Out of the Frying Pan (Poppy Markham: Culinary Cop)
Austin, Texas, food inspector Poppy Markham loves the Feast in the Field, an annual organic-farm-community meal, but this year the contentious election for president of the Friends of the Farm casts a pall on the event. Poppy’s former flirt, Jamie, returns to Austin, having learned that she has grown close to his rival, Drew. Distracted by these romantic entanglements, Poppy is caught off guard when the new Friends president is poisoned and dies on the way to the hospital. Poppy, Jamie, and Drew question all the attendees and soon learn about embezzling, marijuana crops on the farm, and more. The frame story concerning organic farming and the food-inspection business proves fascinating as Allen offers some new ingredients to foodie crime fiction. Readers of Cricket McRae will appreciate the organic focus, though they may be disappointed by the lack of recipes. --Amy Alessio