Like most cozy mysteries, it's about location, location, location! The Alaskan setting is the star of this book with it's almost never-ending summertime daylight, the local diner, and the fishing. It wouldn't be a cozy mystery without some murder though, and when a local man winds up dead in the diner, Charlie feels compelled to find out what happened. There are also a few side plots going on here, like Charlie's no-good ex showing up in town to stir up trouble. This is the second book in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series, and while you may enjoy reading them in order, it isn't necessary to do so.

I always enjoy reading about Charlies adventures and look forward to the third book. The plot moves at a good pace and always keeps me guessing.

I loved this installment in the Alaska Diner series! I love the Alaskan setting and the relationships between the characters. The mystery was a lot of fun, and I cannot wait for book three!

Fishing for Trouble is the second installment in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series by Elizabeth Logan and it is one of my favorite reads of 2021!  Charlie Cooke is on the case with her friends Annie and Chris to solve the murder of a person that died outside of the Bear Claw Diner, find a mother's missing son, and to find out what is really happening at the local J and M Processing plant.  It was fun seeing Charlie and her friends work through solving these mysteries--from the discussions, the plans, and the struggles.  Fishing for Trouble is a wonderful follow-up that continues Charlie's story and it shows how she has struggled and how the relationships in her life have progressed and grown since the first book.  You can read the book without reading the previous book if wanted.  I appreciated that the book was a clean cozy mystery that held onto it's suspense and intrigue all at the same time.  I am looking forward to see what happens next in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series!  Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book!  (This review is also on GoodReads.)

I was curious about this book, though hadn't read any previous books in the series.  The setting in a small fishing/tourist town in Alaska intrigued me, as did the inclusion of a cat in the plot.  The main character (Charlie) runs her family's diner, so there are lots of food references.  But, she's also been deputized by the state trooper who's in charge of law enforcement in the town.  The death of a college student who was employed at the local fish processing plant has a mysterious cause, and Charlie gets involved in finding the answers.  Her interactions with her cat are nicely detailed. I'd give this book an average rating.  I finished it, and found it somewhat interesting, but wouldn't say it was outstanding.

This is the 2nd installment in the Alaskan Diner mystery series. Charlie Cooke is back home in her hometown of Elkview Alaska and has taken over the Bear Claw diner from her mother over a year ago. It is now June in Alaska and more tourists are arriving and the diner is full but at one table a young man Ethan who works at the local fishery has collapsed at his table and later dies. Charlie is worried about the diner’s reputation as well as helping out with the investigation. The state trooper who they call Trooper is stretched thin and once again let’s Charlie and Chris (newspaper reporter) assist in the investigation. Charlie is also dealing with her ex Ryan being in town representing the fishery whose main headquarters are in San Francisco where they both lived and were engaged. She is not happy to see him and with him running interference at the fishery. Ethan and his friends worked at the fishery and they also live on site in the dorms they have there. Also Annie her best friend has a guest at her inn that is looking for her missing son who also happened to work with Ethan at the fishery. Charlie is a likeable character and I love the location setting in Alaska. This is a good mystery and I look forward to see what happens in the next mystery.

Let me first say that I love books about Alaska. The nature, the people, everything. So, when I saw this book it was a no brainer. And I am so glad that I gave it a shot. This is my first book by Elizabeth Logan and I thought it was wonderful. Charming, has plenty of critters in it, a great mystery, and has a lot of great characters in it. 

Charlie is wonderful. I love that this is based in a classic American diner. Who hasn't grown up going to some kind of diner? The food is great, the atmosphere is usually super friendly, and everything is just laid back. And the Bear Claw, what a cute name!! I love that she has really supportive parents and that they travel a lot. 

Trooper, what a character! He seems like the A typical grizzled law man out on the frontier. However, I love that he has a wonderful personality and that he isn't portrayed as some low IQ schmuck. You can tell how protective he is with everyone in town. 

Chris, I gotta admit that at first, I wasn't overly fond of him. I thought he was kind of pushy and know-it-allish and I hate that. However, I ended up thinking him very sweet and attentive by the end of the book. 

Annie, what a lovely person! I think she would make anyone a fantastic friend,

Benny! What an adorably smart cat! Clever and very attentive. You just want to grab him and snuggle him to pieces! 

