Table of Contents
Praise for Delicious and Suspicious
Sassy.
Publishers Weekly
An entertaining read... Just like the pork barbeque and spicy corn muffins that fill the bellies of the fictitious patrons of Aunt Pats, the Southern flavor is what makes this novel unique. The characters live and breathe on the page, not as stereotypes of Southerners but as colorful personalities that complement the Memphis setting.
Romance Novel News
This entertaining regional amateur sleuth gives the audience a taste of living in [Memphis], especially owning a restaurant in a tourist-attraction city... With a strong, fully seasoned support cast who enhance the whodunit, Delicious and Suspicious is truly scrumptious.
Genre Go Round Reviews
A saucy Southern mystery!
Krista Davis, national bestselling author of
The Diva Cooks a Goose
Dont let that folksy facade fool you. Lulu Taylor is one intrepid amateur sleuth.
Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of Scones & Bones
Lulu Taylor serves up the best barbeque in Memphis. Never been to her restaurant, Aunt Pats? Well then, pick up a copy of Riley Adamss enjoyable Delicious and Suspicious, slide into a booth, and follow Lulu as she tracks down a killer with the help of her wacky friends and family. Youll feel transported to Beale Street. Oh, and did I mention the mouthwatering recipes at the end?
Julie Hyzy, author of Buffalo West Wing
Riley Adamss first book, Delicious and Suspicious, adds a dash of Southern humor to a saut of murder and mayhem that is as good as cold banana pudding on a hot summer day. Lulu Taylor is a hoot! I look forward to reading the next book in the Memphis barbeque series!
Joyce Lavene, coauthor of A Touch of Gold
Berkley Prime Crime titles by Riley Adams
DELICIOUS AND SUSPICIOUS
FINGER LICKIN DEAD
To my family
Acknowledgments
My thanks to my editor, Emily Beth Rapoport, for her invaluable help and encouragement.
To my agent, Ellen Pepus, for her solid advice and support.
Hart Johnson for her helpful suggestions.
To Ann and John Haire, my friends in Memphis.
To the staff at Graceland for their help with my research.
Special thanks to my mother, Beth Spann, for being a fantastic and enthusiastic first reader.
To my extended family for all their support.
To the online writing community for the inspiration and advice it provides me.
And thanks so much to my husband, Coleman, and my children, Riley and Elizabeth Ruth, for their constant love and encouragement.
Chapter
Somebody, said Cherry darkly, should kill that guy.
Only as a last resort, said her good friend Peggy Sue. Have we exhausted all the other possibilities? Rolled his house with toilet paper? Made prank phone calls? Shaken pepper in his sweet tea? She gave a lilting laugh.
Im not so clear what his punishable offense is, said Lulu, tilting her head to one side as she pondered and endangering the small bun of white hair at the top of her head. We dont like Adam Cawthorn because hes dating Evelyn? Because hes too good-looking?
Because hes snarky, growled Cherry. Besides, I think hes taking advantage of Evelyn, who is, as yall know, one of my favorite people in the world. Hes always asking for a little bit of money here and a little bit there. Besides, he has a weak chin. What good is it if youve got looks but a weak chin?
Lulu considered this. Still, it doesnt sound too awful, Cherry. Evelyns loaded with moneymaybe it doesnt bother her to share it a little bit. Does he treat her badly?
He doesnt treat her well, said Flo thoughtfully.
On the upside, said Lulu, he sure does eat some barbeque. Hes good for business. Lulu was the owner of Memphiss famous Aunt Pats Barbeque, right there on Beale Street. As a second-generation owner, she knew by now what made for a good customer. And Adam Cawthorn, despite his shortcomings, had one of the biggest components of a good customerfrequent visits.
No, hes not good for business, said Cherry. Evelyn is. Shes the one shelling out the money for him to eat here. And think about ithes separated from his wife. Hes been running around on her, so why wouldnt he be doing the same with Evelyn? Besides, shes already been married to him once before. Clearly that didnt work out so well, so why try for mistake number two?
Heads up, yallEvelyns coming over, hissed Jeanne, looking across the restaurants crowded dining room.
Lulu thought for the hundredth time how lucky she was to have such a great group of regulars at her restaurant. These ladies, who were some of her favorite guests at Aunt Pats Barbeque, were dubbed the Graces by everyone because they were docents at Graceland. They were colorful, funand loyal, thought Lulu as she watched them struggle to be supportive of Evelyn.
The Graces and Lulu looked like butter wouldnt melt in their mouth by the time Evelyn got up to their booth. But Evelyn wouldnt have noticed if theyd all been wagging their tongues about her right when she walked up. She was sitting high up on cloud nine. Lulu frequently reflected that it was a good thing Evelyn was so nice; she wouldnt have been tolerable otherwise, with her good looks, good luck, and boatload of money. Most of the Graces were happy members of the Fabulous Fifties club, but Evelyn hadnt quite joined yet. Peggy Sue was already part of the Sassy Sixtieswhich Lulu had belonged to for quite a while.
Evelyn plopped down in the wooden booth right next to Lulu and impulsively gave her a hug and a smile that lit up the room. I am so glad to see yall! Isnt it a gorgeous day?
No, thought Lulu. Actually, it was a pretty miserable day outside, unless you were partial to torrential rain. But she smiled and nodded.
Evelyn realized her error and gave an out-of-character giggle. Whoops! My badits pouring, isnt it? Well, we do need the rain. Sometimes thats the best kind of weather to getone with lots of rain in it.
Where, asked Flo in a dry voice, is Adam?
Nearby, of course. I want to keep him as close as possible. Hell be over in a minutehe just popped into the mens room. Can you believe I had him all to myselfthat I was married to himand then let him go? I must have been nuts.
And this, thought Lulu, is how history rewrites itself.
Cherry, though, seemed less interested in the sunshine and roses version of the story. Wasnt Adam the husband who splashed his money all over Memphis? Who said ugly things about you behind your back to his friends? Who tried to make you feel lower than a lizards belly? She tapped her glass of sweet tea against the red and white checkered tablecloth with every point.
Evelyn frowned as if considering these allegations carefully. I dont believe Adam is that husband, Cherry, no. I believe youve gotten him mixed up with another husband.
Being Southern ladies, no one mentioned Evelyns excessive number of ex-husbands. It wouldnt be seemly. Evelyn, though, felt free to mention that fact herself with no compunction.
And here comes trouble now, said Cherry. But she said it enough under her breath that only Lulu could hear it. Lulu winked at her.
