Smothered

Whipped and Sipped Mysteries

By: G. P. Gottlieb

Narrated by: G. P. Gottlieb

Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

2022 Winner - Silver Medal CIPA Evvy Award for Mystery

2022 Distinguished Favorite - Independent Book Awards

Alene Baron doesn't go looking for mysteries, they find her. When the highly disliked owner of a business neighboring the Whipped and Sipped Cafe turns up dead, the list of potential suspects is pretty long, including all the members of his quarrelsome family. Missing wills, convenient accidents, and enough red herring to feed the lunch crowd spice up this tantalizing tale. As always, while pondering the evidence, Alene also comes up with creative vegan dishes to serve her customers and share with you.

©2021 GP Gottlieb (P)2023 GP Gottlieb

Whipped and Sipped Mystery #2

SMOTHERED follows the continued adventures of single mom, café owner and amateur sleuth, Alene Baron, as she tends to the needs of her family, her café staff and the community of which they are all part. All the while, Alene serves delicious, nutritious food that author Gottlieb invites her readers to emulate.

There is indeed a murder in the neighborhood. As the overworked Chicago police struggle to solve it, the reader is treated to the ins and outs of Ailene’s thought processes about who done it as well as the intertwined relationships among café staff and community. We learn the intricacies of personalities, interests, character flaws and assets and, often, shades of lipstick used by each of her characters. No detail escapes Gottlieb’s witty pen. These particulars often create such a sense of intimacy with the characters that you might imagine you are listening to a good friend gossip about your neighborhood while sharing bits of her own endearing self-consciousness. Until you realize that, hidden within all that, are red herrings, clues and deductions that of course eventually lead to the murderer.

It's an added pleasure to listen to Gottlieb read her own work. A musician by training, her cadence and tone contribute to the ease with which this story goes down. When it's done, you'll want another helping.