuilding her life . i look forward to reading the next in series and see where life takes her.  Very well done to the author.

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the first book in the Sarah Blair Mystery series, and my first book by this author.  What a great start to a new series! Sarah and Emily are twins who are very different.  Sarah recently divorced, is working at a law firm as a receptionist. Emily is a chef, who is high achieving.  When Emily is found standing over the body of Sarah's ex husband, the mystery begins.  Sarah is determined to find the real killer, knowing her sister is innocent.   Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I  recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.

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

A good start to a new series. A surprise ending. Many of the typical cozy ingredients: cat, cop, amateur sleuth, wrongly accused family member, and recipes. I will read the next one.

Synopsis:

For culinary challenged Sarah Blair, there's only one thing scarier than cooking from scratch--murder!

Married at eighteen, divorced at twenty-eight, Sarah Blair reluctantly swaps her luxury lifestyle for a cramped studio apartment and a law firm receptionist job in the tired hometown she never left. With nothing much to show for the last decade but her feisty Siamese cat, RahRah, and some clumsy domestic skills, she's the polar opposite of her bubbly twin, Emily--an ambitious chef determined to take her culinary ambitions to the top at a local gourmet restaurant . . .

Sarah knew starting over would be messy. But things fall apart completely when her ex drops dead, seemingly poisoned by Emily's award-winning rhubarb crisp. Now, with RahRah wanted by the woman who broke up her marriage and Emily wanted by the police for murder, Sarah needs to figure out the right recipe to crack the case before time runs out. Unfortunately, for a gal whose idea of good china is floral paper plates, catching the real killer and living to tell about it could mean facing a fate worse than death--being in the kitchen!

Includes quick and easy recipes! (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  I enjoyed getting to know Sarah and Emily, twin sisters.  Sarah has not had it easy, being divorced and not having very much money.  Her sister, Emily, is a very good cook, not so much Sarah.  But Sarah will help Emily any way she can, especially when Emily is a person of interest in a murder (or maybe two).  Hopefully Sarah is a better detective than a cook.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I could picture the Civic Center and all of the booths that were there.  It looks like a great event to go to, with lots of good food.  The mystery is well plotted and was carried on well throughout the entire book.  There were a lot of twists and turns and red herrings thrown in to make this a more difficult mystery to solve. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well crafted cozy mystery.  This was a very good start to a new cozy series and I am looking forward to reading the next book.   

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

Twin sisters, Sarah Blair and Emily Johnson, find themselves embroiled in the murder investigation of Sarah’s ex-husband, Bill, in which Emily is the prime suspect.  Seems Bill called Emily to meet him and she found him dead when she got to the Civic Center.

Next, complications arise over custody of RahRah, a Siamese cat, owned by Bill’s deceased mother who left a hefty trust for the care of the pet. Bill asked Sarah to take RahRah since he was allergic to cats.

Obviously, red herrings contribute to confusion over motives and opportunity.  Sarah persuades her boss, a lawyer named Harlan, into representing Emily.  Then she asks for his help on keeping possession of RahRah.  

The first in a new mystery series featuring Sarah Blair, One Taste Too Many breaks the ice nicely.

Sarah Blair is starting over at twenty-eight. She’s newly divorced and working at a law firm as a receptionist. She’s not very good at it, but she earns money so it will have to do. The only thing she got out of her marriage is a Siamese cat named RahRah. Her twin sister, Emily, is doing much better than Sarah. She has a brilliant career as a chef. However, things take a dark turn when Sarah’s ex is murdered and the prime suspect is her sister.

As Sarah vows to find the real killer and free her sister, her ex-husband’s girlfriend claims ownership of RahRah. Sarah is shocked that her ex would give the beloved cat to the woman who broke up her marriage. She is determined to find out what her ex-husband was up to before his untimely death.

This is the first book of a new cozy mystery series and it sure starts off with a bang. I just love getting in on the ground floor of a new series and this is certainly a good one. 

The characters literally jump off the pages (or in my case off my e-reader screen). Sarah and Emily are a wonderful sister pair. They work together beautifully. Both are quite likeable characters. I especially liked Sarah, being we both share the love of cats.

It’s a fast-moving, intriguing plot set in the world of food. The action takes place mainly at a food expo. I couldn’t put this one down until the end. RahRah has a huge part in the story, so I was immediately won over. To add to my enjoyment - I was totally off the track about who the culprit was. I didn’t figure it out until the end when Sarah did. I love stories that surprise me. 

One book and I’m already hooked on this series. Great characters, setting and a cat! I’m in :)

One Taste Too Many is the first book in Debra H. Goldstein’s Sarah Blair Mystery series.  There’s a lot going on in this well-plotted and steadily paced book, including several subplots in addition to the murders, and there are lots of twists and turns, and suspects.  I enjoyed the book, and the reveal came as a surprise.

