Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber is the first in a new series featuring Allie Catt, a caterer. Allie lives in Bramblewood in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She had grown up there and returned when she figured out, after a breakup, that there were not always teaching jobs available. Now she was comfortably ensconced in a cottage with a cat, and a shop from which she ran her catering service, called Dream Cuisine. She delivered a variety of pastries and baked goods to various businesses around town and considered her business a success. Her best friend from childhood was Tegan who worked for her aunt in a bookstore. She had trained as a librarian but found her true love was selling books. She had a lovely mother, and a not-so-lovely half-sister, in addition to her aunt. One day her aunt fell in the bookstore and didn’t appreciate the reminder that she was getting too old to climb ladders. The next time she was found on the floor, she was dead. She hadn’t fallen; she’d been murdered. That brought police detective, Zach Armstrong, Allie’s current heart throb, to investigate.

Allis is going to turn out to be a good character. She loves her business and is interested to find that Marigold Markel, Tegan’s aunt had left her 25% of the bookshop in her will. Tegan had half, and her mother retained the 25% she’d had all along. Allie didn’t think the police were moving fast enough and as she was naturally curious, she started asking questions. She shared everything she found with Zach and she wasn’t really endearing herself to him with her efforts. The murderer turned out to be a surprise, and to more than the reader. The mystery was a good one and the characters, outstanding, full of personality and curious quirks. The pacing was good. All in all I think this is going to be a fun new series.

I was invited to read Murder in The Page by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #DarylWoodGerber #MurderOnThePage

The combination of a bookstore and cooking in one cozy, along with the author's name recognition, is going to attract a lot of readers. For me, it moved a little slowly, and the trouble with a series starter can be that there's so much set up of the characters and setting that it can get a little bogged down. However, there is a lot of potential here and some nice groundwork laid that I'd like to continue with the next book in the series.

Generally, I am a huge fan of all things written by this author. She has several series that I have long enjoyed and look forward to each and every new entry. However, this time, I have to say that it’s a little too busy, there are too many characters to be introduced all at once, and a little more work could’ve gone into developing things before publishing the first in the series.

That said, I will definitely look forward to the second entry, give it a read and hope that things go a little more smoothly for me and that book.

Set in gorgeous Asheville, North Carolina, Allie Cart is a caterer and chef. Her business is setting book themed dinner parties. When someone is murdered, Allie sets out to find the killer before they strike again. A most thrilling start to a new series. Love Darcy the cat. Filled with awesome characters, plot twists and a gripping murder this cozy has it all!Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

I wasn't too crazy about this book at first since Allie, the main character was just different from most cozy mystery main characters and it took me a while to warm up to her. I did like her wicked sense of humor and how she could cleverly get in the last word with someone. Tegan was an awesome best friend.

While the Pride and Prejudice quotes and storyline were lost on me, I still enjoyed how they kinda incorporated some of the book’s ideas into figuring out the mystery. The ending was really good and I'm looking forward to seeing how Zach and Allie move forward as hopefully more than friends while another awesome partnership starts and takes off.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

MURDER ON THE PAGE by Daryl Wood Gerber
The First Literary Dining Mystery

Allie Catt runs a small catering business in her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. A lover of all things literary she's been hired to cater an event for Marigold Markel, owner of Feast for the Eyes bookstore and aunt of her best friend, Tegan. But when everyone arrives for the event they find a lifeless inside. The death is ruled a homicide and Tegan soon becomes a suspect. Despite being on friendly terms with the lead detective, Allie feels she must help solve the murder. While simultaneously planning a Pride and Prejudice themed memorial, Marigold's favorite book, Allie will look for clues to try to find a killer. But will the killer find her first?

Who would want to kill Marigold? It turns out the bookshop owner had more than one secret. There are lots of interesting dynamics between the characters in the first Literary Dining Mystery. Vanna is a character I loved to hate. She's a nasty piece of work who throws her sister under the bus and makes disparaging remarks about Allie's food. Brendan not only makes a great detective, but I love his burgeoning relationship with Allie. The various clues led me down a multitude of paths wondering who the killer was. I also appreciated how Allie kept her wits about her during the climactic scene!

It's no surprise that I love books so I love that a bookstore is at the center of MURDER ON THE PAGE along with nods to all things literary. I particularly enjoyed all of the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE references. Of course, I also love food, so not only do I love the food descriptions, but I love how Allie creates a menu with the Jane Austen theme! There are also recipes at the end of the book to devour.

Comforting food, books, and Jane Austen combine to make a delightful start to a new mystery series in MURDER ON THE PAGE.

This is a great start to this new series. I really liked Allie. She smart and tenacious. Allie is a caterer and an avid reader. When the owner of the bookstore is killed, Allie feels she needs to help find the killer. Allie and Zach are just starting to date. Zach is a detective and when Allie starts helping him solve this mystery, he tries his best to dissuade her. No such luck. It puts a strain on their budding relationship. But Allie won't back down, she is determined to solve this mystery. Can she do it?

Dollycas's Thoughts

Ms. Gerber has set this series in Asheville, North Carolina so before I can even start my review I have to state my heart goes out to the people of Asheville and all the others who have been affected by Hurricanes Helene and the terrible aftermath that his hindered getting these people the aid they desperately need. They have a long road ahead and we need to help in any way we can to bring it back to the town described in this book. 

Asheville caterer and personal chef Allie Catt escapes into books and hosts book clubs giving her a unique idea for the themes of her parties. She gets her inspiration from her clients' favorite books. Pride and Prejudice is the theme for her first event. With a cat named Darcy, you know the book is a fave of Allie's as well as her client, plus she has a ton of ideas for future parties.

Allie's best friend Tegan's Aunt Marigold has hired her to serve a tea at her A Feast for the Eyes bookshop. Marigold is very involved in the community and one of Allie's favorite people but she has been having some spells that worry her family and friends. When Allie arrives at the shop to set up the tea, it is closed with a line of people is waiting to get in. When another employee opens the door, they find Marigold on the floor but this time there is no helping her. Marigold was dead. Tegan appears to be the only heir which puts her at the top of the list of suspects. Allie knows she needs to prove her BFF had no part in her aunt's death. She is going to need a little literary assistance and who better than Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot to help her work through all the clues?

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With a new series comes a new cast of characters. I appreciate that the author gives us a list at the beginning of the book. It enabled me to escape into the story easily.

Allie is a great protagonist, thoughtful and tenacious. She had an unusual upbringing and was devastated by a bad breakup. However, that breakup allowed her to follow her dream. Her best friend Tegan works for her aunt at the bookstore and she is in the middle of a breakup herself. She and Allie have no secrets but she refuses to open up about what is going on. We meet a variety of Asheville residents but it was the victim, Marigold who grabbed my heart and held on tight. She was a special lady in so many ways. I had tears in my eyes while reading the last few pages of this story.

Ms. Gerber has written a complex mystery with several suspects. There is friction between Allie and Detective Zach Armstrong as she delves into his case. There was romantic tension there too. Tegan wanted to help investigate but Allie had to reel her in more than once. I enjoyed that Allie didn't give up. I did have an inkling of who the guilty party may be but truthfully I was so caught up in the story and the author's delightful descriptions of all the happenings it really didn't register until the exciting showdown.

Daryl Wood Gerber is an awesome storyteller. Her stories set a speedy pace as she blends the mystery with the character's daily lives. She sets up some fine twists and turns of misdirection to rachet up the suspense. Murder on the Page not only has quotes from Pride and Prejudice to start each chapter but there are several Pride and Prejudice Easter Eggs throughout the story which would make Taylor Swift smile. And yes, it would not be a Daryl Wood Gerber book without recipes so if the food in the book tickles your tastebuds all the details to make your own are at the back of the book.

With Murder on the Page, Ms. Gerber has set the series off to a fantastic start. The engaging characters, a compelling mystery, and a fun theme, set in a vibrant mountain town with a rich history kept me entertained from beginning to end. I loved this story!  For me, this was more than a Perfect Escape, it was a Trip to Paradise. Look for this book on my Best Reads of 2024. I am so excited for this series to continue.

A new series by a well loved cozy mystery lover who mixes in tidbits from other mystery books in the themes, crimes and menus. What a gift to Daryl Wood Gerber's fans. This book is difficult to review without giving away clues that readers should watch for themselves. Our MC, Allie Catt, sets parties and events based on the clients' favorite books, building her business into a huge success. But a freind's aunt is killed and Allie will drop everything to find the killer. If you've not read any of Gerber's books before, this your best chance to find a new series.

Allie runs a catering business and in her free time is a dedicated reader! Sadly for me, she seems to be quite the Pride & Prejudice fan. I am not. I have tried, but can not get myself interested in the Regency era / genre. However, there were still enough non-Jane Austen references to keep me enthralled. And I loved the characters! I was really sad about who the murder victim was. I felt they would have been a great recurring character. But, the story set up a great foundation for yet another Daryl Wood Gerber series that I will be first in line to read every installment. This one is for mystery and book lovers! (Oh, and also includes some tasty recipes for your own book club meetings!)

The first in a new cozy mystery series, and my first by Daryl Wood Gerber.
It was okay - but there were so many characters introduced, I felt like I had a hard time keeping track of them or making time to care about them.
The way the author has the characters speak also feels so dated ("Golly!" and "Gee!" and "Hi, pal!"), and it made the characters feel a bit distant and stilted.
Could be a good series with more character development in the next book.

A new cozy mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber? Sign me up!

Setting this new series in North Carolina, our heroine is Allie Catt (yes that's really her name) who makes her living baking yummy sweet and savory treats for people around town. Her best friend Tegan, runs a book store wih her Aunt Marigold, When Aunt Marigold is found dead in the bookstore where an event is supposed to take place, Allie and Tegan begin to wonder who would want sweet Aunt Marigold dead??

With a large cast of characters, the books moves quickly. Some people are suspects, some are bystanders, some are busy bodies, and some may come more into play as this series moves forward! Lots of background about the principles of this book made it very interesting. A possible love interest for Allie, so I'm sure we'll see Detective Zach in upcoming books!

A well thought-out mystery, with lots of possible suspects and a well done and spooky reveal!

