By Liz Soares
Now that I’ve enjoyed Julia Murdoch’s latest adventure, I’m going to have to go back to the beginning of the series and start reading. It didn’t matter that I came to the town of Abbotsville, N.C., in Ann B. Ross’s 14th novel featuring the redoubtable “steel magnolia.” I quickly caught up with the salient facts and dove into the story with relish. Sorry, but there’s a smorgasbord of food in this book.
As the cover says, it features “dozens of recipes from Abbotsville’s best cooks.” Emma Sue contributes her “good beef stew recipe,” while Binkie offers a “fresh peach cobbler.” Anybody up for a hot plate of “company grits?”
These recipes were collected by Miss Julia herself. Her neighbor, the hapless Hazel Marie, has her hands full (literally and figuratively) taking care of her twin baby girls. Then Hazel Marie’s housekeeper, James, falls and is put out of commission. Her husband, Mr. J. D. Pickens, is a private detective who’s often on the road. When Miss Julia hears of the situation, she immediately springs into action.
Since Miss Julia rarely dirties a pan herself (her cook, Lillian, is a gem), she devises an interesting plan. She invites a half dozen of her friends and associates to contribute recipes to a book that she’ll eventually present to Hazel Marie. Miss Julia also asks each of her pals to show Hazel Marie how to prepare a dish. This ensures that the Pickens’ household will have edible dinners at least some of the time.
The scheme sounds foolproof, but then Hazel Marie’s conniving uncle, the proselytizing Brother Vern, arrives on the scene. He’s ailing, and has many demands that must be met. It’s all Miss Julia can do not to punch him in the puss, but she’s too much of a Southern belle to do that. She’s also worried about J.D., who has been seen around town in the company of unfamiliar women with big hair. Miss Julia is determined to find out what his game is, and the investigation leads straight into a riotous scene in a soup kitchen.
Then there’s Lloyd, the son of Hazel Marie and Wesley Lloyd Springer, Miss Julia’s first husband. Springer was a community icon, but after he dies, Miss Julia discovers he had a secret life. And a secret son. When Hazel Marie and Lloyd showed up on her doorstep years ago, she took them in. Life has not been the same since.
Between squalling babies, kitchen mishaps, and the specter of Brother Vern praising the Lord, Miss Julia barely has a chance to enjoy her newly renovated home and her newish husband, Sam. Readers, however, have the chance to sit back and smile and watch the fun.
Between squalling babies, kitchen mishaps, and the specter of Brother Vern praising the Lord, Miss Julia barely has a chance to enjoy her newly renovated home and her newish husband, Sam. Readers, however, have the chance to sit back and smile and watch the fun.
