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Review
Killing Thyme
Killing Thyme by
Peter Abresch
Write Way Publishing
279 pages, 1999
ISBN 1885173687
Reviewed by PJ Nunn

Read our interview with the author


Killing Thyme is an intriguing premise reminiscent of Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote.

Reluctant hero Jim Dandy is eagerly awaiting a rendezvous with Dodee Swisher almost a year after their first adventure in Bloody Bonsai. Their reunion is tainted by the word that the chef conducting their Elderhostel adventure has died as a result of eating poisoned mushrooms. But life goes on, as does their Chef's Round Robin cooking course, but not without a few snags. During their first lesson, another chef drops dead right before their eyes. Coincidence? Dodee doesn’t think so. Murder and mayhem continue at a rapid pace, interspersed with brief glimpses into the psyche of Jim Dandy, a man over 55, and his attraction to Dodee, whose age remains a secret.

While it's not my cup of tea, I find the premise of Elderhostel adventures to be clever and timely, and
Killing Thyme a brief and entertaining glimpse into a world I've never seen. The author’s writing is honest and informative, creating easy to visualize scenes without belaboring the descriptive venue. The chef's names can be a little distracting, but undoubtedly realistic. The plot reaches a realistic and semi-satisfying conclusion. A kinder, gentler mystery.



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