Essence is owned by Tim, half of the former husband and wife duet of the highly successful restaurant Magellan. Chloe quickly becomes annoyed by her arrogant and pompous date and makes plans to ditch him…but not until after dessert. While Eric excuses himself to take a phone call, the waitress commiserates with Chloe over Eric’s obnoxious behavior. Two cappuccinos later, Eric hasn’t returned and Chloe goes in search of him, finding him on the men’s room floor, stabbed while on the phone.

Chloe can’t believe her luck and plans on putting another hideous date behind her, but somehow, Eric’s parents have gotten the idea that Eric and Chloe had been an item for quite a while and invite her to his funeral. Because Magellan is catering, Chloe decides to go and come clean about their lack of relationship later, but while scarfing down the delectables at the repast, Chloe makes a connection with chef Josh.

Nothing can put a damper on the instant attraction, not even the fact that Josh is the police’s prime suspect in the murder. Still unable to come clean with Eric’s family, Chloe begins looking into his murder and learns that it might not just be his dates who wish him dead. In between answering calls from women harassed in the workplace (Chloe’s internship for grad school) and group therapy (a required course) Chloe dives into the world of Boston’s restaurants and soon learns just how small that world is and just how many people may have wished Eric harm.

Steamed is a bright addition to the already popular subgenre of culinary mysteries. The heroine is a gourmand rather than a chef, caterer or critic, and just enjoys good food. Her chef boyfriend adds the technical aspects of food (and a few recipes) and lots of steamy nights for Chloe. There are plenty of suspects and motives, though some are not as strong as others. Chloe and her friends are poised to become an interesting group - from her best friend who dies her hair brown when Chloe has issues with blondes, to Chloe’s new boss with all her braids.

In a field where there’s always room for one more amateur sleuth, Chloe is a great addition, one whom readers will want to visit with time and time again.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry