Killer Crust

The tasty fifth serving of Cavender’s pizza lovers series (after 2012’s Rest in Pizza) finds Timber Ridge, N.C., pizzeria owner Eleanor Swift and her sister, Maddy Spencer, competing for the $25,000 prize in a pizza baking contest sponsored by Laughing Luigi, purveyor of frozen pizza dough. Eleanor and Maddy know from past experience they can’t trust Luigi, but that grand prize would be just what they need for improvements to their pizzeria, A Slice of Delight. Dream on. Not only does the contest appear to be rigged, but before it’s over, Luigi is no longer laughing—he’s dead with a slice of the sisters’ pizza in his mouth. The murder victim was thoroughly despised by the contestants as well as his employees, but which one committed the crime? Eleanor and Maddy once again join forces with police chief Kevin Hurley to find out. This is another fun pizza romp, but it could use a little more meat. (Jan.)