The Protagonist, Poppy McAllister is a pastry chef who lives in Cape May, NJ, with her mischievous cat, Figuro, and her elderly Aunt Ginny. This installment begins as Poppy agrees to be the pastry chef on her ex-fiance’s (Tim) team for a televised Restaurant Week Competition. Author Libby Klein’s humor kept me snickering throughout the entire story as the competition is plagued by saboteurs. The panel of judges are comical and the same goes for the Chefs and their team members who range from liars, imposters, revenge-seekers, cheaters, etc. Figaro stalks the only judge who has an allergy to cats (having owned cats all my life I could just see him doing this). Somewhere in this tangle of secrets and craziness is a killer who’s cleverly concealing themselves from everyone involved.

Poppy is such a fun character with a sparkling personality and a real sense of humor. Not only am I engrossed in the mystery but I am smiling at the things she thinks and says. Another character that really makes this series entertaining is Poppy's great aunt Ginny, she's silly, quirky, and downright hilarious. I found the mystery was well written and paced with lots of twists and turns. It kept me guessing to the end. I look forward the the next installment and finding out which man, Tim or Gia, will claim her heart.

I thought that this was book one for me in the Poppy McAllister Mysteries but I must of read Midnight Snacks are Murder book (2) as a Library book. (I remember Aunt Ginny sleep-walking) But I did just buy both 1 and 2 in kindle version as I enjoyed this one so much.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy mystery friends.

I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Kensington and the author provided me with an advance copy.

Restaurant Weeks are Murder by Libby Klein is the 3rd book in A Poppy McAllister Mystery, and another fun addition. Poppy is excited about working with her former fiance Tim in a real kitchen during the Restaurant Week Contest, unfortunately she also has to work with Gigi on their team too. The contest is not going smoothly, someone is changing ingredients, and sabotaging equipment, when one judge dies while tasting Poppy dessert, she is determined to find the real killer. Not only is this book laugh out loud funny, it a great mystery too. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love fun cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book/series. 

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

Poppy, Figaro the cat, and Aunt Ginny are back! If you haven't read this series, don't worry- Klein has made it easy to hop right in. This time out, Poppy, who has settled back in Cape May and is happily working as a gluten free baker, among other things, agrees to help her ex- Tim- as he competes in a cooking contest. You know that's not going to go well! Bess, one of the judges, ends up dead and Poppy is in the cross hairs of the investigation. This is one of those perfect cozy combos but as a bonus, it's set in a real place - Cape May. There's a little romantic triangle (is Tim serious about reviving a relationship with Poppy? What about Gio?), a frisky kitty, and oh, Aunt Ginny and all her quirks. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is fun and entertaining and just a darn good read.

I enjoyed this book. It was a humorous cozy mystery that I wanted to finish in one day. I look forward to other books in this series.

Trouble seems to follow where ever Poppy McAllister goes, and Cape May's Restaurant Week is no exception. When Poppy agrees to help out her ex-boyfriend Tim in his quest to win the week long cooking competition, she is unprepared for feuding chefs, sabotage... and murder. Once again Poppy and the people she cares about are in Detective Amber's cross hairs as potential subjects, and once she is determined to find the real killer before Restaurant Week claims yet another victim.

This is the third book in the Poppy McAllister series, and I have been hooked from the first. Goodness knows I'm a harsh critic, but I can't help but love these characters. I was thrilled to be reunited with Poppy, her zany great-aunt Ginny, and her mistevious cat Figaro. This book introduced a whole new cast of characters with the chefs competing in Restaurant Week that I wouldn't be surprised see pop back into the series later. When it comes to characters, author Libby Klein hasn't let me down yet (except in the case of Gia, who I contend is a squirrel from a Disney movie and not an actual character).

The murder didn't occur until 40% into the book and was concluded quite a bit before the ending. The mystery was quick and easy, and of course everyone just opened up to Poppy and told her everything on a dime, which is a real time saver. The remaining page real estate is devoted to fun hijinks (which I mostly approve of) and the love triangle between Poppy, Tim and Gia (which I mostly don't). It was really weird and stalkerish that Gia had his mother enter Restaurant Week just to keep an eye on Poppy and Tim. I think Poppy is fabulous. But I think the author is trying too hard giving her one endlessly devoted suitor after the next. I'm absolutely on board with a book that doesn't treat middle-aged, overweight women as if they are invisible. But you can be worthy and have something to offer the world without the validation of a couple of dudes fighting over you.

I had fun reading this book and I look forward to the next adventure with Poppy and her clan.

The books in this series were always very good and I think this one is the best so far.
There's a strong plot, an interesting mystery and the cast of characters is both funny and likable.
It's an entertaining and fun read that never bores.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters and see the evolution in their life.
The mystery was well devised and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading the next installment.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

I am loving this series more and more with each book! The characters are a lot of fun and keep things interesting. The story moved along at a great pace and I loved the whole Restaurant Week/cooking show theme. It was a lot of fun and I couldn't believe how many things could have went wrong. I can't wait for the next book!

Here we go, Poppy's chance to show Tim how much she supports him while she keeps an eye on Gigi during the Restaurant Week competition. Turns out she will be supporting Team Maxine as the pastry chef as well as playing B&B host to the guest judges. Mayhem ensues as one mishap after another threatens the competition until someone goes beyond the petty pranks and a very bitter judge who seems to be a tea tootler who has been spiking her tea turns up dead after trying Poppy's cannoli. OH NO not again! There's more on the line than just prize money and reputations as Tim implores Poppy to do what she does second best (in my opinion, I LOVE her recipes) and find the killer. With competition distractions (not just the food because after one mishap Gia is working for Team Mia Famiglia) and murder distractions Poppy has her work cut out for her. Things really heat up in the kitchen in this installment and Poppy starts to realize that she will soon have to pick which dish of a man she wants more. Of course Aunt Ginny and her gang are always good for laughs and unconditional love and support for Poppy. Great story, love trying out the recipes at the back. Keep em coming!

Restaurant Weeks Are Murder by Libby Klein is the third book in the cozy A Poppy McAllister Mystery series. Each book of this series has a new mystery to be solved by the main character so they can be read and understood as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course as with any continuing series there is some character development that would be missed if not reading from the beginning.

Poppy McAllister is a forty something widow who moved back to her hometown of Cape May after the death of her husband. Poppy returned to be near her elderly Aunt Ginny and has made a living for herself when they converted Aunt Ginny’s home into a bed and breakfast.

Poppy has always had dreams of becoming a chef so when she gets an invite from an old boyfriend to help out during the Restaurant Week challenge she couldn’t help but accept. What Poppy didn’t expect signing up for the high pressure cooking competition was to find herself in the middle of yet another murder investigation.

Having read the first two books of the series and thinking to myself when finished with each that five stars was just not enough for them I had high hopes going into this book. While the series is still at the absolute top of my favorites I did come away with a complaint this time, I truly do wish the author would move away from the old love triangle trope as it’s getting old. A strong female lead doesn’t even need one romantic prospect to be entertaining in a cozy so let’s move on from the back and forth, please? Otherwise I absolutely loved coming back to Poppy and her Aunt Ginny and all the quirkiness that surrounds them.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Ever since meeting Libby Klein in person at a book signing, I've been telling everyone to go read her books. They are funny and cleverly plotted. This newest addition continues in that tradition.

I loved it. The characters have continued to develop throughout the series, and the love triangle is getting even more complicated.

It almost got 4 stars because I HATE cliff hangers, but the ending had to be one - there was no way the issue could have been resolved.

This was a well written book. I liked the theme and the storyline. The characters were fleshed out and given believable personalities. The plot was fun and I enjoyed the entire course of it. The main character was likable and easy to relate to. The plot was fast paced and kept me guessing. The addition of a old flame and a new romance made this very interesting.

Poppy was definitely "interesting". The book kept be guessing up until the very end. Lots of suspects and the recipes were an added plus.

Restaurant Weeks are Murder is the third installment in the A Poppy McAllister Mystery series set in Cape May, NJ and featuring pastry chef and Bed and Breakfast owner, Poppy McAllister. Renovations on the old Victorian are almost done and Poppy and her Aunt Ginny have settled into a routine mostly revolving around Poppy's feisty and demanding cat, Figaro.

Poppy agrees to team up with her high school boyfriend and ex fiance Tim and his annoying partner Gigi to compete in the local cooking competition, Restaurant Week. The trio dubbed Team Maxine goes up against other teams including a former classmate of Tim's who publicly accuses him of having cheated in college, the fake French Julia Child wannabe and Poppy's sometime love interest Gia's mother in an effort to win $10,000.00.

When one of the judges drops dead from eating one of her desserts, Poppy finds herself having to clear her name and find out who is sabotaging the competition.

A group of betting misfits, pranks and baskets of mysterious ingredients will have you smiling on page one and laughing out loud on the last. Every one of the returning characters gets into some sort of scrape in this addition including the mischievous Figaro. I love this series and can't wait for the next installment but have fingers crossed that the author will soon put an end to the dreaded love triangle between Poppy, Tim and Gia.

I received an advanced copy of Restaurant Weeks are Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing and while not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Every time Libby Klein releases a new book in this series I squeal with delight! Not only is it the perfect culinary cozy to get lost in, but it's downright funny! This is truly one of my favorite cozy series around and I am always anticipating the next release! Highly recommended.

Poppy does have an interesting array of family (Aunt Ginny) and friends. The mystery was convoluted and kept me guessing. Lots of food and humor. Entertaining cozy mystery.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience

Everything that could possibly go wrong at the Restaurant Week competition happens and Poppy McAllister is in the thick of it. Recruited by her former fiancé to be his dessert chef for the contest, there’s plenty of drama among the contestants and then there’s a murder. Poppy and her Aunt Ginny are terrific characters and add to the fun.

A review will be posted on MapYourMystery.com Tuesday, February 5.

Move over all the cookery shows - Restaurant Weeks are here and Poppy is the chef, a pastry chef and this is her moment to shine!!

Years ago, she had left the culinary school and now she was called by teenage love Tim to participate in the week long show. And as the psychic in the previous book had predicted - deadbodies follow Poppy and a judge was found slumped in the chair, dead!! Poppy was asked to investigate along with her aunt Ginny and friend Sawyer.

My third book by Libby Klein, I was on a roll. This book was done in pure Masterchef style with mystery baskets and different ingredients each day along with the rivalry and politics and some sabotaging. Triple the fun... I am not a foodie, but I definitely love watching...now reading...about the books written with the cooking show flair...

Libby's trademark style of writing was well evident with humor provided by Aunt Ginny and her friends and cat Figaro, and tinge of romance provided by Tim and Gia... Both liked Poppy. And why not, Poppy was likable, she was gutsy and bold and overall nice. And I loved the support she garnered, the studio audience were all there only for her, basically aunt Ginny and her friends. And yes... There was betting too. Mostly in her favor

And you bet, there were my niggles too, murder occurred at 36% and Poppy's investigation started much later. I was pretty much done with the romance triangle. It was no longer cute. Poppy should select one and get on.

Overall, this book kept me great company during my flu. A good diversion and an enjoyable read.

Poppy is a hoot. She is your average person who just has a lot of bad luck. Finding all these dead bodies doesn't dampen her spirits and she always seems to ask the right questions to solve the murder.

This is the 3rd installment in the Poppy McAllister mystery series. I had the first book in my TBR pile and purchased the 2nd so I could read the series in order. I am glad I did but I do feel you can read this as a standalone and still enjoy. Poppy has been asked to be on Tim’s (her ex fiancé) team during restaurant week. This is a first competition of South Jersey restaurants with the grand winner getting a nice $10,000 check. The competition is going to be cancelled due to a water issue where the judges were supposed to stay. Poppy offers up the B&B that she and her Aunt Ginny are getting ready to open to allow the competition to continue. The judges vary from Miss New Jersey, local weatherman, and 2 professional chefs/critics. Poppy has to deal with the competition and keeping her new guests happy. She is still trying to sort out her feelings for Tim and Gia. As the competition starts Gigi (a chef Tim has been mentoring) continues to get under Poppy’s skin as she is constantly pointing out that Poppy is not a chef. An old classmate (Adrian Baxter) of Tim’s and a competitor in Restaurant week accuses him of cheating back when they were in school together by swapping out ingredients. So it is no surprise that the first day of the competition the same thing happens for all the chef’s and Adrian accuses Tim and a fight between the two breaks out. Ratings are great and the producers are thrilled. Day 2, the chefs have to deal with appliances that have been tampered with and one chef is injured. Poppy also has to deal with the antics of the judges at the B&B. Judge Bess is very snooty and she refuses to eat any food at the B&B and appears drunk all the time. Bess later dies after sampling Poppy’s dessert the next day at the competition. She was poisoned but fortunately nothing was in Poppy’s dessert to make her a suspect. When the police (Amber of course) investigate botulism is found on the spoon Bess was using, however, the place settings were backwards so was Judge Horatio the intended victim. He is a food critic who has destroyed many a career. The competition continues with one of the hosts becoming a substitute judge. Ashlee must leave as she is hospitalized after eating Adrian’s food and asks if peanuts were in the food. Adrian swears he never put nuts in his food. Poppy is asking a lot of questions and trying to sort out what is happening so she can help Tim’s reputation as everyone believes her changed out the ingredients. The suspects are endless as the real target of the murder could have been Bess or Horatio. The next day in the competition, Aunt Ginny becomes a judge and Poppy’s oven is sabotaged and she is hospitalized. She must be hitting a nerve with someone right? This was a good solid mystery with lots of red herrings and it was hard to figure out motive and who was responsible. I hope there is more in this series. Aunt Ginny and all of her friends are great comic relief in this series. Highly recommend.