I enjoyed the mystery. It was original and very well written. I thought I had the killer pegged from the beginning but there was enough doubt thrown in that I started to question my thought, however, I ended up being right in the end. Loved it. 

This book is filled with warmth, friendship, twists and turns, and lots of critter cuddles!! Fantastic book. Absolutely loved it. 

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion. These are my own honest opinions.

"Fishing for Trouble" by Elizabeth Logan
In this second installment in the Alaskan Diner mysteries, Charlie and Chris assist local law enforcement with several cases. Charlie Cooke runs her family diner in Elkview, Alaska, but somehow gets embroiled in a mysterious death that occurs in her diner. Although the death is not related to her diner's food, she and reporter Chris Doucette are "recruited" by local law enforcement to assist with getting to the bottom of the crime. There is more than meets the eye when financial irregularities at the local fishery are uncovered.

The characters are quirky and fun, fitting to the Alaska setting (if you have visited Alaska, you understand). The unique setting grabbed my attention, as did the diner details and information about fisheries. Since I have visited Alaska and fisheries, I found this aspect of the book to be my favorite, and seemed realistic. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between Charlie and Chris. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

As with most amateur sleuth novels, this one requires some suspension of skepticism on the part of the reader, with the characters' involvement in law enforcement and investigation of a murder.  Although this novel is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. The novel is clean, lacking overt violence, graphic intimacy, or strong language. 

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I mistakenly thought this was the first book in the Alaskan Diner cozy mystery series when I requested it for review. But, this is book 2. Thankfully the author does a great job of filling in details on characters and the setting so I followed along easily despite not having read the first book yet. 

I'm a sucker for any story set in Alaska...so I knew I would love this story even before I read the first chapter. In addition to the setting (which is like auto-love for me), I liked Charlie (the main character) and all the side characters. The background diner theme was fun. Who wouldn't want to eat at a place called The Bear Claw Diner?? I know I would be in there and ordering immediately! :) 

The plot moved at a nice pace and was suspenseful. The action and mystery start almost immediately, so the book kept my attention from start to finish.

All in all, a fun and entertaining cozy mystery! I already have the audio book of Mousse and Murder (book 1 in this series) checked out from my local library's digital site. I want to find out how this series starts! Can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

It’s just another busy Alaskan tourist season day at Charlie Cooke’s Bear Claw Diner until one of her guests abruptly starts choking at his table before falling over unconscious. Paramedics whisk young Ethan Johnson away to the nearest medical center, and a concerned Charlie drives there with his lunch date, Zoe, since only family members are allowed to ride along in the ambulance. They’re both shocked to arrive and discover that Ethan has died, and that no one yet knows why.

Charlie takes some comfort in knowing that while Ethan, Zoe and two more of their colleagues from a local fishery had ordered food from the diner, they hadn’t yet been served, so there can be no question of her food causing his demise. But all signs point to foul play, and when Zoe abruptly runs away after taking refuge at Charlie’s, Charlie finds herself more involved in the mystery than she had otherwise planned. With State Trooper Cody Graham spread thin as always with his responsibilities policing their municipality, it’s up to Charlie and her friend and sometime love interest Chris Doucette to take up their roles as semi-official deputies to uncover the truth.

Complicating things is the sudden arrival of Charlie’s ex-fiance Ryan from San Francisco. He keeps wanting to talk to her, but Charlie would be happiest avoiding him forever. Worse, Charlie’s parents are on a trip to California themselves, and Charlie is starting to worry that they’re thinking of moving south permanently. Fortunately, she has her sweet cat Benny to help her think things through, as well as to help save her from the threat of a vicious killer.

The subplots were delightful as we learned cool new things about Alaska through the eyes of our millennial heroine. I particularly liked how Chris morphed into a tech-savvy secret agent at the end: it hints both to his past and to how seriously he takes his responsibilities as a semi-official deputy. I rather wished Charlie had made better choices at several points in the narrative but all’s well that ends well, and it was a pleasant enough ride along the way.

Fishing For Trouble featured two Bear Claw Diner recipes. As with the previous novel in the series, the first boasts a meat somewhat difficult to come by in the lower forty-eight, while the second was more accessible:

QUOTE
Salmon Patties

½ red or yellow bell pepper, diced
4 T olive oil, divided
3 T butter, divided
1 lb boneless cooked salmon, flaked
black pepper to taste
1 cup plain or seasoned bread crumbs
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 T mayonnaise
¼ cup fresh parsley, minced

Sauté bell pepper with half the olive oil and half the butter.

