Steamed: Gourmet Girl Mystery

This delectable collaboration between Jessica Conant-Park and her mother, Susan Conant, author of the Cat Lover's and the Dog Lover's mystery series (Scratch the Surface , etc.), introduces an appealing heroine, Chloe Carter, a boy-crazy 20-something gourmand who lives in Brighton, Mass. Chloe thinks she might have found both romantic and gastronomic satisfaction in Eric Rafferty, a foodie she meets online. But their first date is a bust: Eric is a dolt, and he winds up getting stabbed before dessert. Chloe later falls for gorgeous Josh Driscoll, a chef acquaintance of Eric's. But Josh has a temper—and it turns out he owned the knife that killed Eric. Chloe must help clear Josh's name if their romance is to stand a chance. This scrumptious cozy, the first of a new series, has it all—charming characters, snappy dialogue and mouth-watering recipes. (Mar.)