Three Widows and a Corpse is the third in this series and it didn't disappoint. The characters are interesting and well developed. The storyline is entertaining.

It is time for a trip back to Jefferson to see what Food Blogger, Hope Early, has new in her life. Hope finds herself knee-deep in another mystery when she stumbles across another dead body while on a scavenger hunt. The bigger surprise comes when two other women appear in town and claim to still be married to the deceased. Who is the true widow? Will Hope survive the search for the killer? You'll have to read the book to find out those answers and much more.

I've enjoyed this series because I love food and I am always intrigued at a look behind the scenes of what food bloggers do to create their recipes and posts. I love to cook but have never really created my own recipe. I have adapted some recipes but that is about all. Several of the recipes in this book have chocolate in them so my mouth was watering just reading about the muffins, cookies, and cakes. Recipes are provided and a few have caught my eye.

The mystery is intriguing and the author does a splendid job of hiding the killer in plain sight. I'm not sure I suspected this character so I was surprised when the story came to a head and the killer was revealed. There are several potential suspects and while I would have liked it to have been one character, no such luck.

Hope has multiple sides to her - she inserts herself into the case trying to solve the murder (despite her boyfriend the sheriff asking her to stay out of the investigation), she doesn't know how to say no, and is a little insecure when it comes to her relationship with Ethan. But all of these pieces come together to form a likable protagonist.

Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in the series. We give it 4 paws up.

This is the first book by Debra Sennefelder that I have read. I enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with a good plot that is neatly wrapped up by the end. This story definitely fits the bill. The cast of characters consists of well-developed people who range in personalities from somewhat cantankerous to pleasant and helpful. My favorite person in the book was Hope, a young female who has been striking out on her own as a food blogger.

The only thing that I found to be a bit of a problem for me was the addition of many new characters as the book went on. It's difficult to tell while reading which new name is one that will become important to the plot, and a lot of new people only cause confusion.

I love the cast of characters in this series,both human and animal. Hope, a food blogger is back to investigate a murder. She finds the body of a bigamist during a town scavenger hunt. The story is well written and I look forward to the next installment.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Although I have not read the first book in this series, I have read the second one - The Hidden Corpse - and I was happy to dive straight into this third one - Three Widows and a Corpse. Debra Sennefelder did a fantastic job providing any backstory, making this a great standalone read.

I particularly liked Hope Early, a food blogger who is kept busy developing her food blog, Hope at Home, and choosing low-cal recipes for a feature in Cooking Now! magazine. Possessing the necessary attributes of any great sleuth: intelligence, curiosity and keenness, she's never too busy to compete in the town's traditional annual scavenger hunt.

Set in the Jefferson, Connecticut, Hope has a lot going on in this book, as she finds one item not on her scavenger hunt list-a dead husband. The grisly surprise is the corpse of shady real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb, shot in a car park. His wife Elaine, who's also taking part in the hunt, gasps and nearly faints. So why do two other women proclaim that their husband is dead? Did one of them put a bullet in the bigamist? Number one suspect and number three wife Elaine begs Hope to investigate. . .

I was sold on this compulsive story from the very beginning, with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues to satisfy even the most painstaking and diligent armchair detective.

There were numerous characters in Three Widows and a Corpse but I think I just about managed to keep track of all of them without being overwhelmed! Apart from Hope herself, I was also rather fond of her family and friends - her sister Claire, her close friend Drew, Jane Merrifield, owner of the Merrifield Inn and mystery novelist and of course Ethan Cahill (Police Chief boyfriend) and the wonderful dynamics between them. Obviously, I have to also mention Hope's adorable doggy, named Bigelow and the addition of Princess the cat!

Another of my favourite aspects of this novel was the fluidity of the writing. The details of the plot were very well-executed and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on. The author did a brilliant job of balancing the different story-lines and there was just enough of Hope's personal life and blogging to balance this murder mystery. The story was brimming with humour, scrumptious food, lots of suspects and clues were scattered throughout.

I am looking forward to returning to Jefferson with Hope on a future occasion. So entertaining and engaging, Three Widows and a Corpse is definitely well worth the time invested.

