Death Dines Out

This rambling, overpopulated addition to Bishop's Hemlock Falls mystery series has amateur sleuths Sarah ""Quill"" Quilliam and her master-chef sister, Meg, mixing business with pleasure as Meg attempts to reclaim a three-star chef's status with her Jugged Hare at the Florida Institute for Fine Food. In Palm Beach, Meg and Quill are caught in the middle of a bitter dispute between their hostess, Tiffany Taylor, and her mega-rich, boorish ex-husband, Verger. While Quill and Meg try to remain neutral in Taylor's feud, they teach classes, scoff at each other's driving skills and reflect on the layout of Palm Beach (""The zoning committee must have had unlimited access to rum punches""). When Verger turns up missing and presumed dead, the Quilliams discover that Meg's rabbit isn't the only potted meat in the pantry. (Dec.)