Enjoyed the holiday setting and thought it worked well with the mystery. A perfect cozy to read in the winter.

Sam is hoping for a quiet Christmas but instead stumbles on a dead body in a new, trendy restaurant. She finds herself investigating another murder. There was quite a bit going on, but the story moved quickly. I liked the characters and the setting. I was able to jump right in without having read the first book.

Title: An Eggnog to Die For

Author: Amy Pershing

Series: A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery, Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Format: Paperback, 320 pages, $8.99

Published on: Nov. 9, 2021

Set In: Cape Cod

Christmas is right around the corner and Samantha’s plans for the holiday don’t go exactly as she planned. Sam is a former chef whose reputation was ruined after a video of her and her ex-husband went viral. She’s now a Cape Cod Foodie and a restaurant reviewer for the Clarion.

Her hope for a quiet Christmas goes sideways when her video-taped interview with the owners of the Ginger Jar lead to the discovery of a body in the restaurant. The restaurant Sam, and her friend and boss, Krista Baker, publisher of the Clarion newspaper, are trying to promote.

If that wasn’t enough to shake her up, there’s the upcoming visit of Sam’s parents who were the heart and soul of the Clarion before they retired and turned it over to Krista. They moved out of state, but her mother still wants to write about the recent death of the local Santa found dead in the Ginger Jar. Sam’s mother slips back into reporter mode and immediately contacts some dangerous sources. One just happens to be a retired drug dealer, as there’s always a chance the murder could be linked to organized crime. They learn that Santa, aka Caleb Mayo, received an offer from a Rhode Island construction company for his business. So that’s one possible motive. Knowing this also puts Sam’s mother in danger, so Sam navigates her away from her sources to protect her. If that’s even possible, as her mother seems to do what she wants. Sam convinces her parents to go to the Windward. She hopes to find Tom Wylie there. Like Caleb, he was on the select board and he could have information about him. Off the record, she learns: he had very high standards, he was completely straight with his customers and employees at Cape Concrete, public service was important to him, he was on the school board for years, ran for town selectman, and because his father was an alcoholic, he would look for any way to shut down a bar.

Another potential suspect is Martin Bruni who in the past might have been dealing a specific drug at clubs in Boston. It was in his business, The Ginger Jar, where Caleb was found dead.

Then there’s Wally Lipman, who along with his mother, own the local bowling alley. It might have been in violation of a liquor license because of its barely legal food service.

And a young library assistant who works with Sam’s neighbor, Helene, who assisted Caleb on how to do Internet research.

I’m really enjoying this series. Book 1 introduced us to Sam Barnes, her parents and friends, and I’m loving their personalities. This second book was even better. More was going on. More interesting characters and possibilities for murder. Sam is funny and her parents crack me up. I thought I knew who murdered Caleb, but I was wrong. The author weaves a clever web. This is a fast, enjoyable read that will have you eagerly awaiting the next book which is “Murder is No Picnic,” slated to be published on June 7.

four out of five Santas

Denise Fleischer

gottawritenetwork.wordpress.com

April 30, 2022

I just love cozy mysteries especially ones involving food and animals.
Even though this is the second in the Cap Cod Foodie Mystery series it can easily be read as a stand alone.
An Eggnog to Die for is an entertaining,keep you guessing type of book that can be read any time of the year.
Samantha Barnes is a professional foodie and just wants peace of mind and a relaxing time with the holidays coming up. She'd love to spend it with her dog and her harbor-master boyfriend.
Life is never that simple though and before she knows it family is there to be entertained and she once again finds herself in front of the camera.
When the deceased turns out to be a person that is not well liked there are a slew of suspects that could have a variety of reasons to do him in.
Lots of delicious food recipes,family dynamics and a story set at a fast pace will keep you reading this lighthearted Christmas themed cozy mystery.

