Reviews

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue

abadoom's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious slow-paced

2.0

amylovesbooksanddonuts's review

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lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.0

sryoung's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

constancepsych's review

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Never read anything by this author and I was very pleased with this one. Great character development, cute premise as well as makes you want to pack a bag and move to this little island.  Love the pie shop, the main character is just lovely, selfless and truly lives for her family, friends and town. Looking forward to the next one in the series. 

megs_s's review

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lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review

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2.0

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue is the debut of A Lucky Pie Mysteries. I liked the basic premise of a tourist island that is cut off from the world for the winter (I wanted to start off with something positive). I found the book to be dominated by cooking and baking. There are paragraphs with Este describing in detail what she is cooking or baking (it takes up at least forty percent of the book). There are too many characters introduced in the beginning (information overload). 0054he bad guys were overdone (remind me of cartoon villains). The mystery was very simple (and it is pushed into the background). There is a lack of suspects. Este does very little sleuthing (she is too busy cooking, baking, and flirting). Este thinks about the investigation repeating the suspects and clues. The reveal was anticlimactic (extremely). Magic is a subtle element in the story. I thought A Pie to Die For lacked depth. There were lots of different elements, but all of them were superficial. The story plods along to the end with no excitement (plenty of sandwiches, soup, and pie). As you can tell, I could not get into A Pie to Die For.

jennthebookworm's review against another edition

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dark lighthearted mysterious

4.0

Today is a gross, rainy/snowy day in upstate NY. So it’s the perfect day to curl up and get lost in a cozy mystery. A Pie To Die For is perfect for a day like today- mystery, a touch of romance and even a little magic ✨ 

Este March owns and operates the Lucky Pie Diner in the small town of Split Pine Island. Each day she bakes two special pies. They’ll bestow a day of luck on whoever eats them. The magical pies are a tradition passed down by the women in Este’s family and she loves continuing the tradition. 

When a body washes up and all fingers point to her, Este decides to take matters into her own hands and clear her name. 

This was such a great book and a really quick read. Looks like it’s the first in a series, which is so exciting! Lots of twist and turns, plenty of red herrings and a good surprise ending. 

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book

pussreboots's review

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informative lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

the_sassy_bookworm's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Book Review: A Pie to Die For: A Cozy Mystery Gem

⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars

Gretchen Rue serves up a delicious series debut with A Pie to Die For, whisking readers away to the quaint town of Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The end of the tourist season takes a dark turn when a murder near the Lucky Pie Diner shakes up the sleepy community.

Meet Este March, the spunky owner of Lucky Pie Diner, where pies are not just treats but magical gateways to luck. When the unlikable vendor Jeff meets a grim fate, suspicions fall on Este, prompting her to roll up her sleeves and dive into her own investigation. What unfolds is a recipe for suspense, with twists and turns that keep you guessing till the very end.

The island setting adds a charming backdrop to the story, immersing readers in a world of pie baking and local secrets. While Rue's writing is engaging and well-paced, I found myself craving a bit more depth in the mystery department amidst all the mouth-watering pie descriptions.

Este shines as a protagonist, bringing spunk and determination to her sleuthing adventures. Surrounding her are a lovable cast of characters, including a potential love interest, a mischievous cat, and a heartwarming Gramps that add depth to the narrative.

The touch of magic in the lucky pies adds an extra sprinkle of intrigue, but could have been explored further to enrich the storyline. Balancing the focus between pie perfection and mystery unraveling could have made for an even tastier read.

In a nutshell, A Pie to Die For serves up a delightful blend of cozy mystery elements, wrapped in a crust of small-town charm and sprinkled with enticing bonus recipes at the end. For fans of light-hearted mysteries with a side of sweetness, this book promises a satisfying literary treat.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

princessofpups8's review

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lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75