This story was absolutely delicious. I loved the realistic characters especially Este. My favorite thing about her is she is blessed with the ability to make a lucky pie. The story was an easy and captivating read. There were many twists and turns to keep you busy trying to figure out who did it. I thought it was a pure delight. I would definitely recommend this one.

This little island mystery is a really cute and quick read. It kept my intrigue and Este is so cute. I had no idea who did this when I thought I did, then it was a twist that kept me reading wanting more. I look forward to the next in the series.

Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren’t just good, they’re magical, with a family recipe that grants certain customers their greatest hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the unpopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pine Island’s peace goes up in smoke.
We all need a Este and her pie shop in our town. I thought this was a great cozy mystery with a cast of great characters. The cover is stunning and is a great preview of the book.

#APietoDieFor #NetGalley

I love cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. The characters were likable, it was well written, and i loved the setting. I thought i had figured it out, but i was wrong which always makes me happy when reading a cozy mystery. I loved Este and getting to know her and her pie business. I look forward to book number 2 in the series.

This was a cozy yet mysterious warm hug. I was fully immersed in the “what’s next” while also feeling like I was drinking a warm cup of coffee.

I liked the setting for this story. A remote island that is a tourist stop from spring through fall, but only residents are allowed during the winter. The residents need to stock up on everything by Halloween for the freezing cold months ahead when deliveries are rare. Halloween is a big holiday there because it signifies more than ghosts and ghouls and trick or treating.

Este is a novice amateur sleuth with a curious nature and she does make some bad decisions but she is a heck of a baker. We are introduced to many of the islands residents in the book, which means we don't get a lot of depth to any of them but they have plenty of room to grow as the series continues.

The mystery was pretty straightforward. Este did find some things the sheriff had not known about but she took some major risks following clues. She was fortunate to have a little luck of her own. I had figured out most of the mystery before Este, the showdown tied up all the loose ends. I appreciated the author's descriptive writing style as she clearly set each scene. It was easy to imagine traveling around with Este all over the island.

With just a hint of magic, characters with room to grow, a unique setting, an interesting mystery, and pie, lots of pie, A Pie To Die For was a delicious debut for this series. I am looking forward to reading the next Lucky Pie Mystery.

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue is a delectable and engaging cozy mystery that will keep you hooked from start to finish! The story follows pie shop owner and amateur sleuth, Tessa, who finds herself at the center of a murder investigation when a beloved local figure is killed under suspicious circumstances. Rue’s writing is delightful, with a well-crafted plot full of twists, engaging characters, and a charming small-town setting. The mouth-watering descriptions of pies add an extra layer of appeal, making this book as satisfying as a freshly baked pastry. For fans of cozy mysteries with a culinary twist and a strong, relatable protagonist, A Pie to Die For is an absolute treat!

I really loved this book! I am truly a sucker for any cozy mystery that is small business related. Bakeries, sewing shops, bookstores, whatever it is, I can almost guarantee I'll love it.

This was kind of refreshing, because there is not even a hint of a love triangle so far (YAY!) and it has tons of pies in it lol

I will absolutely be continuing with this series as it comes out! So excited for another one to come out!

A pie diner, a murder and a setting in Michigan combine to create a lovely cozy mystery.
I am not sure if there are other books in the series but if there are I am sure to read them.
This was a quick, fun book to read.

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 A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue.

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

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Great 1st book in I hope will be a good series. Este is amazing character. She works hard and is having fun but is scared to leave things alone when she is a suspect in a murder. A real good read a little long winded but otherwise an enjoyable read getting to know the characters.

"A Pie to Die For" is the first Lucky Pie Mystery by Gretchen Rue. The Lucky Pie is a family-owned diner in Northern Michigan. The pies from the diner are from an old family recipe that grants some customers their greatest hopes and dreams. A new produce man charges the diner more for the produce than what is normal, leading to an argument with Este March, the current manager and pie maker. When his body is later discovered, Este and several other business owners who bought produce that day become suspects. An added complication is that a local business owner is trying to buy a piece of property that has been in the Match family for generations.

