This book promotion is through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
A Murder Most Fowl: A Food Truck Mystery book tour includes a giveaway and a fun character interview. Meet the character, share on social, leave a comment for the author and our guest, subscribe, and shop Sarandipity’s.
About A Murder Most Fowl
A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect
for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.
When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed
food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing
up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for
some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found
dead.
With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help
they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. With their loyal assistant–and
Beth’s best friend–Rylie by their side, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very
twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.
This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them
guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.
Praise for A Murder Most Fowl:
“A serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments add up to a fun read.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“The perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.”
—Ellery Adams, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret, Book, and Scone Society
mysteries
Product Details
ISBN9798892423175
Available Sep 09, 2025
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Pages336
Character Guest Post
Confessions of a Reluctant Reality TV Star
by Beth Lloyd, guest character from A Murder Most Fowl
When I tell people I was once on a reality cooking show, I get two reactions: wide-eyed
excitement, or that squinty look that says, Oh no, she’s about to ruin my favorite show. Don’t
worry, I’m not here to ruin anyone’s show. I’m here to tell you the truth.
And the truth is… I never planned on becoming a “reality TV personality.” I just wanted to cook
fried chicken. That’s it. My twin brother, Seth, and I had been hustling with our food truck,
Kluckin’ Good, and when Rylie and I learned auditions were being held for The Food Truck
Showdown I figured—why not? Free publicity, maybe a cash prize, and hey, it’s not like anything
dramatic ever happens in Clementine.
Spoiler alert: I was wrong.
First, let me clear something up. Reality TV cooking shows look glamorous on screen.
Everything is perfectly lit kitchens, judges who always have the wittiest one-liners, contestants
plating like their lives depend on it. Behind the cameras? It’s chaos. Pure clucking chaos.
Picture this: it’s six a.m., the producers are herding us around like sleep-deprived cattle, and Seth
is already grumbling that if he has to say “Beth and I are confident about this challenge” one
more time, he’s walking off set. I’m frantically double-checking the fryer oil, because heaven
forbid we blow a breaker and end up the tragic B-roll montage of contestants who just couldn’t
cut it. Meanwhile, one guy is pacing in circles, muttering about “flavor profiles,” and another
contestant is trying to bribe the cameraman with cookies.
Not exactly five-star dining conditions.
And then there are the interviews. Those little clips you see spliced between challenges. The
ones where contestants look directly into the camera and confess their deepest fears while
holding a ladle? Yeah, they make you sit under hot lights and poke you with leading questions
until you say something dramatic. “Beth, who do you think is going home today?” “Beth, are
you worried about your chicken wings being too dry?” “Beth, how does it feel knowing your
food truck dreams might be crushed forever?”
Let’s just say sarcasm became my best defense mechanism. I may or may not have compared one
of the food truck owners to a rooster with a superiority complex. That didn’t make the final cut.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There were fun moments too. Seth and I got to showcase our food
skills. Our crispy chicken wings that crunch just right, and my signature Kluck-it sauce that
could make even a grumpy camera operator smile. And there were contestants I liked. We
bonded over grease burns, questionable coffee, and the unspoken rule that if you saw someone
crying in their truck, you pretended not to.
But here’s the part I never expected: the competition wasn’t the most dangerous thing happening
on set.
Somewhere between the chopped onions, the snarky contestants, and the daily dose of small-
town gossip, someone wound up dead. Yes, you read that right. Dead. I went into this thinking
the worst that could happen was running out of flour. Instead, I found myself caught in a murder
investigation, trying to convince the police (and my fellow contestants) that I wasn’t involved.
I’d love to tell you I handled it gracefully, like one of those glamorous amateur sleuths in
paperback mysteries. In reality? I got taken to the station for questioning right after my truck
won a challenge. I was supposed to be celebrating with Seth and Rylie over drinks. Not sitting in
an uncomfortable metal chair across from the most handsome detective I’d ever laid eyes. And
yes, I noticed his yummy jawline even while he was implying I might be capable of murder.
What can I say? I’m a great multitasker. But sadly, that detective had already arrested me once
(while I was dressed as a giant chicken) and already had his own opinions about me.
The truth is, I never asked to be part of a murder mystery. I wanted to cook. I wanted to prove
that Kluckin’ Good could compete in the big leagues. Instead, I found myself eavesdropping on
contestants, piecing together clues, and trying to figure out who among us had more on their
mind than fryer temperatures.
If there’s one thing I learned, it’s this: murder makes for good TV, but it makes for a very
stressful contestant experience.
So if you’re dreaming of auditioning for a food reality show, here are my humble tips:
Pack more aprons than you think you need. Grease stains are forever.
Don’t trust anyone who says, “I’m just here for fun.” They’re lying. Probably to themselves.
Caffeine is your friend. Sleep is a myth, like unicorns or judges who don’t love drama.
If a judge tells you your chicken is “pedestrian,” smile sweetly and imagine their car breaking
down in front of your food truck one day.
And if someone ends up dead? Call a lawyer before you answer questions. It will help you in the
long run.
Would I do it again? Honestly… probably, yeah. Despite the murders, it was a great experience.
It’s also made one heck of a story to tell while I’m serving up chicken wings in Clementine. And
if you’re wondering whether I ever solved the case—let’s just say I learned a thing or two about
sleuthing along the way.
But next time? I’d prefer the only thing on the chopping block to be onions.
Author Details
Hailing from the Bay Area of California, Carmela Dutra cherishes her family, rainy days, and
making others laugh.
After years of working on her award-winning indie children’s picture books, she transitioned into
crafting cozy mysteries filled with emotion, humor and heart.
When she’s not penning her latest tale, Carmela enjoys sketching, sipping copious amounts of
coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She shares her life with her best
friend and husband, raising two dinosaur-obsessed sons. A lover of alternative rock, Carmela
often writes to its rhythm and finds comfort in rewatching The Big Bang Theory and MAS*H.
Author Links
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarmelaDutra/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorcarmela/
Threads
https://www.threads.com/@authorcarmela?xmt=AQF0ZEH7iWCFepVBgn7dGBtXhsCtpZ
EdklC1i4OwBhRqMnM
Twitter/X https://x.com/authorcarmela
Purchase Links
Amazon Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org Penguin Random House
