Meet Sadie Hoffmiller:  57 year old sleuth with a little spunk and a whole lot of refreshing reality. The seventh book in the Culinary Mystery series starts slowly, especially for a reader new to the series.  With many references to “what happened in Boston”, the first 100 pages were a bit frustrating.  However, once Josi Kilpack settles into classic sleuthing mode, the reader is in secure and practiced hands.  Kilpack’s expertise is manifest especially by her ability incorporate red herrings and then to let those sub-plots fade away after they have served their purpose.  Banana Split culminates in an unpredictable, but believable conclusion.  This is the perfect throw-in-your-beach-bag read.  Take it with you on your next spring break—preferably to someplace tropical.  Note:  As usual, recipes are included in the book.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Shadow Mountain

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  A character says someone threatened to kill her/him; a character threatens to kill someone; character reports seeing someone attacked; a death is mentioned; report of child abuse; two characters scuffle; a character threatens another character with a gun and a scuffle ensues; shots are fired and a minor injury occurs; an extended confrontation (~ 1 page) occurs between two characters with some hitting and scuffling.

Sex/Nudity:  It is reported that a character worked as a dancer in a strip club.  There is verbal speculation and accusations regarding the fidelity and possible affairs of a character.

Mature Subject Matter:

Foster care and families; legalization of drugs; drug addiction; fidelity in marriage; PTSD/Anxiety/Depression.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

A character’s drug addiction is discussed; a brief discussion on the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana; references to drug dealers.