Jessica Conant-Park and her mother, bestselling author Susan Conant, team up yet again for another delightful culinary mystery.  SIMMER DOWN is the second peek into Chloe Carter's life.  After being told she will inherit her uncle's fortune only if she attends graduate school, Chloe opts to return to school to gain a degree in social work.  Chloe splits her time between her new beau, Josh Driscoll, school, and her job with Naomi Davis at the Boston Organization Against Sexual and Other Harassment in the Workplace. 

Not every woman is lucky enough to have an executive chef for a boyfriend, and Chloe is thrilled to be able to watch him prepare for the launch of his new restaurant, Simmer, and work closely with him as the restaurant and her place of employment team up for an annual charity event.  It is at that event, however, that a local business owner is murdered with Josh's professional grade food processor. 

Chloe finds herself investigating another troublesome murder.  The sudden appearance of Josh's former girlfriend and attentions from her own former boyfriend have Chloe in a bit of a tizzy.  She wants to solve the murder, find out who would dare use Josh's kitchen appliance as a weapon, and discover if anyone else could be next in line for a quick date with death. 

Packed with delicious recipes, SIMMER DOWN is certain to appeal to culinary mystery fans.  I also would bet that romance readers will highly enjoy the series.  I get the impression that Jessica Conant-Park's own husband, also an executive chef, helps greatly in developing some of the traits found in Josh.  He also helps out by contributing some of his own recipes.  This makes the culinary aspect of the book shine. 

The Gourmet Girl Mysteries have quickly become one of my favorite culinary mystery series.  I find myself eagerly looking forward to curling up in a toasty spot with a cat in my lap, glass of wine by my side, and indulging in the book in one sitting.