Public Anchovy #1

PUBLIC ANCHOVY #1 (Book 3 in Deep Dish Mysteries) by Mindy Quigly
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, 320 pages
4****

Blurb: Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in Mindy Quigley's delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria. While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move. But Delilah’s hopes of perfecting a new “free-from” pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too.

Thoughts: Agatha Christie did the original people stranded with a killer and no way to get out story (“And Then There Were None”), and the plot has been done multiple times in books and movies since then. This book is one of those stories – but with a twist—a cat with “swipe at you from hiding places” tendencies. Butterball the cat is a vital part of this story. In this third book, Delilah and her crew are catering a high-end event. One of the attendees ends up dead and thus begins the problems. While most of the guests make it out of the mansion, several are trapped there by a bad storm that brings down trees and isolates them from outside help. Fortunately, police detective Calvin Capone is there—something Delilah is happy about. Maybe this time, she can break through the stoic cop’s stiff outside.

Oh, and there are some amazing recipes—including a gluten free pizza one that I am looking forward to trying.

Recommendation: Yes! But I suggest you read the previous two books in the series first so you have a better grasp of the personalities and their relationships.

Disclaimer: Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Delilah and her crew are all ready to cater a party to benefit the library at a gorgeous mansion on Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Things start to go wrong when a last-minute menu request from a guest throws Delilah behind schedule, and her cat, Butterball, stows away in the mixer box. But somehow, the meal seems to come together, that is until there is a dead body and Butterball might be responsible.
When a storm traps Delilah and her staff, some of the guests,and Detective Calvin Capone for the night, things go from bad to worse. Calvin is just trying to keep everyone alive while Delilah wants to know whodunnit. This was a fun cozy with some delicious recipes at the end. Some great characters, a plot that kept me guessing, and a potential killer cat all combined to make this an enjoyable read. I’m already looking forward to the next book.Oh, and perhaps Calvin and Delilah will finally admit to the attraction between them.

Deep dish culinary cozy series
I was thrilled to see this one up on Netgalley. I've enjoyed the first two and was sure this one would also hit the mark...and I was right. This thoroughly enjoyable cozy brings intrigue with a hint of romance to new levels. Trapped in a house with friends and strangers during a storm...and a body sets a high mark to hit and Ms. Quigley hits every one and more. I highly recommend to any reader looking for an enjoyable read.
I received an ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

"Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mystery #3)" by Mindy Quigley is your classic everyone-stuck-overnight-with-a-murder-mystery-in-the-house type of cozy mystery. The gang is all set to cater a big fancy fundraiser and of course things aren't going perfectly. Before they can even get past the appetizers, someone is found dead. Then the weather stops a handful of the guests from leaving. Good thing Detective Capone just happened to be at the party. The mystery goes all over the place and I really had no good guesses for who did it. I did have a decent idea for why though and that gave me my only, sort of suspect.

I have to say that the cat antics are pretty funny. They were a great bit of comic relief and at the right moments. Gotta love a funny animal or two.

#PublicAnchovy1 #NetGalley is the third book in this series.
I was thrilled to be selected to read an advanced copy of this book.
Set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, Delilah is excited to be catering a charity event, even if a guest has a very limited dietary menu.
Creating a "free from" pizza is a challenge, but with her best friend and sous chef Sonya by her side, she knows she's got this.
Things take a wrong turn when a dead body is discovered and they are all trapped in the mansion, while a storm rages outside.
Delilah knows she shouldn't poke her nose into the investigation, but she can't resist, and with hunky police detective Calvin Capone by her side, she knows she's in for a wild adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
I'm happy to recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a great cozy mystery. I enjoyed it and the food sounded so good.

What a dream job, catering a retro pizza gig in the home and guests of the super rich. The start and finish of the book is nice, calm and normal catering story. In between makes me think of the old Clue movie where the clues are sketchy and the people run around without clear thought. That made me smile. Jumping from thing to thing while chasing a cat. Delightful. May not be what the author intended but I just found it a cute mystery with wonderful characters. So Much Fun!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Delilah's next catering job is anything but easy. When a body is found, she has to remain on the scene. This book was an enjoyable read.

I adore this series! I'm a huge cozy mystery fan, so I love the way they are written. This series is written different...but in such a good way. It's a lot more in depth. Public Anchovy #1 was a great locked-door mystery that had so much happening, in the best way. And I love Butterball!!

