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 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.

Between her baking business and the book store, Allie is a super busy woman. Now add detective to the list. When her beloved mentor is found dead Allie and her best friend Tegan try to find out who killed Tegan's aunt. Allie pesters suspects and the police detective alike, looking for clues. I'm afraid she has a little bit too much imagination and enthusiasm. She is not making points with the handsome detective!

I sat down eager to read Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber which is the debut of A Literary Dining Mysteries. There are a number of characters introduced in the beginning and it took me a while to keep them all straight. Allie Catt is a talented chef and avid reader. The mystery was interesting, but Allie needs to work on her sleuthing techniques (it is her first murder). There were plenty of clues to help readers solve the crime. We get a play-by-play of Allie’s daily activities, how she made each dish, and what each person wore (down to their boots). These details felt like filler since they did not contribute to the story (you may find yourself envying a pair of boots). The food descriptions will have your mouth watering. Pride and Prejudice fans will enjoy the references to that tale as well as the quotes. The beginnings of a romance between Allie and a certain someone lacked believability. We will have to wait and see what happens in the next A Literary Dining Mystery. Murder on the Page is a curious culinary cozy with busy bookstore, gastronomic triumphs, a dead friend, a rival caterer, a cold detective, curious clues, a revealing will, and a plucky chef.

Meet Allie Catt, yes, her parents named her that, caterer and book lover living in Asheville, NC. Her bestie Tegan works at her aunt’s book shop. When Tegan’s aunt is murdered the duo join forces to find the culprit. Being the first in a series there’s lots of new characters to meet and places to see. I look forward to seeing where this series goes. Definitely a not to miss read.

I love other books by Daryl Wood Gerber so I was excited to try this new first in a series, and I wasn't disappointed.

Allie Catt is a self employed caterer and personal chef in Asheville, North Carolina. She lives with her cat, Darcy. His name comes from Pride and Prejudice, one of her favorite books. Her bestie, Tegan shares her love of books and works at her auntie's bookstore. Their world is upended when her auntie is murdered and Tegan is considered a suspect.

I loved the book and the characters, although it was pretty easy to guess the killer. No matter, it was still a good read.

The recipes at the end are an added bonus!

have enjoyed Daryl Wood Gerber's other series so much, and I couldn't wait to read the first book in her newest Literary Dining Mysteries series . Murder on the Page is the first in what I hope will be a long running series.

In a small town near Asheville, N Carolina, Allie Catt is living her dream of building a catering business in her hometown. Her childhood bestie works with her Aunt at a nearby bookstore---together. they investigate a murder that shocks their small town.

The blending of books, quotes, and yummy food works well with the engaging characters, the quick pace, and the mystery. My first choice turned out to be correct, but I enjoyed the hunt for the culprit all the same. Added to all this is the budding of a possible romantic relationship and several tasty recipes! I am already looking forward to book two.

Thank you to #NetGally, #KensingtonPublishing #KensingtonCozies for sending the advance reader copy for me to read in consideration of review. I recommend this book to others who enjoy a fast-paced mystery, culinary mysteries, or book lover mysteries.

#MurderonthePage #NetGalley #DarylWoodGerber

Asheville caterer Allie Catt throws themed parties based on classic books. When her friend’s aunt is murdered, and her friend is the prime suspect, Allie uses her literary knowledge and detective skills to solve the crime before another “course” of murder is served. This is a clever and well-paced mystery with likable characters and a literary theme.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

MURDER ON THE PAGE is the first book in the Literary Dining Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. As I wrote my review, I couldn’t help but grieve over the destruction wrought on the charming town of Asheville, North Carolina, by Hurricane Helene, the setting for this new series. Ms. Gerber’s strong descriptive voice brings the town and the surrounding area to life—before disaster hit—and gives the reader a glimpse at the appeal of the area while the brave residents of that region rebuild. Focusing on the fictional side as portrayed in the book, I appreciate even more the care the author took to help the reader experience the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the area. She’s filled the book with delicious food, delightful characters (how can you not love a cat named Darcy?!), books—lots and lots of books—and a puzzling mystery to solve. With the literary theme, I enjoyed the opening Jane Austin quotes at the beginning of each chapter, along with real life mysteries that readers will want to make a note of and check out. The protagonist, Allie Cat, is a caterer and personal chef. Running your own business takes a strong person, and Allie definitely possess strength…which unfortunately sometimes verges on the edge of pushiness. But she gets things done and is there to support her friends in their time of need…like when a beloved aunt is murdered.

After Allie stumbles across the body of her best friend’s aunt in the local bookstore, and when said friend, Tegan is viewed as a suspect, Allie gets to work to prove her innocence. Ms. Gerber’s tightly plotted mystery has clues for the armchair detective to follow, but what I truly adored was Allie’s investigations made use of literary detectives, from the classics to modern day mysteries. (My list of books to read grew reading Murder on the Page!) Despite it being a “locked room” mystery, Allie is tenacious for certain. She refuses to let any setbacks slow her down and uses all her resources, like her potential relationship with the local detective, to find answers.

Thank you Daryl Wood Gerber ( @darylwoodgerber ), Kensington Publishing ( @kensingtonbooks ), and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read Murder on the Page early (publishes October 22, 2024).

The first in a new series, we meet Allie Catt, caterer, whose client (Marigold) is murdered. With her best friend, Tegan (the clients’s niece), a suspect, Allie investigates to clear her friend.

I loved this book!! It was so charming. I really liked Allie and her spunk. Really all of the supporting characters were great too. I can tell that I’m going to be invested in those close to Allie, especially the relationship between Allie and detective Zach Armstrong.

#MurderonthePage #NetGalley #DarylWoodGerber #KensingtonPublishing

"This delectably intriguing new series debut from one of the queens of cozy mysteries features a caterer who crafts literary-themed dinner parties - and must ensure that a killer gets their just desserts...

It's a truth universally acknowledged that a genuinely top-notch party must be in want of a theme. Allie Catt, caterer and personal chef in the beautiful mountain community of Asheville, North Carolina, has devised a winning formula by using her clients' favorite books as inspiration. Her first themed event is based on Pride and Prejudice (Allie's cat, Darcy, approves), and it's so popular that soon she has grand ideas for future parties based on Rebecca, The Great Gatsby, Babette's Feast and more.

Business is booming, and a rival catering company is fuming. But there's a sting in the tale when the aunt of one of Allie's clients and best friends, Tegan, is murdered. Tegan is the victim's sole heir, and quickly becomes the main suspect. Allie has no doubts about her friend's innocence, but how to prove it?

Once again, her love of literature comes to the rescue, and with some guidance from her favorite fictional detectives, including Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, Allie sifts through the clues.

With a little luck - and the kind of pluck that would make Elizabeth Bennett proud - she may be able to stop a killer from serving up a second course of murder..."

I am really wondering how you'd stage a Rebecca themed dinner... A glowering housekeeper and showing up in the wrong outfit and crying in another room?