Pies and Prejudice by Ellery Adams is the first book in the new “Charmed Pie Shoppe” mystery series. Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime, July 2012

When the going gets tough, Ella Mae LaFaye bakes pies. So when she catches her husband cheating in New York, she heads back home to Havenwood, Georgia, where she can drown her sorrows in fresh fruit filling and flakey crust. But her pies aren’t just delicious. They’re having magical effects on the people who eat them–and the public is hungry for more.

Discovering her hidden talent for enchantment, Ella Mae makes her own wish come true by opening the Charmed Pie Shoppe. But with her old nemesis Loralyn Gaynor making trouble, and her old crush Hugh Dylan making nice, she has more than pie on her plate. and when Loralyn’s fiancé is found dead–killed with Ella Mae’s rolling pin–it’ll take all her sweet magic to clear her name.

In this new debut series, we are introduced to the women in the LeFaye family. This charming whodunit exudes southern hospitality in the face of murder, mystery, mayhem with a splash of magical delights. Add in deliciously appetizing pies and romance and you have the makings of a wonderfully enchanting story that I want to see continue for years to come.

When Ella Mae becomes the prime suspect in a homicide, exposing a killer becomes a top priority as her mother and aunts use their special talents in gathering clues to clear Ella Mae’s name. It was fun watching Ella Mae realize the powers that she bestows every time she bakes one of her savory pies. This character-driven story boasts a well-written plot, a great cast of characters and excellent dialogue. This is a bright beginning to a pleasantly appealing series and I look forward to more mystical adventures with the LeFaye women of Havenwood, Georgia.