I'm pleased to welcome Carmela Dutra to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Carmela writes the Food Truck Mystery series. MURDER MOST FOWL is the first book in the series and will be released next week.
Kathy: In A MURDER MOST FOWL twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken-themed food truck. Do you enjoy noshing at food trucks?
CD: Absolutely! I love how food trucks turn a regular street corner into a little food festival. There’s something magical about grabbing a dish that’s creative, delicious, and served with a side of personality. Plus, I’ll never say no to supporting small businesses, especially ones with quirky names.
Kathy: If you had a food truck, what type of food would you offer?
CD: Pie and coffee would definitely be on the menu. Maybe even a seasonal pie flight so people could try a little bit of everything. I also love the idea of gourmet Belgian waffles with unexpected toppings. Basically, a truck that caters to sweet tooths like mine.
Kathy: The twins decide to compete on a top cooking show for some good publicity. Do you enjoy watching food competitions? Personally I’m a huge fan of the Great British Bake Off. I don’t care as much for the nastily competitive ones.
CD: Yes! I’m a big fan of The Great British Bake Off too. It’s so kind-hearted, and the camaraderie makes it feel cozy in its own way. I also enjoy Chopped, Barbecue Showdown, The Great Food Truck Race, and Kid’s Baking Championship. My boys watch that one with me, and it’s become a family favorite in our house.
Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?
CD: My mom was a huge fan of Perry Mason, The Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Murder, She Wrote, and Diagnosis Murder. If she was reading, it was always a cozy mystery, and those were the first books and shows I was exposed to growing up. I think that early exposure really shaped my taste as a reader, and I naturally gravitate toward cozies because they’ve always felt like home to me.
Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?
CD: I used to write and illustrate children’s STEM picture books, which was such a rewarding experience. I also have a romcom manuscript tucked away in a drawer that I may dust off one day.
Kathy: Tell us about your series.
CD: My food truck mystery series is a culinary cozy filled with whodunits, sibling shenanigans, chicken puns, and an emotional support chicken with diva energy (she struts onto the page in book two). If you like humor mixed with heart, and a sleuth who’s always in over her head but refuses to give up, this might be your flavor of cozy.
Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?
CD: It’s hard to choose, but I really enjoy writing Rylie Cortes and Detective Jerry Hamstead. They bring so much depth and humor to the story. But my absolute favorite has to be Larry Kuntz. Readers will meet him in book two, and he’s awkward, uncomfortable, and hilariously cringy. Beth can’t seem to shake him. (If you’re familiar with The Big Bang Theory, think Howard Wolowitz.) My husband says I did Larry dirty with his backstory, but I adore him. I have big plans for Larry, and I think readers will come to love him too.
Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?
CD: Yes! My main characters, Beth and Seth, are loosely inspired by my grandmother and her identical twin sister. A conversation with my grandmother actually sparked the idea for my novel, A MURDER MOST FOWL. I also drew inspiration from binge-watching cooking shows like Chopped and from living in the Bay Area, where food truck culture is thriving. For me, it felt like the perfect setting to mix culinary fun with a dash of murder.
Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?
CD: I always knew I wanted to be traditionally published. I’ve worked with a small hybrid publisher and self-published before, and both paths can be wonderful options for authors. But for me, having the support of an agent, a publishing house, and a full team behind me was always the dream.
Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?
CD: Oscar Wilde, Deanna Raybourn, Frank L. Baum, and Janet Evanovich. I feel that mix of wit, imagination, and humor would make for one unforgettable evening.
Kathy: What are you currently reading?
CD: I just finished WEDDING DASHERS by Heather McBreen. It was such a fun read, and now I want to book a trip to Ireland more than ever.
Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?
CD: I love all things art, especially sketching and charcoal work. Gardening is another favorite hobby (though it’s definitely an expensive one). And I’ll admit: reading books and collecting books are two separate hobbies, and I happen to be very good at both.
Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.
CD: Cranberry juice, assorted cheese, crackers, and pasta. With these four staples, I can always whip up something quick. Or at least have a solid snack plate.
Kathy: Do you have plans for future books, either in your current series or a new series?
CD: Yes, to both! Book two in my food truck mystery series, HOT WINGS AND HOMICIDE, releases May 12, 2026, with Crooked Lane Books. I already have eight more storylines planned for the series. On top of that, I’m working on two brand-new cozy mystery series, but those are still top secret. At this point, only my agent knows what they’re about.
Kathy: What’s your favorite thing about being an author?
CD: Honestly, playing pretend for a living is the best. When I talk to myself in public—usually muttering about the price of groceries—I can get away with it by saying I’m working through character dialogue. And when people ask what I do for a living, I get to say: “I dream up different ways to kill people and then write riddles for how to solve the crime.” That usually makes people laugh, or they take a step back.
Kathy: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.
CD: This was so much fun, Kathy. Thank you for having me!
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Review
A MURDER MOST FOWL by Carmela Dutra
The First Food Truck Mystery
While Aunt Dolly left her food truck to twins Beth and Seth Lloyd, with Seth preparing for the bar exam and a career as a lawyer it's up to Beth and her best friend Rylie to work the truck. That is until Kluckin' Good becomes a contestant on the reality series The Food Truck Showdown, then it's all hands on deck. The first challenge is not without its drama with missing ingredients and threatening notes. But the biggest surprise is the death of contestant Benji, owner of The Dog House and Beth's nemesis. Though the producers are saying he died of a heart attack, Beth isn't so sure. Why would the police be questioning everyone if he died of natural causes? Even though she disliked the man, Beth wants justice seen, so following the true crime podcasts she listens to she and Rylie will sniff out clues and try to catch a killer even as they continue to compete in the culinary competition.
Beth Lloyd is a trip! A bit childish, but supremely competent, she's a fantastic friend, a good sister, and no dummy! I appreciate Seth's overprotectiveness and his ability to work the food truck, though perhaps not drive it. I also think it's great that Rylie speaks Portuguese rather than Spanish! The relationships between the relationships between this trio was fun. Detective Pretty Boy and his partner also made me smile more than once!
My biggest dislike was that the book was written in present tense. Generally I can only read a paragraph or two before tossing a book written in present tense away. It just sounds wrong to me. However, I stuck with the first Food Truck Mystery as I was enjoying the situations and the characters. There were enough sections not in present tense (dialogue for example) that even though I cringed every time I read that tense, I was able to continue. I only wish future books would change tense!
I like how A MURDER MOST FOWL touched on the realities of reality TV and I enjoyed the mystery itself. Benji, with his confrontational and misogynistic
attitude, was a perfect victim and I enjoyed how everyone worked to solve the crime as well as face the various food truck challenges.
Combining humor, good food, and wacky characters A MURDER MOST FOWL serves up a delectable mystery.
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A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery
by Carmela Dutra
About A Murder Most Fowl
A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.
With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. With their loyal assistant–and Beth’s best friend–Rylie by their side, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.
This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.
About Carmela Dutra
Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and making others laugh.
After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.
When she's not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. A lover of alternative rock, Carmela often writes to its rhythm and finds comfort in rewatching The Big Bang Theory and M*A*S*H.
Author Links:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarmelaDutra/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorcarmela/
Threads https://www.threads.com/@authorcarmela?xmt=AQF0ZEH7iWCFepVBgn7dGBtXhsCtpZEdklC1i4OwBhRqMnM
Twitter/X https://x.com/authorcarmela
Purchase Links
Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org Penguin Random House
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