This Halloween, pie shop proprietor Val Harris must patch together clues to solve a murder by pumpkin . . . As the owner of Pie Town, Val’s been tapped to judge the pie making contest at the annual pumpkin festival in the coastal California town of San Nicholas. Things could get sticky though—her boyfriend, cop Gordon Carmichael, is entering the competition with his “special” family pumpkin pie … pie recipe. But Val’s got bigger problems than a conflict of interest when she and her flaky piecrust-maker Charlene discover another contestant crushed under an enormous pumpkin. When grudge-holding Chief Shaw comes up with a half-baked reason to toss Carmichael off the case and onto the suspect list, it’s up to Val and Charlene to find the tricky killer. But as they dodge lethal pumpkin cannons and follow the clues into a figurative and literal maze, the pie pals are in for the scariest Halloween of their lives—and it may be their last . . .
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It’s Halloween in San Nicholas and that means it’s time for the Pumpkin Festival. It’s Val’s first Pumpkin Festival but it’s sure to be a memorable one after she and Charlene find the dead body of one of the town’s eye doctors dead under a giant pumpkin. As usual, Val’s boyfriend Gordon is disqualified from handling the case because it was his uncle’s pumpkin that was found on top of the dead boy. However, that doesn’t stop him from recruiting Val, Charlene, and the rest of the Baker Street Bakers from helping him work the case behind the scenes. The characters in this series are fun and quirky, with the addition of Val’s stepmother Takako. I enjoyed the addition of her character because while she was often the voice of reason, she also could join in the hijinks. The mystery was not overly complex, with only about three really viable suspects to choose from. That doesn’t mean the author made it easy to figure out the identity of the killer. Throw in the distractions with the locals from the next town over trying to one-up the hijinks of the citizens of San Nicholas in a standoff of competing pumpkin festivals and there were enough distractions to throw me off the scent of the killer.
This is a fun series with quirky characters and a great setting. The characters and developing and growing and I like the introduction of a few new secondary characters here and there. It’s a good Halloween themed read.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions are my own.
The Baker Street Bakers are at it again! Its a great book to read during the Halloween/Fall season. I hope there’s more in store for Pie Town.
A fun fall-themed book! Val and her co-worker and friend, Charlene, are checking out the setting up for the pumpkin festival. When they reach the giant pumpkins, the discover one is lying atop the dead body of local eye doctor, Dr. Kara Levant. The police chief, who seems to have an issue with Val’s boyfriend, Detective Gordon Carmichael, pulls him off the case. With Gordon off the case, it’s up to the Baker Street Bakers to find out who killed Dr. Levant. Val’s half-brother, Doran’s, mother also comes for a visit and helps Val and Charlene with the investigation. During the investigation, Val is attacked in the haunted house, a truck runs Val and Charlene off the road, and a pumpkin is shot from the pumpkin cannon directly at the spot where Val is standing near. Some of the older townspeople think that the town of San Adrian is behind some of the incidents and things start to get out of hand. I enjoyed this book and really liked meeting Doran’s mother. I’d love to see more of this series with more of Takeko and more of Val and Gordon’s relationship and her friendship with Charlene!
Gourd to Death (Pie Town Mystery #5)
Kristen Weiss
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. Although it can be read as a standalone, reading the books in order will give a better experience in reading this well loved series. If you are looking for the perfect cozy mystery that is fall themed – this is the one for you. I enjoyed this a lot and got me in the mood for fall – the pumpkin patches, fall festivals and everything fall themed. I loved reading about Val the owner of Pie Town and Charlene her side kick make the best sleuthing duo. The writing was enjoyable and highly entertaining and makes for the best page turner for me and a wonderful escape read I highly recommend. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a must read and cannot be missed.
Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss is the 5th book in the Pie Town Mystery series. I recommend reading all the books in order as they follow the same main characters who grow through each book. This series is one of my favorites and while I’m a little late in my review (I got an ARC before it released), I’m glad I finally carved out time to read it as it’s . Pumpkin patches, corn field mazes, fall festivals and so much more make this book what it is and I could practically smell the apple pies baking while reading! Val and Charlene make the perfect sleuthing duo and watching them get in (and out) of messes is a blast to watch. I laughed quite a few times as this isn’t only a murder mystery (light, of course as it’s a cozy) but because there is a ton of humor peppered throughout the pages (mainly from Charlene). In this one, these two are racing to find out who killed the local optometrist who was found beneath a HUGE PUMPKIN!
As I mentioned, this is one of my favorite cozy series and therefore, I recommend it to all those who love the genre. While this one lagged a little in the middle for me, it’s such a great story and I can’t wait to read the next one.
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Here comes Fall and Halloween plans are in full swing for the Pumpkin Festival in San Nicholas. In the next town over plans are also underway to out do whatever San Nicholas can come up with. One thing that wasn’t planned was homicide by giant pumpkin, one that was a possible contest winner. Val’s boyfriend, Gordon is taken off the case because the murderous pumpkin belonged to his uncle. When he is sidelined from the investigation, Gordon asks Val and the Baker Street Bakers to help him catch the killer by conducting his own investigation. This group of sleuths is a real hoot and the killer will be caught.
The characters in this series are some of my favorites, just what I need these days. The laughter is the best medicine for what ails me. Now I’m craving pumpkin pie and lots of whipped cream….starting with breakfast. As for the mystery, it was solid and well crafted, leaving me a satisfied reader.
My thanks to the publisher, Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Val is gearing up for the upcoming Pumpkin Festival, she has even agreed to be a judge for the Pumpkin Pie making contest. Even her boyfriend is getting into things and will be entering a pie into the contest. Val and Charlene decide to take a look at the booths and what all is going on before the festival opens to the public. When the two find their way to the giant pumpkins to see who might have a winning entry they discover a body under one of them. Chief Shaw decides to head the investigation pushing Val’s Detective boyfriend to the side. The Chief isn’t very good at his job leaving Val and Charlene to start their own investigation. They soon find that there is danger around every corner and they must act quickly before someone else ends up dead. Follow along as they question witnesses, enjoy the festival, and try to vanquish their enemies! This was a fun read filled with odd but definitely likable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing.
Gourd to Death earns 5/5 Pumpkin Predicaments…Engaging Fun!
Kirsten Weiss is a favorite author, blogger, and all-around tarot resource, and she’s added a fifth book to her popular Pie Town Mystery series with cooler weather, plenty of outdoor festivities, and of course, pumpkins! It’s Halloween in St. Nicholas, California, and residents are ready for the Pumpkin Festival. It’s also Pie Town owner Val Harris’s first pumpkin pie contest, but she’s a bit taken aback by the fact her boyfriend and detective Gordon Carmichael is also a contestant. The situation is made worse by the discovering of the dead body of another contestant crushed under an oversized pumpkin. Due to the fact the pumpkin belonged to Gordon’s uncle and Chief Shaw is jealous of the “hero” status Gordon received in the press, he’s unceremoniously and brusquely removed from the case. Not so fast…How better to investigate, however unofficially, than to enlist Val and her pie crust wizard/sleuthing partner Charlene and the Baker Street Bakers, but of course not without some delicious peril. Never thought a pumpkin pie contest could be so murderous an event.
Kirsten Weiss’s story follows the traditional cozy formula that has made me a fan; the crime occurs quickly putting the investigation at the center of the drama, cleverness and humor are common elements. The well-paced drama is also quite engaging well beyond competitors in a pie contest or sabotage from a nearby town, and with two felonies to investigate, the danger doubles, too. Weiss’s writing style is very entertaining with descriptive language to fill the reader’s senses and dialogue that illustrates well the emotions and personalities. I enjoy Val and her interactions with Carmichael; Charlene seems more comic relief and Chief Shaw is just…a pain, but both are important characters as contrast to Val and Gordon. Bonus! Weiss included a marvelous treat for pumpkin lovers: Val’s Pumpkin Bread!
Cozy Pumpkin Festival Mystery
This book is 5th in the series and stands alone quite nicely. This episode takes place during the Pumpkin Festival weekend. The rival town has its festival the following week and things get sticky! The rivalry gets way out of hand, but caused the murders? It is a fun story with lots of humor and childish behavior. My cheeks hurt from smiling. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Love these characters in this series. I can relate to Charlene, not that I can make a great pie crust, but I often times forget how old I am. I think she is a hoot! This book definitely has some interesting people, and of course that makes for great reading. If you like Halloween stories, I think you’ll enjoy this one as much as I did. Who doesn’t love a festival? I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Book 5 in the Pie Town Mystery series. A really fun cozy mystery with plenty of fall feelings and adventure. Poor Val has been roped into being a judge for the pie contest at the Pumpkin festival but it doesn’t go smoothly! Her boyfriend is entering so that is a conflict for her to deal with add in jealousy in other contestants throw in a squished dead contestant and a long list of suspects it makes for some enjoyable reading.
The Pie Town series is so well written, fans of any sort of food show on tv will appreciate the attention to all details. It’s fall, so Val is tapped to be a judge in a pie contest at a pumpkin festival. The unusual weapon that crushes a contestant to death has both Val and her buddy Charlene ready to suss out suspects and motives.