Murder in the Pearl District (Cedar Bay Mystery #5) by Dianne Harman

Murder in the Pearl District (Cedar Bay Mystery #5) Reviews

• 
  Dharia Scarab

  
  Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
  
  1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
  
  2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
  
  3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
  
  4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
  
  5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
• 
  CLM

  Pros and cons
  
  I'm binge reading this series, so obviously I like the characters and the mostly fluffy plots. With any series, some things are repeated for readers who have come in at the middle, but binge reading makes one much more aware of the repetitive cliches (Oregon weather appt gives every woman a "porcelain" complexion, and hardly anyone has a normal hair color), as well as ethnic stereotypes that, frankly, make me uncomfortable. I have had substantial dealings with both private detectives and highly trained dogs. Those in this series are cartoons, particularly the private detective. Fortunately, his appearance, straight out of a 1950s B-movie, was brief. One more page and I would have abandoned the book without finishing.
• 
  Julie Howard

  This is another great cozy mystery that will have your mouth watering and your diet out the window, especially if you try the recipes at the end of the book. Dianne has created a likeable and a very capable character in Kelly and her dog Rebel, although I did miss her husband Mike in this outing. As usual you are provided with a number of possible suspects, some of which you hope turns out to be the killer and it will certainly keeps you guessing as the plot unfolds. I like how everybody loved the victim and you are left wondering why she had to die and then Kelly starts to dig and the truth comes out. The nice thing about this series is each book is a stand alone and you can pick up any book and enjoy without worrying that you have missed any complicated long running aspect in the series and you know which ever book you start with you will enjoy.
  When Kelly's friend Sophie calls needing help because her cater has let her down. Kelly and her dog Rebel drop every thing and travel to Portland’s popular Pearl District to cook the food needed for the party. The party is to celebrate Sophie's new friend landing a tv deal for a cooking show. But before the director can shout action Donatella is murdered and Kelly and Sophie find themselves running her popular restaurant. After the owners death the restaurant has become even more popular than before and with food critics dropping by will Kelly find the time to solve the murder and keep the restaurant open? All while knowing that Mike is at him waiting her return.
  I like the narrator. She is very laid back in her approach to the characters and this come across well in the story.
  I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
• 
  Sheila

  Set in Portland’s Pearl District—an area I enjoy visiting, and certainly a location with many wonderful restaurants—Dianne Harman’s Murder in the Pearl District brings her Cedar Bay protagonist to Portland to help out a friend, then lands her, naturally, in a murder investigation.
  
  Lots of intriguing insights into the restaurant business make this a fascinating cozy mystery, though I have to confess a certain unwillingness to feel cozy when characters carry guns. With lots of local references, the Pearl’s “urban island of eclectic shops and people located not far from the downtown Portland area” quickly comes to life. Culinary rivalries prove moderately fatal. Culinary deceit is intriguing. And the temptation to go out to dinner increases as the story progresses.
  
  Sometimes awkward descriptions slow the story, but there’s plenty of action and great food. Enjoy.
  
  Disclosure: I couldn’t resist reading a cozy set in Portland.
  
• 
  Helen Drake

  This is the first book I’ve read in this Series although I actually listened to the audiobook. I enjoy the fact that the lead character is a cook who owns her own coffee shop and is married to the local sheriff in that town, although this book takes place in a special area in a city.
  
  I really liked the main characters. It was easy to see why the victim was chosen. She had a number of people who held grudges against her and there were multiple reasons for people wanting her dead. The way the murder was sound progressed in a way that made sense although the way the killer was revealed was surprising.
  
  Although the narrator wasn’t my favorite, I liked her better than the other narrators that I have heard that narrate Dianne Harman’s books.
  
  I definitely want to read or listen to more books in the Cedar Bay Series.
• 
  Kathleen

  Number 5 in the Cedar Bay series is set in Portland. I liked this quick easy read even though I listened on audio. The writing is descriptive and I could envision the scenery.
  
  I did not like Donatella or the rich socialite/entertainer nor the ex-wife of Donatella’s boyfriend. Those people just make life hard on everyone. Some of the other suspects were hiding secrets and over representing themselves.
  
  Kelly Reynolds is a down to earth restaurant owner that does not over present herself. She is always willing to help out friends and has a great sense in sussing out the truth.
  
  Looking forward to the next installment.
  
• 
  Darlene Ramsey

  Kelly and Rebel are intertwined into a murder of a famous chef.
  
  Kelly and Rebel take a trip to the Pearl District in Portland t o help a friend out with a dinner party that Sophie's chef can not do because she fell ill. Kelly steps in to another murder when they find Sophie's dear friend dead in her home the next morning. The police seem not interested so Kelly decides d he needs to find out who did the murder. Running a restaurant and solving is very taxing. Will Kelly and Sophie be safe? Are people what they seem? Read to find out.
• 
  Mary Cokenour

  Kelly is in Portland to help Sophie Marchant with a catered dinner for a chef. It goes off without a hitch, well, until the next day when they find Donatella DeLuca dead in her own kitchen, a chef's knife sticking out of her back. Kelly stays on to help Sophie with a restaurant she had now inherited from the dead woman, but gets involved, as usual, with helping to find out whodunnit.
  
  The suspects are diverse, any one of them had good motive, and fraud plays a part in the entire event.
  
  Thank goodness Kelly has Rebel with her, her gun too; and hubby Mike the Sheriff has a lot of patience.
• 
  Suzan

  I am working my way through this series and enjoying it. This book is #5 and it takes place not in Cedar Bay but in Portland in fact in the Pearl District. I have been to the Pearl District and enjoyed the restaurants and the ecclesiastics of this unique area. We are also reintroduced to Sophie Marchant who was in book #4. I found this book a breath of fresh air. It was fun to take Kelly and Rebel away from the comfort of Cedar Baby. On to book #6.
• 
  Diane Rapp

  Kelly investigates death of a restaurant owner
  
  I am hooked on this series and love the characters. When Kelly agrees to help with a special dinner for a friend, she gets involved in running a gourmet restaurant. She also investigates a murder, surrounded by suspects. This is another gripping novel by this talented author. You don't need to read the whole series to enjoy this book!
  
• 
  Gena - My Book Reviews for You

  Another great book in the Cedar Bay series by Dianne Harman. I love Kelly and the dogs in this series. Kelly’s friend has invited her to come to Portland to cater a dinner party for her. Kelly can take her dog Rebel because he was invited too. This should be a simple fun break for Kelly. But the day after the dinner, the guest of honor is dead. There’s lots of suspects who could have wanted her dead.
• 
  Terri Chandler

  Fun Mystery
  
  Ok I know that a murder mystery shouldn't be "fun" . However it's a quick story and you don't get too invested in the victim. This is a new author to me. I will definitely be reading more in this series. It doesn't get too lost in all the details so it is easy to pick back off where you left off.
  
• 
  Linda Walters

  Great review
  
  I loved it. Kelly is so spunky. She is smart and savvy, as well as classy. I can't wait to get started on the next book in the series, "Murder in Calico Gold." It sounds to be as good as the previous books in the series.
• 
  Carolann Hiller

  Good series
  
  Characters are like small town family. Murder abounds with so many suspects leaving your head spinning. Kelly can't help getting involved because everyone talks to her. Much to her husband the Sheriffs dismay.
• 
  Elizabeth Evans

  So enjoyed
  
  Murder after murder they get more difficult to figure out! I enjoy this series though!looking forward to more of here books just don't want to run out of them any time soon!
• 
  Michelle Ferrari-Johnson

  Murder, Mayhem and Malice
  
  When Kelly' friend, Sophie, asks help with dinner parts, who new a body would turn up the next day? As the ladies get thrown into chaos, they learn how many phonies are in the world~
• 
  Sherril Ellis

  Change of location enhanced story
  
  After reading this Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery, I'm ready to visit my niece in Portland, Oregon, and explore the city with her. This story seemed more in.depth to me and the characters were more complex and better developed.
• 
  Mary

  Very enjoyable read.
• 
  Myrna Ray

  Exciting!
  
  Another exciting book by Dianne Harman. Kelly and Sheriff Mike are strong characters and it is fascinating how Kelly always finds the murderer.
• 
  Judy Roberts

  Another great story
  
  I love the ease of reading this series and the believable crises that Kelly gets into. The method of each book following the previous one is also a nice aspect.
• 
  Stephen Levesque

  This is a great read, entertaining and it does hold your interest. A little small but still good. Very easy to read in one sitting. Great reading everyone!
• 
  Janet L.

  This may be my favorite book yet in this series. Ready for the next one.......