Business is good; Lulu has a steady stream of local diners and a fair number of tourists packed into her restaurant at any given time. But when a reporter from the Cooking Channel, Rebecca Adrian, comes to town looking for the best barbeque, Lulu knows this is an opportunity too good to miss and turns up the Southern charm and fires up the barbeque pit to make sure Rebecca gets the bet ribs she has ever had. It looks like someone has added a little something extra special to Rebecca’s plate, however, because just hours after eating at Aunt Pat’s, she is found dead in her hotel room and Lulu’s family – and worse – her food are suspected in the woman’s death. 

Sara was seen having an altercation with Rebecca at an art gallery where Rebecca cruelly dismissed Sara’s work. Also on the receiving end of Rebecca’s unkindness is local bookstore owner, would-be romance author, Mildred.  Docents at Graceland, who have dubbed themselves the Graces, are also not very fond of Rebecca, especially the one who has been keeping a secret that could mean her life if it were revealed. 

There are many suspects, but since most of them are Lulu’s family and friends she decides to make it her business to find the real killer and restore everyone’s reputation, especially that of her ribs!  

Delicious and Suspicious is a tasty start to a new mystery series, but it suffers from an overabundance of characters introduced too quickly.  Over the course of the first chapter, readers are introduced to Lulu’s family, including Sara’s 17-year-old nephew who never really fits into the story that well. They also meet the usual dining trio of Morty, Buddy and Big Ben who serve much like a Greek chorus and the five members of the Graces, each with a unique personality, but as a group all at once, a bit overwhelming. 

Lulu’s granddaughter Ella Beth is especially delightful as she loves spending time with her family in the restaurant and often offers her own delightful nine-year-old take on situations.  In the end, two mysteries are connected, a little bit tenuously, and solved, though part of someone’s involvement in Rebecca’s murder doesn’t come to a satisfactory conclusion. 

Memphis and Beale Street offer the chance for much local color and atmosphere.  The series has a good a hook and has the potential to be filled with likable, colorful local characters with a charming heroine leading the way and lots of good food, including recipes, at the end.                                                  

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry