Book Review: Body and Soul Food

Book: Body and Soul Food (A Books & Biscuits Mystery book #1) by Abby Collette

Cover Art by Tofunmi Yosola
Book Design by George Towne

Edition: Paperback

Description:

In this page-turning new mystery series, fraternal twins Keaton and Koby will pull double duty when they take down a killer while preparing to open their new bookstore and soul-food café, Books & Biscuits.

When Koby Hill and Keaton Rutledge were orphaned at age two, they were separated, but their unbreakable connection lingered. Years later, they reunite and decide to make up for lost time and capitalize on their shared interests by opening up a well-stocked bookstore and cozy soul-food café in the quaint Pacific Northwest town of Timber Lake. But this new chapter of their lives could end on a cliffhanger after Koby's foster brother is found murdered.

The murder, which occurred in public between light-rail stops, seems impossible for the police to solve. But as Keaton and Koby know, two heads are always better than one, especially when it comes to mysteries. With just a week to go before the grand opening of their new café, the twins will use their revitalized connection with each other to make sure this is the killer's final page.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Body and Soul Food is a well-written, fast-paced interesting cozy mystery that follows 25 year old fraternal twins Keaton Rutledge and Koby Hill. They were separated when they were two years old but reunited years later. While Keaton had been adopted, Koby grew up in the foster care system which resulted in both of them having very different childhoods and lives. They reunited when Koby found Keaton and from there the twins have reconnected as well as decided to open a business together, Books & Biscuits, a bookstore and soul food café. Keaton as a former librarian will be running her bookstore while Koby as a self taught chef will run his café. The fun and excitement of opening their new business would quickly dampen when Koby's foster brother Reef Jeffries was found dead. Keaton was supposed to meet up with Reef on the subway train. However, as soon as she got on the train she was in for a shock because she found him dead. The train was just leaving when she pulled the emergency cord and since Koby was still on the platform he quickly boarded the train to see what was wrong.

He realized rather quickly what was wrong, Reef was dead. Koby suspected that Reef was murdered. Unfortunately for Keaton and Koby they were the main suspects because for some reason the Police Detective Chow believed they did it. Especially since there were plenty of suspects that could have done it. So in between opening and running their business, they were trying to figure out who had murdered Reef. What I found interesting about Keaton and Koby's approach to mystery solving is that Koby is very observant about a lot of things and has a keen insight. Meanwhile, Keaton notices a lot of small details and also has a very keen sense of smell. However, she also has a tendency to not remember important things or clues until something triggers a memory or a connection for her. They both are good in their own way with uncovering clues, it's just interesting to see the difference.

What I liked about this story is that it didn't take long for the mystery to begin. And the more clues they uncovered the more questions they had. But their main questions were who killed Reef? and Why? I liked how the clues were gradually being uncovered.

I think this first book did a good job of introducing the readers to Keaton and Koby and all the other characters. Keaton is an introvert and a bookworm but is also a little anxious at times and has lived a very sheltered life. However, throughout the story she was slowly breaking out of her shell and was learning what she was capable of. While Koby is an extrovert who is good at reading people and situation. He was able to hone that skill due to living in the foster care system. He had to know who to trust and who was safe to be around because not ever foster home is a good experience. And not to be forgotten, there is another most likely ongoing mystery with the twins trying to find their biological mother or at least figure out what could have happened to her.

I enjoyed reading this, I found the writing and pacing too be good, there was a little info dump near the end but not a lot. With the story told from Keaton's point of view, I'm wondering if the second book is told from Koby's. I guess I will see once I read the next book.