A superb read and very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is the third book in the Food Blogger series, but the first I've read. I liked Hope and her crew and the pets (which always add some fun to a cozy mystery). I enjoyed the mystery, which kept me guessing for a while.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.

Hope has a lot of things going on, from the opportunity to get back into a top foodie magazine, the network special she's developing recipes for, and her food blog that she has made successful. Add to that helping her sister recover from not being elected Mayor, her role in the annual scavenger hunt, and her own relationship. The dead husband was just one more thing. In between all of this, Hope is NOT investigating.

The pace is steady and the intersections of characters across settings and how Hope is able to connect the dots is well done. And some of her creations definitely sound yummy. Those who enjoy cozy mysteries will not be disappointed - and you get recipes besides the killer!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Three Widows and a Corpse is the third installment in the A Food Blogger Mystery series set in Jefferson, CT and featuring food blogger Hope Early. In addition to writing her blog "Hope at Home", she's been contracted by food magazine, Cooking Now to put together a series of low cal recipes and it's also time for the annual Jefferson scavenger hunt.

Hope teams up with Drew, a reporter and her best friend; Claire, her sister who has barely left the house since losing the recent mayoral election and local innkeeper Jane to defend their title as winner's of the scavenger hunt. But when the team pulls in to the parking lot of a local restaurant to get a napkin, Hope discovers the body of real estate developer Lionel Whitcomb lying dead alongside his car.

Things take a turn when Lionel's wife Elaine appears by Hope's side along with two other women both claiming to be Lionel's current wife. Apparently Lionel was not only a sleazy developer but a bigamist too. Despite the warnings from Chief of Police, Ethan Cahill who also happens to be her boyfriend, to stay out of the investigation Hope quickly finds herself the next target of a killer.

A fast paced plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The return of series regulars and pets plus a slew of tasty recipes make for a delightful afternoon read.

I received an advanced copy of Three Widows and a Corpse from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Hope Early is a food blogger with a temporary assignment at a food magazine. She's also deeply involved in her community, in a promising romance, and with friends and family. You wouldn't think she'd have time to intervene in an investigation of a local murder.

When she happens upon the body of a local luminary, though, and discovers that three different women claim to be his real wives and heirs to his fortune, she can't resist.

This is the sort of mystery which ends up being solved more by accident than by intent, but the story of Hope, the three widows, and Hope's life decisions is a pleasure to read.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Food blogger Hope Early is one busy bee. Her blog, a magazine assignment, and the town’s annual scavenger hunt are all on her plate. Her team has won the scavenger hunt several times but this year when they arrive at a local restaurant to take care of one thing on the scavenger list, Hope finds a bonus item . . . another dead body.

Lionel Whitcomb, a local real estate developer has been shot next to his fancy car, right there in the parking lot in broad daylight. His wife, Elaine, also taking part in the annual event faints as she sees her husband. Then another two women come onto the crime scene and claim Lionel is their husband too. There are Three Widows and a Corpse – seems Mr. Whitcomb was a bigamist and he has left behind three angry wives and three viable suspects. Two of which beg Hope to do what she does and find the actual killer. Her team did lose the scavenger hunt, maybe she will have better luck finding the culprit that saved Lionel from explaining things to the three women in his life.

___

All the characters I have enjoyed in the previous book return. Many are on Hope’s scavenger hunt team and are on hand when Whitcomb’s body is found. Boyfriend/Chief of Police Ethan Cahill wants Hope to leave the investigation to him and Detective Reid and she had every intention of doing so, but soon she is asking one question here and another there and then she finds herself in total investigation mode. The killer rewards her participation with a few warnings but she doesn’t back down. Hope is a strong protagonist and doesn’t shy away from using her culinary talents to get the answers she needs. I do enjoy her relationship with Ethan and the way it is slowly progressing. She also has a strong group of friends to support her. I can’t forget her pet brigade, her dog Bigelow and Poppy the chicken are now joined by Princess the cat. Human and animal characters are all well developed and very entertaining.

The wives are the obvious suspects but there are a few others pulled in too. My heart broke when a second person was killed and I was totally all wound up in the investigation myself. The author cleverly filled the story with twists and red herrings that slowed both this reader and Hope down but I circled back around and honed in on the killer just a bit before Hope. I loved the way this story flowed and was wrapped up.

