Dead Pan

by Gayle Trent

Book Overview

A "delightful new series." -- Kaye's Penguin Posts Cake decorator Daphne Martin once again finds herself and her cakes at the center of a murder mystery. Half the town gets sick following a cake... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0984125841
• ISBN13: 9780984125845
• Release Date: November 2009
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

dead pan

I REALLY LOVE GAYLE TRENTS BOOKS. IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A COMFY CULINARY MYSTERY, I RECCOMMEND HER BOOKS. CAN'T FOR MORE!!!!!!!!

Daphne

I enjoyed this 2nd book just as much as the first. It was nice to see more of Daphne and Ben and a few new characters at that. Daphne tires not to get involved in the recent case of a death of a friend, but she can't help herself. The recipes are worth the read as well for some yummy sweets.

Great sequel

Just finished reading "Dead Pan" by Gayle Trent. It was enjoyable, and I love that Gayle incorporates some recipes into her stories. I decorate cakes, so I even learn some 'tricks' of the trade by reading the main characters descriptions of her cake making. I can't wait until the next installment.

Review of "Dead Pan"

This is book two in the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series. She has been hired to bake a cake for the local Brea Ridge Pharmaceutical Company's Christmas party. Unfortunately everyone in attendance became ill and suspicion falls on Daphne. One person in particular becomes very ill and that is Fred Duncan. He works at the local supermarket where he and Daphne became acquainted. Fred is now in a coma. Daphne finds herself telling local law enforcement that she only brought the cake. I like Daphne. She left her abusive husband and moved back to her hometown to make a new life for herself. Despite all that she has a good sense of humor, along with her great sleuthing skills which help her to solve the mystery.

Book 2 in the Daphne Martin Series

"Looking at the photographs fromt he Oklahoma Sugar Art Show started me thinking. I needed to work on my fondant figures in addition to my painting. I decided to start with the figure molding. My nerves needed the distraction." -- From Dead Pan The breezy second installment of the Daphne Martin cake decorating mystery series, Dead Pan cooks up a delightful culinary cozy mystery that is arguably even better than the first scrumptious book, Murder Takes the Cake. Dead Pan features some of the quirky, memorable charcters from the first book (e.g. Myra, China York, Belinda Fremont and her award-winning guinea pigs, etc.) and introduces some new ones. In this installment, brain-damaged Fred Duncan gets violently ill at the Brea Ridge Pharmaceuticals Christmas party along with dozens of others; a doctor in attendance just happened to have a vaccine on hand that counteracts the Campylobacter bacteria--curing everyone except for poor Fred, who ends up dead. Was the breakout mere coincidence? Or did someone have murder on their mind? Nosy but likable cake-decorator Daphne Martin finds herself once again in the middle of a police investigation, much to the dismay of her sister, Violet. I ate up Dead Pan and loved every bite. I can't remember being this entertained and delighted with a cozy series--the first installments of the Coffeehouse Mysteries, maybe? It was interesting how the author incorporated dialogue between Daphne and real-life Food Network judge and sugar artist, Kerry Vincent. I knew who Vincent was, so her "cameo" was a pleasant surprise (although I'm not sure how Ms. Vincent would feel about being fictionally inserted into a mystery!). I can tell you this: I'm very much looking forward to reading book 3 in the Daphne Martin Cake Decorating series, Killer Sweet Tooth, which is supposed to come out sometime in 2010. Author Gayle Trent has a knack for creating fun characters, believable dialogue and gentle mysteries, and I'm thrilled I discovered her and the Daphne Martin culinary cozy mystery series! -- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot