Death, Lies and Apple Pies

Tori Miracle #2

by Valerie S. Malmont

New Yorker Tori Miracle is off to Pennsylvania's Amish country to serve as a celebrity judge of the annual Old Fashioned Apple Butter Festival. Her cats and sexiest nightgown in tow, she looks forward to romantic nights with police chief Garnet Gochenauer. Passion is cut short when a pair of murders sends Tori and Garnet on a hunt for a citizen with a recipe for murder.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Humor, Crime, Cooking, Murder Mystery

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Valerie Skuse Malmont grew up in a foreign service family and lived in several different Asian countries. She now lives in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery taking place in rural Pennsylvania. Tori, an author, goes to Lickin Creek to visit her best friend and her boyfriend who is the sheriff. When a town resident dies in Tori’s arms and tells her he has been poisoned and asks her to bring his killer to justice. Adding to things, the county wants to place a low radioactivity dump in the hollow. Many residents are against it but others (the ones who own the land). Believe it will provide a boon to the community. Tori solves all the mysteries but almost loses her life in the meantime.

[Terri Konkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the cast and characters of Lickin Creek. Tori Miracle can make some dubious decisions but I like her determination.

[Katie Bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick read with twists and turns.

[Wendy Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average Cozy Mystery - I liked the Applesauce Oatmeal cookie recipe on the last page 😋

[Mary Cokenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is book 2 of the Tori Miracle series, the author makes sure to give the reader enough information that you are not lost on who the characters are, or why they are involved with each other. Tori is a wonderful character, and I was able to identify with her and her life in many ways, which brought me closer to her. The writing is such that you are kept interested, and want to keep reading to find out the next part...what will happen next...who dies next and how, and finally who the killer is and why.

Most definitely a must read for any true cozy mystery fans!

[Margaret]

Not a bad little cozy mystery. A couple minor things bothered me about this book - I thought some of the character's names (like Bathsheba Butterbaugh) were over the top and I thought the events surrounding Haggie Aggie were a little on the campy side.

Recipe-wise, I would have like to see what the apple pizza was made of, although I probably wouldn't have made it!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book overall, well written, good character development. However, why is it that the majority of these books are written with our heroine acting in totally illogical ways. Yes, let me put myself out there as bait to catch a killer because only I am equipped to catch the bad guy. Sheesh. Other than that, the book was fine.

[Pam Bales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read.

[Catsalive · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit twee at times but an OK cosy. I used to really enjoy these but now I find I get impatient when amateurs with silly names take stupid risks. I like the cats names, Fred & Noel.