A Quinnie Boyd Mystery: A Side of Sabotage
Binding: Paperback
A sequel to The Maypop Kidnapping, a novel critics called "a delightful cozy mystery" (Kirkus) and a "funny and engaging debut" (SLJ). The Quinnie Boyd books find the perfect balance of mystery, warmth, and oddball humor.
Gusty's café has been a community hub in Quinnie Boyd's small Maine town for decades. Quinnie's dad runs the restaurant, just like Quinnie's granddad and great-granddad before him. But the family business now has unprecedented competition with the opening of Restaurant Hubert. The work of a bad-boy chef from Boston, the fancy new restaurant offers an experimental, farm-to-table fine dining experience to Maiden Rock. When one thing after another goes wrong at Gusty's, Quinnie's dad assumes he's just having a run of bad luck. But Quinnie suspects sabotage! And her hunches have been (at least partially) right before. Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash the Boyd family café?
The new restaurant takes fancy dining to the extreme. Still, that's not a crime... but when things start to go wrong at Gusty's, Quinnie suspects foul play. Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash the Boyds' family cafe? Quinnie is about to find out if it is a coincidence--or sabotage.
Creators
C. M. Surrisi is a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Reviews
Young fans of both cozies and foodie-themed tales will find much to savor in this latest outing.
Booklist
A Side of Sabotage by C.M. Surrisi was a refreshingly brilliant little book. It was incredibly easy to read. It wasn’t a complex mystery, but it was sufficiently tense enough that I read it in about two days.
Compass Book Ratings
The third book in the Quinnie Boyd series provides a can’t-put-it-down tale of mystery set in small town Maine. Gusty’s Cafe is owned and run by Quinnie’s father, the third Gusty Boyd to run the restaurant. When a new chef opens a fancy restaurant in town, the competition is on. The chefs agree to a contest, with the winner decided by a secret diner reviewer from a local newspaper. Then things start to go wrong at Gusty’s—a dishwasher flood, mixed up spices, and more. Quinnie and her friends are on the case to help Quinnie’s mom, the sheriff, find out who is trying to sabotage the café. Between the stakeouts, suspect spreadsheets, and phone photos, they also deal with friendships, romances, and parents. The story is an interesting one that pulls in the reader. While the Maine setting may seem remote to some, the town is described well and with just enough details to set a picture in the mind. A map is also included in the front material. The characters are engaging and well-rounded, with the teens sensible yet realistic. While Quinnie is a strong female character, there are two males in her group also, increasing engagement for both female and male readers. The adults are authentic and, except for the saboteur, are presented as good role models without being preachy. The book will have readers guessing until the very satisfying end.
School Library Connection
