Brenda H. (booksinvt) - , reviewed on 2/20/2024 + 465 more book reviews

A Pie to Die For is the debut of the Lucky Pie Mystery series set on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan and featuring baker and pie shop owner, Este March. It's late Fall which means that the island will close up shop to tourists, the ferry stops running from the mainland and only the locals will be left on the island during the winter months.

Este is looking forward to receiving the produce order from Evergreen Produce that will carry her through the winter. However, a chance encounter at the General Store leads Este to meet Jeff Kelly the new produce distributor. Este discovers Jeff arguing with proprietor Bruno, and she is not impressed with the brash, obnoxious man. When he shows up later that afternoon at the backdoor of the Lucky Pie Diner, Este's even more annoyed to discover that not only is 1/2 of her order missing but the prices have doubled.

The next morning Este as she arrives at the diner she finds Sheriff Tom Cunningham waiting on her porch. Jeff Kelly had made it back to his boat, but was not going to be leaving the island alive. Fingers begin pointing at Este as the killer since she was overheard arguing with the man the day before, but Este knows that she's not guilty so she sets out to clear her name and save the family business.

While the mystery had potential, the story itself fell a little flat. Things just didn't flow or make much sense. Este spends little to no time with her Grampy who ran the diner before her and lives in the house next to her cottage. There is constant mention of the lucky pies and their magical powers but we don't ever learn how they help anyone who receives them. A little too much detail on the cooking and recipes and the ending just seemed thrown together and abrupt. However, I will give the series a second try in hopes that the author settles in with her characters.

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