iper Prescott is the owner of Spice It Up, Brandywine Creek's delectable hub for the latest in small town news. Spices of the highest quality line the shelves and are a backdrop for lingering chats of the tell-tale goings on of a small southern town.

When Shirley Randolph's body is found floating in Police Chief Wyatt McBride's fishing hole, Piper and her friend Reba Mae begin the hunt for the real killer. After being seen a time or two sharing a meal, rumor has it that Shirley and McBride were lovers. Sometimes, what you see is not the whole story and Piper is determined that McBride is innocent.

This is my first foray into a book by Gail Oust. I was provided a copy of Ginger Snapped for my Kindle by the publisher through NetGalley.com for my honest review. The characters are just what you expect in a small town. They care for each other enough to keep tabs on what is going on around town. Piper and Reba Mae are the best friends anyone would like to have. If you enjoy a bit of cliches in your conversation, this book abounds with them. The underlying romance between Piper and Wyatt simmers in the background, keeping the story interesting. As mysteries go, the killer was a surprise and Piper had a whole lot more gumption than a cat has nine lives.

I keep taking chances on randomly chosen cozy mysteries. Because sometimes they pay off, beautifully – I've absolutely loved a few of the cozies I've come across lately. But, more often, they just don't; sometimes they're horrible, and sometimes they're just … meh. This was one of the latter.

My rule of thumb: if I've made a lot of notes and highlights on my Kindle, it's either a very good book or a very bad one. For this, I seem to have made none at all. I've had to read through the synopsis and other people's reviews to dredge up memories of what it was about, and even now it just doesn't stand out in any way. Lady owns a food-oriented business in a small town, is dating a local cop, investigates a murder because she wants to clear someone she cares about, has a quirky bff, is surrounded by quirky townsfolk, does ridiculous and ill-advised if not illegal things in her unauthorized inquiry, and wraps the whole thing up with some peripheral and who-cares character booked for the murder and a couple of recipes.

It wasn't terrible – I gave it three stars after I finished. I guess for me it was just … unnecessary. More of the same. It offered nothing new or different.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

Although this is the fifth book in the Spice Shop series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel (which I did, as I have not read the first four yet).

Piper and Reba Mae are an entertaining pair of friends, and they work well as a crime-solving duo, as well. They work their way into other people's business, usually with humorous consequences. Piper has children who require her attention and patience, which makes her character more realistic and likable.

Piper is romantically interested in the local police chief, who is also the prime suspect when a woman rumored to be his girlfriend is found dead on his property. If Piper doesn't want to spend the rest of her life visiting Wyatt in prison, she's going to have to find the actual murderer--and avoid becoming the next victim.

This is a well-written story, and the mystery keeps the reader guessing right up until the big reveal. Highly recommended to all cozy mystery lovers.

I really loved the climax to finding the victim in this story. Piper had some good emotions going on and it was interesting to be kept guessing as to who the victim could be (digital copy doesn’t have summary and I do not read the summaries prior to a review).

The author really knows how to keep a reader involved and on their toes. I am never unsatisfied when reading a mystery from this author. I adore Piper and her spice shop, the community of friends and foes, along with wonderful mysteries.

Even though it’s part of a series and can well be a standalone title. Wyatt is accused and Piper decides to give him a hand by proving him not guilty. There’s a little romance, a little bit of humour, and loads of mystery. I’m going to be getting the first 4 books for sure. For some time I’ve been meaning to read more by Gail Oust. I think it’s time to start!

This series just keeps getting better. I have thoroughly enjoyed keeping up with Piper as she opened her spice shop, dealt with her divorce, and just generally tried to live her life. This one was the best so far because while she still had to deal with family drama her personal life just got so much better and she gets to celebrate the one year anniversary of her grand opening. I do believe that having McBride as the main suspect just may have shifted things for the better in their personal interactions, and Piper is getting so much better at figuring out what is going on without making everyone hate her later. If you enjoy a very well written cozy mystery that had some amazing personal moments alongside the investigating you so have try this book. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.

Ginger Snapped is book 5 in the Spice Shop Mystery Series. This series is excellent and I recommend the entire series. This book can be read as a stand alone as the author does introduce the characters to the readers.
Piper Prescott owns Spice It Up! In Brandywine Creek a small Southern town. The town is complete Southern Charm which is a enjoyable part of this series.
Piper has developed a ongoing close friendship with the police chief in town. Police Chief Wyatt McBride's favorite fishing spot is a location for murder of a women he had recently been rumored to be seen with. Soon he is the prime suspect and his friend Piper steps in to investigate. As the suspect list grows she finds herself having more need for bravery and takes her life on a dangerous course. The suspect was surprising and I enjoyed the well crafted sleuth.
This is the perfect cozy read. All the fun elements of a good cozy read are here. The author has a enjoyable writing style and great detail with the location, people and sleuth. All in all I enjoyed this 5th in series very much and look forward to the next in series.
Thank you for the ARC to the publisher and Net Galley.

Piper and Reba Mae are a force to be reckoned with. A wonderful stand alone cozy mystery that is part of an addictive series. While the two best friends are central to solving the murder of the top local real estate agent, much more is going on around and behind the scenes.
Devious dealings, strangers around town and not your typical romance power this story.

A spice shop on main Street wouldn't be thought of as gossip central but Piper manages to keep abreast of town happenings. However things going on within her own family are sometimes missed.
Another fun series where after you've read one book you want to read the whole series.

Ginger Snapped by Gail Oust is the fifth book in the Spice Shop Mystery Series. For the past three years, I have started out each new year with Gail’s new book being my first book of the year. 🙂 I’ve come to look forward to spending the new year with Piper, Reba Mae, Wyatt, and the rest of the gang in Brandywine Creek. I found myself laughing out loud and sleuthing right along with Piper. This book is one of those mysteries that you just have a blast reading. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am going to make it a point to go back and read books 1 & 2 since I haven’t read them yet. I can’t get enough of the awesome characters, witty dialogue, perfect setting, and top-notch mysteries in this series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

The town of Brandywine Creek is turned upside down when local realtor Shirley Randolph is found in Police Chief Wyatt McBride’s fishing hole. He is suspended from the force and is now the prime suspect. Piper is on the case to prove his innocence and set things right all around town, but it isn’t easy when her ex gets right in the middle of things. She is clearly on the killer’s radar because her shop was broken into and the person was definitely looking for something. Circumstances get dicey when her life is in danger and spicy when she gets closer to the chief.

This was a fun mystery to read. Piper and Reba Mae are always entertaining, but the direction of Wyatt and Piper’s relationship was the part I liked the best. Him, being suspended made him see how beneficial Piper could be with her bit of investigating. Plus spending time together sure didn’t hurt. This is not your typical cozy romance, in fact, Piper did believe the gossip around town, that he and the deceased were seeing each other. Kudos to the author for the way this is written.

The case this time was tricky because the officer left in charge was trying harder to prove Wyatt’s guilt, being after his job, rather than trying to find the real guilty party. Thankfully Piper was following the clues and reporting back to the chief so that the truth would be revealed. I was there with them every step of the way.

This mystery is nicely seasoned with plenty of humor. Small town life lends well to that as does small-town politics. At times I was shaking my head because so many things remind me of the small town where I grew up. Then you add in the Southern ways and charm, and you have a perfect cozy mystery.

There are also fantastic recipes in the book after the story.

What a great read to start the new year!

Author Gail Oust has created another mouthwatering mystery with, GINGER SNAPPED!

I’m always so excited to read a new installment in the tasty Spice Shop Mysteries. Spending time in Brandywine Creek with Piper Prescott, Reba Mae Johnson, and the rest of the quirky Southern cast is one of my favorite ways to escape the real world.

I am such a fan of the Spice Shop Mysteries! And this fifth book in the series has only served to solidify that. In GINGER SNAPPED, Oust has penned another top notch mystery filled with secrets, murder, and fun! Once started on this story, I couldn’t set my book down. Between her smooth, fluid writing, and talent for building a tale to a thrilling conclusion, I was the author’s willingly captive audience.

GINGER SNAPPED has left me hungry for more stories in this wonderful series. After all, when it comes to cozy mysteries like this one, you can’t have enough of a great thing!

This is a new author to me and obviously, the first book I have read in this series. I was able to follow the story with no problem, but would like to go back and read the earlier books to get some background on the characters.

Piper Prescott and best friend, Reba Mae, Live in Brandywine Creek. They are a fun pair of BFFs who get themselves involved in things that can cause problems. When the local realtor is found naked and dead in the fishing pond on the property of police chief Wyatt McBride, he is obviously the main suspect, especially when there are rumours that they had a relationship. Piper's ex-husband has a hate on for Wyatt and working with his father-in-law, get him suspended. Piper has feelings for Wyatt and she is determined to find out who the real murderer is, that is once the interim chief declares it a homicide. Piper's shop, Spice It Up, seems to be the center of town gossip similar to the coffee shops in other cozies.

I enjoyed the humor in this story, especially between Piper and Reba Mae. Piper’s children are growing up and require their mother’s patience, help, and understanding more than ever. This adds some family drama to the story. When Piper's home is broken into and trashed, you know that she had inadvertently stumbled upon something to expose the killer. I figured out what had happened and had a sneaking suspicion who the murderer was before it was revealed. This is a fun cozy and of course, it has recipes included. I am looking forward to seeing where Piper and Wyatt's relationship is going to go. If you enjoy a cozy mystery, pick this one up and enjoy.

