Mousse and Murder is the first installment in a cozy mystery series by Elizabeth Logan. Occasionally, I like to read a light mystery with enjoyable characters. This one did not disappoint. Set in a small town in Alaska, Charlie (short for Charlotte) has taken over her mother’s diner. She has an argument with the long-time chef, Oliver, and Oliver storms out of the diner. This has happened often in the past, but this time, Oliver does not come back. He has been murdered. Charlie and her friends help state Trooper Graham investigate the murder. As they delve into Oliver’s past, they realize that he had a lot of secrets. They really didn’t know him as well as they thought.

I enjoyed the book. I liked the main character, Charlie. There is a cast of secondary characters that were not as well-developed. In future books, we may get to know them better. There were lot of possible suspects which led to some twists and turns in the plot. I liked the setting of a small-town diner. What is involved in running a small-town diner in a tourist town and the diner lingo made it fun and interesting. Overall, this was an entertaining read and I recommend it to cozy mystery readers.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The first in a planned series Mousse and Murder is a great start. I liked the book and the fact the setting was in Alaska. What I found strange and a little distracting was some of the choices Charlie made. Still it was an enjoyable book and I look forward to the next one.

Overall I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. Charlie has taken over her parent's Diner in Elkview, Alaska. When the chef is found murdered she sets out to solve the crime. A local journalist and her mother also decide to help. I am not familiar with Alaska but the author did a very good job with capturing the flavor of small town Alaska with a few side trips to Anchorage. The mystery was OK. It was easy to solve. I liked the setting and the characters better than the mystery. While the cat does play a big role in the mystery I did feel she was a bit obsessive. I hope this is toned down in the next book. There are recipes in the back Enjoy this fun diner cozy.

Charlie, the manager of her family's diner, ends up helping to investigate the murder of her chef Oliver. She's one of the suspects but manages to be cleared by Trooper and deputized to help in the questioning of potential suspects. The story was light and enjoyable but I figured out whodunit about half-way through and kept waiting for everyone else to catch up.

Charlie Cooke has just come home from California back to Alaska to take over running her mother's diner. She jumped on the opportunity to come home after a relationship disaster, hoping to find solace and strength in her hometown. She was not counting on butting heads with her mom's long-time head cook. Charlie wants to make changes and Oliver resists them every single time. There have been more than one heated argument between them since Charlie came home and took over. Their latest blow-up sent Oliver storming out of the diner. When the police show up in his stead, Charlie can't even believe it when they tell her Oliver has been found dead. His death is suspicious and now Charlie is the prime suspect.

Mousse and Murder is a wonderful cozy mystery set in Alaska. The weather is cold but the arguments between Charlie and Oliver are heated. His death is a huge blow to the diner but it also brings to light several characters with means, motives, and opportunities to bump Oliver off. The path to discovering the real murderer is twisted and bumpy, leading Charlie in several directions that are dead-ends or just lead to more questions. Who actually was Oliver? Why did he end up in their Alaskan town, working for Charlie's mom?

The book is full of surprises and twists in the plot the reader will never see coming. I was saddened during parts of the reveal for reasons you'll have to read the book to find out. No spoilers here. The author does a great job with the mystery, the character development, and providing the reader vivid imagery allowing the story to played out like a movie as you read along. The book also has some pretty amazing characters, ones I will definite enjoy learning more about in the next installment of the series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Title: Mousse and Murder

Author: Elizabeth Logan

Ch: 38

Pg: 304

Series: Alaskan Dinner Mystery book 1

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Berkeley



Mousse and Murder is the first book in the Alaskan Dinner Mystery by Elizabeth Logan. It was also my first cozy mystery set in Alaska. I loved the small town Alaska setting and meeting all the characters especially Eggs Benedict Benny for short Charlie’s cat.

Dinner owner and chef Charlie Cooke finds herself involved in a murder mystery when her head chef is killed and is considered a suspect. She teams up with newspaper reporter Chris Doucette to find the real killer and clean her name.

