One Poison Pie by Lynn Cahoon
Series: Kitchen Witch Mysteries #1
Genres: Cozy Mystery
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 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. . . .
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is the first book in the Kitchen Witch series and the first from this author that I have read. I will say that adored this book so much. I am a huge sucker for paranormal and then add in the cozy mystery aspect and I am there. All of the characters were so much fun and they were well written. it didn’t seem cheesy as some paranormal cozy mysteries can.
Mia was so wonderful and I’m gonna be honest some of those customers were just difficult enough that I certainly would have poisoned them. There are enough twists and turns in this book that it kept me guessing right up to the end.
Grans and Adele had been the swing votes on the board, allowing Mia to purchase the property based on her pledge to save the building’s history. The losing bidder had presented a plan to bulldoze the school and replace it with a high-end retail mall. Instead, Mia had a place to start over. Grans always said the best way to get a man out of your head was to change your routine.
Mia may have gone a little overboard.
Her arms and back ached from painting. Another two, three hours, the room would be done. Then she could move on to the kitchen, the heart of her dream. Right now, all she wanted was to clean up the paint supplies and return to her upstairs apartment for a long soak in the claw-foot tub. The unexpected visitors had her skin tingling, a sure sign nothing good was about to happen.
Catering Adele’s birthday party had been an order more than a request, even though her business wouldn’t be completely up and running for a month or so. The planning for the event had gone smoothly, like an aged Southern whiskey. The final prep list for Saturday’s party
sat finished on her kitchen table in the apartment. James, the chef at the Lodge, had allowed her time to prep in his kitchen tomorrow evening. By Sunday she’d have a successful reference in the books for Mia’s Morsels. Now, without warning, the triumph she’d hoped for was slipping through her fingers.
“Add one, maybe two more, to the guest list. Who knows who he’ll bring from Arizona to help me celebrate.” Adele shoved a piece of paper toward her.
Mia glanced down. A name had been scrawled on the torn notepaper, William Danforth III. She hadn’t known Adele had any living relatives, no less a nephew. “How nice. Are you close?”
A harsh laugh came from the woman. “Close? I wasn’t kidding about the money. He’s checking on his inheritance. I’m pretty sure he thought I’d be dead by now.”
“Now, Adele, at least he’s visiting.” Grans picked up Mr. Darcy, Mia’s gray cat, who’d wandered into the room. He’d probably been sleeping in one of the empty southern classrooms, where the afternoon sun warmed the wood floors. He curled into her neck and started purring.
Loudly.
Unfortunately, during a late summer visit to Grans’s house, Mr. Darcy had picked up a hitchhiker. The spirit of Dorian Alexander, who had been Grans’s beau before his untimely death, had taken up residence with Mia’s cat. A fact that weirded Mia out at times, especially at night, when Mr. Darcy slept on the foot of her bed. Mia really needed to get Grans focused on a reversal spell. But this wasn’t the time to be chatting about spells and power. Instead, she focused on Adele and her party.
“I’m sure he’s . . .” Mia stopped. What had she been going to say? That Adele’s nephew was nice? If the guy had any of Adele’s temperament, the guy would be a royal jerk.
Adele waved away her words, her hands showing her impatience, “Let me worry about Billy. You’re serving beef tomorrow.” The words weren’t a question.
Barrie says
I haven’t heard of this author or the series but it sounds like a fun read. I hope there are many more of these books as I love reading a book in order!
Eva Millien says
One Poison Pie sounds like a great mystery! Thanks for sharing your review with me and have a wonderful day!
Adriane says
A good paranormal cozy sounds perfect 🙂