The Agatha Award–winning author of Sifting Through Clues returns to the Cookbook Nook, where a combative food reporter gets her just deserts . . .
The denizens of Crystal Cove are salivating over the upcoming Food Bowl Week, when local chefs offer some of their best and most imaginative creations in bite-size portions all over town. Bookstore proprietor Jenna Hart is hungry to sample as many of … is hungry to sample as many of the delicacies as she can, but when she stumbles onto the dead body of a local food reporter and learns that her best friend’s husband is the primary suspect, she’ll have to summon the appetite for a side dish of sleuthing to prove his innocence.
Jenna knows the ambitious and aggressive reporter, who was strangled at a fitness center with her shredded restaurant reviews scattered around her, left behind a long list of potential suspects. As she begins piecing together the scant clues, she uncovers illicit ties between the victim and a local newspaper owner, a spurned would-be lover, and a host of disgruntled restaurant owners not a bit torn up by the critical reporter’s demise. And with a solution so close she can almost taste it, Jenna turns up the heat on the culprit, realizing too late that she’s the next course on the murderer’s menu . . .
Includes tasty recipes!
Praise for Daryl Wood Gerber and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries:
“There’s a feisty new amateur sleuth in town and her name is Jenna Hart. With a bodacious cast of characters, a wrenching murder, and a collection of cookbooks to die for, Daryl Wood Gerber’s Final Sentence is a page-turning puzzler of a mystery that I could not put down.” —Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Cupcake Mysteries and Library Lovers Mysteries
“In Final Sentence, the author smartly blends crime, recipes, and an array of cookbooks that all should covet in a witty, well-plotted whodunit.” —Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author of the Bibliophile Mysteries
“Readers will relish the extensive cookbook suggestions, the cooking primer, and the whole foodie phenomenon. Gerber’s perky tone with a multigenerational cast makes this series a good match for Lorna Barrett’s Booktown Mystery series . . .” —Library Journal
“So pull out your cowboy boots and settle in for a delightful read. Grilling the Subject is a delicious new mystery that will leave you hungry for more.” —Carstairs Considers Blog
About the Author:
Agatha Award–winning and nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber is the author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, the Cheese Shop Mysteries (as Avery Aames), and stand-alone suspense thrillers. Little known facts about Daryl are that she’s jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, has hitchhiked around Ireland by herself, and has appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote. She loves to read, cook, and golf, and has a frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky who keeps her in line!
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This is the ninth Cookbook Nook Mystery in the series. I have not read all of them and found this to be a standalone story.
I liked the list of characters listed in the beginning for quick reference. I enjoyed the food bowl theme and the smalltown newspaper’s predicament relevant to today’s times.
Jenna is engaged, her best friend’s husband is under suspicion for murder and a reporter is dead. Who did it and why. These are revealed as Jenna and Bailey try to clear Tito.
I am looking forward to trying a few of the recipes listed in the back of the book.
I received an advanced readers copy of this story from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.
Food Festival Cozy Mystery
This cozy mystery takes place in a northern California coastal town. The story has plenty of romance, fortune telling, food, wine, and books. The plot is good and builds on books earlier in the series, but it can stand alone. The author goes into significant detail about clothing, the pairing of wine and food, plating of food, crafts, book clubs, etc. There is certainly enough here to interest any reader. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Jenna Hart loves Crystal Cove. This small town is picturesque and peaceful. It’s a great place to live or vacation. Right now Food Bowl Week is the big draw which is perfect for Jenna. After all she’s co-owner of the Cookbook Nook. Suddenly disaster strikes. She finds the body of the local food reporter, Kylie O. Jenna knows that the deceased had an abrasive personality and made enemies easily. Tito, Bailey’s husband, had a disagreement with the victim and now he finds himself the prime suspect. Jenna won’t let Bailey and Tito face this alone. Jenna is a loyal friend. I like that about her. She a good sleuth because she’s a great listener, has a logical mind and keen instincts. She’ll investigate even if the sheriff warns her to stop. You would think that her engagement to Rhett would keep her busy, but she’s a multitasker. With so many suspects I wasn’t sure who the culprit was. The story pulled me in with the nonstop action and surprise twists. Daryl Wood Gerber kept me reading. I liked the characters, the spirited dialogue and the small town setting. This is a wonderful addition to the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. Don’t miss all the excitement with Jenna, her family and friends.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
Everyone in Crystal Cove is getting ready for Food Bowl Week. Local chefs are making creative dishes as well as favorite for people to eat in smaller portions.
Kylie O a local food reporter is found dead at the local gym. Tito becomes the prime suspect, but there are others. Who killed her? She was not liked by the people can town.
A mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Yummy recipes.
I received an ARC prior to publication and decided to voluntarily review it. Thank you Beyond the Page Publishing.
“Shredding the Evidence” by Daryl Wood Gerber the 9th instalment in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I had forgotten how much I enjoy this series. This is only the 3rd book I have read in the series and it will not be my last. I hope to read the earlier instalments one day soon, I have slowly been buying them. One thing I do like is the list of characters listed in the beginning as a quick reference.
I like Jenna as the protagonist she is realistic, relatable and I love Tigger the marmalade cat. The authors descriptions of the Food Bowl and Crystal Cove had me picturing myself walking down the streets enjoying all the aromas and appetizers. I have an uncle who was editor for a small town newspaper so understood Eugenes struggle with keeping the Crystal Cove newspaper going in today’s digital world.
As for the mystery it was full of twists, and a few turns which kept me guessing. Overall this was a very enjoyable read, especially if you’re a foodie.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove and the resident food critic is killed at the local gym. When her best friends husband is the suspect, Jenna puts on her detective cap and sets out to figure out who the real culprit is.
With a host of people who hated the food critic, the list of suspects is long. Everyone from the owner of the gym, to the owner of the newspaper, Jenna has her work cut out. All the while, she needs to run the Cookbook Nook and get her new house in order.
This is the 9th story in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first 8. I did however have issues with some of the descriptions, and at times felt that the author was just adding information to fill out the story. There were many times I got bored with the story and felt that certain parts were unnecessarily long. It took me far longer than a story of this size usually does.
*I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Shredding the Evidence is the ninth book in the Cookbook Nook mystery series, I believe this is the first book in the series I have read. The town is getting ready to have a Food Bowl Week, so of course something must happen to spice up things. Seems like many different people may have a reason to wish Kylie to be dead, what follows is a who done it as Jenna attempts to solve the mystery. Overall this was a well written and enjoyable read, I would recommend it to others.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of the book from NetGalley and the Publisher, and this is my fair and honest review.
Jenna Hart owns a bookstore/café in Crystal Cove and solves mysteries – an interesting combination. Just as the town is getting ready to celebrate Food Bowl Week, the local newspaper’s food reviewer is found dead surrounded by shredded newspaper articles and other documents. There are a lot of people in town that had a grudge against the reviewer, including Jenna’s best friend’s husband. But he is not alone and the list of suspects keeps growing.
This is a book for and about foodies, as well as cozy mystery lovers. If you weren’t hungry when you started it, you will be when you finish. The author kindly includes eight recipes for some of the wonderful foods mentioned in the book, more than most books with recipes.
The secondary characters are delightful – I particularly appreciated her Aunt Vera and Gran, both senior citizens with flair and personality and a bit of eccentricity. Not all seniors wear sensible shoes, pastel housedresses or elastic-waist polyester slacks and matching flowered blouses. These two are age appropriate fashion plates. Loved them.
This is the ninth book in A Cookbook Nook Mystery but it can be read a standalone, although the author’s references to previous mysteries that Jenna was involved with made me want to add them to my TBR list since I hadn’t read any of the previous books.
I received a copy of the book from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. The opinion is my own.
