Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber

 ★★★½

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: jealousy, secrets
Setting: Crystal Cove, CA
CHARACTERS: Jenna Hart, Vera Hart, Natalie Mumford, Lola Bird, Sam Sykes
DATE READ: March 5 - March 8
NO. OF PAGES: 283
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,  MysteryMarch
SOURCE: Signed ARC from the Author

PLOT:....................................................................3.50
CHARACTERIZATION:.......................................3.50
TOPICS: ...............................................................4.00
STYLE:..................................................................4.00
ORIGINALITY:.......................................................3.00
ADDICTIVENESS:..............................................3.00
OWNERSHIP:......................................................3.50
Threshold Quality.................................................3.50
Average..............................................................................................3.50 

Jenna Hart had moved back to Crystal Cove to help her aunt Vera with the project of her heart - a cookbook store/café. After weathering the murder of their guest chef in the first installment, now Jenna and her aunt are hosting the annual Grill Fest competition where 8 chefs - amateur and professional grill against each other for the prize.

Things don't start off well this time either - the defending champion is found murdered in the back alley apparently done in by a competitor with one of Cookbook Nook's panini press.  

Jenna's dear friend, Lola, is the chief suspect since the victim and she were seen arguing shortly before the victim was found. 

The murder at the Grill Fest is not enough however, because at home Jenna has discovered a mysterious key inside a figurine that she received from her deceased husband shortly before his death. What does the key unlock and how does Jenna go about finding the answers to the questions exposed.

This is the second installment in this series and one that I have found to be entertaining and captivating.  I'm waiting for the next book impatiently.