I have received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. So thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity!

This was so sweet! For being a cozy mystery this was quite well developed.
And it has recipes in it! Like what? Isn’t that just so amazing?
I looved the heroine, she was quite a baddie.
4/5

A Pie To Die For is the first in new cozy series by Gretchen Rue. The Lucky Pie Diner is on an island in Northern Michigan and is known for its pies that bring luck to the fortunate ones that get a slice. Este March is the third generation owner of the diner and the one who bakes her family’s magic into the pies. At the end of October, the tourists head home and the townsfolk prepare for the cold northern winter. When a different produce supplier shows up with hiked prices, Este and a few of the town’s business owners anre outraged at the inflated prices. The same supplier is found dead and Este makes the sheriff’s list as a person of interest. Determined to sniff out a killer and clear her name, Este begins an investigation that finds trouble and unravels an unexpected plot twist on the island. Unpredictable with interesting characters, the cozy mystery comes with the requisite recipes and a strong willed heroine that keeps her crush on his toes. My only criticism is at times the story almost reads as if a cooking show and might be a little bit too descriptive on the cooking part of things. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

I do love a good cozy mystery. A cozy mystery with recipes? Even better!

A Pie to Die For is a great introduction to the Lucky Pie Diner and all the citizens of Split Pine Island. Este March runs the family diner and as the tourists are leaving the island, everyone starts to hunker down for the quiet season ahead. Expecting their normal winter shipment, she id surprised to find a new produce rep who has rubbed everyone the wrong way. When he is found dead the next day, Este finds herself worried about clearing not only her name, but wondering who on the island could be capable of murder. Too bad her lucky pies don't work as well for her.

There are a few little pacing issues we can usually find with any first novel is a series, but I don't think it's a huge issue. We have multiple characters that will be exciting to learn more about as things move along. Also, fo as much as we hear stories about the lucky pies, it never feels right we don't see them play out in the actual story. Parts of it feel like we get more background than current action which, again may be part of getting footing in.

I will say the jump a few minutes toward the end felt a bit odd. I do get it's the winter months and no tourists, but I always worry about how cutting so far ahead and impact so many relationships. In this case, what felt like it could have been a week or two was three months ahead. Again, may be a bit picky, but I look forward to see more about the residents of Split Pine Island.

In many ways ”A Pie to Die For” by Gretchen Rue is a good start to what looks to be an enjoyable cozy mystery series. It has a lot of good things going for it - a nice location (an island in Northern Michigan), a nice setting (a diner that focuses on pies some of which are “lucky”), Este (a plucky heroine who is a master at making pies and tenacious when she has to be), a touch of romance, and a murder mystery where Este was seen arguing with the victim and is a chief suspect. All of this makes for a nice mystery but I was left wanting more. The book has a lot of description of pie making (apparently that’s all that Este eats) but short on information on the lucky pies. Este seems close to her grandfather but we really never get to know him as a character (and an appearance by her father would have been nice). While I love plucky heroines and the fact that Este had a legitimate reason to investigate the murder, she does some incredibly stupid things especially towards the end of the book that had me rolling my eyes. As for the mystery, while there are some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, I like mysteries where I can try to solve the murder while I’m reading the book and I found that impossible to do with this book. Having said all that, first books in series can be a bit rough as the author tries to establish characters and setting and I enjoyed this book enough that I would read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

A Pie to Die For is a sweet cozy mystery. This one features Este who runs the Lucky Pie diner in Split Pine, Michigan. It is just after Halloween and the air is turning chilly and the first flakes of snow are falling. All the tourists are leaving for the season and a dead body turns up at the dock. Was it a tourist or could one of the locals be a murderer ? Este decides to investigate and finds herself in over her head.
I really enjoyed this new cozy mystery series. A lot of cozies are way too cheesy for me but this one has more depth to the story. I loved the touch of magical realism. Plus there are recipes at the end of the book. I look forward to continuing on with this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.

Este has inherited the Lucky Pie Diner in the U.P. Of Michigan. Some of their pies are imbued with a bit of magical good luck, which is a bit of a mystery even to Este. The summer season is ending and the long winter season is beginning, but their regular produce vendor has been replaced with an obnoxious person who is jacking up their prices. When he is killed, Este and the other merchants are natural suspects. Este is drawn to investigate, first to clear her own name and then to make the town safe again.
I liked the characters, though they could have a bit more development. The magic element of the lucky pies is rather ambivalent…is it magic or just coincidence. Overall, I enjoyed this cozy mystery.

absolute mess of a book. I'm very sad to say I was swamped by this book. I have absolutely no idea what was going on most of the time, who was who, and where I should focus my attention.

Too much unnecessary description. Was trying so much to make the cosy vibe that it killed it for me. The villinising and favouring of some characters is almost child-like. Wasn't it at all for me even though I was really looking forward to a cosy fall read.

Amazing! I loved the vibes of the book---super fall friendly, the amazing descriptions and the mystery. Easy, cozy and fun!

I knew I was going to like this book just by the adorable cover and I was not wrong. The characters were super loveable and the story was so engaging. I really wanted to know where the mystery was going and Rue did a great job of giving the reader enough hints to stay engaged, but not too many that it was all obvious.

