Cooking up a Mystery takes the reader behind the scenes in a commercial kitchen in Laney’s Delectable Delights. Fun people, ranging from the Busy Bee Seniors to a roller derby queen fill the seats at Laney’s Eskridge’s tea house. From the delicious food and cheery greetings, one would never guess Laney struggles to make ends meet while she deals with anger issues. She sent her husband to dental school instead of going to college herself, and he left her for another woman. 

She caters a meal to Eric Crider, a college professor with a broken foot, who’s taken with her. She’s attracted to him, but she’s focused on her survival and keeps a distance from him. Still sad from her parents’ deaths, she’s clinging to the cafe she inherited. Her relationship with one man cost her a degree. She’s determined not to let another cost her a business.   

She hadn’t counted on someone or something banging around in her kitchen at night after the restaurant closes. It’s scaring the daylights out of her, and she can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection between the racket and the weird picture she received from an anonymous donor. She’s working hard to succeed and keep her sanity when Reverend Henshaw comes into her life and tells her why she must forgive her ex.

Will she take Reverend Henshaw’s advice? Will she find out who’s up to no good in her kitchen at night.