Thank you Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me to read and review Poaching Is Puzzling, A Cookbook Nook Mystery #12, by Daryl Wood Gerber on NetGalley.

Published: 04/25/23

Stars: 5

Pure pleasure.

Nice, refreshing and smart read. I enjoyed the characters, their relationships, and the puzzle storyline. There were happily married people, widows, hobbyists, and business owners.

The jigsaw puzzle storyline added some quirky dialogue which I found fitting and mostly funny.

I wonder if Gerber's first eleven books are equally as enjoyable. I do hope to find out.

This is giftable for all ages, and I would use this as transition book for teens to adult reading.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Poaching is Puzzling by Daryl Wood Gerber.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

I was really hoping that the next book in this series would focus on Jenna and Rhett's wedding . . . but for that to be true, something bad would happen at their wedding and I wouldn't want that. So, next in the series is Poaching is Puzzling. I really like the author's use of the different type of festivals in this California town to provide a variety of mystery subjects. There were plenty of red herrings to make you wonder who the murderer would turn out to be. Just when I though I had it figured out, something would come along to disprove my theory. I really love the cast of regular characters and look forward to reading about them while solving the mystery. I would definitely recommend this book, this series, and this author to any cozy mystery fan.

Puzzles, contests and murder are all part of the wildest week in Jenna Hart's bookstore! When her Aunt Vera is framed for the murder, of a master puzzlemaker, Jenna must do her best to solve the puzzle and the mystery!

I enjoy reading this series. Jenna is smart and has a fun group of supporting characters. I liked this one with the mystery is played out against a puzzle competition and the competitors are very clever.. Settle in and I guarantee you'll love this cozy mystery!

The opinions expressed in this review are my own and I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Jenna Hart and her aunt Vera are excited to participate in Crystal Cove's annual crossword puzzle contest. But not everyone has the same innocent enthusiasm. In fact, one of Vera's childhood friends is found murdered. Which contestant is the culprit? And why? As an amateur sleuth, Jenna will try to solve this crime before it's too late for her or her Aunt Vera, a main suspect.
Even though this is the twelfth book in the series, it could stand alone. I easily followed the story line despite this being my first introduction to the series.
The pet behavior seemed unusual. What cat will stay in a room when the door is left open for hours at a time?
I appreciated the recipes at the end and can't wait to try the pumpkin muffins!

I enjoyed this book and I’ve followed the series since the first book. It’s a cozy mystery at its best.
Jenna owns a bookstore, the cookbook nook, and their small town is having a crossword festival/competition

Jenna’s mom is a talented crossword solver, burnJenna is shocked when it turns out that her mom knows the puzzle expert who’s emceeing the contest. It’s even worse for her when he’s found murdered and her mom is the main suspect. Jenna gets involved to solve the murder and clear her mom’s name.

Cute characters, nice small town backdrop, and an interesting plot. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Jenna refused to stay out of the murder investigations, especially since her aunt was the prime suspect. She couldn’t sit by and let them railroad her aunt to jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Jenna was like a dog who picked up a fresh bone scent and refused to leave it, even though he couldn’t pinpoint the actual place in the garden where it was. Her curiosity, nosiness, and determination to help her aunt placed her in the direct sight of the murderer, which didn’t bode well for her.
It was an intriguing, exciting, and entertaining read.

I have read a couple of books in the Cookbook Nook series and have enjoyed them so far. However, this one did not appeal to me. I grew tired of the constant synonyms. Those that appeared at the top of each chapter were okay. But to have so much of the conversation centered around synonyms was a little over the top. I understand that the theme of the book was crossword puzzles. But it was a little too overdone. The characters are well developed and some just plain got on my nerves. When there are that many who irritate me, it takes away from my pleasure of reading a book. Another matter that was overdone was the detailed cooking instructions. If the recipes are in the back of the book, you don’t need to go into that much detail in the book itself. I’m not sure I’ll continue with this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants to Crystal Cove, and Jenna Hart watches as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there’s bad blood between Vera and the puzzle constructor who’s acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he’s out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit. Can Jenna find the murderer among all of the puzzlers?

This was a great mystery with fun characters and a beautiful seaside setting. I couldn't figure out whodunit and was surprised in the end. I love reading this series and I can't wait until the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Crystal Cove is holding a crossword puzzle tournament - a puzzle is given out every day with local shops giving out prizes to those who complete them. There is also a 3 day contest where the speed competition for each of the more intricate puzzles is taken into account.

When one of the cruciverbalist (crossword designer) is murdered Aunt Vera is a prime suspect due to a past involvement. Jenna feels certain she can figure who did it before Aunt Vera is hauled off to jail.

Love how Ms. Gerber brings all the characters to life giving all the ingredients needed for a joyful read.

"A fun and entertaining mystery with a satisfying conclusion."
"The characters are well-developed and likable, and the mystery is well-plotted."
"The food descriptions are mouth-watering."
"A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and foodie fiction."

I enjoyed Poaching Is Puzzling and would recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries. It's a fun and heartwarming read that will leave you feeling satisfied.

Poaching is Puzzling (A Cookbook Nook book #12) by Daryl Wood Gerber takes place during the Crystal Cove annual crossword contest. Contestants and crossword creators are descending on the town for a tournament, panels and to try and get their puzzles seen/bought. Jenna's Aunt's friend is one of most famous crossword creators, making him guest of honor but also the envy/enemy of many at the event. When he is murdered, Aunt Vera becomes a suspect and Jenna tries to get to the bottom of the murder.

Fun, cozy, easy to read mystery, I haven't read this series before, but I love Gerber's fairy garden series.

Well, you just might learn a new word or two from reading this story. The possibility is always there when you read, but even more so with this one. If you enjoy crossword puzzles, this is made for you. Course thrown in with all the puzzling, we have Jenna and her wonderful family and friends working out clues and offering delicious food. I would definitely like to eat at Intime and The Nook Café. Some of their delicious recipes are included in the book. I loved the story line and these awesome characters. I hope you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

This was a great story. Had lots of attention to details and showed great community spirit. The storyline moved at a great pace and kept the reader wanting more. I love that it’s has a crossword puzzle spin to it as well

Release Date: April 25, 2023
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The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants from near and far to Crystal Cove, and Jenna watches in amazement as puzzle-themed books fly off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Her aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize, and no one is more surprised than Jenna to discover there’s bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor who’s acting as master of ceremonies. And when the puzzle guru has his throat slit while he’s out hiking, the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit.
That simply will not stand! Jenna can’t stand by and watch her aunt take the fall. It’s been clear since the victim arrived that he had contentious relationships with a number of the contestants—even going so far as to steal puzzles from some of them and claim them as his own—and Jenna’s certain one of them is the killer. Trading puzzle solving for crime solving, she sorts through the convoluted clues and cryptic suspects, hoping to nab the guilty party before they decide she’s a problem they’ll solve with another murder . . .

This is the twelfth (!!!) book in the #cookbooknookmystery series by @darylwoodgerber and I am captivated by the town and it’s cast of characters. Add in the depth of the plot on this mystery and you'll have yourself hours of fun while learning new words for things! My favorite new word is cruciverbalist! Now if I can only figure out a way to work that into an everyday conversation! Don't be surprised if you pick up a crossword puzzle or two, as the book will make you remember why you, and your brain, love them! I would definitely recommend this series!

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

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Cruciverbalist! I had no idea that there was a word for one who creates crossword puzzles, although it makes sense that there should be one.

A crossword contest is an annual event in Crystal Cove. I'd never heard of anything like this, either. But it seems that people come from far and wide to compete and attempt to create the best puzzle. the main speaker at this event is an old friend of Jenna's aunt and it seems that there are a few bad memories from long ago. So when he is murdered, Aunt Vera becomes the prime suspect, even though she has an airtight alibi. Jenna quickly learns that there are not a few people who would like to see Wesley Preston dead.

This was a fun mystery and and easy read. Chapters began with synonyms for a word used in the chapter - perfect for someone who is working on puzzles. The characters were pretty believable although the Fairchild twins sort of drove me crazy.

Although there are recipes at the end, none are things I'd be particularly interested in trying, so the publisher could have saved on paper and ink and left those page out.

But in the end, I'd have to say that there is a 9 letter metonym for this genre - a genre that I love. (BeachRead)

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jenna and her aunt Vera’s excitement over the annual crossword puzzle contest is increased by the attendance of one of Vera’s childhood friends who happens to be a big cheese in the crossword world. It turns out he is not a very nice or moral guy and after people witness the two bantering, Vera is the number one suspect when he is murdered.

One of the things they learn about him is his bad habit of poaching other creators work. There are a number of people with some deep resentments of him who make much better suspects. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief when Vera is cleared but there is still someone out there who is prepared to kill.

I learned a lot about crossword puzzles including the various types of puzzles. Who knew? I had never really thought about how puzzles were created nor realized how competitive it was. The book has an interesting array of characters and some great twists in the tangle of relationships. Five purrs and two paws up.

This is the book 12 in this charming series, and it will leave fans, new and old, very happy! It will also test all your crossword puzzle little grey cells with all the clues and synonyms! It also gives the reader more background on Aunt Vera and other colorful characters in town, focusing less on Jenna. You will definitely be hungry after reading the book, so it's a good thing most of the recipes mentioned are in the back of the book, LOL.And don't be surprised if you pick up a crossword puzzle or two, as the book will make you remember why you, and your brain, love them!

Poaching is Puzzling (A Cookbook Nook book #12) by Daryl Wood Gerber is a delicious mix of puzzling murder, subtile sleuthing, and drool worthy food. I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a cozy whodunnit.

The annual crossword puzzle contest has drawn contestants to Crystal Cove and the puzzle themed books are flying off the shelves at the Cookbook Nook. Aunt Vera is putting up a sizable cash prize and no one is more surprised than Jenna because of the bad blood between Vera and the prominent puzzle constructor acting as master of ceremonies. When the puzzle is found on a hiking trail with his throat slit the police instantly peg Aunt Vera as the culprit. Jenna can’t stand by and let her aunt take fall since the victim arrived he stole puzzles from contestants claiming them as his own and Jenna is sure one of them is the killer. A very enjoyable story in the land of crossword puzzle genius. I recommend this book to everyone.