Murder Served Neat

Klump’s second installment in the “Cocktails and Catering” mystery series (after A Dash of Death) follows mixologist Samantha Warren, who is serving her signature Fourth of July cocktail at a party thrown by the German Texan Lodge in suburban Houston. The festivities turn sour when a body is found at a nearby construction site. When Samantha’s best friend is accused of the murder, Samantha and her mother set out to find the real killer. Their investigations are helped by Samantha’s cocktail and catering business, which gives her access to many of her top suspects, while her librarian mother puts her research skills to work at the local library; she’s also not above eavesdropping, trespassing, or even stalking. Everyone seems to have something to hide; with alibis aplenty, will Samantha be able to find the killer? This story comes complete with recipes for cocktails, main courses, and desserts featured in the story. Narrator Jenn Lee reads well, offering a variety of voices for the well-developed characters. While the plot is relatively thin, Lee’s pacing keeps the story moving quickly.