Stabbed in the Baklava (Kebab Kitchen Mystery #2) by Tina Kashian #bookreview #mystery
Title: Stabbed in the Baklava
Author: Tina Kashian
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
Page Count: 336
My rating: 3 stars
About the book:
Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . .
Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . .
Recipes included!
Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian is the second installment of the cozy Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. At the center of this series is Lucy Berberian who returned to her hometown along the Jersey shore and has taken over the family business of running their Mediterranean restaurant.
Things have been going well for Lucy after she successfully solved a murder right after returning home. She’s hired her ex-boyfriend Azad to work as the chef at the restaurant and the customers have been steadily coming in so when offered a chance to cater a big wedding Lucy refuses to admit they really don’t have the experience and is determined to make it happen.
Of course catering a high society wedding is not without difficulties but Lucy and her crew feel they’ve done splendidly when the party is winding down. That is until Lucy and Azad find a dead body in the back of the catering van. When the police begin looking at Azad as a suspect Lucy is determined to set the story straight and find the real killer.
Unfortunately I find myself lowering my rating a bit for this second book of the Kebab Kitchen Mystery series. I found the first book a solid mystery read with likable characters but simply lacking that extra bit of quirkiness that I truly love so I still enjoyed them but what I don’t remember is a love triangle in the making.
Now I know that when the lead is a single woman there may tend to be a bit of romance and that’s perfectly fine but I prefer it kept to one man and in the background of the story. In this one Lucy’s dating life seemed pushed all throughout with the ex a suspect and another man she may or may not be interested in so I wasn’t a huge fan of it. Still enjoyed the setting and Lucy as a lead especially when she’s with her best friend but hopefully the “you need a man” will be dropped next round.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
Find this book online:
Goodreads / Amazon
About the author:
Tina Kashian, previously published as Tina Gabrielle, is an Amazon bestselling author, an attorney, and a former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Tina spent her childhood summers at the Jersey shore building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business, as her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. Tina’s books have been Barnes & Noble top picks, and her first book, Lady of Scandal, was nominated as Best First Historical Romance by RT Book Reviews. Please visit her website at http://www.tinakashian.com to join her newsletter, receive delicious recipes, enter contests, and more!
Lovely review, I was unsure whether to request for this book. Thanks for clearing that up
Great review, Carrie. I just love the cover and title of this one. Unsure if it’s for me though. Thanks for sharing. 😉💜
Nice review Carrie. You already know my feelings on love triangles.
love the title
Thanks Shalini, I hope the next one puts the love life back to the background because it’s a solid series otherwise.
Thanks! I’m know I’m such a sucker for these cozy covers but you’re right, this one was quite nice. 🙂
Thanks! I honestly do not mind in some books but I could care less about pushing a character towards men if they have a murder to go solve. LOL
This series has some cute ones to fit their Mediterranean restaurant theme. 🙂
That’s cool. I love stuff like that
This supports my theory that the second book in a series is the weakest. Hopefully the third will get back on track. The title is awesome though, who doesn’t like baklava?
It really does happen sometimes, especially for these that were just OK the first time around. Hopefully though the next will pick back up as it does have some good moments and a fun setting. 🙂
Great review, Carrie. I always get the word baklava mixed up with the word balaclava. I once said to my friend. “This guy was running up behind me and it scared me because he was wearing a baklava!!” She looked at me strangely and said he was wearing a pastry? She’ll never let me forget it either 🙂 I always have to double check now….not that I use either word often but more thank you’d think 🙂
Have a great weekend!!! <3
sorry about the spelling and grammar mistakes. I hit send before editing 🙁
LOL! I could see my friends and family reminding me of that one for years to come. If it makes you feel any better though I regularly mix up Netgalley and Netflix, I think everyone is used to it by now though. 🙂
Haha no worries, I’m sure I do much the same all the time and don’t even notice.
What a great review!! Thoroughly enjoyed reading it! 🙂 🙂
Thank you very much! 🙂