Death al Dente

Food Lovers' Village Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Leslie Budewitz

Narrated by: Rebecca Mitchell

Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The town of Jewel Bay, Montana - known as a Food Lovers' Village - is obsessed with homegrown and homemade Montana fare. So when Erin Murphy takes over her family's century-old general store, she turns it into a boutique market filled with local delicacies. But Erin's freshly booming business might go rotten when a former employee turns up dead.

Murphy's Mercantile, known as the Merc, has been a staple in Jewel Bay for over 100 years. To celebrate their recent makeover as a gourmet food market, Erin has organized a town festival, Festa di Pasta, featuring the culinary goods of Jewel Bay's finest - including her mother Fresca's delicious Italian specialties. But Erin's sweet success is soured when the shop's former manager, Claudette, is found dead behind the Merc on the Festa's opening night. With rival chef James Angelo stirring up rumors that Fresca's sauce recipes were stolen from Claudette, Erin's mother is under close scrutiny. Now Erin will have to hunt down some new suspects, or both her family and her store might wind up in hot water.

©2013 Leslie Ann Budewitz (P)2017 Tantor

Four and a half stars

This is an entertaining cozy mystery. The characters and plot are engaging and realistic. I was drawn into the plot quickly and stayed entertained until the end. The only thing I didn't like was that there were a lot of characters introduced. Rebecca Mitchell did a great job as narrator. I look forward to the next book.

Great first in a series

Leslie Budewitz has crafted a great installment to start off the Food Lovers’ Village Mystery Series. It’s full of laughs and characters who seem to grow and become your friends. I highly recommend this book/audiobook to cozy mystery fans.

Not my favourite cozy mystery

After several restarts of this book, I have to say that I wasn’t entirely sold on ‘Death Al Dente.’

My first issue was that I didn’t particularly connect with the novel’s characters. I especially found Erin to be slightly narcissistic and pretentious; seemingly concerned more about the murder's effect on her business than on the actual victim. As a reader, it struck me the wrong way.

As for the actual plot, I felt that there wasn't a lot of action or investigation; a lot of the mystery aspect of the book appeared to take place inside Erin's head which was disappointing.

However, with that in mind, once the story did pick up in the last quarter and the ball started rolling, I did find that I started to enjoy myself a bit.

Additionally, in terms of the audiobook edition, the narration was average; nothing special, but was pleasant enough to listen to for the entirety of the novel.

Overall, I was somewhat let down by Death Al Dente, but I'm willing to give the series a second chance by reading/listening to the next book, Crime Rib.

Decent overall but a couple issues

It was a fun little story. I've recently gotten into audiobooks and like the "food" mysteries.

A few things stuck out while listenin though:

1) When the narrator speaks, she uses the same tone for all levels of excitement. This was rather odd when the main character was supposed to be yelling and she sounded monotone.

2) It was difficult at times to tell when the main character was participating in conversation or going through an internal monologue.

3) While I do know the title references a food term, the excessive food descriptions did not add must to the story. It got tiresome after a while, especially when the description was used just for the food a character was eating at that given time.

Good story poorly delivered

The story never came to life due to the sing-song rhythmic pattern of the reader. And yes, it was ‘read’ not portrayed. I never really felt any of the characters come to life nor did she ever bring the story alive.
I enjoy Leslie Budewitz books but will think twice if read by Rebecca Mitchell.

Buy the book and read it yourself. You will enjoy it far more.

Perfect book when you are awake at two in the morning with a cat laying on your legs

U Nice nice fluffy kitty cat at my feet and a beautiful cozy mystery being read by my phone I enjoyed this book and will read more from this author I just did not like the Trump of the person running away or someone hiding a secret I think that Trump is getting a little old and that I love these mysteries where they’re in our family bookstores a restaurant. I read this book highly because the narrator was great in the store Nice cozy mystery with really good characters in a little bit of a mystery. That’s why I read it it five stars the only low rating I gave it was a four. Enjoy it📚📚🐱🐱

Horrible narration.

Maybe the mystery is good. I don't know. what I do know is that I was only able to listen for three chapters before I gave up. The narrator seems incapable of making distinct voices so I couldn't tell who was speaking half the time. It sound a though a computer was reading the book without tone or inflection. I would return the book were it not that I purchased it over a year ago.