This was a fairly quick read and I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and other books by this author.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Great story setting, you really feel like your right there while you were reading. Benny the cat role was every entertaining and I did like the connection between her and Chris. I did find the story a bit slow but being the first book not everything is going to flow the way we like it. I'll be waiting to see what trouble Charlie and he cat can get into next.

Mousse and Murder

By Elizabeth Logan

An Alaskan Diner Mystery

Berkley Prime Crime paperback

May 2020

Pages: 302

reviewed the kindle e-book

Set in Elkview, Alaska

Elkview, Alaska is nothing like San Francisco, but that’s where Charlie Cook’s parents’ home and diner is located. Charlie leaves behind the fast-paced big city restaurant career to manage her parents’ business. It’s no easy task with the constant disapproval of the diner’s longtime chief, Oliver Whitestone. He wants nothing to do with Charlie’s menu-changing suggestions. One day, he storms out of the diner and never returns. The town learns he was murdered and Charlie appears to be the prime suspect because of their frequent public arguments.

Both the town’s newspaper reporter, Chris Doucette, and Charlie know she isn’t the killer, but it’s going to take a lot of research to find the guilty party. They come up with a suspect list and work out a strategy. She would talk to Doc Sherman, the local physician and medical examiner. She was also going to question Oliver’s sister, Kendra, telling her that she’d like to interview her for the local newspaper. After speaking with Kendra, they learn that he was adopted when he was eight and when they check out his house, even though they really shouldn’t, things start to become clearer. Oliver knew someone was going to come after him. There was a good chance he knew who that someone was and why.

I would have preferred reading the paperback version of this book. It’s just not the same as an e-book, even though it’s easy to read at night in bed. That said, I loved the cover, the characters, seeing Alaska through their eyes, wondering who in the world wanted Oliver dead. I want to visit Bear Claw Diner, but I’d never eat anything with moose. Not sure if it was right for Charlie to take a possession of Oliver’s when they searched his home. I liked that numerous people were involved trying to solve this mystery. And, yes, the past does have a way of catching up with you.

four servings of cherry cheesecake mousse

Denise Fleischer

gottawritenetwork.wordpress.com

June 20, 2020

A good mystery with a number of surprising twists. The setting both Alaska and a diner was unusual and well written about. The main character has a fun relationship with her family and her cat but at times comes across as not acting her age. I hope more of the other characters are developed as the series progresses. I look forward to more in this series.

This is book 1 in a new series, Alaskan Diner Mystery. I like cozy's set in unusual places and Alaska is certainly a different setting for this mystery. Charlie, a female chef is returning home to Elkview, Alaska to take over her Mother's diner. She has some great plans to move the diner into the present day but the cook has no intention of changing the menu to anything modern. When he is killed after a big argument with Charlie she becomes the prime suspect. A good beginning and I'm looking forward to book 2. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From the beginning, you can tell this is not a new writer, though the series is new, the writing is more polish than a first attempt. Camille Minichino, who writes under many pseudonyms, is now taking her readers to the Bear Claw Diner in Elkview, Alaska.

The plot does fall into the usual hometown girl returning to familiar places when Charlie Cooke returns to take over her mother’s diner with hopes of bringing it up to date with new ideas and recipes. This last attempt resulted in a full out fight with the head chef and when he turns up dead Charlie not only is a suspect but needs to find the true killer before she loses what her mother worked so hard to build.

The usual he/said, she/said runs rampant, the perfunctory handsome law enforcement person is prominent, and of course there is a beloved pet, this time a cat. ‘Mousse and Murder’ will be a hit or miss type of read. Some will love it, others who have been around the cozy mystery world for a while, will not find anything new in this first Alaskan Diner Mystery series.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

ith Mousse and Murder, the first book in the Alaskan Diner mystery series, author Logan lays a nice foundation for future (mis)adventures featuring chef turned diner owner Charlie Cooke with lots of food references, a quirky location, and likable characters.