This quickly became a favorite series featuring some of my favorite things – pizza, cats and a murder mystery. And what could be more apropos for the scene of a murder than a costume themed fundraiser supporting the local Public library. Delilah and her bestie, Sonya, are catering the jazz era soiree. In all the chaos of transporting equipment and food supplies Delilah’s beloved cat, Butterball, was also packed up. The hostess also has a beautiful cat and bedlam ensues. Delilah’s crush on Detective Calvin Capone (yes, THAT lineage) hasn’t waned, nor is it progressing. Little does she know he’ll be accompanying his mother, the featured entertainment songstress for the event. The Wisconsin weather is threatening storms on the nearby lake. Before the night has ended all the staff, the hostess and guests will be sequestered in a locked house, unable to leave, possibly with one or more killers. There is dissent within the library board members. Before all the dinner courses are even served, someone literally falls to their death. Delilah is not restrained enough to keep out of investigating despite Calvin’s warnings. I was totally stumped trying to identify the perpetrator. There is innuendo, hidden messages, clues and subtext. There are motives ranging from greed, affairs to unrequited love and jealousy.
Delilah and her pizzeria staff are all interesting, diverse with backstories you want to know more about. I couldn’t wait to catch up with their lives. Of course if I’m being honest, the true hero and star of the story is Butterball. The only spoiler alert I have is the recipes, they are to die for and we will make your mouth water! I’ve never had the pleasure of eating a genuine Chicago deep dish or tasting their giardiniera, I know I’d love it! All the ingredients of good mystery are in the story. I hope there will be many more in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley, Mindy Quigley and St. Martins Press for the digital advance reader copy of “Public Anchovy #1” Deep Dish Mysteries #3. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I have read the previous two books in this series so that helps, but really it works great as a standalone book too.
The mystery action was really good. Trapped in a mansion overnight with a killer or killers, while trying to focus on good food. The only part I had an issue with was Sonya not being more upset that someone had tried to kill her.

Another fantastic installment! I've loved all of these books, and the series keeps getting better and better. Delilah and Sonia have a great rapport, and I love seeing more of the residents of this small town. I like the way Delilah's relationship is progressing with the police officer, too. Overall, a very solid book.

The ending was a bit Scooby Doo, but I happen to like Scooby Doo. If you don't mind a little over-the-top ridiculousness in your cozies, you'll enjoy this book.

Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for the chance to read this advanced copy!

Hands down, the best in the series thus far! A real whodunit story with a vibe of Clue. Set in an old restored mansion, cut off from the world by a storm makes an awesome setting. Looking forward to the next in the series.

restauranteur, caterer, friendship, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, Wisconsin, pizza, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, pet-cat, chef, local-law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, multi-generational, murder-investigation, control-freak, recipes, verbal-humor, situational-humor, fund-raisers*****

It all happens in a wealthy small town in southern Wisconsin where the top cop is very law-abiding descendant of Al Capone. Delilah O’Leary is catering a retro pizza fundraiser in an old restored mansion when there is an apparent murder and a damaging storm leaves some of the participants isolated (including Delilah and said police chief). Then follows some dueling sleuthing to add to the mischief! Another great read in this new series! Loved it!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Fall has come to Geneva Bay and pizza restaurant owner, Delilah O'Leary is changing her focus from serving pizzas on the lake to catering events to support her business in the off-season. Unfortunately her first big catering job, a fundraiser for the public library, ends in murder. To make matters worse, a storm has trapped them all in a lakeside mansion with no electricity until someone can clear the roads. Will they survive until morning? Or will the killer strike again?

I love this series! I love pizza, I love the lakeside setting, and the characters are wonderful. Sadly, in this book everything seemed a bit duller. Perhaps it was the macabre setting of the mansion plunged into darkness with a killer lurking about, which was a bit darker (both literally and figuratively) than the average cozy. I also really missed the restaurant and the lake and all the activity that has always surrounded Delilah and her friends and coworkers.

Overall this series is one of my new favorites. Though this wasn't my favorite of the series so far, I'm still a huge fan and look forward to continuing the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Public Anchovy #1 is book 3 in the Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley.
Ok, so now I have another cozy mystery author to look for.
The story hooked me right away and I couldn’t put it down… I read this book quickly. It was like once I started I didn’t want to stop. I have to say this has been one of the better ones I’ve read here lately.
This was a great little mystery with likable characters, an interesting setting, and a twisty plot.
I loved the small town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin.
And the characters here were absolutely delightful. Delilah O’Leary is the main character, but the additional characters even the cat made this book amazing.
The characters and social situation have an air of authenticity to them it was so nice seeing the way they interacted.
I’m going to keep my eyes open for the fourth title because this was a super fun story.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

I was extremely excited to receive the ARC of this book, as I have already read and thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books in the series. One of the best things about this series is that each book can be read as a standalone. One of the most prominent characters in the book is Butterball, a cat, and I was thrilled to see how he featured in the story.

