I can’t believe I haven’t read the Key West Food Critic Mystery books yet! It must be another case of so many books so little time. Even though The Key Lime Crime is the tenth book in this series, I was able to pick it up and savor it with no prior knowledge. So, if you’re in the same boat, don’t worry! You’ll enjoy this cozy mystery too!

The Key Lime Crime may just get you in the mood for the holiday season; however, you probably won’t want to spend the week before New Year’s Day in Key West. If the number of people that flood Key West is like it is in this book (and I have the feeling it is), it’s just way too peopley there for me! If I lived in a houseboat there year-round like Hayley, I’d probably hide out with my pets and snacks during the crazy busy time!

Even though there were way too many tourists in Key West in this book, I loved the setting! Living in a houseboat in the Florida Keys would be marvelous….oh, I forgot about hurricanes. In my pretend world, there aren’t any hurricanes. The houseboats have white fairy lights strung up and down the docks and boats. I’d love to wake to the salty smell the ocean. Bliss.

I enjoyed the characters in The Key Lime Crime so much! Miss Gloria is my favorite. Actually in most cozy mysteries, the elderly are my favorites, and that’s because I was always Grandma’s girl. She spoiled me like crazy, and we had so much fun together. Miss Gloria reminds me of her. Grandma was still very independent until she was in her 90s. I love that Miss Gloria is so involved in the community and with Hayley. Hayley’s mother-in-law will grow on you throughout the book, and I’m hoping she shows up in more books.

The murder mystery is quite perplexing. Several local characters have means, motive, and opportunity. Then, you have all of those visitors to watch out for! Even though Hayley’s policeman husband instructs her (and his mom!) to not get involved, of course they do! Whodunit? How many pets can you fit into a houseboat? Which key lime pie is the most delicious? Find out in the delightful cozy mystery book, The Key Lime Crime.

I always love visiting Hayley and her friends in Key West. This took place about three weeks after she and Nathan got married. Her mom and Sam lived close by working their catering business and now that it was between Christmas and New Year's, the island was especially crowded and crazy while everyone was getting ready for the key lime pie competition as well as the new year.

Hayley had always been a little afraid of Helen, Nathan's mom, but Hayley being the good sport she was known to be, showed her around the island. Much to her surprise (and I think sort of delight) Helen took to sleuthing like a pro and even had the same types of intuitions or gut feelings that Hayley got sometimes. Helen's character made me think of a cross between Leonard's mom and Castle's mom, lol. She kind of grew on me as a character and turned out to be a good sleuthing buddy for Hayley. And I always just love Miss Gloria and get the biggest kick out of her!

I was just as surprised as Hayley and Helen when the killer was revealed. The showdown was exciting and once again showed how good Hayley was at getting out of messes. Helen was no slouch either! The wrap-up at the end was awesome as it always is in this series. I'm still not quite caught up, but I'll be anxiously waiting for the next book.

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

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is proving to be very busy for Hayley Snow. In addition to her regular food related articles for local magazine Key Zest, she is also covering the key lime pie contest, which is filled with more tension than Hayley expected. Meanwhile, her new husband, cop Nathan Bransford, is working overtime due to all the visitors on the island for the holiday. So when Nathan’s mother decides to come visit, Hayley finds herself playing hostess for a woman she’s never met before. Even worse, the pair stumble upon one of the pie contestants dead. Has the contest turned deadly? Or is there another motive for murder?

I’m always happy to escape to Key West via the pages of this series, although after reading this I may skip the New Year’s time period when I get to visit in real life. It sounded a little too crowded for me. Still, I loved getting to catch up with the characters, who are always a delight. We got to know one of the regulars much better here, which I really appreciated. The mystery itself could have been stronger, although we did have some good suspects and I was engaged and kept guessing until the end. Plan ahead before you pick up this book – I had to buy a key lime pie I was craving it so much. There isn’t a recipe for the pie at the end (we’ve gotten one in an earlier book), although one of the eight recipes is for a delicious sounding key lime parfait. This is another pleasant trip to Key West that will please the series’ fans.

After Christmas and before New Year's, Key West plays host to lots of tourists and snowbirds. This year, wealthy key lime pie lover David Sloan is hosting a pie-baking contest. All Key West bakers are taking part, trying to win the Key Lime Key to the City.

Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow is on hand to cover the event. But work is not the only thing Hayley has to keep track of. Her new husband, detective Nathan Bansford, is working hard, and he tells her his mother is coming to visit, and Hayley will have to entertain her. As part of that, Hayley and her roommate, Miss Gloria, take Mrs. Bransford on a Train Tour of the island's holiday lights But when they go back to a particular house because Miss Gloria sees a stray cat, they find the body of a pastry chef that is the frontrunner in Sloan's contest.

Hayley and her mother-in-law team up to investigate. And things get heated.

I love visiting Key West in the Key West Food Critic Mysteries. Lucy Burdette always makes me feel as if I am walking the streets of Key West when I read one 0f her books. It was great fun spending Christmas in Key West.

I had great fun greeting all my old friends, and I actually loved the addition of Mrs. Bransford. I thought she would drag the book down, since she is a mother-in-law character, but I found her to be fun and insightful. She was a great addition to the book.

Whenever I finish one of these books I always wonder when the next one will grace my ereader. I hope it won't be long.

I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Hayley, Key West food critic, is set for the pre-New Year’s Eve Key Lime Pie festival and contest. As an added bonus her new mother-in-law, Helen, has decided to visit for the week. Hayley and her husband are living on Gloria’s houseboat while theirs in being renovated. So, Helen is staying with Hayley’s mom. When a promising chef is murdered, Hayley and Helen become involved in the investigation.

I enjoyed this book and the development of the relationship between Helen and Hayley.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s latest assignment is covering a key lime baking contest. The days leading up to New Year’s Eve are already busy and crowded in Key West, Florida and this contest organized by wealthy David Sloan makes things even more hectic. Things really get crazy when David gets into a very public altercation with Claudette Parker, one of the top contestants. Adding to Hayley’s stress is meeting her new mother-in-law for the first time. Hayley and her octogenarian friend Miss Gloria take Helen on a tour to introduce her to the island and the women end up discovering Claudette’s dead body. In spite of warnings from Hayley’s husband, police detective Nathan, the women do a little investigating on their own into Claudette’s untimely death.

This is the tenth in the Key West Food Critic mysteries, but reads as a standalone. I’ve read a couple of the prior books and this one is my favorite. There are a few slow spots in the beginning, but then the action picks up and the story unfolds at a nice, even pace after that. Outgoing, enthusiastic Hayley and the cool, reserved Helen make an unlikely duo, but their skills seem to complement each other and they do a great job gathering information about several potential suspects. Hayley can sometimes come off as immature, but her loyalty and sincerity make her a likable main character. I enjoy her friendship with Miss Gloria and how she helps her without making her feel like a burden.

The murder investigation is interesting and there are some surprises in the story before the killer is ultimately caught. I like how all the loose ends are explained at the end. The Key West setting is a fun backdrop for the mystery. The author does a great job of conveying the island atmosphere and in an afterward discusses some of the things in the book that are inspired by real things, such as the pie making class that Hayley, Helen, and Gloria attend. Other extras are quotes at the beginning of each chapter, although I wasn’t always able to connect them to the story, and recipes at the end that sound delicious. Returning readers may be disappointed at how little time Hayley and Nathan have together, but otherwise should be pleased with this installment. This would be a great beach or poolside read for anyone looking for a light, fun cozy to enjoy.

~ Christine

The Key Lime Crime by Lucy Burdette was an intriguing cozy, which centered around key lime pie and a mother-in-law, a small part of the Key West Food Critic series. Hayley Snow is the food critic in question and it is the week before New Year's which means the key is a nightmare, traffic and crowd-wise. Just then her new mother-in-law decides to visit. Yes, that's right. The one who didn't show up to her and her policeman husband, Nathan's wedding. Their houseboat is being renovated so they are staying with Hayley's long-time friend, Miss Georgia, an eighty-something ball of energy. That wasn't so bad except Miss Georgia had a cat and Haley and Nathan had a cat and a dog. No place to put the mother-in-law. Hayley's mom and stepdad stepped up and offered their place, despite the fact it was their busiest week ever, running a catering business as they did. It was also the week of David Sloan's Best Key Lime Pie Extravaganza, which of course she had to cover. As it turns out, Nathan was too busy at work to help much so babysitting his mother fell into Hayley's lap, as well. Lots of antics, including a murder, to occupy their time.

What a fun series. This is the first I have read, but it won't be the last. Hayley is a perky, intelligent, and curious young woman, head over heels in love with her husband but totally insecure in the face of her mother-in-law. To keep traffic at bay she rides around Key West on a scooter, and is surprise when her polished mother-in-law climbs right on behind her. She is not supposed to be investigating (like most cozy mystery sleuths) but can't resist and her mother-in-law is right there. It was interesting to watch their relationship develop over the course of the book. Miss Georgia is a terrifically entertaining character, as only someone her age can be. The murder mystery is a good one, with information unfolding in an interesting and personal way, leading to solving the crime. It is a thoroughly entertaining book. I recommend it.

I was invited to read an ARC of The Key Lime Crime by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thekeylimecrime

. In the midst of preparing for the Key Lime Festival, food critic Hayley Snow gets a surprise visitor-her new mother in law Helen. While on a tour of holiday lights, they notice something out of the ordinary at one of the homes. After the tour, they return to the home to investigate and discover a dead body.
Helen has lots of layers and I am glad the author didn’t just type cast her as the annoying mother in law. Helen has more of a bull in the china shop approach but as the novel progresses the reader will understand why. The importance of family is the underlying theme in this installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries.
I have enjoyed this series over the years and recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Holidays, key lime pie and murder, The Key Lime Crime is a deliciously entertaining cozy mystery.

As if life isn’t crazy enough for food critic and newlywed Hayley Snow with it being Christmas in the beautiful Key West, there is a Key Lime Pie contest that every baker in town is trying to win and she is a judge. All the while trying to finish out her articles for the remainder of the year. Toss in a surprise visit from her new mother-in-law that turns her into a tour guide that has them stumbling upon a dead body. I believe the day just got worse.

Key Lime Crime is a funny and entertaining cozy mystery. If you are not craving several slices of key lime pie by the time you’re reading then somethings just not right. Hayley is a wonderful character that readers can relate with. She smart, charming, in love and a good person. She’s still becoming comfortable in her new married life, as many readers can relate to. Hayley navigates the reader through an interesting and twisting plot that keeps you guessing. You see significant character growth within one book. As being a primary romance reader that is something I see frequently within romance but not quite so much in cozies. I definitely enjoyed that factor of the book. This is a long going series that fortunately I stumbled upon and was able to pick up at book 10 and didn’t feel like I was left out from anything of previous books. Author Lucy Burdette twisted a fantastic mystery well giving you fantastic descriptions of every possible Way of having Keylime pie. I very much enjoyed Key Lime Crime. I look forward to going back to previous books in the series and truly getting to know these characters.

This is book 10 in the established Key West Food Critic mystery series. A few of the main characters are Haley Snow Bransford, her husband detective Nathan Bransford, his mother, Haley’s mother and stepfather Sam, miss Gloria, and David Sloan. I loved the cover of this book, but freely admit not being familiar with the series. That being said, I didn’t feel left behind at any major point. There were occasionally comments that seemed to reference past events but never anything important. While there are a lot of characters to keep up with it’s well worth the work. I really enjoyed this book and intend to go back and read the prior nine books. I will also, say I found it a little funny to be reading a holiday book during the height of summer! I also can’t deny that it was a fabulously funny read! I mean I even came to like Nate’s mom and I really didn’t think that was possible at the beginning.
5* Stars

I'll admit that I haven't read the previous two books in the series so I was pleasantly surprised that Hayley and Nathan were married. The book was as good as the rest in the series. My reaction to Hayley's mother-in-law is Helen needs her own series. My other reaction is if Hayley and Nathan go on an out of the country adventure with Helen, Miss Gloria goes with them. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

It's a hectic time in Key West between Christmas and New Year's as 70,000 more visitors flood the island looking for fun. Newlywed Hayley Snow is super busy and getting stressed about her new assignments for Key Zest magazine. She is covering celebrity author David Sloan's first Key Lime Pie contest which has brought the city's top bakers to compete for the main prize. Tensions are high when newcomer Claudette is disqualified by Sloan after bringing her signature key lime napoleon pastry instead of a key lime pie.

Then Hayley is surprised by the news that her mother-in-law Helen Bransford is coming to visit the next day. Her husband Nathan is overwhelmed at work by the extra throng of visitors and leaves Hayley the job of keeping Helen entertained.

Nathan books the trio for a ride on the Conch Train tour of the island's holiday lights. But the tour ends in disaster after they find a body among the holiday decorations. It is Claudette who was wearing a Santa costume and was strangled to death.

Hayley soon learns that Helen is not interested in the main tourist attractions, and even worse, is not really interested in food but she still wants to accompany Hayley on her various work stops. Can Hayley survive these outings without going crazy?

This was another fun-filled, tasty culinary read in the long-running Key West Food Critic mystery series.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

This is the tenth book in the Key West Food Critic mystery and was a welcome return to Key West with all it’s quirks, interesting places, yummy sounding food and, of course, murder. Although part of a series, this book was just as fresh as the original in the series, with a good mixture of old and new characters. The references to Key West and the running about town that Haley, the main character does are just enough to make the place a character in the book without sounding like a travelogue.
In this novel, Haley is covering a key lime pie contest taking place on the island the week between Christmas and New Year’s; one of the busiest weeks of the year for the tourist trade. While this, along with writing and preparing other pieces for her food critic column in the magazine where she works would keep her plenty busy this week, she is surprised by the announcement that her mother-in-law has decided to come to visit. This would be the same mother-in-law who didn’t come to her wedding and whom she has never met. To complicate things even more, it’s all hands on deck at the police department where Haley’s new husband works, so she is primarily responsible for showing her mother-in-law around town.
Regular characters are in attendance and help round out the story. Haley’s mom and step-father offer to have Helen, her mother-in-law stay with them. It’s a good thing, too, since Haley and her hubby are still living with Miss Gloria, another long-term character, while their houseboat is refurbished. Miss Gloria is a wonderful addition to the series, being a unique octogenarian who loves cats, is almost indefatigable, and enthusiastically accompanies Haley and Helen on several of their trips into town; including the one where they happen upon a corpse.
Haley’s past forays into sleuthing combine with Helen’s almost single-focused interest in finding the perpetrator, and you are in for some fast-paced running around the small island, interviewing people who might know something along with doing some typical touristy activities. Nathan would prefer they stay out of it, but Helen is singularly focused. Slowly Haley learns more about Helen, including the information that she is a well known forensic psychologist and also why this murder is personal to her when it appears Helen doesn’t even know the victim.
You can read this book without having read any others in the series, but you might prefer to read them in order of publication. That way you get to know Miss Gloria, be there to watch as Haley and Nathan become a couple, and understand the inside jokes (otherwise known as frustrations) of trying to get contractors to work on the houseboat. Whatever you do, pick this one up to read. It’s fun, it’s light, it moves at a good speed, and whether or not the murderer comes as a surprise to you, it won’t matter because you will have enjoyed the read.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advanced digital read copy of this book. This review is entirely my own and reflects my unbiased opinion.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s latest assignment is covering a key lime baking contest. The days leading up to New Year’s Eve are already busy and crowded in Key West, Florida and this contest organized by wealthy David Sloan makes things even more hectic. Things really get crazy when David gets into a very public altercation with Claudette Parker, one of the top contestants. Adding to Hayley’s stress is meeting her new mother-in-law for the first time. Hayley and her octogenarian friend Miss Gloria take Helen on a tour to introduce her to the island and the women end up discovering Claudette’s dead body. In spite of warnings from Hayley’s husband, police detective Nathan, the women do a little investigating on their own into Claudette’s untimely death.

This is the tenth in the Key West Food Critic mysteries, but reads as a standalone. I’ve read a couple of the prior books and this one is my favorite. There are a few slow spots in the beginning, but then the action picks up and the story unfolds at a nice, even pace after that. Outgoing, enthusiastic Hayley and the cool, reserved Helen make an unlikely duo, but their skills seem to complement each other and they do a great job gathering information about several potential suspects. Hayley can sometimes come off as immature, but her loyalty and sincerity make her a likable main character. I enjoy her friendship with Miss Gloria and how she helps her without making her feel like a burden.

The murder investigation is interesting and there are some surprises in the story before the killer is ultimately caught. I like how all the loose ends are explained at the end. The Key West setting is a fun backdrop for the mystery. The author does a great job of conveying the island atmosphere and in an afterward discusses some of the things in the book that are inspired by real things, such as the pie making class that Hayley, Helen, and Gloria attend. Other extras are quotes at the beginning of each chapter, although I wasn’t always able to connect them to the story, and recipes at the end that sound delicious. Returning readers may be disappointed at how little time Hayley and Nathan have together, but otherwise should be pleased with this installment. This would be a great beach or poolside read for anyone looking for a light, fun cozy to enjoy.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Crooked Lane Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

I enjoyed this book. The Key West Food Critic Mystery Series is always a good time. Hayley’s relationship with her elderly roommate, Miss Gloria is a favorite part of the book for me. The mystery draws you in and we learn a little more about some of the characters at the same time.

Perfect mix of story and characters. You will enjoy hanging out with Hayley Snow, Miss Gloria, fur babies and the supporting crew. In this “delicious’ mystery. I also like how author mixes in facts about Key West and real folk into the adventure.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #TheKeyLimeCrime for advanced digital copy.

Another delightful and entertaining trip to Key West. Craving key lime pie in any of its forms, but not sure about the martini. More of Nathan's past and family are revealed with a visit from his mother. Miss Gloria is her usual charming self. The pets are a cute diversion. The murder mystery kept me guessing and came to a surprising and exciting conclusion. I look forward to read the further adventures of this group.

What a joy to be back in Key West with Hayley Snow again. Wait, I mean Hayley Snow Bradford, now a married woman. She is still getting used to having a hubby and all that entails, and I must admit I’m still getting used to the idea of Hayley being married, too, of Nathan being a permanent part of her life. Not because I don’t like Nathan or don’t think Hayley should have married him, but because I kind of wanted to keep Hayley all to myself.

I’ve loved this girl from the first book, and enjoyed taking this (so far) 10-book journey with her as her character has deepened and matured, as she’s grown from girl to woman, while still being the spunky, spicy, inquisitive, fierce, loyal, lovable Hayley we first met all those years ago when she followed her boyfriend to Florida. Aren’t you glad she decided to stay?

As if it’s not enough that it’s the week between Christmas and New Year's, a wild, wacky time in Key West and the usual demands of her job, Nathan announces his mother has decided to come for a visit, and will be staying with them. I was on pins and needles with Hayley meeting Nathan’s mother Helen for the first time. She doesn’t exactly exude sunshine and warmth. It’s obvious they both love Nathan, but do they have anything else in common? Thank goodness Hayley’s mother and her husband Sam come to her rescue and invite Helen to stay with them.

Of course Hayley finds a corpse and must must must solve this crime, so once again she’s in the thick of things with a killer on the loose, this time with Nathan’s mom in tow. In addition to the usual danger and clues all over the place, there is yummy food (the Key Lime pie tasting made my mouth water), the always-clever quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and the much-loved assortment of Hayley’s oh so interesting family and friends assisting or trying to dissuade her from her investigation. Miss Gloria was once again front and center, the closeness with Hayley and her mom just continues to grow, and while there wasn’t quite as much interaction with her Key West crew as in some previous books, Helen provided more than enough intrigue and entertainment. And Nathan is turning out to be a pretty good husband.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of Key Lime Crime. Author Lucy Burdette makes Key West come alive, and spending time with Hayley and the rest of the gang is like coming home. All opinions are my own. I loved this book, I love the series, and I recommend it without hesitation.

The week between Christmas and New Years is always hectic in Key West but this year- this year Hayley is not only keeping an eye on a key lime pie contest, she's also hosting her mother in law Helen. Helen isn't Hayley's biggest fan; she liked her son Nathan's first wife. And then there's a big controversy on the key lime pie front- Claudette is disqualified for making key lime pastry, not pie. Even worse, Hayley and Helen find Claudette dead and posed, dressed as Santa. Yikes! Nathan doesn't want Hayley investigating but of course she does. I liked the mystery here but even more I enjoyed the relationship between Helen and Hayley. There's more to Helen than she lets on originally. Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books- this is fine as a standalone. It captures the craziness of Key West (or any tropical resort town) during the Christmas season and it's got great characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

A solid, enjoyable cozy mystery that is set in the fabulous Key West during Christmas time. So the setting and the timing is perfect! Good writing, plenty of suspects with a tension that builds up. Perfect for transporting you to sunny Florida!