Review, Interview & Giveaway: Still Life in Brunswick by Larissa Reinhart

Still Life in Brunswick Stew

Still Life in Brunswick Stew
Cherry Tucker Mystery, Book 2
Larissa Reinhart

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press

Date of Publication: May 17, 2013

Number of pages: 298

Cover Artist: Jessie Porter

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo

Cherry Tucker’s in a stew. Art commissions dried up after her nemesis became president of the County Arts Council. Desperate and broke, Cherry and her friend, Eloise, spend a sultry summer weekend hawking their art at the Sidewinder Annual Brunswick Stew Cook-Off. When a bad case of food poisoning breaks out and Eloise dies, the police brush off her death as accidental. However, Cherry suspects someone spiked the stew and killed her friend. As Cherry calls on cook-off competitors, bitter rivals, and crooked judges, her cop boyfriend get steamed while the killer prepares to cook Cherry’s goose.

Excerpt: 

They should’ve kept the mud pit.

That was my first thought when I heard another brawl had ensued, the second or third of the day by my count. This happens when festival committees get all high-brow and replace four- wheeling with an arts and crafts display. What kind of crazy wants to walk around an old cotton field to shop for macramé pot holders and corn husk dolls? Or even quality art, like my Cherry Tucker still life oil paintings. Or exquisite Raku pottery from my buddy, Eloise Parker.

That’s my opinion, anyway. Based on the fact that the Annual Sidewinder Brunswick Stew Cook-Off took place smack dab in the middle of a Georgia summer when you needed activities like mud pits to cool off the locals. Bad enough the hundred year old argu- ment over the origin of Brunswick Stew breaks out every time you get Virginians and Georgians together. And we all know there is only one town of Brunswick with a giant iron kettle for a landmark. Which would be in Georgia.

Sidewinder’s also in Georgia, but a tenth of the size of the Golden Isle of Brunswick. Sidewinder’s not even a town. More like a spit in the road farming village that once was a plantation burned down by Sherman. My hometown of Halo is bigger, and we aren’t even big enough for a Walmart. Some might say Halo’s not big enough for my art studio, but I’m not much on what folks say.

Unless they’re customers, of course.

Eloise begged me to participate in this cook-off turned art festival, which is why I’m spending my weekend slumped in a camp chair, drinking tea by the jug, and sweating up a storm. And not selling any paintings. People come to taste stew, eat pulled pork, and watch the rednecks churn up the Georgia clay with their four- by-fours. So when the guy hawking koi ponds in the booth opposite leaned into our tent to report the newest altercation, I jumped at the chance to break my boredom. Actually, my jump was more of a sweat-soaked slide out of my seat.

“Eloise,” I asked. “You want to come and see what the fuss is about?”

“And miss the possibility of a single customer? I’m not hauling my butt out of this chair except to get more stew.” She stubbed out a cigarette. On the folding table sat her second or third bowl of the thick Brunswick Stew, brimming with shredded meat, tomatoes, butter beans, and corn. “One of my students gave me a bunch of free tickets to his family’s booth, and I plan to use them all. My Crohn’s isn’t bothering me, so I’m eating to make up for the times my stomach doesn’t let me.”

Although the stew had a lovely cinnamon color, eating it in record-breaking heat held no appeal to me. Particularly the amount Eloise had already consumed. The concoction of veggies and meat once got poor folks through hard times by tossing in whatever you could salvage. I’ve had it made from chicken, beef, pork, venison, and even rabbit. Some like to add squirrel with their pork. However in college, after enjoying a bowl with a large side of tequila shots at a Savannah bar, I vowed never to touch the stuff again. Does not taste as pleasant the second time around.

Watching Eloise eat made sweat break on my neck. “On a scorcher like today, I would think you’d rather have a Sno-Cone than a hot bowl of stew.”

“As a Sidewinder native, it is my duty to eat Brunswick Stew, particularly at our annual cook-off,” said Eloise. “I love Brunswick Stew. You should know better. How long have we been friends?”

“Let me see,” I pretended to think, not trying to hide my grin. “Seems I beat you in the Forks County Art Competition in third grade...”

“And I stole your drawing and you promptly announced it over the PA, getting me in all kinds of trouble. I still have the handprint on my behind.”

“Serves you right, you art thief.”

“I loved your drawing,” Eloise’s eyes grew misty. “I couldn’t help it. I’d never seen such a beautiful unicorn.”

“It was not a unicorn. I would never draw a unicorn.”

“I’m pretty sure there were rainbows, too,” Eloise laughed at my horrified look. “You were eight. Anyway, I recognized talent then and now. I’m lucky to have a friend like you.”