Charlie (Charlotte) Cooke returns to her hometown of Elkview, Alaska, to take over the everyday operation of her family’s diner. After a heated exchange with her head chef Oliver, which he punctuates by storming out of the diner, Oliver is soon found shot to death. Based on their last encounter, Charlie is at the top of the suspect list, but State Trooper Cody “Trooper” Graham really does not believe she committed the crime and soon deputizes Charlie and local reporter Chris to assist in investigating the murder.

I cannot recall reading any cozy mystery set in Alaska prior to Mousse and Murder, and the setting was the deciding factor for me choosing to read this series premier. There are lots of references to the cold weather and moose dishes, but in the end the Bear Claw Diner could have been located in any small town. This is not necessarily a bad thing, I just expected more. Since Elkview is a major tourist spot for hikers, there should be plenty of fodder for future crimes for Charlie to investigate.

Charlie and the supporting characters are likable but not deeply developed making them rather two dimensional. There is a great deal of room for them to grow and become memorable. Charlie’s relationship with her cat Benny is the highlight of the book. There is also a bit of flirting between Charlie and Chris, which is nice, but her assumptions at times feel juvenile. I do enjoy Charlie’s mother and Trooper and would not mind getting to know them better.

Readers have no time with Oliver at all, and he is as mysterious in death as he was in life so the whole story is Charlie learning about his secrets to solve the mystery of his death. The secret that leads to his death does not make him the most endearing of victims and not getting to know him before his death, in addition to the book’s rather slow pace, led me to be less invested in the story. I was quick to identify the killer but did not know their motive until much later. Mousse and Murder seems like it is written by a first time author; I was surprised to see that she is a seasoned author who writes under several nom de plumes.

The Alaskan Diner Series has potential, but I am not sure that I will give future mysteries a chance.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*

I liked the small-town setting in a state that is not often featured in a cozy mystery.
The characters lacked strong development, and I did not have a favorite.
I enjoyed the interactions between Charlie and Benny.
The mystery itself was decent. Twists and turns and one twist I didn’t see coming.
The author does a good job on describing Alaska, made me feel like I was there. I think this book is worth a read if you like a light read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an advance digital copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

It's no secret that I'm a big cozy mystery fan and it's also no secret that sometimes series can be intimidating. So when I come across the first book in a cozy mystery I can never resist. Especially when it's a foodie cozy set in Alaska! This was a lot of fun and had a lot of potential. The setting was really a focus both in terms of the challenges and beauties of living in Alaska and with just a diner setting in general. Charlie is an interesting main character. She really doesn't have much interest in mysteries in general and she is affected by Oliver's death. Sure, she's unnerved by even the possibility that she could be a suspect but this was also someone she's known for a very long time and he was a prickly complicated man who could be infuriating but also incredibly kind. I thought it was nice that she took the time to recognize this and didn't immediately brush it off and get to solving the crime.



The mystery is a good one. Just who killed Oliver and what secrets was he hiding in his past? I loved that this was a team investigation and especially enjoyed the dynamic between Charlie and Chris the journalist. I did feel like there were some pacing issues. The catalyst to everything happened before the book started and there's a lot going on as the reader is introduced to Charlie, Benny, the town itself, the diner, Annie, and other regulars and townspeople. The mystery doesn't get forgotten but it does have a few slower spots. I kind of expect this for first books in a series and I enjoyed the other aspects of this mystery enough that I don't feel like this really detracted from my enjoyment. That small issue aside, this is a fun new entry into the cozy mystery world with an interesting lead character and a fantastic setting. I'm really looking forward to picking up the next book in the series

Dollycas’s Thoughts.

North to Elkview, Alaska, and the Bear Claw Diner. Chef Charlie Cooke has left San Fran behind to come home to manage her mother’s restaurant. She has many ideas for updating the menu but her head cook Oliver is not having it. When she proposes a change to their signature Bear Claw, he explodes and walks out. This is not the first time he has done that but it is the first time he doesn’t return. Turns out the man went and got himself murdered and because of the public tantrum Charlie is the prime suspect. With her entire life on the line, she knows she needs to find the real killer pronto!

______

Growing up in a family diner I was so excited to read this and I am pleased to say Ms. Logan created great characters you could find in diners everywhere. The cooks, waitresses, families and truck drivers that come in to eat, and because this is set in Alaska tour groups that have come to see the sights. The core group of characters is just starting to develop but Charlie and her awesome cat, Eggs Benedict (Benny) are in clear focus. Charlie is smart, hardworking, and dedicated to her new life at the diner. She also is a true cat lover using technology to interact with Benny while she is at work. There also may a romance blooming for Charlie.

The author also served readers with a generous supply of humor. The state trooper, Trooper, and Charlie’s best friend Annie have their moments and are two characters I want to get to know better.

The mystery grabbed me right away. It did have twists but there was a whiplash twist the really caught me by surprise. I had the culprit in mind pretty early but I really didn’t have a good reason, something just didn’t ring true for me. As the story continued, my choice faltered but was soon clear, and the big reveal was so rewarding.

I have to mention the food, it sounds so good! Cherry Cheesecake Mousse may become a family staple in this house.

The Alaskan Diner Mystery Series is off to an excellent start. Great cozy characters, a well-plotted mystery set in frozen tundra of Alaska. I can’t wait for November when Fishing for Trouble will be released.

In Elkview Alaska, Charlie Cooke has taken over the BearClaw Cafe. She argues with her chef, and then he turns up dead. Mousse and Murder is a first in this series, and I enjoyed the Alaska characters and the limitations of the landscape. There are some red herrings and plot twists, and if you are familiar with the world of cozies, having one set in Alaska is interesting. I enjoyed the interaction with the cat and the fact local law enforcement deputizes her to help out in the investigation. This bodes well for upcoming books!

I obtain this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

Charlie Cooke has returned to her hometown of Elkview, Alaska, to take over her mom's diner. They are famous for their Bear Claws, so when she wants to add chocolate the recipe that they have used for the last twenty years, the chef blows up and stomps out. When he does not show up for his next shift, she just assumes he is still upset with her. Unfortunately, that is not the case and he is found dead a few hours later, murdered. After contacting her mother, who is on a cruise, she and Chris, a local reporter, begin an investigation with the approval of the local Trooper. As they begin to ask questions and interview people, they uncover secrets that are shocking to everyone.

This is the first book in a new series and I am looking forward to more. I loved the setting of rural, wintry Alaska as well as the diner. Being in a small town often gives us the opportunity to get to know not only the main protagonist, but others in the town, including some quirky characters. Charlie, is easy to like and someone I would love to have as a friend. She's witty, hardworking, family-oriented, smart, loyal and a great boss. I really liked the chemistry between her and Chris and thought they made a great team. I would love to see their relationship develop into something more. The secondary characters were also wonderful and added much to the story. Of course the star of the story is Eggs Benedict aka. Benny, Charlie's cat. I had figured out the culprit, but was not sure of the motive. The dialogue was great, especially between Charlie and Chris. The story was well-plotted and developed. The take-down was wonderful and I loved the part Benny played in it. Overall, this was a fun, interesting cozy mystery that started this series off with a bang. I definitely recommend this one to cozy mystery lovers

MOUSSE AND MURDER by Elizabeth Logan
The First Alaskan Diner Mystery

Charlie Cooke is used to having blowout fights with her chef. She's also used to him storming out after such blowups. But he's never wound up dead after an argument...until now. Teaming up with Chris, the good looking local journalist, Charlie decides to look into the life of her chef, who she discovers she really didn't know, and she if she can help find out who killed him.

MOUSSE AND MURDER introduces readers to an interesting cast of characters whose lives revolve around a small Alaskan town's diner. Charlotte "Charlie" Cooke has a lot to prove and a good deal to learn. Having taken over her mom's diner she discovers she really doesn't know her employees or how to deal with the long time chef with the French culinary credits. She also has a bit of a temper and can make more than one quick assumption. However, her willingness to admit her faults and try to learn from her mistakes makes her likable. There's also the romantic interest journalist, who is eager almost to a fault, and the solid state trooper. Although somewhat formulaic, the characters have enough personality to engage readers, even the flighty best friend and the workers who engage in diner lingo. I love Charlie's interactions Benny (short for Eggs Benedict, both of which are great names) who she cares for now that her mom is traveling. The app so she can check in and play with him while at work gives a modern touch and shows how technology can change pet interactions!

MOUSSE AND MURDER is an enjoyable introduction to a new mystery series.

Mousse and Murder by Elizabeth Logan has Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke running the Bear Claw Diner in Elkview, Alaska after her mother’s retirement. Charlie wants to add a chocolate bear claw to the menu, but it has head chef, Oliver Whitestone up in arms. They have a terrible row in front of customers and then Oliver storms off. Trooper Cory Graham arrives later in the day to question Charlie because Oliver was found dead near his home. Charlie is asked by her mother, Evelyn to work with Trooper Graham to uncover Oliver’s killer. Mousse and Murder is the debut novel in An Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I thought it was unique to set a cozy mystery in Alaska. I enjoyed the descriptions of Elkview which is a small Alaskan tourist town. I thought the author captured the Alaskan weather and lifestyle including the wildlife ingredients they utilize (like moose meat). Charlie is a warm and likeable main character. She works hard, is a good friend and daughter, and a cat lover. Charlie knows trivia and fun facts about Alaska. It was enjoyable learning more about our fiftieth state. Charlie grew up in the town and is known by the locals. Her best friend, Annie Jensen owns Jensen’s Elkview Inn. I like how Charlie uses technology to interact with her cat, Eggs Benedict aka Benny during the workday. She can talk to Benny, see how the cat is doing, how much he has eaten, and even play with Benny using a laser. It is cute that she confides in Benny. There is a diverse cast of secondary characters from Trooper Graham, Chris Doucette, Annie, diner staff, and diner regulars. Oliver’s murder had a small handful of suspects, good clues and a red herring or two. I would have liked to have gotten to know Oliver before he was murdered. While I was able to identify the killer early in the story, I did not know why. I joined Charlie and her friends as they set out to learn the who and, most importantly, the why. They did uncover some interesting information including something unexpected. I did have a couple of unanswered questions at the end of the book and I wish they had been addressed. Mousse and Murder is a carefree cozy mystery with moose meatloaf, a cavorting cat, suspicious siblings, a cold climate, and pleasing pastries.

Charlie Cooke is thrilled to return to her hometown of Elkview in Alaska where she’ll be running her mother’s diner. Her parents are going on a cruise leaving Charlie to handle everything.

Unfortunately, things get off to a rocky start when she has a huge fight with her head cook, Oliver. He storms out of the diner and isn’t heard from again. When he turns up murdered, Charlie is the top suspect. It’s up to Charlie to prove her innocence.

The Alaska setting is beautiful and the author did an excellent job of transporting me there. Her descriptive writing put me right there. She painted a vivid portrait of Alaska life.

I enjoyed meeting Charlie and her friends. It took me some time to warm up to them and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in future books.

The one character who truly stood out for me is Eggs Benedict “Benny”. Benny is Charlie’s cat. Charlie confides in Benny all the time and he unknowingly helps her investigate. Charlie watches Benny throughout the day remotely using a “Benny Cam”. She even plays with him via the Benny Cam. Very cute. Just as a side note, the cat doesn't possess any paranormal traits and doesn't talk. He's just a sweet cat who loves Charles and she loves him :)

I would have liked to meet the victim and witness Charlie’s fight with him. It would have helped feel a sense of urgency in finding his killer. Instead, we hear about it after the fact. Some parts were a bit slow, but then the plot took off and had me turning the pages quickly. I had to know who the culprit was!

I honestly hadn’t figured out who the killer was until a few pages before Charlie did. Then, it all fell into place. I learned the truth right along with Charlie.

The book is the first of a new series. It is filled with charm, quirky characters and witty dialogue. I look forward to the next episode in this cute cozy mystery series and a chance for another visit to Elkview.