When Wyatt catches the blame for Shirley's death, Piper steps up to try to prove he is innocent. What follows is a break in, suspicion about others, and an accident that was more of a warning. Now Piper puts it all out there to save Wyatt. This book is one of those can't-put-down books and will keep you busy for hours. I really enjoyed this story, and I definitely recommend it.

Ginger Snapped by Gail Oust is the fifth book in A Spice Shop Mystery series. Piper Prescott owns Spice It Up! In Brandywine Creek. It is April and Melly Prescott, Piper’s former mother-in-law, is getting married to Judge Cottrell Herman. Love has mellowed Melly and changed the relationship between the two women. During the wedding, Sgt. Beau Tucker and John Strickland (the coroner) get phones calls and rush off. After the wedding, Piper finds out that a body was found in Sheriff Wyatt McBride’s pond. Piper rushes over to his home worried about Wyatt (Piper is attracted to him). It turns out that local realtor, Shirley Randolph is the victim. Since Wyatt had been seen with Shirley recently, he is a prime suspect. Wyatt is suspended, and Beau Tucker is made interim sheriff. To clear Wyatt’s name and get him reinstated as sheriff, Piper along with Reba Mae and Wyatt explore Shirley’s life to see who could have wished her harm. Piper realizes she is close to the truth when someone runs her off the road one night and then breaks into her home. What was the killer looking for in her home? The culprit is setting up Wyatt to take the fall, and Piper is not going to let it happen.

Ginger Snapped is a light, humorous cozy mystery. I found it nicely written with a steady pace that made it easy to read. Gail Oust shows what life is like in a small, Southern town where everyone knows your business, gossip abounds, nepotism is alive and thriving, and the people are friendly (and very nosy). The jealousy, flirting and attraction between Wyatt and Piper was prevalent throughout Ginger Snapped. While Ginger Snapped is the fifth book in A Spice Shop Mystery series, it can be read alone. The author provides the necessary background on Piper, the spice shop, the town and secondary characters. We get to experience Piper’s life at the shop and with her family. I am not a fan of Piper’s ex-husband and his new wife. They are annoying and hinder my enjoyment of the story. I keep hoping that CJ will become the killer’s next victim (and Amber will get eaten by a shark). The investigation consists of Piper asking questions and nosing around the victim’s home with Reba Mae (who is in love with victim’s closet of clothes and shoes). When the killer’s identity is revealed, most readers will not be surprised. The why, though, takes a little longer to figure out. I appreciated the description of the spice shop and the information on ginger (it was interesting). Readers who enjoy hilarity, hijinks and homicide in a small Southern town, pick up a copy of Ginger Snapped.

When red-hot realtor Shirley Randolph is found dead in a pond on Sheriff Wyatt McBride's property, Piper springs into action. In Ginger Snapped by Gail Oust, Piper Prescott finds herself enmeshed in another mystery. For a long time she has denied her attraction to Wyatt, but now that he is in trouble, she knows she needs to assist him. There are lot of suspects but somehow Piper makes her self a target and her shop is burglarized. That doesn't stop her and before long she achieves two goals - clearing Wyatt and snaring Wyatt.

Ginger Snapped is the 5th book in the Spice Shop Mystery series and the first one that I have read. Piper Prescott is the owner of Spice it Up! clearly has an interest in the local Sherriff, Wyatt McBride, when she gets a little jealous at seeing him talking in front of her shop with the local realtor Shirley Randolph. Shortly after seeing them together, Shirley turns up drowned on McBride’s property and speculation in the town is that there was a lover’s quarrel. The town council quickly moves to suspend McBride from his duties and Piper decides to take matters into her own hands to investigate the murder.
From originally thinking the motive behind the murder of Shirley was romantic, Piper starts delving into Shirley’s other clients and eventually to her real estate dealings. As Piper gets closer to the truth, her shop and apartment are broken into and her life is threatened.
I really enjoyed this mystery even though I had a suspicion as to “who did it” early on. The romance between Piper and McBride is sweet and developed well in conjunction with the mystery story side of the novel. This is a fun, light read. You don’t need to have read the previous novels to pick this one up – the author does a great job of getting you acquainted with the characters, their backgrounds, and the interrelationships.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Great cozy mystery with a fun cast of characters. I look forward to more in this series!

Ginger Snapped is the 5th Spice Shop Mystery by Gail Oust. It is the first book that I have read in the series. It can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

Piper Prescott owns a spice shop in the southern town of Brandywine Creek. She and her best friend Reba Mae cannot seem to keep out of trouble. Piper has  developed a crush on the town's police chief Wyatt McBride so when the body of the town's best realtor is found on his property, Piper sets out to prove his innocence. 

Ginger Snapped is well written and has a good reading pace. I really enjoyed reading this humorous cozy mystery. Recipes are included.

This was a really enjoyable book. It is the first one I have read in this series, and I had no trouble following the story. The mystery was interesting and well written.