The setting is on Spice Island in Michigan at the beginning of the off-season, which gives it a nice sense of isolation. The murder victim is despicable, which leaves you with a large pool of suspects. We only get a hint about the magical pies in this book. Hopefully, we'll learn more in the next books.

is is a solid debut in the new Lucky Pie Diner series set on an island in northern Michigan.

Magic pies. Excellent characters who I hope to see more of in the future. An interesting setting, on the last day before the island closes up to tourists and only locals are still around.

A fun read for cozy mystery fans!!

This was a fabulous first in series. The setting an island in Lake Michigan. It is very remote, and I can't imagine being that incredibly isolated, but I enjoyed reading about it, and seeing how Este and her friends manage. Este runs the Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island. In the summer, the island flourishes with tourists, but in the winter, the population is reduced to a couple of hundred long standing residents. Este comes from a long line of women who infuse magic in to their pies. People flock to Este's diner for a chance to get a magical pie.

The setting is at the end of the season when the island is shutting down. Este's regular produce guy is replaced by someone new who threatens to price gouge Este and the other local businesses. Este and the man have words and Este becomes a prime suspect when he is found dead.

There were ceratain nuances I really enjoyed about this book. One of them was Smokey the cat and his offspring. I also enjoyed Este's friends and her grandpa.

I will definitely be reading another in this series. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book.

I can't imagine living on this remote island. This book is a great way to start this new series , Lucky Pie Mystery.
Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren’t just good, they’re magical, with a family recipe that grants certain customers their greatest hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the unpopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pine Island’s peace goes up in smoke.

Princess Fuzzypants here; Living on an island in Lake Huron is delightful in the summer. Winter provides more challenges with the loss of tourist incomes and the difficulty in getting supplies from the mainland. So when a new guy shows up with a much depleted fruit and veg order and charges the businesses double the going rate, no one is happy with him. He seems to want to provoke the customers to anger and he does a good job. But does that give someone the right to murder him?

Este, who had irate words with him, finds the body. She, naturally, becomes a person of interest. Determined to find the real killer, she ignores the warning of Tom, the cop investigating, who also happens to be her best friend’s brother. Este is now on his radar and not just because of the crime. She skates close to the line when she goes breaking into sheds to investigate and then ignores a warning that is given to her. She is not quite a Darwin nominee but she does get very near. It is a good thing she is an interesting character and she and her lucky pie shop provide good entertainment. And the story has some fun and unexpected twists.

Clearly she and Tom are going to get closer as the series develops. I hope he can keep her from crossing that line. Four purrs and two paws up.

Este is my new favorite character! Ok, so she makes delicious pies and runs diner, but she is also smart, witty and fixates on finding the truth! That makes her a perfect amateur sleuth in this new cozy mystery series! The author has woven a well-developed plot with ample twists and turns to keep you guessing and yes, you will also be hoping the guilty party is the town bully, but make sure you follow the clues or you just might miss an important one along the way! Great character development throughout the community and cast of characters to draw you into this small community and make you feel like one of them rather than a reader of a story! This book has the makings of a great series and I personally can't wait to see where the author takes us next!

Split Pine Island sounds like a great place if not for the cold. With the end of the season arriving and the last visitors leaving, Jade is looking forward to one last produce delivery. When the new delivery guy is found murdered, Este is frightened of her hometown for the first time. The mystery was strong, and the characters and setting are interesting.

Gretchen Rue begins the Luck Pie mysteries with A Pie to Die for. Este March bakes lucky pies in the Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The last day of tourist season a new and unpopular vegetable salesman winds up dead. The local sheriff is suspicious of Este as the last person to see him alive. Plots are behind the scene to takeover people's property, but not all is as it seems. Magical mystery.