The plot follows the classic mystery trope of a group of people being trapped in a mansion with a killer on the loose. However, the author puts a fresh spin on the story by setting it at a roaring 20s-themed party, which adds to the fun. Butterball's antics add a touch of whimsy to the story.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.

Deliah and friends are back in a fun winter theme cozy that is reminscent of Agatha Christie and great fun to read. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. This is the third release in this fun foodie theme series.

This is a perfect winter theme cozy with a fund raiser for the library in a mansion. Deliah is catering hoping to save her declining business of her pizza restuarant through the bad weather. Her favorite police detective is in charge of music for the event and she is hoping to connect with him as her romantic interest. Unknow to Deliah her cat Butterball is a stow away for the evening and brings humor and fun with his antics. He does create chaos at the event with the hostess cat that has this reader laughing out loud.

The night takes a turn with everyone trapped due to weather and a murder that has everyone asking "whodoneit".? With suspicion abounds and clues along with many red herrings Deliah is hoping to solve this murder and endear herself to her crush as well as save her business. A fun read with great returning characters and the wonderful cat that adds to the fun. Receipes included are scrumptious and fun additions to your kitchen. I look forward to the next in series. This is a winning cozy series with humor, fun, great sleuthing and wonderful supporting characters.

A great cast of characters. Delilah is a funny and clever protagonist. I loved her crew, especially her best friend, Sonya. The plot was an intriguing mystery that had a closed room mystery feel about it. A great side note was the budding romance between Delilah and Detective Capone. The author’s writing was full and robust, and she kept the story moving at a quick pace.

Bonus, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book. All mentioned, in detail, in the story.

Even tho this was book three in the series, you can read this first and not feel lost. It was my first book by the author, and I didn’t have a hard time following the story at all.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

This is #3 in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, and I was thrilled to be selected to read and review this novel, as I had loved the first two in this series.

This is a "stuck in a big house with strangers during a bad storm" premise, and although it's a well-used trope, I still found it quite enjoyable. The cast of regular characters is wonderful, and Delilah's cat, Butterball, has a surprisingly important role, which is delightful.

With many twists, fabulous sounding recipes, and the slow burn romance simmering between Delilah and Detective Capone, there is a lot of good reading here for cozy mystery fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This story reminds me of a game of clue. Who did it, with what, and in what room? I read this story mainly because I love that area. I've visited it on occasion and could relate to the description. It's a fun and twisty who done it. The characters are very likable, even the cat! Delilah owns a pizzeria and is hired by the head librarian for a Friends of the Geneva Bay Library fundraising gala, at her mansion by the lake. What can go wrong does go wrong, including a stowaway cat, bad weather closing the road out, Delilah's love interest being there, and also a killer. Who is it? Why and how? I enjoyed this fast-paced, fun, and I had some surprises and figured out others. I enjoyed the thoughtful relationships aspect and romantic thread. Yes, read it.

This was a nicely done whodunit with all the cozy elements that I love, the main protagonist, her BFF, a wickedly solid plot, a pool of suspects, and a potential love interest and the determination to solve a puzzling case. The author did a great job in presenting this well-defined mystery that kept me in the game and when I thought I had handle on the person responsible, the author did a “bait and switch” which I then became more enthralled in what was happening, especially with the surprise stowaway playing a pivotal role in the apprehension of the killer. The was a delightfully engaging tale with visually descriptive narrative that I could not put down. The outcome was very satisfying and I can’t wait for what happens next with Delilah, Son, Capone, and the rest of their friends.

Thank you NetGalley!!

Unfortunately, this is the third book in the series. I haven’t read the first two, but that’s on me I should of been more careful lol. But I really liked this book, it wasn’t too hard to follow along with the already developed storylines. I do think it took to long to get to the murder, but I liked the twist of who did it. I also loved that it had recipes in the back, it was a nice surprise. I’m interested in starting the series from the beginning.

