Hot Wings and Homicide by Carmela Dutra – A Cozy Mystery That’s Kluckin’ Hilarious

Read time: 3 minutes

📚 Read as a physical book (ARC)
📃 300 pages ⏱ Read time: ~5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
📅 Publishing Date: May 12, 2026
✨ ARC provided directly by the author (and yes, it was autographed 💖)

Book Blurb:

Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd are riding high with their food truck, Kluckin’ Good, after landing a coveted spot at the Flavors of the Bay Food Festival. But when infamous food critic and Beth’s ex, Brad Dawson, turns up dead, the celebration comes to a screeching halt. With a Kluckin’ Good tumbler left at the crime scene and witnesses placing both twins in heated confrontations with the victim, suspicion lands squarely on Beth and Seth. As the pressure mounts, Beth must dig into Brad’s final hours, uncover buried grudges, and expose secrets before the killer strikes again.

Let’s talk murder:

Okay so listen, just because Carmela Dutra is my author bestie doesn’t mean she gets an automatic five stars. Friendship doesn’t equal flattery, right?

So, when I say I love this series, I mean it with my whole cozy-mystery-loving heart!

Seth and Beth continue to be an absolute delight with their chaotic, loyal, and endlessly entertaining energy. Add Rylie to the mix (who can, in fact, burn a grilled cheese), and the dynamic turns deliciously unhinged. The mystery hits closer to home this time with Beth’s ex as the victim, raising the emotional stakes while keeping the humor sizzling. Detective Pretty Boy is back, the banter is tighter, the chemistry is sizzling, and the pacing is chef’s kiss.

This sequel ups the ante from A Murder Most Fowl with sharper wit, stronger tension, and even more laugh-out-loud moments. I read Hot Wings and Homicide during a layover and found myself wishing the flight would just… never board. (It did. I read the rest midair, still laughing like a loon.) The small-town charm, the sibling banter, and Detective Pretty Boy’s exasperated patience all blend into a cozy stew that’s equal parts funny and heartfelt.

This isn’t just a whodunit. It’s a who-made-you-snort-laugh-in-public kind of read. The pacing never drags, the mystery feels tight, and by the end, I was genuinely craving fried chicken and friendship bracelets. Carmela’s culinary cozy game? Hot, crispy perfection! \

Watch out for a couple of new members in this series! I’m in LOUVEEEEE!

Would I Recommend it?

Oh, absolutely!! Add this to your TBR and thank me later. This is one of those rare sequel wins that manages to be both funnier and tighter than book one. You can technically read it as a standalone, but trust me, you’ll want to start from the beginning to get the full flavor.

If You Liked This, Try These Too

1. A Murder Most Fowl by Carmela Dutra
   If you want to see where the Kluckin’ Good chaos began, start here. This series opener introduces Beth and Seth, their food truck dreams, and the signature blend of humor, heart, and murder that makes this series so addictive. Same sharp banter, same lovable mess, and the perfect appetizer before Hot Wings and Homicide.
2. Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien
   Food-centered cozy mysteries don’t get more fun than this. With a tight-knit community, delicious stakes, and a mystery that unfolds amid culinary competition, this one scratches the same itch as Hot Wings and Homicide. Bonus points for a smart, capable protagonist navigating both murder and family pressure.
3. Assault and Pepper by Leslie Budewitz
   If you loved the food festival setting and behind-the-scenes look at the culinary world, this series delivers. It blends cooking, competition, and crime with a grounded mystery and a strong sense of place. Perfect for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries where food is more than just window dressing.
4. Claws for Alarm by Cat Conte
   This pick leans into the humor-forward side of cozy mysteries. If Seth, Beth, and Rylie’s antics made you laugh out loud, this series offers similar over-the-top moments, quirky characters, and a fast-paced mystery that never takes itself too seriously. Ideal for readers who want cozy with comedy.
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
   For fans of culinary cozies who like their mysteries classic, comforting, and packed with recipes, this is a natural next stop. Much like Hot Wings and Homicide, it balances murder with food obsession, community drama, and a protagonist who refuses to sit back while chaos unfolds.

What Do You Say? Sauce, Suspects, and Snort-Laughs

Do you love your cozy mysteries extra funny, or do you prefer a quieter, comfort-read vibe? And tell me, have you ever laughed out loud in public while reading and just owned it? Let’s talk in the comments

Book links:

Want to purchase this or any of your favorite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below. These sites work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfill your book orders.
#SupportLocal

• Indiebookstores.ca
• Bookshop.org
• Goodreads | Storybound | Pagebound | Fable | Hardcover
• Reach out to Carmela Dutra to share your love for her books on her author page, and sign up for her newsletter here (you don’t want to miss the juicy behind-the-scenes she shares periodically)
• Check out more books from Crooked Lane Books