Denise Swanson serves up a winner in Leave No Scone Unturned. This is the second book in the Chef-to-Go series, but it is not absolutely necessary to have read the first book (Tart of Darkness) in order to enjoy this mystery. Readers who followed Ms. Swanson’s Scumble River series will appreciate the brief references to its characters and places.

As the story unfolds, Caterer Dani Sloan is busy with preparations for the fall semester of Normalton University and promoting her Lunch-to-Go business at orientation week with the help of her renters, Ivy, Tippi and Starr. The murder of a local homeless man, a mysterious “creature” from the Blackheart Canal, and Tippi’s subsequent car-jacking propel Dani into a series of intertwined investigations, aiding Spencer Blake, head of Normalton’s campus security (and Ivy’s uncle).

Ms. Swanson’s writing is crisp and clean, and the story a delight. There are enough twists and turns to keep up the suspense, and more than a hint of romance. And as an added bonus, the plot also addresses important social issues – veterans with PTSD, the plight of the homeless, and business realities of charity work. These elements elevate the book to more than just an entertaining read. The college town setting also aids in making this series stand out from the run-of-the-mill culinary cozies. All-in-all, Leave No Scone Unturned is a very satisfying installment of the Chef-to-Go mystery series.

Note: I received an ARC of Leave No Scone Unturned from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. The above is my honest review.

A delightful addition to a charming series. A clever mystery that did become fairly obvious toward the end. My only complaint is the food talk. Too much description. I know this ups the word count, but it makes me hungry. LOL! I am eager to read more, about the people, not the food.

This is a fun second in series that is engaging, fun and a great sleuth .
Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson is the second installment in Chef-To-Go Mystery series but can be read as a standalone. I recommend both books in the series as every reader will enjoy the introduction of the first in series.
Dani is still working very hard to make her business successful as she waits for the school year to start. When the town suffers a crime spree and then Deuce is found dead everyone is concerned. This normally peaceful college town is quickly turning into multiple crime scenes.. Dani begins to investigate and once again is proving to be a avid investigator.
Readers will like the well crafted charcters, the whodoneit with plenty of surprising clues and the small town location. This is a fun cozy series that i highly recommend for your reading enjoyment. i look forward to the next adventure of Dani and friends.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal opinion.

Leave no scone unturned is the second book of this new series.
A great read , love the banter between the three girls who are living with Dani .
It’s nice to see Spencer getting involved again could be Dani’s love interest.
A lot going on is this book well plotted with plenty of twists and a killer to find .
Looking forward to Denise next book to come out .
Many thanks to the publishers and Nettgalley for letting me read this Book for a honest review.

Leave No Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson is the second installment in Chef-To-Go Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.

As Dani anxiously awaits beginning on the semester she is still working hard to make her business more lucrative. Ivy found a group of homeless people to give their leftover food to. A go between person is a guy called Deuce. However, when Dani and Spencer, Ivy's uncle, find Deuce dead things rapidly take a turn for worse. Their little town is assaulted by a carjacking gang. And unbelievably a strange creature has been spotted in the lake.
So many things are happening in this peaceful collage town all of a sudden. Deni is also not sure how she feels about Spencer. As things heat up situation gets more and more dangerous for all involved.

Good continuation from the first book. Readers get to know Dani and the girls even better. More secondary characters are introduced and well rounded.
Well written, it has a steady pace and things constantly happen to keep readers interested. Although at moments it seems like a bit too much all at once, so that it is hard to concentrate on everything. Cleverly presented mystery and it is not easy to guess the culprit.
I like that it has a romantic angle as well, and that things progress with Dani and Spencer.
All in all, good quality series, easy and quick read.

What is going on at Normalton University? Murder, carjackings, zombies! This isn't what Dani expected when she moved to town (after inheriting her place) and opened a catering business. Along with her student pal and renter Ivy, she finds herself investigating the death of Deuce, a homeless man who served as a link to the community, which Ivy was feeding with the leftovers from Dani's kitchen. Her love interest of sorts, Spencer, is the head of campus security. As is typical in a cozy, their relationship ebbs and flows as Dani pokes around. There are some twists, some unusual events, and the characters are good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you didn't read this first one- this is fine as a standalone.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries you will really enjoy this story. It is well written with a smart plot. The story provides a number of clues but you do not realize it until it all comes together near the end. There are also a couple of romantic possibilities that make a good side story.

In addition, for us long term Denise Swanson fans we get a brief visit with some Scumble River characters that cross over into this series.

This is the second in the Chef-to-Go series but could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Dani Sloan, owner of Chef-to-Go, is gearing up for the start of classes at Normalton University since her ‘lunch-to-go’ business relies on college students. To give new students a preview of her food, she plans to distribute samples at the student orientation fair where she has a booth.

Running late for the event, she finds her helper, Ivy, loading up leftovers for Deuce, a vet with PTSD who lives in a homeless camp nearby. Back on track for the orientation fair, Dani learns that zombies raided the camp the night before as she and Ivy are setting up the booth.

Arriving home after the event, Dani sees a zombie climb out of a strange car in her drive and Tippi, another helper who lives with her, get out of the passenger side. Turns out that Tippi is the victim of a carjacking, one of several in the area, by a couple dressed in all black wearing Halloween masks.

The head of campus security, Spencer Blake, drops by to interview Tippi and tell Dani that he called a locksmith to come by because Tippi’s keys were taken by the carjackers. As Spencer is leaving, he and Dani discuss the raid on the homeless camp and decide to check on Deuce. At the camp the pervasive quiet is unsettling and Spencer finds Deuce dead when he enters the vet’s tent. Police detective Grey Christensen is assigned the case

In addition to the murder, Spencer is on nighttime surveillance for the “creature from Blackheart Canal”, an ominously dressed man who emerges from the canal waters at night while Dani juggles slack helpers with catering a birthday party in exchange for hairdressing services.

Chef-to-Go also provides personal chef services and catering. A recent start-up, Dani relies on three helpers, Ivy, Starr and Tippi, three college students who combine a set number of work hours with rent each month to live with Dani in the B&B she inherited.

Denise Swanson’s writing literally pulls the reader through this suspense filled story with interesting twists and surprises. This second Chef-to-Go Mystery is engaging, character development skillfully done, and the sense of community continues to build. Ms. Swanson is an amazing storyteller whose work never disappoints.

It's Orientation Week at Normalton University and Dani Sloan is looking forward to the new semester and resuming her Lunch-to-go program for the students. Dani discovers that Ivy, one of her student tenants, has been donating leftovers from their catering jobs to the local homeless camp. When Deuce, one of the homeless men, is found bludgeoned to death in his tent by Dani and Ivy's uncle Spencer, she is determined to help find his killer. Meanwhile, Spencer is also busy dealing with reports of a creature emerging from the Blackheart Canal, a series of carjackings and sittings of zombies on campus.

Dani soon learns that some business owners are unhappy about Dani's support for the homeless. Dani wants her fledging catering business to thrive but at what cost? Police detective Gray Christensen shows a romantic interest in Dani, much to Spencer's dismay. Characters from the author's Scumble River mystery series also make an appearance in this book.

The plight of homeless veterans suffering from PTSD is highlighted in this story.

This was a quick, enjoyable read in the Chef-to-go mystery series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and SOURCEBOOK Landmark with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Leave no Scone Unturned by Denise Swanson is the 2nd book in Chef-To-Go Mystery series, and another fun addition. 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. School is beginning and Dani is as busy as ever, but her tenants are slacking in helping her. When car jackings and murder occurs, Dani must find the truth. 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 recommend this book and series for any cozy mystery lovers like me. 

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. Thank you.

It's the beginning of the university's fall semester and Dani can't wait for the college students to return to Normalton, Illinois. After all, without them, there is no one to support her Lunch-to-Go service, which is a vital part of her Chef-to-Go business. But Normalton University's orientation week is marred by a mysterious murder, along with a series of car-jackings and sightings of a shadowy creature in a pond on campus. With the whole town feeling unsettled, Dani finds herself dealing once again with the infuriatingly handsome Spencer Drake, the head of security at the university.

