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Pie Town Mystery #5
Gourd to Death
This Halloween, pie shop proprietor Val Harris must patch together clues to solve a murder by pumpkin . . .
As the owner of Pie Town, Val's been tapped to judge the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival in the coastal California town of San Nicholas. Things could get sticky though--her boyfriend, cop Gordon Carmichael, is entering the competition with his "special" family pumpkin pie recipe. But Val's got bigger problems than a conflict of interest when she and her flaky piecrust-maker Charlene discover another contestant crushed under an enormous pumpkin.
When grudge-holding Chief Shaw comes up with a half-baked reason to toss Carmichael off the case and onto the suspect list, it's up to Val and Charlene to find the tricky killer. But as they dodge lethal pumpkin cannons and follow the clues into a figurative and literal maze, the pie pals are in for the scariest Halloween of their lives--and it may be their last . . .
As the owner of Pie Town, Val's been tapped to judge the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival in the coastal California town of San Nicholas. Things could get sticky though--her boyfriend, cop Gordon Carmichael, is entering the competition with his "special" family pumpkin pie recipe. But Val's got bigger problems than a conflict of interest when she and her flaky piecrust-maker Charlene discover another contestant crushed under an enormous pumpkin.
When grudge-holding Chief Shaw comes up with a half-baked reason to toss Carmichael off the case and onto the suspect list, it's up to Val and Charlene to find the tricky killer. But as they dodge lethal pumpkin cannons and follow the clues into a figurative and literal maze, the pie pals are in for the scariest Halloween of their lives--and it may be their last . . .
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2020
26 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Weiss
110 books1,301 followersKirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
May 29, 2024
This is a cozy mystery, and this is book is the 5th in the Pie Town Mystery series. I really enjoyed this book, and I really loved the characters. Nothing like a group of ladies that bakes and solves murders. I loved the mystery part of the book. There was enough twist and turns and drama to keep you reading, but there was not to much where you would not believe it could happen. It also has giant pumpkins, pie, and ton of other Halloween things, so there is a ton of things to love. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Kirsten Weiss) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about the book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
September 14, 2020
Gourd to Death by Kirsten Weiss is the fifth book in the cozy Pie Town Mystery series. Each book of the series contains it’s own mystery that is fully solved so they all could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. However, those that follow from the beginning do have character development that carries over book to book.
In the first book of the Pie Town Mystery series readers were introduced to Valentine “Val” Harris who had moved to San Nicholas along the coast in California thinking she was going to be starting a whole new life by opening up her own business and marrying her fiance. Six months later all Val had left was her business when her fiance had called off their wedding and after putting all her money into her dream, Pie Town, she knew she had to do whatever it took to make the business a success.
However, Val and her pie crust maker, Charlene, seem to have the worst luck when it comes to finding dead bodies but the duo are becoming better and better at finding the murderers. This time Val has been asked to be a judge in the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival where she is doing her best to stay neutral even though her boyfriend is entered and another contestant is trying bribes. But the contest becomes the least of Val’s worries when she and Charlene stumble on a dead body that under one of the huge pumpkins.
The Pie Town Mystery series is another one of my favorite cozies that has that combination of quirkiness and fun that I enjoy. I’ve followed this one from the beginning and have absolutely fallen in love with Val’s sidekick Charlene, she is absolutely hilarious. You just never know what kind of hijinx the pair are going to encounter making chasing a killer something to laugh about and I will keep reading as long as the author keeps adding books to this series!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the first book of the Pie Town Mystery series readers were introduced to Valentine “Val” Harris who had moved to San Nicholas along the coast in California thinking she was going to be starting a whole new life by opening up her own business and marrying her fiance. Six months later all Val had left was her business when her fiance had called off their wedding and after putting all her money into her dream, Pie Town, she knew she had to do whatever it took to make the business a success.
However, Val and her pie crust maker, Charlene, seem to have the worst luck when it comes to finding dead bodies but the duo are becoming better and better at finding the murderers. This time Val has been asked to be a judge in the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival where she is doing her best to stay neutral even though her boyfriend is entered and another contestant is trying bribes. But the contest becomes the least of Val’s worries when she and Charlene stumble on a dead body that under one of the huge pumpkins.
The Pie Town Mystery series is another one of my favorite cozies that has that combination of quirkiness and fun that I enjoy. I’ve followed this one from the beginning and have absolutely fallen in love with Val’s sidekick Charlene, she is absolutely hilarious. You just never know what kind of hijinx the pair are going to encounter making chasing a killer something to laugh about and I will keep reading as long as the author keeps adding books to this series!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 18, 2020
Even though I have only read one other book the Pie Town Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss set in a pie shop in San Nicholas, a Californian coastal town, I still jumped at the opportunity to read this one, Gourd to Death as I enjoy a well written cosy, and this looked like it fitted the bill perfectly.
Valentine (Val) Harris runs the best pie shop in town alongside her quirky business partner and pie crust expert, Charlene McCree. With Halloween looming, Val has been asked to judge the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival. Her boyfriend, Gordon Carmichael, is also a contestant, but on a early morning walk with Charlene to check out the giant pumpkins, they discover the town's optometrist dead underneath one. Val calls Gordon who is a detective of the San Nicholas police department, but he is disqualified from handling the case because it was one of his Uncle's massive pumpkins that was found on top of the victim.
Although this is book five, I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events. Strong protagonist Val was surrounded by some very quirky bods and I particularly enjoyed Charlene's amusing contributions, as well as those from Mrs Thistleblossom (such a brilliant name). Val's stepmother, Takako, was often the sensible one, but she also joined in with the hijinks. Events moved along at a comfortable pace and the mystery itself was fantastic. Whilst the choice of viable suspects was fairly limited, my armchair detective requirements remained satisfied due to skullduggery from the locals in the neighbouring town, and the denouement was still a surprise to me. I had a ball reading this highly amusing and entertaining cozy mystery and I'm already looking forwarding to catching up with Val and the Baker Street Bakers in book #6, as well as grabbing copies of the first three books.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Valentine (Val) Harris runs the best pie shop in town alongside her quirky business partner and pie crust expert, Charlene McCree. With Halloween looming, Val has been asked to judge the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival. Her boyfriend, Gordon Carmichael, is also a contestant, but on a early morning walk with Charlene to check out the giant pumpkins, they discover the town's optometrist dead underneath one. Val calls Gordon who is a detective of the San Nicholas police department, but he is disqualified from handling the case because it was one of his Uncle's massive pumpkins that was found on top of the victim.
Although this is book five, I had no difficulties keeping up with characters and events. Strong protagonist Val was surrounded by some very quirky bods and I particularly enjoyed Charlene's amusing contributions, as well as those from Mrs Thistleblossom (such a brilliant name). Val's stepmother, Takako, was often the sensible one, but she also joined in with the hijinks. Events moved along at a comfortable pace and the mystery itself was fantastic. Whilst the choice of viable suspects was fairly limited, my armchair detective requirements remained satisfied due to skullduggery from the locals in the neighbouring town, and the denouement was still a surprise to me. I had a ball reading this highly amusing and entertaining cozy mystery and I'm already looking forwarding to catching up with Val and the Baker Street Bakers in book #6, as well as grabbing copies of the first three books.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 26, 2020
Gourd to Death earns 5/5 Pumpkin Predicaments...Engaging Fun!
Kirsten Weiss is a favorite author, blogger, and all-around tarot resource, and she’s added a fifth book to her popular Pie Town Mystery series with cooler weather, plenty of outdoor festivities, and of course, pumpkins! It’s Halloween in St. Nicholas, California, and residents are ready for the Pumpkin Festival. It’s also Pie Town owner Val Harris’s first pumpkin pie contest, but she’s a bit taken aback by the fact her boyfriend and detective Gordon Carmichael is also a contestant. The situation is made worse by the discovering of the dead body of another contestant crushed under an oversized pumpkin. Due to the fact the pumpkin belonged to Gordon’s uncle and Chief Shaw is jealous of the “hero” status Gordon received in the press, he’s unceremoniously and brusquely removed from the case. Not so fast...How better to investigate, however unofficially, than to enlist Val and her pie crust wizard/sleuthing partner Charlene and the Baker Street Bakers, but of course not without some delicious peril. Never thought a pumpkin pie contest could be so murderous an event.
Kirsten Weiss’s story follows the traditional cozy formula that has made me a fan; the crime occurs quickly putting the investigation at the center of the drama, cleverness and humor are common elements. The well-paced drama is also quite engaging well beyond competitors in a pie contest or sabotage from a nearby town, and with two felonies to investigate, the danger doubles, too. Weiss’s writing style is very entertaining with descriptive language to fill the reader’s senses and dialogue that illustrates well the emotions and personalities. I enjoy Val and her interactions with Carmichael; Charlene seems more comic relief and Chief Shaw is just...a pain, but both are important characters as contrast to Val and Gordon. Bonus! Weiss included a marvelous treat for pumpkin lovers: Val’s Pumpkin Bread!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Kirsten Weiss is a favorite author, blogger, and all-around tarot resource, and she’s added a fifth book to her popular Pie Town Mystery series with cooler weather, plenty of outdoor festivities, and of course, pumpkins! It’s Halloween in St. Nicholas, California, and residents are ready for the Pumpkin Festival. It’s also Pie Town owner Val Harris’s first pumpkin pie contest, but she’s a bit taken aback by the fact her boyfriend and detective Gordon Carmichael is also a contestant. The situation is made worse by the discovering of the dead body of another contestant crushed under an oversized pumpkin. Due to the fact the pumpkin belonged to Gordon’s uncle and Chief Shaw is jealous of the “hero” status Gordon received in the press, he’s unceremoniously and brusquely removed from the case. Not so fast...How better to investigate, however unofficially, than to enlist Val and her pie crust wizard/sleuthing partner Charlene and the Baker Street Bakers, but of course not without some delicious peril. Never thought a pumpkin pie contest could be so murderous an event.
Kirsten Weiss’s story follows the traditional cozy formula that has made me a fan; the crime occurs quickly putting the investigation at the center of the drama, cleverness and humor are common elements. The well-paced drama is also quite engaging well beyond competitors in a pie contest or sabotage from a nearby town, and with two felonies to investigate, the danger doubles, too. Weiss’s writing style is very entertaining with descriptive language to fill the reader’s senses and dialogue that illustrates well the emotions and personalities. I enjoy Val and her interactions with Carmichael; Charlene seems more comic relief and Chief Shaw is just...a pain, but both are important characters as contrast to Val and Gordon. Bonus! Weiss included a marvelous treat for pumpkin lovers: Val’s Pumpkin Bread!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
June 14, 2020
It's Halloween in San Nicholas and that means it's time for the Pumpkin Festival. It's Val's first Pumpkin Festival but it's sure to be a memorable one after she and Charlene find the dead body of one of the town's eye doctors dead under a giant pumpkin. As usual, Val's boyfriend Gordon is disqualified from handling the case because it was his uncle's pumpkin that was found on top of the dead boy. However, that doesn't stop him from recruiting Val, Charlene, and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers from helping him work the case behind the scenes. The characters in this series are fun and quirky, with the addition of Val's stepmother Takako. I enjoyed the addition of her character because while she was often the voice of reason, she also could join in the hijinks. The mystery was not overly complex, with only about three really viable suspects to choose from. That doesn't mean the author made it easy to figure out the identity of the killer. Throw in the distractions with the locals from the next town over trying to one-up the hijinks of the citizens of San Nicholas in a standoff of competing pumpkin festivals and there were enough distractions to throw me off the scent of the killer.
This is a fun series with quirky characters and a great setting. The characters and developing and growing and I like the introduction of a few new secondary characters here and there. It's a good Halloween themed read.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
This is a fun series with quirky characters and a great setting. The characters and developing and growing and I like the introduction of a few new secondary characters here and there. It's a good Halloween themed read.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
October 11, 2020
My Rating: 4 Stars
Genre: Cozy Mystery | Fall Theme
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. I recommend reading all the books in order as they follow the same main characters who grow through each book. This series is one of my favorites and while I’m a little late in my review (I got an ARC before it released), I’m glad I finally carved out time to read it as it’s 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗭𝗬. Pumpkin patches, corn field mazes, fall festivals and so much more make this book what it is and I could practically smell the apple pies baking while reading! Val and Charlene make the perfect sleuthing duo and watching them get in (and out) of messes is a blast to watch. I laughed quite a few times as this isn’t only a murder mystery (light, of course as it’s a cozy) but because there is a ton of humor peppered throughout the pages (mainly from Charlene). In this one, these two are racing to find out who killed the local optometrist who was found beneath a HUGE PUMPKIN!
As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite cozy series and therefore, I recommend it to all those who love the genre. While this one lagged a little in the middle for me, it’s such a great story and I can’t wait to read the next one.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Cozy Mystery | Fall Theme
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. I recommend reading all the books in order as they follow the same main characters who grow through each book. This series is one of my favorites and while I’m a little late in my review (I got an ARC before it released), I’m glad I finally carved out time to read it as it’s 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗭𝗬. Pumpkin patches, corn field mazes, fall festivals and so much more make this book what it is and I could practically smell the apple pies baking while reading! Val and Charlene make the perfect sleuthing duo and watching them get in (and out) of messes is a blast to watch. I laughed quite a few times as this isn’t only a murder mystery (light, of course as it’s a cozy) but because there is a ton of humor peppered throughout the pages (mainly from Charlene). In this one, these two are racing to find out who killed the local optometrist who was found beneath a HUGE PUMPKIN!
As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite cozy series and therefore, I recommend it to all those who love the genre. While this one lagged a little in the middle for me, it’s such a great story and I can’t wait to read the next one.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 22, 2020
Gourd to Death (Pie Town Mystery #5)
Kristen Weiss
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. Although it can be read as a standalone, reading the books in order will give a better experience in reading this well loved series. If you are looking for the perfect cozy mystery that is fall themed - this is the one for you. I enjoyed this a lot and got me in the mood for fall - the pumpkin patches, fall festivals and everything fall themed. I loved reading about Val the owner of Pie Town and Charlene her side kick make the best sleuthing duo. The writing was enjoyable and highly entertaining and makes for the best page turner for me and a wonderful escape read I highly recommend. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a must read and cannot be missed.
Kristen Weiss
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. Although it can be read as a standalone, reading the books in order will give a better experience in reading this well loved series. If you are looking for the perfect cozy mystery that is fall themed - this is the one for you. I enjoyed this a lot and got me in the mood for fall - the pumpkin patches, fall festivals and everything fall themed. I loved reading about Val the owner of Pie Town and Charlene her side kick make the best sleuthing duo. The writing was enjoyable and highly entertaining and makes for the best page turner for me and a wonderful escape read I highly recommend. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a must read and cannot be missed.
September 2, 2020
Kirsten Weiss is a favorite cozy author and Gourd to Death (5th in the Pie Town series) is her latest. For her northern California town's annual pumpkin festival, Val Harris has geared up and readied for the onslaught of tourists. But she wasn't ready for finding another body ...this one under a potential prize winning pumpkin. She and her cohorts, the Baker Street Bakers, are on the job to help solve the murder. Some of the shenanigans are slightly over the top, but the characters are endearing. All in all, a fun read, but not my favorite in the series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2022
My favorite thing about this book was the pumpkin festival setting. I could just feel the fall atmosphere, see the vendors and the huge pumpkins. This is my first dip into this series and I actually think it's one where I should have started at the beginning. Some of the characters seemed kind of one-note and I wonder if that is because they are already flushed out, but it kind of got old that each character had a specific personality troupe. I also was hoping to read more about the pies themselves, but that was just a personal thing. I will say I was very surprised by the ending, which I really enjoyed! I also really like the main character Val and would return to the series just to read more about her.
July 24, 2020
review to come
September 25, 2020
This series is a little bit of a treat for me because it is so different from my usual tastes. I never thought that I would enjoy a series all about pies, but here I am, reading about them every time Kirsten puts a book out.
