Bigfork author to release novel in August

“Death al Dente,” the first in the new series, “The Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries” by award-winning writer Leslie Budewitz of Bigfork, will be published by Berkley Prime Crime, a division of Penguin Books, Aug. 6.

The town of Jewel Bay, Mont. — known as a Food Lovers' Village — is obsessed with homegrown and homemade Montana fare. So when Erin Murphy takes over her family's century-old general store, known as the Merc, she turns it into a boutique market filled with local delicacies. But Erin's freshly booming business might go rotten when a former employee turns up dead.

To celebrate the store’s recent makeover as a gourmet food market, Erin has organized a town festival, Festa di Pasta, featuring the culinary goods of Jewel Bay's finest — including her mother Fresca’s delicious Italian specialties.

But Erin's sweet success is soured when the shop's former manager, Claudette, is found dead behind the Merc on the Festa’s opening night. With rival chef James Angelo stirring up trouble and rumors swirling that Fresca’s sauce recipes were stolen from Claudette, Erin's mother is under close scrutiny. Now Erin will have to hunt down some new suspects, or both her family and her store might wind up in hot water.

Budewitz, a lawyer, is also the author of the writer’s guide “Books, Crooks and Counselors: How to Write Accurately About Criminal Law and Courtroom Procedure” (Quill Driver Books, September 2011), winner of the 2011 Agatha Award for Best Nonfiction. “Books, Crooks and Counselors” was nominated for the 2012 Agatha and Macavity Awards for best mystery-related nonfiction.

“Death al Dente” will be available for $7.99 in paperback and in e-book format from bookstores, online book sellers and wholesalers.

Visit Budewitz’s websites, www.lawandfiction.com (providing legal information for writers) and www.lesliebudewitz.com for more information.