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Darling Deli #9
Hearty Homestyle Murder
Competition can be murder...
Will a delicious recipe be the death of the deli?
Deli owner and amateur sleuth, Moira Darling, has her hands full, preparing for the county fair � a big deal in her quaint small town.
While her daughter, Candice, embarks upon her new adventure, opening her candy shop, Moira plans to enter a delicious Vegetarian Gumbo recipe from her best employee, Darrin, in the soup competition.
The competition is going very well, with the gumbo taking a healthy lead, until the head judge dies under mysterious circumstances.
Suspicion falls on Moira and the deli once again, and as she and her hunky boyfriend, David, investigate, the evidence points to a very surprising culprit.
Will a delicious recipe be the death of the deli?
Deli owner and amateur sleuth, Moira Darling, has her hands full, preparing for the county fair � a big deal in her quaint small town.
While her daughter, Candice, embarks upon her new adventure, opening her candy shop, Moira plans to enter a delicious Vegetarian Gumbo recipe from her best employee, Darrin, in the soup competition.
The competition is going very well, with the gumbo taking a healthy lead, until the head judge dies under mysterious circumstances.
Suspicion falls on Moira and the deli once again, and as she and her hunky boyfriend, David, investigate, the evidence points to a very surprising culprit.
- GenresCozy MysteryMysteryCozy
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2018
90 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Patti Benning
283books199followersWhen Cozy Mystery author, Patti Benning, isn’t busy plotting the deaths of multiple fictitious characters, she loves to spend time hiking with her rescue dog, Max, who is her bestest writing buddy.
Patti loves to cook and the food in her books has been tried and tested in her very own kitchen. She’s technologically shy, and stays away from social media a great deal, because it makes her feel more awkward and introverted than meeting someone face to face.
Writing is the perfect job for her because in her books, she gets to explore all the topics she loves, food, animals, crafts and reading. She loves her readers dearly, and is thankful for the opportunity to share with them through her work.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 15, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
Moira Darling is entering the shop contest at the county fair. At the contest one of the judges is poisoned, it is the mayors son. One of Moira's employees is a suspect. Moira learns the truth leading to the arrest of the killer. I would recommend this series and others by the author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡
Moira Darling is entering the shop contest at the county fair. At the contest one of the judges is poisoned, it is the mayors son. One of Moira's employees is a suspect. Moira learns the truth leading to the arrest of the killer. I would recommend this series and others by the author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀💘🏡
January 6, 2023
This was significantly longer than past books in the series and it took a while for things to actually happen in the story. It was a good mystery though. Great red herring.
May 10, 2016
Another job well done by Patti Benning!
I am really enjoying the adventures of all of these characters! I am so impressed with Candice and how hard she is working to follow her dream.. She is really inspiring!
Even Moira herself has made some interesting choices and I am really excited to see what happens for her and David!
I really loved the fair in the background at the soup competition-- our local county fair is one of my favorites places to go!
This was a fun read, a surprise in many different ways and I am looking forward to book 10! I have SO many questions!
I am really enjoying the adventures of all of these characters! I am so impressed with Candice and how hard she is working to follow her dream.. She is really inspiring!
Even Moira herself has made some interesting choices and I am really excited to see what happens for her and David!
I really loved the fair in the background at the soup competition-- our local county fair is one of my favorites places to go!
This was a fun read, a surprise in many different ways and I am looking forward to book 10! I have SO many questions!
November 7, 2016
I love all of the characters in this series. Every time I read one of the books it seems like I have some new friends to hang out with. The books in the series get even more interesting with each new book. This time we are going to the County Fair to enter the soup competition. Everything is fine until the head judge is murdered. The book will keep you guessing as to what will happen next.
January 25, 2020
Just a shot away
This is one of the best of the series that I have read so far. There was constant action and a very strong plot for our characters.
This is one of the best of the series that I have read so far. There was constant action and a very strong plot for our characters.
June 24, 2019
Patti Benning served up yet another satisfying cozy mystery! This one centers around a soup competition at the County Fair. Darrin's Vegetarian Gumbo gets chosen to represent the deli and during the competition a judge gets murdered. I was surprised that the cover has a big delicious sandwich on it because the stars of this book are really the delectable soups! They sound so yummy! I love soup, so this book was a winner for me! This book is full of scrumptious food descriptions, which I love about Patti's writing. The mystery is great too! Pick this one up if you love culinary cozies! The publisher provided me with a complimentary ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2016
Soups on! It’s finally time for the County Fair and the deli is going to enter a soup into competition. After a cook off with the deli employees it is decided that Darrin’s delicious gumbo will be the entry. A tragedy at the fair sucks Moira into yet another murder investigation. In the midst of it all Moira finds a dog and takes her in until the owner can be found.
This edition of the series is full of suspects, twists and turns and I never suspected the actual culprit. I love this series.
This edition of the series is full of suspects, twists and turns and I never suspected the actual culprit. I love this series.
March 25, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, used to cozies, and tend to cut them slack, BUT...These are all as bad, and will do with review what the 'writer' did with the books, copy/paste cookie cutter. Each of these books are beyond stupid, as in stupid plots stupid situations stupid obvious solutions/killers, and no idea about what is being written about. She keeps writing about 'cooking' and judging by her 'expert' descriptions, she can't boil water. There are major plot flaws and issues and other problems in every single overpriced very short 'book' that still managed to do in every one without fixing glaring problems, one being redundancy of previous unneeded descriptions.
There are 4 stupidly insipid books in the Killer Cookie Series
Killer Caramel Cookies #1 - Killer Halloween Cookies #2 - Killer Maple Cookies #3 - Crunchy Christmas Murder #4
There are 8 insipidly stupid book, in the Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series
Pall Bearers and Pepperoni - Book 1 - Bacon Cheddar Murder: Book 2 - Very Veggie Murder: Book 3 - Italian Wedding Murder: Book 4 - Smoked Gouda Murder: Book 5 - Gourmet Holiday Murder: Book 6 - Four Cheese Murder: Book 7 - Hand Tossed Murder Book 8
There are 19 equally bad The Darling Deli Series
Pastrami Murder: Book One - Corned Beef Murder: Book Two - Cold Cut Murder: Book Three - Grilled Cheese Murder: Book 4 - Chicken Pesto Murder: Book 5 - Thai Coconut Murder: Book 6- Tomato Basil Murder: Book 7 - Salami Murder: Book 8 - Hearty Homestyle Murder: Book 9 - Honey BBQ Murder: Book 10 - Beef Brisket Murder: Book 11 - Garden Vegetable Murder: Book 12 - Spicy Lasagna Murder: Book 13 - Curried Lobster Murder: Book 14 - Creamy Casserole Murder: Book 15 - Grilled Rye Murder: Book 16 - A Quiche To Die For: Book 17 - A Side of Murder: Book 18 -
Wrapped in Murder: Book 19)
There are 4 stupidly insipid books in the Killer Cookie Series
Killer Caramel Cookies #1 - Killer Halloween Cookies #2 - Killer Maple Cookies #3 - Crunchy Christmas Murder #4
There are 8 insipidly stupid book, in the Papa Pacelli's Pizzeria Series
Pall Bearers and Pepperoni - Book 1 - Bacon Cheddar Murder: Book 2 - Very Veggie Murder: Book 3 - Italian Wedding Murder: Book 4 - Smoked Gouda Murder: Book 5 - Gourmet Holiday Murder: Book 6 - Four Cheese Murder: Book 7 - Hand Tossed Murder Book 8
There are 19 equally bad The Darling Deli Series
Pastrami Murder: Book One - Corned Beef Murder: Book Two - Cold Cut Murder: Book Three - Grilled Cheese Murder: Book 4 - Chicken Pesto Murder: Book 5 - Thai Coconut Murder: Book 6- Tomato Basil Murder: Book 7 - Salami Murder: Book 8 - Hearty Homestyle Murder: Book 9 - Honey BBQ Murder: Book 10 - Beef Brisket Murder: Book 11 - Garden Vegetable Murder: Book 12 - Spicy Lasagna Murder: Book 13 - Curried Lobster Murder: Book 14 - Creamy Casserole Murder: Book 15 - Grilled Rye Murder: Book 16 - A Quiche To Die For: Book 17 - A Side of Murder: Book 18 -
Wrapped in Murder: Book 19)
July 6, 2024
A Soup Competition at the County Fair. What could possibly go wrong?
Wait a minute, the harbinger of death Moira Darling is attending!
Aaaaaaannndd � the mayor's son breathes his last after tasting the soup from Darling Deli (Darrin's Vegetarian Gumbo).
Patti Benning has a tendency every couple of books or so to introduce a sub plot that seems to go nowhere - this time it concerns an Irish Wolfhound called Keeva. Keeva's story really seems pointless, unless you consider it as part of the plotting for another episode in the 'Darling Deli' series (it turns out that it is integral to Book 10 “Honey BBQ Murder�).
“Hearty Homestyle Murder� has a murder plot that isn't great but, as always, the book is very readable.
3 Stars.
Wait a minute, the harbinger of death Moira Darling is attending!
