Chicken Caccia-Killer (A Clueless Cook Mystery, #4) (2024)

Chicken Caccia-killer by Liz Lipperman is the 4th book in the Clueless cook mystery series. Food editor, Jordon McAllister is covering the International Italian Festival in Ranchero Texas and attends the opening party at the presidential suite of a luxury hotel when one of the wine suppliers is pushed over the balcony and killed.An entertaining book with Jordan needing to compete for her job with the previous editor. Lots of new characters to add to Jordan's eccentric group of friends. A fast paced mystery with plenty of delicious sounding recipes and descriptions included.

Quick read, cute story. I didn't realize it was fourth in a series when I started, so I didn't know some of the backstory, but that was okay, it wasn't necessary to the story. Fun characters, quickly paced. I didn't see the end coming, I was wrong on who the killer was. I might have to look into the other books in the series. Plus, there are recipes at the end for all the delicious food described in the book. I definitely recommend if you want a feel-good, light mystery to read.

I really liked this book. It was a lot more realistic than some of the other cozies that have the main character either stepping on the police's toes with no repercussions, or being directly asked to interfere in an investigation. Jordan is funny and resourceful, and aside from the fact that she is constantly talking about being broke but she also never bothers to learn how to cook anything (I get that it's supposed to be part of the schtick, that she doesn't like fancy food but you don't only cook fancy food, so that premise is dumb and also grates the nerves a little bit), she's really a great main character.

Love the series.

Jordan McAllister writes the Personals, and culinary column, Kitchen Kupboard, for the Ranchero Globe. Since Jordan’s idea of a home cooked meal is a bologna sandwich with chips, and her favorite restaurants are fast food places, the assistance of her friends at the Empire Apartments has been an integral part of the culinary column’s success. And, the column’s success has fueled subscription growth for the Globe. Unfortunately, Loretta Mosely, previous columnist, and the paper’s owner’s niece, has returned and is demanding her old job back. So, a competition between the two for the column is devised by the paper’s management.
The Italian Festival is coming to town, which provides ample opportunities for the two columnists. Also in town for the Festival is Jordan’s boyfriend Alex’s mother and sister. So, in addition to the column competition, Jordan gets to meet Natalie and sister, Kate, for the first time. At the reception for the Festival planners and friends, attended by the Empire Apartments gang, arrogant playboy and wine merchant Marco is murdered, and Kate is one of the suspects in his death. Jordan and the Empire Apartments team of friends are dragged into the murder, the Italian Festival, and the culinary column competition.
Chicken Caccia-Killer is the fourth book in the Clueless Cook series. In my opinion, this series gets better with each book. Liz Lipperman has crafted a wonderful story line and fun characters in a well-written, perfectly paced cozy mystery. My ultimate test of any book is “Just One More Chapter”, that time when you know you should put the book down and go to sleep, but tell yourself you will read just one more chapter. (C’mon, be honest, you all know what I mean.) I started, and finished, this book in one day; or, maybe early morning of the next day. I just couldn’t put it down. I think many of you will also enjoy the book as I did.
Like many culinary mysteries, Liz Lipperman has also included some recipes from the story. Be sure to try Ginny’s Chicken Cacciatore. It is delicious. I haven’t tried Myrtle’s Chocolate Bread Pudding yet, but plan to prepare it for my culinary mystery book club meeting next week. Sounds so good!

3-3.5 stars

These Jordan McAllister mysteries with a bit of cooking and recipes in them are fun, easy-breezy, light books that make you feel good. No big surprises, just some fun, hijinks, and crazy romance.

In this 4th book, Jordan finds herself in a fight to retain her culinary column, the Kitchen Kupboard, in the local Texas paper The Ranchero Globe. She got the job when Loretta Moseley, the previous column's writer, skipped town with her hunky physical therapist after receiving a big settlement from a personal watercraft company after an "accident". Apparently, the money's gone, so Loretta's back - to take her old job back. Since Loretta's uncle Earl owns the paper, Jordan thinks she's sunk.

Except that there's a big International Italian Festival coming to town, and the paper's editor decides that he can use both Loretta and Jordan on the job; the writer with the best stories and the most reader response gets to the Kitchen Kupboard column - permanently.

But Jordan's got more to be nervous about than just keeping her job... her boyfriend, FBI-special agent Alex Moreland, is in town with his mother, Natalie, and his sister, Kate. Kate is one of the publicists and event coordinators associated with the International Italian Festival, so Alex figured it was a good time to introduce his family to Jordan.

To break the ice, Kate invites Jordan to come along with them to a pre-opening gala at an exclusive hotel. But when the Italian playboy that Kate's been involved with falls or is pushed off the balcony at his suite... and a teary-eyed Kate is in the room... suddenly, Jordan and Alex are trying to prove Kate's innocence.

Can Jordan write the columns she needs to keep her job AND save her boyfriend's sister?
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Like I said, these stories are light, fun, and quirky, with just enough romance and recipes to put a spark in your eye. I enjoy them immensely. And I'll read the next chapter in Jordan's adventures when it comes out.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Liz Lipperman writes some of the funniest stories I have ever read and this one is no exemption. She puts Jordan is some of the craziest predicaments, dangerous and hilarious. Jordan is always right in the middle of the trouble, even when she doesn’t even have to cook.

Meeting Alex’s mother and sister had her nervous to begin with but then his sister just happens to have a fight with a guy right before he topples to his death. Jordan knows there has to be more to the story so she has to get involved in the investigation. She just can’t help herself. She also has a sidekick to help her investigate, Alex’s mother, which both hastens and hampers her efforts. Natalie is a hoot!!

This whodunit has plenty of twists and turns. Secrets are revealed and there are plenty more suspects that just poor Kate. It seems the dead guy’s playboy status more than rivals Hugh Hefner’s. He was one busy fella! Although some of enemies were also male!

Chase away those winter blues with this wonderful cozy. Be sure to try out recipes too!! Carlita’s Italian Cake Balls sound scrumptious. There is also one for Ginny’s Braided Spaghetti Bread made with Rhodes Dinner Rolls. This put quite a smile on my face as this reviewer worked for Rhodes for almost 15 years :)

This was a miss for me. I found the writing to be rather vapid and the storyline to be far too predictable and easy (why was everyone so willing to tell Jordan all their secrets with no coaxing??). There was no suspence of Jordan sneaking around to get information and everything seemed to work out perfectly at all points in time. The description of Tina not looking like a model was so off-putting since it was incredibly unnecessary and kinda rude. Finally, I could not get over that the tomato sauce was the item that would be removed from the recipe. As someone who cooks, if I saw that tomato sauce was missing from a recipe called Spaghetti bread i would have just added it based on my knowledge of cooking and what Spaghetti as a base recipe is inherently. If someone really wanted to mess that recipe up you'd take out the yeast and triple the water.

Liz Lipperman is a wonderful writer as well as a great person. I very much enjoyed this book. From the beginning to end it was a page turner. It recalls a few details from previous books that I have read in this series and it interests me to start all over again. You will not be disappointed by the witty humor of the character Jordan and her friends. I love the aspect of a little added romance and mystery to every book. Every character is engaging and leaves you wanting more. In this book Jordan needs to get to the bottom of a new mystery as well as roll with the punches life gives her. Another great read by Liz Lipperman I'm already anticipating the next release.

Chicken Caccia-Killer (A Jordan McAllister Mystery) (Kindle Edition)

Liz Lipperman has really cooked up a hit with this book! It is 4th in the series and one of the best!

Jordan is a newspaper columnist and is sent on assignment to cover the Italian food Festival. But when a murder takes place and Alex's sister is head suspect, she gets more of a story than she was sent there for. Set out to find the real killer and clear Alex's sister. Jordan runs into twist and turns that will keep you reading till the very end. This series continues to get even better with each read. I am eagerly awaiting the next one in this series!

I loved this story. Between Jordan's romance, the interaction with her friends, the fight to keep her job and the murder, this book has it all. I loved the fact that Jordan meets Alex's mother and sister and they are likeable people, unlike many books that turn family into jerks. Jordan discovers info just by talking to people while working and not by badgering. The plot kept me guessing until the end, it hit almost at the same time as Jordan. I cannot wait until the next in the series.

This is the fourth installment of Lipperman's Clueless Cook cozy series, and just like the other three, this one didn't disappoint. Jordan finds herself at the Italian Festival fighting for her job, while trying to find a killer. As usual, the author uses humor with her suspense, and it resulted in another page turner for me.

This was a fun read, I could do without the "do I love him or not" angst.

I wasn't aware of this author or this series but I sure enjoyed this book and now I'll read the series. Great plot line and kept me guessing til the end.