This book is the sixth installment in the Cook Off mystery series.

This is probably my favorite in the series out of the ones I've read.

I definitely hope to read the rest in the future, but they aren't high on my priority list.

The plot was great, and I loved the love interest here. Not a triangle, just one man, which is refreshing!

I did have a problem with the interactions between Amber, the best friend to our main character, and Sherry. After FIVE other mysteries that Sherry has gotten involved in, with Amber at her side as BFF, you'd think that Amber would understand what is required to solve mysteries. Amber gets snippy and rude, and I was annoyed by that entire thing throughout the majority of the book.

The mystery element was well thought out, though I did solve it early on. It's the best of the books I've finished so far!

Looking forward to getting back to these one day!

I enjoyed this book a lot. it was the first one I read in this series but didn't feel lost. I will have to go back and read the books I missed because the characters are very interesting and I enjoyed the authors writing style. If you love food competitions then this book is for you

Sherry Oliveri isn't competing in this cooking competition so that gives her even more time to solve the crime before her friend Amber is arrested. The mystery was interesting but it seemed to me that there were far too many characters involved in this one. I've enjoyed the others in the series but this one just fell a bit short for me.

Devon Delaney continues her Cook-Off Mystery Series with A Half-Baked Alibi. As with the rest of this series the mystery centers around a murder that occurs during or associated with an amateur cook-off contest. In the previous installments, protagonist Sherry Oliveri has been a consistent winner in the cook-offs but also have had family members and friends caught up as potential suspects in each of the murders. This story is no different with regard to the underlying basics of the storyline, however, the author has increased the depth of Sherry's character in this plot as she is unable to participate in the cook-off due to an injury and so her involvement in the contest becomes more of a supporting role which actually leaves her more time for her to focus on the investigation.

Within this storyline the author does an excellent job of creating a variety of motives, suspects, alibis and undercurrents that all lead to a very enjoyable read and total surprise as to the final resolution and culprit while also giving a larger role to several of the background characters from past installments in this series. I look forward to more adventures of Sherry, Amber, Pep, Erno, Don, Ray and the rest as they continue to provide unique takes on various culinary dishes in the competition arena.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Release Date: March 15, 2022
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It’s the time of year for the annual Kitchen Royalty Contest. Sherry Oliveri (I love the rhyming name), can’t compete this year but it rooting for her friend Amber! Sherry is ready for a smooth finish but instead find the prize sponsor stabbed. Sherry needs to find the killer and quick before Amber becomes more than just a person of interest. With so many suspects and little time, it’s time to turn up the heat on this investigation!

THIS MURDER TOOK FOREVERRRRRR. I get it, you need backstory and plot but when the book is half over and no one is dead yet, it’s frustrating. I’d rather they focused on figuring it out than history. Also the friendship between Amber and Sherry seems so superficial for people who are supposed to be best friends.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations #ahalfbakedalibi #cookoffmystery #cookingfoodwine #mysteryandthrillers

Sherry Oliveri, seasoned cook-off participant, is sidelined with an injury but that won't stop her from helping a friend with her advice for the Kitchen Royalty Cook-Off. Sherry loans her personal knives to Amber to use during the contest but that could be a problem, when the sponsor from Washington Appliances is found murdered behind the grand prize! The murder weapon appears to be the exact type of knife that Amber and a few other cooks were using and several are missing.

Sherry wants to make sure that her friend isn't railroaded simply because of the knife so she starts asking questions and digging into the relationships of the victims and the bake-off visitors.

It was fun to see Sherry in a different capacity - volunteering to help the contestants rather than being one. It was also good to see Sherry and her friend's personalities emerging as well.

Sidelined by an injury sherry Olivery has agreed to offer her wisdom and moral support to a friend who’s entering the Kitchen Royalty Cook-off. Nothing prepared Sherry to find the event sponsor’s dead body hidden behind one of the appliances or having her friend singled out as the most likely suspect. Other suspects are the victims disgruntled wife and a vindictive rival sponsor. But her friends shaky alibi and finding out that she may have been carrying an old grudge against the victim leave Sherry in a stew. Desperate to find the killer she will do all she can to find the killer. A very enjoyable story fun characters that travel throughout the story to solve the murder. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

The loved this cozy. I enjoy reading stories where the characters are good cooks and there are several in this story. Sherry is out-of-commission for the upcoming amateur chef cookoff. Instead she will be her friend Amber's coach and cheering section. Sherry will also volunteer at the cook-off as well. Things take a turn for the worse when the sponsor of the prize is killed. Is it his wife, who seems a bit chummy with another fellow? Is it the previous sponsor who lost the gig? Or is it someone completely different. Sherry is afraid the Amber has been come a "person of interest" and maybe the only one. So she sets out to ferret out any clues as to what could be going on. It doesn't help when Amber is keeping secrets.

This was a engaging story. Plenty of suspects and clues. The writing style is easy-to-read and the characters are fun. This book kept me entertained.

Books in this series were usually a hit or miss for me and this one was a miss as the story didn't keep my attention.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

While Sheree would go out on a limb to help her friend, Amber refused to help her even though she was the main suspect. I thought she was a bit too full of herself.
Ambers's refusal to help herself made it difficult for Sheree to prove her innocence. A couple of the characters soured me in this story, like Amber, I thought she was not a trustworthy friend, and Olivia and Bart were a highfalutin pair. Besides that, it was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

A solid 2.75 stars. Typically I enjoy reading cozy mysteries. Love the mystery aspect along w/all the red herrings, small town setting, and witty banter between the female sleuth and her oftentimes love interest/cop. In many ways this book followed that same pattern, however I did not feel particularly drawn to it. I must admit 2 points before continuing this review. First this is the 1st book I have read in this series. I typically avoid reading any book in a series unless I read all the prior books. But I decided to take a chance on this one. Perhaps my thoughts on this book would have been different had I read the books in sequential order. Two the beginning of this book was pretty boring. I honestly thought about giving up on it.....but I'm no quitter ;-). I did not feel any attachment to any of the characters and the actual murder took a long time coming. Another source of disappointment was the lack of humor or witty banter. One of the things I love most in cozies are the comical moments and constant will they/won't they moments between the sleuth and cop. This book had none of that. I did become more engaged in the book once the murder took place but once again I felt it was average at best. Lastly the writing was subpar.....even for cozies and that's really saying something lol.

***My sincerest gratitude to both the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-copy of the book. This has in no way influenced my opinion of the manuscript.

Sherry Oliveri is feeling pretty down about a hand injury forcing her to withdraw from the Kitchen Royalty Cook-Off being held in her own hometown of Augustin, Connecticut. At least this gives her the opportunity to root on her good friend, Amber Sherwin, in the same competition. Despite the two having met as competitors in another cook-off, this will only be the second event Amber has ever entered, so she’s understandably nervous. Sherry is determined to mentor and cheer her friend on to victory, even loaning Amber her own set of expensive chef’s knives in a show of support.

While Sherry is gung ho about helping her friend, she’s a little taken aback by how quickly the organizer of the cook-off, Rickie O’Dell, comes to rely on her own volunteer efforts as setup gets underway. Perhaps it’s understandable given the last-minute debacle of having to replace the grand prize – a full kitchen suite of first-class appliances that many of the competitors were coveting – after a nationwide recall. Fortunately, the Washington Appliance Center is quick to step in with a replacement package, a move that seems more spearheaded by Livvy Washington, co-owner of the business, than by her taciturn husband Gray. The Washingtons have come to Augustin as guests of the cook-off, and are eager to ensure that their products and company name are displayed to best advantage.

So it’s an absolute disaster when Rickie and Sherry discover Gray’s stabbed corpse half-hidden behind one of the appliances the night before the competition itself is supposed to happen. Detective Ray Bease is convinced that allowing the cook-off to continue will help him identify the killer, whether it be a rival business owner or an estranged spouse. Sherry is happy to assist him, as she has in previous murder cases, until it looks like he’s zeroing in on Amber as his prime suspect.

Sherry knows that there’s no way sweet, kind Amber would ever kill anyone, but as the evidence piles up and Amber herself keeps retreating into a stubbornly silent shell, Sherry is left baffled as to what to do next. She wants to clear her friend’s name, but every inquiry and effort only seems to alienate Amber further. Will Sherry be able to accept that getting to the truth means risking their friendship, if not their lives?