Aaaaaaannndd � the mayor's son breathes his last after tasting the soup from Darling Deli (Darrin's Vegetarian Gumbo).
Patti Benning has a tendency every couple of books or so to introduce a sub plot that seems to go nowhere - this time it concerns an Irish Wolfhound called Keeva. Keeva's story really seems pointless, unless you consider it as part of the plotting for another episode in the 'Darling Deli' series (it turns out that it is integral to Book 10 “Honey BBQ Murder�).
“Hearty Homestyle Murder� has a murder plot that isn't great but, as always, the book is very readable.
3 Stars.
September 7, 2023
good for you Moira!
I didn’t see where this was going until the end. I love the side story about the dog. And good for Moira, for her end of the book announcement! I am loving binge- reading this series!
I didn’t see where this was going until the end. I love the side story about the dog. And good for Moira, for her end of the book announcement! I am loving binge- reading this series!
October 18, 2023
Disjoined
She meet the Irish Wolf hound several books ago when her dog was poisoned....met at the emergency Vet clinic and should have gone to vet to have her chipped scanned
She meet the Irish Wolf hound several books ago when her dog was poisoned....met at the emergency Vet clinic and should have gone to vet to have her chipped scanned
November 7, 2023
I love these Cozy Mysteries, but this one has ALOT of typos...
September 11, 2020
Surprise ending
This book took me longer to figure out than any of the others. This author seems to get better and better.
This book took me longer to figure out than any of the others. This author seems to get better and better.
May 8, 2016
Book 9 was about the Soup competition at the Town Fair and there of course was a murder. Once again Moira is thrown into the investigation but this time it truly had nothing to do with her...or did it. What I liked most about this book is the small side stories you will discover and you also get to learn a little bit more about a few of the characters that you have read about in book 1-9. One of the side stories was about a dog that Moira found in her backyard and she took the dog in and even went as far as putting up posters to find his home. Now the weird part about this was that when she finally figure out who the dog belonged it, that part of the story kind of ended. I thought there would be a twist as to why the pup was in her backyard but it was kind of cut short. I wish that part was a little bit more mysterious. Maybe if the dog belonged to the victim and the murderer thought he dropped the dog off in the empty woods.
I was a little bit disappointed at the ending when you found out who the murder was. It just seemed like the book was ended way too quickly and I could use more. But I was happy about the surprise announcement. It seems like Patti Benning is starting to make Moira come out of her shell a little more and switch her priorities. I just don't know what it will go from here but that is what makes this a great series because it leaves you wanting more and yes I do want more.
I was a little bit disappointed at the ending when you found out who the murder was. It just seemed like the book was ended way too quickly and I could use more. But I was happy about the surprise announcement. It seems like Patti Benning is starting to make Moira come out of her shell a little more and switch her priorities. I just don't know what it will go from here but that is what makes this a great series because it leaves you wanting more and yes I do want more.
May 6, 2016
Another DELIcious deli mystery! Moira and her crew are back and as I started reading, I realized how comfortable and at home I feel. like these people are real and my friends. Things have been going well for all of them. well, I mean well if you don't count all of the murders that pop up. The fair is coming quickly and they have to get ready for it. This includes holding a contest to puck a soup to enter in the judging contest. They all seem talented but the clear winner is Moura's first employee Darrin. Of course there is a hitch as the head judge is poisioned eating the deli's soup during the contest. There are just so many ither things going on at the same time but they are all simultanioysly playing out to create a great story and make perfect sense. After finishing the book I think back and am amazed at all of it and I always want more. I really liked this book and think Patti Benning is a very talented story teller..
May 10, 2016
A fun culinary cozy not to miss. Hearty Homestyle Murder: Book 9 in The Darling Deli Series is packed with adventure and mystery as well as yummy food.
This book has Moira settling in with her daughter Candice's life and candy store. She is preparing for the county fair and the coveted soup competition. She is going to enter one of her employees recipes. She is excited to see who will win the little competition at the deli to go to the fair. She would really love to win this competition and be able to show off the ribbon and all the extra advertising. Once the winner is chosen they head to the fair where the unexpected happens. Uuuggghhhh! One of the judges gets sick on the soup they enter. This causes Moira to start second guessing herself and her staff???
Who or why would anyone want to cause harm to a judge and ultimately her business?
So much is going on in this great series that I can't wait for the next book. Maple Creek is never dull!
This book has Moira settling in with her daughter Candice's life and candy store. She is preparing for the county fair and the coveted soup competition. She is going to enter one of her employees recipes. She is excited to see who will win the little competition at the deli to go to the fair. She would really love to win this competition and be able to show off the ribbon and all the extra advertising. Once the winner is chosen they head to the fair where the unexpected happens. Uuuggghhhh! One of the judges gets sick on the soup they enter. This causes Moira to start second guessing herself and her staff???
