One night, the friends, along with Chloe’s social work partner Doug and his boyfriend Terry, meet at Simmer for supper. Chloe is hoping to catch a glimpse of Josh and Owen is preening about the seafood he is providing to local restaurants, working with a seafood purveying company, the Daily Catch. The staff at Simmer, in the kitchen and the front of the house, are a congenial group, joking around to lighten the mood of the hectic restaurant, all but uptight waitress Leandra, who waits on Chloe and her friends. 

The next morning, Leandra’s body is found in the refrigerator compartment of Owen’s truck and just about everyone’s a suspect.  Not believing Owen had anything to do with the murder, and wanting things to get back to normal at Simmer, Chloe begins asking a few innocent questions. If she’s not careful, Chloe may also end up being fish food, literally.   

Turn Up the Heat is a fun culinary mystery, with a spunky heroine who is very loyal to her boyfriend and friends and has a very strong sense of right and wrong, making her a good candidate for her chosen field of social work.  Because Chloe is so in tune with her friends, she deserves a first-rate attentive boyfriend, not necessarily found in hot-shot chef Josh who must divide his attention between Chloe and the fledgling restaurant. 

The mystery is well plotted with many red herrings and many suspects all with good reason for disliking Leandra and wanting her dead.  The hip Boston setting is a great backdrop for Chloe and her friends, the gourmet recipes included will appeal to foodies and the promise of a wedding in Chloe’s future (maybe two) and the impending pitter-patter of little feet will have readers looking forward to the next dead body Chloe is sure to stumble across.                                          

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry