Chew

Written by: John Layman and Rob Guillory

First line: Prologue: slow-simmered shredded chicken, vegetable, and three-bean soup.

Why you should read this book: Tony Chu is a detective who receives psychic impressions from almost anything he eats (except beets), which means that he can't enjoy any food whatsoever (because he doesn't like beets) and also that he can solve murder cases by cannibalizing the victim's corpse. When his stakeout is interrupted by a federal agent (with the FDA), he stumbles onto a serial killer case, loses his partner and his job, and ends up working for the Food and Drug Administration. With a new boss who hates him, a new partner who's ever weirder than he is, and a fresh infatuation with a restaurant critic whose work allows him to enjoy food for the first time in his life, he is plunged into the cut-throat world of black market meat—specifically a Yakuza chicken smuggling operation—and mysteries he has to eat to believe. 

Why you shouldn't read this book: This book is equal parts hilarious and gruesome, so if that doesn't sit right with you, probably best to skip this one.

The Cookie Maker of Mavin Road

Written by: Sue Lawson and Liz Anelli

First line: Benedict Stanley and his cat, Audrey Mae, live at 23 Mavin Road.

Why you should read this book: Although it is never explicitly stated that Benedict Stanley, who lives with his cat at 23 Mavin Road, is a widower, and very lonely, it's obvious that he is a lonely widower, and while he is constantly reaching out to speak to his neighbors, nobody ever answers until a little boy named Rory admires Benedict Stanley's cat and shares his hope that the tooth fairy will visit tonight. Inspired, Benedict Stanley uses his wife's cookbook to bake Rory some missing-tooth inspired cookies, and then begins baking thematically appropriate cookies and delivering them anonymously to neighbors to celebrate the milestones of their lives, big and small. When Benedict Stanley falls ill and the magical cookie deliveries stop, only Rory can guess why, and he leads all the neighbors to Benedict Stanley's house, where they give back to the cookie maker, who gets well and is never lonely again.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You would never eat a plate of baked goods of unknown origin that mysteriously appeared on your doorstep. 

Babysitting Is a Dangerous Job

Written by: Willo Davis Roberts

First line: I knew the minute I saw the Foster kids that I wasn't going to like being their babysitter.

Why you should read this book: Darcy can see from the get-go that Jeremy, Melissa, and Shawna are out of control and will be nothing but trouble despite being very small, but their parents are so rich and offering such a great rate—not to mention access to the swimming pool—that she can't say no. And these kids are as difficult as she suspects, and more, but they're nothing compared to the clumsy kidnappers who take the whole lot, including Darcy, hoping for a fat ransom. Locked in a farmhouse and guarded by three desperate men and two angry dogs, Darcy must use everything she's learned about babysitting, her young charges, and life in order to outsmart their captors and save their lives.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Like many of Roberts's books, the abuse of children is treated so casually.