The mystery is enjoyable and well plotted, but the narration served as a tool of judgement towards the other characters rather than establishing the heroine. I like “unlikable” heroines. But this heroine didn’t seem to like or appreciate anyone when she could judge them first, and that made it unpalatable. I struggled with this because I often feel like cozy heroines are too doormat like because of social expectations or they have to be nice - this heroine didn’t have that, which is great, but the constant judging, including of her best friends and people who were so supportive to her, just wore thin. Which is too bad, because I did enjoy the unique setting and the restaurant reviewer parts of the story.

Samantha Barnes thought she escaped Cape Cod for good when she moved to New York to follow her dream as a big city chef. After graduating from the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) she landed a job as a chef and got married. When her now ex-husband’s temper flew out of control an incident occurred that was unfortunately filmed and uploaded to YouTube by a passerby. That ended her coveted job. So, when her aunt passed away, Samantha came home to Cape Cod to lick her wounds and regroup to get her life back on track. Little did she know this was going to involve solving a murder.

Taking a temp job with the Cape Cod Clarian as a food critic seems like a logical next step. It is fun to have old friends come along to the restaurants until she stumbles over the dead body of a woman she once worked with. It might be an accidental death, but Samantha doesn’t believe it. When the harbormaster arrives to investigate and she realizes he is her high school crush, Jason.

It is hard to believe she is living in Cape Cod, poking her nose into a murder investigation and is still attracted to Jason. To add icing to these unlikely events, she has inherited her aunt’s dog – Diogi. Life can be funny that way but Samantha doesn’t see the humor in it. Neither does the murderer who will do anything to keep her quiet.

This fast-paced cozy mystery had me reading late into the night to finish “just one more chapter”. The characters are fun and quirky, including Diogi. The list of suspects kept me guessing until the final pages.

This is Pershing’s debut non-fiction book. A Side of Murder is the first book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery Series. I am anxiously awaiting book #2. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves cozy mysteries.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2020 Laura Hartman

A SIDE OF MURDER is the first book in the brand new Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing. Starting an inaugural book of a new series sometimes leaves me with trepidation since I don’t know the characters and often there’s too much backstory which can slow down the plot. However, Ms. Pershing hit this one out of the ballpark and I was captivated from the very first page! The author exhibits a great sense of timing with her zingy one-liners and the humor starts from the opening scene. Protagonist, trained chef Samantha Barnes, who loves to laugh, made me laugh right alongside which quelled any trepidation I might have had before starting the book.

Fleeing New York after an altercation with her ex went viral on YouTube, Samantha returns to her childhood home of Cape Cod. Moving into the falling down house she’s inherited from her Aunt Ida… along with a huge, untrained puppy named Dioge (D-O-G), she tries to decide what to do with her life. Her good friend (who’s editor of the Cape Cod Clarion) ropes Samantha into writing a restaurant review column. I love that Samantha’s parents were the editor-in-chief and senior journalist for the paper before they retired to Florida. This allows the reader to get a glimpse into her family even if they appear offstage. The setup also showcases the town and contributes to the appealing setting of Cape Code. Since Samantha grew up in the area, she still has close friends. They are equally well-developed, including Dioge, with their own quirks adding to the humorous interaction.

Samantha discovers the body of a former waitress (and all around mean person) at the restaurant she’s reviewing. She doesn’t believe law enforcement’s theory that it was an accidental drowning. Appearing on scene and giving support to her observations is the handsome harbormaster (and teen crush), Jason. Except he doesn’t want her to get involved so she channels her mother’s journalistic skills and ignores him. As evidence and clues pile up, the suspect list gets longer and longer. Ms. Pershing does an admirable job providing plenty of red herrings that kept me off track and guessing as the story progressed. With the final suspenseful reveal, all the clues popped into place and left me with a satisfied grin on my face!

Being a Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series, you can count on there being loads of food mentioned. What I enjoyed even more was the author’s tips interjected on dishes the protagonist fixed and ate during the book. The tips are helpful and are provided in a breezy manner that made me feel like I was sitting in the kitchen watching a friend cook. Ms. Pershing also includes several recipes at the back of the book.

A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery #1

A food writer must investigate the death of an old enemy in this witty and exciting new cozy mystery series set in beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts, known for seafood, sand, surf, and, now…murder.

Samantha Barnes loves food. Instead of heading off to college, she headed off to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and left the Cape for New York City. After working hard, she is a rising star in the food arena. Unfortunately, her feud with another chef, also her ex, gets put on the internet, and just like that, she’s out.

Finding out she has inherited her Great-Aunt Ida’s home on the Cape, she heads there to lick her wounds and disappear for a while. Before she can do much with the old house, she’s asked to do restaurant reviews for the local paper.

Poor Samantha has not only inherited a falling-down house, it comes with a dog. Well, a puppy, but a huge one. Neither of these does she want.

While she is happy to be among friends when a horrid old lady from her teenage days turns up dead, there are so many people acting sketchy, it was hard to decide who did it! Now she’s covering a murder story being led by an old crush and he is still looking good, but he isn’t looking at her.

I loved the foodie parts. The first of a series is always uncertain, but I think this one has good bones. I look forward to more from this author.

NetGalley/ February 23rd, 2021 by Berkley Books

The first Cape Cod Foodie Mystery opens with a huge infodump, telling the reader all about the protagonist's childhood home and her friends and how crushed shell driveways are made... and it immediately turned me off. I didn't care about any of that, but as soon as the book got to the present and what was actually happening now I warmed up to Samantha Barnes and her surroundings and friends. Now I'm wishing this was an established series so that I could jump right into the next book. Samantha had left Cape Cod years ago to pursue her dreams of becoming a professional chef. It was all going well until that last blowup with her now ex-husband went viral on YouTube. Now she's inherited a dilapidated house and a huge puppy and is writing restaurant reviews while she tries to figure out what comes next. What happens is that she discovers a dead body. I love the characters, the setting, the complex mystery, the chemistry between Samantha and her first love who is now the harbormaster. And I absolutely can't wait for the next book.

First in a new series. Samantha escapes her life in NY to go home to Cape Cod. She soon discovers a body in the pond nearby. Police believe it was an accident but Samantha knows there more to the story.

This is the inaugural book in a series and I would say it is going to be a great success! The author has crafted interesting characters with a storyline that contains the right amount of intrigue, suspense and romance. It has the reader guessing right up until the last chapters.

A young chef, Samantha Barnes, escapes her life in New York City when she inherits her Great Aunts house, and her dog, on Cape Cod. She returns to her hometown to claim the house and begins work at the local newspaper as a food critic. She soon reconnects with friends and an old flame. Things take a turn when Samantha discovers a body floating in a nearby pond. The local police and townspeople believe that it was an accident, but Samantha suspects something more sinister is at play.

Readers of cozy mysteries that highlight food will enjoy this suspense-filled jaunt on Cape Cod!

A Side of Murder is filled with quirky, lovable characters. I enjoyed the story and all the food references. Samantha has her hands full. She moves home and is faced with a man she once drooled over. Jason has risen in the ranks of his job and made something of himself. The two are thrown together when the town gossip is murdered. Yikes! This is a delightful mystery filled with twists and turns. It's not my normal read, but I did enjoy it.

A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing is the beginning of the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries. Samantha Barnes grew up on the cape and after high school went to culinary school in New York City. She got a great job, but a not so great husband and they divorced. While trying to decide what to do, she inherits her aunts house back in her hometown. Once she arrives, she discovers her aunt also left her a puppy and she meets a neighbor who wasn't there before who becomes her friend and she also reconnects with two old friends. Her folks have moved to Florida and her dad has sold his small newspaper to someone Sam knows, who offers Sam a job writing about food and local restaurant reviews. Her first night on the job she discovers a drowned body at the restaurant she worked at as a teenager and is surprised when an old crush of hers is the harbormaster. The sea is a large part of the story and nature as well. She includes cooking tips, recipes and some humor. It made me miss Lake Huron.

After living on Cape Cod for 10 years, I always enjoy reading a book set there. A Side of Murder is a fun start to a new cozy mystery series by Amy Pershing.
Returning to her aunt’s home and to her family roots has Samantha feeling a bit out of sorts.
Add in the condition of her aunts home, a new puppy, and an old flame, and you have the makings of a fun story.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

This was a fun read for foodies as well as those who love Cape Cod. Throw in a murder, a new puppy, eccentric characters, a dilapidated house, a former love and good recipes, it's an enjoyable way to spend a day. I expect there will be a follow-up, because foodie readers like series!!