Leslie Karst s'inspire d'un mélange unique d'influences, y compris les discussions familiales qui valorisaient à la fois l'analyse minutieuse et les arts, pour créer des histoires de mystère captivantes. Elle applique cette éducation fondamentale à son écriture, créant une série de mystères culinaires se déroulant à Santa Cruz, en Californie. Ancienne avocate diplômée en littérature anglaise et en arts culinaires, son parcours informe son approche narrative distinctive. Karst consacre son temps à diverses activités créatives, de la cuisine et du chant au jardinage et à l'écriture, insufflant à son œuvre une perspective riche et multidimensionnelle.
When a head cold knocks out restaurateur Sally Solari's sense of taste and smell, at the same time her old acquaintance Neil Lerici is murdered at the annual Artichoke Cook-Off, she plunges headfirst into the case, risking alienating everyone she knows. But soon it's not just her restaurant and her friendships on the line - it's her life ...
A glimpse of a melting corpse at the foot of a volcano leaves amateur sleuth and food enthusiast Valerie Corbin shocked. How can she investigate a murder when there's no evidence the victim ever existed? Set in tropical Hilo, Hawai'i, this cozy mystery introduces a fun LGBTQ+ couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing. Retired caterer Valerie and her wife Kristen are on the Big Island for a well-deserved vacation, seeking distraction after Valerie's recent loss. One morning, the couple and their friend Isaac head to see an active lava flow. Valerie is captivated by the shifting mass of orange and red until she spots a boot in the distance. As she approaches, horror strikes when she realizes the boot is attached to a leg being engulfed by lava. Convinced a murder has occurred, Valerie is determined to prove what she saw, but as the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, she faces disbelief. Launching her own investigation, she navigates a Hawaiian culture far removed from the typical tourist experience, fearing she might become the next victim entombed in black rock. With amiable characters, a stunning backdrop, and culinary delights, this cozy mystery offers a tropical vacation twist, complete with recipes for local dishes.