Author’s Guest Post
I’m a Twin – But You Probably Wouldn’t Realize it! by Sarah Blair (and Debra H. Goldstein)
My mother, Maybelle, as she prefers to be called, sometimes jokes that rather than giving birth to two babies a few minutes apart, she had a litter. That’s because my twin sister and I are so different. My name is Sarah Blair and I have the distinction of being the protagonist of the Sarah Blair series. Between you and me, even though she doesn’t carry the series, there are plenty of times I envy my twin, Emily Johnson. She’s a woman who knows her own mind, sets goals, and works hard to accomplish them. For example, when we were kids, she decided she wanted to be a chef. Between going to culinary school and being employed by many fine dining restaurants, she’s worked her way up from being a line cook to co-owning, with her boyfriend, Chef Marcus, several restaurants. If Emily is afraid of anything, she doesn’t show it.
That’s not the case with me. When I was eighteen, I left college after two weeks to get married to Bill Blair. Almost two years ago, the rat dumped me out of the blue for a bimbo. So, at twenty-eight, with RahRah, my Siamese cat – the only thing I got out of the divorce – I started over. I found an efficiency apartment and despite my not having any skills, a local lawyer in town, Harlan Endicott, gave me a job as his receptionist/secretary. For the first year, I was constantly petrified of making a mistake that would result in me being fired. It took a while, but I’m doing a lot better in the confidence department. I’ve also learned, to my surprise, that I have a knack for solving murders.
Physically, Emily and I are also night and day. She’s a former high school cheerleader. Don’t tell her I’m saying this, but she fits the TV stereotype of being small, fiery, blond, blue-eyed, and always popular. I’m tall and somewhat gawky, but I have a great head of hair. In fact, Emily would die for my thick dark hair because hers tends to be thin and wispy.
We may be different, but we adore each other. We’re also in business together, in a sense. When I inherited a big house on Main Street, I convinced Emily and Marcus to use it for their dream restaurant. They only accepted my offer after I agreed to be a full partner. That’s how a woman who is more afraid of the kitchen than murder, ended up owning part of a restaurant. My mother thinks it’s a hoot!
My Review
Can anything else happen to poor hapless Grace? She gets a job as an adjunct professor at the local community college. During her knife cuts’ demonstration, her boss, Dr. Martin, comes in and causes chaos. He and Grace both get minor cuts. After Grace leaves the classroom, Dr. Martin is found stabbed to death there with knife cuts only a professional chef could achieve. No wonder that Grace is the prime suspect in Four Cuts Too Many.
Sarah, Grace’s boss at her “real job”, has some experience with (amateur) detecting so she vows to find the real killer to keep her friend out of jail. Luckily, Dr. Martin was deciding who would get tenure and who would be out of a job so there are plenty of suspects!
Another great character-driven smooth Southern cozy mystery. See if you can beat Sarah to solve the crime! There are also three recipes: egg salad, tiramisu, and stained-glass jello. Four Cuts Too Many is recommended to cozy mystery fans who want to gently sink into a friendly Southern lifestyle. 4 stars!
Thanks to Kensington Books, Great Escapes Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
About Four Cuts Too Many
Four Cuts Too Many (A Sarah Blair Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (May 25, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1496732219
ISBN-13: 978-1496732217
Digital ASIN: B08GY52GS6
Sarah Blair gets an education in slicing and dicing when someone in culinary school serves up a main corpse in Wheaton, Alabama . . .
Between working as a law firm receptionist, reluctantly pitching in as co-owner of her twin sister’s restaurant, and caretaking for her regal Siamese RahRah and rescue dog Fluffy, Sarah has no time to enjoy life’s finer things. Divorced and sort-of dating, she’s considering going back to school. But as a somewhat competent sleuth, Sarah’s more suited for criminal justice than learning how many ways she can burn a meal.
Although she wouldn’t mind learning some knife skills from her sous chef, Grace Winston. An adjunct instructor who teaches cutlery expertise in cooking college, Grace is considering accepting an executive chef’s position offered by Jane Clark, Sarah’s business rival—and her late ex-husband’s lover. But Grace’s future lands in hot water when the school’s director is found dead with one of her knives in his back. To clear her friend’s name, Sarah must sharpen her own skills at uncovering an elusive killer . . .
Includes quick and easy recipes!
About Debra H. Goldstein
Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensington’s Sarah Blair mystery series (Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, One Taste Too Many). She also authored Should Have Played Poker and IPPY Award-winning Maze in Blue. Her short stories have been named Agatha, Anthony, Derringer finalists. Debra serves on the national boards of Mystery Writers of America and is president of SEMWA. She previously was on Sisters in Crime’s national board and president of SinC’s Guppy Chapter.
Find out more about Debra and sign up for her newsletter at https://www.DebraHGoldstein.com. Follow her on Twitter (@DebraHGoldstein), Bookbub (https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debra-h-goldstein), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DebraHGoldsteinAuthor/).
Purchase Links: Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Google Play – IndieBound –
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This sounds like a fun book and series. I love finding out about new cozy books.
Kay,
Always delighted to see you. Good luck … and good reading.
Thank you for having me today and for your review. Glad you enjoyed the book.
This looks like a fun and entertaining book.
Yes, it is and soothing in these troubled times. Thanks for stopping by.
Nancy,
Fun is the entire premise behind my books. I want people to enjoy Sarah, who finds being in the kitchen more frightening than murder, as well as her friends and pets. Debra
I really enjoy this series. Thanks for the chance to win the newest one.
Appreciate you stopping by and for saying how much you enjoy the series.
Thank you for your review on “Four Cuts Too Many” by Debra H. Goldstein and for being part of the book tour.
Enjoyed reading the guest post with Sarah Blair and can’t wait for the opportunity to read this book on my TBR list.