Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery) by Carmela Dutra

Christy Maurer

4 hours ago

Categories: BooksCozy MysteryCurrent Giveaways

Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery) by Carmela Dutra | Character Guest Post with Giveaway: (2 Win) signed copy of Hot Wings and Homicide, a crocheted chicken bookmark, custom vinyl stickers, and an exclusive recipe card 5/26

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Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery) by Carmela Dutra. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – San Francisco, California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
Hardcover

Twins Beth and Seth Lloyd are on the chopping block in the follow-up to A Murder Most Fowl, where a perfect recipe for murder is stirred up.

Business at Kluckin’ Good is smoking hot. To keep momentum going, Beth and her twin brother, Seth, just scored a prime spot at the Flavors of the Bay Food Festival. For three and a half days, food lovers will flock to the Bay Area’s biggest culinary event to enjoy gourmet food trucks, cook-offs, and live music, but this recipe for success is also the perfect setup for murder.

When the infamous food critic Brad Dawson—also Beth’s ex—turns up dead, the only clue at the scene of the crime is a Kluckin’ Good tumbler mug. The timing couldn’t be worse. Beth and Brad were seen in a heated altercation, and days prior, witnesses saw Seth punch Brad. Suspicion naturally falls on the twins. With the cops hot on their trail, Beth will have to avoid the flames to clear their names and save her food truck’s reputation.

But the chickens are out of the coop, and as Beth digs into Brad’s final hours, she will uncover rivalries, grudges, and a different side of Brad she never knew. If she doesn’t crack the case soon, she might be the next one to get cooked. Best of cluck!

A mouthwatering mystery for fans of Joanne Fluke that will leave you peckish for more.

Character Guest Post

Exes, Bad Decisions, and Why I Should Probably Make Better Dating Choices

By Beth Lloyd

I’d like to start by saying I don’t have a type. Unfortunately, that would be a lie. My type, historically speaking, appears to be: tall, charming, confident, and walking red flag disguised as a decent human being. In my defense, they don’t introduce themselves that way.

No one says, “Hi, I’m Brad Dawson, and I will absolutely make questionable life choices that somehow become your problem.” If they did, I’d save myself a lot of time. And possibly avoid at least one murder investigation.

And maybe my brother wouldn’t currently be a suspect in his death. But here we are.

When I first met Brad, it was at a backyard party. He was funny, attentive, and working as an intern at the Clementine Gazette, already talking like his byline was front-page news. We spent most of the night on a rickety porch swing, trading stories over stale popcorn and questionable sangria.

He had this way of making you feel like the most interesting person in the room. Like whatever you said mattered. And I fell for it in under a minute.

Looking back, there were signs. Little things. The way he dodged certain questions. The way everything seemed to circle back to him. The way my twin brother Seth took one look at him and immediately decided, “Absolutely not.”

That should’ve been my first clue. But in my defense, Seth doesn’t like anyone I date. However, when he really doesn’t like someone, it usually means something.

Did I listen?

I did not.

Because that’s the thing about red flags—they don’t feel like red flags at the time. They feel like “maybe I’m overthinking it” or “everyone has flaws” or my personal favorite, “it’s probably nothing.”

Spoiler alert: it’s never nothing.

Brad and I dated for just over a year. I thought it meant something. Turns out, I didn’t mean nearly as much to him as I thought, especially once his cousin Tiffany came into the picture. Sorry, I mean step-cousin (and no, that story does not get less weird with time.).

Now, I won’t get into all the details, but I will say this: my dating history has officially overlapped with a current murder investigation. And not just any investigation, one where my brother is the prime suspect.

So, if I seem a little distracted lately, it’s because I’m busy running a food truck, trying to clear Seth’s name, and, you know, catch a killer.

Dating has taken a backseat. Which is probably for the best. Not that it’s stopped options from appearing.

There’s Detective Kane, whom I absolutely do not refer to as Detective Pretty Boy anymore, despite what Seth and my traitorous thoughts say. He’s focused, intense, and has this annoying habit of asking questions that make me feel like he can see right through me.

He also checks every single one of my usual boxes. Which, based on my track record, is not exactly reassuring.

Then there’s that new customer, Gavin. He’s been stopping by the truck during the Flavors of the Bay Food Festival. Bearded, a little mysterious, and definitely not my usual type. Which should make him the safer option, right?

He’s been flirting. I’ve been… attempting to flirt back. Let’s just say there was an incident involving what I thought was a subtle wink and what Seth later described as “all the charm of a blinking traffic light.”

And yet, Gavin didn’t run (but he suggested I stick to blinking with both eyes open). Which either means he’s genuinely interested… or his judgment is just as questionable as mine. Honestly, it could go either way.

Seth, of course, has opinions about all of this. Many, many opinions. He’s even suggested implementing a formal vetting process for anyone I show interest in. Interviews, background checks, possibly a written exam.

I refuse to participate. Mostly because he would abuse that power immediately. He’d claim it was for my own good, but somewhere along the line, it would turn into payback for every time I beat him at Mario Kart in 2005 (not my fault he sucks at Rainbow Road). And if that wasn’t enough, my mom has taken it upon herself to force Larry Kuntz into my life. I went on one date with Larry. He was fine. His mother, however, brought out their prom photos.

Yes. Their prom photos. Larry was homeschooled. And his mother apparently thought she was also going on a date with me. I left shortly after that. Sadly, that still wasn’t my worst date.

There was a guy who kissed like a wet fish. Another who tried to steal my belongings during a bowling date. At this point, I feel like I deserve some kind of loyalty punch card. Ten bad dates and the next one has to be normal, right?

…Right?

Now, you’d think after all of this, I would have learned my lesson. That I’d see a charming smile and immediately head in the opposite direction. That I’d recognize the signs early and make better choices.

You would be giving me far too much credit.

The truth is, I’m trying. I’m asking more questions. Paying more attention. Attempting—occasionally—to listen to that little voice in my head that says, “Hey, maybe don’t do that.” But at the moment, my focus is elsewhere. Because no matter how questionable my dating history may be, one thing is very clear: Seth didn’t kill Brad. And until I prove that—and find out who did—I don’t have time to worry about my love life.

Even if Detective Pretty Boy keeps showing up. Even if the cute bearded guy named Gavin keeps smiling at me like I didn’t just malfunction mid-wink.

That can all wait. Murder, unfortunately, does not.

Question for readers:

What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on—or the biggest red flag you ignored?

About Carmela Dutra

Carmela Dutra is a writer from the San Francisco Bay Area who loves food trucks, family, and cozy mysteries. She is the author of the Food Truck Mysteries, including A Murder Most Fowl and Hot Wings and Homicide. Her series has been praised by Kirkus Reviews, which called her debut “a serious set of crimes leavened by plenty of amusing moments,” and by Library Journal, which noted that Hot Wings and Homicide “is perfect for foodies.” Criminal Element highlighted the “juicy reasoning behind the sabotage that was almost as shocking as the murder itself,” and New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams described the books as “the perfect escapist read, brimming with banter and an extra helping of fun.” Carmela has also been featured in CrimeReads Magazine.

A lover of humor, quirky characters, and all things geeky, Carmela spends her days sketching, sipping far too much coffee, and over-cuddling her allergy-inducing cats and dog. She lives with her husband and two dinosaur-obsessed sons, drawing inspiration from rainy afternoons, bustling farmers’ markets, and the unexpected moments that make life memorable.

Author Links

Website: Carmeladutra.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarmelaDutra/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcarmela

Threads: http://www.threads.com/authorcarmela

Twitter/X: https://x.com/authorcarmela

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/240113718-hot-wings-and-homicide

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