Book Review: "Tart of Darkness" by Denise Swanson
I'm on a roll with books this week, folks!
After months of staring at my Amazon pre-order status, waiting for it to changed to “shipped,” the day finally came! Denise Swanson’s Tart of Darkness, the debut novel of her Chef-to-Go Mysteries, was released last week, and my bookshelf thanks her for it.
Tart of Darkness is Swanson’s first foray into the culinary-side of the cozy mystery genre. Her character, Dani Sloan, feels like an old friend that I’ve been waiting to catch up with for years. Swanson is well-known for featuring attractive women who aren’t supermodel thin, which warms the reader’s heart and makes Dani all the more relatable. Charming and realistic in her curiosity, she sets out to solve the murder of a co-ed because she’s the prime suspect.
In many cozy mysteries, sometimes it's hard to believe the circumstances leading someone to be involved in a murder investigation, but Swanson is a pro at creating situations where the amateur sleuth is forced to take matters in her own hands. I see so much of Devereaux Sinclair in Dani Sloan (the heroine from Swanson’s Dime Store Mysteries) and I could not have been happier. Dani is a well-adjusted 21st-century protagonist, using her cell phone and computer to do research. This praise might sound a bit odd, but you’d be surprised how often authors in this genre overlook the use of the internet in amateur investigations. Swanson is one of the few cozy mystery authors that references cell phones, foul language, and the real struggles of dating. Her work isn’t fluffed up or quaint, which is why I love it.
The supporting characters were also well developed for a debut novel. I was intrigued by the chapters written from Spencer Drake’s point of view. Much like one of Swanson’s male leads in the Dime Store Mysteries, he’s ex-law enforcement, so he brings many skills to the table when it comes to helping Dani with her problem and you can quickly see why she keeps him around. I am eager to read more about Ivy and her two friends, boarders in Dani’s home, as the series goes on. Swanson gave the reader enough to make their friendship with Dani plausible but still leaves more to be discovered in (what I hope are many, many) future novels.
Considering this is my book review and that I can rewrite my own rules, I’m giving this book 8 out of 7 crowns, I enjoyed it that much. For my readers who want to know who inspires me in the cozy mystery genre, look no further than Denise Swanson. Her engaging, realistic characters and tight-knit communities are the reason I got hooked on this genre in the first place.
Where this is the first book in a new series, once you’re done devouring it—oh my, I didn’t even mention the delicious recipes scattered throughout the book—I suggest getting your hands on Little Shop of Homicide, which kicks off Swanson’s masterpiece Dime Story series.