Kristi Abbott serves up a delicious new cozy
Kernel of Truth By Kristi Abbott Berkeley Prime Crime Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date: March 1, 2016 Review Looking to read a fun new cozy - don't wait to pick up your copy of Kernel of Truth. Kristi Abbott is a gifted writer. Her vibrant and clever descriptions leap off the page, making Kernel of Truth a fun and immersive read. I enjoyed the wide variety of characters, especially Sprocket. Even if you don't care for dogs, you will fall in love with Sprocket, Rebecca's poodle. Rebecca Anderson never planned on returning to Grand Lake, Ohio, but now she is determined to make a go of her gourmet popcorn shop. She even has an expansion planned with Cordelia "Coco" Bittles, the woman who stimulated Rebecca's love of cooking and encouraged her to attend culinary school. Coco's shop is famous, as is her secret fudge recipe. When Rebecca finds Coco's niece Alice standing above her body, she is devastated and heartbroken. Who would murder such a beloved Grand Lake resident? As the investigation progresses, Rebecca starts to wonder. Alice is spreading rumors that are blatant lies, but her position in town makes residents believe her rather than Rebecca. The more trouble Alice causes, the more Rebecca is determined to find out the truth. Thankfully she has help from a dishy lawyer and Sprocket, her clever and mischievous poodle. For people unfamiliar with Fraggle Rock, Sprocket is an intelligent sheepdog who is expressive, and even helps around the house. He is even willing to give love a nudge. Modern readers could consider Sprocket a Gromit (from Wallace & Gromit) with more joie de vivre. If you like cozies, I highly recommend Kernel of Truth. Kristi Abbott's skillful writing makes it stand above the average cozy despite the culprit being rather obvious. 5/5 Kernel of Truth left me with one mystery - why my attempt at popcorn bars (a recipe from the book) didn't turn out. I received a copy of Kernel of Truth from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. --Crittermom Description
An all-new Popcorn Shop Mystery bursts on the scene, featuring gourmet popcorn entrepreneur Rebecca Anderson and her poodle Sprocket. Opening a gourmet popcorn shop was never on Rebecca Anderson’s bucket list. But after a failed marriage to a celebrity chef, she’s ready for her life to open up and expand. She has returned to her hometown of Grand Lake, Ohio, with her popcorn-loving poodle Sprocket to start a new business—naturally called POPS. As a delicious bonus, Cordelia “Coco” Bittles, a close family friend who has always been like a grandmother to Rebecca, owns the chocolate shop next door, and the two are thinking of combining their businesses. But when Coco’s niece, Alice, discovers her on the floor of her chocolate shop, those dreams go up in smoke. The local sheriff thinks Rebecca isn’t so sure. As suspects start popping up all over, Rebecca is determined to turn up the heat and bring the killer to justice in a jiffy!
