About the Author

Isis Crawford was born in Egypt to parents who were in the diplomatic corps. When she was five, her family returned to the States, where her mother opened a restaurant in Upper Westchester County and her father became a university professor. Since then Isis has combined her parents' love of food and travel by running a catering service as well as penning numerous travel-related articles about places ranging from Omsk to Paraguay. Married, with twin boys, she presently resides in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, where she is working on the next Bernie and Libby culinary mystery. Readers can visit her website at www.isiscrawford.com.

Reviews

At the start of Crawford's diverting sixth mystery to feature Bernie and Libby Simmons (after 2008's A Catered Halloween), imperious Annabel Colbert hires the catering sisters of Longely, N.Y., to cook for her beloved pet pug's birthday lunch, demanding the same menu for the dogs and the people-at the same table no less. At the party, shortly after insulting all her human guests and drinking what she realizes is a glass of poisoned wine as soon as she gulps it down, Annabel collapses. Before losing consciousness, the wealthy entrepreneur (who dies two days later) gets Bernie and Libby to promise to find her killer. Suspects include Annabel's philandering husband; the husband's gorgeous, surgery-enhanced assistant; and the high school friend whose original idea Annabel stole to make millions. This gabby, low-key culinary cozy includes recipes for canines and humans, one a liver birthday cake you can serve to a person you dislike ("Just frost with whipped cream and leave off the dog treats and Cheez Whiz"). (Dec.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

The wealthy creator of Puggables, the latest toy craze, is poisoned at her dog's birthday party catered by Libby and Bertie Simmons (A Catered Halloween). Verdict With Crawford's steady hand guiding the way, dog lovers will fall for Trudy, the charming pug; fans of Diane Mott Davidson and Joanne Fluke will enjoy the investigative and culinary antics of the nosey sisters. Recipes included. Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.