Business can always be better and Gwen has just taken her first catering job from Southern socialite Lolo Baker. Lolo is a huge mystery fan and has hired Gary Gold to create a participation style murder mystery for Lolo and her friends. When local chocolate maker Hoppy Hopewell falls through the second story floor at the party, Gwen first thinks it is part of the plot until she realizes Hoppy was actually murdered. Her first catering job is over before it begins and Gwen starts to look into Hoppy's death. She finds Hoppy, who had a reputation as a ladies' man and shrewd businessman, was also a dog in most of his dealings with people and there is no shortage of people glad to see him dead.

Gwen is a very smart woman and is able to use her forensic accounting skills to follow Hoppy's money to help hunky detective Grant Daniels locate suspects. In the first deadly deli mystery, however, the hunky detective's name was Beau McClintock and everything points to Grant and Beau being the same person. Gwen often lords her "New York-ness" over her employees and other locals, once declaring "...he country boy never heard..." of "...buy low, sell high" when Newt asks if Lolo had given any tips in addition to the payment for the aborted party.

The manager of the deli, Thomasina is also portrayed as an unsophisticated country dweller, and while wrangling between old and new employees or even employer and employees can be humorous, it often sounds as if Gwen is putting people down. Nashville is never given its proper due as a bustling, thriving city. Nashville and its residents gave Murray's Pastrami Swami a chance and love it and Gwen is a clever lady with a sharp mind who has a lot to offer and a lot to learn. It would be good if she could give Nashville the same chance. 

In the last chapter, Gwen is a bit more introspective and reflective and declares she now feels as if she belongs, a turnaround not seen coming, but very welcome and hopeful.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry