One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein is the first book in the new cozy Sarah Blair Mystery series. Now sometimes cozies have a food theme and sometimes you have a pet theme, One Taste Too Many has a bit of both making it good for the animal lovers and foodies out there.

Sarah Blair is our lead character in One Taste Too Many, she’s a young divorcee who doesn’t have a clue in the kitchen. Sarah’s twin however is a promising young chef but when Emily ends up being found over Sarah’s ex-husband’s dead body Sarah finds herself pulled into the kitchen to help Emily find a murderer before she takes the wrap.

The was a solid opening for a new series with a lot going on in the story. The mystery side to the book had plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to figure out the culprit. However, I think maybe for me I thought everything put together was a bit much for a first book as I never really felt I connected to the characters the way I’d like. With potential though I will see how book two turns out since it was an entertaining mystery.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Somehow even in my worst reading slumps, I can always count on a good cozy to help me out of it. This was one of those great cozies that fit the bill! There was enough mystery and suspects to keepme guessing, and as well as being a cat themed mystery (my favorite!) it had a culinary aspect as well. The two themes worked well, and I liked having an in with the legal parts of the murder mystery. In the end I felt like it wasn't tied up as well as it could have been, but that was the only let down.

A good start to what I hope becomes a favorite series. Four stars.

Review of ONE TASTE TOO MANY by Debra H. Goldstein 
(A Sarah Blair Mystery)

I personally think there is never too much tasting with rhubarb, but the reader's hook tells us for some people, there really is! First in a brand new cozy mystery series, protagonist Sarah Blair finds herself in over her head when her ex-husband dies suddenly and her twin sister Emily is accused. Next Sarah is considered a person of interest; and Emily rooks Sarah in to help at the Food Expo! Sarah also faces possibly losing her beloved cat RahRah, initially rescued during Hurricane Katrina by her former mother-in-law, with whom Sarah got along fabulously. But RahRah has supposed to have an "animal trust," with a stipend to the carer. Sarah doesn't care, but someone apparently does, and is willing to both kill and frame innocents.
ONE TASTE TOO MANY is  a "different," slightly edgy, cozy from an author with extensive knowledge of legal procedure.

From the first page, I was immediately enthralled by this light and fresh whodunit that I could not put down. Why was her sister accused of killing her ex-husband? Why does someone else wants her cat? The answers to these two questions are contained within the pages of this well-written mystery where the suspect pool was rather small but all had stronger motives to want the victim dead. Putting on her sleuthing cap with cues from watching Perry Mason on TV, Sarah sets about gathering clues and one by one, the author let us see who everyone is and why their roles are pivotal in this drama. The author did a great job in keeping me glued to all that was happening and when I thought I had a handle on the person responsible, the author strategically had a few twists and turns that enhanced how well this story was being told. It was that aha moment when I knew and bravo to the author because I did not see that one coming. This was fun book with a likable cast of characters and engaging dialogue. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah, Emily and their friends.

A fun and interesting storyline with characters that held my interest.
Kept me guessing till the very end. A good start to a new series.

I almost didn't request this book as it was the first in a new series and a new author for me. I am glad It decided to because of the cover showing a Siamese cat. I will definitely read this author again as is an exceptional book. There are so many twists and turns it was hard to keep up as the pace was fast and the plot kept changing. I didn't know who was guilty until it was revealed. There are twin sisters, one Emily, noted Chef outgoing and Sarah married and divorced. Emily is a well-known chef. The only thing Sarah has is her Siamese cat, RahRah.
Emily is discovered with the dead body of Sarah ex-husband Bill Blair and the sheriff feels she is guilty of his murder and arrested Emily. Sarah called her employer for help. Emily is out on bailed and has Sarah helping her find answers to the death of Bill. Next Sarah learns that Rah Rah has died and left an animal trust for the cat. Whoever his Rah Rah has control of the carriage house and Rah Rah trust funds. Bill appointed his girlfriend has Rah Rah trustee and Sarah must give him up. Is Emily guilty of murder? What will happen with Rah Rah? Will Sarah find out before joins her ex-husband in death? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. Recipes are included.

Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

This was an interesting book but there was way too much happening with too many suspicious people. It felt overloaded. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Fun plot, love these characters. A winning first book in the series. I'm looking forward to reading more.

One Taste Too Many is a cute cozy mystery filled interesting characters and a good plot. Twin sisters, a dead ex-husband,and a fight over cat custody. Debra Goldstein has potential to be a good cozy mystery writer.

I genuinely enjoyed this read. It was filled with great characters, a great premise, and humor. At first it seemed a bit all over the place, but it started to really flow after a couple chapters. The author kept it light while still executing a well written mystery.

As a first in a new series, this definitely has potential.
Emily and Sarah are sisters, Emily is a culinary wiz and Sarah, not so much. When Sarah's ex husband is found dead with Emily hovering over the body, things take a drastic turn and Sarah decides to investigate.

I did enjoy the story, but there were times I felt the story dragged on. I will be looking for the next book to see if it holds my attention a bit better.
Overall, this is a pretty good start to a new series.

I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

A solid cozy but unfortunately it could not hold my interest.  It just felt like I had read the premise before.

This is a fun, fast paced new cozy mystery filled with interesting characters and a well developed plot.  Sarah Johnson's twin sister Emily is a chef at a gourmet restaurant in their hometown of Wheaton, Alabama.  The town is sponsoring a Food Expo and Emily,whose restaurant is exhibiting there,  is called to the civic center to meet with the Expo's manager, Bill Blair, who is also Sarah's ex-husband.  When Emily is found at the Expo with Bill's dead body after he supposedly ate one of her rhubarb crisp's and becomes a person of interest to the police, the twins begin to look for other suspects.  And when Emily is found at the scene of yet another murder, this time of Richard, one of her colleagues, and is arrested the two of them, along with Sarah's boss Harlan Endicott, who has been acting as their attorney, try to find the true culprit.  With several suspects in the kitchen,kitchen equipment being sabotoged and a nasty fight over cat custody, this book kept my interest from beginning to end.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.