Pub Date: 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

An Eggnog to Die For
A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery

by Amy Pershing

Samantha Barnes is a disgraced former chef now making her living as a restaurant food critic and host of a foodie video series in her hometown of Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. The Ginger Jar is the latest eatery for the video series. It’s the town’s first ever small plates and craft cocktails restaurant and has met with great success with the younger crowd. It has, however, raised suspicion with the town’s older folk because of its unusual offerings. There’s a move to revoke the Ginger Jar’s liquor license because the owners aren’t of good moral character. According to Massachusetts law, anyone with a financial stake in a business that serves liquor has to be of sound character.

Recently elected to the town’s select board, Caleb Mayo is the one suspicious of the eatery’s owners. When Samantha mistakes the office in the Ginger Jar for a bathroom, she discovers Caleb, still dressed as Santa Clause from an earlier parade, sprawled on the floor. Julie and Martin Bruni, brother and sister owners of the Ginger Jar, are the immediate suspects. But it turns out, not the only suspects. As Samantha and her journalist mother dig deeper, other suspects come into play and one of them doesn’t want to be found out.

A solid read. The book was fun and funny at points. I really enjoyed this book. I have not read early books but it was not hard to pickup the storyline. The characters were amusing and the storyline perfect for the recently passed Christmas holiday. I loved the tension between the heroine and her boyfriend. The way it was ultimately resolved warmed my heart. I didn’t guess the mystery until the end, so it kept me in suspense the entire time.

What I Enjoyed:

New England Christmas. Amy Pershing brings to life all of the fun that is a small town Christmas celebration, and all of the good, bad, and ugly of specifically New England during the holidays. She has Santa and his elves coming in by boat off the cape, the foggy roads and sand/snow mixture, and the feast of fishes with fresh New England seafood. An Eggnog to Die For was such a fun Christmas read, and really god me in the mood for the holidays. Also, how can you beat great seafood?

The Unlikeable Murder Victim. One of my all-time favorite murder mystery themes is when the murder victim is so unpopular that virtually everyone is a suspect. Sam is on the case of the murdered Santa, but she definitely has her hands full when the entire village has reason to want this guy dead. He was a blackmailer, a virtue signaler, a member of the village board allowing businesses to run, and an all around bully. He is the best murder victim, presenting an actual challenge with solving the murder.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

Samantha. When I reviewed book one, A Side of Murder, back in 2020, I didn’t specifically mention my dislike of Sam’s character – but it is pervasive. Sam is hyper critical of everything around her. She is a bit pretentious when it comes to her cooking (chefs often are, but on paper, it is worse), she is nosy with her parents and wants to control their lives, and she is critical of her friends. While on the one hand, I like how *real* Pershing’s characters are, on the other hand, Sam could be a little more likeable.

The Red Herrings. On the flip side of the same coin, Eggnog also suffers from a certain overabundance of red herrings, especially in the middle of the book. I found myself wanting to skim at some points when Sam was brainstorming in what could clearly be seen as the wrong direction. The killer was a genuine surprise, but at some point in the book, every single character is essentially a suspect.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A cute simple murder mystery. It was perfect for Christmas time! Highly recommend. Very easy read.

I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me cozy mystery series to follow – it’s the childhood Murder She Wrote & now Hallmark Mysteries fan in me, I guess. I somehow missed reading book one in Amy Pershing’s Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries but jumping in with book two was delightful nonetheless. I’m definitely looking forward to book three!

An Eggnog to Die For has a lot going for it: a charming northeastern setting at Christmas, engaging characters (main & supporting), adorable pets, a plucky & extroverted restaurant reviewer-slash-former-chef, her introverted & swoony harbormaster boyfriend, droolworthy food & drink mentions, and the best part – a mystery that took me by surprise more than once. I really enjoyed meeting Samantha (Sam) and her gaggle of family & friends, including the aforementioned swoony boyfriend Jason. Each character is winsome in his/her own way, and the fact that we are treated to Sam’s perspective through the first person narrative makes her particular character even more relatable. She’s witty and intuitive, very perceptive, engaging, and exactly the kind of person you would want to hang out with in real life – or, you know, solve your murder or clear your name, should worse come to worse lol.

Speaking of Sam’s murder-solving abilities, Pershing has crafted a skillfully twisted plot with plenty of suspects and some turns you may not be expecting. I was truly stunned by one such particular curve, though in hindsight I shouldn’t have been. The author expertly mixes authentic clues among the red herrings in such a way that it’s easy to look back and see the clues all come together but in the moment, when you’re reading it for the first time, you won’t be able to distinguish one from the other.

Bottom Line: Witty & smart, An Eggnog to Die For by Amy Pershing is deliciously entertaining. The mystery is excellent in plotting & technique, keeping readers guessing when it comes to whodunnit. Sam, Diogi (which is the best dog name ever when you know where it came from) and her crew of amateur sleuths (aka her family & friends) are very likable and relatable too. The perfect cozy to get you in the Christmas spirit, murder notwithstanding.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I really enjoyed this second installment in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery!

Sam Barnes is a food writer for a local newspaper, eager to interview the proprietors of the Ginger Jar, the town’s newest cocktail bar. Sham especially is interested in the recipe for their eggnog. Unfortunately, while Sam is at the bar doing the interview, she finds a Santa dead in the bar’s office.

In addition to wanting to help solve the crime, Sam’s parents are back in town for a holiday visit and she is busy with them. Sam’s mother falls back into her frogmen reporter role and starts helping Sam investigate.

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery without a love triangle.

This is a well-paced mystery with interesting characters and recipes I definitely want to try. If you love a good mystery as well as good food, give this one a try..

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

Food writer Samantha ‘Sam’ Barnes is a really enjoyable character and I clicked with her from the start. Sam is really smart, persistent and has a great sense of humour, all of which makes for a great amateur sleuth.

There are lots of other memorable characters throughout the story, including Sam’s parents who have arrived from Florida unexpectedly, Sam’s boyfriend Jack, and Julie and Martin Bruni, the brother and sister team who own the popular The Ginger Jar restaurant.

I haven’t read the first book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries yet (a fact that I will be changing as soon as I can get my hands on the first book, A Side of Murder) so I’m not sure which characters had already been introduced and which ones were new to this book but An Eggnog to Die For reads fine as a stand-alone book.

I think most of us can relate to how busy it gets around the holidays – there’s so much to do and not enough time to get everything done. Sam is no exception. Aside from having to drive her parents around town, Sam also has to keep working (writing and making videos), PLUS attend a list of festive celebrations PLUS cook a huge Christmas Eve dinner for her family and friends. Whew! 

Of course, to add to the mayhem, Sam discovers a dead body at The Ginger Jar restaurant and that adds a whole new batch of tasks to our amateur sleuth’s To-Do list! 

The story was well-paced and there were lots of clues and red herrings to make the reader try and figure out who the real killer was. In fact there were several twists and turns that were a bit unexpected and made the story more interesting. Sam was going around in circles for a bit and I have to admit I was also led down the wrong path more than once!

I think perhaps I was distracted by the food? LOL. Some of my long-time readers will know I used to run a food blog so food (and writing about food) is a big distraction for me and there were lots of mouth-watering food descriptions in this book to keep me hungry! The recipes included in the back were a nice bonus and definitely included some dishes I’m itching to try, like Braised Leeks with Parmesan and Blender Chocolate Mousse!

An Eggnog to Die For was a a very fun cozy mystery that was the perfect holiday read. I can’t wait to see what Sam Barnes gets up to next, but for now, pass me a cup of Eggnog and let’s enjoy the holidays!

*** Thank you to Berkley Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

An Eggnog To Die For is a lovely seasonal treat that can be enjoyed at any time of year. The events all take place in the days before and after Christmas in the fictional town of Fair Harbor on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Between the local color (lots of info on Cape Cod) and the food descriptions (including a cooking tip here and there), I really enjoyed this book. Caleb Mayo is found murdered in a new-ish trendy restaurant that is viewed with suspicion by the “old guard.” Mayo apparently rubbed a lot of the local population the wrong way, with his bullying and self-righteousness so there are a lot of possible suspects, which makes for a fun guessing game for the reader. “Sam” Barnes is a good main character, a former chef who is doing restaurant reviews and some videos for the local newspaper. Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple is her favorite amateur sleuth.

This was my introduction to this Cape Cod-based cozy mystery series and it was easy to read without having read the previous one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was an okay Christmas mystery. A little too romance heavy for a cozy and honestly, her parents were way more interesting than her. I'd much rather have read the book from her mom's POV than Sam's who was kind of boring in comparison to her parents. Also this would've been so much better if there were like 1/4 the number of characters in it. I mean, we get it - its a small town where you know everyone but if they're not part of the mystery or side stories, why do I have to meet and learn the names of each and every person you pass by.

I’m so happy to continue this series, books 2 was just as good as the first. The Christmas theme was spread throughout this one, which I really appreciated. The mystery didn’t get list in the holiday festivities, Pershing did a great job if balancing plot, setting and character story lines. Getting to know these fun, lovable and realistic characters has me looking forward to book 3!

This is book 2 in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series and can be read as a stand alone. All Sam wants for Christmas is peace and quite after her debute as a sleuth in her small town of Fair Harbor. But now she finds Santa dead after he just arrived in town. Lots of suspects and lots of good food tips. I didn't read book 1 but had no trouble enjoying this fun cozy. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The second in a series and while the mystery is self contained within each book, I would absolutely recommend you start with book one before diving into this one as there is so much back story with the main and secondary characters that you will want to know before diving into this one.

Sam Barnes is back in this book and she is working on a video series for the local Cape Cod newspaper when Santa Claus is found dead in the up and coming bar that is serving fun cocktails along side some unique eats. Unfortunately, the victim is not well liked and quite a few people in town may have a reason to want him dead, so Sam must figure out who had reason and motive and ability to kill him.

Comparing this book to the previous one, I didn't love this one as much. Sam was in and out of investigating and juggling with hosting her parents for the holidays and for some reason the flow of the story just didn't work for me as well as it did in the first one. I know that there is another one to come in 2022 and am excited to read it and see where the author takes Sam Barnes.

The main plot is finding the killer who killed Santa. There are several subplots including keeping her mother out of trouble as she writes an article on the murder for the local paper, hosting and cooking a multiple-course Christmas Eve dinner, and navigating her confusing relationship with Jason. Bad Santa knew a lot of people's secrets and had plenty of victims lined up to stop with his sanctimonious "doing the right thing" ways. So there were plenty of red herrings. Sam takes risks with her killer suspects, which is out of character for an otherwise smart woman. She goes through a few people she is convinced is the killer before she hits on the real killer.

The killer confrontation is an example of best laid plans going awry (Sam was going to confront the killer safely). This provided a few tense moments that I enjoyed. The wrap up finished up with family and friends. It left me feeling a bit empty without all the characters that filled the book

My thoughts: If you enjoy cozies with lots going on outside of the sleuthing, then this will be a good book for you. There is the still developing relationship with the harbormaster and her visiting parents to juggle, holiday errands, baking cookies and decorating them for the tree with her friend and three boys. Additionally, her working for the paper and trying to keep her mother from investigating the mob angle while planning the details for a big holiday feast with friends invited keeps her busy. Then her parents are going through her house and attic cleaning and rearranging etc. Foodie talk with cooking tips/hacks are interspersed throughout the book, which I suspect most readers will enjoy.

The characters are well drawn and portrayed with a mystery that keeps you guessing who did it. The only downsides are how I found I didn't like that Sam refers to her parents as her ‘rents which is very annoying to me. Am I the only one who doesn't like "sich/sitch" short for situation and 'rents short for parents etc? Sam does do some risky things with who she suspects as the killer, but I still enjoyed her character. Overall, I am glad to have discovered this new series and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Rating: Excellent - Fun and entertaining holiday mystery, give it a try.

This was a fantastic holiday read! The family dynamics were wonderful, and it really put me in the Christmas spirit. The murder mystery was well paced, and I loved the plot twists!

This was another great cozy mystery in this series. I really enjoyed the first one and this one was just as good. I loved that this was a Christmas mystery, which makes it a great read for this time of year. The mystery in this one is full of red herrings and wrong turns, which keeps you guessing. I love the relationships that are developing in this book and all the characters are fun to read. overall this was a great read and I look forward to book 3!