As a blogger myself I loved following along with all the behind the scenes machinations of creating a successful blog and keeping content fresh and interesting and for Hope profitable. Our fields are totally different but the premise is basically the same for all bloggers. Pictures are always important and Hope has really learned a lot about photographing food and I feel like I have learned a few things too. I also love the recipes that are included.

Debra Sennefelder gives readers a strong mystery in Three Widows and a Corpse. Great characters with perfect amounts of family life, romance, and humor. I was entertaining from beginning to end and can’t wait for my next visit Jefferson, Connecticut.

Stumbling onto another dead body again put Hope in the cross hairs of a killer, but she wasn't going to let that or Det. Reid stop her from investigating. The case was a crazy one with three women claiming to be the dead guy's wives. I liked the side story of Claire coming to a decision about a new career path and Hope attempting to help guide her. But like all sisters, they usually managed to disagree where good sense was concerned sometimes. It's a good thing that Claire was at Hope's house at the particular time she was though!

Another enjoyable side story was Hope's assignment working at a magazine that was collaborating with her blog. There was a definite connection to the case though. I love that Hope and Ethan's relationship has grown and gotten better, and even though he stayed fairly busy with the investigation in this book, he took time out to come and see her. Since this book has it heading toward Labor Day and fall, I'm really hoping to see a Christmas season book out next. I have no idea what the next book in the author's mind is, but I'd sure love it if it was a Thanksgiving-into-Christmas and covered both seasons. I could picture Hope doing some pretty awesome Christmas trees in her old house!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. This is the third in this cosy mystery series but easily read as a stand-alone. Hope is a food blogger, with a new writing opportunity at the Cooking Now magazine. She’s also a team member in the town’s annual charity scavenger hunt. A scavenger hunt stop at a town bistro results in Hope finding the dead body of local real estate developer and shady businessman, Lionel Whitcomb. While many wanted him dead, surprises appear in the form of two more wives, in addition to the one who lives with him. Lionel’s current wife leans hard on Hope for help with the funeral catering and solving the murder, as well as fending off the two other wives. There are several threads that connect the murder and Hope’s work at the magazine. The characters are well written and distinct, including the supporting cast. It’s a good, light cosy, with recipes.

I've read the other books in this series, so I couldn't resist this one. I love Hope, Jane, Claire, Drew, Ethan and the pets. The plot and storyline has enough twists and turns to make it interesting, in addition to me being clueless who the murderer was until the end.

Can we get more books in this series, please?

Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder is the third installment, and I loved it!

Will Meg give in to her curiosity and find the murderer?

What I like about Three Widows and a Corpse:
• Meg Early is back and cooking up wonderful recipes in her kitchen. She is extremely curious. So, remember what you say and do around her.
• The Town Charity Scavenger Hunt started with a bang.
• Drew is charming, funny and knows Meg well enough to be there when she needed him.
• Claire and Hope have an excellent sister relationship. They are supportive and yet still honest with each other. I am delighted that Claire figured out what she needed to do.
• The three widows were kind of funny with their arguing and bickering.

What I dislike:
• The second murder victim, as that was extremely uncalled for as the murderer, should have done better research before killing that witness.
• Ethan wasn't involved in the story much. Also, I know he is the Police Chief, but cutting Hope out makes her more curious. He needs to find a way to work this out with her.
• Last I didn't like the killer; no reason is good enough for what was done. Although I didn't care for this person before they were caught. I see lots of anger management in the future for the culprit.

Five Stars
Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder is getting five stars. It is a fun, witty read with great characters and outstanding food. Ms. Sennefelder also gives us a look into everything that a food blogger does to make money. Oh, and don't forget the brilliant recipes in the back of the book. So, if you like cozy culinary mysteries, then I recommend you read this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder.

Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder is the third book in A Food Blogger Mysteries but can be read as a standalone.

Hope Early is a food blogger, who lives in a small town Jefferson, Connecticut with her sister Claire, best friend Drew and boyfriend Ethan who just happens to be police chief.
She is very busy with her blog, developing new recipes for food magazine and taking care of her two pets.
Once prominent businessman, Lionel Whitcomb is now under an investigation when Hope finds him shot in the parking lot of a local diner.
His wife Elaine plays the part of devastated wife very well, however all of a sudden there are two more wives, both claiming that Lionel had never divorced them.
Try as she might Hope can't help asking a question or two here and there.

Book is brimming with mystery, murder, love interest and adorable pets.
There are many suspects, many twists and turns to keep readers engaged and a lot of mouth watering recipes.
I like how supporting characters also grow and develop and are important part of the story. I immensely enjoyed learning about intricacies of blogging and working for the magazine.

Really well done series that keeps getting better with each new book.

Witty, well written who done it. The supporting characters keep the book interesting while the main character tries to stay out of solving the mystery. Fortunately she is nosy and keeps solving the mystery. The blogging info is really interesting and you can never go wrong with food. Who would have thought chickens could be so much fun. Love the antics of Bigelow and Princess. Can’t wait for the next installment of this well written series.

Food blogger Hope Early, is doing well in her new profession. She has a freelance job for a food magazine, she is getting sponsors and has had a surge in followers. It looks like everything is looking up for her. At the local scavenger hunt, she discovers the body of a local businessman, who is waiting for a court case due to his unethical business dealings. When two women show up in town claiming to be married to him, his wife in Jefferson, Elaine, is not sure what to do. With a plethora of suspects, Elaine asking Hope to help clear her name, and the other two wives coming to Hope for help, you know she is not going to be able to stay out of this investigation.

I like the character of Hope. She’s a strong woman determined to make her blog, Hope At Home, successful. She is also a good friend to Drew and a great sister to Claire. She is helping both of them with personal and job issues. Her boyfriend, the police chief, tries to keep her out of the case, but she doesn't listen to him. When she received a warning to keep out of the investigation, painted on her garage, it pushes her to get even more involved. I enjoy this series and this book was interesting. There was just enough of Hope's personal life and blogging to balance the murder mystery. The story is filled with humour, yummy food, lots of suspects and clues sprinkled throughout. The story was well-paced and the characters were well-developed. I had figured out who the murderer was, but was not positive until the final reveal. This is a great traditional cozy with a small town, amateur sleuth, likable and some quirky characters and lots of food. I love the recipes at the back of this book and will be trying a couple of them for sure. Don't chocolate, walnut muffins sound delicious? This is one that I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

It’s bad when a death results in one widow, but three? Someone was certainly a busy man. There are some yummy dishes being cooked up in this book. They’ve also included some recipes for you to enjoy. I enjoyed the story and the characters. I think there is more to being a blogger than what the average person thinks. Course if you have a friend who is a food blogger, you may score some tasty treats along the way. Follow along as these three widows want to find out who killed their husband. There might be a surprise or two along the way. Hope you enjoy meeting Hope, Ethan, Drew, Claire and the rest of the gang. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Three Widows and a Corpse by Debra Sennefelder is book three in the Food Blogger Mystery series. This was the first one I have read but was able to get current right away.
Hope and her team are just starting the town's scavenger hunt when she finds the body of a shady business man. Then wives start coming out of the woodwork. In addition to his current wife, two more appear and they happen to be in town. They all have motive or do they... When Hope starts digging around, she paints a target on her back.
This book has plenty of twists and turns. The characters are likeable and the setting is great. I want to go to Jefferson. There is romance, family, humor, and recipes.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.

From the first book in the series through Three Widows and a Corpse I have loved the Food Blogger Mystery series more and more. Debra Sennefelder has a way of pulling me not just into the mystery but into the world of ex-magazine editor and current blogger Hope Jefferson. This mystery is as complex as the earlier ones with the added complication of bigamy or is that polygamy? We already knew that the first victim was not a likeable person, but the death of the second victim hurt my heart. Yes, that is how much I was involved in the story.
When I read the first book, I was sad that few of Hope's friends were nice people. In Three Widows and a Corpse that seems to have balanced better, but I enjoyed seeing her handle an awkward experience with one person that too many of us can relate to. I appreciated seeing more of Hope’s relationship with her sister Claire, so now my only wish is to see more of a certain police chief. We did get many bits of interaction between Nate and Hope; I am just greedy.

#NetGalley #ThreeWidowsandaCorpse