MY THOUGHTS - Murder, Local Style (An Orchid Isle Mystery) by Leslie Karst

 

Murder, Local Style (An Orchid Isle Mystery) by Leslie Karst

Murder, Local Style (An Orchid Isle Mystery)
by Leslie Karst

If you enjoy a cozy mystery set in a lovely spot with an interesting murder and investigation, then I highly recommend not only this  book, but the whole Orchid Isle Mystery series.
~Carla Loves To Read 

If you like a light, enjoyable, and well-constructed mystery with some fun foodie aspects (and recipes for food and cocktails), this series is for you. I always like to start at the beginning, but you won’t be lost if you jump in here.
~Rebecca M Douglass

About Murder, Local Style

Murder, Local Style (An Orchid Isle Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Hawaii
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 7, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1448316588
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448316588
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448316571
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FVLW3ZL8

Retired caterer Valerie Corbin investigates a suspicious poisoning in this Orchid Isle cozy culinary mystery, featuring a feisty queer couple who swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions in tropical Hilo, Hawai‘i.

A dinner to die for!

It’s been an eventful transition, but retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen are finally settling into life on the Big Island of Hawai’i. Val’s even joined the neighborhood orchid society to make some new friends. So when she’s asked to step in to cater their latest social event, as the newbie of the group she can’t exactly say no.

But what should have been a straightforward gig is soon a dining disaster when the food from the event poisons and kills the society president. As Val herself becomes a suspect in the murder investigation, she’s determined to uncover the truth. Who would want to kill the mild-mannered president of the orchid society?

Turns out the list is longer than a celebrity chef’s tasting menu. Apparently some of the residents did not “love thy neighbor.” Can she reveal the killer’s identity before they strike again?

This mouthwatering cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Ellen Byron, Jennifer J Chow, Lucy Burdette, and Raquel V Reyes, and includes a selection of delicious Hawaiian recipes to cook at home.

About Leslie Karst 

Leslie Karst is the Lefty and Macavity Award-nominated author of the Orchid Isle mysteries Waters of Destruction and Molten Death, of the Sally Solari mystery series, and of the IBPA Ben Franklin and IPPY award silver medal-winning memoir, Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG. After years waiting tables and singing in a new wave rock band, she decided she was ready for a “real” job and ended up at Stanford Law School, then returned to school to study the culinary arts. Now retired from the law, Leslie splits her time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California, spending her days writing, cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock.

Author Links

Website http://www.lesliekarstauthor.com/

Chicks on the Case https://chicksonthecase.com/

Mystery Lovers Kitchen https://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lesliekarstauthor/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesliekarst/

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leslie-karst

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14220589.Leslie_Karst

Purchase Links
Amazon    Barnes & Noble    Bookshop

My Thoughts

Murder, Local Style is book three in the An Orchid Isle Mystery series that is written by Leslie Karst. While I have not read the series, I did not have an issues following along. This is a new to me author and I will be keeping an eye out for her future books moving forward. 

Valerie is a retired caterer. She and her wife have finally started settling into their life in Hawaii. They are trying to get involved, and Valerie joins an orchard society. She is asked to cater an event. However there becomes a mystery to solve when the society president is poisoned. 

Things I loved about this book: While I am late to the party to see Val’s move to Hawaii, I really liked reading about the settling in. I also loved the setting and how the author wrote in some of the local customs. I loved the little breadcrumbs that were dropped throughout the story. 

The book is well written, and the storyline draws you in pretty quickly. I love a good cozy mystery. Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Great Escapes Virtual Tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

March 30 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

March 30 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

March 31 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – RECIPE

April 1 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

April 1 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

April 2 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT 

April 2 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

April 3 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

April 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

April 4 – Because I said so – REVIEW

April 5 – Elizabeth McKenna – Blog – SPOTLIGHT

April 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

April 7 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW 

April 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

April 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

April 9 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

April 10 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

April 11 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

April 11 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

April 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

GIVEAWAY

 Prize - One Signed Copy of Murder, Local Style (An Orchid Isle Mystery) by Leslie Karst. Two Orchid Isle coasters, and a set of all 11 bookmarks (with recipes!) of all my books. US Only

ENTER:  HERE