Welcome back to Geneva Bay the home of Delilah & Son, an upscale pizza restaurant run by Delilah and Sonya. In book 3 of the Deep Dish Mystery series, Delilah and staff are hired to cater an upscale library funraiser. As the weather storms outside not one but two murders occur in the renovated mansion. A closed room mystery complete with their favorite detective Capone ensues. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The characters are so relatable and their stories are ones you experience with them. It's like coming home to family. Well written, good plot that keeps you guessing and fantastic characters - what more could you want?
#PublicAnchovy#1 Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacMillanBooks for the eARC

Delilah O'Leary is impulsive and her mouth frequently tends to operate well ahead of her brain. She loves her cat, Butterball, and her best friend Sonya, the "Son" of Delilah and Son, their pizza/food business. She also has a serious, apparently long-time crush on Detective Calvin Capone (yes, that Capone family) and is frustrated that he seems to be ignoring all the signals she's sent him of her interest. We do find out why, however, this go-round and it's actually rather touching. We also get to spend some time getting to know his mother Lola. She's also on Delilah's side.

Yes, the trope of being stranded in an isolated spot on a dark and stormy night while a killer lurks within is just that, a classic trope. Think Agatha Christie. That said, who doesn't love what's basically a good locked room mystery? While it's been awhile since I've read "And Then There Were None", I don't recall Christie's characters being quite as, well, quirky. Even after a murder, humorous bits keep creeping in, such as even in the midst of discovering a bloody murder weapon there is a great scene. I also don't think Christie's best works featured a cantankerous cat. A stowaway cat, at that. I have to admit, I did somehow see that one coming, maybe because I hoped to see Butterball play a role in the book. He is a character, that's for sure, with his own style, quirks, and ability to find and make trouble. His scene with Pamela's cat is a hoot.

All the characters are interesting, actually, and the interactions between them intriguing. Are those interactions clues to the murder of ol' fashioned Edgar Clemmons? What coded message was he trying to send to Sonya via Delilah? Why is Jarka, one of my favorite characters whose story emerges more in this book, arguing with Count Victor? Why does Biz, who appears briefly, hold a grudge against some of the suspects? What will Calvin's mom, Lola Capone, think of the humorous depiction of Al Capone in Delilah's shop? What less than subtle hint does Delilah send Calvin's way?

Oh, no more teasers. So many suspects and red herrings. I didn't really have it figured out, have to admit, though the ultimate conclusion made sense of the frequently conflicting clues, even if Delilah's hunches as fluctuated about as often as my own did. And, oh, the recipes at the end, all given in the voice of different characters. Such fun and I'm not usually one to read completely through recipes. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #StMartin'sCozies for inviting me to the party at Pamela's. Who knew Calvin Capone could play the piano, too.

Mindy Quigley’s Public Anchovy #1 is a fun locked room cozy mystery set in a vacation town during the off-season. When Delilah O’Leary accepts a catering job at a fancy library fundraiser held at a remote Geneva Bsy, Wisconsin lakefront mansion, she hopes it will kickstart her catering business and keep her pizza restaurant going through the winter months. But a series of mishaps, from a last minute special request for a free-from just about everything pizza, to a cat stowing away in the mixer box, to an impending snow storm, make her start to sweat.
Nonetheless, carried through by her crew of workers, who are really her best friends, keep her on track to likely success, until a dead body falls into the middle of everything. While Delilah tries to piece together what happened, which may have been the fault of her stowaway cat, Butterball, hunky police detective Calvin Capone, the man Delilah has been throwing herself at with no success, is trying to keep everyone safe and the crime scene as undid turned as possible. But the storm is getting worse, trapping some of the guests and all of the caterers. Then, the lights go out!
This mystery was so fun to read. And the recipes sound delicious. I can’t wait to try them.

This was a fast paced locked room cozy that had me hooked from page one! A man is murdered at a fundraiser held at an isolated mansion. A winter storm hits, the lights go out, and Delilah and her catering staff are trapped in the mansion with a killer; but which one of the wealthy guests is it? This book has likeable characters, a great plot, lots of red herrings, some romance, and a cute cat named Butterball. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one in this engaging series.

Book 3 of a cozy mystery series. Not necessary to have read previous 2 books. Good story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I love this series . This one had a lot in it . Delilah and her staff are catering a library fundraiser in one of the big old houses (spooky like). There is so much going on , with two murders and being stranded all night with these people . Delilah, of course, gets involved. This is a must read and I am not going to spoil it. There were so many suspects that I didn't figure it out til the very end. Will Delilah and Calvin get together . Check out the ending.

Set in a pizzeria in Wisconsin, this is the third in the Deep Dish Mystery Series.

Delilah O’Leary is gearing up for a prohibition themed fundraiser. Winter in Wisconsin has slowed down the pizza business, so this job is much needed.

The only sticking point is the guest who needs “free from” pizza. Has this person ever seen pizza?? But Delilah is determined to figure this out. While the temps dip into the freezing zone, the party is going gangbusters until someone ends up dead.

Now Delilah and her staff as well as the hunky Detective Capone are trapped in an old mansion looking for a killer!

Always a treat and the pizza descriptions are drool worthy!

Netgalley/ St. Martin’s Press, December 26, 2023

Delilah and her crew is catering a party for a library fundraiser when a dead body appears. I really liked this concept of being stranded in a mansion with a murderer. The entire book happens within a short period of time so there is no downtime. There is enough obfuscation to keep you guessing until the end.

This was such a fun cozy mystery! It wasn’t groundbreaking with the plot, but it was fun and I was invested in it the entire time. The characters were fun, the cats were fun, the twists and turns kept me invested!

Delilah as been asked to cater a Prohibition-themed fundraiser for the library. She has also been challenged to create a pizza with no gluten, dairy, or nightshade ingredients. As her team are getting ready to serve appetizers an older guest dies. The first questions of the night are: Was it an accident? Did her cat cause it? Was it murder?

Along with the mystery of his death, there is a big storm and several of the guests become stranded together in the mansion, possibly along with a murderer.

Just when I decided what would happen next I was proven wrong! I missed the first two books in the series. I plan to go back for those. I have already recommended this book to friends, with the caveat to wait until they've read the first two- only for continuity- this book could be a great stand-alone!

I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good cozy mystery that keeps you guessing until the end!🤍

I enjoyed all the characters. It has an intriguing plot and I always love the locked room mystery trope! And the pace was nice and quick!

Even though this is book three in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, you can read this one without reading the first two as I did. And now I’m looking forward to getting the other two!

Oh and it will definitely have you craving pizza!😂

Recommend reading this one! Pub date is December 26th!🤍

Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley was as delicious as one of Delilah’s deep dish pizzas! I loved this modern cozy mystery set at a beautiful lakeside mansion during a storm! I’ve read the previous books in the series, but think this one could be read as a standalone. I loved the pacing of this book and couldn’t put it down!

Not my typical type of book, but it was fun! I wasn’t sure what to expect but it managed to keep me hooked regardless. Truly I wrote down the recipe at the end, even though I am a Chicagoan myself 😂
A nice added touch!

Another strong outing for this mystery series! This is the third book in this series and easily read as a stand-alone. This time, it's the equivalent of the old English country house weekend, complete with crime. Delilah O’Leary is taking every reasonable job to ensure her specialty pizzeria survives the winter season. She’s catering an upscale Prohibition-era flapper party that’s a fundraiser for the local library. Thanks to a whopper of a storm, the key players are housebound on the mansion’s island when someone is discovered dead. Luckily, Delilah’s love interest, Detective Calvin Capone, is there to solve the case. That’s with Delilah’s help and that of her stowaway cat, Butterball. Great recipes and a good storyline!

PUBLIC ANCHOVY #1, written by Mindy Quigley, is the third book in the Deep Dish Mystery series. Delilah O’Leary and her Delilah & Son's crew cater a Friends of the Library fundraising gala at a Bluff Point mansion, the perfect setting for a speakeasy-themed party. When the outgoing Friends of the Library board chair turns up dead, the mystery begins.

This book is an enjoyable read, but I think the murder should have occurred earlier in the story. The characters are interesting, especially Detective Calvin Capone (a descendant of Al Capone) and his mother, Lola. I look forward to reading future books in the series. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review PUBLIC ANCHOVY #1.

I've read all three of the books in this series (although I'm positive this one would work well as a stand alone). I really like how Mindy Quigley has switched up the setting and crime in each of them, and this one was my favorite. It reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie! The characters were good and the food sounded great, as usual! Another tasty winner.

“Public Anchovy #1”, the third book in Mindy Quigley's Deep Dish Mystery series, takes pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her crew outside the pizzeria and to a Prohibition-themed fundraiser where a murder occurs and due to bad weather they become trapped in a house with a killer. It took me a couple of chapter to get used to the new setting but then I was totally engrossed in the story. I love the concept of a “locked room” mystery and this was a nice fresh take on that kind of mystery. All of the characters from the series are in this book – including Butterball the cat! I love Delilah as a characters – she continues to grow as a character and there is a wonderful scene between her and her crew where they discuss her relationship with her Aunt Biz – I can’t wait to see where that relationship goes in future books. The mystery was well done with plenty of suspects – I figured out some things but not other things and the solution reminded me of something Agatha Christie would have come up with. All in all well done by Quigley and when the book was over I wished I could have stayed longer visiting Delilah, Butterball, and crew.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Delilah has been hired to cater a Prohibition themed fundraiser for the library. She and the team have worked hard for this and are shocked when the current head of the board tumble down the staircase and lambs dead at the bottom. What started out with such high hopes, including Capone’s Mother as the entertainment, ends on a sour note.

