On the Lamb

Easter is coming to the Jersey shore and Lucy Berberian and her family are preparing delicious foods at their Mediterranean restaurant. In On the Lamb by Tina Kashian, Lucy and her friends are readying for their traditional bonfire on the shore. (On the Lamb will be published by Kensington Publishing Corp. on February 25.)

With the Bikers on the Beach in town there are plenty of people at the bonfire. Local landlord and totally obnoxious person Gilbert Lubinski publicly humiliates Lucy's friend Melanie Haven. Melanie, who operates a boardwalk candy shop, has fallen behind on her rent and Gilbert has demanded she pay or vacate her shop. 

Shocked by his behavior, Melanie wanders away from the bonfire. A short time later, Gilbert is found dead on the beach having choked on a piece of saltwater taffy. The likely suspect is Melanie, the candy store owner. Lucy believes Melanie is innocent, and while she investigates, she discovers there were many other people who despised Gilbert Lubinski. 

Trying to stay on the good side of her friend police officer Bill Watson and the grumpy Detective Calvin Clemmons, Lucy tiptoes cautiously through her investigation. She learns Gilbert had an so-to-be-ex-wife with an axe to grind and several other suspects. 

On the home front, the restaurant is starting to get busy as the summer season approaches and despite her mother's best efforts, Lucy isn't the chef her mother or her boyfriend Azad are. While she searches for the killer, Lucy tries to improve her culinary skills and establish where her relationship with Azad is going. 

Another delightful mystery in the culinary exploits of the large Mediterranean family. I can identify with that. 

Stabbed in the Baklava

Returning to the Jersey shore after leaving the law, Lucy Berberian finds herself managing her parents Mediterranean restaurant - the Kebab Kitchen. In Stabbed in the Baklava by Tina Kashian, Lucy unexpectedly finds herself catering the wedding of the year. (Stabbed in the Baklava is published today by Kensington Publishing.) 

Socialite and buddy start Scarlet Westwood and her obnoxious wedding planner Victoria Redding order Lucy to keep the news of the upcoming nuptials a secret. The catch is the wedding is in two weeks. Lucy knows a successful event like this will be huge publicity for the restaurant, but an enormous amount of prep work is required.

Lucy's ex-boyfriend Azad Zakarian is the new head chef and they have some uneasiness with each other. It seems Azad regrets their break up and would like to get back together, but Lucy thinks that might not work out in their current employment situation.

When the night of the wedding rolls around, the staff is ready go and the vans are loaded. There is a mix of delicious Armenian, Greek and Lebanese foods including, of course, lamb and chicken kebabs with vegetables, a variety of hummus flavors and baklava. 

Stumbling into the kitchen during the reception is a very drunk best man Henry Sims, a local banker. When an argument ensues between Henry and Azad, Lucy tries to calm things down, but the implied threat from Azad worries her. He says "one of these days that banker is going to get his due."

Later as she heads back to the van to get another pan of baklava, she hears another heated argument with Henry, this time with wedding planner Victoria. At the end of the evening as they a loading up to leave, Azad discovers Henry's body in the van with a skewer in his neck - dead.

Naturally Azad is a suspect, but Lucy and her pal Katie decide to investigate even though Katie's police officer husband says they shouldn't. What they discover surprises even them.

Stabbed in the Baklava is a mouthwatering experience, especially with all the food described. There are recipes at the back of the book, too.

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