A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS

A British baking show visits Key West with some surprising results.

Key West food critic Hayley Snow is looking forward to entertaining Violet and Bettina Booth, aka the Scottish Scone Sisters, whom she met a year ago during her honeymoon with Lt. Nathan Bransford; they're coming to town to give demonstrations and hunt for contestants for the American edition of their TV show. She heads to the airport with Miss Gloria, the octogenarian former roommate who went along on her honeymoon ("Long story," Hayley tells the reader), but things don’t go as planned from the get-go. First of all the B&B where the sisters planned to stay is closed due to arson. Worse, the contestants are a sparse group, ranging from a grumpy guy to a perky lady with sparse baking skills to Rayna, the owner of the B&B, who’s a much better baker but whose controlling husband has forbidden her to compete. While they’re staying on Gloria’s houseboat, the sisters wonder what’s become of their agent and the samples of a new bakeware line they plan to sell. When Rayna’s husband is murdered, she’s the obvious suspect. You wouldn’t think Hayley’s duties of showing everyone all over the island and providing tasty meals would allow her much sleuthing time, but her curiosity won’t let her ignore the murder. Local gossip and internet searches turn up other people with motives to kill Rayna’s husband, including that mysterious agent, who’s using a false name. A series of humorous and dangerous adventures ensue before the truth is revealed.

Food lore, island delights, and mystery provide something for everyone.