A very engaging new cozy mystery series set in a small Alaskan tourist town. Chef Charlie Cooke has taken over her parents' classic diner so they can move on to New Things and she can recover from a bad relationship and start fresh. But things don't start so well when she argues with her chef, he walks out and doesn't come back - because he's been murdered. She knows she didn't do it, but does everyone else? This is a nice mix of small town characters - Alaska style, diner regulars, and busloads of tourists, scrambled with clues and red herrings, a tasty mix of special diner dishes and a very special cat named Eggs Benedict (Benny). Well, all cats are very special, but Charlie and her mom do appreciate him and it pays off. For a first in a series setting up the people and places, Logan has done a very nice job keeping the plot moving along while introducing the main characters and setting. I'm looking forward to getting to know the characters even better in future installments. My copy was an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Alaskan Diner series by Elizabeth Logan.

Basic premise: Gal takes over the running of her family’s diner. She and the “chef” have not seen eye to eye with the menu and then the dude ends up dead. Now Charlie must find out who killed her chef, find a new cook for the diner. But when she starts to look into Oliver’s background, she finds a ton of skeletons in his closet which proves the axiom that you don’t really know your friends very well.

I liked following this story. It really gave you a sense of place and made the setting shine. Some of the background characters were a bit lackluster but I thought Chris and Charlie really stood out. The scenes where the sheriff deputizes them is funny and honest.

Since the whodunit featured a newspaper man, the mystery felt more like a reporter going after a story than a normal cozy mystery. And I was okay with that. It made the story feel unique and different.

The hot and cold vibe between Charlie and Chris kept me reading. The farther they dug into Oliver’s past, the more surprises they uncovered. I look forward to book two to see where this story will go from here.

If you are looking for a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This was such a fun cozy! I love the diner setting in small town Alaska. The writing was atmospheric and let me see the snow and scenery throughout the book. The pacing was good, and the characters were very realistic. I can't wait for book 2!

A great setting is a must for a cozy series, and the rural Alaska setting of this one definitely sets this book and the series up nicely. As a series starter, there is a lot of set up for the characters and their relationships, and it seems like this one is going to have a good community and side characters to go along with it. A little heavy handed with the clues as to the killer's identity, but it's definitely a series I would be interested in continuing.

MOUSSE AND MURDER, the first book in the brand new Alaskan Diner Mystery series by Elizabeth Logan, introduces the reader to Charlotte “Charlie” Cooke and her posse of friends and employees at her family’s Bear Claw diner in Elkview, Alaska. The setting is unique given the small wilderness town and I enjoyed the bits and pieces of Alaskan history and geographical tidbits the author weaves into the story. Her descriptive voice makes the setting come alive and I could imagine the rugged natural beauty the area offers along with the activities that draw tourists to the town. Ms. Logan has created delightful characters and it was easy to admire Charlie. I especially loved her cat, Benny (nicknamed after Eggs Benedict!). Benny is a charming sidekick and the “Bennycam” and cat app games are brilliant additions providing a bit of humor. Charlie’s friendliness contributes to easy going relationships with her friends and employees… that is except for her head chef, Oliver. Theirs is a contentious relationship and when Oliver walks off the job and is found murdered after an argument with her, Charlie can’t help but feel guilty and want to find out what happened to him.

A long-time friend of Charlie’s mom and frequent visitor to Bear Claw Diner, the local sheriff exhibits great understanding of Charlie’s need to help find answers. I really like when an amateur sleuth isn’t treated with contempt by law enforcement and instead it’s acknowledged that they might have helpful information. As the group of friends surrounding Charlie grows, so does the sheriff’s need to “deputize” those helpers, which added some cute scenes. The well-plotted mystery provided enough clues yet with some twists thrown in which kept me guessing most of the read. I look forward to the next book and the opportunity to revisit the quaint town of Elkview, Alaska and its delightful residents.

This was a fun book to read that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner. The author’s descriptive narrative captured the landscape of Alaska with me sitting in the diner with Charlie or traipsing through the local scenery of the 49th state while searching for clues to the killer’s identity. With dialogue guiding the action, I enjoyed watching this play out through the eyes of Charlie and those she interacted with from the local trooper to the diner employees to her BFF to the journalist and the potential suspects along the way – all who had pivotal roles that enhanced my reading pleasure. The mystery kept me intrigued to all possibilities with several red herrings that were placed to thwart my efforts in figuring out the person responsible. Overall, a great read and I look forward to more adventures with Charlie and her friends.

A fun start to a new cozy mystery series! With a unique setting I haven't seen in the genre before, I felt as if I were right there with the characters. Elizabeth Logan knows how to write her settings and I loved being able to visualize Alaska as I was reading. This truly helps me get into a story so I applaud her for that. On top of that, we meet a slew of fantastic characters and are puzzled with a "who-dun-it" mystery! All in all, this is a solid read and a great start to a new series that I know I'll be reading more of.

Cozy mystery with a slightly different setting - that of Alaska. Charlie moves back to Alaska to take over her mom's diner. Mom and Dad are ready to break out and live a little. The descriptions of scenery were great. Set in winter, we have tour busses, wildlife, and oh, yes, murder. The diner featured several unique items - moose stew anyone?; a specialty dessert was mousse, and the rest of the story circles around the mousse, which was the chef's speciality, and now the chef is dead.

As more and more people wanted to get in on solving the mystery, the sheriff deputized each and everyone, including Charlie's cat, Benny, who plays a rather large role in solving the mystery.

Thank you @netgalley for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Mousse and Murder is set to release 5.5.20!

This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I loved the Alaska setting!!! The author included descriptions of scenery and captured the remote, wintry atmosphere perfectly. There was wildlife, unique menu items and even little tidbits about the area that prompted me to make a few google searches. Who knew that the tipping of a makeshift wooden tripod into a frigid river could be such an exciting occurrence. Love when stories can introduce a reader to a new place and customs.

The cast was great. Took a couple chapters to get the story flowing, but once it did, I was hooked. Charlie was a good lead. I liked her immediately. She’s a good boss, a hard worker, and a wonderful daughter and friend. To top it off she has a cute cat named Benny who makes the perfect side kick. I liked how she used technology to remotely interact with him. I was worried there would be a love triangle with the reporter and the sheriff, but I believe I was quickly proven wrong. I like her friendship with both and look forward to seeing how those relationships develop.

The mystery was very captivating. I had a good hunch on who the culprit was early on, but several red herrings kept making me second guess my instincts. I liked how the low staffed sheriff welcomed the help and kept deputizing everyone!

I would like to see a sequel so I can return to this quaint town and get to know the locals better. The cafe setting and tourist stop opens up the possibility for many interesting storylines.

The book does include a couple recipes that appeared several times throughout the story.

Decently entertaining cozy mystery. The Alaska setting helps differentiate from other cozies. Enough red herrings without being overly so. Enjoyable first effort.

This was a fun read. I liked the Alaska setting and there was more suspense than usual in a cozy mystery. I will definitely read the next book in the series.