With a strong storm headed in, several attendees along with the Lila staff are stranded at the home, hosting the event. Or island appears that a killer is among them, Capone urges Delilah to stop sleuthing and just help keep the group safe through the night until hop can reach them. With another dead body however, Delilah just can’t help but believe the killer is among them and will get away if they can’t solve the case before everyone is able to leave. Can Delilah help Capone identify the killer before yet another member of their group the silence once and for all?

This is a fun serious, and I love the inclusion of Capone in the series. With recipes, mystery, red herrings, and one big cat, you’ll find this one hard to put down.

This is a great cozy mystery. The 3rd in the Deep Dish Mystery series finds Delilah & her crew involved in yet another death. The author keeps it light and drops in a nice amount of humor without being cheesy (pun definitely intended). Mindy Quigley provides characters and dialogue that feel more realistic than many cozies.

Public Anchovy is a big homage to the great isolated manor house murder mysteries à la Agatha Christie. Delilah and company are stuck catering a theme party in a big house when a fatal fall down the staircase ends the party early. The house is filled with suspicious guests and soon everyone is stuck there overnight due to a freak storm that knocks out power lines and block anyone from leaving and inconveniently keeping the police away.

It's a solid mystery with lots of clues / red herrings and plot twists along the way. Good fun!

Thank you #NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC!

Third book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series presents another side of restaurant ownership.

Delilah & Sonya are owners of Delilah & Son Pizzeria in Geneva Bay Wisconsin. Their latest catering job is for Friends of the Library. A last minute 'demand' from a donor puts Delilah into a conflicting position. Leaving Sonya and their staff short-handed, Dee stays behind to gather ingredients and kitchen equipment to create a radically un-pizza pizza. Before the meal is served an elderly man falls down the stairs to his death. Was it an accident or murder?

A storm has everyone locked into the venue making it a tense night as someone there must be the murderer. A change of pace has romance is in the air between Delilah and police Detective Calvin Capone.

Third in the Wisconsin pizzeria Deep Dish Mystery series.
Delilah and her crew are hired to cater a function for library benefactors in an old mansion. When one of
attendees dies from a sudden fall, the cause is determined to be murder. Due to a major storm, Delilah,
her crew, Detective Capone, the hostess and some of the guests are stranded at the house.
Why was the person murdered? Sorting through the relationships of those trapped at the mansion
raises more questions. Will the murderer be revealed before someone else dies?
#PublicAnchovey1 #NetGalley

"Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in Mindy Quigley's delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.

While Geneva Bay's upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O'Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah's love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move.

But Delilah's hopes of perfecting a new "free-from" pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too."

Personally I don't think you can call yourself a Wisconsinite and not be in for a cozy mystery about pizza and cats.

I really enjoy this book!!
I am not typically a cozy mystery fan, but I am becoming one and this book helped me on my way to becoming a full blown fan!

Delilah’s restaurant is serving her food at a prohibition themed party. They start off with a few hiccups and a special request pizza. As the party continues on and everything seems to be moving smoothly, someone falls down the stairs and dies. With the storm getting worse by the minute, Delilah, her staff and Detective Capone are all stuck at this isolated mansion. At first they thought it was an accident until they think they found a murder weapon!

This is book three in the Deep Dish series. This was a great mystery book. It was also my first time reading a book by this author. There were funny parts here and there within the story. Overall all it was a good read and leaves you wanting pizza!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of PUBLIC ANCHOVY #1 (Book 3 of the Deep Dish mystery series) by Mindy Quigley in exchange for an honest review. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is glad for an opportunity to cater a fundraiser being held at a remote mansion; it will help her business make it through the lean, tourist-free months. To say the guests are quirky would be an understatement. After one of the odd attendees falls to his death under suspicious circumstances, the caterers become trapped with the partygoers. Is one of them a murderer? Will everyone else survive the fete?

I enjoyed the book. I had not read either of the two previous books, but I had no trouble connecting with the characters or following the storyline. I recommend the book to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring murder, parties, and Clue-like scenarios.

#PublicAnchovy1 #NetGalley

This is such a great installment in this series!
Delilah and her crew are catering a high-end event, when a man is murdered and a winter storm rolls in preventing most of the guests as well as Delilah, her crew, Capone, and his mother from leaving. So not only are they stuck with a dead body until the road is cleared, but it seems like one of them could be a killer as well.

