If you have ever had to choose between a cook book and a mystery, look no further. If Tex-Mex appeals to you, look no further, The 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders is for you. It involves the owner of a ranch in Arizona who also has a home in Maine, who also solves mysteries in between cooking up portions (sometimes twenty) of wonderful sounding recipies for her ranch hands and friends. Missing people and poisoned food all add up to an atmospheric tale. The very interesting item is that the original plot was hatched by Virginia Rich and discovered by her husband after her death. She was the author of The Cooking School Murders and created Eugenia Potter, the cook and detective of this tale. Mr. Rich searched for someone to complete his wife’s stories. Nancy Pickard, well known in who-done-its has done a great job. The recipes are Mrs. Rich’s and as soon as I find the strength to assemble all 27 ingredients, I hope to try-out this recipe. In the meantime I’m going to look for the rest of Mrs. Rich’s works and collect them on my cookbook shelf.