“Are you kidding? You’re the one that got me into the Reconstituting Classicism gallery show. If I can pull off something great, that crowd will pay big bucks. I’m down to my last twenty dollars and change.” At that thought, I fished in the pockets of my cutoffs to look for Sno-Cone change, disappointed to find only thirty-five cents and a few gum wrappers.

“No one around here wants a portrait made, not even one of their pet,” I moaned. “I had the hunting dog market cornered there for a while. The art well in Forks County has mysteriously run dry ever since I was snubbed by the Bransons after painting the portrait of Dustin. Then Shawna Branson became president of the Forks County Arts Council and suddenly I have paintbrush leprosy.”

“How are those classical paintings coming?” Eloise dropped her eyes to her stew bowl. She knew me well enough to avoid conversation about Shawna Branson. “Aren’t you supposed to send digital photos of the portfolio soon?”

“Week from Monday,” I said. “Plenty of time. I’m doing famous Greek statues as paintings. Except to make it edgier I’m covering the model’s body in tiny Greek letters. Head to toe.”

Eloise swatted me with her spoon. “You haven’t done them yet? Don’t make me look bad, Cherry Tucker. The show is organized by my old drawing professor at UGA. He’s still ticked I went into pottery. I’m hoping to get back in his good graces and get my own show out of the deal.”

I held one hand over my heart, the other palm up in Pledge of Allegiance mode. “I swear I would never do anything to make you look bad, Eloise Parker. You have my word. I’m just having a little trouble convincing my model to pose nude as the Dying Gaul.”

“Who are you using as a model?”

“Luke Harper.”

It took a moment for Eloise to regain control over her laughter. I helped her right her chair when it threatened to tip.

“Luke is the perfect model for a Greek statue,” I explained. “Tall, lean, with great muscle definition. Especially those indentations between his waist and hips.” I paused a moment in delicious ecstasy, ruminating over Luke’s V-cut. “He even has the dark curly hair and the straight nose of a classic Greek. And I don’t think he’s got a drop of Greek blood in him. Pretty sure Harper’s not a Greek name.”

“Nor Roman. You just want to paint Luke naked,” Eloise cackled. “This doesn’t have anything to do with art.”

“Of course it does. I have an eye for beauty, that’s all.”

“You got a thing for beauty, all right. As long as it’s got a—”

“You can stop right there, Eloise Parker. No need to get trashy.”

“I’m not the one obsessed with painting Luke Harper nude.”

“He never lets me paint him, nude or otherwise. I don’t get it. What’s the big deal?”

“Probably because he’s worried the criminals in Forks County will laugh at him after seeing his bare ass in a painting,” Eloise lifted her brows. “Hard to arrest somebody when they’re laughing at you.”

Interview: 

Today, we welcome Larissa Reinhart to Musings and Ramblings. Let's all give her a big Geeky welcome!

Hey Judith! *waves* Thanks so much for having me here today!

I have some questions for you that are writer specific as well as some fun stuff so that we can really get to know the real you. *grin* Plus we will finish things off with round of Think Fast. Ready to begin?

I'm so ready! I feel like I'm on Ninja Warrior for writers.

Writing Specific
1. Tell us something about yourself that's not in your bio.

I used to teach World History, Psychology, and Sociology at Sandy Creek High in Tyrone, Georgia. Now some of my students are married with children. Which is really depressing.

2. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When I'm not writing or doing my numerous mom duties, I love to get away. For a day trip, a weekend, a year, I will plan any kind of trip. We've lived overseas three times and it's made me a gypsy at heart. I'm happy exploring some small town near my house or flying somewhere more exotic. And my girls are good little tourists, too. They were born in China, so they've traveled since the beginning!

3. How did you choose the genres you write in?

I write the book and find out the genre later. My books are character driven, although I start with a "what if" sort of an idea.

4. Is there any particular author or book that has influenced you or your writing?

I had written my first manuscript and started my second when I read ON WRITING by Stephen King. I loved how he explained putting his characters into impossible situations to see if they can figure out how to get out of them (totally paraphrasing here). That's what I try to do. I set Cherry up against the odds and see if she can prove her worth.

5. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I had someone once tell me "no one's going to want to read about an artist painting a dead guy, honey. That's just disgusting." The greatest compliment is having all these folks who want to read PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY and continue to read stories about Cherry Tucker!

Fun Stuff
6. If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, fictional or real, who would it be and why?