In this first book of the series we meet Allie Catt, a personal chef and caterer who lives in the picturesque town of Asheville North Carolina. Allie enjoys taking books her clients love and using those as a jumping off point for her food ideas. The jobs are steadily coming in which in turn has made her local competition unhappy especially when she gets a job from one of their family members. When Allie goes to set up for said event she finds several people crowded around a locked entrance. Her best friend Teagan's Aunt is the one who hired her and it looks like something has happened to her. When the Aunt is found dead and it is later discovered she was murdered everyone is shocked. Allie jumps in to investigate when Teagan becomes one of the main suspects. Follow along and see how Allie's first investigation goes and whether or not she is able to help clear her friends name. This was a wonderful start to.what.I hope is a long running series. The plot was well written and had me guessing the whole way through. I look forward to getting to know these characters more!

I’ve read and enjoyed several cozy mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber, so I was excited to see the start of a new series and especially excited that it was book and food themed. You can’t go wrong with that!

Readers meet Allie Catt who runs her own pop-up dining establishment. I enjoyed getting to know Allie and getting an inside look at her business (I love reading about characters who have their own businesses.)

I have to admit I was shocked at the victim as I would have loved to get to know her more, but I adored the details describing Tegan’s bookstore. I’d love to visit (minus the murder, of course).

Just like other determined amateur sleuths, Allie dives head first into the investigation and several twists appear in the story that kept me turning the pages quickly. The small town feeling and beautiful setting made for wonderful reading, just as the great characters. I even think there’s a possible romance slowly developing between Allie and a local detective.

A charming and clever start to a new series. Can’t wait to read more and in the meantime, try the delicious recipes in the back of the book.

This is a new series and will quickly become a favorite! Allie Card is a caterer who loves classic mysteries. Her best friend, Teagen, works at her aunt Marigold's book store. When Marigold is murdered, Allie and Teagen work to figure out who could have killed her. The frustration of the police with the amateur sleuths lends another layer to the story. Lots of red herrings to keep you guessing and interesting characters help make the book shine. Can't wait for more adventures in this series!
I was given an ARC of this book in return for a review.

Murder on the Page is the first book in the new Literary Dining Mystery series.

Allie Catt is a caterer, personal chef, and keep local bakeries stock with her baked goods. Her latest catering gig is for her bestie Teagan's aunt Marigold. When Marigold is found dead in her book shop the date of the catering event. Teagan has become the sole heir, shooting her to the very top of the suspect list. Allie knows Teagan didn't murder her aunt, and puts on her amateur sleuthing cap to prove it before anyone else gets hurt or wrongly convicted a crime they didn't commit.

I really enjoyed the first book in this new series. Most of the characters in Murder on the Page are fun and exciting. Allie and Teagan are wonderful and well-written. There is always one character that causes drama, and boy does she in this book. The author delivers several suspects, not just Teagan, with means and motive, and figuring out who committed the crime was difficult. There are twists and turns and red herrings, and while I may have suspected who committed the crime, I never was really sure until the end.

This new series from Daryl Wood Gerber gets off to a great start. Check out my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com

This publishes close on the heels of Hurricane Helene which did so much damage to Asheville, a lovely town and the setting fora new series that merges books and cooking because Allie specializes in literary themed feasts. Allie knows her friend Tegan didn't kill her aunt Marigold but how to prove it? There's a lot going on here, as is typical of the first installment of any series, so know that it might feel a bit scattered or hectic in spots as the characters are introduced. Cozy fans know though that Marigold was not as nice as it appeared and that Allie, Tegan and pals will solve the mystery. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

I want to thank Daryl Wood Gerber, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC I received. This is my honest opinion.


Un cozy mystery a sfondo letterarario che ricorda tanto un film per la tv targato Hallmark. La piccola cittadina USA, dove tutti si conoscono, con le sue imprese locali (la libreria, la bakery con servizio catering e così via), e un pizzico di romance che non guasta mai, insieme, ovviamente, ad un 0micidi0.
Il mio problema con questo libro è che è un po’ troppo semplice, e manca della raffinatezza dei gialli made in UK (che volete farci, è un dato di fatto). L’investigatrice dilettante, insegnante mancata e caterer di ripiego, nonché voce narrante, non mi ha minimamente convinto, il che ha influito enormemente sul giudizio, che non va oltre le 2,5 stelle. Peccato. Speravo davvero in qualcosa di più, e diciamolo: basta con Orgoglio e Pregiudizio come libro di riferimento di qualunque bibliofilo di sesso femminile! Esistono milioni di altri titoli, per cui, anche solo in nome di un minimo di originalità, citate qualcos’altro!

This new cozy series features a caterer, Allie, who finds herself investigating a murder of a dear friend. The detective involved, Zach, is someone that she is maybe dating but definitely offering unwanted thoughts and ideas.

The setting details in this story are excellent. The map and character list in the front was a nice bonus. However, I did not feel any chemistry between Allie and Zach and there are so many other characters that I did not know enough about anyone to become invested in any of the other characters. I have enjoyed a lot of books by this author so I will check out the next book in this series to see how things progress.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.