Death of a Grill Master

Author Lee Hollis
Mass Market Paperback
$9.99 US
| $12.99 CAN
On sale Sep 29, 2026 | 320 Pages | 9781496743558

After a record-breaking tourist season, Bar Harbor is ready for the less eventful off-season. But the murder of a barbecue baron will keep restaurateur Hayley Powell busy well after Labor Day . . .

Hayley and her husband are snuggled into a secluded spot on Maine’s rocky shoreline to take in the big fireworks display on Frenchman’s Bay. But when they find Hank Desmond’s body floating in the darkness, it looks like summer is ending with a bang—from a gun registered to a rival BBQ chef.

Despite the evidence, Hayley thinks there’s more to the story than a gunshot from a disgruntled pit master. Unfortunately, the new police chief, just arrived from Boston, is more interested in layoffs than in listening to Hayley’s theories. So she starts grilling anyone she can to find out what happened on the party boat that Hank was aboard earlier in the evening—accompanied by his much-younger wife and a sleazy seasonal resident. There are also some competitors who’ve been skewering Hank, owner of the BBQ joint The Smokehouse, for his business practices, including the owners of a diner and a food cart.

Hayley just hopes that when the smoke clears, she’ll be able to serve up the real culprit to the cops—and bring the temperature down in this picturesque town . . .

Includes delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!
Praise for The Haley Powell Mystery Series

“The perfect Thanksgiving read.” —Aunt Agatha’s Bookshop on Death of a Tom Turkey

“Lee Hollis does a good job of dispersing red herrings and keeping true identity under wraps until the requisite climactic scene at the end of the story.” —NY Journal of Books on Death of an Ice Cream Scooper

“Plenty of suspects interspersed with ice cream recipes beloved of the foodie sleuth.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of an Ice Cream Scooper

“An enjoyably twisty mystery laced with the heroine's equally entertaining foodcentric newspaper columns.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of an Italian Chef

“One of my favorite things with really good long-running cozy series, culinary or otherwise, is seeing how the characters continue to develop and grow with each book. Over the course of 14 novels and the handful of novellas that make up the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series, I’ve been so pleased to see Hayley and her best friends change and mature in all the best ways. —Criminal Element on Death of an Italian Chef

“Nothing short of amazing!” —Fresh Fiction on Death of an Italian Chef

“Another highly entertaining installment of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mystery series.” —Criminal Element on Death of a Wicked Witch

"Hilarious...plus now I can't wait to whip up all the tasty recipes that are sprinkled throughout the story!" —First for Women on Death of a Blueberry Tart

“Three women's vacation from their everyday lives is cursed from the start...The recipes scattered through the book include several cocktail suggestions.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of a Lobster Lover

“Well-written…the story will keep any reader’s attention. After reading just one and meeting these hysterical characters there is no doubt that you’ll go back.” —Suspense Magazine on Death of a Pumpkin Carver

“With a fun heroine and a foodie murder plot, this will intrigue fans of the genre.” —The Parkersburg Newsand Sentinel on Death of a Cookbook Author

"A snappy pace, fun characters and a clever plot. A tasty entrée for the culinary cozy crowd.” —Library Journal on Death of a Country Fried Redneck

Hayley’s investigations get wrapped up inextricably in the chaos of wedding planning, leading to a climax filled with shocking revelations and deep repercussions for the future. I loved the cliffhanger ending…a great installment with plenty of mystery and drama.” —Criminal Element on Death of a Wedding Cake Baker
Lee Hollis is the pen name for a brother and sister writing team. Rick Copp is a veteran film and television writer/producer and also the author of two other mystery novel series. He lives in Palm Springs, California. Holly Simason is an award-winning food and cocktails columnist living in North Carolina. You may visit their website at www.LeeHollisMysteries.com or find them on Facebook by typing in: Lee Hollis View titles by Lee Hollis

About

After a record-breaking tourist season, Bar Harbor is ready for the less eventful off-season. But the murder of a barbecue baron will keep restaurateur Hayley Powell busy well after Labor Day . . .

Hayley and her husband are snuggled into a secluded spot on Maine’s rocky shoreline to take in the big fireworks display on Frenchman’s Bay. But when they find Hank Desmond’s body floating in the darkness, it looks like summer is ending with a bang—from a gun registered to a rival BBQ chef.

Despite the evidence, Hayley thinks there’s more to the story than a gunshot from a disgruntled pit master. Unfortunately, the new police chief, just arrived from Boston, is more interested in layoffs than in listening to Hayley’s theories. So she starts grilling anyone she can to find out what happened on the party boat that Hank was aboard earlier in the evening—accompanied by his much-younger wife and a sleazy seasonal resident. There are also some competitors who’ve been skewering Hank, owner of the BBQ joint The Smokehouse, for his business practices, including the owners of a diner and a food cart.

Hayley just hopes that when the smoke clears, she’ll be able to serve up the real culprit to the cops—and bring the temperature down in this picturesque town . . .

Includes delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

Reviews

Praise for The Haley Powell Mystery Series

“The perfect Thanksgiving read.” —Aunt Agatha’s Bookshop on Death of a Tom Turkey

“Lee Hollis does a good job of dispersing red herrings and keeping true identity under wraps until the requisite climactic scene at the end of the story.” —NY Journal of Books on Death of an Ice Cream Scooper

“Plenty of suspects interspersed with ice cream recipes beloved of the foodie sleuth.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of an Ice Cream Scooper

“An enjoyably twisty mystery laced with the heroine's equally entertaining foodcentric newspaper columns.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of an Italian Chef

“One of my favorite things with really good long-running cozy series, culinary or otherwise, is seeing how the characters continue to develop and grow with each book. Over the course of 14 novels and the handful of novellas that make up the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series, I’ve been so pleased to see Hayley and her best friends change and mature in all the best ways. —Criminal Element on Death of an Italian Chef

“Nothing short of amazing!” —Fresh Fiction on Death of an Italian Chef

“Another highly entertaining installment of the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mystery series.” —Criminal Element on Death of a Wicked Witch

"Hilarious...plus now I can't wait to whip up all the tasty recipes that are sprinkled throughout the story!" —First for Women on Death of a Blueberry Tart

“Three women's vacation from their everyday lives is cursed from the start...The recipes scattered through the book include several cocktail suggestions.” —Kirkus Reviews on Death of a Lobster Lover

“Well-written…the story will keep any reader’s attention. After reading just one and meeting these hysterical characters there is no doubt that you’ll go back.” —Suspense Magazine on Death of a Pumpkin Carver

“With a fun heroine and a foodie murder plot, this will intrigue fans of the genre.” —The Parkersburg Newsand Sentinel on Death of a Cookbook Author

"A snappy pace, fun characters and a clever plot. A tasty entrée for the culinary cozy crowd.” —Library Journal on Death of a Country Fried Redneck

Hayley’s investigations get wrapped up inextricably in the chaos of wedding planning, leading to a climax filled with shocking revelations and deep repercussions for the future. I loved the cliffhanger ending…a great installment with plenty of mystery and drama.” —Criminal Element on Death of a Wedding Cake Baker

Author

Lee Hollis is the pen name for a brother and sister writing team. Rick Copp is a veteran film and television writer/producer and also the author of two other mystery novel series. He lives in Palm Springs, California. Holly Simason is an award-winning food and cocktails columnist living in North Carolina. You may visit their website at www.LeeHollisMysteries.com or find them on Facebook by typing in: Lee Hollis View titles by Lee Hollis
  • More Websites from
    Penguin Random House
  • Common Reads
  • Library Marketing