Review: English Trifle by Josi S. Kilpack

I got lucky enough to be a stop on Josi Kilpack's blog tour.  Today I'll be reviewing English Trifle.  English Trifle is a culinary mystery set in an English Manor.  It is the second in a series, the first being Lemon Tart: A Culinary Mystery.  I haven't read the first one and was a bit concerned about it but it really didn't make any difference.  This was a completely separate story and the previous story didn't seem at all important to this one.  
In this one Sadie and her daughter Breanna are in England visiting Breanna's boyfriends estate.  Before the story begins they had already done all their site seeing.  It all begins when they are preparing to leave.  
They are having tea when they discover a body behind the curtain.  They rush to get help and lo-and-behold the body is missing when they return with help.  From that point on it was one thing after another and so many suspicions that no character got away without being accused of one thing or another.    Here is a description from Goodreads: 


High Crimes at High Tea Things to Do in England Visit Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the London Zoo Take the Jack the Ripper tour creepy! Sample authentic English scones and crumpets Discover a dead body What begins as a holiday trip for amateur sleuth and cooking aficionado Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter, Breanna, turns into a bizarre mystery when they discover a dead body in the sitting room of an English manor. Breanna's boyfriend, Liam, is heir to both the family title and the family estate of Southgate, where everyone seems to have a secret . . . or two. When the body in the sitting room disappears, Sadie and Breanna are stranded at the estate until the police can clear them to leave. With their departure delayed, they might as well solve the murder. Armed with a jogging whistle, her personal recipe collection, and an unfailing sense of American justice, Sadie begins her own investigation to find the killer. But as Sadie uncovers layer after layer of misdirection, secrets, and outright lies, she wonders if anyone is telling the truth or if the case is really as hopeless as it appears to be. Take a missing family history, toss in a secret romance, mix with a mysterious murder, and this is one vacation Sadie will never forget.




What I thought: 
I really ended up enjoying this book.  I thought the main character, Sadie, was hilarious and kept everything interesting.  I became invested in the characters and wanted to know more about them.   I found the story unpredictable and I couldn't figure out who was guilty though I had strong suspicions that one certain person wasn't guilty and although I wasn't completely right I wasn't wrong either.  
The story was well wrote and easy to read.  I felt pulled into the story from the first few pages and had no trouble getting through it.  I did feel as though the last couple chapters dragged just a bit.  I felt like the story was over but there was still some little things to solve yet.   It didn't really take away from the story though and I don't think it really gives it any negative strikes.  I think part of my problem was I was having a hard time finding time to read for the last couple chapter so it may have just been me.  
The recipes through out the story made me crave food bad!  Especially the first recipe which is what is on the cover.  YUM.  Still craving it actually.  
Will I read the next book Devil's Food Cake - A Culinary Mystery?  Yes!  And I think I may go back and read the first one as well.  You know how sometimes when you read a book it just feels like it was perfect timing and just 'hits the spot'?  That was this one.  It 'hit the spot' perfectly and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It had been ages since I read a mystery and I guess I was ready!
A few words to describe this book:
Light, Funny, Yummy, Unpredictable
I give this one 4 moons! 

You can find Josi S. Kilpack on her website.
And on her blog: http://www.josikilpack.blogspot.com/
You can purchase from your favorite bookstore or at amazon, links below.
  


























I was given English Trifle free of charge for review.  I was not paid for my review.