Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics: A Piper Sandstone Culinary Cozy Murder Mystery (Book 1)

by Karen McSpade

An undercover cop, four quirky senior sleuths, a pesky bodyguard, and a murderer on the loose...
When an art heist ends in murder, can an undercover cop and her senior crime-fighting gal pals catch the killer before she gets marked off the hit list?

Packed with mystery and suspense and brimming with heart and humor, Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics is an absolutely gripping and laugh-out-loud culinary whodunit in the Deep Fried Revenge series.

“A rip-roaring fun cozy mystery that I couldn’t put down!”

***Series Description***

She’s a Chicago detective hiding in a seaside town with a lot to prove…and everything to lose.

Reeling with excitement over the opening of a private investigation agency and her budding romance with the sheriff, Piper Sandstone can’t wait to launch her dream career and return to a somewhat normal life. But danger lurks on the horizon —despite a pesky bodyguard sent to keep Piper safe — the dirty cops back in Chicago still want her dead. Even if it means putting the people she loves in jeopardy to find her. They are ruthless and on the hunt; no price is too steep for her head.

But Piper’s already in a predicament of prodigious proportions when an art heist at the Bancroft Estates leaves a bodyguard dead… and she and her crime-fighting gal pals are at the center of the crime scene. With more suspects than the hottie sheriff can shake a stick at, it's no surprise the Mayor has requested help from the new private eyes.

Tangled in another mystery in Savory, Alabama, Piper is determined to solve the case with the help of her quirky amateur sleuth friends dubbed the Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad. These zany retirees traded in their female rock band glory to fight crime, but can they help Piper maintain her cover and catch the killer before she or another Savory resident winds up dead?

Dive into Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics (Book 1) today and get ready for a deliciously fun and thrilling cozy mystery that is unputdownable! Recipes included.

“This is cozy mystery craftsmanship at its best!!!” ~ Tanya R. Taylor, Author of Pumpkin Spice & Deadly Heist

“It’s time for a return visit to Savory, Alabama! Settle in for a heaping helping of Southern charm and madcap humor as Piper Sandstone and her crew of tenacious and fun retirees take on another dire threat. Suspense, false trails, and a ticking clock will keep you on the edge of your seat!” ~ Anne Shillolo, Author of Poodle Versus The Spy

“Piper has joined the Delta Queens to form the Queen Bees Private Eyes agency and opened a storefront on Main Street. To her dismay, her past boss has sent an unlikely bodyguard to protect her! Their first cast is to solve the mystery of what has been happening to upset the cows on Haywood Farms! Later they decide to attend the Bancroft Kennel Dog Show, held at the fabulous Bancroft mansion, and while they are there a robbery occurs. It’s always a hoot to watch these ladies try to solve cases! This is part of a series of short stories.” - Alice (Goodreads)

“Karen McSpade hits it out of the ballpark again. Great story and keeps me wanting more. Can’t wait for the next book.” -Tammy (Bookbub)

“This is a cleverly written story with a great plot with an emphasis on character development. I do like our main protagonist.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Mystery, Fiction

70 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2022

About the author

Raised in the Arkansas River Valley, Karen McSpade grew up with a fishing pole in one hand and her trusty .410 shotgun in the other. Exploring the creeks and woods around her hometown while hunting with her father kept her “entertained and out of jail,” as her mom likes to say.

As a child, her most prized possessions were her books and her Michael Jackson album collection. These led her to a brief venture into breakdancing and poetry slamming before discovering her true passion, bringing stories and characters to life. Today, she focuses on the two things that still inspire her creativity—her love for food and dishing up mysteries with a dash of humor.

Karen’s novels feature compassionate and strong-willed leading ladies determined to uncover the truth and seek justice. She loves creating stories filled with mystery, romance, magic, and adventure that allow readers to join her characters on their journey, leaving behind the real world for a few hours at a time.

When she’s not writing, Karen’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, and enjoying nature. She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her family and a very spoiled Wheaten Terrier who doubles as her writing assistant.

Reviews

[Barbara Behring · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable book. I am enjoying the antics of Piper and the Dentures and Diamonds crime squad.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎵🎶

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 1 of 5

Piper Sandstone is still under cover in coastal Alabama. She and the ladies are a detective agency. They are hired by a local farmer and solve the case. Morgan and Nancy are coming to visit but three criminals attacked them in Chicago and find their itinerary. Continued in book 2.

I would recommend this series and author to readers of family and friends relationships adventures mystery novels. 2024

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solving Their First Case . . .

In the start of this series, Piper Sandstone remains undercover as Sharon. Piper and her Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad buddies go into business as private investigators since they all work so well together. Their new business is named “Queen Bee’s Private Eyes” and they are ready for business! Unfortunately, her uncle Chief Hobbs sent an unwelcome bodyguard to keep her safe on her new job -- and Gemma annoys her thoroughly, comparing her to a thumbtack that gets stuck in your shoe and has no purpose except to annoy.

Mr. Alan Haywood of Haywood Farms was their first client who wanted them to investigate who was messing with his cows. He blames their unrest and bellowing, which starts at midnight every Friday, on a voodoo hex. They stepped through a gap in the fence, then saw 5 figures at the edge of the pasture, all swaying and stumbling as they moved. Gemma pulled out a gun, to the horror of the ladies, saying the trespassers could be undercover agents posing as drunk teenagers. The ladies demanded she put the gun away! The teens were trying to tip a cow and put their “daring feat” on YouTube! The cow walked away and they chased it, upsetting the rest of the herd. Then the cows turned and chased the kids. When the activity quieted down, the Queen Bee’s gang told the boys the cops would be called next time. They had solved their first case!

Even the clues will keep you guessing as the ladies do what they do best! Grab your copy and enjoy the return of these wonderful characters.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this new series of novellas, Piper Sandstone's still undercover as Sharon, but now she's with the new private investigation agency started by her buddies, the Dentures & Diamonds Crime Squad. I loved it before when they'd sleuth together, and this time they've got a big case discovered at the dog show. Piper's got a bodyguard now that just cracks me up!

Just like a prime time soap opera, this book broke just as something really crazy was going down, so now it's on to the next book! Don't miss this series when it releases May 3!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the author via BookSprout, and my opinions are my own.

[CarolAnn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful Piper Sandstone book

This is book one in a new series featuring our loved characters Piper Sanstaone and the Delta Queens. I feel like the way the books are written it is like a tv series. This book would be Season 2 Episode 1. With the books being set up the way they are you cannot really read them out of order - so definitely not stand alone.

This is a fun, fast-paced, action-packed cozy mystery. I really enjoyed reading it and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this “season”.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was no deep frying 🥺

[Heather Balog · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m super confused. It says this is book 1 but there’s a slew of backstory I don’t understand. No character development at all and when they finally get to the mystery the book ends? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Barbara Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper Sandstone Gets a Bodyguard and Her Own Shared P.I. Business!

"Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics: A Piper Sandstone Culinary Cozy Mystery Book 1 is a 5 book Deep Fried Revenge series, starring Piper Sandstone as Sharon Sanders, and four feisty older ladies named Dorothy, Margie, Patty Sue and Rosemary, and is written by Karen McSpade. This series picks up where the Savory, Alabama series left off. I really like this series and its cast of characters. The good-looking Sheriff Jake, extra good and/or bad guys add to the overall plot and storylines. In this first book, Piper, aka Sharon, is still hiding out in Savory , Alabama, because a group of dirty cops and overall bad guys from her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, have a hit out on her. She's a Chicago police officer in hiding. The older ladies are firmer 80s girl band members, who I simply love, especially Rosemary. She might be older, but she's not blind, and has a special interest in eyeballing any and all good-looking men. Just like me! This first book in the series is funny and serious at the same time. It deals with Piper/Sharon and her elderly gal-pals opening up a Private Investigations business called the Queen Bees Investigations and getting their first job: A possible cow-tipping gig. Piper's Chief-of-Police uncle from Chicago hires a bodyguard named Gemma to keep Piper safe, but Piper is quite a bit taller, Gemma being only about 5' tall. However, Gemma is an expert in martial arts, and supposedly as mighty as she is tiny. It would be best to read this series after the Savory, Alabama series, because the major sleuthing job of finding dog champion Victory travels into this series, with the dog's first dog show a year after being found by Piper. The yearly dog show has come around again, Victory is in it, and after the show, the mansion where the show was held also has a great art heist where 20 paintings worth hundreds if millions of dollars are all stolen. Who stole the artwork? Who was in the corn field trying to tip cows? Paper's two friends from Chicago, Nancy and Morgan, are at the beginning of the book and right at the end. What happens to Nancy and Morgan when they are attacked by the Chicago Mafia? Will they be okay? I gave this book 5 stars.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper Sandstone, aka Sharon, has just opened the Queen's Bees Privates firm along with her senior sleuthing friends, Doris, Rosemary, Patty Sue, and Margie, (aka The Delta Queens) and they're just off a case of finding a killer and a champion dog. Now they're ready for business. But before they do so, they're attending the dog show at the estate of a wealthy art collector. Unfortunately, things don't go well -- the art is stolen right off the walls, and during the show. So now they have to wonder who would have planned something like this? It doesn't help when the owner Henry Hughes, shows up, screaming at everyone, nor when the PIs find a dead security guard,

Someone had to know about the heist. Was it the security guard they found, Marco Jenkins? Or the IT guy who claims a hacker broke into the system? Or was it someone close to Mr. Hughes, who might have thought this was a good opportunity? But Piper knows art like this can't be sold, and only another private investor will buy it. So where do they go from here?

With the unwanted help of Piper's new bodyguard, Gemma Bianchi, hired by her uncle, Chief Hobbs, to protect her (really, how can a woman so small protect anyone?), and Gemma constantly telling her everything Piper does is a bad idea, she's still determined to solve the case. If the PIs don't they might just be relegated to more cases involving cows (read the book to find out). But just as things seem to be getting interesting, her Chicago friends Nancy and Morgan have surprises in store for them.

Being the first book in the new series, I liked where it started -- after the murder, where it backtracked a bit -- and of course, being a serial book, there was a cliffhanger; but I didn't let this distract me at all from the book itself, which is written well and pulls you into the story immediately. The only downside is that you have to wait for the next to see what Piper and her friends are up to. A great beginning for a new book in the life of Piper Sandstone. I can't wait to read the next.

I received an advance copy from the author but this in no way influenced my review.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 1 of Bacon, Bodyguards and Ballistics grabs your interest and attention right from page one where you get a quick understanding of the relationships between Piper Sandstone AKA Sharon Sanders, Jake the sheriff of Savory Alabama and Alice, the Mayor of Savory.

Piper has formed a private detective agency, the Queen Bee’s Private Eyes, in partnership with the ladies from the Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad. A new member, Gemma, sent by Piper’s boss in Chicago, Chief Hobbs, adds some complications.

We are taken on a quick adventure with the agency’s hilarious first case on a farm around midnight. This quickly moves on to a visit to the Bancroft Estate’s Art collection. Piper’s narration draws us in so we feel we are there: “…the eyes, were so bright and alive, like the subjects would emerge from their frames at any second.”

The first few chapters are skilfully used, from Piper’s point of view, to fill in some of the past in Savory. For example, whilst at the dog show, she relates to her dog ‘Mister’: “He acted like he had lived there all his life. If anything, he owns me. And he knows it.”

The storyline quickly draws the reader in to the excitement of the Queen Bee’s second case, Piper narrates: “…little hairs on my arm stood on end, tingling with a sense of fear? excitement? or a potent mix of both?”

A quick change back to Chicago, where the bad cops are looking for Piper Sandstone, adds a second level of intrigue to the story, leading on to Part 2 of the book series.

With yummy southern recipes at the end of the book, for me to eat.

I received an Advance Reading Copy to review.

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine is hiding out from her old life and trying to start a new one. As a former detective, opening up a PI agency makes sense. But when her first case involves murder, things might not make as much sense as she thought.

This is book one of this series, so all good there. However, it this is a sequel series, so if you want the full history of our heroine, you need to start with the earlier series.

This is a cozy mystery with a bit of a food/cooking theme. And I don't mean cooking up murder. The story is well written and easy to read with a nicely detailed setting that has the right level of quirky elements to it for this kind of story. The characters are also well done. I found our heroine to be a bit rough around the edges, but I can get used to that. Her posse, however, is great right from the start adding a delightful element of humor and fun. Overall, this was a fun start to a new series and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

[Chad Barrus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper and the girls open their new business venture as private eyes and solve their first case outright! Then while attending the dog show someone steals 20 very valuable paintings. The girls find the escape route the crooks took and also the two security guards who were suppose to be guarding those paintings! Sure smells like an “inside job” to me!

This series follows in the footsteps of Karen’s last series when we got to meet these women and just watched them in action making a name for themselves and capturing the bad guys as well!

I love these women and am sure you will too so I highly recommend you get this series and enjoy finding out whodunnit! Each book can be read easily in a couple of hours so by getting the five volume set together you will have the whole story in one convenient place!

Discover your newest book friends and read along with me as we all put the clues together to unmask who stole the paintings as well as stopping the hit men hired by the dirty cops in Chicago to rub out our
intrepid heroine!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper and the Delta Queens have opened a new PI business just in the nick of time. A crime has just been committed in their town. Piper and the other Queen Bees will now try to solve this crime before the police. I had not read the Savory Mystery Series so I was afraid I would be a little lost with this book but that was not the case. From the moment, I began reading the author drew my attention in right away. I was captivated with the well written characters. I am hoping to get to know them a little better in the continuing books. The only thing I can say is I did not like the ending but that is because it was a cliffhanger. Only making me want to hurry to read the next book. I am looking forward to continuing this series. The flow of the writing made this an easy and quick read. I definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the way this author writes -she captivates her audience and tells a great story, but then fails to connect the dots with her mysteries. Several of her books (and I've only read two) are cliffhangers, prompting you to continue the series. This short story confused me from the first two chapters. Chapter two mentions that it takes place a month ago and then without warning, jumps immediately back into the present time. The final chapter also seems to jump back in time to what apparently is the same time frame as chapter two, but the reader has to guess to figure that out. There is no streamline or connection. I was hoping this book would be different from the prequel (that isn't quite part of the series, but leads to the current book), but unfortunately, it is more of just the same. Leaves the reader confused more than excited.

[Leonard Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this is not a stand alone book ...keep that in mind and not only you will not be disappointed but looking forward to find how the characters get out of their predicaments. It doesn't seem to fair reveal too much about what happens in the first book so lets just establish that Piper Sandstone is a hero and being a friend to a hero is rough, they got enemies and having shady characters show up at your door step would make
most people wish for online friends only. And there is her partners. Piper's partners are retired band who may or may not understand of excess, and an unwanted recently acquired bodyguard who likely wishes she could lock Piper in a saferoom. A recipe for mayhem in the making

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper Sandstone, in the guise of Sharon, has partnered with the Dentures and Diamonds crew to form a Detective Agency. Their first case is solving the Disturbed Cows. Turns out to be a bunch of drunk teenagers cowtipping. They attend the dog show being held at a local mansion, and that's when things get interesting. There is also famous art on display in the mansion, and during the dog show it all disappears. The team immediately starts to investigate. This is the first of a five part story. You get to know the characters and the crime is set up to continue in the next book. Will they find the missing paintings? Will the solve the case? Or will the killers looking for Piper put a stop to all of it? Tune in next week for the next chapter.

[Shannon M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piper, who is still in hiding and cannot return to Chicago, and the Delta Queens have taken their crime solving in the first series to a new level when they open their own private investigation agency in Savory, Alabama. When another crime is committed locally, Piper and the girls are off and running to try to solve it.

While I liked the first series, I found Piper completely unlikable this time around. I didn't like the way she acted and/or spoke when she didn't care for a situation she found herself in. I found myself wanting to yell at her for being rude and obnoxious. I do love the Delta Queens and the quaint town of Savory but that's about it this time around.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper has joined the Delta Queens to form the Queen Bees Private Eyes agency and opened a storefront on Main Street. To her dismay, her past boss has sent an unlikely bodyguard to protect her! Their first cast is to solve the mystery of what has been happening to upset the cows on Haywood Farms! Later they decide to attend the Bancroft Kennel Dog Show, held at the fabulous Bancroft mansion, and while they are there a robbery occurs. It’s always a hoot to watch these ladies try to solve cases! This is part of of a series of short stories. I received a free copy from BookSprout and the author, and write this review voluntarily.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

McSpade hits the ground running with the next series of books about Piper/Sharon. I think this one honestly moves at a faster pace than Hashbrowns and Homicide - I liked it. We're introduced to a new character, Gemma, whose skills as bodyguard have yet to be demonstrated. If Piper could have her way, she'd have Gemma out of Savory last week. It will be interesting to see how their 'working relationship' will develop (or not) as Deep Fried Revenge continues.

Masterpiece artworks that disappear; hidden tunnels; suspicious staff. This book has a fabulous beginning!

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

[Barbara Williams]

Love the new series of Bacon, Bodyguards and Ballistics, Piper and her accomplices are just as crazy, eccentric and as funny as ever, the only negative couple of things I find is each book is too short, you just get into the swing of the plots and wham mo that episode is finished, and the time line between the release of each book and leaving a review, in my opinion, is much to long, which causes me to have to refresh my memory of that book. but apart from that, this new series is so far turning out to be a very enjoyable read. I do recommend it for its tenacity and humour, even if we have to wait a considerable amount of time between each book for the continuation of the story.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad are Ready for Action

Piper and Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad set up their own office as private investigators and are looking forward to their first case. They try to find out who stole 20 valuable paintings from Henry Hughes’s estate, and he is livid. This leads them down the proverbial rabbit hole to find the culprits.

There is definitely a lot going on in this book with the different scenarios but quite a bit of action and suspense. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics! Even the title you in as you wonder how in the world can these three B's possibly connect in any sane way. So you read the first couple of paragraphs and you're hooked! You need to know what is coming! Karen MySpade has a way of keeping you wanting more with reach turn of a page.

I received an ARC copy from the author but the opinion expressed here is my own.

This is a laugh out loud cozy mystery. I can't wait to read the next book in the Deep Fried Revenge Series.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics is a fun, entertaining story with great quirky characters. This series has a new character, Gemma, that is adding to the entertainment. I enjoy the way Karen McSpade intertwines mystery and humor throughout the book. The banter of the Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad is a lot of fun! I think the Queen Bee’s Private Eyes Agency will give us quite the adventure as they work to solve the crimes in Savory. As an added bonus to the storyline, there are some wonderful recipes at the end of the book. I can’t wait for the next installment of the series.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newly formed Queen Bees Private Eyes Agency is investigating crimes in Savory, Alabama. When Sharon and her retired lady cohorts start investigating cow tipping I howled. It was a fun start to this new series. When Sharon's uncle sends her a bodyguard from Chicago to protect her from her former colleagues they take an immediate disliking to each other. When20 priceless paintings are stolen at a local dog show heald in large estate that is when the Queen Bees go into action. I especially enjoy the recipes at the end of each segment of the series and look forward to the next installment.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting was masterfully described and the clues dribbled sparingly. There really isn't even a good hint of whodunit in this novel. Savory's version of the Golden Girls are looking forward to their first case as investigators, but none of them expected it to be a case involving stolen priceless art. A rather abrupt change of scenes from Piper's search in an Alabama estate to that of her friend's apartment in Chicago. It through me completely off until the "I" was revealed to be someone other than Piper.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a fun, quirky, quick read about a former Chicago police detective hiding out in a small town in Alabama. While there, Piper posing as Sharon, joins forces with the Delta Queens, a former rock group, to start the Queen Bees Private Detective Agency.

The characters are colorful and the story moves along. This is the first installment in the series. If I had bought the book this would have been offputting to me. But since I received a free copy for an honest review, I'm ok with that.

I think anyone that enjoys female sleuths and a splash of romance would enjoy this book series.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper Sandstone, aka Sharon Sanders, is back for another series of short reads. She has joined forces with the Dentures and Diamonds Crime Squad, a group of retired ladies who were formerly a rock band, and they have just opened up Queen Bee's Private Eyes. A new character joins the group when Piper's uncle sends Gemma to be Piper's bodyguard! Business has been a little slow but that's to be expected with a new business. Everything changes though when $20 million worth of paintings is stolen in the middle of the Bancroft Kennel Club Dog Show! Let the action and laughter begin!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An undercover cop, four quirky senior sleuths, a pesky bodyguard, and a murderer on the loose...
When an art heist ends in murder, can an undercover cop and her senior crime-fighting gal pals catch the killer before she gets marked off the hit list? Packed with mystery and suspense and brimming with heart and humor, Bacon, Bodyguards, and Ballistics is an absolutely gripping and laugh-out-loud culinary whodunit in the Deep Fried Revenge series
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Piper and the Diamond and Denture Ladies are opening up their own private investigators business, the Queen Bee's Private Eyes. Little did Piper know, but her uncle back in Chicago has sent her a bodyguard -- Gemma Bianchi. A 5 foot nothing pain in Piper's side. Things really go wrong when they are attending the annual dog show that ended up in being a huge art heist worth millions. Are the girls ready to tackle a job of this magnitude? I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Doty Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, the "Diamond and Denture (+ 1 club)", gals have found a way to make money off
their "nosiness" and their ability to put the puzzle pieces. By starting a P.I. Business.
Read these books in order, you will fall in love with these gals. Who know better than to get involved,
with a Detective's investigation-and can't help themselves. Usually putting it together.
before the Detective and Police department can!
fast paced and totally relaxing to get into the -Whodunnit!