Savvy Summers and the Po’Boy Perils

There’s a lot going on in Jackson-Opoku’s latest book, the successor to her debut, Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes. But one topic is totally overwhelming, and that’s food. A longtime chef, Savvy owns a cafe in Chicago that draws plenty of patrons seeking her delectable, comfortable soul food. But Savvy is a bit restless, and when a long-term friend hires her to cater a company luncheon featuring Creole classics (po’boys, bread pudding…I just can’t stop) at a nearby office, the chef takes the job, only to find someone dead in the company’s conference room. Once again, Savvy has to manage her role as murder investigator while still keeping her cafe afloat. What’s really fun about Jackson-Opoku’s books is the richness of detail—with references to poetry, fiction, and song scattered throughout the text—as well as reports from friends and family. We’re fortunate to have a great new series to enjoy.—Brian Kenney