Mystery Lovers' Kitchen: Murder Local Style

Showing posts with label Murder Local Style. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Roasted Leeks with Ginger and Orange Juice #recipe by @LeslieKarst

To my mind, few vegetables are as marvelous as leeks, with their earthiness and slight oniony hit of umami. The perfect ingredient for a chilly autumn dinner.

And when they’re roasted, these attributes come out in spades. Add to that the Asian flavors of toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger, along with the sweet-and-tart hit of orange juice, and this side dish is one you'll want to make again and again. And it's so simple to prepare!

Many recipes tell you to cut off all of the dark green part of the leeks, but I always use that part, as it adds lots of flavor to the dish. And note that although I used blood orange juice here (because those were the type of oranges I had on hand), feel free to use any kind of orange juice—even a couple teaspoons of the frozen concentrate mixed with a bit of water will work fine.

Roasted Leeks with Ginger and Orange Juice

(serves 2-3)

Ingredients

2 large leeks

2” of ginger, peeled and minced (about 2 tablespoons)

2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

½ to 1 teaspoon black pepper, depending on your taste

juice of one orange (about ½ cup)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut off the roots and the very ends of the dark green part of the leeks, slice down the middle lengthwise, and rinse out any dirt and grit inside. Chop into 1” pieces. Place the leeks in a large roasting pan and drizzle with the sesame oil.

Add the ginger, pepper, and soy sauce.

Drizzle on 2/3 of the orange juice, and stir everything so that it’s all mixed evenly with the leeks.

Spread the leaks out in the pan and roast until the leaks are cooked through and starting to brown—about 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and stir in the remaining orange juice.

Continue roasting until the leeks are starting to get crispy on the edges—another 5 minutes or so. (See photo at top.)

Yum!

🌱 🍋 🌿

Out Now in Paperback!

Orchid Isle Mystery #3

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE

Available for purchase here.

"The beauties and customs of Hawai‘i provide a striking backdrop for a murder with an unexpected motive."

Kirkus Reviews

🍍 🌴 🍹

Out now in paperback!

Orchid Isle Mystery #2

WATERS OF DESTRUCTION

Buy link here.

2026 Lefty and Agatha Award Finalist

for Best Mystery/Contemporary Mystery!

"Immerse yourself in Hawaiian lore and savor the portrayal of the stunning landscapes
while enjoying the entertaining mystery."

Kirkus Reviews

Also available

in paperback!

MOLTEN DEATH

Orchid Isle Mystery #1

Buy link here

2025 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Mystery!

“Karst’s first Orchid Isle novel is part murder mystery, part vividly evocative, colorful sketch of Hawaii and its history, geography, tradition, culture, food, language, and people. Armchair travelers and mystery aficionados alike will find it entertaining.”

Booklist

This first book in my brand-new Orchid Isle mystery series features retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen who, on a trip to the Big Island of Hawai‘i, swap surfing lessons for sleuthing sessions when a hike to an active lava flow turns deadly.

Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:

“a compelling read that will enlighten, engage, and entertain, leaving readers longing for their next trip to the Orchid Isle.”

--New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

“a terrific debut to a series that will go on my must read list!”

--USA Today bestselling author Deborah Crombie

A SENSE FOR MURDER

2024 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Humorous Mystery!

This newest Sally Solari mystery

is available for purchase here !

Praise for A SENSE FOR MURDER:

“[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

--Publishers Weekly

“An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

--Kirkus Reviews

Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops,

the Law, and Cooking for RBG

is the 2024 Silver Medal Winner for both the

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award

and the IPPY Award!

Buy link here

Praise for Justice is Served:

"a suspenseful, exhilarating memoir; Karst relays her determination to serve the 'perfect' meal to RBG alongside an uplifting, enlightening portrayal of one of the most admired justices in the history of the Supreme Court."

-Foreword Reviews (starred review)

"[This] book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more."

-Karen Shimizu, executive editor, Food & Wine-

All of the Sally Solari Mysteries (as well as my other books) are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Paperback Book Birthday for MURDER, LOCAL STYLE @LeslieKarst

Happy book birthday to Leslie Karst, whose Orchid Isle mystery, MURDER, LOCAL STYLE, releases today as a PAPERBACK--hurrah!

About Murder, Local Style:

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?

Praise for Murder, Local Style:

“The beauties and customs of Hawai‘i provide a striking backdrop for a murder with an unexpected motive.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Karst's latest in her Orchid Isle series is an enjoyable read filled with Hawaiian ambiance, a likable heroine, and a meaty murder.”

Booklist

Buy links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop

Congrats, Leslie!

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Butter-Glazed Pears with Ice Cream #recipe by @LeslieKarst

The last of our pears were dangling enticingly from our tree last week, so when I was asked to bring dessert to a dinner party, I decided they make for the perfect sweet with which to welcome autumn.

This dish takes only about five minutes to prep, and then another two or three to put together at the last minute, so it’s perfect for dinner parties. Though next time I’d use vanilla ice cream, as with the caramel swirl it was very sweet.

Butter-Glazed Pears with Ice Cream

(serves 4)

Ingredients

2 medium pears, still slightly hard

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon brown sugar

salt, to taste

ice cream of your choice (I recommend vanilla)

cookies of your choice, several crumbled for garnish

Directions

Core and thinly slice the pears.

Heat the butter in a skillet, then add the sugar.

Stir to dissolve the sugar, then add the pears and stir to coat them with the glaze. Sprinkle with a little salt (I used about ¼ teaspoon.)

Sauté the pears until softened and golden brown.

The pears can now either sit in the pan until time for service, or they can be placed in a container and stored in the fridge for up to a day. When ready to serve, re-heat the pears (either in the pan, or in the microwave works, as well).

Scoop ice cream into individual bowls.

Spoon the warm pears on top of the ice cream.

Sprinkle with crumbled cookies, then garnish with a whole cookie or two.

🌱 🍐 🌿

Just Released!

Orchid Isle Mystery #3

MURDER, LOCAL STYLE

Available for purchase here.

"The beauties and customs of Hawai‘i provide a striking backdrop for a murder with an unexpected motive."

Kirkus Reviews

🍍 🌴 🍹

Out now in paperback!

Orchid Isle Mystery #2

WATERS OF DESTRUCTION

Buy link here.

2026 Lefty and Agatha Award Finalist

for Best Mystery/Contemporary Mystery!

"Immerse yourself in Hawaiian lore and savor the portrayal of the stunning landscapes
while enjoying the entertaining mystery."

Kirkus Reviews

Also available

in paperback!

MOLTEN DEATH

Orchid Isle Mystery #1

Buy link here

2025 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Mystery!

Booklist

Praise for MOLTEN DEATH:

“a compelling read that will enlighten, engage, and entertain, leaving readers longing for their next trip to the Orchid Isle.”

--New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay

“a terrific debut to a series that will go on my must read list!”

--USA Today bestselling author Deborah Crombie

A SENSE FOR MURDER

2024 Lefty Award Finalist

for Best Humorous Mystery!

This newest Sally Solari mystery

is available for purchase here !

Praise for A SENSE FOR MURDER:

“[Sally is] sassy, irresistible company... Culinary cozy fans will be in heaven.”

--Publishers Weekly

“An enjoyable read for mystery mavens and foodies alike.”

--Kirkus Reviews

Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops,

the Law, and Cooking for RBG

is the 2024 Silver Medal Winner for both the

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award

and the IPPY Award!

Buy link here

Praise for Justice is Served:

-Foreword Reviews (starred review)

"[This] book is a romp from cover to cover—and, just like a great meal, left me ready for more."

-Karen Shimizu, executive editor, Food & Wine-

All of the Sally Solari Mysteries (as well as my other books) are available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

The Glories of French Food! by @LeslieKarst

Bonjour à tous!

I'm currently in France with my sister, Laura, and other than visiting some friends and the occasional museum and monument, what we've mostly been doing is eating and walking. And a lot of both of those: we've been averaging some 8-10 miles a day, which is a good thing, given all the rich food we've been consuming.

the kitchen of Le Nord, one of Paul Bocuse's brasseries in Lyon

So rather than presenting a recipe today, I'm going to take you on a tour of some of the luscious meals we've experienced so far. (Sorry in advance for making you all drool with envy.)

We actually started our trip with a visit to a dear French friend who lives in Germany right across the Moselle River from Luxembourg. Here's the lunch I ordered at a river-front restaurant:

sausage with mustard-cream sauce and pommes purées (fancy mashed potatoes)

From there we traveled to Paris for six days, and on our first night we went to the Bouillon Chartier just a couple blocks from our Airbnb in the 10th arrondissement. Bouillons are traditional French restaurants dating to the 19th century which historically fed the working class comforting dishes at a low price. The food is classic bistro-type fare, and even today still at a quite good price. (Note that Laura and I generally share everything, so as to get the most tastes possible!)

leeks in vinaigrette, foie gras, and oeufs mayonnaise (eggs with homemade mayo)

One night in Paris, we went to one of my favorite shops, Picard, which sells only frozen food--much of it already prepared and ready to simply heat in the oven or microwave and serve. Here's our haul: goat cheese, honey, and fig pastries as an appetizer; duck confit and puréed potatoes (along with sliced tomatoes and mayo) for the main; and chocolate mousse for dessert. They were all incredibly delicious--better than most restaurants! I SO wish we had Picards in the US!

The day we climbed up to Montmartre to see the magnificent view of Paris as well as the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, we lunched at a crêperie to try their galettes (savory crêpes from Brittany made with buckwheat flour) as well as a glass of Breton cider:

Of course we had to have a picnic of soft-on-the-inside and crunchy-on-the outside baguette, luscious aged Comté cheese, sweet cherry tomatoes (with mayo, natch), a peach, madeleines for dessert, and wine (a tasty Côtes-du-Rhône). The tablecloth is actually a creation that our mother sewed, which snaps together to form a carrying bag (it's brown on the other side), with a small cutting board as its base. Ingenious.

And we've been enjoying morning coffees (cafés crème) at outdoor cafés, bien sûr!

on the Île Saint-Louis

Next it was off to Lyon, the gastronomical center of the universe, to my mind. The first night there we went to one of the traditional bouchons de Lyon, originally created to feed the silk workers (les canuts) after finishing work for the day. The dishes served today in bouchons stem from the style handed down by Les Mères Lyonnaises, a group of female chefs who opened their own restaurants starting in the mid-18th century, helping build Lyon’s gastronomic reputation. One 19th century chef, Eugénie Brazier, known as La Mère Brazier, was France’s first woman to get three Michelin stars.

salade lyonnaise and (of course!) foie gras

The next night we dined at Le Nord, one of the brasseries started by the celebrated Lyonnais chef, Paul Bocuse. We started with a regional specialty, a "rosette" of sliced local sausage with baguette and the most amazing butter you've ever tasted in your life:

And then for the "plat," or main course, we had steak-frites with a red wine-shallot sauce and a pike quenelle in lobster cream sauce.

Our last day in Lyon, we went to Les Halles, the covered gourmet food market started by Paul Bocuse, and what a sight for our eyes and noses it was! Here's a sampling of the vendors: seafood and charcuterie counters, prepared food (pictured are chicken in morel cream sauce and pan-fried duck breast and a variety of other delicacies), and macarons.

Next we took the train south to Aix-en-Provence, where we had a glorious lunch of marinated, grilled mackerel and a salade niçoise at a restaurant along the famed Cours Mirabeau and its stately plane trees.

During our stay in Aix, we went even farther south for the day, to Marseille, historic home of the thirst-quenching pastis (a licorice-flavored apéritif) and bouillabaisse, a hearty seafood stew made from fish pulled that morning from the Mediterranean Sea.