This is the 12th book in the Cookbook Nook cozy mystery series. I have read several of the previous books, but I haven’t read the whole series and still definitely enjoyed this one. I will say it was a little slow to start, but once the story really got going I breezed through it. I enjoy puzzles although I am far from a crossword puzzle expert and as a crossword puzzle tournament was the theme it was fun. I especially liked all the times people would try to use “50 cent words” (seldom used words) or would go off with synonyms in conversation. It felt like a bit of a nerd heaven and I thought it seemed like a fun place to be. Jenna is enjoying the festivities until her aunt’s old friend is murdered and her aunt is the number one suspect. Of course she has to do some sleuthing to clear her name and she really does have a good knack of getting people to talk to her. But her aunt’s old friend wasn’t a very nice guy for all he was a famous crossword puzzle designer. Overall I gave this 4.5 stars rounded up for the great characters who really kept my interest.

Another great mystery in this series. I love puzzles, but I have never seen so many different kinds of puzzles and I didn't know that there were puzzle conventions. The food always sounds so good. Glad the author puts recipes in the back of the book. Jenna's aunt has an old friend who is a prominent puzzle constructor. It turns out that he isn't a very nice person, and someone wants him dead. When Jenna finds him dead, her aunt is the biggest suspect. Jenna knows her aunt would never harm anyone, and it is up to her and her friends to find the answers to this puzzle.

Crystal Cove is hosting an annual crossword puzzle contest, and the Cookbook Nook has plenty of puzzle-themed books and items for customers. Jenna Hart's aunt Vera is reuniting with Wesley, a prominent puzzle constructor who is head judge at the competition. Wesley had angered several participants with some claiming that he had poached their crossword puzzles and claimed them as his own. When Wesley is found dead on a hiking trail, the police first suspect Vera of the murder. Jenna has plenty of possible suspects to eliminate to puzzle out the real killer.

This was an enjoyable book in this long-running cozy mystery series. Plenty of interesting details about the different types of puzzles kept my interest. And several tasty recipes were included at the end of the book.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Wow, I learned lots from this book. I don't know how much of it will stick but the wordplay was delightful, not to mention all we learned about baking and knives. You'll also get insight into how difficult creating crossword puzzles might be, albeit I never imagined it being a competitive sport, so to speak. In between, lots and lots of talk about food, including the way to proof your dough, and more.

In other words, when not busy trying to figure out whodunit, you'll find yourself learning some pretty cool things, too. Like, cruciverbalist, which is the name for one who designs crosswords. Or what the figure of speech metonymic adage refers to. Hint, Pentagon is a metonymic. And, if you're a crossword addict, you'll probably find yourself reaching for a pencil to jot down all the short words and/or common and uncommon synonyms that are mentioned.

Of course, the murder itself is quite the puzzle. Who did it? Who, shudder, slit crossword designer Wesley's throat? As the suspects and their backstories emerged, I actually found that I felt sympathetic to each and every one of them, even the eventual culprit. The author does a superior job of fleshing them out as human beings, not just extras in the story. The regulars are, naturally, well-rounded and struck me as being people you might know and enjoy having as friends. Heck, even Tigger the cat and Rook the Lab emerge as personalities. In other words, it works well as a standalone.

Bottom line, an excellent, well-written read. Timely, too, as Wordle gets a mention during the gathering of word puzzle fans. Main character Jenna finds herself pulled into the investigation when her aunt is a potential suspect, not to mention she's just one of those people others find themselves telling things. Does she ultimately find herself in danger? Oh, come on. This is a cozy mystery. What do you think? And I loved every moment of the story.

You can't go wrong with this one if you enjoy mysteries, crosswords, or even just an excellent character driven story. Thanks #NetGalley and #BeyondThePagePublishing for letting me sit in virtually on the crossword competition. Loved the use of real book titles and the comments within recipes by characters.

I’ve enjoyed the Cookbook Nook series and was looking forward to this one since I like doing crossword puzzles. Unfortunately, all of the crossword puzzle explanations and word play slowed the story down too much for me. However, there were plenty of suspects and the mystery was interesting.