Halloween is over and the island of Split Pine is ready to slow down and enjoy a quiet Winter. But on All Souls Day, it seems there is one should that didn’t make it off the island and that means a murderer is amongst them.

Este had a run in with the victim the day before as did the grocer. To clear herself from the suspect list, Este decides to do some investigating of her own. Is one of the people she’s know all her life a killer? That’s what she hopes to find out without becoming the second murder ever on the Island.

A great start to a new series. Island life may not be for everyone, but Split Pines may just change your view of that. with likable characters, a solid mystery and clues that being you thisclose to solving it you’ll enjoy your time on the Island.

I love the Lucky Pie Diner and the magical family recipes. Set on a remote island this is a perfect spot for a murder and what a great cosy murder mystery this one is. Love Este's character and personality and love the way she investigates this murder herself with her best friend and the sister of the town sheriff.

This is the first book of this series and although a bit slow to start and at times the descriptiveness was a bit too much, once I got past that I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fun, easy to read, had a great setting and was entertaining. I look forward to seeing what Gretchen Rue has up her sleeve for the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue is the first in the Lucky Pie Mystery series. The series introduces Este March as the owner of her family’s Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island located in Northern Michigan. When a new and problematic produce vendor turns up dead on the last day of the tourist season, Este finds herself as suspect number one which threatens her family business and livelihood.

The author’s narrative evoked such a strong sense of place in the narrative that the location almost became a character in and of itself. The magic of “some” of the pies and their descriptions made me want to break out my rolling pin and whip up a few. I found the book slow to start, long on descriptions and short on conversation, which made it a challenge to relate to Este and the other characters. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.) All together a promising start for a new series and I look forward to the next in the series.

What a great setting for a cosy series! Split Pine Island is a tourist island in Michigan, no cars are allowed on the island, and they basically close up shop on November 1st, shut down all of the tourist hotspots and go dormant. Unfortunately, a murderer did not get the message. Este March runs the local diner (where she makes magical pies btw), and was the last person to see the new fruit delivery man alive. Este needs to clear her name, so she embarks on a pretty sloppy investigation with her best friend, who also happens to be the sister of the handsome local sheriff. A Pie to Die For checks all of the important cosy boxes, including the cats.

I loved this!!!! It was such a fun read and really enjoyable. I definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC on exchange for an honest review.

I loved this cozy mystery. The characters were very real and relatable. I loved the setting, and the little tie bits the author wrote to allow the reader to visualize the island and life there. The plot flowed smoothly and had it all - mystery, little action, some laughs, and really delicious sounding recipes. This is a must read for fans of this genre.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A very enjoyable read! Kept mr reading. I couldn't put this down. Just had to know what happens... The fact that there are recipes included at the back is such a bonus!

I have read a few other books by this author, and this series debut is even better than I expected!

A Pie to Die For finds Este in northern Michigan where she runs a family-owned diner. The pies she serves are "Magical." On the last day of the season, the new produce vendor turns up dead, and it's up to her to figure out who killed. him.

As Este investigates, she uncovers a deeper web of secrets, finding that many of the locals had reason to either frame her, or kill the victim.

Fun read and great storyline! Looking forward to reading more in this new series.

It’s a hectic last day of the tourist season as customers are eating and buying pies to take home at the Lucky Pie Diner as they leave the island of Split Pine, MI. When a produce delivery by a new guy brings unwanted surprises, diner owner/baker Este is frazzled enough to lose her cool. A fact that comes back to haunt her when he's murdered and she’s the last person to see him alive. Putting her at the top of the suspect list. Now she needs to clear her name and find the real killer as the island prepares to be isolated for the winter.

This contains all of the delicious ingredients for a baking cozy - a small town full of quirky people, and a sexy sheriff who tells Este to stay out of his investigation. Which ensures that Este won’t stay in her lane. She’s helped out by a feline sidekick, her adorable grandpa, and BFF, Kitty. The mystery is engaging with several twists and turns that kept me guessing. And the included recipes made my mouth water. This is a great start to the Lucky Pie Mystery series.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A PIE TO DIE FOR (Book 1 of the Lucky Pie mystery series) by Gretchen Rue in exchange for an honest review. Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan is subject to the whims of nature. During the warm season, the island bustles with visitors and goods are readily available to be transported over on the boats and ferries bringing the tourists. Once cold weather sets in, visitors and deliveries disappear. If you don’t get your over-winter supplies on the last boat, then you have to do without. Este March’s family diner has a reputation for magically lucky pie. Sometimes, after you eat a slice, luck unexpectedly swings your way. Este’s business relies on deliveries from off island. When a new produce vendor named Jeff shows up with only part of Este’s order and charges her WAY more than the agreed-upon amount, Este is upset and, after some sharp words, pays the gouging prices for her partial order. The next morning, Jeff is found murdered on his boat. Now, Este is a “person of interest,” and her fellow residents prove more fickle than expected and begin avoiding the diner. In order for the diner to survive to the next tourist season, especially in light of the amount she paid for the last order, Este must regain her customers. So, Este must clear her name by figuring out who killed the rotten produce vendor.

I liked this book and thought it was a good start to a new series. I look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book to cozy murder mysteries featuring off-season island life, local conspiracies, and the magic of pie.

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