This is number 8 in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I have not read all of them or in order. This can be read as a standalone book.

It is Book Club Bonanza week in Crystal Cove, CA. The Mystery Mavens (a local book club) are having a moveable feast at four houses where they will discuss the book they are reading and eat, kind of like a progressive dinner. At one of the homes, they discover a murdered book club member. Jenna’s friend is the prime suspect. Jenna is the amateur sleuth and owner of the Cookbook Nook, a café and bookstore. Wish we had something like this in our town.

There are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. The plot is well-developed. As always after reading one of theses books, I have a list of books to try.

I was not disappointed. Looking forward to the next installment.

Recipes are included. I will be trying a few of them.

Thanks go to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Sifting Through Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber.

While I have previously read the author's Cheese Shop Mystery Series written under the pen name Avery Aames (and thoroughly enjoyed every single book!), this is the first book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series that I have read. I knew that I was going to enjoy this book very early on, when there were references to Krista Davis's Diva series, another that I greatly enjoy. After that point, my attention was captured not by references to other literature, but by the story itself. Crystal Cove is an incredibly inviting setting, and Jenna, Pepper, Cinnamon, Aunt Vera, and the remaining cast of characters are completely engaging. I want to know them better, so I will certainly be picking up the earlier books in this series. Highly recommended!

In this 8th outing of the Cookbook Nook Mystery series, our favorite bookstore owner Jenna Hart is immersed in Book Club Week in Crystal Cove. A dine-around with her own book club turns foul when one of the hosts ends up murdered. Many fingers point to formerly-crotchety craft shop owner Pepper, but could she really have done the deed? You'll have to read to find out!

I enjoyed this book overall--interesting characters, small twists to the mystery, and lots of colorful side-plot action / setting description. Additionally, the character of Pepper has evolved well over the course of the series. It seems that the next book might take place on location in Napa; if so, that would be really exciting and a nice change of pace for the series.

Book Club Bonanza week has arrived and book clubbers from all over are congregating in Crystal Cove. Jenna as packed her store the Cookbook Nook full of cookbooks and food-related fiction. Jenna enjoys hosting different events in her store and visiting the vendors set up around town but what she is looking forward to the most is her book club's event. Jenna is part of the Mystery Mavens book club which is hosting a traveling feast and book discussions, with each course held at a different Maven's home. When they arrive at the last house for the dessert discussion they find a body. If the murder isn’t enough to upset Jenna, one of her friends is the prime suspect. Can Jenna find clues to the real killer?

This is a wonderful addition to a wonderful series. This book is one of my favorites in this series. The cast of characters is witty, interesting, and authentic. This celebration of books and book clubs is a celebration I can really get behind. I wish there was a similar festival near me to attend. The mystery is well plotted with a lot of red herrings and twists and turns to keep the reader engaged in the story. The setting has a wonderful cozy small town feel and reading the book feels like visiting with old friends. Recipes are included at the end of the book for the foodie and cookbook fan. I recommend this book to fans of author Daryl Wood Gerber, mysteries, food, and books.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

Jenna Hart, owner of Cookbook Nook and Nook Café, finds herself pursuing another murderer when Ivy Beale, owner of Dreamcatcher, is found dead at the dessert stop for the Mystery Mavens’ progressive dinner.

Suspects include Pepper Pritchett, owner of Beaders of Paradise and mother of the police chief, Cinnamon Pritchett; Crusibella Queensberry, owner of Spellbinder Book Shop, who threatened Ivy when she backed out of selling Dreamcatcher to Crusibella; and Oren Michaels, the boyfriend Ivy just dumped. There’s also an interesting blackmailing scheme, conducted by email, that keeps Crystal Cove residents watching their backs.

Sifting Through Clues is the eighth in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber who cooks up a tasty dish of sleuthing and suspense.

Daryl Wood Gerber has produced another winner in her A Cookbook Nook Mystery series. I love visiting Crystal Cove and all of the engaging characters who dwell there. Jenna is enjoying a progressive dinner with a group of friends who are celebrating a Mystery Week in town and there is a murder. Once again she is drawn in, this time encouraged by friends who want to protect the prime suspect. Jenna reveals many suspects and I was kept guessing until the very end. This is a charming cozy series and 'Sifting Through Clues' has me happily waiting for more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Jenna Hart, proprietor of the Cookbook Nook and Nook Café, is ready for the Book Club Bonanza week that has come to Crystal Cove. She has stocked her bookstore with juicy mysteries and delicious cookbooks. When her friends arrange for a progressive dinner party, she can’t wait to discuss her latest read. But, things become deadly when someone is found dead at the last stop. Can Jen sift through the clues to find the truth?
This was another fabulous mystery from a great writer. I loved how the main character pursued the truth after being coerced by her loved ones to start the investigation. Several great characters were introduced, which added red herrings and suspects to the wonderfully twisty plot. Even though this book is a part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone novel. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Jenna Hart, proprietor of the Book Nook and Nook Cafe has a knack for sniffing out secrets....much to the chagrin of the local police chief.
When Ivy Beale turns up murdered, there is no shortage of suspects, including Pepper, mother of Police Chief Cinnamon Pritchett.
Jenna, along with friends and family members, snoops and questions until she works out the who and the why, but the killer realizes she's figured it out before she can contact Cinnamon.
Only the intervention of her staff saves her during the final confrontation.
We are presented with quite a few suspects and good motives for each one, it seems everyone has a secret. As she narrows down each one with a viable alibi, it still takes a great deal of thought before she knows who it was.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and find it a wonderful way to spend the day. I recommend for any cozy lover.

I really liked this latest installment in Daryl Wood Gerber's Cookbook Nook Mysteries. In Sifting Through Clues, Crystal Cove is holding a book club festival that has brought lots of readers, book clubs and business to town. Cookbook Nook owner, Jenna Hart, is especially excited about the progressive dinner planned with her book club. When one of the destinations reveals a murdered club member, Jenna is on the case.

There are several interesting new characters introduced in this book that add additional intrigue and mystery to Jenna's search, along with some surprising revelations that could make this investigation her last.

Crystal Cove is a welcoming and fun setting for this book, and the book club theme is inspired. I feel like the residents there are good friends and love revisiting them. I also appreciate the cozy foodie book and cookbook recommendations and the great recipes featured at the end of the book.

I highly recommend Sifting Through Clues and know you will love it as well -- it is truly a delight.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

Jenna and her friends once again have attracted the police chief’s radar with Jenna finding another dead body, causing Chief Cinnamon to be up in arms with her, notwithstanding their friendship and all, personally Chief Cinnamon need to lighten up a bit on Jenna. It’s not her fault people love to tell her little tidbits. This murder mystery had them going round in circles with its twists and curves, a rather puzzling one indeed.

It's Book Club Bonanza Week in Crystal Cove, California (I really wish this was a real place - I love all the theme weeks!), and when a fellow shop owner, Pepper (Cinnamon's mom), is a suspect in the murder of a book club member, Cookbook Nook owner Jenna Hart must do everything she can to help find the true murderer and clear her name. Jenna's best friend Bailey is VERY pregnant, and Jenna and Rhett are planning their wedding (and in a lovely crossover they're thinking about having the big event as Mimi Rousseau's place in Napa Valley!), so Jenna needs to get this case solved quickly! Loved it! A+

How could Book Club Week be dangerous? Jenna Hart finds out the hard way.

Sifting Through Clues is the 8th book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. Crystal Cove's latest theme week is Book Club Week, and it is going swimmingly. The library has a fantastic tent, all the stores have book themed window displays, and all the book stores are hopping. It is great, until Jenna and her fellow book club friends find one of their members dead during their progressive dinner.

As usual, Daryl writes a tightly plotted book. There are lots of choices for the murderer, and some you find yourself taking off the suspect list only to put them back on it. She does a great job keeping you guessing.

Jenna and her friends are charming as always. It is fun to see them grow and change as things progress in their lives. I do feel like I mostly see them on some of their worst days, but their worst days are really intriguing.

Overall, it is a great addition to the series. The little hints about one of her other series are nice and subtle, and I now have a list of other books (cookbook and otherwise) that I need to go look up and read.

I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest review.

Sifting Through Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber 4 Stars

This is my first time reading this author. Ms. Gerber aka Avery Adams is prolific author with several series under her belt. My local library didn't carry this series (Cookbook Nook) even when it was published by Berkley Prime Crime. This book is number 8 in the series.

Like any continuing series a new reader could miss nuances between characters that have been established in prior books. But I still enjoyed the mystery anyway. The books takes place during Book Club Bonanza Week in Crystal Cove. I loved the creative descriptions of all the events taking place and decorations at the various shops. A shout out to cross promotion because there is a mention of one her Cheese Shop Mysteries written as Avery Adams. In addition, Jenna Hart and her boyfriend Rhett Jackson will be checking out a venue around Napa which happens to be the location of the author's French Bistro Mysteries. One of the shop owners is murdered and there are too many suspects around. What annoyed me a little was Jenna's interaction with Cinnamon Pritchett, the Chief of Police. I felt that she was a very abrasive character. I am probably missing the whole story from prior books. I began to get an inkling of the murderer around halfway into the book.

Thank you Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing

A strong cozy mystery that is sure to please.
I strongly recommend you read the previous books in the series to appreciate the characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Getting back to Crystal Cove is always and adventure with these well developed and fun characters and the theme celebrations tied in with actual books. Addictive series with an author great at weaving a mystery and making it interesting until the end.

Sifting Through the Clues is the eighth addition to the fantastically cozy Cookbook Nook series by Daryl Wood Gerber. The story begins as Jenna and her book club friends are excited to be discussing their current book by traveling to four of the members’ homes to discuss the book at each while eating a different course provided at each stop. At their fourth and final stop, however, Jenna finds their host dead on the floor! The initial clues point to Pepper, Jenna’s friend and fellow business owner as the killer, but Jenna does not believe Pepper could ever kill anyone and wants to help prove her innocence. Yet, Cinnamon, the town sheriff and Pepper’s daughter, tells Jenna to stay out of the investigation by letting the police figure things out. Riiiiiight, like that’s going to happen...we all know that our fearless and innately curious Jenna is going to stop at nothing to sort through the suspects and their secrets in order to prevent her friend from going to prison for a crime she did not commit! So many twists, turns, surprises, and red herrings throughout this book, and I was genuinely surprised when the real killer was exposed. To read any book by Daryl Wood Gerber is like reconnecting with old friends because the characters are so relatable, and Sifting Through the Clues is no exception. The relationships Jenna shares with her friends and family are realistic and engaging, and I love the way I feel connected to all of them through Ms Wood Gerber’s writing in this series. Also, the charming setting of this series, the fictitious small town of Crystal Cove, California, sounds like just the perfect spot for a weekend getaway...if only it were a real place! Can't wait to go back there in the next book of this fabulous series!

I volunteered to review an ARC of this book thru NetGalley, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sifting Through Clues opens with Crystal Cove celebrating Book Club Bonanza. A mayoral promotion fills the town with droves of book club members, seeking the entertainment provided by the savvy town merchants. The Mystery Mavens, Jenna's book club, is putting on a progressive dinner event. The highly successful event comes to a halt with the discovery Ivy. Stabbed with a rose quartz shard, she is ritually positioned, lying among various crystals. Why is the bonzai included?

Jenna is more concerned with Bailey's pregnancy and her plans for her wedding; others draw her into seeking answers. I appreciate that Jenna does not compete with the police. In this series, she and Cinnamon, Crystal Cove's Chief of Police are friends. Cinnamon, does feel compromised, however, as her mother is a prime suspect. Gerber provides enough alternate suspects that the true culprit is not easily discovered.

Gerber is very good at world building. Crystal Cove seems like a real place filled with true to life people. Problems are not always easily resolved. Motives, reasons for secret keeping, feelings of self doubt are realistic. Similar to works by Lucy Burdette or Miranda James, kindness, honesty and humor are values held by most of the characters in this series.

Many authors feel 'written out' by book eight. This is not true for Daryl Wood Gerber.

Another great cookbook nook story. The characters just keep getting better as the series continues. Lots of twists that will keep you guessing who and why. Then a happy ending for some.

Daryl Wood Gerber never fails to please and excite the reader with her stories!
This new installment was just as good as I hoped and imagined it would be!
There was definitely some sifting and the clues took us in every direction until they all came together just like on of Katie’s recipes!
Jenna and her friends never fail to provide entertainment and wonderful recipes to try! My favorites so far in this book were the Egg Salad and the Madelines!
Can’t wait to see what Jenna and Rhett’s relationship will become in the next installment. And hopefully to watch Bailey and Tito’s baby grow.

Another perfect addition to a completely addictive series! This author really knows ho me to weave the perfect mystery, leaving you on the edge of your seat! I love how they always have a different theme going for the characters and it’s always something delightfully unique. With an amazing cast of characters, superb writing, and a perfect web of mystery, this book will not disappoint.