In large bowl, combine salmon, sautéed bell pepper mixture, and all other ingredients.

Mix well and form patties: about 1 heaping tablespoon each, molded into ½-inch patties.

In a skillet, heat the other half of the olive oil and butter.

Add skillet salmon patties in a single layer.

Sauté 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown and heated through.

Remove finished patties to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining salmon cakes.

Makes 12 to 14 patties.
END QUOTE

I decided to use an orange bell pepper to split the taste difference between red and yellow, and thought that worked out quite nicely! I also sauteed and flaked my own salmon fillets, though I imagine this would still be tasty if you used canned salmon. These patties were fairly fast and easy to make, and would work just like crab cakes, either on a bun as a sandwich or on a platter with sides. They’re certainly a healthy and delicious way to start the New Year, especially if you go easy on the butter and use only olive oil instead.

Next week, we head southeast to bake a breakfast treat while investigating a suspicious disappearance. Do join me!

A great second book to a wonderful series. The setting in an Alaskan diner add to the charm of this book. The main and supporting characters are well written. I cannot wait for the next book it see what adventures are in store for them. If you want a book that keeps you guessing this is the book for you!

This is the second book in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I enjoy this series  setting of small town Alaskan life in the fictional town of  Elkview Alaska.  I have read the first in series and found this a fun series to read with a fast pace sleuth, likable charcters and the pleasing setting of Alaska. Thank you to Net Galley and to the Publisher. My review opinions are my own. 

We return to the cafe run by Chef Charlie during the busy summer tourist season. I find it fascinating to learn about Alaskan life during the long weeks of sunshine  20 hours a day.  The author does a fantastic job of writing about the life style of Alaska .  Charlie has a young man die in the cafe that is a very suspicious death. She cannot help but feel she must find out what really happened to him. When she finds out that he worked at a plant where another employee disappeared she involves herself in both cases with the local police .  Her friend join in and she has red herrings abound as she discovers clues to both crimes. 

I enjoyed this sleuth and and the fast pace of the story. The charcters are all likable and the author has included a sweet cat and good friends for Charlie. This is a series I will return to and highly recommend.

This is the second book in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I really like the quaint setting of Elkview. The Bear Claw diner serves comfort food for the locals as well as offering the perfect roadside pit stop for tourist. I wouldn’t personally try elk jerky, but I love that they provide snack packs for groups embarking on their various adventures. As with the first book, Mousse for Murder, I feel like it gave a tiny insight into life in Alaska. This story focused heavily on the fishing industry which I know little about so those parts were interesting. 

Unfortunately, the mystery was a tad off for me. The murder definitely caught my attention since it was so sudden, but the sleuthing and gathering of clues just didn’t seem to flow as smoothly at times. I picked up of the means of mercury poisoning really quickly too.  I also didn’t like the addition of Charlie’s ex. He was easy to dislike, but his appearance didn’t seem too plausible. I was more interested in the silly, secondary mystery surrounding Charlie’s parents. 

I do like the regular cast. Charlie is a great lead and her obsession with her cat was too cute. Love the various ways she spoils Benny with toys, technology and plenty of fresh salmon. Chris is a great sidekick / slow building love interest. I’m so intrigued by his past - especially after witnessing several of his tactical actions. 

The book concludes with a few recipes that were mentioned throughout the story.

Title:  Fishing For Trouble
Author:  Elizabeth Logan

Ch: 36

Pg:  304

Series: Alaskan Diner Mystery book 2

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 stars


Publisher: Berkley Books

 

 Fishing for Trouble by Elizabeth Logan is the second book in the Alaskan Diner Mystery series. I enjoyed this arm chair visit to Alaska that included a mystery. The second book in the series was faster paced than the first in the series. Because setting and characters have already been developed. And like all good cozies this one includes a sweet cat. And unlike most cozies this series has a law enforcement officer who doesn’t mind outside help, which makes me think the case is because it’s set in small town Alaska. And from reading this series I’ve learned small town Alaska is more like a village in lower 48 terms.

 

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.

