This cozy mystery involves three strong independent women who own a café and bookstore. The main character, Suzanne, kicks off the novel by witnessing a murder. Now they have to solve the mystery and keep making delicious breakfasts like this Hot Mama Frittata.
This is book #3 in the Cackleberry Club Mystery Series. In this series, Suzanne, Petra, and Toni run a café and book store while serving up the best egg dishes in the county.
Bedeviled Eggs by Laura Childs
A Cozy Mystery Series with Recipes
Book Review
Outline and Tone:
What do The Walking Dead and Bedeviled Eggs have in common? A crossbow. It is a first for me in reading cozy mysteries, but believe it or not, there is a death by crossbow in this novel. Suzanne, Toni, and Petra run the Cackleberry Club café and serve delicious food and provide a place where town gossip runs wild. Perhaps that is why local politician, Chuck Peebler, stops by to shake hands and kiss babies (to coin a phrase). While political rivalry is an ongoing thread in this novel, it is not the only plot line. Petra and Suzanne go exploring on the Quilt Trail (which seems like a great idea, or a cinnamon roll trail or a wine trail whatever a small town area is known for) and discover more death. The reader is kept guessing as to who is responsible for these deaths for most of the novel.
The author:
Laura Childs is a pseudonym for Gerry Schmitt. She is a New York Times bestselling author writing Cozy Mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Eggs in Purgatory is part of her Cackleberry Club Mystery series. She also writes Tea Shop Mysteries and Scrapbook Mysteries. Her website boasts that TeaTime Magazine declared her one of the most influential people in the tea industry.
What is not to like?:
The three main women are likable, but I don’t feel I know enough about all of them. Petra is a blunt woman who seems to shoot straight, as the saying goes, but I don’t know that much more about her. I hope this character is fleshed out more in future novels.
The verdict:
This cozy mystery was enjoyable for several reasons. The mode of killing (a crossbow) is nothing I’ve read in other cozy mysteries. The idea of a Quilt Trail seems like a great idea (or donut trail or cheese trail!). Ms. Childs has created another fun cozy mystery and I will for sure review the next book in this series.
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The Best Recipe in this Cozy Mystery
Hot Mama Frittata
Assemble the ingredients
Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter until tender.
Add ham and heat.
In mixing bowl, beat eggs with water.
A note about the mixing bowls. There is no need for an electric or stand mixer, just use a whisk. I do like these OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Mixing Bowl set for 2 reasons. First they silicone bottom, keeps it from moving or spinning while whisking. Also, the bowls have a spout to make pouring easier.
Before mixing, add a quarter cup of water to the eggs. I absolutely adore the OXO Good Grip 7-Piece Stackable Measuring Beakers. This set assures I always have the right measuring cup for liquids.
Add the mustard, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt.
Stir in the mushroom and onion mixture, cheese, tomatoes, and diced chili peppers.
Pour into shallow greased baking dish.
Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes. Yields 4 servings.
The Frittata is seen here served with Cheese Grits from When the Grits Hit the Fan by Maddie Day.
The Best Spicy Frittata and Cheesy Grits.
Hot Mama Frittata from: Bedeviled Eggs Cozy Mystery Novel
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 3 green onions or 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup cooked ham, cubed
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 8 eggs
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp garlic salt
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup tomatoes, chopped
- 1 7 oz. can diced green chili peppers
Instructions
- Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter until tender.
- Add ham and heat.
- In mixing bowl, beat eggs with water, mustard, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt.
- Stir in the mushroom and onion mixture, cheese, tomatoes, and diced chili peppers.
- Pour into shallow greased baking dish.
- Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
What would I do differently next time?
I had more mushrooms than the recipe called for, next time I would add what was in the package, rather than risk not using the leftover mushrooms.
I served this frittata as part of breakfast for dinner. I also made cheese grits, which are delicious. Another recipe that would go well are cheese biscuits. Try these from Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day.
Can’t wait to try it! I will forgo the peppers though. I love your idea of breakfast for dinner & will try your recipe suggestions too!