Who or why would anyone want to cause harm to a judge and ultimately her business?
So much is going on in this great series that I can't wait for the next book. Maple Creek is never dull!
May 6, 2016
This is another savory treat from author Patti Benning. It's time for the annual fair. Just when Moira thinks all is well, another murder occurs. It appears the soup Moira enters into the faiir's tasting contest causing the Mayor's son to collapse. .Moira tries to figure things out before she and her store's reputation goes out with the garbage.
This is a story you can sink your teeth into, you'll want to gobble it up. It's nice to see the characters grow and develop with each book. There are a few surprises that will keep you guessing as to who the culprit is.
I can't wait to read more in this series!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a story you can sink your teeth into, you'll want to gobble it up. It's nice to see the characters grow and develop with each book. There are a few surprises that will keep you guessing as to who the culprit is.
I can't wait to read more in this series!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2016
What a nice little cozy mystery. A main character who adopts large dogs, sticks up for her employees and fellow local business owners, and isn't obnoxious and nosey. How refreshing! I dig! A very laid back and enjoyable cozy. Also this was the first book I read from this series and I didn't feel that I missed anything so can be read from a standalone. I wouldn't mind going to the beginning and reading in successive order.
May 9, 2016
Patti Benning, for a new author, has given us 9 wonderful books in the Darling Deli series. Always coming up with new recipes, which sound delicious, (Patti needs to put together a cookbook) makes me hungry every time I read one of her books. The story in Hearty Homestyle Murder revolves around the fair in town and a food contest. Honestly, entertaining.
May 8, 2016
It is time for the county fair and time for us to find out who wins Moira's competition to see which of her employees will present their soup at the fair. The author has once again provided us with a murder and all things point to someone at Darling's DELIcious Delights as the murderer. Poor Moira! She seems to be run ragged these days.
May 9, 2016
Another great read. During the country fair and soup contest the head judge is poisoned. Moira and her deli become involved when the judge dies while eating the soup her employee entered in the contest. I was a bit surprised by the ending with the changes coming to the deli and Moira's life. Can't wait for more from Moira, David and the gang
May 15, 2016
What?
Is this the last story, I was waiting to see if David would propose so they would get married. I known I read this story before or something, and I know there are more adventurers for them and marriage. Or maybe I just dreamt I read this whole series before, have to go look through my books to see. Great read waiting for the next installment.
Is this the last story, I was waiting to see if David would propose so they would get married. I known I read this story before or something, and I know there are more adventurers for them and marriage. Or maybe I just dreamt I read this whole series before, have to go look through my books to see. Great read waiting for the next installment.
October 7, 2016
It is time for the county fair and the annual soup competition. I liked that the deli had it's own little competition to vote who would make the soup that would be entered for the county fair competition. Unfortunately a jury member gets poisoned by the deli's soup... Did once again one of Moira's employees kill someone???
May 6, 2016
Another yummy read
Hearty Homestyle Murder is another fun read from Patti Benning. Moira just can't stay out of trouble and this time she's bringing her employee with her. In a yummy whodunit this one will keep you guessing until the end.
Hearty Homestyle Murder is another fun read from Patti Benning. Moira just can't stay out of trouble and this time she's bringing her employee with her. In a yummy whodunit this one will keep you guessing until the end.
May 6, 2016
Full of surprises
Another great installment in this story. I totally didn't see it coming when the killer was revealed. The surprise at the end has me anxiously awaiting the next book to see what the future holds.
Another great installment in this story. I totally didn't see it coming when the killer was revealed. The surprise at the end has me anxiously awaiting the next book to see what the future holds.
July 23, 2019
Who can you trust?
When Moira decides to let her employees compete to be in the town's soup competition things go from bad to worse. I love where this series is going. Can't wait to see what happens next
When Moira decides to let her employees compete to be in the town's soup competition things go from bad to worse. I love where this series is going. Can't wait to see what happens next
May 24, 2016
Very tricky
Great story with a lot of action the mystery is a part of this story but the relationship between the characters make it a delight to read
Great story with a lot of action the mystery is a part of this story but the relationship between the characters make it a delight to read
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June 21, 2016These are so fabulous...a tasty series
July 4, 2016
Good mystery
This was a quick read. Kind of had an idea early on who did it,but not why until the end!
This was a quick read. Kind of had an idea early on who did it,but not why until the end!
June 5, 2018
Loved it and can't wait to read more
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