Why do I read cozy mysteries when so much time is spent on admiring the love interest, backing off, thinking of their body, wishing for more, etc. And why are books so poorly edited that characters’ names are misspelled, e.g Vance/Lance, and a memorable phrase like ‘heart shaped ass’ repeats multiple times. ( )

I am really impressed with Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson, the first book in the Chef-to-Go cozy mysteries. For an author who has been writing cozies for over 20 years, Swanson was able to keep the technology fresh and up to date, which is not always the case with authors who have been writing for years. They often seem to get stuck in an earlier era where newer technologies are not even present in their books. So kudos to Swanson!

And having Dani’s sidekicks be three college students was another stroke of genius. Dani is in that in-between age of not quite 30, but still more conservative than a 21 year old, so having some younger women in the story adds a fun and fresh perspective to the book.

Also having three different avenues of business (daily lunches to go, personal chef, and caterer) Swanson set the series up to have lots of different places and ways for future murders to occur. I’m looking forward to seeing what Swanson comes up with next.

Besides the positive points mentioned above, Swanson also has very developed characters for a first book in a series, and it was fun to see some of the characters from her Scumble River Mysteries showing up in the Chef-to-Go series. I love when authors do crossovers.

Add in delicious food and drinks, detailed descriptions of the college town, and lots of red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and you have a series that is sure to be a hit with cozy mystery readers. ( )

Dani Sloan's life has been on a downturn lately. She left her corporate job after there were some major issues. She had to sign a non-disclosure document so she can't even discuss what happened. Then on top of that, she discovered her boyfriend was actually engaged to marry someone else. But, things take a positive turn when she suddenly inherits a house and decides to embark on a business venture that's more her style -- cooking bagged lunches for local college students and running a catering service. She hopes Chef-To-Go will take off and be successful. In an emergency, she allows three college students to move into the house with her. She provides their room and board and in return they work a few hours a week for her. It's a win-win situation for all. One of the girls sets her up with a catering job....an upscale summer party. Regina Bourne is beautiful and known for her lavish parties. Unfortunately, the day after the event, Regina is found dead on a lounge next to the pool. Because of some problems during the party, Dani and her housemates find themselves suspects in the murder. One of the girls has an uncle who used to be a police officer. So with his help, Dani starts investigating Regina's death. Who killed the spoiled rich girl?

Tart of Darkness is the first book in a new series, the Chef-To-Go Mysteries. I'm not sure I would classify this book as a "cozy'' mystery....I'm going to say it's cozy-ish. There is no gore, explicit sex or anything completely un-cozy, but there is some language and some minor sexual themes (for example, one minor character enjoys bondage and rough sex) that aren't usually in cozy mysteries. For readers who want to avoid any discussion of sexual themes or for younger readers, this might be one to avoid. As for me, I enjoyed the story. It's a nice start to a new series! I like the background theme of a college town catering business. Dani is an interesting main character, and the 3 college-age girls she rents rooms to are great supporting characters. The hunky uncle is a nice love interest. The ending of the book seemed a bit abrupt...but it definitely made me wonder when the next book will be coming out. :) The romance angle seemed a bit trope-y as did the sudden inheritance of a huge house that allowed the MC to start a new business venture.....but the book is well-written and fun to read. I didn't really mind the trope-y moments.

All in all, this is an enjoyable cozy(ish) mystery! I will definitely be reading more of this series. Denise Swanson is the author of several cozy mystery series including Scumble River and the Devereaux's Dime Store Mysteries. I think I will start reading the Scumble River series while I want for the next Chef-To-Go mystery!

*I voluntarily read an advanced reader's copy of this book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** ( )

**I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Swanson debuts a cozy mystery series with a down to Earth main character, delectable sounding foods, and a murder and a mystery slightly heavier than the traditional cozy mystery. Dani Sloan runs a chef-to-go business that attracts college students, and she offers catering and a home chef experience to those living around town. At first, I was slightly annoyed by Dani, whose beliefs in her father’s words (that suggested she could not live up to her potential) made me dislike her father. But, Dani realizes that she too deserves dreams, even if it means going into debt and finding creative ways to stay afloat following her dream of owning her own company. Language and subject matter make this cozy mystery a tad “meatier” or less cozy than other typical cozies, but the elements are still there – an amateur sleuth; a quirky cast of characters; and a potential romantic liaison.

Overall, an enjoyable read. ( )

Dani has decided to start over in life when she inherits a house in a small college town. Always wanting to have been a chef/cook, Dani starts a take-out/catering business as well as renting some of the rooms in the house to College students. When a friend of a boarder is found murdered, Dani is deep in the fire and has to find the murderer before her goose is cooked.

A fun start for a series with great characters and lots of room for adventures in the future! ( )