This was another interesting installment of the Cook-Off mystery series, with a strong focus on Sherry’s interpersonal relationships. While I wish she could have understood better how her aggressive questioning was making Amber withdraw, I did enjoy the exploration of her continuing relationship with her boyfriend Don. And I really hope her sister-in-law Charlotte makes more appearances in the series! Charlotte was by far the most sensible, grounded person in the book, enlivening every scene she appeared in, which seemed like far too few.

I love all of Devon Delaney’s recipes, so had a hard time choosing between the three exquisite options included here. I finally decided on this one:

QUOTE
Sausage and Asparagus Roll-ups

24 fresh asparagus, ends trimmed off
6 ounces Boursin cheese
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard/mayonnaise blend
1 tablespoon fig preserves
12 bread slices, crust trimmed
1 cup sausage, browned and crumbled
¼ cup butter, melted
paprika

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Steam asparagus until crisp-tender, let cool.

Stir together cheese, Dijon-mayonnaise blend, and preserves.

Roll each bread slice with a rolling pin to flatten. Spread one side of each bread slice with 2 tablespoons cream cheese mixture and top with 1 tablespoon sausage. Place 2 asparagus spears in the middle of each prepared bread slice and roll up. Place each roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet and brush lightly with butter. Sprinkle with paprika and bake for 12 minutes, until golden.
END QUOTE

In all honesty, I was a bit skeptical about rolling out bread for an appetizer, but have since been converted by this terrific recipe! I used some leftover turkey sausage I had, and was rather heavy-handed with it here: fortunately, the recipe accommodates that well. I did spread a little less of the cheese mixture on each slice, however. Two tablespoons is a lot, and while I did slather each slice generously, I didn’t want to run out of mix too early either. In the end, I successfully apportioned the cheese evenly, and really enjoyed the way the sweetness of the fig contrasted with the creaminess of the Boursin and the hint of sharpness from the mustard.

Next week, we travel south along the coast to see if we can lift a curse and bring a killer to justice, while baking up a delicious, fruity cake. Do join me!

this was such a fun read that kept me on my toes! whenever i read cozy mysteries, i love guessing along while everything is being revealed but i’ve never been right (yet!) and this was no exception. “a half-baked alibi” was full of surprises and lots of yummy food talk! all of the contestants’ recipes made my stomach grumble and i’d like to try some of the recipes included at the back of the book!

even though solving the mystery was the main part of the plot, there’s plenty of other familial relationships and friendships that tie everything together. subtle yet charming, i adored shirley and don’s relationship! the small acts of kindness they display towards each other are so sweet! on top of that, shirley shares a strong bond with her father, brother, and her best friend, amber. if you love joanne fluke and her hannah swenson mysteries, i’d give this series a try!

Sherry Oliveri is sad that she won't be able to be a contest in the Kitchen Royalty cooks off this year because of an injury. She will offer her thoughts and support to one of her friends though. Through her experience she knows that if you plan everything out you are likely to have fewer issues. She never expected that a death would occur, who plans for that? She found the sponsor, dead behind an appliance. It doesn't help that her friend is the first person the law a smoking at as a suspect. Hoping to help her friend clear her name she starts looking at the people in the mans life. She soon realizes that her friend was framed and that she must dig deeper into the mystery. Follow along and see where the lines that Sherry is following will lead her. Will her friend go free in the end or end up in jail?

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of A Half-Baked Alibi by Devon Delaney in exchange for an honest review. I have read other books in the series and these are fun books, lighthearted and interesting. Sherri Oliveri always seems to get in trouble just by helping others and trying to solve murder mysteries. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.

When the prize package for a cook-off comes with a dead body, it’s up to Sherry Oliveri to figure out who cooked the victim’s goose . . .
I thought the book was okay. At times it was hard to really get into the story. The characters could be a bit annoying at times.
#AHalfBakedAlibi #NetGalley

Sherry Oliveri works for her father at his shop, The Ruggery. But she'd rather be doing what she does best: entering another cook-off contest, and this one is being held in her hometown of Augustin. However, while perfecting her latest recipe she accidentally cut her hand and since she's in stitches, she has to sit this one out. But at least she can help her friend Amber, who's fairly new to cook-offs, as she works on her own entry.

She's also been invited aboard her boyfriend Don's new boat, in which he ferries passengers from one place to another. On this voyage, the passengers are other cook-off contestants, and the new sponsors, Washington Appliances, who have suddenly replaced the other one due to a problem. While Sherry watches the people on board, she notices that all is not well, and there are tensions. Still, she thinks since she's not entering, it's nothing to worry about.

But then Sherry is asked to help out at the cook-off, and help contestants the day of the event. Happy to do so, she's given a tour by Rickie O'Dell, the organizer, and during one of these trips Rickie spots the body of one of the sponsors, and when he is examined, it's determined he was murdered. Now, with a couple of knives missing, her friend Amber is on top of the suspect list. Determining to prove Amber innocent isn't easy with Amber fighting her at every turn, and the other suspects seemingly disinterested as to the goings-on. Will Sherry be able to prove Amber innocent, or will her goose be cooked?

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read them all. I do love this series, as Sherry is not only a great cook, she's a good friend and an intelligent woman who's not in-your-face when she asks questions. I don't really care for protagonists who go around accusing everyone of being the killer. She also has a good relationship with homicide detective Ray Bease, who once again is on this case.

There is plenty going on, with Sherry's brother Pep trying to start a food truck business as well as write about it -- and I do love Pep, although I don't know why -- Amber's reunion with an ex-co-worker and keeping him away from Sherry; and Sherry's boyfriend Don's new business, which isn't giving them a lot of time together, although there is a word here and there about what their future holds.

The action is non-stop, and with the infighting between sponsors and Sherry and Amber, there's plenty going on. I did know the murderer the minute this person stepped onto the page, but I attribute that to the fact that I read a lot of mysteries, and know what I'm looking for (following my own clues, as it were!). Still, it never spoils my enjoyment of the books, and it certainly didn't mar my enjoyment of this one at all.

You have to watch for the clues, but they are there, and all the talk of food was making me hungry, so I made sure to have healthy snacks nearby! When the climax comes the murderer is revealed, the reasons exposed, and it was worth the wait. I did like the ending quite a bit, and can't wait for the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Just finished reading A half-baked alibi and thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery. I’ve read other books by Devon Delaney in this series and it’s kind of nice to know her style of writing and what to expect. Reading familiar authors in this pandemic is quite soothing for me and I want to thank Devon. for giving me some relief and a chance to escape into her story. I look forward to more of Sherry’s mysteries and adventures and whether Sherry and Don live happily ever after? Bravo Devon Delaney👏🙏👍🇨🇦🤗💐

I really wanted to like Devon Delaney's A Cook-Off Mystery. This was the first book of this series that I have read. It was okay, but perhaps just not for me? The plot was interesting and most of the characters were fine. I did not think that the relationship between Sherry and Amber rang true. The mystery depended on these two characters. Because they were supposed to be best friends, and yet were not even honest with one another, the mystery fails.

I enjoy this genre, but it only works when the characters ring true. I kept thinking that as the book progressed, I would feel more involved, but just the opposite occurred. I have not read other books from this series, but I do think this book could work as a stand alone mystery.

I want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC. And thank you to NetGalley for calling my attention to this book.

Sherry divides her time between working at the family business, The Ruggery and entering cooking contests. She's very good doing both. This latest contest sees her sidelined and helping her friend and co-worker Amber win the contest. Sherry had an unfortunate encounter with a knife and a sweet potato and her hand was taken out of action. She may not be able to wash her hair or easily dress herself but that won't stop her from giving her expert advice to Amber. What neither of them expected? A murder and Amber making it to the top of the police suspect number one list.
While this is #6 in the series, it works fine as a stand alone. The recurring characters, including her Jack Russell pup, Chutney, are well developed and the mystery kept me engaged to the very end. Add some yummy recipes and this is another winning entry to a well written cozy series.My thanks to the publisher, Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.