Food Fiction Stories

"The Food of the Gods" was first published in the May 1964 issue of Playboy. Sir Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) is regarded as one of the most influential science fiction writers of all time. He was named a grand master by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

A National Bestseller! “The perfect pick-me-up on a hot summer day.” —Washington Post “[A] charmer of a tale. . . Warm, witty and--like any good craft beer--complex, the saga delivers a subtly feminist and wholly life-affirming message.” —People Magazine A novel of family, Midwestern...

Held captive by her employers -- and by her own demons -- on a mysterious farm, a widow struggles to reunite with her young son in this uniquely American story of freedom, perseverance, and survival. Darlene, once an exemplary wife and a loving mother to her young son, Eddie, finds herself...

A story of family, friends, and strangers who are drawn together by forces over which they have no control.The small town of Clare Harbor has always been home for Sara Merryn even though in recent years her visits have been few and far between because of her busy schedule. Now she’s returning for another reason. There is a storm coming and she has to somehow convince her grandparents to leave their home just outside the small southern city of Clare Harbor. That seemingly simple task is made more difficult by her grandmother’s disabling fears. Sara is determined that between the two of ...

No more pretending to be someone you’re not. Emily Bawler has only been interested in women since high school. Then why does she keep having this undeniable yearning for a man? But not just any man. These yearnings are for someone she considers a dear friend; a brother even. She believes she should let the feeling pass and try to move on. Yet, her heart won't let her. The fear of rejection can cause you to miss out on happiness. Daniel Tase was stuck between a rock and a hard place. For years he’s been in love with someone he shouldn’t. It was a secret he’d kept from his family and ...

Enjoy the holiday season with three festive mysteries set in coastal Maine. This anthology includes "Yule Log Murder" by Leslie Meier, "Death by Yule Log" by Lee Hollis, and "Logged On" by Barbara Ross.

"Eggnog Murder": When a gift-wrapped bottle of eggnog proves to be a killer concoction for a Tinker's Cove local, all Lucy Stone wants for Christmas is to find the murdering mixologist who's stirring up trouble. "Death By Eggnog": Food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell has never cared much for Bar Harbor's grouchy town librarian, Agatha Farnsworth. But after the Scroogy senior has a fatal - and suspicious - allergic reaction to supposedly non-dairy eggnog, it's up to Hayley to ladle out some justice.

When Kayla discovers that something is eating Daisy's cat food, she immediately calls the Pet Club to action. They grab their pets and start to gather clues. Will they solve the case of the cat food thief?

A seaside castle, a body below the cliffs, and a village harboring many secrets. Surprising events bring Agnes Eady and her mischievous cat, Blighter, across the pond to the cozy Shetland Islands. But within hours of settling in, she stumbles across a dying man. Every quirky villager seems to have a motive, but Agnes knows a blind alley when she sees one. Chief Inspector Ian Mullen is skeptical of foul play. That’s his first mistake. The second? Underestimating Agnes. As she navigates a web of lies and alibis, Agnes learns to trust Blighter’s keen instincts. But someone’s watching her...

A classic steam train, an old mining town, and danger around the bend. It’s the dog days of summer in Paradise Bay. The beach is sizzling, the tourists are swarming, and the inn is full. At someone’s suggestion, Staley Stoneybrook decides to see one of the area’s other attractions—the old mining town of Ravenston. Although the Gold Rush era saloon, candy store, and even a staged bank robbery are charming, the gaping mine in the hills above the town looms over it. The lawless days of the Wild West may be far behind the former ghost town, but Staley discovers that finding gold can ...

A chill in the air, a cemetery at the station, and a body in the clocktower. Halloween sneaks up on Staley Stoneybrook. As the preparations for the station’s annual Ghoul’s Night Out get underway, everyone pitches in to do their part. It promises to be a fun and spooky time for the trick-or-treaters of Paradise Bay. But before they can hang a single cobweb, a real body turns up. Although Staley uses all of her paranormal allies to solve the murder, she has two mysteries on her hands. It seems that a poltergeist has decided to visit the station for Halloween.

A collection of stories: The Possessed Printer Blues: A woman buys a printer at a yard sale. The Long Day Sun: A photography student helps out a friend. Savory Taro Pudding: A short nightmare based on true events. Billionaire Babies: It turns out you can't trust billionaires. Bath Salts Vampire: Teen girls with low self-esteem + a drug dealer who thinks he's an ancient vampire. What could go wrong?

'Full of warmth' #1 Sunday Times Bestseller Katie Fforde Can a cake change your life? Clemmie Rose’s great-great-grandmother’s beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island’s charming Café on the Coast on the map, land...

Lush and visual, chock-full of delicious recipes, Roselle Lim’s magical debut novel is about food, heritage, and finding family in the most unexpected places. At the news of her mother’s death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn’t spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years...

A gaming convention, a gaggle of geeks, and an accident waiting to happen. Staley Stoneybrook has settled nicely into the Paradise Bay Station & Inn. As spring gives way to summer, her routine pleasantly starts with making the inn’s coffee and finishes with the evening bonfire. But her first real challenge arrives when an errant roof tile tumbles into the vegetable garden. At the invitation of some young guests at the station, Staley is also trying to broaden her horizons while staying close to home. She visits her first Paradise Bay gaming convention. Game nerds compete with each other ...

In her Food Lovers' Village Mysteries, Agatha Award-winning author Leslie Budewitz introduces us to Jewel Bay, a tight-knit Montana community that thrives on tourism and farm-to-table fare. Featuring Erin Murphy, beloved proprietor of the Merc—a century-old general store converted into a local foods market-each book brings us closer to the folks who call Jewel Bay home, and the cunning culprits in their midst.

A fun filled festival, a trip through time, and the curse of a mummy. Paradise Bay is abuzz with the annual Roaring 20s festival. A lecture on Egyptomania with authentic artifacts kicks it off, and Staley Stoneybrook is delighted to be in attendance. But when a famous archaeologist drops dead in the middle of his lecture, Staley and her paranormal crew spring into action. As she tries to find a killer while also running the station, an even more pressing mystery presents itself: What can she can possibly wear to the 20s Gala?

“Gaby Melian tells so many stories through her relationship with food—about love, about loss, about hard work, and about finding her passion. The pages are dripping with delicious smells and tastes, and will give you a new way to look at both cooking and what it means to have a plan.”...

Aimee Bender’s Willful Creatures conjures a fantastical world in which authentic love blooms. This is a place where a boy with keys for fingers is a hero, a woman’s children are potatoes, and a little boy with an iron for a head is born to a family of pumpkin heads. With her singular mix of...

What would you trade for your dreams? Everything? Even love? Harvey makes the best pasta in the city, but nobody knows it. Working in a tiny shop on a forgotten street, he dreams of the life he'll never have—fame, restaurants, cooking shows, the whole package. Then a stranger walks in with an impossible offer. Become the most famous chef in America. Get everything you've ever wanted. Just follow two rules: change your name to Herve, and never fall in love. Harvey takes the deal. Overnight, his life transforms. Michelin stars. Television shows. Endorsement deals worth millions. He has it ...