I loved, loved, loved this book. There are only a few series I've read that don't get stale after a few books and this is one of those series where the characters grow and evolve and change, and I love that. I love that Nathan's mom is in this story. I love that we continue to learn more about him and his past. This was a really fun story! Can't wait to read the next adventure!

The residents of Key West are busy as the island gears up for New Year’s Eve celebrations. To add to the stress, Haley Snow gets a call from her husband to find out that her new Mother in law, who didn’t make it to their wedding, is heading into for a visit…right now. With space on the houseboat being sparse, Hayley’s mother offers up the guest bedroom at her home and things are settled. Now to manage her Mother in law’s visit and work, easy as key lime pie, right?

This fun mystery series is so well written that you can see yourself and others you know in the characters fears, flaws and interactions. It’s part of what makes this series so much fun to read. Who hasn’t been worried about how their new mother in law will take to them? Everyone hopes for the best, but we all have that little seed of doubt that we won’t be seen as quite good enough for their child. That’s real, and it connects you to Hayley. Along with a great whodunit, this series delivers each and every time. Don’t forget the recipes at the end…and to find 159 others to enjoy a chicken and stuffing casserole with!

A quality example of the modern cozy genre with a well defined setting. I had trouble connecting with the main character, but fans of the series would probably not have this experience. Foodies will enjoy the descriptions and the recipes .

This is a fast paced book. It and it's characters are constantly moving. I enjoyed it going on the Key Lime Pie tour and meeting Helen Hayley's mother-in-law. I thought the mystery was interesting and was definitely suprised by who the killer was. #TheKeyLimeCrime #NetGalley

I like to compare Lucy Burdette’s Key West Food Critic series to Peter Mayle’s books. Like Mayle, Burdette immerses the reader into a setting. Mayle’s love letter to southern France shined through each and every book. Burdette’s love of Key West is evident on each page. She knows the places, people, energy and conflicts. And just like Mayle, food descriptions and the importance of a great meal is central to these stories.

I can relate to Hayley. I am also always thinking about my next great meal, while fondly reminiscing about my last great meal.

I am glad that the relationship between Hayley and Nathan has progressed to marriage. Often authors keep the “will they or won’t they” going for too long. It is nice to see them navigate marriage between an actual detective and an amateur detective. Details of Nathan’s past come out through his mother’s unplanned visit. Why she is visiting and why she’s been distant to Hayley is quite the surprise revelation.

A Key Lime Food Critic Mystery is always an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.

Our sleuthing food crime finds Christmas in the Keys less than peaceful as she is settling being married to her new husband police detective. Things get dicey as her opinionate mother-in-law becomes prime suspect in a string of murders.

It will be up to her to clear her mother-in-laws name. A charming cozy read in the series.

There’s nothing like curling up with Haley and Miss Gloria on a cold winter day.
This story takes the reader to Key West, to the week between Christmas and New Year. Haley and her new husband Nathan are enjoying married life, and while waiting for their own houseboat to be ready, they receive a surprise visit from his mother.
Eager to meet her mother in law, Haley is worried about the meeting, wondering if her mother in law will even like her.
Unfortunately, a murder takes place during the key lime pie event, and soon Haley is asking questions and poking her nose into police business.
A surprise partner adds some spice to Haley’s investigation, and naturally Miss Gloria and Haley’s parents join in the shenanigans.

This book will put a smile on your face as you join Haley on her hunt for the truth as well as the perfect slice of key lime pie.

It's the height of the holiday season mania in Hailey Snow's beloved Key West, but it should be manageable. Well add in being newlyweds living in a crowded houseboat with an octogenarian, albeit a charming one, and combined households worth of pets while the renovations to their own houseboat drag on and on, and you can only imagine adding in a surprise visit from your new, and yet-to-be met mother-in-law would tip the stress scale to overload. Finding a body with her new mother-in-law was definitely not on her agenda either. Always a joy to read, this series is solidly plotted with enough red herrings to keep you guessing, lovable characters and a location that is a character in its own right.

foodie, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement, murder, Florida Keys, situational-humor, recipes*****

As if being a newlywed wasn't enough, there's the unfinished houseboat repairs, a surprise visit by the groom's mother, and to top it off somebody murdered a contentious baker who's rather new to the island. Hayley had only met the self important baker the day before when a faux pas turned into a real mess at a contest aimed at food critics, but now she's one who discovered the body and had to notify her police detective husband. Well, she couldn't just let the police do all the sleuthing now could she? This time she shares the sleuthing not only with her fantastic octogenarian neighbor, but the new mother in law as well. Lots of twists and red herrings, I loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is my first time reading this author. The books is wonderfully written with a great story, a wonderful setting and interesting characters.

Winter in Key West is a busy time. as tourists from the frozen north descend, looking for sunny days and warm nights. This year, the Conch Republic is staging a key lime pie contest and food critic Haley Snow will be there to help. And while Haley may look forward to the pie contest, she’s not looking forward to a visit from her pain in the butt mother-in-law. Haley’s idea to keep that old bat occupied goes off the rails when they find a dead body, the chef who was a shoe-in to win the key lime pie contest. This is a delightful cozy series, the Key West setting is sublime and Haley is the kind of woman anyone would love to have as a friend.