3 1/2 stars brought down to 3

Meh. This book sat in my TBR for far too long and so I read it. It was a miss for me. I don't know if I just didn't care for the writing style or if it was the fact that I didn't care for Val at all. I don't know. The relationships felt fake to me with the exception of her friendship with Charlene. Sadly, I would pass on this one.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4844901663

Let me start by saying that I'm giving this book 4 stars because overall, it was well-written and the mystery itself kept me guessing, which I always like. That being said, I have to admit that this book was not one of my favorites. Normally, I can breeze through a cozy in less than a day. With this book, I kept picking it up and putting it down over the course of several weeks. I found the main supporting character to be annoying and the main character herself to be wishy-washy. While she did finally kind of "find herself", the process to get there was arduous and ultimately (to me, at least) not worth it and I doubt that I will read any more of them.

Pies Before Guys is another great installment in the Pietown Mystery series. Like all the other books in the series, the reader gets to follow along as Val and her zany friend, Charlene, investigate a murder. I really like how all the main characters, and even new characters like Val's half-brother, Doran, are given enough details that the reader can feel like they know them. And the author is so good at crafting a mystery that I honestly didn't have a clue who the murderer was until it was revealed on the page. I really do love this series and I hope it continues for a long time. I'm already looking forward to the next murder mystery that Val and Charlene investigate with their Baker Street Bakers group.

Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.

Welcome back to Pie Town! This time in PIES BEFORE GUYS, a professor by the name of Michael Starke is found murdered right after he is accused of plagiarism. With his ties to Val’s employee, Abril, she and Charlene go out to solve what really happened. However, Val’s detective Carmichael doesn’t like it.

I like this series because it’s one of the few Cozy Mysteries out there that takes a more direct approach with its sleuthing. Once the murder occurs, Weiss sets the pace and Val and Charlene are out there. I really like that because it always pushes the book forward. I also noticed that Weiss doesn’t shy away from using certain terms in her books that are more professional. It makes it feel a bit more like a police procedural than a lighter Cozy Mystery, which is nice. So I definitely enjoyed the book because of that.

If you haven’t tried this series and are a fan of Thrillers, then maybe this one would be a good fit for you. It’s fast-paced and engaging, but still has the Cozy element that makes the genre so special.

Val Harris has been trying to draw more business into Pietown so she agrees to hold a poetry reading at the request of one of her staff, Abril. Professor Starke and several other faculty from the local community college have readings but Val wasn't really paying attention until it turns out that Professor Starke has been murder right after leaving Pietown.

The mystery wasn't that involved and I'm getting a bit tired of the antics of Charlene, Val's crust maker. I'll give the series another try, hoping that Charlene gets tuned a lot, otherwise a pleasant read if you remove Charlene.

A poetry slam at a bakery? Why not! Even though Pie Town proprietor Val Harris would rather be spending time with her newfound half-brother, she knows her employee, Abril, is beyond excited to be hosting the event. Especially since it stars the apple pie of Abril’s eye, poet and professor Michael Starke. But the evening ends on a sour note when Professor Starke is found murdered mere moments after being accused of plagiarism.

Just like that, Pie Town is at the center of another criminal inquiry. At Abril’s request and much to Detective Carmichael’s consternation Val and Charlene decide to investigate Starke’s death. But the case is as tough as an overworked crust and the Baker Street Bakers are only coming up with scraps. If they don’t pinch the cultured killer soon, Pie Town’s reputation could crumble.

The author gives us a complex mystery that is filled with suspects, red herrings, clues, twists, and turns that will have you guessing who the killer is until the end of the book. The characters are well developed, well written, quirky, and engaging which helps make the books story line interesting.

I like that Val is getting to know her new found half-brother Doran so she can have a much needed family relationship. I also like how Val and Gordon's relationship is still developing and going strong. I don't really like Heidi or Marla it seems that their only goal in life are being annoying irritants to Val and Charlene and try to ruin their lives and destroy Pie Town.

I would like to see Val grow a backbone so she's not such a pushover for Charlene when it comes to her crazy antics. I am looking forward to reading book 5 Gourd To Death to see what happens with all the characters.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.

This is one of my absolute favorite series. This is another great installment and i would most definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted cozy.

Pies Before Guys by Kirsten Weiss is the fourth book of the cozy Pie Town Mystery series. Each book of the series contains it’s own mystery that is fully solved so they all could be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so. However, those that follow from the beginning do have character development that carries over book to book.

In the first book of the Pie Town Mystery series readers were introduced to Valentine “Val” Harris who had moved to San Nicholas along the coast in California thinking she was going to be starting a whole new life by opening up her own business and marrying her fiance. Six months later all Val had left was her business when her fiance had called off their wedding and after putting all her money into her dream, Pie Town, she knew she had to do whatever it took to make the business a success.

However, Val and her pie crust maker, Charlene, seem to have the worst luck when it comes to finding dead bodies but the duo are becoming better and better at finding the murderers. This time Val agrees to host a poetry slam at a bakery at the request of one of her employees, Abril. Unfortunately at the end of the night Abril’s favorite poet and professor, Michael Starke, is found murdered leaving Abril to beg for Val’s help finding the killer.

The Pie Town Mystery series has quickly become one of my favorite cozy series to read. There is that quirkiness I enjoy with a small town vibe and all of the characters are likable. However, going way above likable Charlene is one of my favorite characters being a complete riot every time she’s involved. I will definitely keep looking forward to any more books the author adds to this series always looking forward to more laughs and a fun mystery to solve.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The fourth book in the Pie Town Mystery series by Kirsten Weiss is Pies Before Guys. Val and Pie Town are hosting a poetry slam for her employee Abril. Among those reading poems are several employees of the local college. When one of the professors is found murdered after leaving Pie Town, Val and Charlene (the Baker Street Bakers) are on the case. The mystery was interrupted a few times by some personal drama from Val and some hi-jinks from Charlene. It is a fun series and I enjoyed this book. The supporting characters add interest to the story. While this book stands alone, you will enjoy it more if you read the previous book in the series.

This was a very fun book. Val is a great sleuth and in every book she gets better. The poetry slam was a very interesting setting that you don't see very often. The story was great and I always love the humor Charlene brings. I thought I knew who the killer was but was shocked in the end. I highly recommend this book.

Life is never dull in Pie Town. This cozy mystery town is full of entertaining and interesting characters. But when one of them ends up dead, the usual number of suspects has multiplied. When our pie shop owner is talked into investigating, the action is ramped up and we find ourselves chuckling at the antics of a 70+ year old baker and her cat. Clues fly fast and furious but which ones are real and which meant to keep us guessing? That's why they call it a mystery. Kirsten Weiss has given her fans another great read.

Quirky mystery, really good read.
This is a little mystery, little romance and a whole lot of pie. I had the pleasure of reading an arc of this book.

PIES BEFORE GUYS, the fourth book in the Pie Town Mysteries by Kirsten Weiss, is the first I’ve read in the series. I found it easy to read as a standalone and the author gives out just enough backstory so I never felt lost. The characters were quirky (elderly Charlene is especially a hoot, but at times got a little out of control) and I was especially interested in seeing how the protagonist, Val, and her newfound half-brother’s relationship progressed. The plot was complex enough that I didn’t see some of the twists coming and there were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing as to who the culprit was. The rousing reveal wrapped up the threads of the story into a satisfying conclusion. I was happy that Ms. Weiss includes several pie recipes at the back of the book to fit the theme and they all sounds delicious!

English professor Michael Stark is participating in a Poetry Slam at Pie Town. He reads a rather strange poem that has him in an argument with another English Professor. When his body if found, stabbed with a saber, it is broadcast that Pie Town is involved in a another murder, as he was killed leaving the event. Worried about the reputation of Pie Town, Val and Charlene need to find the murderer. Val's boyfriend, Detective Gordon Carmichael, once again is at risk of being kicked off the case due to Val's interference. She promises not to share any information or take risks. Charlene never listens and is soon posting on her social media pages. Can they solve the case and not risk the business?

I really like the protagonist in this series, Val Harris. She is a sweet, sensible girl who is building a successful pie business, after being dumped by her fiancee a few years earlier. I am enjoying her relationship with Gordon and how it is developing. Val is also reliable and values her promises which is also how she ends up in hot water. The one thing I wish Val would do is get a backbone where Charlene is concerned. She gets herself into trouble going along with Charlene's ideas. Of course, that is also where the humour comes in. Charlene is a hoot and I loved her "Pie Town UFOs" that caused some problems in the community. She is very inventive, has a vivid imagination and often comes up with some rather odd ideas and plans. She loves technology, specifically Social Media. She uses it to give hints and tidbits of information regarding Pie Town and the investigation, all hoping to draw in customers for the store. The story was well-written, amusing and full of clues and red herrings. I thought I had figured out who the culprit was and I was right, but the motive was totally not what I was thinking. Overall, another fun and interesting visit to this small town where the regulars at Pie Town add another dimension to these mysteries.

