Many things happen in Maine kitchens; wonderful meals cooked and consumed, deals struck, marriages made. In the plot of “Death of a Kitchen Diva” by Lee Hollis, which is set in Bar Harbor – murder is done.

The book is the first in a new series from Kensington Publishers, and is the creation of Lee Hollis, the pen name for the brother-and-sister duo Holly Simason, office manager and food columnist for the Mount Desert Islander, and her brother, Rick Copp, a screenwriter and author, both natives of Bar Harbor and graduates of Mount Desert Island High School.

In the book, Hayley Powell is a single mother of two teenagers and office manager of the local paper, the Island Times, who has just been assigned the food and drink column, replacing longtime columnist Hattie Jenkins.

Ms. Simason swears the book, despite its setting in her hometown and similarities between herself and Hayley, features absolutely positively no real people.

“The only character based on reality is Leroy the dog,” she quips.

Like Holly, Hayley is a single mother of two teenagers and office manager of the local paper, the Island Times, who has just been offered a chance to write the paper’s food and drink column. She decides to take the column in a different, more personal, direction than her predecessor and is an instant success.

Her popularity ignites the ire of food and wine columnist Karen Appelbaum from the rival Bar Harbor Herald. The anger results in a very public feud between the two. When Karen is found dead in her kitchen in a bowl of Hayley’s own clam chowder, Hayley becomes the natural suspect for this murder and must solve it to clear her name.

She is aided in her sleuthing by her two best friends — poised and sophisticated Liddy, and Mona, a lobster dealer who is once again pregnant. The story seems like home, as it is set in Bar Harbor and includes many familiar places and situations. It’s a fun romp – the food fight in the library is not to be missed.

This is Ms. Simason’s first book, but her brother has written four mysteries: “The Actors Guide to Murder,” “The Actor’s Guide to Adultery,” “The Actor’s Guide to Greed” and “Fingerprints & Facelifts,” along with a graphic novel and many screenplays. The idea for the collaboration came from Rick and his editor. Rick knew people loved Holly’s Island Cooking column and his editor thought the column, along with Rick’s writing, would make a good combination. “Rick is so creative and imaginative and loves mysteries,” said Holly.

If you enjoy this book there is more to come. “Death of a Kitchen Diva” is the first in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Mystery Series. The next installment is due to be published in November and is titled “Death of a Country Fried Redneck.” Holly reports she and Rick are working on the third book now, “Death of a Coupon Clipper.”

All should satisfy your reading and gastronomic pleasure, recipes included.

The brother-sister duo will be on hand to answer questions and sign books at Jesup Memorial Library on Wednesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. Sherman’s book store is co-sponsoring the event and will provide books for sale.

At a Glance:

WHAT: “Death of a Kitchen Diva” booksigning

WHEN: Wednesday, April 4, 7 p.m.

WHO: Holly Copp Simason and Rick Copp

WHERE: Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor

For more arts & entertainment news, pick up a copy of the Mount Desert Islander.