Dim Sum Dead: A Madeline Bean Culinary Mystery (A Madeline Bean Catering Mystery)

Madeline Bean is back and along with her partner, Wesley Wescott, planning a marvelous Chinese New Year party for the Sweet and Sour Mah Jongg Club. It just so happens that earlier that very day, Wes found an antique Chinese mah jongg set in the old house he's renovating. Along with the beautiful hand carved tiles, there's also a red leather-bound book of what he figures are game instructions, that belonged to the previous owner, the now deceased Hollywood movie legend, Dickey McBride, and his last wife, Quita, will be at the party tonight. Wes has decided to give Quita the set, but before he can deliver it, it's stolen. The game is found a few blocks away in a trash can, but the book is missing. Later that evening, Quita is found dead from an apparent fall down the stairs. The police chalk it up to an unfortunate accident probably caused by too much partying, but Madeline isn't so sure. Her instincts tell her there's a lot more going on than meets the eye and she can't let it rest until she knows the whole truth..... Jerrilyn Farmer has written a light, witty whodunit that gives you a birds eye view of life in L.A., from the old Hollywood screen mavens to the hip nouveau riche. Her writing is delicious, full of descriptive laugh out loud scenes and marvelous dialogue and her cast of quirky characters add to the fun. This is a very well researched book and Ms Farmer's expertise in cooking and the kitchen, mah jongg, the ways of Hollywood and the Chinese New Year celebrations adds real credibility to the story. And as the various plot lines wind their way through the story and eventually come together at the end, it all adds up to a great read with an unexpected climax and very satisfying conclusion. Madeline Bean mysteries never disappoint, and they're not starting now. Dim Sum Dead is a winner!

Jerrilyn Farmer may write like a dream, but her heroine Madeline Bean often faces nightmarish situations in her career as a Los Angeles event planner. She and her partner, Wesley, are planning to cater a mah jongg party, which in Hollywood has become a new fashion borrowed from the past. Wesley, in his other job of restoring houses, has come across a very old mah jongg set which was hidden in the wall of the house of a recently deceased movie star. It also contains a journal. Before Mad has a chance to satisfy her curiosity, the box is stolen. It is found with only the ancient game tiles and no journal. As Madeline tries to figure out the puzzle she meets old Grande Dames of both the silver screen and the small screen, gamblers, and hi-tech nouveau riche. After the widow of the late Hollywood icon is murdered, she also renews her acquaintance with policeman, Honnett. Farmer writes hilarious dialgoue, but the humor of her story arises from situations and the people involved. She looks at the Tinsel Town scene with a somewhat jaundiced and amused point eye, but also with a certain amount of love. This author deserves to be in hardcover and on the top of every best seller list available. DIM SUM DEAD is a treat for discerning readers be they mystery fans or just admirers of well written and entertaining books.

The fourth Madeline Bean mystery is the best yet. Hollywood caterer/amateur sleuth Madeline has a lot on her plate - she's catering trendy mah-jongg parties, trying to help the host's troubled girlfriend (even though she doesn't really like Quita), looking into the background of some mysterious objects found in a house her business partner is renovating, and working on some issues all her own. Like is her boyfriend Mr. Right or just Mr. Semi-Convenient? And is she willing to admit to the slightest possibility that she might want kids sometime this century? These personal issues don't overwhelm the mystery, they just add depth and emotion to the story and enhance Madeline's development as a character you care about. Neither Madeline's investigations nor her soul-searching stop her from being delightfully witty throughout DIM SUM DEAD. A little example: she points out that 'I am a huge fan of yours' is 'THE required Hollywood greeting when meeting any form of celebrity. This greeting has no actual meaning whatsoever - just like 'hello' in other parts of the country.' Madeline has plenty of time to show off her Hollywood etiquette expertise because her sleuthing involves several celebs, including some wonderfully eccentric grande dames of acting. All of Jerrilyn Farmer's mysteries are terrific, but I think in DIM SUM DEAD the plotting is the sharpest, the humorous lines and scenes the funniest, and the changes in Madeline's life the most rewarding (for her and the reader!). Quite a tasty treat.

In Hollywood, Madeline Bean and Wesley Westcott are good friends and partners in Mad Bean Events, a catering and occasion planning event enterprise. At a Santa Monica Farmer's Market, Wes shows Maddie a box found behind a wall containing a mah-jongg set, a dagger, and a red leather bound book all belonging to the recently deceased star Dickey McBride. Before Wes can return the items to Dickey's widow Quita, someone mugs her and steals everything. A few blocks away, they find the mah-jongg set, but not the book. Quita is deeply upset to learn the book is stolen. That night Maddie learns that Quita died from a fall down the stairs of her new lover's home. Though she never liked Quita, Maddie feels guilty that she failed to prevent the calamity. Maddie decides to learn what really happened, no knowing how much the truth will crush her emotionally. DIM SUM DEAD is an entertaining Madeline Bean catering mystery that showcases the abilities of author Jerrilyn Farmer. Cozy fans will enjoy the Christie-like mystery as violence occurs off the pages while amateur sleuth buffs will relish watching the vulnerable but strong heroine conduct her brand of an investigation. Identifying the killer is impossible until the plot provides the answer to a wonderful story line that will delight the audience.Harriet Klausner