Chili Con Corpses
By J.B. Stanley
Midnight Ink, $13.95
ISBN: 978-0-7387-1259-8

Despite (or because of) the success of their diet club, the Flab Five hit a diet plateau of boredom that has them eagerly signing up for a "fix and freeze" cooking class to learn how to prepare tasty and spicy meals. Also attending the class are the glamorous twins Parker and Kinsley Willis, transplants from New York City. The beautiful veterinarian and teacher whip up their share of emotions among the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountain natives, and when one of the twins is murdered during a school field trip suspicion immediately falls upon Flab Five member Lindy, whose jealousy of Parker's attentions on the school principal had her making unfortunately overheard death threats against the woman. Determined to prove his fellow diet club member's innocence, librarian James Henry teams up with reporter Murphy Alistair to determine who could have wanted either twin dead. Also complicating James's life is the accidental deposit of a winning lottery ticket in the library's bookdrop that presents both investigative and ethical complications.

The joy of reading this series comes from following the diet club's physical and emotional ups and downs as they cope with their personal and diet issues. As James's relationship with deputy-in-training Lucy Hanover falters as a result of her obsession with both her physical fitness and her training partner, James's attraction to the sexy reporter definitely grows. The librarian's relationship with his acerbic and diet-sabotaging father as well evolves as Jackson Henry's new career as an artist has him focusing his attention towards new directions. Readers will relate with the diet club's frustrations, James's discovery that new health problems seem to make every food taboo, and the romantic complications of the entire group. Fully of humor, recipes, and extremely likable characters, this continues to be a very enjoyable mystery series.

Review by CINDY CHOW

©2008 Lorie Ham. All rights reserved.