Earthly Delights

In Kerry Greenwood's Earthly Delights, the first installment in the Corinna Chapman mystery series, this culinary mystery tale gives you delectable treats and a scintillating tale. For Corinna Chapman, she's just a baker in Valley City Australia, trying to get ready too start the work day. But when she finds a dead girl at her doorstep, she calls the police and does some investigating of her own. She learns about the OD and someone who's supplying heroine to these girls. Along the way, she handles two Goth assistants who help her work at the bakery. When Daniel Cohen arrived in her bakery, she finds out he runs a soup van and looks for a girl who's turned out missing. They work together to find out clues while someone's marking her bakery with graffiti on the doors. While she hopes to open business, she helps out Jason, a teen who has an impeccable taste for baking skills, and who has a substance abuse problem. What little can Corinna do, other than go undercover as a Goth to find out who's supplying drugs and play the part of a dominatrix in his club. And the chemistry between Corinna and Daniel is impalpable and read hot. Before they can take it to the next level, they've got to stop a serial drug dealer in the tracks and set him to rights.

This was a great introduction to the Corinna Chapman mysteries. It was real delightful and a treat to read another one of my late mother's favorite authors this year. I instantly cared for Corinna who worked hard for her money in her bakery and to establish her own business too. I loved how she was compassionate to help Daniel on his quest and to have hire some unique helpers on her hands. I did love how Daniel ran a soup van and was diverse since he was Jewish too.  I loved the Valley City location and the surroundings in the area for its vivid scenic settings. The themes are to be compassionate for others, no matter who they are, and to not do drugs.

If you like great storytelling with plenty of non-stop drama, plenty of suspense, sparks of intrigue, and a hint of mystery, check out Earthly Delights tonight and try the included recipes too!