James's Reviews > Simmering with Resentment

Simmering with Resentment is the 11th book in Daryl Wood Gerber's A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. While I read the first book nearly five years ago, I caught up on the previous ones throughout the last few months. Finally, I became current in a series, especially since I've read and enjoyed most of the author's other stand-alone and series novels. This collection takes place in California, and it's wonderful to see the growth in so many of the characters in the last decade. From marriages to babies, murders to injuries, they've learned a ton... and in this one, Jenna is about to marry Rhett; except, the woman who set fire to her own restaurant and framed Rhett years ago has been released from prison. She's returned for what seems like vengeance, and when she's blown up, the blame game is intense. I was thrilled with the sheer number of suspects and side characters who could've been guilty. I kept jumping around until settling on someone, but I was wrong. I also didn't like who ended up being guilty, but it made complete sense too. Gerber's series has been a highlight in the last few months, and I really appreciate how easy she's made the books to read, enjoy, and root for. Very family-oriented, they present a strong balance of traditional cozy and modern life in a world of growing technology, being inclusive / diverse, and financial frenzy. Can't wait to see what comes next here.