Unfortunately this was a DNF for me around 25%. This did not feel like a first in a series for me. We are rushed into the story and so many things are thrown at us at once, but there isn't really any scene setting or introduction to what's going on. The character furiously rushes all around town in just the first few scenes and so many characters and their relationships are throw at us quickly all at once. There is a murder before we even know the character or how we are supposed to feel. I could not get into this one.

Unfortunately this author is just not for me.

Murder on the Page is the debut of a new series by Daryl Wood Gerber and it is an enjoyable and pleasant cozy mystery. The characters are likable and the suspense is minimal. Allie Catt owns a bakery, Dream Cuisine. Her best friend Tegan works at her Aunt Marigold's bookstore. They are a wonderful duo, both as friends and sleuthing partners. Allie and Detective Zach Armstrong have some chemistry. Aunt Marigold ends up dead holding a copy of Pride and Prejudice and the death is suspicious. The culprit isn't a surprise but there is enough going on I wasn't completely sure. There is a Cast of Characters at the beginning so I expected to be hit with a lot of characters fairly quickly but they are introduced a few at a time as the story unfolds. Allie helps out at the bookstore which adds to the story. Most of the suspects had secrets, were lying or omitted information which kept Allie busy trying to sort through. She has common sense for the most part. It is a fairly relaxing cozy mystery.
#MurderOnThePage #NetGalley #Kensington #DarylWoodGerber

3.5 upped to 4
I'm a fan of this author and I love the Fairy Garden series. I was very happy to be able to read the ARC of this new series and I was expecting a very solid mystery.
I think there's a lot of potential in this series as the setting is lovely and the mystery kept me guessing and it's well plotted.
I wasn't a fan of the MC that I found a bit too harsh and a bit not 26-yrs-old. My impression is the she's taking herself too seriously and some more lightness would surely make her more likable.
I'm curious about the next instalment as I'm sure that I will be more fun.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Allie Catt is a caterer and book lover in Asheville, North Carolina. When long-time friend Marigold is found dead in her beloved bookstore, both Allie & her Marigold's niece Tegan are devastated. Marigold had been clutching a copy of Pride and Prejudice. Is this a clue? When Tegan becomes a prime suspect in Marigold's death, Allie is determined to help her BFF find the real killer. Besdies sleuthing, Allie decides to organize a literary memorial for Marigold with foods & historical dress from the Pride & Prejudice era.

This is a promising start to a new cozy series combining books and food.

Murder on the Page is the first book in Daryl Wood Gerber's new Literary Dining Mystery series. I like the concept of this new series: a bookish caterer planning a literary-themed dinner party.

The book is well-executed. The cover looks great. The sleuth is an interesting character with an exciting profession. She has complex family relationships, a quirky best friend, a potential boyfriend, and a backstory. The mystery is suspenseful, and the culprit is difficult to identify. There are lots of Pride and Prejudice references and a fantastic collection of recipes at the end. The setting in picturesque North Carolina, the cute cat, and the brilliantly named businesses around town make the book feel very cozy.

I really liked Murder on the Page and can't wait to read more in this series.

Thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for the Advanced Reader Copy. All views are my own.

I am extremely familiar with the pace and style of Daryl Wood Gerber's writing, and I was thrilled with this new series. 'Murder on the Page' engaged me from the first moment, particularly with the quotes from Pride and Prejudice. The cast of characters is vast, as is normal with this author, but as the series progresses one happily will become acquainted and comfortable with all of them. The mystery was sharp and had me guessing. There is the promise of romance between Zach and Allie, and complex family relationships that are fun to grow with. I am anxious for the next in the Literary Dining Mystery Series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Maya has returned to Princeton for her college reunion—it’s been a decade since she graduated, and she is looking forward to seeing old faces and reminiscing about her time there. This visit is special because Maya will also be attending the graduation of her little sister, Naomi.
But what should have been a dream weekend becomes Maya’s worst nightmare when she receives the news that Naomi is dead. The police are calling it an accident, but Maya suspects that there is more to the story than they are letting on. As Maya pieces together what happened in the months leading up to her sister’s death, she begins to realize how much Naomi hid from her. Despite Maya’s warnings, Naomi had joined Sterling Club, the most exclusive social club on campus—the same one Maya belonged to. And if she had to guess, Naomi was likely tapped for the secret society within it. The more Maya uncovers, the more terrified she becomes that Naomi’s decision to follow in her footsteps might have been what got her killed. Because Maya’s time at Princeton wasn’t as wonderful as she’d always made it seem.

I was amazed that this was the first adult novel by the author. The depth of her writing and characters was really good as was the description of college life. I kept wondering how the two stories would finally merge as I knew that they would and thought the author handled it very well. I hope she writes more novels. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book but found it a bit uneven especially in the beginning. I definitely did not get the killer right. I do wonder how she gets so much baking done by herself, it really doesn’t seem possible. #MurderonthePage #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Murder On The Page" an new series debut by Daryl Wood Gerber.
I really, really wanted to like this book. I really did. But I had a real problem with some elements of it. Mainly, the lengthy Dramatis Personae. There were just so many characters - too many to keep track of. As well, the author seemed to want to rush to establish all of the ties between them.
I read a lot of 'cozy' mystery series, and my favourite ones are those where the main characters are introduced, and then more are added as the series progresses. I really don't need to know all of them at once.
At it's heart, this is a good mystery involving a death/murder at a book store run by friends of the main character, who is a caterer, who gets involved in the investigation. But I just found myself drowning in extraneous information.

This is a good start to a new and exciting series. I haven’t read any cozies by Ms. Gerber as of yet, so I am glad this book was penned by such a talented author. I love cozy mysteries, and anything book store and/or library themed, so this was right up my alley. There are several characters within the town of Asheville, North Carolina, so I had to try to keep all the players straight. However, as the first installment it is sometimes necessary to provide the framework and the cast of characters that the readers will become closer to in the subsequent books. That excluded, I enjoyed the pacing, the murder mystery, and the main characters, Allie Catt (yep that is right). Loved it

I'm a huge fan of Daryl Wood Gerber's fairy garden cozy series so I was excited to read “Murder on the Page,” the first book in her literary dining mystery series.

It follows Allie Catt a caterer is the outskirts of Asheville, who has a love of books and her cat Darcy. Allie is preparing for an event at her beloved local bookshop when she discovers the body of its owner. Her best friend Teagen is the niece of the deceased and is set to inherit the shop and much of her extensive wealth and property. This puts her under suspicion from local police and Allie is prepared to use her deductive skills from years of mystery reading to help find the real killer.

A great new modern cozy series that has a touch of romance and some strong female characters. I look forward to the next in the series. I adored the book cover as well.

This is a wonderful start to what promises to be a great cozy mystery series. Allie is a literature buff/caterer/all around great friend. When her friend, Tegan, is accused of killing her beloved aunt, Allie is left with no choice but to do a little sleuthing and uncover the real killer. Hopefully before she is hurt, permanently!
Loved the characters, the bits of literature scattered within, and perhaps a budding romance? Looking forward to reading more.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Daryl Wood Gerber has another hit on her hands with the first in her new Literary Dining Mystery Series – Murder on the Page! Caterer Allie has to solve the murder when her bestie’s (Tegan) aunt is killed in her bookshop – and Tegan is under suspicion. Combining classic literature with catering sounds like a fun premise, and the characters are interesting – I’m definitely looking forward to reading more Allie cozies! A+++

** “Marigold said mysteries were life lessons. Paying attention to clues and attributing motives would help us solve problems throughout our lives.” **

Daryl Wood Gerber delivers a fun new cozy mystery with “Murder on the Page,” the first installment in her Literary Dining Mystery series.

Caterer Allie Catt is preparing for an event at her friend’s bookshop, when a horrific event occurs. She joins forces with her best friend Tegan, the niece of the bookshop’s owner, to look into what happened, how it happened and why.

As the two work through a long list of suspects and motives, Allie finds herself drawn to Police Detective Zach Armstrong. Will he accept her help or resent her involvement?

Wood Gerber does a great job of creating a fun yet suspenseful plot, filled with both drama and laugh-out-loud moments. She creates cheeky and quirky characters, including an adorable cat named Darcy. It is also a story that celebrates friendship, never giving up, finding courage, and believing in one’s self.

Fans of cozy mysteries, books like Katherine Reay’s “Of Literature and Lattes” and authors like Joanne Fluke and JoAnna Carl will love “Murder on the Page,” which is due out Oct. 22.

Five stars out of five.

Kensington Cozies provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Allie Cat is a caterer in Asheville, NC who uses her clients' favorite books to inspire the food for the event. Her first event is based on Pride and Prejudice. Her business is booming so her rival caterer is her best friend's sister. When she is one of the first on the scene of a suspicious death her rival is quick to point a finger at Allie. Allie has to clerk her name and help solve the murder of her friend's beloved aunt.

This is a great start to a new series by Daryl Wood Gerber. Mrs. Gerber is great a spinning an entertaining unique cozy mystery. The characters are likable, interesting, and have great chemistry. The theme is great mixing food, literature, a bookstore, and an adorable pet. The mystery is well-written with plenty of twists and turns. Mrs Gerber knows how to plot a mystery to keep the storyline moving at a great pace and keep the reader in suspense with well-placed misdirections.

All thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced by anyone.

An entertaining start to a new series by this well-established cozy author. The cast of characters is interesting, the setting familiar with a twist and a solid mystery make for a great whodunnit. Can Allie Catt (yes, her real name) caterer and bookstore partner follow the clues to discover the culprit in time to save herself and others? Not to let the “Catt” out of the bag, but I hope for more installments, sooner rather than later.

Daryl Wood Gerber introduces her new Literary Dining Mystery series with Murder on the Page, set in the Asheville NC area. Allie Catt (what were her parents thinking?) gave up her dream of becoming an English teacher to launch a career as a caterer and event planner, but she never lost her love of classic literature. So when her aunt, a Jane Austen fan, meets an unexpected demise, Alley can't think of a better way to memorialize her than with a Pride and Prejudice-themed event, complete with costumes and period-appropriate refreshments. She also can't help joining in the investigation into her aunt's death led by the attractive local detective, Zach.

There are quite a few characters introduced, as frequently occurs in the first book in a series. but I wish the author had taken more time to flesh out the primary characters--including Allie and her best friend (and prime suspect) Tegan--to make them more engaging. We know that Allie has lost a fiancé and that her parents were never role models, and we are told Tegan's husband has been cheating, but for me it isn't enough to make them relatable. A burgeoning romance between Allie and Zach is not convincing--yet. However, I am a loyal fan of the author's other series--most recently her Fairy Garden series --so I will give the next book in the new series a try.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book..

Just finished - thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, for providing a prerelease ARC to read and review. This 319-page cozy mystery (Kindle edition) will hit the market 10/22/24.

This is my first read by the experienced cozy mystery author, Daryl Wood Gerber, and the start of a new series, featuring Allie Catt, a baker /caterer in Asheville, NC. Allie stumbles onto the murder of her best friend Tegan's aunt, right in the middle of Tegan's bookstore. The aunt is clutching a copy of Pride and Prejudice - is it a clue?????

We have a whole group of small town characters who have known each other forever. Plus a budding friendship, or is it a romance, with the local detective. Allie is determined to investigate the murder herself, even at the possible expense of this relationship.

This is a charming book and will be well-loved by cozy-mystery fans. There are several recipes included at the end, which sound great. I'm wondering if future books in the series will each feature a different classic novel. 4-stars.

I don't think this book was for me. I found the characters irritating. The writing style clunky and young. And the overall mystery a bit boring. I had to force myself to keep on reading. Not for me.

Murder on the Page is the first in the Literary Dining Mystery series by Daryl Wood Gerber. Set in Asheville, NC, this book is a charming slice of the South mixed with mystery, books, and food. The main character, Allie Catt, is very relatable. Who hasn't wanted to give up their hectic job to strike out on their own doing what they love? The murder of a dear friend drives Allie to dive into investigation to get some justice. While she investigates, the reader gets a great introduction to Asheville and its residents. This makes for a great backdrop for the new series. The plot has twists and turns as more motives, alibis, and secrets are uncovered. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

All opinions in this review are my own.