Beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is known for seafood, sand, surf, and, now…murder. Samantha Barnes was always a foodie. And when the CIA (that’s the Culinary Institute of America) came calling, she happily traded in Cape Cod for the Big Apple. But then the rising young chef’s clash with another chef (her ex!) boils over and goes viral. So when Sam inherits a house on the Cape and lands a … on the Cape and lands a job writing restaurant reviews, it seems like the perfect pairing. What could go wrong? Well, as it turns out, a lot.
The dilapidated house comes with an enormous puppy. Her new boss is, well, bossy. And the town’s harbor master is none other than her first love. Nonetheless, Sam’s looking forward to reviewing the Bayview Grill—and indeed the seafood chowder is divine. But the body in the pond outside the eatery was not on the menu. Sam is certain this is murder. But as she begins to stir the pot, is she creating a recipe for her own untimely demise?
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
Amy Pershing gets the credit for my first book hangover of 2021.
I started reading and just couldn’t stop.
Samantha Barnes was a rising star in the New York food scene but one little pesky argument, okay, one big argument that was caught on video and uploaded on YouTube with her ex, also a notable chef has left her without a job.
Then her Aunt Ida passes away and leaves her a home on the Cape. The home also comes with a very large puppy dog named Dioge (D-O-G). A friend has taken over the editor position at the local paper, once held by Sam’s father. She gives Sam a job reviewing local restaurants. Sam also gets back in contact with some old friends. She almost doesn’t have time to miss her life in New York, but she does. She steps outside of a restaurant she is reviewing, one where she used to work, to contemplate her life when she notices a body floating in the water. An accidental drowning? Sam sure doesn’t think so. She may land herself in hot water but it can’t hurt to ask a few questions, can it?
I loved everything about this story starting with protagonist Samantha Barnes. She shows immediately she is not a woman to be messed with. She is tall, (very tall), smart, brave, and caring and she is not only fun but funny with a fantastic sense of humor. The author surrounds her with a stellar supporting cast including her first love, Jason, who now happens to be the harbormaster, her aunt’s friend and neighbor who quickly becomes a true friend of Sam’s, her friends she has known forever, and one huge, lovable dog. Her parents have retired to Florida but they are just a phone call away. These characters have so much depth for the first book in the series. I felt like I personally knew every one of them. All are very realistic, their dialogues ring true, including Sam’s inner dialogues which I really enjoyed.
I also fell in love with Aunt Ida’s home with a spectacular view. I loved that when the house got too big for Ida to handle she added an ell to the main home. A little mother’s cottage or aunt’s cottage in Ida’s case. Space for everything she needed and perfect for one person and their dog. Perfect for Sam now too because she can use space in the main house for when she wants to entertain like for her traditional Sunday meal with friends. I wish I had a place like Aunt Ida’s, it would be perfect for me too.
The mystery was so well-plotted and written. Filled with an abundance of twists and turns there was always something happening. The author really shows her writing chops. For example, I have never been in a sailboat but her dramatic detailed account of Sam’s heart-pounding adventure transported me out of my chair and onto that lake, moving my feet, stretching my body, and tilting side to side as I participated from my easy chair. The entire book was like that. I really felt like I was there for each and every scene.
The food prepared, eaten, and delightfully described tempted my taste buds the entire story. The author’s tips included added a nice touch.
Amy Pershing has written a spectacular cozy mystery. I was totally captivated and entertained from the first page to the last. So much so I want to shout about it from the rooftops! Daily life, suspense, comedy, and a touch of romance come together to make A Side of Murder a must-read for all cozy lovers!!
Samantha Barnes, Sam to her friends, grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but left to go to culinary school and become a famous chef. Thanks to an inheritance and a new job writing about food in the area for a local paper, she is back. Her first assignment is to review a new restaurant in town, but the good food is quickly forgotten when she finds a dead body floating in the water next to the restaurant. The police think it was an accident. After all, the victim was a known drunk, so she could have easily fallen in and drown. Sam thinks something more sinister is happening. Can she prove it?
There is a good mystery here, and I enjoyed seeing how Sam figured everything out. Unfortunately, there is just as much set up, introducing us to the people in Sam’s life and filling us in on her past. The result was a pace that was uneven. I did still enjoy it since I liked Sam and the supporting characters. We saw hints of the depths to the characters that I’m sure we’ll see more of in future books in the series. I was bothered by a cliché that several of the characters fell into, however, especially since it doesn’t fit one of the characters at all. The book ends with recipes for a suggested four-course casual dinner with friends. Overall, I enjoyed this virtual vacation debut.
A delicious mystery lovingly set in Cape Cod featuring a cast of charming characters. Amy Pershing writes with a fresh fun voice that will delight cozy fans. Chef turned restaurant critic, Samantha Barnes, proves a clever sleuth whose helpful cooking tips will be a big hit with culinary readers.
This author has a keen mind. Such a good read!
One of the best new books I’ve read in a while.
The Cape Cod Foodie Mystery is a great new cozy mystery series with likable interesting characters, friendship, potential romance, and an intriguing cozy mystery. Samantha Barnes is a chef in NYC but she gets in a feud with her ex and it goes viral. So when Sam inherits her Great Aunt Ida’s house on Cape Cod and lands a job writing restaurant reviews, she decides a change would be ideal. The house she inherits needs some work plus it comes with a large rambunctious puppy. Her high school crush, Jason, is now the Harbormaster. What was she thinking moving here? But Sam makes the best of it until she can sell the house. While sampling some seafood chowder, Sam finds an unpopular local who appears to have drowned but Sam isn’t convinced. She begins to poke around to find out what happened but it puts Sam in danger. Sam, her neighbor Helena, her friends and Jason are great characters and at times add humor and heart. The mystery was intriguing and unpredictable with a couple of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing until the very end.. This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery and a wonderful start to a new series! I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an honest review. #NetGalley #ASideOfMurder #BerkleyPublishing
I really enjoyed this great debut from Amy Pershing. The story felt fresh and made me want to go to Cape Cod. I loved Samantha and her backstory, and all of her cooking tips! I was so captured by this book that I couldn’t put it down. The mystery was intriguing and I loved the characters and the town. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
A SIDE OF MURDER by Amy Pershing
The First Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
After inheriting her aunt’s house, Chef Samantha Barnes returns to Cape Cod. The timing is perfect as it allows Sam to hide from the notoriety of the viral video of her fight with another chef, the man who is now her ex-husband. Though she considers her stint on the Cape short term, flipping the house and moving on, Sam soon finds herself owning a dog and writing foodie pieces for the local paper. But Sam soon finds herself enmeshed in life on the Cape after she finds a dead body. Though the police deem it an accidental death, Sam is troubled by inconsistencies and decides she may want to report on more than food. Now Sam is coming to grips with her past and learning to live in the present as she searches for answers. Will she find a murderer, or will a murderer find her?
A SIDE OF MURDER is a story about finding your purpose in life. It’s about discovering where you belong as well as celebrating food and friendship. It’s also a story about lessons. Even when bad things happen, you can learn from it and find a better path; perhaps the path you were meant to be on.
The first Cape Cod Mystery is more of a traditional mystery than a cozy. Though there is nothing graphic, there are some unpleasant details and violence against animals. (Don’t worry, cozy rules for the dog are applied.) I really liked the characters. Despite her faults Sam is a likeable protagonist. She’s strong, albeit perhaps a bit headstrong, and tends to use juvenile sounding slang, making me question her age…or perhaps mine. I adore Diogi and Helene is my favorite human in the bunch, with her avant garde look and down to earth wisdom. The descriptive talk about food made my mouth water-and I don’t even like seafood! I am still drooling over the lamb and wish I could have joined Sunday dinner.
Using first person point of view, Sam often gives asides to the reader, either sharing cooking tips or commenting about things to come with foreknowledge. While I appreciate the cooking tips, adding them to the narrative slows the momentum of the story. Sam doesn’t need to give readers hints that something bad is going to happen either. The mystery itself was complex with lots of twists and turns along with more than one surprise!
The author’s love for food, cooking, and sailing shines through giving the mystery plenty of Cape Cod flavor and a definite sense of place. A SIDE OF MURDER is a delicious start to a new series and I look forward to Sam’s continuing adventures.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
After her time in the Big Apple comes to a crashing and burning end, Samantha Barnes finds her way back to Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. She inherits her great aunt’s house on the Cape, and this is her chance to start over. Life on the Cape doesn’t begin exactly how she’d imagined it would when she discovers the house is a hot mess, her new job has some quirks, she’s apparently also inherited a dog, and the harbormaster is a guy from her past.
The ultimate downer though, is the body she finds floating in the water outside of a restaurant she’d been critiquing. A sleuth Samantha is not but she gives it a go when she’s certain the drowning was not accidental. As she searches for clues, Samantha unearths a lot more than she expected. she uncovers secrets, blackmail, and lies running rampant through town.
A Side of Murder is a delightful first book in the Cape Cod Foodie series by Amy Pershing. The author did a wonderful job establishing the setting of this cozy mystery. Her world-building was complex but easily envisioned as the reader goes on this journey with Samantha. The descriptions are captivating, and really wanted to vacation in Cape Cod after finishing the book.
There are sparks between Sam and Jason. I’m going to love watching them dance around each other until the author finds the right time to bring them together. All the characters are enjoyable, and I loved Sam’s neighbor, Helene. The name of Sam’s inherited puppy is cute, too. Diogi (D O G) is precious, and I love it.
The mystery is solid and mildly complex. The author throws in a few potential suspects, some twists and turns, and red herrings. Sam’s amateur sleuthing debut is a hit and I enjoyed her every bit of the way through the mystery. The author did a great job writing a cozy mystery that will pull the reader in and keep them engaged throughout the entire book. I look forward to reading the next book.
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed reading “A Side of Murder”!
If you are looking for a wonderful cozy mystery to read. Here’s the perfect book for you! The characters are wonderful!
There is humor, surprises, suspense, twist and turns and a page turner from the beginning to end! Very very good!!!
“A Side of Murder”, the first in the new Cape Cod Foodie mysteries, is a delightful debut. The series focuses on Samantha “Sam” Barnes, a chef who has temporarily returned to her home in Cape Cod after an embarrassing video of a confrontation with her ex goes viral. Sam’s inherited a house from her great-aunt and figures she’ll lay low while selling the house. When a friend offers her a part time job reviewing restaurants, Sam takes the job and visits the Bayview Grill as her first review. Things turn serious when she spots a dead body floating in the pond.
I really really like this story. Sam is a fun protagonist who has a somewhat snarky sense of humor. She narrates the story while often lapsing into parenthetical comments including cooking tips that are very useful. Author Amy Pershing has surrounded Sam with a wonderful friend group including her best friends Jenny and Miles; Helene, the librarian who favors colorful clothing and dispenses wine and wisdom, and finally Diogi, the dog that comes with the house. Diogi is a delightful pooch, perhaps overly enthusiastic, but since he is a puppy, he is learning.
The mystery has plenty of suspects, many of them from Sam’s past life on Cape Cod, which makes the investigation difficult at times. I appreciated the complexity of the mystery and the multiple twists and turns the story took. Sam and her friends are fun to hang out with and I am very much looking forward to future installments in the series, including “An Eggnog to Die For”, coming out in November 2021. Oh, and did I mention the recipes at the end of the book? They include clam chowder and onion rings – perfect for having friends over.
I LOVED this book! I loved the characters and loved how each character was casually but fully introduced. I was trying to figure out who my favorite was and couldn’t, but I have high expectations of really enjoying more of Helene. While this was another cozy mystery where a young woman starting over in her life goes back home to where she was raised, for some reason it just felt different. Sam made us feel at home too.
Samantha “Sam” Barnes reluctantly returns to her small hometown in Cape Cod after her life as a chef in New York City goes bust – as does her marriage after a nasty viral video with her now ex! She has inherited her Aunt Ida’s old house on the Cape – which apparently also comes with an oversized puppy named Diogi! Sam isn’t sure she wants to stay in a town with so many memories of her younger years. Things start to change as she meets up with a few old friends. Then as she takes a brief break to get some air after dinner with them, she comes across a body floating in the water by the dock of the restaurant. Seems the dead woman had made a number of enemies over the years but which one of them hated her enough to kill her? Can Sam fit the pieces together before the killer comes after her?
Sam is an interesting and resilient character Her friends, Jenny, Miles and Krista are there to support her – each in their own way. Sam’s next door neighbor Helene is a remarkably resourceful and wise woman who always seems to appear when Sam needs her the most! Sam’s teen crush Jason is now the harbormaster but their past is a bit complicated. This core group is a great mix of personalities and diverse abilities/life experiences.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and particularly loved the wit and snark! I laughed out loud several times and in later sections shed a few tears. As for the “who done it”? It could have been one of several viable suspects and Ms Pershing deserves full credit for keeping the tides changing as to who actually did it! Well done! Can’t wait to read the 2nd in this series when it comes out in November 2021
I enjoyed everything about this charming debut cozy, from the lush descriptions of Cape Cod to the quirky and well-sketched characters–including an oversized dog with a heart to match–who populated the book. The cooking tips inserted throughout the chapters were so much fun (and helpful!), and I loved the way the re-ignited feelings between protagonist Samantha Barnes and the harbormaster simmered at exactly the right pace. The twisty resolution took me quite by surprise, and the ending was deliciously satisfying. I’ve already preordered book two in the series!
I have heard so many great things about A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing, so I finally decided to check it out, and I was not disappointed! The first book in A Cap Code Foodie Mystery was fantastic. I was blown away by the detail that Pershing went into in regards to the Cape Cod area and the food. You can feel the love Pershing has for the area, and I felt like I was right there with her enjoying all the community has to offer.
For that alone I would recommend A Side of Murder, but add in very well developed characters and A Side of Murder is a perfect cozy mystery. Sam’s group of friends all have such unique personalities. Her next door neighbor, Helene, is a librarian with a rich past, and might be my favorite. I’m excited to find out more about the previous lives she has lived. And Diogi, her rambunctious puppy, is so cute.
Pershing gave the reader plenty of red herrings and twists, and the final showdown was like something out of a thriller. Add in the great support of all Sam’s friends and it was a wonderful conclusion to A Side of Murder. I am looking forward to book two, An Eggnog to Die For, which comes out at the beginning of November 2021.
A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing is the debut of A Cape Code Foodie Mystery series. Samantha “Sam” Barnes is a chef who is returning home to Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. Sam’s professional and personal life in New York City derailed after a passerby posted a video on You-tube of an argument between Sam and her fiery tempered husband. When she learns she has inherited her Great-Aunt Ida’s home, Sam decides to head back to Cape Code temporarily. She gets a job at the Cape Cod Clarion writing restaurant reviews and food features. Her first assignment takes Sam and her friends to the Bayview Grille. After dinner, Sam takes a walk outside where she finds Estelle Kobolt dead in the water. The death is ruled accidental, but Sam’s instinct tells her it is murder. Sam decides to do a little digging on her own to see who wished Estelle dead. A Side of Murder is easy to read with mixed pacing. The author took the time to establish the setting of Fair Harbor in Cape Code. There are beautiful descriptions of the beach plus detailed word images of the food, Great-Aunt Ida’s house, and Diogi. We get to meet Sam’s childhood friends, Miles and Jenny along with the editor-in-chief of the Cape Cod Clarion, Krista Baker and Sam’s neighbor, Helene Greenberg. The mystery was straightforward with a couple of suspects, misdirection, and subtle clues. I would have liked more time devoted to the mystery and for it to be more complex. The whodunit is focused on more in the latter half of the book. My favorite phrase from A Side of Murder is, “Danger Will Robinson” when Krista charms Sam into taking the job at the paper. There is romance for Sam in the form of an old crush. They are attracted to each other and there is chemistry between them. A Side of Murder is a breezy cozy mystery with fine food, a cute canine, an insistent editor-in-chief, fun friends, a gone guzzler, a hunky harbormaster, and a beautiful beach.
I loved this book and wish I could give it more stars. When the heroine in a cozy mystery runs off on her own without telling anyone where she is going, convinced she is right and everyone else is too dumb to see it and she corners the murderer I lose interest in her well-being and the story. This started started going in that direction but then evolved into so much more. The mystery was great, it kept me guessing till the end. The characters were “fleshed out” and the cooking tips were very informative. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I really enjoyed reading this cozy. Sam returns home to Cape Cod after a failed marriage and career. She takes a temporary job writing restaurant reviews for the local newspaper. On her first assignment she discovers a body. When everyone thinks it is an accident she is not so sure. Her High School crush has also returned home and is now Harbor Patrol. Now they are both working together to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed the Cape Cod setting and the food tips. I liked that the supporting cast of characters is diverse in ages and backgrounds. The book does suffer from some first book syndrome as the author tries to describe everything. The mystery was good with some surprises. I look for word to reading the next book in the series. Enjoy
An enjoyable mystery with characters I would like to meet.
This is an excellent cozy mystery. I could not believe that this was the first book for this author. I loved how the characters fit together and the base storyline of Sam. I look forward to the next book and many more to come.