love this series and this book has my favorite event Crystal Cove has had in any book, Food Bowl Week made me hungry for bite sized food. As always Jenna was having a lovely time until she finds a reporters body. The story was very engaging and I couldn't decide which suspect I thought could be the killer. The book ended way to fast and I enjoyed it so much.

Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber (A Cookbook Nook Mystery 9) has a big emphasis on food, recipes, cook books and exercise.....  It's also a cosy murder mystery.

This was the first book I read in the series, and whilst you could tell a lot had happened in the past, it didn't stop me from understanding the story.  I did find that there was fat shaming in this book, which I didn't enjoy.  Also, in a book all about food, there's an awful lot about exercise, which felt too unnatural.

Shredding the Evidence was published on 21st April 2020, and is available from Amazon.

You can follow Daryl Wood Gerber on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley and to Beyond the Page.

This is my first visit with Jenna and the Cookbook Nook, but it will not be my last. I will go back and read previous books as well as any future books in the series. This was a great cozy mystery. And with the focus being Food Bowl Week, you are treated to some delicious recipes. The characters are well developed and I loved the relationships among them. The mystery is done well with lots of twists and turns as you sit on the edge of your seat while trying to figure out whodunit. A deliciously delightful book that has your mouth watering.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I have read some of Daryl Wood Gerber’s other books and enjoyed them. Shredding the Evidence is not one of those I enjoyed. I hated Jenna. She places way too much on a person’s weight and it is very triggering. She makes a big deal out of how she exercises every day and she never gains weight. Really? A lot of people exercise every day and still struggle. Then, when she runs into a friend of Kylie’s, the first thing she thinks of is Savannah’s size. When Savannah said they used to run track, Jenna’s thoughts are given Savannah’s size, she doubted that. Full of body shaming, I hated, hated this book. And this was in only the 20% that I did read. I won’t be reading any more of this series ever. Thank you to Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove and Jenna Hart is excited to not only try the chef’s creations but knows the event will bring plenty of customers to her Cookbook Nook. Chef Katie also has plans of her own for the food at the Nook Cafe too including a special guest. Jenna’s finance Rhett’s new bistro, Intime has a very special dinner planned as well. Kylie O., the Crystal Cove Courier food critic is determined to cover all the events by herself even though reporter Tito Martinez has offered to help. Bailey’s husband, Tito has wanted to take on more stories and he and Kylie have a very public argument over it. So when Kylie O. is found dead in a local gym, a gym where both Tito and Bailey work out, he becomes the prime suspect in her murder.

Truthfully, Kylie O. was a pretty aggressive reporter and dished out some caustic reviews so she left behind a wide variety of suspects. Jenna knows Tito is innocent so she just has to clear his name by finding the actual killer. Easier said than done because the clues point to several individuals. When Jenna starts to hone in on the killer she finds the killer is already homing in on her. Can Jenna corner the killer or will she be the next victim?

It is always fun to catch up with these characters because there never seems to be a dull moment in Crystal Cove. In addition to the town events, Jenna and Rhett are starting to plan their wedding, Aunt Vera is dating, everyone is swooning over Bailey’s baby girl and another core character is expecting a baby. With everything going on Jenna still finds time to investigate the murder and this makes for one very unhappy Cinnamon. As always the characters are cleverly written and they all continue to develop in realistic ways.

The theme of this story is Shredding and it is not just the evidence that is shredded. Food is shredded in amazing ways. The descriptions had my tummy rumbling and I really appreciated the recipes the author provides at the end of the book. She is a true foodie and her passion reigns within the pages of her stories. The Cookbook Nook theme of the series is just perfect for her.

The mystery was very well-plotted with some red herrings to divert everyone’s thinking. Bailey really pushes Jenna along in her quest to prove her husband is not a murderer. Twist after twist start to pull the killer into focus but I was really off on this one. I really came to dislike the deceased more than I usually do when reading cozy mysteries and I think that clouded my thinking. The author has a real strength of pulling her readers into the story and she really did that for me this time.