I'm a huge cozy mystery fan and the pietown mysteries could easily be new favorites, great story and great characters i highly recommend

I will definitely have to read more of the Pietown books, since this one was a lot of fun! It is a fast-paced cozy mystery full of friendship and danger.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have an issue with one of the main characters, Charlene. She does things so outrageous with no regard for anyone else, she ought to be restrained. She gets Val into all sorts of hot water and this time is no exception. I can see what her daughter wants nothing to do with her.
When an English prof is murdered after attending a poetry reading at Val’s shop, the two women think they need to investigate since it might cast a pall over the business. But it seems everything Charlene does, and Val trails along, churns out more bad publicity and danger. After a second prof is murdered, in spite of Val’s dichotomy of not wanting to step on her cop boyfriend Gordon’s toes, the two ladies barge around town asking questions and ticking off people. Even after Val’s shop is attacked with a smoke bomb and Charlene’s home is fire bombed, they will not be dissuaded. It is only when Gordon tells Val that Charlene’s and her hijinks add colour and fun to his life was I able to see the other side of Charlene’s shenanigans.
They do solve the murders and a third murder from five years earlier. I confess I did suspect the killer. Of course, their lives are in jeopardy but once I got beyond some of the teeth grinding frustration with Charlene, I did enjoy the story. .
Four purrs and two paws up.

This ended up being a cute cozy mystery. I liked Val but I think my favorite character was Charlene and her cat. Some of Val's choices made me think she's a little naive. Val and Charlene made quite a team with their Baker Street Bakers agency. ;) I will definitely be getting the first 3 Pietown to see what kind of shenanigans I missed out on. You could definitely read this as a standalone though.

This is the first time reading a novel by Kirsten Weiss. I won this ARC on Netgalley. This view is my own. Thanks, Kirsten and Kensington Books!

This series is becoming a bit formulaic. I lost interest almost from page one. I do like the characters and thr author's writing.

Pies Before Guys: A Pie Town Mystery
By Kirsten Weiss
Kensington
March 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Ever since Val Harris’s life imploded and she took over the Pie Town pastry shop in Northern California’s San Nicholas, she’s been looking for new ways to promote their specialized pie business. It was enthusiastic employee Abril Rivas who came up with the idea of a poetry slam night, which was an iffy event even before the professors started attempting to assault one another. While it was seventy-something piecrust-maker extraordinaire Charlotte McCree who was the one to finally smack Professor Michael Starke with a rubber spatula, her blow couldn’t have been responsible for the bloody attack that left him dead by a Prius. That he was murdered by the saber he rather recklessly waved around during his recital of “Charge of the Global Warming Brigade” once again places Pie Town in the midst of a murder investigation, one Charlotte just can’t wait to dive into. As one of the two members of the Baker Street Bakers – Val being the only other meddler – she enthusiastically leads them into the competitive realm of academia, where professors’ fragile egos and un stable marriages provide motives aplenty.

The death of her mother and abandonment by her mob-enforcer father has left Val with more than her share of relationship issues, which explains her attachment to the half-brother she only recently met. Charlotte is more than ready to toss Abril to Doran as romantic bait to keep in town, but Val is hesitant to ask her brother to stay in San Nicholas as they get to know one another. Fortunately for Val, Detective Gordon Carmichael is both patient and accepting of his girlfriend’s need to become involved in local investigations, and so long as he she keeps him informed he has no intention of ever leaving her side. At least their relationship stands as a healthy contrast to the shenanigans going on at the community college, where exes bounced between departments and spouses. A fermented wizardry professor, accusations of plagiarism, and a Molotov cocktail or two all make Charlotte’s latest UFO tourist-attraction scheme seem rather mundane.

Val and Charlotte’s friendship continue to be the highlight of this series, which in this fourth installment delightfully explores the eccentricities of the academia. Just when Charlotte seems a little too over-the-top or reckless, the brashness that cuts through the bull and truly gets to the heart of the matter reveals not just her wit but her sense of compassion. Usually wearing her feline Frederick like a scarf, Charlotte pulls Val into adventures that push her boundaries and yet somehow always work out for the best. Having Charlotte, Doran, Abril, and Gordon in Val’s life ensures not only that she will not have to face her future alone, but that it definitely will not be boring. Recipes that of course do not attempt to replicate Charlotte’s secret masterpiece crust are a tasty bonus, and even the inclusion of her nemesis into the Bakers can’t stop these genial investigators from being as supportive as they are fun. Readers don’t need to love pie in order to enjoy this novel full sarcastic humor and investigating antics, but few won’t be hankering for a custardy pie in a jar by the all-too-soon turn of the last page.