A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Pie to Die For

by Gretchen Rue

Series: Lucky Pie Mysteries #1
Series Rating:
Published by Crooked Lane Books on February 6, 2024
Setting: Northern Michigan
Genres: Cozy Culinary Animal Mystery
Pages: 320
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Get Your Copy at: Amazon

For fans of Sofie Kelly and Joanne Fluke, it’s the end of the tourist season in Split Pine– but a murder at the Lucky Pie Diner stirs up trouble for the sleepy town in this series debut.

Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren’t just good, they’re magical, with a family recipe that grants certain customers their greatest hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the unpopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pine Island’s peace goes up in smoke.

Tom Cunningham, the local sheriff, casts suspicion onto Este, who may have been the last person to see Jeff alive. Not to mention several people witnessed her getting into an argument with the rude vendor in some of his final hours. Este decides to clear her name and her diner’s reputation by launching her own investigation, which means she must turn suspicion on her friends and neighbors, because only a local could have murdered the victim.

As Este investigates, she uncovers a deeper web of secrets, finding that many of the locals had reason to either frame her, or kill the victim. The clock is ticking to figure out the killer, and the clues in the case are flakier than an apple pie. Este will have to uncover the killer before her future crumbles.

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue shows a side of Michigan that few see.

Will Este find the killer before the killer realizes she is on to them?

Este March

Our sleuth is Este March; she is the current owner of Lucky Pie Diner in Split Pine, Michigan. She isn’t a detective; her main profession is pie baking. But after a man is killed and she is questioned, she can’t let it go. Este is curious and tenacious. However, her investigation skills leave a bit to be desired. Este puts herself at risk and doesn’t notice her surroundings when looking for clues.

I like Este, but maybe she should leave the investigation to the professionals.

The Mystery

It was apparent who was going to be murdered. Este does follow the clues, and she figured it out before me. Well, when the killer told her why. The general mystery was well plotted. I feel that a bit of the pie opinions and instructions could have been left out.

Three Stars

My rating for A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue is three stars. I like the sleuth and mystery, but I thought that the story dragged a bit, and there are too many details about making a pie. The first time, it was interesting, but the rest took me out of the story.

Recipes included are Lucky Pie Diner’s Basic Pie Dough, Lucky Pie Spice Blend, Cranberry Apple Cider Pie, Buttermilk Pie with Berry Compote, Carrot Pie, Sugar Pie with Homemade Whipped Cream, Shepherd’s Pie Este-Style, and Tourtiere.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue.

Until the next time,

 

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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

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