Smart-mouthed food writer and former hard-news reporter Trudi Wells makes her début in DOUBLE SHOT, a boxed set of two complete cozy culinary mystery novels. It includes:

KNIFE SKILLS — When the most famous chef in town is murdered with a giant tranchelard cooking knife, novice food writer Trudi Wells uses her hard-news reporting skills to untangle a crooked web of hidden relationships. Smart-mouthed Trudi is definitely no foodie: she knows nothing about fine dining, surviving happily on peanut butter and breakfast cereal. As she uncovers mysterious details about the chef, she learns more than she ever imagined about Continental cuisine, fine wine and the high-end restaurant business. But just as Trudi is about to figure out the puzzle, the murderer starts looking for Trudi.

MURDER & PESTLE — Trudi has a new career in the beautiful and mysterious city of Prague. Sure, she might not be speaking to her mother, and she might be dreaming about her new coworker more than she should, but Trudi still feels like she has grown up. Just like she planned, Trudi is gaining firsthand experience with Old World cuisine. But her plans are ruined when her elderly landlady dies in puzzling circumstances: Trudi is certain the old lady has been murdered, despite the police claiming it was an accident. No matter who comes after her, Trudi is determined to discover the truth of what really happened to the owner of Prague’s most famous spice shop.

KEYWORDS: cozy culinary mystery, women sleuths, female sleuth, amateur detective, cozy mystery, clean reads