This is my first visit with Jenna and the Cookbook Nook, but it will not be my last. I will go back and read previous books as well as any future books in the series. This was a great cozy mystery. And with the focus being Food Bowl Week, you are treated to some delicious recipes. The characters are well developed and I loved the relationships among them. The mystery is done well with lots of twists and turns as you sit on the edge of your seat while trying to figure out whodunit. A deliciously delightful book that has your mouth watering.
Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It’s Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove and Jenna Hart is excited to not only try the chef’s creations but knows the event will bring plenty of customers to her Cookbook Nook. Chef Katie also has plans of her own for the food at the Nook Cafe too including a special guest. Jenna’s finance Rhett’s new bistro, Intime has a very special dinner planned as well. Kylie O., the Crystal Cove Courier food critic is determined to cover all the events by herself even though reporter Tito Martinez has offered to help. Bailey’s husband, Tito has wanted to take on more stories and he and Kylie have a very public argument over it. So when Kylie O. is found dead in a local gym, a gym where both Tito and Bailey work out, he becomes the prime suspect in her murder.
Truthfully, Kylie O. was a pretty aggressive reporter and dished out some caustic reviews so she left behind a wide variety of suspects. Jenna knows Tito is innocent so she just has to clear his name by finding the actual killer. Easier said than done because the clues point to several individuals. When Jenna starts to hone in on the killer she finds the killer is already homing in on her. Can Jenna corner the killer or will she be the next victim?
It is always fun to catch up with these characters because there never seems to be a dull moment in Crystal Cove. In addition to the town events, Jenna and Rhett are starting to plan their wedding, Aunt Vera is dating, everyone is swooning over Bailey’s baby girl and another core character is expecting a baby. With everything going on Jenna still finds time to investigate the murder and this makes for one very unhappy Cinnamon. As always the characters are cleverly written and they all continue to develop in realistic ways.
The theme of this story is Shredding and it is not just the evidence that is shredded. Food is shredded in amazing ways. The descriptions had my tummy rumbling and I really appreciated the recipes the author provides at the end of the book. She is a true foodie and her passion reigns within the pages of her stories. The Cookbook Nook theme of the series is just perfect for her.
The mystery was very well-plotted with some red herrings to divert everyone’s thinking. Bailey really pushes Jenna along in her quest to prove her husband is not a murderer. Twist after twist start to pull the killer into focus but I was really off on this one. I really came to dislike the deceased more than I usually do when reading cozy mysteries and I think that clouded my thinking. The author has a real strength of pulling her readers into the story and she really did that for me this time.
Shredding the Evidence was A Perfect Escape. I was entertained from the beginning to the end and look forward to reading Wining and Dying soon.
I enjoy visiting with Jenna, her Aunt Vera, and the rest of the residents of Crystal Cove in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. What I find enjoyable able this series, aside from the characters, is how each one has a town festival or event attached to the mystery. I think it adds to the overall vibe of the story and helps carr the plot along while providing a way for Jenna to uncover clues. The author has a terrific descriptive writing style that helps pull the reader into each new book and keep them engaged. This time around, Jenna has to help clear her friend Bailey’s husband from being a murder suspect. There were a lot of viable suspects with great motives which makes the reader really pay attention to each new clue that Jenna is able to uncover. The mystery is wrapped up in a climactic conclusion and once again all is right in Crystal Cove. I can wait to attend the next festival or event in Crystal Cove to see what new mystery confronts Jenna.
Crystal Cove is ready for their next themed event, The Food Bowl. The town is gearing up to host all kinds of vendors and restaurant events revolving around different foods. Food critic, Kylie O, is irritating many with her brash ways and gets into an argument with Bailey’s husband, Tito, when they both try to review a vendor at the festival. The next day, Kylie is found dead at her friend, Alexa’s, fitness center. Tito immediately becomes a suspect after he was seen at the fitness center around the time Kylie arrived. Jenna sets out to help Bailey clear Tito’s name and numerous suspects arise. Lots of fun reading about Crystal Cove and their different themed events. I love the characters and the storyline was interesting. The killer was a complete shock to me and I can’t wait to see what’s next for everyone in this series!
Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber was an engaging addition to the Cookbook Nook series. I enjoyed spending the afternoon and evening with Jenna in Crystal Cove as she hunts for clues to clear her best friend’s husband of being a murder suspect.
I received a copy of this book from my local library.
I really enjoy this series. I have found new things I enjoy because of this series. The town of Crystal Cove host different event/festivals all the time. This book focuses on local chefs. I’m not a great cook, but I love reading cozy mysteries about food. This is a fun way to learn about new foods. The characters are likable and realistic. The mystery has quite a few suspects and well place red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the big reveal. I look forward to the next in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
Crystal Cove is playing host to Food Bowl Week, and bookstore owner Jenna Hart is ready to taste all the wares the cooks will providing. But when Jenna finds the body of local newspaper restaurant critic Kylie Obendorfer, she knows things aren’t going to be all food and fun.
The man suspect in Kylie’s murder is Tito Martinez, a reporter for the Crystal Cove Courier who was seen arguing with Kylie in a journalistic turf war. Tito is also the husband of Bailey Martinez, who works at Jenna’s shop. So it’s up to Jenna to figure out who really killed Kylie in order to clear Tito’s name.
One of the things I like about this series is the way each character grows. Babies are born, and engagements show the characters are maturing. This is one of those series that I love returning to; I want to rush through the book so I can savor every word, but I also want to take it slowly so I can make it last.
The plot on Shredding the Evidence was good, although I have to admit I figured it out before the ending. Still I enjoyed the journey, and the visit with old friends. If you haven’t tried the Cookbook Nook books you should. Start at the beginning and work your way through. They are delicious. Just make sure you keep snacks nearby to grab while you’re reading. I recommend this series for cozy lovers.
Love this series! COOKBOOK NOOK MYSTERY. Lots of twists and turns and good food in this series. Had me guessing till the end to who the murderer was. Enjoyed from start to end!
Shredding the Evidence takes us back to Crystal Cove where the residents are gearing up for Food Bowl Week. All the local chefs will be offering bite sized samples of their best recipes. Jenna Hart, part owner of the Cookbook Nook and Nook Cafe, can’t wait to try all the delicious food but when she discovers the body of the local food reporter her appetite wanes. Her best friends husband is the prime suspect so Jenna does some investigating on her own. I love the great characters, the setting, and the well written mystery. As an added bonus there are several delicious recipes in the back of the book. I definitely enjoyed reading this and I highly recommend it!
Shredding The Evidence is the ninth book in Daryl Wood Gerber’s Cookbook Nook Mystery series.
While it is part of a series, you can read and enjoy it as a standalone.
I really enjoyed this book. The well developed characters and the cleverly crafted storyline line kept my interest from beginning to end. There was the perfect amount of suspects to keep you guessing but not so many it was convoluted. I did not guess who the guilty party was until just before it was revealed.
I appreciate the cast of characters list the the author included at the beginning of the book, as there is quite a large supporting cast in this book , it was a handy reference tool. And I would be amiss If I didn’t mention the delicious recipes at the end of the book, I am really looking forward to trying those pumpkin muffins!
It is always a pleasure to spend time in Crystal Cove, can’t wait until my next visit!
I was given a copy of this book which I voluntarily reviewed .
Shredding the Evidence, the ninth book in the Cookbook Mysteries, is another delightful visit to the town of Crystal Cove, California. Jenna Hart, the main protagonist, owns and operates the Cookbook Nook, a small bookstore specializing in cookbooks. In this story, the annual Food Bowl, a foodie festival, is underway in Crystal Cove. An ambitious reporter, Kylie Obendorfer, is found dead in her best friend’s physical fitness studio with shredded paper and crumpled articles surrounding her. When Jenna learns that her best friend’s husband is the primary suspect, she sets out to help the police in their investigation.
There is a great deal to love about the Cookbook Nook mysteries. Jenna is an extremely appealing protagonist and she has a large circle of friends around her. Some of my favorites include Jenna’s best friend Bailey, her aunt Vera, (with whom she co owns the Cookbook Nook) and Cinnamon, the chief of police. There is such a large cast of characters that there is a helpful “cast list” at the beginning of the book. I found it useful in determining the relationships of the characters to each other.
Also, the series features a bookstore. The store not only sells cookbooks but also features some cooking items, such as children’s cooking kits. There is also a puzzle set up on a large table in the store for customers to work on as they browse. As if this wasn’t enough, there is a cafe attached to the store (called the Nook) that serves up yummy treats. Author Daryl Wood Gerber mentions real cookbooks in the course of the narrative, so the reader can add to their individual cookbook stash.
The mystery itself has a good suspect pool and had plenty of red herrings and twists before reaching the final reveal. I didn’t figure out the killer until the very end, and it was a surprise.
One more aspect of the Cookbook Nook mysteries that is irresistible: remember I mentioned the Nook cafe? Well, there are recipes at the end of each book for many of the treats described throughout the book. LOTS of recipes. Many of them are gluten-free as well, with most of those having alternate instructions for a non gluten free version. So, in short, if you enjoy mysteries about bookstores, with suggestions for new cookbooks, recipes, with a large cast of characters that are fun to spend time with, the Cookbook Nook series is for you. Highly recommended. And with nine installments, there is ample opportunity to get well acquainted with all the characters. Happy reading and cooking!
Shredding the Evidence earns 5/5 Critic’s Notes…Engaging Fun!
It’s embarrassing that I’ve overlooked this series for so long; I am an eager fan of Daryl Wood Gerber’s French Bistro Mystery and her new Fairy Garden Mystery. I am also a fan of the Cheese Shop Mysteries she writes under her pen name Avery Aames. But, better late than never! This is definitely a gem no cozy fan should miss! First, clever title and cover that grabbed my attention, and a cookbook shop…hey, I’m a cookbook fanatic, so I’m in!
Daryl Wood Gerber follows the traditional cozy formula…a very good thing! Great writing! Descriptive style, clever dialogue, page-turner extraordinaire. Great setting! It’s Crystal Cove, California, a small town nestled next to the Pacific coast with beaches, marinas, and a lovely harbor. Lots of places for felonies to occur like murder. Great theme! Jenna Hart owns the delightful Cookbook Nook, a culinary bookshop and café. She often participates in local festivals or themed weeks to entice tourism like the Food Bowl Week with local chefs creating delicious bite-sized delicacies. Great mystery! Jenna always seems to find or be directed to a murder victim often cut down by fate or karma. She discovers an ambitious food critic dead among some of her “shredded” restaurant reviews. Great clues and investigation! It’s a locked room, and there is a smorgasbord of suspects from restaurant owners to newspaper editors to would-be boyfriends to explore. It’s personal when her BFF Katie’s husband is at the top of the list. Great conclusion! The final reveal includes a bit of personal peril, and the motive is always clever. My inner Sherlock was challenged. Great bonus! Recipes, eight of them, are sensitive to those who want a gluten-free options. Each easy-to-follow recipe has a fun narrative from Jenna (Nook co-owner and amateur detective), Katie (Nook chef), Lola (owner Pelican Brief diner), or Aunt Vera (Nook co-owner). Enjoy Bird’s Nest Kale Salad with choice of Peanut Dressing or Ginger Salad Dressing, Cocoa Bliss Balls, Coconut Haystacks including a Chocolate Version, Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette, Mini Crab Cakes with an Aioli, children-friendly no-cook Haystacks uses a microwave, Pumpkin-Chocolate-Coconut Muffins, and Shredded [insert giggle] Grilled Cheese Sandwich.