Sarah Blair married William (Bill) Taft Blair a week out of high school, and now at the age of twenty-eight, she finds herself divorced, struggling, living in a small studio apartment in Wheaton, Alabama, and working as a receptionist for an attorney, Harlan Endicott.  After his mother’s funeral, Bill gave her Siamese cat, RahRah, to Sarah.  Sarah’s twin sister, Emily Johnson, is a promising young chef and works in Chef Marcus’ restaurant, Southwind.  When Sarah receives an early morning call from Emily saying she’s at the police station and the prime suspect in the death of Sarah’s ex-husband, she calls Harlan and then rushes to the police station.  Emily, who’s in charge of Southwind’s booth at the upcoming Food Expo at the Civic Center, says Bill, the Civic Center’s chairman, called and told her there was a problem, and to meet him there immediately.  She found Bill on the floor of the Southwind booth, called for help, and attempted to revive him.  After Bill dies, Sarah learns that when Mother Blair passed away, she left an animal trust for the RahRah and that the cat’s caregiver was given the carriage house.  Bill never told Sarah any of this and now his girlfriend, Jane Clark, who works with Emily as a line cook, claims he appointed her as RahRah’s caregiver and is forcing her to give him up.  Jane also accuses her of stealing one of Mother Blair’s expensive bracelets.  When a second death occurs and Emily is found near the body, Peter Mueller, the Wheaton police chief, arrests Emily for the murders of William Taft Blair and Richard Brown.  Sarah is convinced someone is framing her.  Peter tells Sarah that he doubts her sister is guilty, but he’s obligated to follow the evidence, and all of it is pointing to Emily.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

3.5 stars

A light mystery that starts a new series. Features a recently divorced heroine as the main character as well as her chef twin. Circumstances are certainly going to change for Sarah going forward but I'm pretty sure she's still gonna find trouble.

One taste too many is the first book to this series.
I enjoyed this book getting to know Sarah , Emily and friends.
A few twists and a surprise killer never would have guessed.
A new author for me ,looking forward to see what happens in the next book.

One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the first book in Sarah Blair Mystery series.

Sarah works as a receptionist for a local lawyer after her divorce, while her twin sister Emily is a raising chef. Late one night Sarah gets a call from her sister who is being held up in a police station, after Sarah's ex husband has allegedly died after having some of Emily's rhubarb crisp. Not only that by the walls seems to come crashing down on Sarah as it looks that she will have to give up her beloved cat to her ex husband's mistress.

Steady paced mystery with a well rounded characters, with distinct traits and personalities. Realistic and well described situations.
Nicely presented different kinds of relationships. I liked the sarcastic sense of humor and witty dialogue.
Cleverly thought out story with enough red herrings to keep readers engaged.

Sarah's ex- Bill- was a creep.  Geez.  She was young when they married and all she took away from those 10 years was Rah Rah the cat, who seems to be her soul mate.  When Bill is murdered and Sarah's twin Emily is arrested, things kick into gear.  Turns out that there was a trust for Rah Rah which should have allowed Sarah a better lifestyle and now Jane, who Bill left Sarah for, has been named trustee for the cat.  Yikes.   Sarah's got two love interests- her boss Harlan and Peter the chief of police.  There's a fair amount going on here for an intro to a series but it's a quick read.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  Oh- and there are recipes!

This is a well written mystery with good characters, but even though the plot is OK, I find it a little too intricate. There is a clear timeline, however, so it's easy to read.

ONE TASTE TOO MANY  by  Debra H. Goldstein
The First Sarah Blair Mystery

Sarah Blair is having a rough time. She's barely eking out a living after her divorce left her practically penniless, leaving with only the cat. Now her twin sister, Emily, is the main suspect in her ex's murder and her ex's latest fling is after her cat! Something fishy is going on in Emily's culinary world and it's not bouillabaisse! Emily's not talking, so cooking inept Sarah will do her best to investigate the chefs, find out what's really going on, and prove her sister's innocence....while doing whatever it takes to keep her cat!

What a fun engaging start to a new series! ONE TASTE TOO MANY introduces a good blend of characters, all hiding something. Sarah is a bit downtrodden, but determined to succeed. As such, she makes a likable protagonist who readers will root for. My favorite character is RahRah. This self assured cat is smart and lovable. While most readers will be concerned over Emily's plight, my fear the whole time was RahRah's destiny. If he were mine, the only way he'd be taken away, regardless of any legal papers, is over a dead body. I won't say whose...that may make for another murder mystery.

The mystery is a fine one and had me mistrusting pretty much everybody. Plenty of twists and turns and a few surprises kept me intrigued. ONE TASTE TO MANY ends with lots of possibilities for Sarah Blair and I look forward to reading about the next chapter in her life.

A good start for new series. This book was entertaining and fun to read.
The mystery was engaging, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end.
I liked the characters, well written and interesting, and I love RahRah the cat
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC