Set in Key West food critic Haley Snows employer Key Zest is throwing the event of the season a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow Haley’s mother. As Haley boards the luxurious cruise expecting smooth sailing with cocktails mango infused delicacies and new supporters for the e-zine. As the boat sets sail festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel plunging guests into chaos. A local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident. Question is can Haley find the culprit before they strike again. I have read many of Lucy’s stories and they all are very enjoyable and keep you wanting more. I would recommend to everyone.

Book 15 in the A Key West Food Critic mystery series is a utter delight! Hayley 's mother Janet is hosting a cocktail party of lavish proportions with Hayley as caterer. But a tragic turn happens when an explosion occurs onboard killing a local entrepreneur. Hayley suspects it was no accident. With well developed characters and a well planned story plot this mystery will keep the reader guessing! I just love this series! Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

I totally had a feeling when reading that Hayley was pregnant!! So that was exciting! I did think it was odd to bring up Palamina’s ex just to kill her off but I guess maybe that leads to her talking to her husband again?? I don't know.. I struggled with this one, unfortunately..

Well, I don’t know if this started or ended with the biggest bang. All in your perspective, I guess. I do love Hayley and Nathan’s relationship. And, honestly, who wouldn’t love Miss Gloria? This has an interesting story line with some twists and turns. I love Key West and always enjoy visiting with this group of folks. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

As a former Floridian, I'm always happy to take a food oriented virtual trip to Key West to hang out with Hayley and her usual friends and family. Lots of family this go-round, The author always does an excellent job capturing the atmosphere of Key West. She even tosses in historic bits here and there and, no, it isn't all Hemingway related. I even found myself doing a silent "I know that name!" at the mention of Henry Flagler. Not only was he behind the building of Casa Marina in the Keys but his name was given to a building on my own college campus (not South Florida), so a nice connection.

In any case, on to the story. It's a twisty, tricky one with lots of red herrings to send us amateur sleuths off on tangents. Who blew up not only the party boat Hayley and some family members were one, not to mention many of the movers and shakers of the town, but maybe themself in the process? Things are further complicated when the sole victim isn't quickly and easily identified. Was it the culprit or some innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, Hayley and the rest had to be rescued out of the water. Or, perhaps it was genuinely a tragic accident? Needless to say, Hayley and husband Nathan, police investigator, don't have any quick, easy answers. In fact, Hayley's snooping, er, asking of questions and Nathan's typical police caution to stay out of it, seem to be creating tensions beyond the norm. Uh, oh.

Toss in family on all sides arriving for the big party planned for Hayley and Nathan's beloved neighbor Gloria and there is a great deal going on. Gloria's family is, let's just say, worried and some are determined she be placed in senior housing despite her protests. Oddly enough, despite my annoyance with them, I found myself at least understanding them as well as liking the usual characters. Lots going on in the background that slowly emerges, too, involving the inevitable conflict between those who want Key West tor remain just as it is and those who want to develop the area, often at the expense of smaller housing areas. Key West is usually seen as a bit of a party town, okay, forget the bit and think Jimmy Buffet party-time, but the struggle between image and reality is just as real there as it is everywhere. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me once again to take an early virtual peek at life in the Keys and catch up with everyone. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book based on possibilities emerging at the end.

A great escape to Key West for a visit with Haley, Nathan and Miss Gloria.
Haley’s mom is catering an event on a catamaran. Food, drinks, and investors, hopefully new customers on a cocktail cruise. Unfortunately, a fire and loud bang as the boat blows up. A person is killed and the rest were rescued from the water. Was there a killer aboard that boat?
Haley investigates trying to puzzle together any clues she might get.
Haley, her family and friends are also celebrating Miss Gloria’s birthday.
Fast paced, mystery, culinary delights, secrets.
An ending that really surprised me.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun cozy mystery novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Number 15 did not disappoint! The Mango Murders delivers a delightful blend of mystery, culinary intrigue, and rich, character-driven storytelling. When Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest magazine, hosts the event of the season—a lavish cocktail party catered by Hayley’s own mother, Janet Snow—expectations are high for a flawless evening aboard a luxury yacht. But the festivities take a deadly turn when an unexpected explosion shatters the celebration, resulting in the death of a well-known local entrepreneur. As suspicion swirls and secrets come to light, Hayley is once again drawn into a tangled web of intrigue where family, food, and murder collide in colorful Key West.

#TheMangoMurders #NetGalley

3.5 stars. This one felt different and I can't figure out why...maybe because the mystery started nearly at the beginning, or because there was less partnership with Gloria, or because it felt like the mystery had been solved with less drama at the end. I liked the book - don't get me wrong, but it was just different...The true ending was predictable and sets up some changes for the series.

I love Lucy Burdette books. She brings me right to her houseboat in Key West every time! Without giving away the juicy details, this latest book has her mom in the spotlight when something happens during a catered event. All of Hayley's inlaws and family are in town for Miss Gloria's birthday so her mother in law, Helen and her stepmom Allison help Hayley sleuth around. It is a great read but this one somehow felt like an ending to the series. I sure hope it isn't. I hope to go on many more adventures with Hayley!.

"The Mango Murders (Key West Food Critic Mystery #15)" by Lucy Burdette was solved purely by the over reaction of the culprit and Hayley stumbling upon an odd scenario. This one seems to be a bit more focused on the details of all the parties/gatherings in it and some big news at the end. I really felt thrown into the reveal of the culprit and wasn't even close to making any real guesses. Between this series starting to have a real pattern of the drama in it and the way this book ended, I think it would be a good time to take a break from the series. It's just not for me anymore.

Hailey is working on a cocktails cruise that her e-zine and her mom's catering business are co-sponsoring. After a shout of fire, she finds herself flying into the water. The boat has exploded, and Hailey swims around helping to get other people to shore. Apparently there are only minor injuries, that is, until the remains of the boat are examined and a body is found. Identifying the body is not that easy. Hailey goes around trying to figure out who is missing from the guest list, but everyone is accounted for. In between planning a birthday celebration for Miss Gloria and shuffling out of town guests around, she tries to find who the body belongs to, who set the boat on fire, who ran down her mother-in-law, and how to fix her boss' failed marriage.
Recipes in the back.

Ms. Burdette continues to find inspiration in Key West.
The story is tightly structured, entertaining, and leaves the reader hungry...for more stories and food!

Another great Key West food critic mystery! Hayley’s paper is hosting a party on a local boat when disaster strikes. She and her mothers (Mom, mother in law and stepmother) work together to find out what happened as well as more about the passengers on the boat. They are also busy hosting several events to celebrate Hayley’s neighbor’s birthday for friends and family.

I love this series of mysteries! I learn a little more about Key West, read about delicious food and try to solve the mysteries along with Hayley. Of course her husband gets upset when she gets involved.

It’s always nice to visit with Haley in Key West to see where she gets involved next. Her relationship with Miss Gloria warms my heart as does her evolving marriage to Nathan. As I have visited and loved everything about Key West, it is easy and relaxing to just close my eyes as Lucy Burdette weaves her story around new characters as well as some of the regulars. The boat explosion was neatly woven into the Miss Gloria’s birthday celebration as well as getting to know all of the families. I can’t wait for Haley and Nathan’s next chapter!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.


Haley is on a catamaran for an event that her mother is catering and the ship ends up catching fire exploding and sending all the guests into the water. The police arrive including Haley’s husband Nathan. Haley decides to take the case especially after jt is revealed that what started the fire was found among her mothers things that she brought to the event. Haley eventually finds the killer and learns that she and Nathan are having a baby. I don’t want to give to much away but this book was so good and I want to read the previous books that came out before this one. I am so glad I found another cozy mystery series that I love.

An evening spent on board a beautiful boat in the Florida Keys, with stunning food and drink, interesting company, and a chance to garner new customers for Janet Snow's catering company as well as investors and advertisers for e-zine, Key Zest is an exciting prospect. When a tragedy occurs the police are quickly on the scene, but secrets abound and party organiser and local journalist, Hayley Snow is soon on the case, much to the dismay of her husband, Nathan, the new Deputy Chief of the local police force. At the same time, Hayley has been arranging close friend Miss Gloria's 85th birthday celebrations, which are spread over a number of lunch and evening events. With so much on her plate, she's spending her days investigating and her evenings celebrating, while a killer has her in their sights and is waiting in the wings ready to strike again.

Book fifteen in this series was a fun read that was entertaining throughout and left me with no idea who the killer was, even though the clues were there! Hayley is a great main protagonist, and there was great cameos from her and Miss Gloria's family as they all congregated for the impressive birthday celebrations.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I do wonder if there will be any more books in this series as it seemed all the loose ends were neatly tied up, I hope I'm wrong as I will miss Hayley and her adventures. Highly recommended.

This was such a fun cozy murder mystery and perfect for the summertime! It had me guessing ‘till the end. I haven’t read the other books in this series, but it didn’t matter for the storyline, which is nice! Will read more!

The Mango Murders is a deliciously thrilling addition to the Key West Food Critic Mystery series! Lucy Burdette serves up a perfect blend of suspense, vibrant island atmosphere, and mouthwatering food writing. As big changes loom, Hayley Snow finds herself in the middle of a deadly explosion at a sailaway cocktail event, turning paradise into a crime scene. Fast-paced, smartly written, and full of heart, this mystery will keep readers hooked until the very last page. A must-read for cozy mystery lovers! (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

As cozy mysteries go, Lucy Burdette has a firm corner on the market! With wit, emotion, and romance, Lucy brings the charm and mysterious tension out of her characters in a setting that embraces the characters as well as the reader. The added bonus: culinary quotes to start each chapter and a recipe at the end of the novel. A delicious read!