Hot Wings and Homicide (A Food Truck Mystery) by Carmela Dutra
About Hot Wings and Homicide
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 ISBN-13 : 979-8892424417
Paperback ISBN-13 : 979-8892424424
Digital ISBN-13 : 979-8892424431
Audiobook ASIN : B0FY43Z1DC
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.
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.
INTERVIEW
1.
When did you first
realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I realized I
was a lazy aunt. My nephew wanted me to draw pictures for him to color, and my
niece asked me to write her a bedtime story. I didn’t have a lot of free time,
so I created something that worked for both of them. I wrote and illustrated a
picture book, leaving some pages for my nephew to color.
I had so much fun
writing that first book that I kept going, and before I knew it, one picture
book turned into five. Once I found my storytelling voice, I knew I wanted to
try something bigger than a thousand words, but I held myself back. When the
world shut down in 2020, I finally gave myself permission to go for it—and
wrote my first adult novel.
- How
long does it take you to write a book?
From plotting to incorporating beta reader feedback, about four
months.
3.
What is your work
schedule like when you’re writing?
It’s a
procrastinator’s dream! I start by organizing my writing space, then cleaning
the house, doing laundry, and deciding it’s the perfect time to vacuum my car.
After a solid few
hours of avoiding my work, I finally sit down and write. It doesn’t matter how
rough the words are, I just get them on the page. You can edit bad writing, but
you can’t edit a blank page.
Also, coffee. There
is always a generous amount of coffee involved.
4.
What would you say is
your interesting writing quirk?
My murder boards. I
have three black felt boards covered in handwritten notes—and yes, sometimes
paper clippings. Each board is dedicated to a different project, and the one
I’m actively working on sits right in front of me.The only thing missing is red
string tying everything together.
5.
How do books get
published?
There are several
paths to publication: traditional publishing, hybrid publishing,
self-publishing, and vanity presses. Before choosing a path, it’s important to
decide what your goals are and what you hope to achieve.
Publishing is a
personal choice, and you have to pick the route that feels right for you.
I’ve experienced both self-publishing and, unfortunately, a vanity press (a long story, but I learned a lot about doing my due diligence and spotting red flags). Ultimately, I wanted a supportive team to help bring my books to readers in multiple formats, especially libraries.When I made my pros and cons list, traditional publishing felt like the right fit for me.
6. Where do you get your information or ideas for
your books?
Everyday life. Grocery shopping, overheard conversations,
people-watching at the park, or even a snippet of dialogue from a TV show.I
love taking small, ordinary moments and asking, what if this turned into a
murder mystery? Then I let my imagination run with it.
7.
When did you write your
first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first piece in middle school during National Poetry
Month. It was inspired by the night and called In the Vast Stillness in the
Middle of the Night.It was… not great. But I earned a passing grade! That
experience led me to take creative writing classes in high school.
8.
What do you like to do
when you’re not writing?
I’m a mom first, so
if I’m not writing, I’m with my family. I’m also a homeschool educator, which
is both a blessing and a challenge because working with family can be tough,
but it’s incredibly rewarding.I also volunteer about 50 hours a month in my
community, which brings me a lot of joy. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening,
sketching, and working on puzzles.
9.
What does your family
think of your writing?
I’m very fortunate
to have a supportive family. My husband loves to brag that his wife is a
published author, and my kids do too, although their version of bragging has
occasionally gotten me into trouble.During one of my youngest son’s online
classes, he was asked what his parents do for work. He proudly said, “My daddy
builds buildings, and my mommy kills people.”
You can imagine how
quickly I got an email requesting a meeting. Thankfully, once I explained,
everyone had a good laugh. And I may have gained a couple of new readers.
10.
What was one of the most
surprising things you learned in creating your books?
No matter how carefully I plot, a character will inevitably go off
the rails and create a plot hole I have to fix, usually right when I’m closest
to my deadline.
11.
How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve written five picture books, four unpublished manuscripts, and
two published novels.I don’t have a favorite. Each book has taught me something
new and brought me joy in unexpected ways. Now, if you asked me about my
favorite character, that would be a different story!
12.
Do you have any
suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Don’t compare yourselfto other writers or even to your past
work.Everyone’s journey is different, and comparison can steal the joy from
writing. Focus on your voice and your growth.
13.
Do you hear from your
readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Connecting with readers is my favorite part of being an author. Whether
through social media, email, or meeting in person at events.I love hearing what
readers enjoyed (and didn’t), their thoughts on the recipes, and their ideas for
future stories.
The
most common questions I get are about Detective Pretty Boy. Will he pay for his
own food? Will he stick around? Is he based on someone real? Will he and Beth
end up together?To answer one: no, he’s not based on anyone I know, he’s entirely
from my imagination. As for the rest… you’ll have to keep reading!
14.
Do you like to create
books for adults?I do! It allows me to
explore a different creative side that I don’t get to tap into with children’s
literature.
15.
What do you think makes a good story?The characters. Writing style matters, but if I connect with the
characters, I’ll keep turning the pages.
16.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?A veterinarian, until I realized there were parts of the job my
heart just couldn’t handle.
17.
What Would you like my
readers to know?How much I value their
time. There are countless ways to spend your free time, and the fact that you
choose to spend even a small part of it with my books means everything to me.
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