The Key Lime Crime is a very light read which provides a mystery story but mostly celebrates Key West, its ubiquitous key lime pie, and the lifestyles of its natives and tourists. Three of the main characters live on a houseboat. The other main character, Helen, is a reluctant tourist who seems uninterested in the life and food of the vacation destination but very interested in helping her police officer son solve crimes. In addition to creating some stereotypical characters to flesh out a murder story, Burdette also includes the real David Sloan, a Key West author known for ghost tours and key lime festivals. As a fictitious food critic, Haley Snow researches stories for her small-town newspaper and entertains her mother-in-law, Helen. By following Haley's adventures as she navigates on her scooter through the busy streets, the reader gets a tour of Key West and the attractions that have made it famous.
When Haley and her mother-in-law take a Conch Train Tour and discover that Claudette Parker, a new pastry shop owner, has been murdered, the crime mystery begins, and we begin to get a feel for the restaurants, streets, and attractions in Key West. Also, through the other fictional characters, we get to know some of the rich and famous and the zany expectations when they either live in or visit Key West.
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Key West is supposed to attract people interested in "paradise" but nothing in this book makes it sound like the paradise the author wants to claim it to be. I also didn't really connect with any of the characters. I haven't read the previous books in this series so that may be part of why, though a good author should make sure that characterization is included in each book.

I did like the connection of Key Lime with Key West. I liked learning a little bit about Key Lime Pies (how they're made and how they came to be).

How big is Key West? There are 6ish bakeries on it plus a couple different caterers, a pizzeria, a Mediterranean restaurant, an animal shelter, the Hemingway House, several lodging places (all full up)--and I'm assuming a few other businesses and homes. It's a bit unbelievable. ( )

What a joy to be back in Key West with Hayley Snow again. Wait, I mean Hayley Snow Bradford, now a married woman. She is still getting used to having a hubby and all that entails, and I must admit I’m still getting used to the idea of Hayley being married, too, of Nathan being a permanent part of her life. Not because I don’t like Nathan or don’t think Hayley should have married him, but because I kind of wanted to keep Hayley all to myself.

I’ve loved this girl from the first book, and enjoyed taking this (so far) 10-book journey with her as her character has deepened and matured, as she’s grown from girl to woman, while still being the spunky, spicy, inquisitive, fierce, loyal, lovable Hayley we first met all those years ago when she followed her boyfriend to Florida. Aren’t you glad she decided to stay?

As if it’s not enough that it’s the week between Christmas and New Year's, a wild, wacky time in Key West and the usual demands of her job, Nathan announces his mother has decided to come for a visit, and will be staying with them. I was on pins and needles with Hayley meeting Nathan’s mother Helen for the first time. She doesn’t exactly exude sunshine and warmth. It’s obvious they both love Nathan, but do they have anything else in common? Thank goodness Hayley’s mother and her husband Sam come to her rescue and invite Helen to stay with them.

Of course Hayley finds a corpse and must must must solve this crime, so once again she’s in the thick of things with a killer on the loose, this time with Nathan’s mom in tow. In addition to the usual danger and clues all over the place, there is yummy food (the Key Lime pie tasting made my mouth water), the always-clever quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and the much-loved assortment of Hayley’s oh so interesting family and friends assisting or trying to dissuade her from her investigation. Miss Gloria was once again front and center, the closeness with Hayley and her mom just continues to grow, and while there wasn’t quite as much interaction with her Key West crew as in some previous books, Helen provided more than enough intrigue and entertainment. And Nathan is turning out to be a pretty good husband.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of Key Lime Crime. Author Lucy Burdette makes Key West come alive, and spending time with Hayley and the rest of the gang is like coming home. All opinions are my own. I loved this book, I love the series, and I recommend it without hesitation. ( )

This is the latest in the Food Critic series set in Key West. In the midst of a contest featuring key lime pies, one of the chefs is killed. The number of suspects increases by the time the solution is revealed, keeping readers guessing throughout the story. In addition to the main story thread, readers are introduced to Helen, mother-in-law to food critic Hayley. Both of them become involved in trying to solve the crime, assisted by the elderly Miss Gloria. Throw in houseboats, animals, food, and New Year's Eve, mix thoroughly, and you have a cozy crime novel plated and served. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Review of eBook

Key West is bursting at the seams and, during this busy week between Christmas and the New Year’s Eve celebrations, David Sloan has convinced the city to host a key lime extravaganza that will include a pie-baking contest. Every baker in town covets the Key Lime Key to the City and newly-married Hayley Snow is busy reporting the entire event for Key Zest magazine.

When Nathan tells his bride that his mother, Helen, is coming for a surprise visit, Hayley volunteers to take her mother-in-law on the quintessential Christmas Conch Train Tour. But when Hayley, Helen, and Miss Gloria discover a body amid the holiday displays, things take a turn for the worse. And when the victim turns out to be one of the town’s newest chefs, will Hayley become the prime suspect?

This superbly-written series, filled with characters so real they seem like next-door neighbors, is genuine, charming, and fun. For this, the tenth book in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series, all the expected characters are in place. With a strong sense of place anchoring the narrative and the well-drawn, realistic characters they have come to know and love populating the narrative, readers will find themselves pulled into the story from the first page. Nathan’s backstory provides additional depth, the twisting plot brings several unexpected surprises, and the final revelation is one that readers simply won’t see coming.

Recipes for several of the dishes mentioned throughout the story follow the tantalizing hint for the next book . . . be sure to try Alvina’s Crumb Cake!

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
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