Union Street Women's Center accountant Denise Faulks has been stabbed to death. Vera was found covered in the woman's blood, though she admits to the police that she found Denise and tried to help her. Nonetheless, the police arrest Vera and put her in the jail where she clashes with the guards and plans to rally the prisoners for better conditions.

Jason is certain the truth will win out and continues, unconcerned, about his conferences, but Carolyn is a bit more worried. She promises Vera that she will look to the center for other possible suspects that the police may overlook.

To show his concern, Jason hires local investigator Sam Flamboise to search for Denise's killer. Carolyn is impatient and begins to investigate on her own, interviewing women from the center, both volunteers and clients, and finds many people who had reasons to wish Denise dead. When Sam and Carolyn meet up, Sam, a one-time linebacker who is to Carolyn's surprise gay, is quite taken with Carolyn and is surprised how much useful information she has brought to the investigation. He does wish she would not involve herself in something quite so dangerous.

In between sampling and sipping some of San Francisco's finest culinary treats, Carolyn does her best to prove her mother-in-law is innocent before the real murderer finds Carolyn.

Chocolate Quake is a fun mystery with a tenacious, delightful heroine. Carolyn has an independent streak - though very much in love with her husband, she is willing to let him do his thing at conferences (though she does get annoyed when he misses dinner engagements) while she seeks out local cuisine. While her women's rights activist mother-in-law eschews Carolyn's decision to stay at home and raise a family, Carolyn is very comfortable with herself and has happily stepped into her new life as a semi-empty nester, part time food writer.

Jason is not as well developed as Carolyn, even though some chapters are told from his point of view. He often comes across as an absent minded professor. Sam, who also tells part of the story from his point of view, is a very engaging character with an interesting personality. The changing of viewpoints is a bit awkward, especially when told from Jason's perspective, but most of the time it is very effective.

The setting is very well described as the local flavors come to life. The mystery is well laid out, suspects and motives abound. Careful and methodic investigating will lead Carolyn and Sam to the murderer with a few red herrings (inedible to be sure) thrown in along the way. Chocolate Quake is a breezy, fun mystery with a delectable setting, recipes, food and travel lore and a feisty heroine to lead the way that is sure to please even the most finicky eater.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry