Banana Split (Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery #7)
Author: Josi S. Kilpack
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Published Date: March 2012
Softcover; 372 pages
Genre: Culinary Mystery
ISBN# 978-1-60908-903-0
Reviewed by: Shanda
Summary
Sadie Hoffmiller has survived eighteen months of nonstop adventures filled with murder, deceit, and danger. She could really use some rest—and maybe even some time to heal—relaxing in the tropical paradise of Kaua’i. However, palm trees and sunshine are not as effective a medication as Sadie had hoped. And when she finds herself entangled—literally—with a dead body, she is forced to face the compounding fears and anxieties that are making her life so difficult to live.
Her determination to stay out of danger and to focus on overcoming her anxieties soon takes a backseat when she meets eleven-year-old Charlie, the son of the woman whose body she discovered near Anahola Beach. Charlies has some questions of his own about what happened to his mother, and he is convinced that only Sadie can help him. If only Sadie were as confident in her abilities as Charlie is.
With the help of her best friend and a local social worker, Sadie dives into another mystery with the hope that, at the end, she’ll be able to find the peace and closure that has eluded her.
Review
After the traumatic events during her visit to Boston, Sadie is in dire need of rest and relaxation. She heads to Hawai’i to recuperate, but after a few weeks the anxiety takes over. Sadie spends most of the day locked in a small condo, not even finding pleasure in cooking as she once did.
When she finally ventures out at the insistence of her friends, the Blue Muumuus, what was supposed to be a peaceful snorkeling trip ends in Sadie discovering a body trapped in the water. It’s enough to send her over the edge and into the care of a therapist.
The young son of the woman whose body Sadie found seeks her out with a list of questions about his mother. Sadie decides to learn more and use the experience to help her deal with the memories of the grisly encounter. She puts her investigative skills to use and uncovers details that lead her to think the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death may not be what they first seem.
It was interesting to see Sadie in Hawai’i, alone in a small condo with no family around her. It made me a little sad to see her so affected by what she’d gone through the past several months, and yet it was reassuring and realistic, adding depth to Sadie’s character. The description of her interaction with the woman’s dead body, while far from graphic, was creepy enough to make my skin crawl.
There was great suspense and misdirection. I often figure out the bad guy in other mysteries, but I love how Josi keeps me guessing in every book. I’m never sure of the villain until the end and I’m always surprised by something.
I’m not sure how Josi manages to keep things so fresh in this series, but she has, especially as it has grown into something bigger than I think even she expected. As long as she keeps writing Sadie Hoffmiller books, I will keep reading them. I love this series and recommend it to everyone.
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***Read Mindy’s review: Banana Split by Josi S. Kilpack***
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