While this is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series, it is the first I have read, and I did not find that to be a hindrance in my enjoyment or understanding of the book.

I was hooked from the wonderfully punny title, and A Waffle Lot of Murder had a Waffle lot of the perfect fall energy I was seeking. I'll be honest, I'm very hit or miss when it comes to cozy mysteries. I think there is a very fine line of balance required between the right amount of mystery and the right amount of that cozy town atmosphere that is often mishandled. Gregory was a breath of fresh pumpkin spice air in that regard-- the entire reading experience was enjoyable, kept me intrigued, and made me feel like I was sipping a cup of warm cider.

From the start, I was nervous to see it was set in Florida. After all, the sunny state is hardly what I think of when it comes to my beloved crisp fall mornings. Somehow, to my delight, this was not at all a problem. Between the town's haunted house excitement and the delicious fall foods at the cafe (the provided recipes at the end were a fantastic surprise), the mood was present in full. However, there was something a little surprising in the use of Florida's wildlife to create a fun and spooky atmosphere. I didn't expect it, but it actually felt really fitting.

As for the mystery itself, I thought it was well done. A murder at the scene of a haunted house festival? Fantastic. It gets even better when the list of suspects continues to grow and the tensions of the town heighten the excitement. I was fully invested in that animal shelter getting their fundraiser!

There were of course some downsides I think it's worth mentioning. Namely, there was a lack of diversity within the cast of characters that I felt was a bit unrealistic and disappointing. It is not a new problem in this particular genre, but in 2020 I expect publishers and writers alike to be paying more attention to the representation they're creating. In terms of the characters, I felt at times Gia was held back from making choices that would have heightened the excitement and spent too much time almost babying Savannah as if she wasn't a grown woman capable of making her own choices. It resulted in a few scenes falling flat, in my opinion. At times I found myself disliking her boyfriend because it felt like she was stifling her instincts just to avoid upsetting him, but then in his actual scenes he would behave quite the opposite, and it was a little confusing when that difference was never actually addressed.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. If you want a fluffy mystery that will pull you into fall, you'll definitely find it here.

It's autumn but Boggy Creek isn't the same as it was in New York so Gia is happy to help out with the festival, which, by the way, will also be good for her business. Cozy readers know that she's going to find a body and that the event organizer, Barbaras. who was a pain, was really a pain to someone. Gia and her BFF Savannah set off to find out who committed the murder, against the wishes of her love interest- law enforcement officer Hunt Quinn. This plot is fairly predictable but the characters are good and it's a fun read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. AND- fans of pumpkin spice will like the recipes!

I received a copy of A Waffle Lot of Murder through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Waffle Lot of Murder is the fourth installment of the All-Day Cafe Mystery series. In this Halloween themed cozy mystery, Gia Morelli finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation while embracing fall in Boggy Creek and participating in the Haunted Town Festival.

This is the first book in the series that I have read and I really did like the fall setting and the Halloween themed festival, along with the mystery. I am not a huge fan of the characters though and couldn’t really get into them. Every time I thought I was going to like Gia, she goes off and does something that puts herself at risk trying to solve the mystery. I enjoyed the town and the setting in this interesting mystery, but it was Gia and her impulsiveness that didn’t sit well with me. All in all it was a good cozy mystery, not the best I’ve read but definitely not the worst. If I get time in the future I will probably go back and read the other books in this series to see if I can connect more with the characters.

A WAFFLE LOT OF MURDER is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries by Lena Gregory. I read the first in the series some time ago but somehow the next two books got buried in my to-read pile… simply because “too many books, too little time”. However, when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this Halloween-themed cozy, I jumped at the chance. This book is easily read as a standalone and not once did I get lost. There’s enough backstory so I felt I knew the characters without the pacing being slowed down. Ms. Gregory captures the spookiness of the season with creepy descriptions that left me shivering as the protagonist, Gia Morelli, and her bff, Savannah, prepare for the Haunted Town Festival. (Don’t worry, the author adheres to the usual cozy mystery standards so there isn’t any horror.) I truly enjoyed the friendship between Gia and Savannah. They support each other but aren’t afraid to be honest with each other either.

With Gia dating Savannah’s law enforcement cousin, they try to not get involved in finding out who murdered the woman organizing the festival. But things turn personal when an innocent man is attacked after Gia casually questions him about suspicious characters. As owner of the All-Day Breakfast Café, Gia can’t help but have people gossip and/or confide in her about what they knew about the deceased. She finds there were numerous people who aren’t sorry that the victim is no longer around. This brings a large pool of suspects that kept me guessing as Gia follows the clues. My only irritation was how Gia put herself and Savannah in unnecessary danger instead of relying on law enforcement which was readily available. With a suspense-worthy conclusion, this newest release is highly satisfying and lives up to its spooky Halloween theme!

Running her All-day Breakfast Café, Gia serves up mouthwatering dishes. And in keeping with the theme of the title, she serves Pumpkin Spice Waffles to her patrons, and includes the recipe, along with several others, at the back of the book.

There's lots to like here--an interesting Florida setting, a diner, characters with various flaws and fears, and, of course, murder. This was an escapist read that I really enjoyed, overall. I did get a little tired of Gia and Savannah professing their undying loyalty and best friend-ship throughout the whole book. We get it, already! And Gia occasionally gets histrionic, which I could do without. But other than that, I feel like it's well-plotted, interesting, and good enough to sail me away from the real world for a few hours. Mission accomplished!

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I nice entry to series and especially enjoyable as the seasons change. I thought it took a little long to get to the resolution but I still enjoyed the story.

I tried getting into the novel, but most of the narrative felt as if it was dragging and I found it quite hard to keep myself engaged with the characters. The overall plot and colorful characters were great but, I feel that it was just a bit hard to keep me attentive towards wanting to find out what happened in the story. Unfortunately, this wasn't my cup of tea, and that makes me sad since this a Halloween-themed novel and I can relate to Gia a bit about her circumstances.

Sadly, this isn't a book I can recommend at this time.

"While the first hints of autumn grace Boggy Creek, Florida, Gia misses the colorful harvest traditions she left behind in New York. On a scramble to make new fall memories—and promote her irresistible pumpkin spice waffles—things take a dark turn when she gets roped into the Haunted Town Festival, a spooky celebration held on deserted farmlands..."

This is book 4 in a series and my 1st read by this author. It held my interest right away being from New York and Halloween being my favorite holiday. This is a fun cozy mystery and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves Halloween, murder and mystery. I will definitely read the other books in the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this eARC.

Fast paced, exciting, and full of holiday fun. i love autumn and Halloween, so the backdrop of this book was perfect to my interests!

A deliciously good time. Swift storyline, interesting premise and a great characters, old and new. I hope there'll be more stories added to this series.

Well written, fast paced complete with a haunted festival, friends, family, and a murdered event planner. A great addition to the series.

A Waffle Lot of Murder is the fourth installment in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series set in Boggy Creek, FL and featuring Cafe owner, Gia Morelli and her Bernese Mountain Dog, Thor. It's Fall in Florida and Gia is missing autumn in New England, but she's settling into her new hometown, enjoying the success of her restaurant and basking in the glow of her relationship with Police Captain Hunt Quinn.

Gia is a little apprehensive when the Cafe is invited to participate in the Haunted Town Festival, a fundraiser for the local animal shelter. The old fairgrounds and abandoned buildings are transferred into a collection of haunted houses with tables set up to offer local food fare. But, Gia's best friend Savannah and her staff encourage her to take part and offer to help set everything up.

When Gia and Savannah arrive at the fairgrounds to meet with event organizer Barbara Woodhull they are surprised that the woman doesn't show up for their appointment. Looking around the two women discover Barbara's phone and suspect she has met with foul play. The police are called and Barbara's body is discovered and Gia quickly finds herself involved in another murder investigation.

A host of suspects, an adulterous affair and an eerie backdrop make for a perfectly spooky afternoon read. While I enjoy Gia and her friends, I found it very distracting that Gia was constantly apologizing both to Savannah for not being a good friend and to everyone else for her impulsive actions. Delicious Fall recipes are included and a new pet finds it's way into Gia's life.

I received an advanced copy of A Waffle Lot of Murder from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Gia is still getting used to Florida. It is very different from her old hme state, New York. Still, she has made great friends in her new home and business. She has also adopted a furry best friend who always has her back.
Boggy Creek, Florida is not a big town, bt toursits keep things hopping and lively, especially with gossip and during festivals. A Haunted Halloween festival is one of the biggest attractions, with proceeds helping to fund the local animal shelter. This festival has a loyal following and it is rare that an opening occurs for someone new to participate. When Gia is invited to sponsor a "house" she has no idea what she is getting herself into. Her friends agree to help and assure her that she will enjoy it.
Before she even has a chance to find out what is all involved, a body is found that jeopardizes the event. OH- I should mention that Gia and best gal pal Savannah are the ones who stumble over the tragic event.
Although warned to stay out of the investigation, it seems trouble is following Gia around.
A great cast of characters, strong friendship bonds, and intelligent, independent women drive this exciting novel. Thor, Gia's best fur friend, is also a hero.
You won't be disappointed!

A Waffle Lot Of Murder by Lena Gregory
Publisher: Lyrical Underground, Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: October 6, 2020
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Having spent most of my life in Florida, I can relate with Gia's longing for the arrival of Fall. It was nice to start the book with an instant connection with the main character.

This was a good cozy mystery. The plot was interesting, the characters were relatable and the setting brought me home. I always love a Fall story line.

Even though it is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series, it held up as a great stand-alone novel. I look forward to reading the other books in the series and any future books to come. It was a nice trip home for me. ❤️

I'm so grateful to Lena Gregory, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

#AWaffleLotofMurder. It's fall and Gia the owner of the all day breakfast cafe has been asked to host a haunted house and food table at the annual haunted village fund raiser. It makes her happy to finally feel like a part of the community.

When she and her best friend Savannah go to meet the organizer of the event, who is a no show, they are on sight when the body is discovered. Gia vows that she shall not be investigating this mystery. The best laid plans often get ignored in the cozy mystery formula and this is no exception. Gia can not help but investigate.

This is a fun story complete with haunted attractions and fall recipes. I would recommend this seasonal read to anyone looking for a quick read.

As a fan of Halloween, I had to request this book!
The setting, characters, and mystery really shine through in this story and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Gia and Savanna are good characters who work really well together, making it an enjoyable story.
I’m looking forward to reading more.

3.5 stars

Gia is the owner of The All-Day Breakfast Cafe, has an adorable dog, supportive best friend, a detective boyfriend...and a knack for getting involved in local homicides.  I really enjoyed the autumn/Halloween theme of this cozy mystery (the main reason I requested it); it was well-paced and included a couple of good twists.  I also appreciated the focus on friendships rather than romance.  However, it fell under "typical cozy" for me, meaning it was predictable and followed the ABC's of the genre without offering any real stand-out character or unique plotline.  Still, a good way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for sending me an advance e-copy for review.

Who doesn't love a Halloween mystery? A Waffle Lot of Murder by Lena Gregory is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series and does not disappoint. Fall has arrived along with apple cider and Gia's amazing pumpkin spice waffles. She is convinced to participate in the town's Haunted Town Festival, After all, what could possibly go wrong? This is a fast-paced book full of shady deals, creepy characters, and murder.

4.5 stars

This is the fourth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series by Lena Gregory.

I was introduced to Lena Gregory from her Bay Island Psychic mystery series. And since I love that series, I knew this one would be a home run too!

Gia and her best friend, Savannah are questioned by Hunt and Leo about the death of a local event organizer. They uncover a string of blackmail that giver quite a few suspects a motive to kill the woman.

This is one of those books where you just don’t see the killer coming. And then after the reveal you are still scratching your head saying “Really?” I was totally blown away by how expertly the author fooled me. Definitely want to read more books in this series if this is how they will wash out in the end. What a great book!

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Gia Morelli owns a diner in Florida, where she came to recover after traumatic experiences back in New York. She's still adjusting to the weather and the wildlife, but she has close friends, a detective boyfriend, and a beloved furry friend named Thor.

In the run up to the local Halloween celebration, Gia finds herself deeply and dangerously involved in a murder investigation.

Friends and family are the most important elements of this story, but pumpkin spice waffles are important, too, and there's lots of seasonal flair and fun. This is a light, cozy mystery, but there's quite a bit of suspense along the way.