Murder Is No Picnic by Amy Pershing

Series Name: Cape Cod Foodie Mystery #3
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 7, 2022

When a celebrity chef is found dead, Samantha Barnes, the “Cape Cod Foodie”, finds her search for the world’s best blueberry buckle turning into a search for a killer

The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic. Okay, and the fireworks. And the parade. But mostly the picnic. What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson.

But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant—and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend. So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara’s killer before the fireworks really start. . .

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Dru’s Short Musing:
A day after Sam visits celebrity chef Clara Foster, she dies in a house fire. Sensing her accidental death is suspicious, Sam dons her sleuthing cap to prove that it was murder.

This was a well-crafted and fast paced whodunit that quickly became a page-turner as I had to know if Samantha was right in her assumption. The author did a great job in sprinkling tidbits her and there and keeping me immersed in all aspects of this multi-plot drama. I liked the feel of the story and the comfortable tone that made it easy to follow along with what the author intended. There were a few red herrings that had me going in different directions, but it all came together with help from Sam, her friends, and the local police. I really enjoyed the small-town atmosphere which added ambiance to the telling of this tale. Overall, this was an excellent book in a series that continues to be a fantastic read. Looking forward to the next chapter in Sam’s adventures.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.