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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
MURDER ON THE PAGE by Daryl Wood Gerber
The First Literary Dining Mystery
Allie Catt runs a small catering business in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. A lover of all things literary she's been hired to cater an event for Marigold Markel, owner of Feast for the Eyes bookstore and aunt of her best friend, Tegan. But when everyone arrives for the event they find a lifeless inside. The death is ruled a homicide and Tegan soon becomes a suspect. Despite being on friendly terms with the lead detective, Allie feels she must help solve the murder. While simultaneously planning a Pride and Prejudice themed memorial, Marigold's favorite book, Allie will look for clues to try to find a killer. But will the killer find her first?
Who would want to kill Marigold? It turns out the bookshop owner had more than one secret. There are lots of interesting dynamics between the characters in the first Literary Dining Mystery. Vanna is a character I loved to hate. She's a nasty piece of work who throws her sister under the bus and makes disparaging remarks about Allie's food. Brendan not only makes a great detective, but I love his burgeoning relationship with Allie. The various clues led me down a multitude of paths wondering who the killer was. I also appreciated how Allie kept her wits about her during the climactic scene!
It's no surprise that I love books so I love that a bookstore is at the center of MURDER ON THE PAGE along with nods to all things literary. I particularly enjoyed all of the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE references. Of course, I also love food, so not only do I love the food descriptions, but I love how Allie creates a menu with the Jane Austen theme! There are also recipes at the end of the book to devour.
Comforting food, books, and Jane Austen combine to make a delightful start to a new mystery series in MURDER ON THE PAGE.
The First Literary Dining Mystery
Allie Catt runs a small catering business in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. A lover of all things literary she's been hired to cater an event for Marigold Markel, owner of Feast for the Eyes bookstore and aunt of her best friend, Tegan. But when everyone arrives for the event they find a lifeless inside. The death is ruled a homicide and Tegan soon becomes a suspect. Despite being on friendly terms with the lead detective, Allie feels she must help solve the murder. While simultaneously planning a Pride and Prejudice themed memorial, Marigold's favorite book, Allie will look for clues to try to find a killer. But will the killer find her first?
Who would want to kill Marigold? It turns out the bookshop owner had more than one secret. There are lots of interesting dynamics between the characters in the first Literary Dining Mystery. Vanna is a character I loved to hate. She's a nasty piece of work who throws her sister under the bus and makes disparaging remarks about Allie's food. Brendan not only makes a great detective, but I love his burgeoning relationship with Allie. The various clues led me down a multitude of paths wondering who the killer was. I also appreciated how Allie kept her wits about her during the climactic scene!
It's no surprise that I love books so I love that a bookstore is at the center of MURDER ON THE PAGE along with nods to all things literary. I particularly enjoyed all of the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE references. Of course, I also love food, so not only do I love the food descriptions, but I love how Allie creates a menu with the Jane Austen theme! There are also recipes at the end of the book to devour.
Comforting food, books, and Jane Austen combine to make a delightful start to a new mystery series in MURDER ON THE PAGE.
Daryl Wood Gerber is one of my favorite authors, and I was happy learn that she's starting a brand new series with this book! This one features Allie, who runs a business tailoring parties to the client's favorite book. It's a new venture for Allie, and her first party is based on Pride and Prejudice. (Now, that's a party planner I'd hire in real life!)
The mystery was great, with plenty of suspects and red herrings for Allie to try to sort out. I enjoyed the way she investigated, talking to as many people as possible, and going to places related to the case to see what she could learn. When she finally figured it out (about the same time I did), all the clues made sense, and the culprit and motive were logical. As a bonus, neither of us solved the case until near the end of the book.
Allie is a great character with plenty of personality, and I enjoyed getting to know her. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in the next book, and to seeing what theme the next party will have!
Thank you to the author and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew on Facebook for providing me with a paper copy to read.
The mystery was great, with plenty of suspects and red herrings for Allie to try to sort out. I enjoyed the way she investigated, talking to as many people as possible, and going to places related to the case to see what she could learn. When she finally figured it out (about the same time I did), all the clues made sense, and the culprit and motive were logical. As a bonus, neither of us solved the case until near the end of the book.
Allie is a great character with plenty of personality, and I enjoyed getting to know her. I'm looking forward to seeing more of her in the next book, and to seeing what theme the next party will have!
Thank you to the author and the Cozy Mystery Review Crew on Facebook for providing me with a paper copy to read.
mysterious
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Ms. Gerber has set this series in Asheville, North Carolina so before I can even start my review I have to state my heart goes out to the people of Asheville and all the others who have been affected by Hurricanes Helene and the terrible aftermath that his hindered getting these people the aid they desperately need. They have a long road ahead and we need to help in any way we can to bring it back to the town described in this book.
