Fat Tuesday Fricassee (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck)

Fat Tuesday Fricassee is the 3rd book in the Biscuit Bowl Food Truck Mystery series by J.J. Cook. I have read each book in this series and absolutely love it. However, Fat Tuesday Fricassee can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone book. Zoe Chase has been selected to have her food truck, The Biscuit Bowl, to serve authentic local foods for the tourist attending the Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile. Ted, Zoe’s Father, has been chosen by the secret organization Mistics of Time to be King Felix at the various balls going on during the festivities. Zoe is to be his dance partner at the balls. While catching her breath at one of the balls, Zoe finds the body of Jordan Phillips, an investigative reporter for The Times, a paper owned by his father and grandfather. To Zoe’s chagrin, the Commissioner and the lead detective on the case lie about where the body was found. So, Zoe is determined to investigate and ascertain what really happened to the young reporter dressed as Death. Who was responsible? The secret societies are very serious about their secrecy. Worse than finding a dead body, Zoe and her dad keep seeing the ghost of Old Slac everywhere. A pesky food inspector who is constantly popping up to inspect either Zoe’s diner or the food truck and unreasonable carnival rules impacting food truck operations add to her distress. When her father is stabbed, danger is too close to home and Zoe knows she has to stay around until the murderer if found. Miguel, Zoe's boyfriend, Ollie and Delia pitch in to cover at the food truck for Zoe. Even Uncle Saul leaves his cabin in the country and his treasured albino alligator to lend his culinary skills at the food truck. Zoe’s cat, Crème Brulee, contributes to Zoe’s challenges.I enjoyed learning about the history of the Marti Gras celebration and Mobile’s Mardi Gras as I had no idea they even had one. Typical of the deep South, there are many secrets, interesting traditions, lots of amazing food, true of suspense and a superbly crafted mystery. It's nice to see how Zoe’s character is developing both as a food truck owner and in her relationship with Miguel.I enjoy this series and it is nice to see characters from other series that JJ Cook writes as Joyce and Jim Lavene attending the Marti Gras festivities. I anxiously await the next book in the series to come out so I can find out how the cliffhanger resolves. This is a great cozy mystery for those who appreciate delicious food (especially Cajun). Wonderful menus and delicious recipes are included. I really liked this book and believe cozy mystery lovers will too. Get your copy today and you’ll be prepared to celebrate Marti Gras in the spring.

Zoe is back.....and of Creme Brulee is too. The Food truck Biscuit Bowl is going to be in an adventure this time.... Mardi Gras is upon the town of New Orleans. Zoe, has been going with her Father ( who will be King Flex this year) to a Grand Ball, put on by the Mistics of Time, a old Secret Societies that has been around sine 1702. That is the setting..... What happens.... well, Zoe finds a dead body... dressed as Death, at the Ball, in the garden. But of course nothing is ever easy for Zoe, and the body is moved to another location, where it is found, an she is warned to stay quiet. Like that is going to happen with Zoe. Along with Ollie, Miguel ( her dashing, handsome boyfriend), Delia, Uncle Saul shows up, Chef Arrington Shows up to help, now add a sneaky health inspector, Mr Carruthers who is bound and determine to catch her doing something, or having something where it should not be so he can denies her license. And this story is a whirl wind of twist and turns as Zoe tries to keep her truck supplied with supplies, Biscuit Bowls and fillings during this 2 week period, while also trying to figure out who killed that young man she found dead... with a lot of walls being thrown up by the members of the Secret Societies. Will she pass the inspection? Why did her mother Annabella show up? What does she end up doing as a new filling for her now famous Biscuit Bowls? Who ends up being the killer.... guarantee you will be surprised when that is revealed. How does Creme Brulee fit in all of this? Where will it all end!? I enjoyed the book, but was a little disappointed in how choppy the ending was....I think some of the answers must be going to be answered in her next book, such as.... did she make any profit with the wild two weeks worth of selling? Will she be able to fix up her diner now? And then there is the event that happens with the cat ( will not give that away).... to me was not resolved, which I thought should have been in this story. So I am looking forward to the next book, where I hope these questions will be answered.

The newest Biscuit Bowl mystery begins with Zoe and her dad attending a masquerade ball for the secret society he belongs to. When Zoe discovers the body of Death in the garden at the ball, the deception and stalking begin.Zoe is hounded by a food inspector who is constantly popping up to inspect either her diner or the food truck. What is really going on with him? Could the police commissioner be involved in a cover up of the death that took place and what is all this secret society stuff? You will find out all of this and more if you read the book.I enjoy this series and it was nice to see a tie in to other series that JJ Cook writes as Joyce and Jim Lavene. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out.

The traditions of Mardi Gras are fascinating and well-explained in this book. I like most of the characters and the whole Biscuit Bowl food truck element. It makes this series stand out among other cozy mysteries. The action was constant, the danger was palpable, and I didn't guess the murderer at all. Good job! The only reason I didn't give it 5-stars is that it seemed strange to have fricassee such a bit part of the Biscuit Bowl fare and have it in the book title, but not give the recipe at the end! I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series.

This is yet another great book from authors Joyce and Jim Lavene as J.J. Cook. I simply love their writing style and the way they can weave a great mystery. Zoe is one of my favorite characters. She has so much spunk that you just can't help but root for she and her friends. This mystery has Zoe looking to solve a murder that happened at a masquerade ball and Zoe finds herself in more danger than she has ever been in before. I could not believe who the murderer turned out to be. Great job.I will miss these two authors so much. It is sad to know that in a space of 6 months they are both no longer with us. RIP.