Although Dani vowed that her life would never again be boring and routine after she quit her stifling corporate job, she had no idea that she'd end up dealing with such strange happenings, not to mention murder. As the trouble in Normalton draws worryingly close to home, Dani realizes that if the killer isn't caught soon, she may be the next one who is found scone cold dead.
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Series: Chef to-go Mysteries – Book 2
Author: Denise Swanson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary/B&B
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

From Sourcebook comes Denise Swanson’s latest edition to the Chef to-go Mystery series, Leave No Scone Unturned.

Normalton, Illinois is as far from its names derivative as you can get. There is nothing normal about the town or its residents. And Dani isn’t the average chef or B&B owner. Her business is dependent on the influx of college students, and murder is not conducive to parents keeping their kids enrolled.

Dani is a lovable character. She loves and cares deeply about those around her, from the girls who board and work with her, her neighbors, to her friends. It is no wonder she gets involved with murder investigations. The main character in this series is truly a wonderful creation of the author and why she is a New York Times best Seller.

Secondary characters are well rounded, with enough detail to make them interesting, and affable. Dani’s love interest, Spencer is not blatantly macho, but has enough masculinity to keep readers happy. The villain, although a murderer can be charming. Not all the suspects are disagreeable but they have issues that amuse the reader and keep the story moving forward.

Although there isn’t a great deal of information about the town of Normalton, what there is, reminds many of us why small to medium towns have a huge draw for readers. College towns in particular keep readers inquisitive and lend an air of youthful enthusiasm to this series and others.

I did not find it hard to figure out the killer’s identity, or the motive, and for some this will be a sticking point. There are some wonderful mouth-watering foods described in the book, but the recipes were not included as they often are in many culinary based cozies. Regrettably, I found the lack of recipes to be a disappointment.

Over all, Leave No Scone Unturned is a quick fun read with enjoyable characters. The plot stays on target and doesn’t roam too far from the main idea. The book is well written and will give readers a few hours of relaxing pleasure.

I’ve been reading the books from this author since the beginning of the Scumble River series and I have to say that I really like the new series. I enjoy how the characters are different, but sometimes old friends from Scumble River are introduced or references are made. This is the second book in this series and it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more of this series hopefully. The characters are likable and the mystery is well thought out and not unrealistic.

The school year is about to start and Dani is looking forward to promoting her business during the orientation going on in the quad, with all the new incoming freshman she is sure to attract new business. When the orientation is over she heads home to put everything away and comes across one of her renters, Ivy, talking to an unsavory looking man. She comes to learn that the man is part of the homeless population that has a place in the outskirts of the college. Ivy has been giving out any of their left overs from Dani's catering business to the homeless and the man Deuce is her go between with all the homeless. When Deuce ends up dead Dani feels the need to investigate and help find his killer. The detective on the case is eager to have her help and the two decide to help each other out with information. Follow along as they look into his death meanwhile coming across a group of zombies, a monster that only comes out at certain times, and a group of carjackers in the area. With all that is going on will they be able to find a killer among these groups or are they looking in the wrong direction? This is a great new series filled with a fun setting, a mixture of wonderful characters, and a plot that will have you eyeing everyone when it comes to the killer. I can't wait to see what Dani gets into next!!!

Dani Sloan is pleased that her chef-to-go lunch service is starting to take off. Business really starts to pick up during Normalton University’s orientation week since students are a large part of her business. But then a murder and a series of carjackings occur that could mean trouble for Dani and her student helpers. One of these student’s uncles is the head of campus security and doesn’t want Dani to get involved. However, Dani’s natural curiosity and desire to help her friends gets her in deeper into the investigation and places her in real danger.

