Gumbo and Grudges. Alphabet Soup Mysteries, #7

Chef Jessica Vasquez thought beating her rival would be sweet. She didn't expect it to turn deadly. When celebrity chef Garrett Majors challenges Jessica to a gumbo cook-off at the town festival, she's ready to prove her grandfather's recipe is the best. Victory tastes delicious, until Garrett is found murdered an hour later, stabbed with Jessica's custom-made chef's knife. Arrested in front of hundreds of witnesses, Jessica knows she's been framed.
But by who? And why?As Detective Upton works to clear her name, the threats don't stop. Someone is determined to destroy everything Jessica has built, her restaurant, her reputation, and her life. When menacing messages escalate and her family becomes a target, Jessica realizes the killer isn't finished. With her roommate Vee and newly hired employee Shayla by her side, Jessica must untangle a web of suspects: Garrett's bitter ex-wife, his humiliated assistant, shady business partners, and mysterious figures from his past.
Security footage reveals a stalker in black who watched Garrett all day, the same person who stole Jessica's knife. But the deeper Jessica digs, the more dangerous the game becomes. Someone planned this murder carefully, and they're not about to let a crime-fighting chef uncover the truth. Can Jessica catch a killer before she becomes the next victim? Or will seeking justice cost her everything, including her life?Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries who crave: Amateur sleuths who won't back down Festival competitions turned deadly Found family dynamics Southern comfort food and culture Edge-of-your-seat suspense with heart Gumbo and Grudges is Book 7 in the Alphabet Soup Mysteries series.
While each book can be enjoyed on its own, the series is best read in order for full character development.