A reviewer ( harstan@ix.netcom.com ), March 28, 2005, “Delightful amateur sleuth police procedural who-done-it In Tacoma, Jewel Feynmann worries that her business Blue Plate Catering is failing; if she goes bankrupt she does not want to go back to the Jewish epicenter of metropolitan New York where her family awaits the return of the prodigal child................. Helene Moore, who met Jewel over fried ice cream, offers the caterer work at Commencement Bay University better known as Zoo U. Because of an accidental death in the kitchen, the school needs an outside caterer. Jewel accepts the job because she needs the money. However, everything goes wrong when the Zoo U Dean Matthew Mulcahy dies from food poisoning served by Blue Plate. As Homicide Detective Ben Hartsock investigates the murder, he also tries to date Jewel, who wonders if there might be a non-kosher conflict of interest even if his kisses are tasty. Still with her company in jeopardy Jewel conducts her own investigation into the murder..................... DYING FOR A BLUE PLATE SPECIAL is a delightful amateur sleuth police procedural who-done-it starring a likable Jersey transplant. The story line is lighthearted in terms of the heroine’s jewel of an investigation and much more professional in a support role when Ben makes inquiries. Fans will enjoy this fine Washington State blending.”............................. Harriet Klausner

Seattle writer Beth Kalikoff, who teaches at the University of Washington's Tacoma campus, has produced that rarity: a mystery set in our much-maligned neighbor to the south. Far from making snide jokes about Tacoma (something I, for one, would never do), "Dying for a Blue Plate Special" (Five Star/Gale, 228 pp., $25.95) is warmly affectionate toward the City of Destiny and its residents. Struggling caterer Jewel Feynmann has finally scored a great gig: feeding a big dinner at (fictional) Commencement Bay University. Alas, the school's president dies during the dinner — poisoned, in fact. Needless to say, this isn't the best piece of news a struggling caterer could get. To keep her business from drowning in rumors, Jewel has to find out whodunnit and why. As it turns out, the president was a nasty piece of work, and a variety of whacked-out academics had plenty of motive and ample opportunity.-- Adam Woog, The Seattle Times