James Bond. How much cooler a dinner partner could you get?! And when we're interrupted by some evil genius seeking global domination, I'm so chasing after them. Unless tiramisu is served for dessert, and then I might stay and wait for Bond to return for his post-chase martini. *waggles eyebrows*

7. You are going to be stranded on a deserted island and bring 3 luxury items.

What would they be? An tablet device with a huge library of books and movies already downloaded, a super comfy lounge chair, and Bear Grylls. He can work on the rescue thing while I work on my tan, but I'm not drinking his pee.

8. Pick two celebrities to be your parents. Who are they and why?

Paul Newman and Mae West. I have no idea why. They both popped up in my head at the same time.

9. What would we find in your refrigerator right now?

Some leftover pulled pork, around thirty bottles of Asian sauces, and a single Corona.

10. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?

The Little Writer Who Could. (I hope.)

Think Fast
Summer or Winter? Summer.
Coffee or Tea? Coffee.
Cake or Pie? Pie.
Car or Truck? Truck.
Print or Electronic? Print.

Thanks for coming by and spending some time with us. Any final words of wisdom to pass along?

Thanks so much for having me! That was fun. I rarely have words of wisdom, but I love to chat with readers. I'd like to know what luxury items they'd take to a deserted island!

Review: 

This is the second book in the Cherry Tucker Mystery series by Larissa Reinhart. I was lucky to have discovered and reviewed book one, Portrait of a Dead Guy earlier this year and liked it. So I was thrilled when I was offered a chance to read and review Still Life in Brunswick Stew. Cherry Tucker isn't your average Southern woman character. She is feisty, stubborn and not ashamed of her mostly dysfunctional family and their history of poverty. Cherry is the kind of woman you want in your corner; with her big heart and bigger mouth.

This story begins several months after the end of the first book. Cherry has been dating Luke, who is now a police officer working for her "Uncle" Will, the local Sheriff. Cherry is at the local Sidewinder Brunswick Stew Cook-off, with her friend Eloise, trying to sell their art. Eloise gets violently sick at the festival and ends up dying. When the family's concerns are brushed aside, Cherry promises to look into it.  After all, Eloise was her friend and practically died in her arms, and Cherry figures she has Luck and Uncle Will to help. But they both warn her to stay out of it, and refuse to tell her anything. So Cherry takes matters into her own hands and starts looking for suspects. When her suspects start dying themselves, Cherry winds up over her head.

I liked a lot of things about this book.  The returning characters, such as Cherry's siblings, Casey and Cody, her kind of ex husband Todd, her nemesis Shawna, and Max the Russian, all allow us to see the different sides and moods of Cherry. They round her out as a character and really give her depth. Watching Cherry kick butt was a pleasure. It is nice to see a female character outside of Urban Fantasy who can take care of herself and doesn't rely on a man to save her.  Cherry also has so fun flaws. Her inability to cook and the noises her stomach makes when she is hungry are always good for a giggle.

Cherry is your go to girl when you want a Sassy Self-Reliant Southerner to make you Smile. I can't wait to read book 3, Hijack in Abstract coming in November. I expect it to be every bit as good as the first two books.  This got 4 stars on Goodreads.

Review for Portrait of a Dead Guy, book 1 can be found here.

Giveaway: 

1 electronic copy of either Portrait of a Dead Guy or Still Life in Brunswick Stew, graciously provided by Larissa.

Entry-Form

Book Tour Info: 
Don't forget to check out the other stops on the Book Tour:

September 26:
Mommasez… - Interview, Review & E-book Giveaway

September 27:
Shelley’s Book Case - Review & E-book Giveaway

September 28:
Chloe Gets A Clue - Interview

September 30:
Brooke Blogs - Review & E-Book Giveaway

October 1:
Melina’s Book Blog - Interview, Review & E-Book Giveaway

October 2:
The Bookwyrm’s Hoard - Interview, Review & E-Book Giveaway

October 4:
A Chick Who Reads - Review

October 6:
According to Squenn - Review

October 7:
rantin’ ravin’ and reading - Interview, Review & E-Book Giveaway

October 8:
Kaisy Daisy’s Corner - Review & E-Book Giveaway

October 9:
THE SELF-TAUGHT COOK - Spotlight

October 10:
Musings and Ramblings - Interview, Review & E-Book Giveaway

Author Bio:

Larissa Reinhart loves small town characters, particularly sassy women with a penchant for trouble. STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (May 2013) is the second in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series. The first, PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY, is a 2012 Daphne du Maurier finalist, a 2012 The Emily finalist, and a 2011 Dixie Kane Memorial winner. She lives near Atlanta with her minions and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit. Visit her website, her Facebook page, or find her chatting with the Little Read Hens on Facebook.

To connect with the author online:

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