The Good, the Bad and the Guacamole
A Taste of Texas Mystery #2
Author: Rebecca Adler
ISBN13: 9780425275948
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis: 
Tex-Mex waitress and part-time reporter Josie Callahan is about to serve up some Lone Star justice in this spicy Taste of Texas Mystery from the author of Here Today, Gone Tamale.
Tourists are pouring into the town of Broken Boot for the annual Homestead Days celebration. Opening the festivities at Two Boots Dance Hall is smooth-talking country singer Jeff Clark, the ex-boyfriend of Patti Lopez, Josie’s best friend. When the charming Clark woos Patti onstage in an attempt to rekindle some sparks with his old flame, Josie fears her friend will end up just one more notch on the singer’s guitar strap.
To impress her editor at the Broken Boot Bugle, Josie and her Chihuahua Lenny pursue the singer to Patti’s house, hoping for an interview. Instead, they discover Clark facedown in a bowl of guacamole with a bloodied guitar at his side. With Patti suddenly a murder suspect, Josie must use her reporter skills to find out who had a chip on their shoulder—before the killer double-dips..
Review:
Josie Callahan is a fun protagonist and I love her dog and his blog too. Step into a taste of Texas and enjoy some boot scooting music and suspense. The Good, the Bad and the Guacamole is a fun romp set in the fun small Texas town of Broken Boot at the time of their annual Homestead Days celebration. What could be more fun. Spicy food, entertaining characters, small town antics and mystery and intrigue fill this enjoyable read. Hang on to your cowboy hats as Josie and her friend Patti Lopez have to find the murderer of Patti’s singer ex Jeff Clark before she gets sent to the hoosegow!
This is the second book in author Rebecca Adler’s “A Taste of Texas Mystery” series and I sure did like it, even better than the first. The characters have settled in more and are developed into real and likeable people that have enough quirks to keep them interesting. The setting is quaint and delightful. With the celebration in full bloom, the added people in town give the suspect pool more depth. Josie’s group of friends are a hoot and I would love to be there especially enjoying some of those delicious meals. The music industry plays a part in this installment and old wounds are delved into.
Josie and her Chihuahua Lenny are such great characters. Since her best friend (besides Lenny) Patti finds herself as the prime suspect, Josie has to use her reporter talents to get to the bottom of who killed the smooth-talking singer and why. Josie has to do her investigating while still working at her uncle and aunt’s Tex-Mex restaurant and trying to get her stories done for her reporting job for the local paper. The family element is a big hit with me. They laugh, spout sarcasm and insults and advise. They act like a true family and I loved it. It is funny that her friend Patti is a Goth chick and seems to be out of place in the small Texas town, yet fits in perfectly with everything. Josie’s grandmother is always a love. Everyone has a part in this fun and entertaining cozy read.
Author Rebecca Adler does a wonderful job of giving the reader suspects and motives without overwhelming the story. The interspersed mention of such wonderful food did keep me hungry for most of the book, so I would suggest getting a bowl of chips and guac to munch on while reading. I was pulled in from the very start of the book and really enjoyed the mysteries and suspense. Of course having a dog that has a blog sure did not hurt my opinion. If you enjoy dipping your toes into a taste of Texas, get this book. If you enjoy a wonderfully written mystery that ticks all the cozy boxes, read this book. It does work as a stand-alone, but the first one was a fun read as well.
