Review

Phyllis Newsom and her friend Carolyn have each won their share of local cooking contests. They're essentially each other's only competition, though, so when the opportunity arises for them to compete against a wide variety of amateurs and pros at the Texas State Fair, they seize it. Neither of them has any confidence they can win their respective cook-offs, but both do, and Phyllis' blue ribbon earns her an appearance on a TV show that's broadcasting from the fair. Unfortunately, though, Phyllis' five minutes of fame turns fatal when a single bite of her funnel cake fells the show's host. Phyllis certainly didn't murder the woman, but unless she can convince the police of that fact, the next bars she faces won't be of the cookie variety...

The Fatal Funnel Cake is the eighth of Livia J. Washburn's Fresh-Baked Mysteries, and I have to confess, I struggled a bit when I sat down to review it. I mean, sure, I could prattle on about how this book is a fun, quick, mild-mannered read (which it is). I could say that Washburn's character development is, as ever, top notch, and that I love how she manages to make a 30-something reader like me identify with a cast of retired schoolteachers (it is, and she does). And I could also tell you that while Washburn's mystery is an intriguing one that features an abundance of twists, red herrings, and viable suspects, she doesn't quite earn her ending (all true). But the same could be said of any number of books being released this month, so I'll cut to the chase. You want to know why you should read The Fatal Funnel Cake? It's quite simple, really - what makes this book special is the developing relationship between Phyllis and her friend, housemate, and investigating sidekick Sam.

It took me several books to warm up to Phyllis as a protagonist; in reviews of previous Fresh-Baked Mysteries, I've called her everything from priggish and stodgy to judgmental and meddlesome. As her friendship with Sam has deepened and a chaste romance has started to blossom, though, Phyllis has undergone a metamorphosis. Now, don't get me wrong, love hasn't made her soft; Phyllis is still sharp as a tack and tough as, well, as a retired schoolteacher. But Sam brings out the best in her. She's warmer, sweeter, more playful, and more relaxed in his presence, and that not only makes her a better person, it makes her a better sleuth. They're quickly becoming the Annie and Max Darling of the retired schoolteacher set, and I can honestly say I can't wait to see where Washburn takes them next.