Crime Brulee

Crime Brulee turned into a nice surprise. I wasn't hopeful when I read some of the earlier reviews, but found the writing enjoyable, with witty commentary that made me chuckle. The main character, Carolyn Blue, does get a bit whiney, insisting that there's a problem before others recognize there is one. However, stick with it. Some of the observations are priceless. I also felt like I should be taking notes on places to visit when in New Orleans. If you enjoy the Diane Mott Davidson mysteries, it's likely you will enjoy this as well.

Seldom have there been so many varied reviews as there are for this one very nice, well-written book. The negative ones, had I read them before buying the book, could have put me off it--and that would have been my considerable loss. The word "literate" in a blurb written by author Earlene Fowler told me I would probably like it--and I did. Toward the end, the feats and foibles of the protagonist, Carolyn Blue, had me laughing out loud--something that usually happens only with Janet Evanovich's books. But this intrepid, but rather innocent, little lady, Mrs. Blue, got into enough trouble for Stepanie Plum and Amelia Peabody combined. The travelogue and food critique was a plus, and I certainly didn't feel that New Orleans had been maligned in any way. In fact, my appetite was whetted to go back and try some places I've missed.I thoroughly enjoyed this comic outing, and can't wait to buy the next two or three. Having just finished reading a couple of grim and gritty, down and dirty mysteries, this one was a welcomed change of pace. Face it--it's all in the taste at the time!

I enjoyed this book. I think it's rare to see such emphasis on the emotional effect of a missing person believed to be murdered. I love Carolyn, and her love of food, of friendship. Her supportive husband was very believable. Not everyone in a mystery book needs to be nasty.

"Crime Brulee" is more of a culinary travelogue with a search for a missing person attached to it than a 'straight' mystery novel. Nonetheless it is one of the most droll and attention -grabbing books that I've read in quite a while.Now that her children have flown the coop and are attending college, Carolyn Blue has firmly put her days as family cook and housekeeper behind her, especially as she has been fortunate enough to land a contract to write a book of anecdotes about eating in interesting places. And since Carolyn will be be accompanying her her husband to an academic conference in New Orleans, Carolyn decides that her first assignment will be to write about the many culinary delights to be found in that city. Carolyn is also excited as this will be a chance for her to catch up with a few old college friends that she hasn't seen in a while, and with her best friend in particular, Julienne Magnussen. However the reunion does not live up to Carolyn's expectations. To begin with Julienne and her husband, Nils, are on the outs. He suspects her of having an affair, and Julienne is tired of having to justify herself and of his accusations. And at the very first reunion dinner, Julienne and Nils quarrel bitterly, and Julienne leaves the resturant in a huff before Carolyn can stop her. The next morning, Carolyn fully expects to meet up with Julienne but just cannot seem to find her. Nor has anyone else seen her since the night before. Afraid for Julienne's safety, Carolyn goes to the police. But they cannot do anything until Julienne has been missing for more than 48 hours. Frantic and scared, Carolyn tries to find Julienne by herself. Where can Julienne be? And why is no one else, Julienne's husband and her supposed lover for example, interested in finding her? Carlyn eats her way all over New Orleans, meeting all kinds of people, and has all kinds of adventures (falling into the swamp being one of them) in her quest to find her missing friend. But will she find her alive or dead?"Crime Brulee" is a really fun read. Nancy Fairbanks's humour is droll, and Carolyn's asides and observations about the city and the people she met, made me chuckle. The last few mystery novels I read were a little sad and dour, so that "Crime Brulee was a welcome relief. This novel is a culinary homage to the city of New Orleans, and I enjoyed the bits of historical information that were peppered all over the novel. "Crime Brulee" is a great read, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading the next Carolyn Blue culinary mystery.

El Paso resident Carolyn Blue looks forward to accompanying her spouse when he attends a scientific research conference in New Orleans. Carolyn and Jason will meet three other couples who have been friends for a long time. She especially looks forward to seeing local resident Julienne Magnussen, who was her best friend for three years as children in Michigan. The first dinner together turns ugly when Julienne and her husband Nils exchange acerbic remarks until she leaves the table. When she fails to return, Carolyn looks for her, but no one in the restaurant knows what happened to her. Nils says she went to her lover, but Carolyn cannot believe her old friend would desert her before dessert when they both looked forward to this week. Julienne fails to show up in the next few days. A worried Carolyn goes to the police, who refuse to accept a missing person's report except from Nils who does nothing about finding Julienne. Though a housewife for years and now a culinary author, Carolyn begins to look for Julienne not yet knowing that she can become the main course for a dangerous person. CRIME BRULEE is an entertaining amateur sleuth tale that takes the reader on a mouth-watering tour of New Orleans. The story line is fun and allowed to slowly simmer before Carolyn embarks on her investigation. Readers will like the heroine and her spouse, as they are a nice couple. Nils comes across as too acrimonious, but the audience will still believe that Nancy Fairbanks provides a gourmet feast.Harriet Klausner