Shredding the Evidence was A Perfect Escape. I was entertained from the beginning to the end and look forward to reading Wining and Dying soon.

I really enjoyed this mystery, the story kept me reading and the characters made me
want to know more about them.

I started this series with book 6 and have had no issues feeling connected to the characters and understanding how they intertwine. Of all the characters, Cinnamon the police chief has become my favorite. She is one spunky chief and compliments Jenna really well.

Every time I read this series I have the urge to buy cookbooks (I REALLY do not need any more) and cook all day long. There are many yummy recipes included in the back of the book and I am ready to try a few of them out. The crab cake bites sound divine.

I am on the fence in regards to Jenna's fiance. I still feel something is off with him. Maybe if I go back and read the books I missed I will get a better feeling on him.

The murder seems like it has been plucked from a real headline. I could imagine this murder really happening.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Beyond the Page, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Shredding the Evidence is 9th in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. As with all of the books I have read by this author, it was an enjoyable read that provided hours of entertainment with just a touch of “brain exercise” while working through “whodunit”. I met Jenna while reading the seventh book in the series, Wreath Between the Lines. I enjoyed that book well enough so thought I would give another book in the series a read.

In this book we have Jenna Hart in the throws of one of the busiest times of the year with the onset of “Food Bowl Week” in Crystal Cove. A pesky local food reporter ends up dead and Jenna is determined to find out who really was the killer since the only suspect the police have is Jenna’s best friends husband, Tito Martinez.

Jenna gets involved in trying to clear Tito and find the real killer while at the same time participating in Food Bowl Week – especially important for her bookstore which is featuring many of the book written by chef’s that are in attendance at the local events during this week.

As usual with cozy mysteries, there are many viable suspects. It was an interesting journey that Jenna led us on to eliminate the various suspects and eventually come to the only remaining suspect – the killer. As I am fond of saying – it is a good cozy mystery when I cannot figure out the “whodunit” until the very end – just the way I like it.

I loved the references to actual cookbooks. I even went as far as to go to my local library and reserve a couple of the cookbooks that looked interesting. I love it when real life mixes with fictional life ☺

One thing that did make me a little nervous (especially since I read the book on my e-reader) was the long cast of characters presented at the beginning of the book. I was tempted to write all of the names down prior to starting, however I did not and in fact, all turned out well. I quickly assimilated everyone into the story and how they related to each other.

As with other books in this series, I love the cover art! So much going on…

I cannot wait to see if there will be a next installment of this series. In the interim, I may well go back and start the series from the beginning so that I really get to know Jenna!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

This is book 9 in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. It has all the characters back from previous books. It can be read as a stand alone. Crystal Cove is celebrating Food Bowl Week and the competition between the restraunts is fierce. When Jenna finds the local newspaper food writer dead there are many suspects. the police seem to be focusing on Tito, a good friend. The mystery is a good one and there are many references to famous cooks and cookbooks. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really enjoy this series. I have found new things I enjoy because of this series. The town of Crystal Cove host different event/festivals all the time. This book focuses on local chefs. I’m not a great cook, but I love reading cozy mysteries about food. This is a fun way to learn about new foods. The characters are likable and realistic. The mystery has quite a few suspects and well place red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the big reveal. I look forward to the next in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.

I love this series by Daryl Wood Gerber. The gang at Cookbook Nook is always fun to visit with, especially with a murderer on the loose. Thw twists and turns kept me entertained. I did not know who did it, even though I had my suspicions, until the end.

This is the 10th book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. Every book in the series is worth reading, they are well-written and fun!

In this installment, Jenna Hart, who runs the Cookbook Nook, is getting ready for Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove. Restaurants and offering bite-sized examples of their restaurant's favorites, and Jenna is sure that lots of people will visit her shop for a cookbook or two and stop at the cafe. Unfortunately, she finds the dead body of a food reporter, and her best friend's husband is the main suspect. She gets involved to solve the murder and clear his name.

The book is so well-written that the characters have become old friends, and it makes me want to visit Crystal Cove and browse the shops. I highly recommend this book, 5 stars.

Thanks to Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber is the ninth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series. Jenna is excited about Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove including the part that her bookstore will play. The death of a local food reporter who seems to have set everyone she met on edge threatens to put a damper on the week. It is even worse when her best friend's husband is the main suspect. This was a good story with plenty of twists and turns along the way. The series is great for food lovers.

Food Bowl Week Gets Deadly....
The ninth Cookbook Nook Mystery finds Crystal Cove looking forward to Food Bowl Week but when bookstore owner, Jenna, stumbles across a dead food reporter chaos ensues. Enjoyable cosy with a colourful cast of characters and a delightful setting. A fun addition to the series.

This is the 9th book in the Cookbook Nook mystery series. Although I had not read any previous stories in the series, I had no problem hopping right in and getting to know the characters. Jenna Hart, our bookstore owner and amateur sleuth is gearing up for a big festival called Food Bowl. Week, filled with daily events full of fun and delicious food. That is, until Jenna discovers the body of food critic Kylie O and Jenna's best friend's husband is the prime suspect.

This book was a great read. I enjoyed reading about Crystal Cove and the characters there. I'd love to visit Jenna's bookstore! This was a fun cozy mystery, and it even includes recipes in the back! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a foodie mystery!

Thanks for an ARC from #NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

It's Food Bowl Week in Crystal Cove and everyone is loosening a notch on their belts for all the good food that will be available. Jenna Hart has stocked her Cookbook Nook with plenty of inviting books for visitors and is ready to sample the fantastic variety of food. When she stumbles on the dead body of no one's favorite local food critic . Kylie Obendorfer, Jenna is worried about a recent argument her friend Tito Martinez had with Kylie O. Who would have strangled Kylie O in the local fitness center and shredded her food reviews around the body? Jenna is determined to clear Tito despite Chief Pritchett's admonition to stay out police business. I'm always hungry after I read this series and feel the need to rush out an buy a cookbook. Another delightful edition to this series.

Bookshop owner Jenna Hart and the residents of Crystal Cove are very excited about Food Bowl Week. But just as events get started, Jenna finds the body of a local food reported. She gets pulled into the mystery because the main suspect is the husband of her best friend.

This has always been an entertaining series. Jenna is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. She and the other characters have slowly developed into likeable participants in each story. It's always fun to read each new addition to the series to see what is new in their lives. Of course the best part is to watch Jenna search for other suspects and finally find the right one before the local police do.

If you're looking for a light, entertaining read I suggest giving this series a try. This book worked well as a stand alone but you won't go wrong starting from the beginning.

ARC from Beyond the Page and Netgalley.

Princess Fuzzypants here: It’s been fun reading this series as the relationships between the characters have evolved. At the beginning of this one, Jenna is engaged, her best friend is married with a little one and another friend who started the series as anything but is the chief of police, married and now pregnant. All of these things are vital to understand how the plot thickens in this story.
A nasty piece of work who happens to be the food writer for the local paper is dispatched in an unusual and gruesome way. She is not mourned by any but who had enough animus to kill her. Jenna gets involved initually when her best friend’s husband seems the first prime suspect. Unlike many cozies, this heroine must try, and not very well, to contain the enthusiasm of her BFF.
They both ask questions even after the hubby has an alibi and not every story is as it seems at first blush. In fact, as they confront suspect after suspect, they find there are simple explanations for what seems to be guilty behaviour. It is not until Jenna literally looks at the scene of the crime at a different angle that other plausible suspects emerge.
Then when her cop friend ends up in hospital, Jenna is given the green light to get involved in the investigation. It is a one time offer but I suspect it will come back to haunt her. Together Jenna and the deputy who is engaged to her aunt come up with the real killer. While never endorsing murder as a means to problem solve, once revealed, it is clear our victim got what she deserved. And the reader does as well.
Five purrs and two paws up.

This is a delightfully cute cozy mystery. The characters are fresh and loveable. The story has alot of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. It is a most enjoyable book. I look forward to the next one