Pie With A Side of Murder
Dollycas's Thoughts
Leila Khoury, manager of Sappy Endings Maple Syrup Farm in Sugar Ridge, Vermont has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Her relationship with Noah is moving along nicely and her relationship with his daughter Emma continues to grow. The family farm is doing well but she is looking for ways to increase business and bring more visitors to the farm. This year the Sappy Endings Farm is kicking off the holiday season with a pie-baking contest. While there was a little confusion about where to drop off the pies, the judges were ready and there were some sweet samples on hand for the entrants and all the people attending to enjoy.
Then Leila was called away from the event and one very pushy neighbor took it upon herself to step in to do a little judging. It was a terrible decision because the pie she sampled was laced with poison. Margaret Middleton had taken her last bite of pie and now the Sappy Endings Farm could go out of business. Leila can't let that happen. With the farm on the line, Leila sets out to find the killer. She soon comprehends that Margaret wasn't the intended victim. The killer is after her.
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I really enjoy the maple syrup theme for this cozy series. With each book, I learn more about tapping the trees, the syrup-making process, and the sweet treats that can be made with it including maple sugar.
Ms. Bruns has created an excellent core cast of characters including Leila, her mother, her best friend Heather, Noah, and his daughter Emma. Her mother has a hard time keeping an assistant to bake and work with at the cafe. In this story, Leila hires a new one who hits it off right away with her mom, taking a little pressure off Leila. The relationship Leila has with her mother continues to evolve. Noah and Leila are preparing to take a big step after the holidays but his daughter Emma has an unexpected reaction. All these relationships make these characters authentic and true to life. I had some issues with Leila a few times throughout this series, but I truly have been invested in all the character's lives from the beginning and am happy with how they continue to grow.
The author has penned a well-plotted and well-written mystery with many twists and turns that kept the pages turning. The actual guilty party was on my suspect list but not at the top. The author gave all the right clues to keep her moving up, but I never imagined it would play out in such a suspenseful showdown or how the cavalry would be called in. I found myself on the edge of my seat reading those pages. I loved that Detective Barnes actually gave credit to Leila for finding Margaret's killer. That doesn't happen often.
After all the details of the mystery were revealed and wrapped up, the characters had a heartwarming Thanksgiving dinner and a delightful surprise. It generated a great big "Aw"! Be sure to check out the recipes for some pies you may want to try this holiday season. They all have tempted my tastebuds.
In the Blink of a Pie is an extraordinary and entertaining read with a true focus on family. The characters are engaging, the mystery unique, and the setting so perfect for this time of year. I am eager for this series to continue. I can't wait for my next visit to Sugar Ridge, Vermont, and the Sappy Endings Farm. I do wish the books came with some maple candies to sample. :-)