This book has a lot of great moments, from serious, to emotional, tense, and suspenseful, to some laugh-out-loud moments featuring my favorite kitty Butterball. The mystery kept me guessing trying to figure out the clues along with Delilah. She and Capone seemed to grow a bit closer so I'm really looking forward to seeing their relationship move forward in future books. Public Anchovy kept me entertained from beginning to end and I can't wait to get a copy once its released!

Also the recipes in the back sound super delicious and I look forward to trying some out! Especially the apple pie and tiramisu cookies!

Delilah O’Leary has a new pizza making challenge. She and her team have been hired as caterers for a library fundriser at one of the Genava Bay mansions, dealing with the wealthy elite. She thinks her biggest challenges will be Detective Capone's mother being the performer but she gets there and she's asked to make a 'free-from' pizza for someone who can't have gluten, diary or nightshade plants (and instead of being reasonable and having a salad). Delilah gets there and an odd man, the former head of the friends of the library, gives her a message for their hostess wrapped up in cryptic nonsense pulled out of the Maltese Falcon about seeing the lies they're telling and he includes Leona Capone in that. Even worse, Calvin Capone is playing piano for his mother and is there when the man falls down the steps to his death.

A storm traps everyone in the mansion so you have the stranded in a house by a storm with a murderer trope (and everything happening in 24 hours trope for those looking for such books for reading challenges) Somehow Butterball, Delilah's enormous cat, has smuggled himself into the catering stuff and is loose in the house and is potentially the reason the victim falls and I'll be honest this felt so contrived. I could have done without the cat this book, just saying.

The cast of characters were interesting though a bit on the predictable side as far as the murderer was concerned. Still I enjoyed the mystery and the setting. What I enjoyed less was Delilah's non-stop inner monologue about her and Capone. Yes, I'll grant you him not calling her back after last time would be upsetting. On the other hand, after the fourth time she thinks about how much he's missing out on not dating her, it got pretty old. I'll be glad when that part of the series is over and done with (and while Capone's reasoning made sense when his kid was young, it makes less sense now that he's a grown man with a kid of his own) I am looking forward to what comes next

A fancy catered event at an isolated mansion, a storm, a power outage, a murder, and many suspects, including a cat. What else can go wrong? Maybe another murder. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is stuck at the event with her staff and some of Geneva Bay’s high society members. At least police detective Calvin Capone is stuck there with her and the others. Still, it’s hard to know who to trust. Can they all survive until help can arrive? Can they figure out who the murderer is? Will Delilah and Calvin finally admit their feelings to each other?

Another fun whodunit in the Deep Dish Mystery series.

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

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book, and to the author and publisher as well. This is my honest review.

I thought this was such a great story. Delilah is running a catering business and is asked to cater a Prohibition party in support of the local library. She gets ready and leaves for the party in the middle of a storm. The hostess calls her and tests her that a VIP guest wants a special pizza. Delilah isn't happy about it, but she agrees to make it.

Once at the party she realizes that a few people are behaving strangely. When one ends up dead and everyone is trapped at the party, she takes it upon herself to find out what's going on.

This had a real Agatha Christie feel to it, similar to, And Then There Were None. The characters were a real mixed bag of ones that you loved and ones you hated, but you still didn't know who were "really" the good guys. Also having them trapped in the house and the storm raging outside made it even better.

A pretty good cozy mystery. First time I've read this author/series, but she did a good job of explaining the background of the previous books. Not sure that cozy mystery is for me though - I appreciate the chance to read the author and felt that even though it wasn't my favorite, she still did a great job writing it.

Culinary Cozy Mystery in which a Wisconsin pizzeria owner turns sleuth when a library board-man's killed during a Prohibition-themed fundraiser at an isolated mansion.

5/5 stars: This is the third entry in Quigley's Deep Dish Mystery series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery that takes place in October in a lakeside Wisconsin town and features a pizzeria owner and chef. With plenty of twists and turns and honor played to the Golden Age of mystery, Quigley's crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Quigley has written incredibly likable characters. Delilah is a tough cookie and I love the crew at Delilah & Son. It's particularity nice getting to know more about the enigmatic Jarka. It's also great to see Delilah's relationship with Detective Capone growing. And one can never forget the incorrigible scene stealer and ginger love muffin that is Butterball, the cat. Additionally, I very much appreciated the October setting and the storm induced isolation Quigley plotted. And I really enjoyed the Prohibition-themed charity event and costumes, which continues the series concept of the town being a Prohibition Era gangster hideaway. But wait, one mustn't forget all the absolutely delicious food and pizzas described throughout the book, which you can try out yourself by using the recipes that are included. YUM! While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Six Feet Deep Dish.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I received this complimentary draft from the publisher.. All opinions in this review are strictly my own.
This is my third time reading this author and I really enjoy her writing and characters. The plot in this book was a fun one to get imto.
Definitely a good read and loving the development of the characters and relationships.