This book is the second in a new series by Denise Swanson. I missed the first book, but quickly caught up with the important characters. Dani has feelings for the campus security head Spencer Drake, but I also see a lot of chemistry between her and Detective Gray Christensen. I like the campus/college town setting of the book, too. For the most part, I like the main characters, although there is a lot of negativity towards relationships and marriage in the book. Somehow, in spite of that, there is a little romance between some of the characters. Dani’s student helpers aren’t that well-developed and unfortunately the least likable of the three, Tippi, plays the biggest role in the story. The plot gets a little convoluted, but I was interested to see what would happen in the story.

The premise of the series is interesting enough that I would read follow-up books in the series. Some cozy series have too many recipes, even when there isn’t a culinary theme. This book on the other hand, where food plays such an important part of the story, could have used a few recipes for the dishes Dani prepares. Those who follow the author’s Scumble River series will recognize a couple of side characters from those books and will enjoy seeing them interacting with Dani. Those who read the first book in this series will like seeing what is new in Dani’s life and with her new business. I would rate this book as 3.5 stars.

I received this book through the courtesy of Sourcebooks Landmark. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Loving her new characters and town. This series only gets stronger and characters more developed. Always looking forward to the next one.

A fun cozy mystery, with a dash of romance, sprinkled with business, and a hearty helping of social issues. Dani's chef-to-go and personal chef business was slow over the summer. With Normalton University about to start a new semester, it is thankfully picking back up again. Ivy suggests and executes a plan to get leftovers from the catering jobs and lunches to go ( which will otherwise be going to waste) to a homeless camp near the campus. This brings up issues for the business, and a discovery of a murder.

Not just a regular cozy, No Scone left unturned explores social issues. Homelessness, military and vet plights, the impacts of doing charity on a business. Not everyone will like what you are doing, and you may be forced to reevaluate. Do you do what you think is right, or what be right for your business? What can be done to help vets? Are social programs doing enough opif the homeless don't have enough resources to access them? There are also hints of romance, without it being overwhelming or essential to the story.

I enjoyed this installment and look forward to more in the series!

This is book 2 of the Chef to Go series. Dani inherited a mansion adjacent to a college campus. She had decided to become a chef. She caters special events, offers a lunch-to-go service for students, and acts as a personal chef. Her staff is 3 students who work in exchange for board.

Dani discovers one of the students, Ivy, providing leftover food for a homeless man. Dani thinks this is a great idea and makes plans to continue the practice. Later that night while visiting the site, Dani discovers the man has been killed.

Dani is an engaging character and the story is well-developed. I highly recommend it.

I have read the Denise Swanson Scumble River series. This is a nice side story to Scumble River.

Loved this book. I loved the mystery with all it's twists and turns and all the characters involved. I love that these girls are portrayed so well as typical college students. I loved that it addressed a serious social problem and the stereotypes of the homeless. Especially loved the ending. Cannot wait for the next book!

After reading the first “Chef-to-go” mystery, I was anxiously awaiting the release of the follow up book “Leave No Scone Unturned”. Lets just say I was not disappointed at all when reading the second book in this series. The small town feel of the book combined with the love and passion for cooking makes for a cozy, quick read. I especially love how Denise always manages to bring a little Scumble to the “Chef-to-Go” stories. The introduction of a new “interest” in the story was at times frustrating because from the very beginning I longed for Dani and Spencer to be together. I won’t give any details away but lets just say I’m eager to see what happens with these relationships in the next book. The mystery/murder that Dani stumbled into helping solve was so sad and heart wrenching at the end. I think mostly because my family is military. As fictional as I want to believe parts of this story were there are sadly some very non-fictional truths to it. I have to commend Denise Swanson for writing another story that grabbed my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting to instantly grab the next book. My only wish for this book is that it included recipes of the delicious sounding food Dani makes throughout the book. Farmhouse Benedict!? Wish I could come over for breakfast! Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It's another entry in the Chef-to-Go series! I enjoy culinary mysteries, and the idea of a chef living in a college town and catering to the students for one of her income streams appeals to me. I like the characters but also the various issues brought into the story to give it a bit more complexity: things like homelessness, mental illness, employee management, intolerance, and more. I think I liked this one a bit better than the first one, and I'll be looking forward to #3. Hoping it's not turning into a full-on romance series, though.