The annual crossword puzzle contest is back in Crystal Cove. This time, an old childhood friend of Aunt Vera’s is the headliner. While many adore the man, not everyone is a fan. Which is evidenced by his murder at the beginning of the competition.

Aunt Vera asks Jenna to find out who killed her old friend. And Jenna is more than happy to take on the assignment since Aunt Vera. Her cell is a suspect. Can Jenna connect the clothes to find the answers, and solve the puzzle of who killed the man? Or will she be scratched out like a bad clue herself?

I love this series and I’m so glad that Jenna’s marriage didn’t end the series. There are so many more escapades and mysteries for the ladies to become involved in. Well many cozies are set in a bookstore, they don’t have they added benefit of Aunt Vera, cookbooks, a tarot deck, a yummy café, and a cute little kitty. This is just one of Daryl Wood Gerber’s awesome cozy series. Each one reads fine as a standalone, so, if you haven’t given this series a read yet, there’s no place like this book to start.

POACHING IS PUZZLING is the twelfth book in the Cookbook Nook Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. The author has definitely crafted a puzzle of a mystery that kept me turning pages when the competitive nature of the cruciverbalists takes a deadly turn. With meticulous attention to the crossword puzzle craft and wordsmithing, the reader is in for a treat with not only a murder to solve, but an insider’s view of the world of creating crossword puzzles. Early in the book, it becomes apparent that Ms. Gerber has done an amazing amount of research to lend credibility to the theme. From each chapter heading—which provides puzzle descriptions, or puzzle themes, or thesaurus words—I was completely engrossed, until I’d read to the end. Of course, it’s not just a crossword puzzle book, and the characters that grace the pages bring life to the story. The protagonist, Jenna, is co-owner of the Cookbook Nook, alongside her Aunt Vera. I just adore their relationship, and oh how I wish I could visit their shop in person! If you like to collect cookbooks, Jenna offers several suggestions that are of the sort of goodies and dishes being offered at her café or at other local eateries.

While the story might be character-driven and crossword puzzle centric, Ms. Gerber is a master at crafting intriguing mysteries that pull the reader in and keep them engaged. While the victim might have been a longtime friend of Aunt Vera’s, he seems to have hidden his true self from her, as suspects and motives are uncovered. There were plenty of suspect to keep the reader guessing and clues for the sharp armchair detective to follow. My guess as to the killer was completely off the mark, but it was still fun following the clues. At the reveal, I’ll admit I felt sympathy for the murderer, and while murder is never justified, it goes to show how the author has created a character that could mimic real life. Once all was said and done, I found Poaching is Puzzling to be another entertaining addition to a long-loved series!

This book wasn't my favorite. This book is the 12th in the series and my first. The book can be read as a standalone. The author does a fantastic job giving background on the characters. This book just wasn't for me.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of "Poaching Is Puzzling" by Daryl Wood Gerber. This is the 12th book in the "A Cookbook Nook Mystery" series. I haven't read any other books in the series but I'm kinda hopeful that not every book is crossword puzzles and cookbooks. That would get old quick. Actually, it did get old quick. Especially since it took several chapters for the mystery to happen. I may go and read the first book in the series later and find out more about this series though.

If you love quirky characters and a twisty plot with a plethora of murder suspects, Daryl Wood Gerber's Cookbook Nook Mysteries are for you. You don't need to have read any of the previous 11 in the series to enjoy Poaching is Puzzling because the author lists all of the characters in alphabetical order by first name, including a short statement of each's role, at the beginning of the book. And there are helpful references throughout to give you context.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the crossword puzzle theme. Not only is there a crossword contest held in Crystal Cove, there are also other puzzle-themed events, not to mention a wealth of information related to this very popular pastime. The obsessed competitors are also frequently heard displaying their encyclopedic (or should I say thesaurus-like) knowledge of synonyms and arcane vocabulary. For a word nerd like me, it was a lot of fun. Since the protagonist is proprietor of a culinary bookshop and cafe, you can also expect to have your taste buds tickled by some tempting treats, with recipes at the end of the book.

I also recommend the author's magical Fairy Garden Mysteries,.

My thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for the opportunity to write and provide an honest review of this book.

Poaching is Puzzling, Daryl Wood Gerber’s latest Cookbook Nook Mystery, is a fun addition to the series and I love the idea of a crossword puzzle tournament and a (gasp!) murder involving one of the participants! Wesley has quite a few enemies, so it’s no surprise that someone had it in for him, but it’s still quite a shock when Jenna and Rhett stumble upon his lifeless body during their morning hike. When her beloved Aunt Vera is looked at as a potential suspect, Jenna once again helps (unofficially, of course) the police discover the culprit. I couldn’t put it down, most likely because the books in this series always include several things I like in my cozies - a character list, recurring characters, continuing storylines, and yummy recipes. A+++