Featured on Buzzfeed Books! In the first in New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon’s Kitchen Witch series, Mia Malone is starting over in Magic Springs, Idaho—where murder is on the menu . . . What’s a kitchen witch to do when her almost-fiancé leaves her suddenly single and unemployed? For Mia Malone, the answer’s simple: move to her grandmother’s quirky Idaho hometown, where magic is … grandmother’s quirky Idaho hometown, where magic is an open secret and witches and warlocks are (mostly) welcome. With a new gourmet dinner delivery business—and a touch of magic in her recipes—Mia’s hopes are high. Even when her ex’s little sister, Christina, arrives looking for a place to stay, Mia takes it in stride.
But her first catering job takes a distasteful turn when her client’s body is found, stabbed and stuffed under the head table. Mia’s shocked to learn that she’s a suspect—and even more so when she realizes she’s next on a killer’s list. With Christina, along with Mia’s meddling grandma, in the mix, she’ll have to find out which of the town’s eccentric residents has an appetite for murder…before this fresh start comes to a sticky end. . . .
Includes Recipes!
Praise for Lynn Cahoon
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly. . . . A wonderfully appealing series.”
—Dru’s Book Musings on the Tourist Trap Mysteries
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ONE POISON PIE by Lynn Cahoon
The First Kitchen Witch Mystery
Mia Malone is not like other witches. She’s a kitchen witch, reveling in food and creating comfort in it. That’s why after leaving her cheating almost fiance and business partner, Mia’s arrived in her grandmother’s hometown of Magic Springs in order to convert the town’s old school house into a cooking school and catering business. But things aren’t off to a smooth start. The developer who also wanted to buy the school has warned her away and Mia’s first customer is murdered before her first event! Mia will have to trust her culinary magick in order to root out the malevolence that’s in Magic Springs.
The magick in the first Kitchen Witch mystery is subtle, making it more realistic. You almost wouldn’t even think of it as a paranormal until the book nears its conclusion. I like getting to know Mia as she struggles with opening a business, being a suspect, being threatened, and not being sure of her own feelings. She has a cadre of good people surrounding her, interesting characters with substance. I hope to learn more about Mr. Darcy. There’s much more to his story and I hope we get to delve into it. There are plenty of bad eggs here, as well as some who come off as hard-boiled, but are really good, deep down. I enjoyed the sparks of romance, even as Mia discounts her attraction, and look forward to getting to know the Major boys much better.
I really love the ending of the novel as it opens a whole doorway for evil to enter. It will be interesting to see what forms the Big Bad will take and watch Mia and her friends prepare for it and ultimately take it on in future books.
ONE POISON PIE is a complex mystery seared with the ties of friendship and family. I look forward to reading more about Mia, her food, and the rest of her magickal world.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
One Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon is the first in a new series around kitchen witch Mia Malone. I love finding new-to-me authors and even better if I can get in on the start of a new series. The idea of a cozy with a touch of paranormal appealed to me, so I took a chance.
Honestly, I’d never heard of a kitchen witch before. In Ms. Cahoon’s world, they are witches that focus on healing and peace. I’m down with that idea. So far, Ms. Cahoon’s paranormal world consists of a few ghosts and little unexplained instances. I’m curious to see it evolved a little more as the series progresses.
Mia’s a likable character. She’s just off a bad relationship and moved closer to be near her grandmother, who is also a witch. She’s starting her own catering business and getting used to being the new person in town. She takes a job from her grandmother’s best friend, who ends up dead, and then the mystery begins.
In all honesty, the mystery was a little weak for me. I didn’t care for the ending and the reason for the murder. I think it came out of left field, and I would have preferred it a little more tidy. But that said, I did enjoy the book. I mean, it’s the first in a series, so there’s a lot of world-building and character introductions. And I really did like all the characters and can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.
If you like cozy mysteries, you might enjoy this one. The kitchen witch theme is interesting, and I was pulled into Ms. Cahoon’s world. I personally wasn’t thrilled with the ending, which is why the book only got 4 stars, but I am hopeful that the series will get better now that the stage is set and less world-building will need to be done.
My review posted at Novels Alive: https://novelsalive.com/2021/02/09/4-star-review-one-poison-pie-by-lynn-cahoon/
*Disclaimer: Won this book on Goodreads. This is the 1st book I have read from Lynn Cahoon. It had a slow beginning an even some slow spots in the middle. But I did enjoy the storyline of a “kitchen witch” Mia Malone starting over in Magic Spring, Idaho where her grandma lives. I was a bit disappointed there was not more “magic” in the story, but maybe the next book will have more? I did like the mix of suspects and a brewing romance with the handsome M.E.
After the breakup with her boyfriend Mia has moved to Idaho where her grandmother lives and is looking toward a new future. She has bought a property and will soon be opening up a Gourmet Dinner Delivery Service. When her exes sister comes to town Mia gives her place to stay along with a job until she can get her life sorted out. She is excited for her first catering job but things take a turn .for the worse when the client is found dead before her party even begins. It soon becomes apparent that she is a suspect and that isn’t a good feeling at all. Mia realizes she must figure out who the killer is before she herself ends up on his list. With her friends and families help she hopes that she can solve this puzzle before more harm is done. This is such a fun new series filled with wonderful characters, A great plot, and a touch of magic to help you believe.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
A wonderful start to a new magical cozy series! Meet Mia a kitchen witch trying to open her own catering/cooking school in the historical school house of Magical Springs. Before she gets even close to opening her Grandma’s BFF hires her to cater her birthday party. This is a very difficult woman to get along with and she loves to change things last minute. Mia is scrambling to get everything together in time but she thinks she pulled it off. The day of the party she arrives early to start cooking only to be interrupted by the discovery of the woman’s body in the ballroom. The sheriff has a vendetta against her so he quickly jumps to place the blame on her when she has no real alibi. This makes things tough so she starts asking around where she learns so much more then she bargained for. This makes for a fantabulous story as it all comes together. With magic at every turn as well as characters you can relate to or even hate it ducks you in until you cannot put it down. A total must read! I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
One Poison Pie is the first full-length book in the Kitchen Witch Mystery series. There is an introductory novella titled Chili Cauldron Curse that introduces you to Mia and Gran. I highly recommend the novella; however, you won’t be too lost by the events in One Poison Pie if you don’t read it first.
Mia has made Magic Springs, Idaho her new home. Her recent building purchase, and subsequent renovation, will soon be home to Mia’s new gourmet catering business. Meanwhile, she already has a client. The very first event Mia has lined up is the birthday party for a local client. After the client changes the menu the day before the party, Mia scrambles to pull everything together. As prep work begins the next morning in the Lodge where the party is taking place, the body of the client is found in the dining room. Now, Mia is a suspect who is also clearly on the killer’s most wanted list.
I enjoyed One Poison Pie. The mystery was tangled up and hard to unravel. Mia may have been a suspect but there are so many other people in the town who are more viable suspects than her. Mia is surrounded by danger and she’s unsure to trust, especially since the one person who should be on her side, a local police officer, doesn’t seem to believe she’s innocent. Police department aside, Mia tries to figure out who wanted her client dead and has their sights now set on her. Mia’s ex, Isaac, also drops back into her life, adding another layer of stress to her life.
One Poison Pie is a well-written story with likable, relatable characters. There is continued character development in the book, allowing the reader to become more familiar with Mia and Grans and get to know them. The world building was creative and allowed the reader to visualize the setting. I’m excited to continue in the world created by the author and look forward to the next novel.
I was provided a copy of this book to read.
“One Poison Pie” is a witchy good time! Filled with sticky, gooey cinnamon buns, fragrant sausage and topped off with the fruity deliciousness of warm pie and coffee, the perfect cozy, magical mystery! Mia Malone is a kitchen witch looking for a fresh start in Magic Springs Idaho. She has no idea her old problems are still following her and oh my, the new ones just seem to be multiplying! When you add in a wonderful grandmother with powers of her own, the hunky Majors’ brothers, Trent and Levi and sweet, lost, secretive Christina (her ex’s sister) poof, you have one big circle of magic! Lynn Cahoon tosses them all into a juicy murder mystery with suspects popping in and out, taking you in a new direction with every page you turn. The plot is brilliant! Before you have even finished the book you will be ready to move to Magic Springs! Thank you so much to Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this fun, witchy, romantic mystery! I loved it!!
One Poison Pie earns 5/5 Witchy Familiars…Engaging and Entertaining Magic!
Opportunity has come knocking, and Mia answered it…her fresh start has begun as a full-time resident of Magic Springs and owner/chef of Mia’s Morsels, a catering and cooking school. Her bid was not the only one made on the property, but her desire to maintain the building’s integrity as a school and not tearing it down to build a shopping center proved the major factor in her getting the property. John Louis, the losing bidder, was not happy, and his disappointment is less sour grapes and more poison apples. There was a long list of renovations to complete before any grand opening, but in the interim, she still landed her first catering client. Her Grans’s best friend, Adele Simpson, is throwing herself a birthday party. The publicity might do well for her new venture and getting supplies helps to establish a professional relationship with local vendors, but at what cost. Adele’s reputation as the “meanest woman in Magic Springs” preceded her, so Mia shouldn’t have been surprised all the last minute changes to the guest list and menu…but hold your tongue and smile, it’s business. Except, Adele has been served a big can of “karma” making Mia’s dream a nightmare!
This is the first full-length novel in her new Kitchen Witch series expanding on her prequel novella, “Chili Cauldron Curse,” with an exciting, sometimes nail-biting, cozy mystery, new and revamped characters, and more insights into Mia’s background, her type of magic, and the town of Magic Springs itself. So much is going on that Mia may regret having left Boise. There are threatening messages, physical attacks, and serious peril from some obvious to surprising directions, and along with ghosts, old stories, and loyalties seriously tested, the final reveal of more than one bad actor made this truly a fun read. Cahoon’s writing style is entertaining and her continued use of a third-person narrative gives readers an outsider’s view along with descriptive language to create a lovely mountain area, several buildings and the Lodge, images of varied characters, and mouthwatering hints to Mia’s culinary treats. The dialogue offers clues, information, and fun banter, but also provides insights into the various characters. I really like the length of this novel which gives Lynn the opportunity to go beyond the cozy crime. Relationships are explored between Mia and Grans, Mia and oddly her ex’s sister, Mia and a fellow chef, Mia and the hunky local grocer, and Mia and her Kitchen Witch familiar. All of this makes Magic Springs and its good and bad residents fun to follow. What a series!
We are not all lucky to have our own kitchen witch familiar, but Lynn gives us a vicarious thrill and…a recipe. Enjoy birthday girl Adele’s requested dessert: Magic Springs’s Easy Apple Pie. She offers a couple of serving suggestions to which I add a drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!
Mia Malone is a kitchen witch whose ex left her single and unemployed. So she moved to her grandmother’s Idaho hometown, Magic Springs where she bought an old schoolhouse. She planned on opening a gourmet delivery service but things go bad at her first catering job when the client is found murdered. Now, Mia is shocked to discover that she’s not only a person of interest but she also seems to be next on the killer’s list.
First in a new series, this book was a fantastic read that was quick and fun. I really enjoyed the story which will pull you in from the beginning and keep you hooked until the end. The book’s well-written with wonderful characters and it’ll keep you guessing. I’m really looking forward to the next book and highly recommend this one.
Well, this one definitely got me. It hooked me and kept me the whole time!
Mia Malone has moved to be closer to her grandmother after her fiance dumps her. She is focused on her first big event as a caterer in Magic Springs, Idaho. When her client is found dead on the day of the party, can Mia help find the killer before she becomes another victim?
I really enjoyed this book. I really liked getting to know all of the characters even more than in the prequel novella. I also loved that I was kept guessing the entire time. I was taken completely by surprise by the ending! I love Mia’s relationships with all the other characters. I love how much the characters care about each other. I cannot wait until the next one in this series!
I love Paranormal and I love Cozy Mysteries, so I was really excited to read a book that has both. I liked Mia, her grandmother, Christina, and the many other characters we’re introduced to. The mystery and the paranormal aspects were a little lighter than I expected, but I didn’t consider that detrimental to the story in any way. I was a little surprised at the many times Mia mentally considered having smexy-times with Trent. Not something you often read about in a cozy. LOL
All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading whatever’s next
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Mia Malone is a kitchen witch. She has moved to Magic Springs, Idaho to be closer to her grandmother and away from her ex-boyfriend. She’s bought an old school which she plans to open a catering business. Surprisingly her ex’s sister has moved in with her. Mia’s grandma has arranged Mia’s first job, unfortunately the client is found dead before the event.
Mia and her new acquaintances in the city band together to solve the mystery. I really enjoyed the storyline. I loved the characters and can’t wait to see where the relationships grow. Great new series!
This is the 1st book in a new paranormal cozy mystery series by the talented Lynn Cahoon and it is quite enjoyable. It starts off a little slow introducing the characters but it picks up quickly. Mia is a kitchen witch who heals people and she just bought an old school that she is turning into a catering business and culinary school. Mia and her ex- boyfriend’s sister, Christina, live on the 2nd floor. Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Isaac, comes to town which causes problems. Mia’s grandmother’s friend is murdered. There is a big snowstorm. Luckily, Mia becomes friends with the local grocer, Trent and his brother, Levi. There is a lot going on that kept me intrigued. The characters are likable and interesting. Lynn Cahoon has a wonderful new series! The audiobook is well done and enjoyable. I received an advance copy from NetGalley for an honest review. #NetGalley #OnePoisonPie
I thought that this was good! I have seen this author’s books around for years and have always wanted to try her work. I thought that this would be the perfect one to start with as soon as I saw it. I was in the mood for a cozy and one involving a witch sounds especially appealing. I found this book to be incredibly entertaining.
Mia has just moved back to Magic Springs and is just about to open a new catering business. She is planning to provide food for a birthday party and the customer is being rather difficult. Things get even worse when the customer is killed and people start pointing the finger at Mia. She still needs to get her building approved to open for business and a local man, Trent, is ready to jump in and help get things done.
I had a great time with this one. There were several different mysteries to solve in this book and they all kept me guessing. I was never quite sure who Mia should trust and who was responsible for the crimes. There was plenty of excitement in this book and times when I wondered if Mia would be able to stay safe. I did think that the paranormal aspects of the story were more toned down than I would have expected but there is a bit sprinkled throughout the story.
Angie Hickman did a fantastic job with the narration. I thought that she did a fantastic job bringing life to Mia’s character. I thought that she added a lot of excitement to the story and I liked the variety of voices that she used for the various characters. She has a very pleasant voice, and I found this book easy to listen to for hours at a time. I feel like her narration added to my overall enjoyment of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a fun cozy mystery with fantastic characters. I definitely plan to read more of Lynn Cahoon’s work in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this audiobook from Tantor Audio via NetGalley.
After reading the novella, Chili Cauldron Curse by Lynn Cahoon, I was excited to read One Poison Pie. I was not disappointed. One Poison Pie is book one in the Kitchen Witch Mysteries.
This easy to read Cozy has everything, plenty of plot twists, great characters, (Mia and her grandmother are loveable), humor, hints of romance, and a perfect amout of paranormal.
Set in Idaho. Mia has moved to her grandmother’s quirky hometown to start over following a bad romance. She is working on getting a dinner delivery service opened and was hired to cater a birthday party. The morning of the celebration, the guest of honor is found stabbed under a table in the hall. Mia is in the kitchen and goes to the top of the suspect list. Mia knows she will have to clear her name herself but how when evidence continues to point to her.
I did couldn’t put this book down and actually didn’t want it to end. I wanted to stay in Magic Springs!
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.
After losing her long term boyfriend and her job, Mia Malone, a kitchen witch, decided it was time for a fresh start, bringing her to Magic Spring, Idaho. She bought an old school where she lived with her roommate Christina, whom also happens to be the sister of her ex, and started her own catering business called Mias’ Morsels. Her grandmother, now close by, had even set her up with her first client, also one of her Grans best friends. Unfortunately, the morning of the event, tragedy struck. The body of her first client was found. On top of that, Mia became the prime suspect. This theory doesn’t sit well with Mia, as she now seems to become the next target as things suddenly start to happen to her. With her new friend and possible love interest Trent by her side, Mia is bound and determined to not only prove her innocence, but catch whomever is now suddenly after her. Can Mia get to the bottom of this before she ends up being the next victim? Is there any way her business is going to stand a chance and finally take off despite all the negative hits towards it?
This was an audio book read. I really enjoyed this and the narrator did an excellent job. I really enjoy cozy mysteries and this one was another great read. It was a really fun book and a very easy read. This was my first read by Lynn Cahoon and it most definitely won’t be the last! I read this in 2 days because I just had a hard time putting it down! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book! I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I rate this book
I adore almost everything Lynn Cahoon writes; I rarely dislike any character or a plot. Certainly, never the writing. The first book in her new kitchen witch series, One Poison Pie, is not perfect, but close enough. Even though there are some minor personality flaws with the main character Mia, it is evident that she will become a strong, fun heroine that readers will come to love, if they don’t already.
I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Mia and her grandmother, who is a real spitfire, as well as Mia’s ex-future sister-in-law, Christina. All of the secondary characters are warm, lovable, and entertaining. They should make for positively charged interesting additions to future books. Trent and Levi add a touch of romance that isn’t over the top but will keep readers happy.
I could have done with more of the magical, paranormal, witchcraft side of things in this first book; hopefully, it will grow along with the characters and the series. Having Mia be a kitchen witch was fun and makes readers hungry for more than the next book. There were plenty of twists and turns. Suspects were carefully crafted to keep the reader guessing; just when you think you have it figured out, a new piece of evidence comes along, and you realize you are wrong from the start. The killer is unveiled in the end and may not be who the reader thought it was. It was a lovely way to keep the mystery alive without being too convoluted.
One Poison Pie is absorbing, easy to read, and filled with captivating characters, a touch of the paranormal, and a location that would inspire anyone, as well as a mystery that most readers will not figure out until the end. In other words, precisely what you would expect from a cozy and an author of Lynn’s caliber. I am elated to have a new witch series to read from a writer I feel is one of the industry’s finest authors. I heartily recommend this book and series to readers who love kitchen witches who give you riddles, thrills, and savory pleasure.
Book 17 towards my goal of 240! 4/5 stars for this witchy cozy mystery! A kitchen witch decides to buy an old school to renovate into her new home and catering business. Great for fans of Miss Spelled! Good story. Fun characters! Narration was great. Definitely recommend!
*I received this book in exchange for honest review from Netgalley*
I did really enjoy this book but not really feeling any of the characters like I did with the short story. I will be continuing with this series because I do I love it. Lynn Cahoon is becoming one of my favorite cozy authors and I can’t wait to read more from here. I did also get the audio book from Netgalley and I loved loved the narrator. I will be buying a physical copy of the book as soon as it comes out.
One Poison Pie (Kitchen Witch Mysteries #1) by Lynn Cahoon; Narrated by Angie Hickman; Publisher: Kensington Books/Tantor Audio
****Release Date: January 26, 2021***
Mia returns to Magic Springs ,Idaho in this full length cozy mystery. She has broken with her “bad boyfriend”, purchased an old school building to renovate as the base of her new business venture: Mia’s Morsels. The freedom to practice her kitchen magic is important to her. Kitchen magic uses food as a healing property, and spells for a warm home environment. Christina and Grans are here, as well as newbies Trent and Jack. Just as Mia seems to be getting her life on track, her Grans dear friend is found dead at her first event–jeopardizing her business and freedom.
The plot twists and turns as the hunt for the killer begins. Lynn Cahoon writes characters I want as friends–that keeps me coming back for more. I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you to #netgalley #kensingtonbooks #OnePoisonPie for the audio Advanced Reader’s Copy. The opinions expressed are my own. I review books I enjoy so that others can also enjoy them.