Amy Ridley loves to cook and really loves to compete. She decides to enter the Kellerton Summer Festival Pie Contest to feed her obsessions. Unfortunately, she comes across a very dead Mandy Jo...the reigning champion. Amy decides to look into the murder and finds that most of the town disliked Mandy Jo. There are suddenly so many possible suspects to distract Amy from her cooking. She turns to her best friend Carla for advice and a bit of grounding, and together they try to solve the mystery.
I love Gradowski's ability to take a serious issue like murder, and somehow turn it into a light and humorous novel. I also love her complete immersion in everything food, and her ability to make me hungry with description. For example...
"The crust was golden brown. Every slice of apple was exactly the same thickness. The crumble was so buttery and delicate it would've made a real pastry chef jealous."
I think that I am also going to enjoy making some of the recipes that she adds to her story.
Yes, I think it is time for you all to read Pies & Perils while I go bake an apple pie.
- Bev
Publisher - Gemma Halliday Publishing
Date of Publication - July 4, 2014