Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils - A Review

 Review

SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS
By Sandra Jackson-Opoku
The Second Savvy Summers Mystery 

 

Savvy Summers may be the best soul food chef in the South Side of Chicago, but she's always willing to expand her culinary offerings. After taking a course in Cajun cuisine, Savvy finds herself experimenting, much to her sous chef Penny's annoyance. But her foray into New Orleans cookery helps when her old friend Dori asks for a favor. The new face of Dori's business is all about the Big Easy so Savvy agrees to cater a luncheon. What she finds is concerning, a greedy woman wanting free food, an intern who vacillates between mousy and bossy, and the new company face-a fake charmer. When a prank turns deadly Dori becomes a suspect and Savvy determines to get to the bottom of things. Not only will she prove her friend's innocence, but she'll uncover the underhanded business at work at Dori's company.

 

While I like Savvy Summers, my favorite characters in SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS are Jimmy Blue and his dog, Sergeant Stubby. While it's fascinating how Jimmy is teaching his dog to use talking buttons, what I love even more is their kinship and smarts. I appreciated the backstory of the mysterious patron at Essie's Place and the secondary mystery Savvy helped to solve.

 

The mystery was well plotted with lots of clues as well as misdirection, but as important as the mystery is, it's the characters, their relationships, backstory, and dealings that truly make the story. 

 

Whether you prefer sweet potato pie, king cake, or a soul food version of bread pudding, get ready to savor a well seasoned mystery in SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE PO'BOY PERILS.