Title:	Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
	Author:	Karen Rose Smith
	Published:	May 28, 2019, Kensington
	No. of Pages:	320
	Cover Price:	$7.99 Paperback, $5.41 Kindle

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Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches is the third installment in Karen Rose Smith’s Daisy's Tea Garden Mysteries. In this fun culinary mystery, readers learn that Derek Schumaker isn’t a friendly restaurant critic, and Daisy Swanson and Aunt Iris, owners of Daisy’s Tea Garden, are quite nervous when they learn that he is coming to sample their offerings. Although he seems to like what he tastes, and even orders something to go, who knows what he’ll actually write in his column. Unfortunately, shortly after his visit, he is found dead of a seizure caused by poisoning in his food. Since he isn’t well-liked (to put it mildly), there are plenty of suspects, and Daisy has a big job as an amateur sleuth to find the real murderer.

This mystery is well written, and Daisy and Aunt Iris have been well-developed, especially for those who have read the two previous novels. The secondary characters are believable, and good as support to both Daisy and Aunt Iris. The storyline is easy to follow and makes sense. Smith’s mysteries are fast reads, and since they don’t contain any graphic violence, sex, or profanity, they are suitable for all ages. The bonus is, of course, like any good culinary cozy mystery, that there are recipes included from the novel. The recipes in this particular mystery are actually ones that most readers will want to make; the soup is great on a cold day while staying in reading this novel, and who can resist pimento cheese spread? Rice pudding lovers will want to try the Rum Raisin Rice Pudding, too.

All told, this is a good culinary mystery series, and worth the small amount of time it takes to read the novels.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.