Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is a decently entertaining cozy mystery set on Chicago's South Side. I didn't get into it right away – the beginning introduces a bazillion (mostly unlikeable) characters and a ton of food talk, and I just didn't feel super invested in the plot. But as the mystery progresses and Savvy gets more and more into her sleuthing, the story really picks up and I found myself curious as to where things were headed. After all, it's not every day that someone commits murder via Viagra.

Savvy Summers is an interesting main character and her sleuthing skills are … adequate. She's no Sherlock Holmes and never quite gets the chance to figure out who the murderer is on her own – they eventually reveal themselves to her instead – but it's entertaining watching her try to piece together the mystery. I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between her and her ex-husband (and less-than-enthusiastic cop co-conspirator) Fanon, and I'd totally read a series where they attempted to solve crimes together. Her employee (and much more enthusiastic co-detective) Penny is a mixed bag, however – she's a multi-faceted character, for sure, but she also has questionable decision-making skills and does one pretty awful thing in the course of this novel that gets almost completely glossed over. And the murder suspects? Well, let's just say that some of them belong in jail whether or not they actually killed anyone.

If you're not accustomed to hearing and/or reading black English, the vernacular in this book can be a little unfamiliar at times and you might find yourself googling a phrase or two. Mostly, though, I'm just confused as to why Savvy is constantly calling people by their first and last names. I mean, at one point she's thinking about her children and calls them both first name – last name in her head, and she's forever calling Penny and Fanon by their full names. It isn't a huge deal, but it did take me out of the story a little whenever it happened.

Overall, though, Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is an entertaining murder mystery that will keep you guessing … or it kept me guessing, at least, as I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end. It isn't an Agatha Christie novel with sweeping twists and turns that will blow you away, but it is a fun story set in an amazing city with a diverse cast of characters. If you generally enjoy cozy mysteries in an urban setting, there's a good chance that you'll enjoy this one too. 3.65 stars, rounded up.

Many thank to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is July 29, 2025.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes was a fun cozy mystery although difficult to get into at first. The book begins at a celebration with so many different characters to keep track of, not knowing if any of them are really all that important. Savvy herself was a fun character and the story was clever. I'm just not sure I'd read a second book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm DNFing this book 25%. The story isn't really remotely interesting. I feel like the other should have maybe written about the death of the FMC's parents as a murder instead of a bum furnace. There wasn't enough real build up to make us feel SOMETHING about the character that DID die, so I have no emotions either way? If that makes sense

thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book

I really enjoyed Savvy Summers and being immersed in her world for a while. What a great cozy mystery with a few twists and many red herrings. I loved all the characters and I felt like the pace was good. If you are looking for a fun and quick read, give this one a try.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book & would recommend it to read. I did feel that it drug on a bit at times, but still kept my interest to continue on.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes introduces readers to Savvy, a woman in her 60s who has opened her own kitchen in Woodlawn, Illinois, and finds herself playing amateur detective when murders start cropping up in her community. This book excels in characterization, bringing to life a vibrant, deeply familiar cast that feels like they’ve stepped right out of a Black family gathering.

One of the strongest elements of the novel is its rich, colorful characters. From Savvy’s standout sous-chef, Penny Lopez, to her ex-husband Fannin, these personalities are so vivid you can practically hear their voices. Even the suspects she investigates feel distinct and full of life—which makes the core mystery even more frustrating.

Where the novel struggles is pacing and exposition. The story is weighed down by excessive details, often unrelated to the mystery. For instance, Savvy’s habit of mentally correcting grammar due to her past as an English teacher is a recurring detail that doesn’t add much to the narrative. Similarly, her children are mentioned but never developed, and her last ex-husband’s passing is briefly acknowledged before being brushed aside. Her frequent Aunt Essie quotes also lack meaningful connection, making them feel like filler rather than a compelling narrative device.

The result is a mystery that takes far too long to unfold. The book could easily be 25-30% shorter, and by the time the crime is resolved, it feels underwhelming. The most dynamic characters are underutilized when it comes to solving the case, leaving the ending feeling flat instead of satisfying.

That said, there’s a fantastic book buried in here with some solid editing. The characters and setting are charming, authentic, and full of potential. If the exposition is tightened, and the pacing is improved, this could become a standout cozy mystery. I’d love to see how the final, polished version turns out!

A cozy murder mystery set in a soul food cafe in Chicago. Lots of bad men doing bad things and Savvy has to solve the murders. An interesting take.

Thank-you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This murder mystery included a great deal of character development and history. The main character was likeable and had a complicated backstory with a favorable outcome.

At times it seemed I was reading a script. This would translate well into a movie.

Four ⭐️

3.5 ⭐

This was a fun debut cozy mystery. There were times it did feel a bit slow and there were a lot a lot of characters to keep track off. But I enjoyed reading it especially with all the food mentioned.

I loved that there were recipes included from the story at the end and can't wait to try to make them soon!

A cozy mystery novel full of suspense. I enjoyed the story snd the representation of this book. That is always important to me when reading. I did find the beginning a bit slow to start, but with a lot of mysteries you have to build the plot and that takes time.

Thank you Netgally for this e-ARC
Pub Date: Jul 29 2025

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes was a delightful mystery with a perfect mix of humor, heart, and suspense. Savvy is a fantastic protagonist—quick-witted, determined, and relatable, especially as she navigates the challenges of keeping her soul food café afloat while solving a murder. The small-town setting and quirky characters, like her assistant manager Penny, added so much charm to the story. The mystery itself kept me guessing, and I loved the unexpected twists. It was a fun, fast-paced read that I couldn’t put down! Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of sass and soul.

Rating: 3.5 rolled up to 4

This book sets itself apart from the other cozy mysteries in a few ways. It is set in the South Side of Chicago with a divorced and widowed 50s Black woman as the main character, you know off the bat this will not be your typical mystery, just in case you didn’t get it from the title. Unlike other cozy mysteries that dribble the character backstories throughout the series, we are given a lot of it upfront character development. Keep that in mind as you read and wonder “when are they going to get to the investigating”. Plus there isn’t a love triangle, though there is some will she/won’t she.

A minor thing for me was the dialogue for Savvy didn’t seem to match the person show would correct others (if only in her head) due to her past career as an English teacher.

The ending was a bit of a surprise but as I look back it is not out of the realm of possibilities, just wasn’t one I thought of.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MinotaurBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

This was good but a little slow for me. I liked the setting and cooking background - those type cozies are always a must read for me. This was a fun one - great title.

The title of this one alone is what actually had me picking up this cozy food mystery but once I realized Savvy Summers was the name of the heroine I knew that I had to read and that I wouldn't be disappointed. I wasn't and I loved the book.

This was very interesting : the language. was hard for this white girl to read but I muddled Thue. Good story line . Guess family is the same for all of us humans. I'll read another book by author! But I like sweet Potato Pie!

First in a new culinary cozy series.

Savvy Summers runs a soul food cafe & when Grandy Jaspers, a 75yr old regular at her cafe dies there--right after she catered an event for Grandy & his wife of 50 years & people start blaming her food, Savvy figures she better find out what's up before her beloved business goes belly up.
Add in a secondary plot-line about urban development & purchasing of all the plots of land surrounding Savvy's cafe & this was a very busy title-sometimes a bit too busy.

There were lots of characters to keep track of between the main mystery, the secondary mystery and adding Savvy's ex-husband to the mix with a will she/won't she get back together with him. I'm voting for 'won't she' myself as much as I liked the ex as a character.

The mystery kept me guessing all the way to the end which was a big plus as I was shocked by the reveal but not in a OMG can you believe the author pulled that BS. It was believable & satisfying & I was glad the bad guy or guys (not to give anything away) got their just desserts.

I'll be looking for the next in the series for sure!

Thanks to St Martins/Minotaur & netgalley for a review copy.

I love mystery stories like this! Love! I did feel like there was some character soup going on at times but I was still captivated by the story and enjoying the reveal at the end.

A light hearted mystery that is set in South side of Chicago. But when a neighbor mysterious and suddenly dies the town is set into a flurry.

This was a fun mystery! I felt this debut was well written and mysterious enough to keep me reading. Thanks for this opportunity!

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is a new cozy series with a sassy and interesting protagonist in her fifties. Savvy Summers opened Essie's soul food cafe in Chicago and serves up some tasty sweet potato pies to her customers. When not one but two of her regulars drop dead and people try to link it to her sweet potato pies, Savvy begins to investigate for herself to save her business from ruin. The characters are fun and feel like your real people you want as friends. The mystery catches your attention and keeps you hooked for an entertaining cozy debut. This is definitely a series I would check out future books in. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.