However, when I was reading this book, I was waiting for that excitement to kick in and unfortunately, it didn’t quite spark enough to make a fire. There were some really good parts and some really great parts too, but for some reason, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I have the previous ones. I’m not sure if the mystery didn’t grab me enough or perhaps it was just the characters, but I put this book down too many times than I would’ve liked and that’s unusual for me with this author. That being said, perhaps I was just expecting more.
Nevertheless, I am hoping the next book will enthrall me better. I look forward to reading it.
Reviewed by Ann❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
July 5, 2020
4/5 stars
I received Gourd to Death through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gourd to Death is the fifth installment of the Pie Town Mystery series, but the first I have read. In this fall cozy mystery, Val, Charlene and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers find themselves investigating a murder that took place during the towns annual Pumpkin Festival. Was the death caused by a feud between San Nicholas and the close by San Adrian or was there something for sinister in the works?
This mystery did a great job of pulling the reader into the Pumpkin Festival setting and making you wish that is was fall. The Pie Town setting also had me wanting pie! Gourd to Death was a well written, cozy mystery with a fun plot and fun characters, I especially enjoyed Val.
At times I found the feuds in the story to be a bit childish, but that did add to some of the humor of the story. Overall, this was a good cozy mystery read, guaranteed to get you into the fall and Halloween spirit. I look forward to going back and reading the previous installments in this series.
I received Gourd to Death through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Gourd to Death is the fifth installment of the Pie Town Mystery series, but the first I have read. In this fall cozy mystery, Val, Charlene and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers find themselves investigating a murder that took place during the towns annual Pumpkin Festival. Was the death caused by a feud between San Nicholas and the close by San Adrian or was there something for sinister in the works?
This mystery did a great job of pulling the reader into the Pumpkin Festival setting and making you wish that is was fall. The Pie Town setting also had me wanting pie! Gourd to Death was a well written, cozy mystery with a fun plot and fun characters, I especially enjoyed Val.
At times I found the feuds in the story to be a bit childish, but that did add to some of the humor of the story. Overall, this was a good cozy mystery read, guaranteed to get you into the fall and Halloween spirit. I look forward to going back and reading the previous installments in this series.
June 17, 2020
This is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery seriers. It's Halloween time and I couldn't wait to read it.
It's Halloween time in San Nicholas and it means it's time for the Pumpkin Festival. It's Val's first pumpkin festival and it's going to be a memorable one.
On a early morning walk with Charlene to check out the pumpkins they discover the town's eye doctor dead under a giant pumpkin. Val calls Gordon who is a detective on the police force but he is quickly disqualified from handling the case because his uncle's pumpkin was the one found on top of the dead women.
So that leaves Val, Charlene and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers to help Gordon behind the scenes, along with Val,s stepmother Takato who has come to visit unexpectedly. Then another murder takes place and it's the eye doctors partner and Val's stepmother finds him. They have a few suspects to choose from but with the next town over is trying to one-up them in the Pumpkin Festival. There were enough distractions to throw them off the killer's scent.
They have lost Takato while in another battle with the next town. They get a call and go back to the maze where they are told that's where she will be, also they run into the killer and have to run for their lives through the maze or this could be the end for them.
This book was very fast paced and lots of twist and turns to keep you going.
I was surprised at the ending. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
It's Halloween time in San Nicholas and it means it's time for the Pumpkin Festival. It's Val's first pumpkin festival and it's going to be a memorable one.
On a early morning walk with Charlene to check out the pumpkins they discover the town's eye doctor dead under a giant pumpkin. Val calls Gordon who is a detective on the police force but he is quickly disqualified from handling the case because his uncle's pumpkin was the one found on top of the dead women.
So that leaves Val, Charlene and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers to help Gordon behind the scenes, along with Val,s stepmother Takato who has come to visit unexpectedly. Then another murder takes place and it's the eye doctors partner and Val's stepmother finds him. They have a few suspects to choose from but with the next town over is trying to one-up them in the Pumpkin Festival. There were enough distractions to throw them off the killer's scent.
They have lost Takato while in another battle with the next town. They get a call and go back to the maze where they are told that's where she will be, also they run into the killer and have to run for their lives through the maze or this could be the end for them.
This book was very fast paced and lots of twist and turns to keep you going.
I was surprised at the ending. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
July 5, 2020
This series is near and dear to my heart, and this latest installment just cements that. Every page just draws me deeper and deeper into this book until I finally came up for air at the last page. The mystery is perfect, the author does a great job of giving hints without giving anything away. A great addition to the series.
May 27, 2020
Gourd to Death is an excellent addition to this fantastic series.
It’s Halloween and prankster Charlene is up to her usual shenanigans. Val is working hard to keep her pie shop in the black, and when an unexpected visitor and a murder interrupt her routine, she has no choice but to investigate. With the help of the Baker St Bakers, Val & Charlene won’t stop until the murderer is behind bars.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m looking forward to reading more.
It’s Halloween and prankster Charlene is up to her usual shenanigans. Val is working hard to keep her pie shop in the black, and when an unexpected visitor and a murder interrupt her routine, she has no choice but to investigate. With the help of the Baker St Bakers, Val & Charlene won’t stop until the murderer is behind bars.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m looking forward to reading more.
August 26, 2020
Val is gearing up for the upcoming Pumpkin Festival, she has even agreed to be a judge for the Pumpkin Pie making contest. Even her boyfriend is getting into things and will be entering a pie into the contest. Val and Charlene decide to take a look at the booths and what all is going on before the festival opens to the public. When the two find their way to the giant pumpkins to see who might have a winning entry they discover a body under one of them. Chief Shaw decides to head the investigation pushing Val's Detective boyfriend to the side. The Chief isn't very good at his job leaving Val and Charlene to start their own investigation. They soon find that there is danger around every corner and they must act quickly before someone else ends up dead. Follow along as they question witnesses, enjoy the festival, and try to vanquish their enemies! This was a fun read filled with odd but definitely likable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing.
August 20, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the fifth book in the Pie Town mystery series by Kirsten Weiss.
Really enjoyed this installment of the Pie Town mysteries. Weiss has really ramped up her writing game. The mystery was compelling and the character insight was bang on.
I have noticed that a number of minor characters in recent books coming out around this time have centered around the death of loved ones or the need to take care of their aged parents. Maybe this is just me manifesting since these similar issues have cropped up in my own life. I really appreciate all the depth these authors put into their books. Just these little mentions here and there give me a great deal of comfort that I am truly grateful for.
I get a little frustrated with the Charlene character at times but I guess that is just what she is there for… to distract us from the real mystery and take us on a red herring ride.
Overall it is a great series that just keeps getting better. Take a trip to Pie Town and you won’t regret it.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
This is the fifth book in the Pie Town mystery series by Kirsten Weiss.
Really enjoyed this installment of the Pie Town mysteries. Weiss has really ramped up her writing game. The mystery was compelling and the character insight was bang on.
I have noticed that a number of minor characters in recent books coming out around this time have centered around the death of loved ones or the need to take care of their aged parents. Maybe this is just me manifesting since these similar issues have cropped up in my own life. I really appreciate all the depth these authors put into their books. Just these little mentions here and there give me a great deal of comfort that I am truly grateful for.
I get a little frustrated with the Charlene character at times but I guess that is just what she is there for… to distract us from the real mystery and take us on a red herring ride.
Overall it is a great series that just keeps getting better. Take a trip to Pie Town and you won’t regret it.
If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
September 21, 2020
Gourd to Death is another great book in the Pietown Mystery series. The story takes place during my favorite season: Fall. I loved how, even though the setting is a coastal town in CA, there's still all the fun fall activities like pumpkin patches and corn mazes. I really enjoyed the new character, Takako, who is Val's stepmother. I hope she's in future books in the series because I'd like to see their relationship evolve more. As for the mystery itself, I didn't guess who the killer was until right before it was revealed on the page. I really enjoy books by this author because she creates characters you can relate to and crafts wonderful mysteries that keep you guessing. I can't wait to see what Val and Charlene get into next.
Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
October 3, 2021
Overall score: 2.83 rounded to ⭐⭐⭐
Breakdown:
-Readability (easy to comprehend, well written, not detrimentally stylized, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
-Longevity (it will stick with me, influencial long-term, etc.)
⭐⭐
-Progressive (inclusive/diverse, discusses race, gender, sexuality, etc appropriately, I'd encourage my kid to read it, etc.)
⭐⭐
-Plot (everything makes sense, no holes, the events string together realistically, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
-Characters (believable, relatable, likeable, developed, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
-Engaging (quick read, I want to pick it up, I think about it during my day, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
Breakdown:
-Readability (easy to comprehend, well written, not detrimentally stylized, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
-Longevity (it will stick with me, influencial long-term, etc.)
⭐⭐
-Progressive (inclusive/diverse, discusses race, gender, sexuality, etc appropriately, I'd encourage my kid to read it, etc.)
⭐⭐
-Plot (everything makes sense, no holes, the events string together realistically, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
-Characters (believable, relatable, likeable, developed, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
-Engaging (quick read, I want to pick it up, I think about it during my day, etc.)
⭐⭐⭐
January 8, 2021
This entry in the Pie Town series introduced Val's stepmother, a character I quickly grew to like. For me, the characters in this series have really jelled. I didn't see another title or a teaser chapter, I have to wonder if this is a last in series. If so, it's a fitting one. I like leaving the characters in a good place. Mystery was okay; the rating is for character development. Really about a 3.7
October 12, 2021
3.5. Overall, I enjoyed this fall) Halloween cozy. Major autumnal vibes. I could smell apple cider, doughnuts and see brown leaves. The mystery made sense. A small complaint. This author has a thing about quirky names. Listening to the audio and hearing the names such as Mrs. Thistleblossom; Tapico and Tallysomething repeated over and over again got tiresome. And some of the her friends are too over the top. Overall, I enjoyed this Halloween cozy.
September 17, 2024
3.5
This was fun and great for fall! I really felt the small town vibes with all the people that lived there. There were funny rivalries, and different small businesses. The town was always foggy, there were lots of pumpkins, a corn maze, and of course pies.
But the "detective" stuff felt kinda lackluster and like they were magically at the end able to solve it.
Overall fun fall read but nothing super duper spectacular
This was fun and great for fall! I really felt the small town vibes with all the people that lived there. There were funny rivalries, and different small businesses. The town was always foggy, there were lots of pumpkins, a corn maze, and of course pies.
But the "detective" stuff felt kinda lackluster and like they were magically at the end able to solve it.
Overall fun fall read but nothing super duper spectacular
July 27, 2020
I like the setting and the set-up of this mystery series, and this entry was a quick read and overall pretty good. I do find myself getting tired of over-the-top characters--specifically Charlene and Chief Shaw. A mystery (or any book), in my opinion, doesn't need ludicrous characters to be interesting. And if there are ludicrous characters, I want them to be in minor roles (preferably non-recurring roles). The two-dimensional characterizations undermine my enjoyment of the book overall. But still, a decent read.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2020
This takes place in the autumn in California. The story is centered around the murder of a local optometrist during the town's pumpkin festival. The festival was the best part of the story. I liked the small coastal town setting, but I didn't like the characters or the mystery. The mystery may have been more enjoyable with different characters.
September 5, 2024
A cozy mystery about a giant pumpkin squashing someone at the local pumpkin pie contest? Sign me up. This was so autumnal and fun. We follow the local bakers (who think they’re detectives) as they hunt down the killer after the towns optometrists (… yep). I loved this. A super fall and fun cozy mystery.
October 6, 2020
Gourd to death, more like bored to death
November 9, 2020
Super cute! I'm excited for the series to continue, and I'll miss Val, Charlene, and the gang until the next book comes out!
March 27, 2021
A great addition to the series. I enjoyed how much the relationships evolved during this story. One of my favorites in the series. I am hoping she continues writing the Pie Town Mysteries.
July 10, 2020
I enjoyed this book and loved the older sidekick. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing,
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2022
Cute cozy Halloween mystery!! The stepmother was an interesting character in this fifth installment of the Pie Town mystery series! Love the name of this book as well!!
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