Poaching is Puzzling is a nice a addition to the Cookbook Nook series. There's a puzzle tournament in town. Wesley is master of ceremonies who happens to be a childhood friend of Jenna's, Aunt Vera. When he's murdered and Aunt Vera becomes the main suspect. Jenna pulls out all the stops to clear her Aunt. Wesley was an arrogant egotistical man who ruffled quite a few feathers in the short time he's been in town, so there are plenty of suspects. I enjoyed the puzzle theme in this book. The main characters are well fleshed out and likeable, and there's plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing
until the end. This book can be read as a standalone. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this advance readers copy. This was an enjoyable read that I highly recommend. 5 stars! ☆☆☆☆☆

This is a fun book. It is the next book in the Cook Book Nook mystery series set in Crystal Cover, CA. The Cookbook Nook Bookstore is owned by Jenna and her aunt. When a famous crossword puzzle designer is found dead off a hiking trail Jenna starts her own investigation hoping to find the killer. I have enjoyed all of these books and I never seem to be able to figure out the killer by myself. Jenna is a realistic woman who has a knack for identifying murderers. Coming back to this series is like coming back to visit friends. Any fan of cozy mysteries will like this book and the series. I will be watching for the next book! I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

tarot, cozy-mystery, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, artist, crosswords, friendship, friends, recipes, culinary, series, tournament, California, bookseller, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder*****

As a crossword geek and a fan of the author and this series, I had a wonderful time solving the sleuthing!
I really enjoyed reading it, and the recipes are awesome.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Beyond the Page via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book as I love crosswords, although not good at them, and puzzles of any sort. I learned a great many new words and hints as to how to solve even the trickiest of puzzles. A crossword tournament seems such a good idea. Crystal Cove seems over run with eateries but amazingly they all do well. When Wesley is murdered instead of bringing everyone together as a community it has the opposite effect and it seems no one is telling the truth and all have a lot of secrets to hide. Can Jenna and the police find the killer.........

I have enjoyed all of the Cookbook Nook Mystery series and this new story, Poaching is Puzzling, is a great addition. A crossword puzzle event in coming to Crystal Cove, California and everyone is gearing up. Jenna Hart and her Aunt Vera are getting in crossword theme books and items to get ready for the event at the Cookbook Nook Bookshop and the Cafe is hosting some of the events. Vera's old childhood friend Wesley is a famous crossword constructor and head of ceremonies. The two haven't seen each other much at all in forty years and Wesley is not the nicest person Vera would like to think he is. Evidently, he has made enemies because someone killed him while he was out on a night hike to listen for birds. Jenna puts her sleuthing skills to use to find her aunt's friend's killer. There are lots of possible suspects who Wesley mistreated and lots of alibis to check out. It is always fun to visit Crystal Cove and all the usual characters during the great weeks of events, but edgy to watch Jenna stick her nose where she is put in danger. Great series and new addition. I learned many new words and fun facts. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers with great sounding food and recipes included.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts only.

This is the first cozy mystery that I have read by Daryl Wood Gerber and it won't be the last. I want to read more of Jenna's previous adventures.

It is tough for me to read a cozy mystery series without reading the other ones, so I struggled for a bit but once I got into , I was hooked. I enjoyed the charcters and the mystery. It was a simple but enjoyable read.

Ms. Gerber creates a tale that take a peek at the world of puzzle makers, we often do them, not thinking of the creator. Jenna’s Cookbook Nook is tied to their convention as her aunt is an avid crossword fan.
Jenna and Keller Find an irritating man murdered and police are looking at all the puzzle fans, including her aunt. There a suspects, some with motive and not opportunity, some the reverse..or is it not as it seems.
Great cozy. I recommend it for any cozy fan.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

#PoachingIsPuzzling #NetGalley is a fantastic addition to this series.
I'm already a huge fan of this author, and Poaching is Puzzling is a witty cozy mystery that will appeal to many readers.
Crystal Cove is preparing for a crossword competition, and things get heated quickly when personalities clash.
Jenna's Aunt Vera tries to cool tempers down, but when someone is killed, Vera finds herself in the hot seat.
This book was unique, inventive, and the crossword puzzle competition seemed like a lot of fun.
I had fun learning all the different words, and have myself wanting to do a crossword puzzle.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
I'm happy to recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

I've been wanting to read a book by Darly Wood Gerber for quite a while now and I am so glad that I finally got the chance to do so. This book is witty, charming, educational, sincere, heartwarming, engaging, and just downright fantastic. Even though this is the twelfth book in the series, I didn't find myself lost or confused by any means. She writes in a way that I was easily able to picture the quaint little town in my mind's eye without any issues.

All of the characters are fully fleshed out with personalities to match. I loved all of the family and friend groups. The bickering between some of the characters was funny and reminded me of characters that were just like actual people and not someone made up. It made me feel like they were all real and I could picture any one of them coming through my door and having a conversation. This book has a real authentic feel about it.

I loved the mystery, and this is the first time I have read a cozy with crossword puzzles as its theme, but I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot of new words and I was happy to see I wasn't the only one who enjoyed puzzles, mysteries, and big words.

