An absolutely delightful mystery with a really great FMC and a cast of supporting characters who all believably could have committed the crime but also are likable enough that you kind of hope they didn’t! The North Carolina setting is super cozy and I love the addition of the recipes in the back because those butterscotch cookies sound amazing!

This book suffers from the first book in a series syndrome. At times, the story got bogged down by the world building setup and character introductions. The mystery was engaging.

North Carolina, recipes, relatives, new-series, first-in-series, ghost-kitchens, amateur-sleuth, dumped, pet-cat, ex-military, local-law-enforcement, frenemy, friends, bookseller, caterer, unpleasant-suspect, unpleasant-relative, murder, investigation, baker*****

Allie Catt has recently returned to her hometown in North Carolina after a bad breakup with her fiancé. She runs a ghost kitchen and is supportive of her BFF Tegan who runs a book shop with her mom, aunt, and sister. Tegan's aunt is murdered and her rather obnoxious cousin accuses her of doing the deed. So Allie sets about to find the real motive and the real killer. A respectable collection of plot twists and several very sneaky red herrings later...I got to go to sleep.
Good pacing and a decent assortment of really nice characters (including the town Police Detective).
The story is interspersed Jane Austin quotes.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Publishing via NetGalley. Thanks!
#LiteraryDiningMysteriesBk1 Avail 10/22/2024

A brand new series by a favorite mystery author of mine... her latest cozy series, based on North Carolina, where Allie Catt, runs her sorta-pop-up dining establishment and support a bestie who runs a book shop with her mom, aunt, and sister. Drama ensues when the aunt is killed (sad, I know) and everyone is a suspect. Great way to combine books and baking, plus a lovely town as the backdrop. I enjoyed getting the know new characters, and as a first in series, lots of nuggets dropped. It's got potential, and I will read the next one.

This was such a an enjoyable cozy mystery, it had multiple characters I liked, a setting full of small town charm and a murder to solve. Allie Catt is a baker building a catering clientele in a picturesque North Carolina town. Don’t ask how hungry I stayed while reading about all her creations. My mouth watered and my stomach growled, I could smell the aroma from the pages. There’s even recipes included! Allie’s a cat person, too, I instantly adored her. There’s a handy cast of characters included which is most useful. The passages and inspiration from Pride and Prejudice scattered throughout retain their value. The Bookshop is a place you’d want to get lost in, catch up with neighbors and friends and the latest gossip. I hadn’t read this author before, I was impressed by the series debut and look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Kensington Publishing (Via NetGalley) For providing an Advance Reader Copy of Murder on the Page, A Literary Dining Mystery, by Daryl Wood Gerber. Expected publication 10/22/2024.

#MurderonthePage #NetGalley is the first in a new series by the talented Daryl Wood Gerber. I've read most of the authors other books, so diving into #MurderonthePage was a delight.
Allie and Tegan are bright characters, and their friendship proved strong throughout the book.
When Tegan's Aunt Marigold is found dead in her bookstore, Tegan becomes the main suspect. Allie knows her bestie would never kill, especially her own aunt, so she dives deep to uncover the truth.
I found this book to be well done, especially for the first in a new series. There's always a lot going on, and many characters to meet, but the author made it easy to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
I'm looking forward to recommending this book to others.

Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber is an entertaining cozy mystery that is the first in a new series: A Literary Dining Mystery.

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).

I also liked the Pride and Prejudice references and quotes…very cute. I look forward to the next book.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/22/24.