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Perfect Sax
(2004)(The sixth book in the Madeline Bean Culinary Mystery series)
A novel by Jerrilyn Farmer
2005 Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel (nominee)
2005 Mary Higgins Clark Award (nominee)
Publisher's Weekly
TV writer Farmer's seventh breezy culinary mystery (after 2003's Mumbo Gumbo) smoothly blends all the right ingredients-Beverly Hills money mania, tart humor, romance and, of course, murder. The Woodburn School of Music's fund-raising soiree, the Jazz Ball, catered by party planner Madeline Bean and her Mad Bean Events, looks to be a great success, until someone steals the silver saxophone that went for $100,000 at the charity auction. Later that night, one of the waitresses at the event turns up dead in Maddie's own bed-now how in the heck could that happen? Enter a flickering old flame and a brand new sparkler. A former boyfriend of Maddie's, police lieutenant Chuck Honnett, steps in to work the whodunit and to put some kindling on their relationship's embers. Dexter Delano Wyatt, a trust-fund cutie, is hoping for more immediate fireworks. Cheating hearts, insurance fraud, art theft and a second dead body have Madeline unsure whom to trust and certain that her own life is in danger. She's followed, spied on, shot at and pursued by the good, the bad and the ugly, but comes through with a taste or two of justice, and perhaps a whole new lease on her muddled love life. Farmer's menus and decorating descriptions, glimpses into the high-end Hollywood lifestyle and warmly conversational tone will delight fans of lighter crime capers. (Jan. 6) Forecast: With a seven-city author tour concentrated on the West Coast, a blurb from Sue Grafton and crossover from romance readers, expect healthy sales. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Although two suitors vie for her affections, the only other person in caterer Madeline Bean's bed these days turns out to a recent employee-and a very, very dead one at that. Mad Bean Events has been going great guns. On the heels of her gig on TV's Food Freak (Mumbo Gumbo, 2002) comes the smashingly successful Jazz Ball at the Woodburn School of Music. Of course, not everything goes down as well as the food. The most valuable prize in the fundraiser's auction, a silver Marl IV Selmer saxophone, turns up missing shortly after fetching a staggering $100,000. Bill Knight, who made the winning bid, is so steamed he drives home like a maniac, frightening poor Maddie-who hitched a ride with Bill and his trophy wife Zenya because she lent her Grand Wagoneer to Sara Jackson, one of her waitresses-into bailing mid-trip. Which turns out to be a good thing, because it gives Zenya the chance to send her handsome brother, Dexter Wyatt, to Maddie's rescue. The two find a diner, stay out till dawn, and return to discover Sara dead in Maddie's bed. Worse yet, Maddie's former flame Chuck Honnett of the LAPD is back, looking to rekindle a relationship Maddie snuffed when she found out the detective was not quite divorced. Farmer adds spice to the standard ingredients to whip up something a little edgier than the usual fare. Agent: Evan Marshall
Genre: Mystery
TV writer Farmer's seventh breezy culinary mystery (after 2003's Mumbo Gumbo) smoothly blends all the right ingredients-Beverly Hills money mania, tart humor, romance and, of course, murder. The Woodburn School of Music's fund-raising soiree, the Jazz Ball, catered by party planner Madeline Bean and her Mad Bean Events, looks to be a great success, until someone steals the silver saxophone that went for $100,000 at the charity auction. Later that night, one of the waitresses at the event turns up dead in Maddie's own bed-now how in the heck could that happen? Enter a flickering old flame and a brand new sparkler. A former boyfriend of Maddie's, police lieutenant Chuck Honnett, steps in to work the whodunit and to put some kindling on their relationship's embers. Dexter Delano Wyatt, a trust-fund cutie, is hoping for more immediate fireworks. Cheating hearts, insurance fraud, art theft and a second dead body have Madeline unsure whom to trust and certain that her own life is in danger. She's followed, spied on, shot at and pursued by the good, the bad and the ugly, but comes through with a taste or two of justice, and perhaps a whole new lease on her muddled love life. Farmer's menus and decorating descriptions, glimpses into the high-end Hollywood lifestyle and warmly conversational tone will delight fans of lighter crime capers. (Jan. 6) Forecast: With a seven-city author tour concentrated on the West Coast, a blurb from Sue Grafton and crossover from romance readers, expect healthy sales. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Although two suitors vie for her affections, the only other person in caterer Madeline Bean's bed these days turns out to a recent employee-and a very, very dead one at that. Mad Bean Events has been going great guns. On the heels of her gig on TV's Food Freak (Mumbo Gumbo, 2002) comes the smashingly successful Jazz Ball at the Woodburn School of Music. Of course, not everything goes down as well as the food. The most valuable prize in the fundraiser's auction, a silver Marl IV Selmer saxophone, turns up missing shortly after fetching a staggering $100,000. Bill Knight, who made the winning bid, is so steamed he drives home like a maniac, frightening poor Maddie-who hitched a ride with Bill and his trophy wife Zenya because she lent her Grand Wagoneer to Sara Jackson, one of her waitresses-into bailing mid-trip. Which turns out to be a good thing, because it gives Zenya the chance to send her handsome brother, Dexter Wyatt, to Maddie's rescue. The two find a diner, stay out till dawn, and return to discover Sara dead in Maddie's bed. Worse yet, Maddie's former flame Chuck Honnett of the LAPD is back, looking to rekindle a relationship Maddie snuffed when she found out the detective was not quite divorced. Farmer adds spice to the standard ingredients to whip up something a little edgier than the usual fare. Agent: Evan Marshall
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Jerrilyn Farmer's Perfect Sax