Val Harris, owner of Pie Town Bakery, and her elderly pie crust specialist Charlene McCree, seemed to get drawn into the strangest situations. While taking a break and checking out the current pumpkin festival, they come across the body of a woman. The victim was under a huge pumpkin, one so large a fork lift was needed to move it.
Her detective boyfriend was removed from the case because the police chief thought Val and an employee had motive, and half the town believed it was a group from another town that also held a pumpkin festival.
Feeling that the chief was not looking into all the possible suspects, the ladies, with the help of Det. Gordon Carmichael, who worked on the QT, and Val's stepmother, Takako, managed to gather suspects and rule them out, unlike the police chief.....until they eventually solved the murders, as another victim came to light.
This tale is rife with humor and human insight. The characters are not one dimensional and fun. Ms. Weiss' descriptions of the festival make you wish you could go there...except for the bodies.
I requested and received a Netgalley ARC to peruse and recommend it highly. It's a perfect read for fall...intrigue and humor without gore, profanity or sexual content. Suitable for all ages.

I enjoyed this book. It's got great characters and an interesting story. Val and Charlene find a body under a giant pumpkin at a pumpkin festival and naturally has to investigate since she doesn't trust the police chief who takes over the investigation. All kinds of mischief happens. The ending where we find out who the killer is is exciting as they get trapped in a burning corn maze. #GourdtoDeath #NetGalley

Gourd to Death is the fifth book in Kirsten Weiss's Pie Town cozy mystery series. I haven't read the previous books and had no trouble following along.

Val, the owner of the Pie Town bakery, is gearing up for her small town's Pumpkin Festival. She and her pie crust expert, Charlene, make an early morning pre-festival visit to get a sneak peek of the pumpkins entered in the competition. They find more than they were expecting when they find a body crushed under one of the enormous gourds.

Small town rivalries, relationship secrets, vandalism and a pranking war with a nearby town all add to the mysteries that Val and Charlene have to unravel.

This is a comfortable, well written cozy with all of the expected components - quaint small town, adversarial police chief, boyfriend in law enforcement, quirky neighbors and customers and delicious descriptions of baked goods. Warm and comforting like one of Val's pies.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the DRC.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for and honest review. I quite enjoyed this cozy mystery.. I didn't realize this was an on going series, so I do feel like I missed out on some important things that happened in previous books. However I did quite like the book, and I would like to start this series from the beginning.. The main character Val was great, I loved her interactions with the other characters.. And love that she owned her own Pie shop.. I kind of want to visit one now.. lol. Also the halloweenish setting taking place during the pumkin festival. It sounded like lots of fun, also the rivalry they had with the neighboring town was hilarious..

This is part of a series but it works fine as a stand alone novel.

Val owns the local pie shop and is on the committee for the pie competition at her first local pumpkin festival. Before they start baking Val and her assistant Charlene go to explore the festival and find a dead body. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep you interested including a pumpkin war with a neighbouring town.

I look forward to the next book in the series.

I have read all of the books within the Pie Town series and this one doesn't disappoint. Val and the pie crew are in the middle of a pumpkin festival. Typically there is a lot of craziness going on in town. There is a feud with another town hosting a similar festival and of course a dead body. But is it a result of the feud or just a case of lucky opportunity? Val and her sidekick Charlene keep the action rolling as they try to figure out what is going on in town. The characters are always entertaining and I am glad to see the addition of Doran's mother, Takako. This is a godd afternoon read

A Review of Gourd to Death by Kristen Weiss, I have seen on many online forums that avid readers are struggling to find stories that hold their interest. This book in my opinion should bring anyone out of their reading funk. It has all the right elements to draw the reader In. Numerous laughable moments are included.
This is an installment in the pie town mystery series. It is a stand alone novel. Although there are some references to actions from previous. The story is set in one of my favoriet seasons, fall. A pumpkin festival is the location of the murder using one of the heaviest pumpkin entries as the murder weapon. Or is it????? There is also a township rivalry with a neighboring town hosting a pumpkin festival the week after this one. The pranks that each town pulls on the other had me giggling to myself. The pie shop has loads of delicious sounding pies. As an aside I love when the author includes a recipe discussed in the book. This story gives the reader that as well.
The characters are well thought out and it is as if I have known them for years. The use of subplots through out flesh the story out. They make you feel as if you are a standing next to the counties biggest pumpkin.
The mystery unfolds in a manner that is easy to be believable. It also did not give the murderer away too early. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy! Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this novel.

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The 5th installment in the Pie Town Mystery series. I always love a mystery set during the Halloween season. The town is having their pumpkin festival and Val is there and as she and Charlene take a break and head to check things out and they discover a body dead under a giant pumpkin. Soon Val and Charlene are sleuthing to figure out who is really to blame. This is a good solid mystery which is fast paced which keeps you engaged. Charlene is a great side kick to Val and she is pretty quirky and out there but that is her charm. Good continuation of this series and I look forward to the next installment.

Gourd to Death is an excellent addition to this fantastic series.
It’s Halloween and prankster Charlene is up to her usual shenanigans. Val is working hard to keep her pie shop in the black, and when an unexpected visitor and a murder interrupt her routine, she has no choice but to investigate. With the help of the Baker St Bakers, Val & Charlene won’t stop until the murderer is behind bars.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Halloween is coming and San Nicholas is hosting their annual Pumpkin Fest, the first Val will be attending. Early morning is baking time and as the booths are being set up, Charlene and Val take a break to check things out…and Val stumbles upon a dead body under a very large pumpkin. Another body and another case for the Baker Street Bakers to investigate.

In addition to solving a murder and baking a lot of pies, Val’s step Mother has arrived and inserts herself into the investigation. Now Val has to search for the murderer, keep an eye on Charlene, and figure out what really brought Takako to town. If only she can balance it all and not become the next victim.

This is a fun series and Charlene could not be quirkier, which is why I enjoy the escapades she and Val have. Looking forward to their next adventure together.

This is the first book I have read by Kirsten Weiss and it won't be the last. I loved how the plot was centered around Halloween. The characters were relatable and loveable. The twists and turns kept me on my toes. I read this book in one sitting and couldn't put it down! I am going to start the series from the beginning and can't wait for the next one.