Fans of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series will welcome the 14th installment, Death of an Italian Chef, by brother and sister team who use the pseudonym Lee Hollis. Hayley’s brother, Randy, is in the hospital for minor surgery, and is in the same room as Romeo, a chef who just opened his own Italian restaurant. Romeo wants Hayley to run his restaurant while he is laid up, and Hayley gets involved in the problems. Unfortunately, Randy hears and sees some things in the hospital room that puts Chef Romeo in danger, and more. Hayley must investigate.

This light cozy series is always fun to read. Hayley is a excellent protagonist, and is likeable and believable. Hollis does an excellent job of developing the supporting characters, and those who have read the previous books will feel like they are reading updates on family. The story flows with plenty of twists and turns; Hayley is pushy in her investigation, and sometimes puts herself and others in danger. This cozy is well-written and the storyline is easy to follow.

One of the best things about this novel (as well as the other books in the series) is that Hayley posts recipes throughout. They are easy to follow and actually doable. She also posts cocktails for those who like to imbibe.

All told, this is a fun novel to read. It is light and is a quick read. The recipes included are mouthwatering.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I have read a couple of books in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails series. I have enjoyed them enough that I’ve bought every book. This is a fun cozy mystery that has great characters who are well developed. The food and drink focus will have your stomach growling and your mouth watering. A lot of twists and turns that keep your attention. I can’t wait for another adventure with Hayley and the cast of characters from Bar Harbor, Maine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this one the plot kept me interested until the end which is not easy, and the characters were engaging and believable. I highly recommend this book.

Death of an Italian Chef is the 14th book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries, written by author Lee Hollis. I've read all the previous books and received a copy from NetGalley for this installment. Now that I'm caught up and ready for the 2022 release, I did a bit of research on the author and her other series... since I only began reading this one because it appeared in a collection of novellas that all took place in Maine, a state I want to eventually live in one day. Imagine my surprise when I learned Lee Hollis is not a real person, rather a brother and sister writing duo. Wow! I hadn't expected to learn that, but it doesn't change much about the books for me. It might explain why occasionally I see a bit of repetition in a tale, i.e. someone introduced a character in one chapter and then introduced them again in another. Nonetheless, it was a great book in the series... possibly my favorite and the funniest to date. At the same time, it ruined a character for me because it turned him into a pampered baby. It was meant to be funny but was the wrong person to apply the logic to in my opinion. It was better off for Hayley's son, not her brother who is supposed to be a role model. Features great Italian recipes, and some cocktails that I really want to try. Ends with a fun surprise too. Looking forward to the next one!

Sergio is out of town. Randy is in the hospital. Bruce is out working a job. And the chef of Bar Harbor's best italian restaurant is dead. Hailey feels obligated to not only fill in at the restaurant, but also figure out who murdered the chef, because it is most definitely NOT a simple heart attack. There are several plot twists and turns and just when I thought I had it figured out, new evidence suggests otherwise! Of course Hailey's BFFs Mona and Liddy make appearances and Mona never fails to crack me up. Not my favorite book in the series, but still a good one.

Hayley and her husband are excited about the new Italian restaurant that has opened in town, and Hayley looks writing a review over what she experiences. She soon learns the chef is a lively character that has no problem expressing his feelings about anything in his life.. Hayley's brother Randy becomes ill and ends up in the hospital he winds up with Chef Romeo as his roommate, after the Romeo has a mild heart attack from his eating habits.. When the chef ends up dying the police believe he died from a heart attack and don't plan to look any further. Randy swears he saw someone put something into the mans IV and Hayley believes him. She decides to investigate on her own and figure out just who had it in for the chef. She soon learns that the chef was hiding a secret and they may have been.what lead up to Romeo's death. Follow along as Hayley follows the clues left behind in hopes of nabbing a killer, will she be able to help in the end or will a killer get away?

My Thoughts: Chef Romeo is quite the character and had a lot of potential, that sadly didn't get utilized. He is rather a stereo-type of a big and loud Italian. Hayley is a well developed character that was easy to relate to. Hayley’s brother Randy came across spoiled and I'm sad to say, complaining. I found his flirting with a nurse when he is in a relationship not cool. The mystery itself had plenty of suspects and the reader is along for the ride, piecing it together pretty much the same time as Hayley with the way motives and information are doled out. The killer reveal was exciting, which I always love. There was one feature in the book I didn't care for. Interspersed throughout are little micro-stories, unrelated to the current mystery, that introduce a recipe. I found that practice would distract me from the main story and it didn't work well for me. If you are looking for something light, this is a good bet. Overall I would say it was enjoyable, enough so that I will probably go back to the first book in the series and catch up.

Rating: Good - A fun enjoyable read. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

Lee Hollis is one of my favorite authors and this series is like catching up with an old friend. I enjoyed the mystery and it was not as predictable as some of the previous ones. Can't wait for the next one!

Hayley is becoming frustrated with her job but carries on trying out the newest Italian restaurant in town. Over the top Chef Romeo suffers a heart attack and ends up in the same hospital room as Hayley's brother Randy. Hayley finds herself running the restaurant while Romeo is out of commission. It may be her new job after Romeo dies. While the doctors say it was complications from his heart problems, Randy insists Romeo was murdered. Aside from the misinformation regarding the appropriate diet for someone in the midst of a pancreatitis attack, I enjoyed the book.

Loved reading Death of an Italian Chef.

The storyline was interesting and kept me guessing until the very end. Very well written with great characters. I have read other books by this author and loved them. Glad this one was just what I expected. Can't wait to read more from this author.

This is the 14th book in a series that never gets old. I find Haley and her crew highly entertaining. The mystery is fast paced and completely enjoyable. Bring on book 15!

The latest in the Hayley Powell series focuses on a new Italian chef in town and a subsequent murder, which Hayley attempts to solve. Frankly, I'm still getting used to her being remarried and an empty nester, but this book holds some promise of interesting changes to come. In the meantime, this book has a plot that's complicated enough to keep one guessing, as well as the usual recurring characters (though not as predominant as in previous novels.) The whole mobster subplot seems a bit far-fetched-not sure it's characteristic of mobster action. In all, it's a good read.

I absolutely adore Hayley. I thought she is alittle strange but very likeable. The rest of the characters are equally as weird but very entertaining. Imagine telling a chef that your food is better than his. What a riot. I was definitely not expecting the ending.

So many wonderful recipes and dish descriptions are sprinkled throughout this cozy that it leaves one wanting Italian food in the worst way! I usually prefer to get the recipes at the end of the story and rarely do I like breaks during the action, but Haley’s food articles were like the garlic bread that one needs with their marinara sauce. I might have also been partial to the Bellini recipe. Such a busy lady and such a busy plot, so many strands, much like a bowl of spaghetti or linguini. I have no idea how she managed to make it all fit and not be the walking dead, I do think that if she hadn’t been so tired she might have picked up on some things a little sooner. Oh and I learned that I will NEVER have an Alexa in every room. This was a quick read because I did not want to put it down and I am already looking forward to making some of the meals and getting the next book because Haley is definitely going to be even busier in the next book. The one recipe that was missing though, gouda mac and cheese…so I picked up a block at the store and some lobster to add in as well.

by Lee Hollis (Goodreads Author)
3310314
Kate's review Aug 04, 2021 · edit
it was amazing

There is something so fun about this series! The books zip right along and are just plain fun. Here, Hayley’s brother is in the hospital when he’s *pretty sure* he saw his roommate get murdered (or was it the heavy meds he was on, messing with his mind?). Another fun and fast paced installment in this small town cozy.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed the “columns” that Hayley writes for the local newspaper. They are so chatty and sweet, it is no wonder she is a bit of a celebrity amongst the locals. She makes the mistake when dining in a new Italian restaurant to compare her dish with the one the mercurial chef has prepared. He demands she come and make the dish for him and he is bowled over, asking her to work with him. They are interrupted by a builder and his thug. When Hayley threatens to call the police, the man exits spouting threats to the chef.

Romeo, the chef, has what Hayley perceives as a heart attack but Romeo refuses to have it checked out. So it is no big surprise when he is rolled into the hospital room beside Hayley’s stricken brother who has just been rushed to the hospital. Romeo begs Hayley to sub for him while he is in the hospital What is a surprise is when she comes to visit her brother, Romeo is dead and her brother says he was murdered. But the temporary chief of police is highly skeptical.

But when attempts are made on her life and she learns Romeo was someone else before he fell foul of the Mob. Were these complications the reason behind his murder or was the other guys to blame? If only Hayley could get someone in authority to take her observations seriously. All I am going to say is I love when a book takes you to the villain but throws in unexpected twists. And then there is the twist where Hayley’s entire world is set on its ear. Want to know more? You will have to read the book.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Any book that is set in Maine and involves food is almost guaranteed to be a winner to me. I enjoyed my return trip to Bar Harbor. After reading this one, I am really wishing that I could visit her for a meal or two. Her recipes sound amazing.

The mystery kept me guessing and I enjoyed the twists and turns. This was a nice easy that kept me interested from beginning to end.

With fourteen books in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail series, Lee Hollis pens another fun and exciting story about an Italian chef who meets his demise far too early. When Chef Romeo suffers from a mild heart attack, he spends a few days in the hospital with Hayley’s brother who is also recovering from gall bladder surgery. However, when Romeo suddenly dies from complications, Randy believes that he saw someone sneak into their room and do something to Romeo. Now it’s time for Hayley to get to the bottom of this, but with this much at stake, what will happen if she doesn’t find the killer?

This series is definitely my favorite series by Lee Hollis. I love the writing style as well as all of the characters. There’s a good sense of pacing and tone, as well as plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.

I would highly recommend this series to any seasoned mystery reader or even newbies looking to try something new. DEATH OF AN ITALIAN CHEF is nothing short of amazing!

Death of an Italian Chef by Lee Hollis is book 14 in the Haley Powell Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
There is a new Italian restaurant in town and Haley has been challanged to make her Pasta Carbonara by the chef. Chef Romeo admits hers is the best and wants her to leave her job at the newspaper and work in his kitchen. When he ends up in the hospital following a mild heart attack and is in the same room as her brother, he begs her to keep his kitchen running until he gets dismissed. She agrees but when he ends up dead and her brother swears he witnessed Romeo's murder, Haley's plate is now overfilled. She wants to honor Chef's memory by keeping the restaurant going and finding his murderer.
This easy to read Cozy was hard to put down with all the plot twists and suspects. I love the characters as they are likeable and relatable. There is humor and friendship. Recipes are also included.
I can't wait to see what Haley's future holds.
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Death of an Italian Chef: A Hayley Powell Mystery
By Lee Hollis
Kensington
July 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

For her husband’s going away dinner before he leaves Bar Harbor to report on a trial in New York City, Hayley Powell, Bruce, and her brother Randy are dining at the town’s hottest new Italian Restaurant Romeo. No one praises Chef Romeo Russo’s cooking more than himself, but upon seeing Hayley he immediately demands her honest, critical opinion of his spaghetti carbonara. Although she tries to wiggle out of it, the Island Times’ office manager and food columnist reluctantly admits that her own recipe is much better. With an ego as big as his personality, Romeo orders Hayley to return to cook her own version in his kitchen the following Monday. As much as Hayley adores sharing family stories and recipes in her Island Food & Spirits columns, the drudgery of managing the Island Times office has her feeling a little bored and unchallenged. That explains how she decides to agree and presents her dish to the chef, and its success and his approval get it placed at the top of his menu.

Less explicable is how she again somehow finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. After Randy suffers an attack of gallstones that requires surgery, he becomes the roommate of Romeo who is annoyed to have just had his own mild heart attack. So Romeo’s unexpected death in the hospital is certainly a shock, especially after Randy is certain that he saw someone tamper with the chef’s IV line. Randy’s husband, Police Chief Sergio Alvares, is away visiting family in South America, meaning that the investigation is in the hands of the newly hired, but very intimidating, Sergeant Vanessa Herrold. Both she and hospital administrators are inclined to view Randy’s observation as being delusional due to anesthesia, but he begs Hayley to investigate and prove that he was right. Weighing even more on Hayley’s shoulders is Romeo’s last plea to take over the restaurant while he was out, a responsibility his staff hopes she will continue as business surges and demand for her dishes increase. So Hayley will be juggling the duties of managing a restaurant, writing her entertaining food and cocktails columns, and tracking down who ensured that Romeo served his last dish.

The authors keep this 14th of the series fresh by taking Hayley out of her normal environment and placing her in the drama-filled position of running a restaurant. When her cooking skills are combined with her abilities to manage an office, Hayley proves to be a surprisingly successful new restauranteur. It helps that she is being assisted by her usual cohorts in crime, besties Liddy and Mona. Both are at loose ends right now, with real estate agent Liddy frustrated at the dried up real estate marker while Mona is being pushed into retirement from Lobstering by her children. When it turns out that Liddy is a deft hostess and customers love Mona’s rude service, they prove to be as helpful as restaurant staff as they do investigating enablers. Fans of Hayley’s exuberant Island Times columns will be thrilled by those included here, as the Italian dishes and inspired drinks are tantalizing and the stories that inspired them hilarious. This latest in the series is an entertaining blend of Hell’s Kitchen and Grey’s Anatomy, and Haley finds herself delving deep into the equally cutthroat and competitive worlds of restaurants and hospitals. Fun food columns, mouth-watering recipes, and the antics of the extremely likable Hayley and her friends make this yet another winner. Whether this is a starting point for an entire new series or simply veers into a different direction entirely, readers will hopefully be able to follow Hayley’s Bar Harbor family as they go onto their next adventure.