Thursday, March 9, 2017

Book Review: The Silence of the Flans by Laura Bradford (Emergency Dessert Squad #2)

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Strong characters, fun concept, good plot
Cons: One sub-plot that redeems itself by the end.
The Bottom Line:
Poison in dessert
Threatens Winnie’s new business
In fun second book





I Will Not Be Silent About This Flan – I Mean Fun Book

When I started the Emergency Dessert Squad series last year, I fell in love with the concept behind it.  Winnie Johnson, the main character, has opened a mobile dessert business out of an antique ambulance she’s inherited.  I mean, how fun is that?  Couple it with punny dessert titles, and I couldn’t resist.  Winnie and her crew are back for a second mystery with The Silence of the Flans, and it is lots of fun.

As the book opens, it’s been six weeks since Winnie got her business off the ground, and things are really beginning to pick up.  Word of mouth is helping her gain clients, and she is having a lot of fun seeing the delight her rescues are giving those who get her desserts.

Things go horribly wrong when Winnie takes an order to deliver a Fade to Black-Berry Crisp to a senior at the nearby college.  She’s horrified when her client dies and people think that her dessert was poisoned.  The phone immediately stops ringing, and suddenly Winnie begins to wonder if her new business is doomed to failure.  The only way to save her reputation is to find the killer.  But can she do it?

I mentioned earlier being hooked on the concept of this series, and it is certainly true, but I also love these characters.  Winnie’s social circle includes a large number of senior citizens.  Her relationship with them and the dynamic that creates adds something special to this series, and I love them.  Of course, there are some characters closer to Winnie’s age that are great, and we have the strong suspects I’d expect to find in a book from author Laura Bradford.

The romantic sub-plot was borderline for me in this book.  With some authors, I’d find what happened here annoying, but Laura actually managed to make me appreciate what she was doing and how she grew some characters through it.

I can hear you asking, but what about the main mystery.  The pacing was great and the plot was strong.  A couple of times, I’d be a step or two ahead of Winnie, but then some twist would come along that I wasn’t expecting.  The solution at the end was completely logical, and I loved it.

Naturally, we get three delicious rescues – I mean recipes – at the end of the book.  I’m not going to spoil the fun of the titles, but I will say they sound delicious.  Sadly, there is no actual flan recipe, but that’s just being nitpicky.

Obviously, I love culinary cozies – I certainly read enough of them.  The delightful concept of this series is matched by wonderful characters and a great plot.  After you read the book, you’ll join me in singing the praises of The Silence of the Flans.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  I will pick the winner next Thursday, March 16th, so please leave your comment before 12:01AM Pacific Time on 3/16.  You will have until midnight on 3/21 to get back to me, or I will choose a new winner on 3/23.

33 comments:

  1. How is the 2nd one out already? I really wanted to read the first book and swore I'd read it before the 2nd one came out! I'm glad that this one was just as much fun as the other and I'm curious about those recipes! I love a culinary cozy and this sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks for hosting the giveaway - katherine.e.pitts(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Sounds like a great new series, I would love to win! I am definitely cozy-crazy right now. My email is mlduffer@att.net. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  3. Thanks for the intro to a new series. I love these foodie cozies.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  4. Wonderful review thanks I am going to go get the 1st in this series, can't wait to read it thanks
    Penney penneyw(AT)sbcglobal.net

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  5. I love Laura's books! I loved Eclair and can't wait to read this one!

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  6. Great review of this Culinary Cozy- looking forward to it!
    Cheers-
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. I never heard of this series before. It sounds really fun so I may add them to my tbr list.

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  8. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance. Zeta(at)iwon(dot)com

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  9. I am a fan of Laura's; winning this book would be so fun. Thanks for the opportunity.
    maforbes231@yahoo.com

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  10. I read the first book in this series and it was very good. I really want to read Silence Of The Flans. norbert8bubba(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. Would love to read, love her books! parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com

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  12. I can't wait to read this series! I love her books.
    kpowers784@yahoo.com

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  13. I am so glad to hear this second book is so strong, I am so excited to read it! Thanks for the good review and chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. A favorite author but a new series/book to me. I need to read both books! Thanks, Mark.

    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  15. Can't wait to read it. Donamaekutska7@gmail.com

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  16. cjreynolds52@comcast.net
    residence is a place
    I think you meant residents

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  17. I havent started this series yet. Sounds like an interesting series and I'm looking forward to reading the series. I have other books by Laura Bradford and I'm sure this series is as good as the others.

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  18. Laura Bradford is a wonderful author and my only regret is that so far, the only series of hers that I have started is her Southern Sewing Circle mysteries. But I do have others (including Eclair and Present Danger) in my TBR pile just waiting for me to pick them up. Your review may have just caused the first in this series to jump to the top of the pile. Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy the second soon. Thank you for the review and the chance to win. robbfan141729(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. Thanks for the contest, sounds like a great book. stoeser1@pie.midco.net

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  20. Really love this series. The first one was such a treat. The concept innovative. Wonderful character dynamics. #1 Eclair and Present Danger was the first time I read this author and must say I very much would like to read her other books. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com

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  21. I would love to win this print giveaway this is one book that one way or another i am going to read. ptclayton2@aol.com

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  22. This sounds like an amazing book, I can't wait to read it. Great review by the way! Thank you for the time you spent on this review...makes me think I need to go back and edit some of mine. =)

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    1. oops, I don't usually win, konecny7@gmail.com just in case. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  23. Sounds like a fun read. Please enter me. Thank you. Sand1948@gmail.com

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  24. This sounds like a book I would really love reading and of course I love flan, with some fresh berries of course!
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  25. I love the concept of an emergency vehicle delivering desserts. We need one of those in my area!! I've been hearing so much about this book, and I sincerely would like to add it to my upcoming cozy reads. Thank you for the chance to read it, and for your insightful review.
    Lauigl[@]carolina[dot]rr[dot]com

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  26. Thanks for the review and giveaway. I'm always looking for new mystery series to recommend for my mom. At 87, she has read A LOT, but knows what she likes. Well-written, fun, clean mysteries. Thanks again.

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  27. I'm not entering, I just finished it and as usual totally agree with your review. I love her characters, an unusual group and it works beautifully. Love Mr. Nelson and Bridget together, definitely had me laughing.

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  28. I loved the first and so excited there is a second!!!!!!
    Oneponychick66@hotmail.com

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  29. I would love to read your book. celeste_andrews@yahoo.com

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  30. I would love to read this book. Thank you for the chance to win. NRNMG@aol.com

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  31. Fun review- added the series to GR!

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