I love Alaska and was so excited to read a cozy mystery set there. In Fishing for Trouble we follow a diner owner named Charlie Cooke who is pulled into a mystery involving the local fish processing plant when one ot it's seasonal workers collapses in the Bear Claw diner.  She aids her friend the State Trooper unravel what is really going on there with the help of her old pal and investigative reporter Chris. This was a fun read and I will be looking for the next installment of the series.

I made several attempts to read this book, however, I just couldn’t get into it. Hopefully this story appeals to other readers, especially those who like to read stories based in Alaska.

Just couldn't get into this one but overall the series seems good. If you like anything about Alaska then this is the book for you

I had a hard time getting into this cozy mystery which is the second in the Alaskan Diner series. I haven't read the first one so I'm not sure how the main character, Charlie, usually acts but she seemed to immediately insinuate herself into the situation without much thought. There was little excitement in the beginning to draw the reader in. A lot of the book was taken up with discussion of her cat and not because he helped or hindered the investigation. There were a lot of details about his remote interaction and feeding system. Too many details. The story is not entirely plausible when the police actively ask for citizens' help. I also found some awkward phrasing and improper word usage.

Synopsis:

Something fishy is going on at a local seafood processing plant, and Charlie Cooke is on the hook to solve the case in this new Alaskan Diner Mystery.

Summer has come to Elkview, Alaska, bringing twenty hours of sunlight every day, not to mention a surge of tourists and seasonal workers. Chef Charlie Cooke is eager for a busy yet relaxing season, but when a young man working a summer job at the local fish processing plant dies moments after walking into the Bear Claw Diner, she’s quickly swept into the investigation.

Soon, through her best friend Annie Jensen, Charlie learns that another student worker at J and M Processing has disappeared, leaving more questions and fewer answers. The near-endless sunlight gives plenty of time to search for clues, but Charlie will have to work with Annie and local reporter Chris Doucette to net the killer before anyone else gets hurt.  (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded.  Charlie and Chris spend a lot of time together, trying to figure out who killed a young man working in the summer at the fish processing plant.  They get along well and things may get a little more serious between them.  Between Charlie, Chris and Annie, a friend, they may be able to helper Trooper solve the case.  Benny, Charlie’s cat, was very involved in the book.  I think we got too much description on how much Charlie missed Benny, but that is only my opinion and others may not agree with me.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through most of the book, I felt like I was right there in Elkview, Alaska, watching all of the action taking place and listening in in conversations.  The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read.  The mystery was well plotted and I did not know who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end.   

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery.  I wonder what’s next for Charlie and her friends?

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Fishing for Trouble is a wonderful follow up to Mousse and Murder, the first book in An Alaskan Diner Mystery series. If you've been around my blog for a while, you know about my obsession with Alaska! It's like the last great frontier right? That pioneer spirit of my ancestors calls to me and tries to trick me into believing that living in Alaska would be life-changing. Sure it would, ancestors. I'd probably get eaten by a grizzly or lose a toe to frostbite! (Yes, I'm dramatic. I even have the t-shirt...) But, seriously, I know that it is a beautiful state with a lot of brave and adventurous people. It's the perfect setting for this series!

Charlie's diner, given to her by her mom, is a popular place. The food is amazing, and tour groups, after having stayed at Charlie's BFF Annie's inn, often eat there on the way to their adventures. Unfortunately for Charlie, a group of college students working at a fish processing plant decide to eat there when one of them falls over dead. Thankfully, they hadn't even gotten their food, so Charlie knows it's not food poisoning. But through circumstances beyond her control, Charlie's caught up in another murder. Yes, murder! Though the young man didn't die of food poisoning, he was murdered.

The author does such a remarkable job of laying out clues throughout Fishing for Trouble. I think a good cozy mystery book is one in which you can pick up on all of the clues yet still be mostly clueless as to who the murderer is. This one fits that criteria very well.

As in Mousse and Murder, I absolutely love these characters. The recurring characters feel like they're my old friends. I could walk into the diner, order the special, and catch up on the latest gossip. The camaraderie among the characters is evident in Fishing for Trouble even more so than in the first book....which is as it should be. These characters are well-developed, and I love being able to gain more insight with each book. I'm already excited for book 3!

Fishing for Trouble is such an entertaining book. I'm sure you'll enjoy the mystery, the characters, the cats, and of course, the setting! Wishing you had a bear claw while you're reading is inevitable. You might want to pick some up before you start reading! I highly recommend both books in An Alaskan Diner Mystery series.