(Reviewed by JD Jung)
I usually gravitate toward gritty thrillers rather than cozy mysteries, so I wasn’t expecting Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils to hook me the way it did. But this engaging culinary mystery quickly won me over.
Savvy Summers owns Essie’s Place, the most popular soul food restaurant on Chicago’s South Side, where she serves treasured family recipes passed down from her great-aunt Essie in Mississippi. After spending two weeks at a culinary school in New Orleans, Savvy is eager to expand her menu by blending her Southern roots with Louisiana Creole flavors.
When an old friend hires her to cater a corporate event, it seems like the perfect opportunity to debut her new dishes. But days later, this story takes a deadly turn when one of the employees is found poisoned snacking on leftovers—or was it the restaurant’s notoriously fiery hot sauce? Although Savvy is quickly cleared when it’s determined her food wasn’t responsible, she can’t resist digging into the mystery herself, much to the frustration of her ex-husband, a police officer who repeatedly warns her to stay out of the investigation.
While the mystery is entertaining, what really kept me turning the pages were the colorful supporting characters and the rich subplots woven throughout the story. Their relationships and histories give the novel far more depth than a typical cozy mystery.
The writing flows effortlessly, balancing humor, suspense, and memorable personalities. Every chapter left me wanting to know what would happen next.
One surprise came after the story ended. Author Sandra Jackson-Opoku includes recipes inspired by the novel, along with the stories behind many of them. I was especially intrigued by the Mississippi recipes infused with Louisiana Creole flavors—just like the dishes Savvy introduces in the book.
If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with memorable characters, Southern cuisine, and a satisfying murder mystery, this book is an easy recommendation.