Asheville caterer and personal chef Allie Catt escapes into books and hosts book clubs giving her a unique idea for the themes of her parties. She gets her inspiration from her clients’ favorite books. Pride and Prejudice is the theme for her first event. With a cat named Darcy, you know the book is a fave of Allie’s as well as her client, plus she has a ton of ideas for future parties.
Allie’s best friend Tegan’s Aunt Marigold has hired her to serve a tea at her A Feast for the Eyes bookshop. Marigold is very involved in the community and one of Allie’s favorite people but she has been having some spells that worry her family and friends. When Allie arrives at the shop to set up the tea, it is closed with a line of people is waiting to get in. When another employee opens the door, they find Marigold on the floor but this time there is no helping her. Marigold was dead. Tegan appears to be the only heir which puts her at the top of the list of suspects. Allie knows she needs to prove her BFF had no part in her aunt’s death. She is going to need a little literary assistance and who better than Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to help her work through all the clues?
With a new series comes a new cast of characters. I appreciate that the author gives us a list at the beginning of the book. It enabled me to escape into the story easily.
Allie is a great protagonist, thoughtful and tenacious. She had an unusual upbringing and was devastated by a bad breakup. However, that breakup allowed her to follow her dream. Her best friend Tegan works for her aunt at the bookstore and she is in the middle of a breakup herself. She and Allie have no secrets but she refuses to open up about what is going on. We meet a variety of Asheville residents but it was the victim, Marigold who grabbed my heart and held on tight. She was a special lady in so many ways. I had tears in my eyes while reading the last few pages of this story.
Ms. Gerber has written a complex mystery with several suspects. There is friction between Allie and Detective Zach Armstrong as she delves into his case. There was romantic tension there too. Tegan wanted to help investigate but Allie had to reel her in more than once. I enjoyed that Allie didn’t give up. I did have an inkling of who the guilty party may be but truthfully I was so caught up in the story and the author’s delightful descriptions of all the happenings it really didn’t register until the exciting showdown.
Daryl Wood Gerber is an awesome storyteller. Her stories set a speedy pace as she blends the mystery with the character’s daily lives. She sets up some fine twists and turns of misdirection to rachet up the suspense. Murder on the Page not only has quotes from Pride and Prejudice to start each chapter but there are several Pride and Prejudice Easter Eggs throughout the story which would make Taylor Swift smile. And yes, it would not be a Daryl Wood Gerber book without recipes so if the food in the book tickles your tastebuds all the details to make your own are at the back of the book.
With Murder on the Page, Ms. Gerber has set the series off to a fantastic start. The engaging characters, a compelling mystery, and a fun theme, set in a vibrant mountain town with a rich history kept me entertained from beginning to end. I loved this story! For me, this was more than a Perfect Escape, it was a Trip to Paradise. Look for this book on my Best Reads of 2024. I am so excited for this series to continue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Allie runs a catering business and in her free time is a dedicated reader! Sadly for me, she seems to be quite the Pride & Prejudice fan. I am not. I have tried, but can not get myself interested in the Regency era / genre. However, there were still enough non-Jane Austen references to keep me enthralled. And I loved the characters! I was really sad about who the murder victim was. I felt they would have been a great recurring character. But, the story set up a great foundation for yet another Daryl Wood Gerber series that I will be first in line to read every installment. This one is for mystery and book lovers! (Oh, and also includes some tasty recipes for your own book club meetings!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to @tlcbooktours @kensingtonbooks and @darylwoodgerber for this gifted book.
This book is a delightful cozy mystery and the first in a series.
The characters are captivating, and I adored the small-town atmosphere. Allie and Teagan make a great team as they work to unravel the mystery of Teagan's aunt's murder. The budding romance between Allie and Zach, the local detective, is heartwarming. The identity of the killer remains a mystery until the end, keeping you guessing alongside the characters.
The fact that the story revolves around a local bookstore is a major plus. Allie, a talented baker, brings the story to life, and the descriptions of her pastries and desserts are absolutely delectable. The inclusion of recipes at the end of the book is a wonderful touch.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, be sure to mark your calendars for the release of this book on October 22nd.
This book is a delightful cozy mystery and the first in a series.
The characters are captivating, and I adored the small-town atmosphere. Allie and Teagan make a great team as they work to unravel the mystery of Teagan's aunt's murder. The budding romance between Allie and Zach, the local detective, is heartwarming. The identity of the killer remains a mystery until the end, keeping you guessing alongside the characters.
The fact that the story revolves around a local bookstore is a major plus. Allie, a talented baker, brings the story to life, and the descriptions of her pastries and desserts are absolutely delectable. The inclusion of recipes at the end of the book is a wonderful touch.
If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, be sure to mark your calendars for the release of this book on October 22nd.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I want to thank Daryl Wood Gerber, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC I received. This is my honest opinion.
Un cozy mystery a sfondo letterarario che ricorda tanto un film per la tv targato Hallmark. La piccola cittadina USA, dove tutti si conoscono, con le sue imprese locali (la libreria, la bakery con servizio catering e così via), e un pizzico di romance che non guasta mai, insieme, ovviamente, ad un 0micidi0.
Il mio problema con questo libro è che è un po’ troppo semplice, e manca della raffinatezza dei gialli made in UK (che volete farci, è un dato di fatto). L’investigatrice dilettante, insegnante mancata e caterer di ripiego, nonché voce narrante, non mi ha minimamente convinto, il che ha influito enormemente sul giudizio, che non va oltre le 2,5 stelle. Peccato. Speravo davvero in qualcosa di più, e diciamolo: basta con Orgoglio e Pregiudizio come libro di riferimento di qualunque bibliofilo di sesso femminile! Esistono milioni di altri titoli, per cui, anche solo in nome di un minimo di originalità, citate qualcos’altro!
Un cozy mystery a sfondo letterarario che ricorda tanto un film per la tv targato Hallmark. La piccola cittadina USA, dove tutti si conoscono, con le sue imprese locali (la libreria, la bakery con servizio catering e così via), e un pizzico di romance che non guasta mai, insieme, ovviamente, ad un 0micidi0.
Il mio problema con questo libro è che è un po’ troppo semplice, e manca della raffinatezza dei gialli made in UK (che volete farci, è un dato di fatto). L’investigatrice dilettante, insegnante mancata e caterer di ripiego, nonché voce narrante, non mi ha minimamente convinto, il che ha influito enormemente sul giudizio, che non va oltre le 2,5 stelle. Peccato. Speravo davvero in qualcosa di più, e diciamolo: basta con Orgoglio e Pregiudizio come libro di riferimento di qualunque bibliofilo di sesso femminile! Esistono milioni di altri titoli, per cui, anche solo in nome di un minimo di originalità, citate qualcos’altro!
Asheville caterer Allie Catt throws themed parties based on classic books. When her friend’s aunt is murdered, and her friend is the prime suspect, Allie uses her literary knowledge and detective skills to solve the crime before another “course” of murder is served. This is a clever and well-paced mystery with likable characters and a literary theme.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me around 25%. This did not feel like a first in a series for me. We are rushed into the story and so many things are thrown at us at once, but there isn't really any scene setting or introduction to what's going on. The character furiously rushes all around town in just the first few scenes and so many characters and their relationships are throw at us quickly all at once. There is a murder before we even know the character or how we are supposed to feel. I could not get into this one.
Unfortunately this author is just not for me.
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my review and thoughts are my own.
Unfortunately this author is just not for me.
Thanks to the publisher for a free ARC; my review and thoughts are my own.
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Currently trying to decide if the cozy mystery genre is for me. Can a mystery be too cozy?
There was a lot to love about this book...
- Hundreds of Pride and Prejudice references
- Mouthwatering food descriptions
- The cutest small town setting that made me wish it was a real place so I could visit
But it wasn't quite as devour-able as the cookie recipes at the end. Some problems include...
- Way too many characters. They had to be listed at the beginning. This will probably make for better sequels but was just overwhelming this time around.
- Way too much play-by-play in the protagonist's life. I'm not sure that the recipes at the end are even needed because they were pretty much described line for line in the book. Most of it was filler and not relevant to the plot, which makes me think more time could have been spent on developing characters and motives.
- The romance was extra unbelievable. I was sooo annoyed by Allie trying to tell Zach how to do his job, so I don't know how he could find that attractive. Would be willing to bet her meddling makes their relationship bumpy in future sequels.
But like I said... Maybe I'm too critical for this genre and should just take it as it is since this is the third book this summer that I've felt similarly about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my e-ARC!
There was a lot to love about this book...
- Hundreds of Pride and Prejudice references
- Mouthwatering food descriptions
- The cutest small town setting that made me wish it was a real place so I could visit
But it wasn't quite as devour-able as the cookie recipes at the end. Some problems include...
- Way too many characters. They had to be listed at the beginning. This will probably make for better sequels but was just overwhelming this time around.
- Way too much play-by-play in the protagonist's life. I'm not sure that the recipes at the end are even needed because they were pretty much described line for line in the book. Most of it was filler and not relevant to the plot, which makes me think more time could have been spent on developing characters and motives.
- The romance was extra unbelievable. I was sooo annoyed by Allie trying to tell Zach how to do his job, so I don't know how he could find that attractive. Would be willing to bet her meddling makes their relationship bumpy in future sequels.
But like I said... Maybe I'm too critical for this genre and should just take it as it is since this is the third book this summer that I've felt similarly about.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my e-ARC!