I highly recommend this book and I myself cannot wait to go reading the rest of the series to be able to catch up. What an enjoyable experience I had.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Daryl Wood Gerber for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

This is the 12th release in the much loved cozy series "Cookbook Nook Mystery Series". I enjoy this series and the differrent themes throughout each book. Jenna is the owner and manager of her popular cookbook shop . She has a side talent for solving crimes and is a savvy smart friendly person. This next in series is a focus on crossword puzzles which the author must have done a incredible amount of research for. It is always appreciated that the author presents authentic and realistic inner workings of the subject. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. This is a series not to miss and this was a fun addtion to the series.

I enjoy learning about the world of crossword puzzles. Jenna is hosting a crossword event at her shop and the competation is fierce. When a murder occurs Jenna is on the case with her special skills and soon red herrings as well as clues abound. The supporting charcters return as well as some new addtions in the world of crosswords. It was fun to learn about this interesting hobby that has become quite popular . The sleuth was well plotted and kept me guessing to conclusion. I loved the setting of the Cookbook Nook and returning to Jenna's world .

Poaching is Puzzling was a fun read. It takes place in Crystal Cove, CA. The main character is Jenna Hart who owns The Cookbook Nook and Nook Cafe with her aunt Vera Hart. Vera has invited her childhood friend, Westley Preston, a crossword puzzle designer, to speak at the Crossword Puzzle Tournament as emcee. Eva Wainwright, editor of the puzzles and entertainment section of the San Francisco Gazette and Westley's boss. Rhett, Jenna's husband is opening his family's restaurant after it has been restored from an earlier fire. The restaurant is hosting a cocktail reception for tournament participants and their guests. Katie is the chef at the Nook Cafe and Jenna's good friend. Bailey Bird is Jenna's best friend, sales clerk and limited partner in the shop. Deputy Applebee is Vera's husband. The other characters add to the story.

At the cocktail party Westley and Vera sparred like they did when at school but it looked like they were having a disagreement. While walking her lab, Rook, she came across Westley's body and called 911. Chief Cinnamon Pritchett arrived with Detective Appleby follows. Westley's throat had been cut. Cinnamon questions Vera and asks to see her knives. She took the Skelton knife. Vera becomes a suspect and brought in for questioning.

This is where the story takes off on an adventure to find out who killed Westley and why. There are many suspects. I will leave this to the reader to solve as they are too many reasons to put all on paper. The story climaxes in an exciting ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC.

I love crossword puzzles. When I discovered the recently released book in the Cookbook Nook series Obviously, I couldn't miss this one. This is one of my favorite series, and its cast of characters is always delightful. It was a captivating plot that intensified when Jenna's aunt Vera is a suspect in her friend's murder who is a puzzle constructor. The crossword merchandise at the Cookbook Nook and the puzzle contest made the story fun to read. The list of potential suspects is long and intriguing. My guess as to the killer is hardly ever right but it was still exciting trying.

Thank you Beyond the Page Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a honest review.

Poaching is Puzzling is the next book in the cozy Cookbook Nook mystery series. The annual crossword puzzle tournament is back in Crystal Cove, bringing in many cruciverabalists, including Wesley, a childhood friend of Aunt Vera's. Unfortunately, Wesley isn't the nicest individual and angers quite a few of the contestants, as well as some locals. When Wesley's body is discovered on a hiking trail with his throat slashed, there is a long list of suspects. However, at the top of the list is Aunt Vera. Jenna is determined to clear her aunt's name and find Wesley's true killer.

Crystal Cove is a charming setting, and I love the Cookbook Nook shop. However, I found some of the characters to be annoying and the dialogue at times was not natural. There was also a lot of repetition of certain words and facts. Poaching is Puzzling is an okay cozy - it has the charming setting, intriguing mystery, and interesting locals; however, it just didn't all come together for me.

Another great read! The Crossword tournament is in town and it brings with it all sorts of trouble. There are lots of clues and twists in this story. This story had me thinking and rethinking the whole time. I loved the crossword terms at the start of each chapter. The recipes at the end sound delicious. Looking forward to the next one!

I’m late to this series, but I really loved this book and it worked well as a standalone since there was enough backstory given for the characters.

I may be biased as a crossword puzzle fanatic, but I enjoyed the quirky cast of characters and puzzle themed storyline. I thought it was fun that as a reader we follow Jenna’s thoughts as she confirms alibis and susses out the truth.

I will definitely be jumping back to start from the first book!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BeyondthePagePublishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.