The third in the Deep Dish Mysteries has Delilah and her crew catering a library fundraiser at the home on the in-coming chair of the Library Board. Delilah's hoping that this event leads to lots more catering bookings to help her business survive when it isn't tourist season in Geneva Bay.

A last-minute request for a free-from pizza for one of the potential investors almost derails her hopes. She needs to make a delicious pizza without gluten, dairy, or anything from the nightshade family which includes tomatoes. And she has just a couple of hours to come up with something.

Delilah doesn't have time to listen to the cryptic utterances of the out-going Board Chair. She's always thought that he was a bit weird even though her best friend Sonya is friends with him. She's too worried about her pizza and meeting the mother of the man she is interested in and who seems interested in her but hasn't made a move yet.

When she and most of the rest of the guests watch Edgar Clemmons fall to his death down a flight of steep stairs, she wishes that she would have paid more attention to the message he was trying to give her. The fall was more likely murder than a tragic accident. Luckily, police detective Calvin Capone was in attendance playing the piano for his mother's singing when the crime happened because the bad weather is keeping the rest of the police from being able to get to the isolated mansion.

Delilah and her crew are forced to spend the night along with an assortment of guests of the event while they wait for the police to get to them. An attack on Sonya and the murder of the head librarian means that the killer is one of the remaining people at the event. Delilah is determined to discover the killer to protect herself and her friends while Calvin is all for working slowly and methodically so that evidence can lead to the arrest and prosecution of the killer.

This was an entertaining and twisty cozy mystery. I enjoyed meeting the characters and liked the setting. I might even try one of the recipes included at the end of the book.

I came into this book without reading the first two in the series. The author does a nice job of "briefing" the reader on the backgrounds of the main characters' and key details from the first two books. I never felt confused or out of the loop.

I liked the pizza-centric twist of the Deep Dish Mysteries. In Public Anchovy #1 Delilah has to make a "free-from" pizza that's gluten free, dairy free, and nightshade free for a guest at a fundraiser in a remote Wisconsin lake house. There's a murder and then a storm, trapping the guests and catering staff overnight. There were enough potential suspects to keep the story moving and keep me guessing about who was the murderer.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required to disclose this.

Public Anchovy #1 is a mystery by Mindy Quigley. I found it quite captivating. The
setting is a large mansion on the top of a bluff. Pam, the head of the library fundraiser is giving a party to attract donations. Delilah and her company have been hired to cater the event. Nothing goes quite as expected and everyone ends up trapped, with twodead bodies, by an unexpected storm. Fortunately, one of the guests is Officer Capone who keeps things under control until more help can get through. Delilah and friends are
trying to solve the mystery along with Capone but will they have a viable suspect when help arrives?
I enjoyed this book and felt it moved at a good pace. It kept my attention and I didn’t want to put it down. All the characters are unique and quirky in their own ways. There are plenty of suspects and each seems to have some motivation. I suspected what was going on that led to murder but wasn’t sure who it was till the end. I recommend reading this title.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

A mansion during a storm, library books and a catered meal. What does all of this have in common? It’s the perfect setting for a murder or two in Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley.
Another great book featuring Delilah, Capone, Butterball, Sony, Jarka and the rest of the crew. I enjoyed this book as much as the first 2 books. It’s a great series with a lovely cast of characters and an always not too easy to figure out crime.
I will definitely continue to read these books when they are released. One of my favorite series.

A locked mansion mystery! With a cat! Delilah and her friends are catering a Prohibition themed party and while things are a little hectic, it gets much more exciting when someone (no spoilers) falls down the stairs. Luckily, Detective Calvin Capone (yes) Delilah's love interest (he's not really returning it so far) is there to play the piano and, together, they start working out what happened. This becomes more critical when they discover that they're snowed in. It's a fairly standard plot to be sure but the characters (including Butterball) are good. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc. Oh- and recipes!

Public Anchovy #1 is the first book I've read by this author. It was an interesting read; a mystery, a little hopeful romance, and some recipes. A dinner being catered by Delilah for a library fundraiser themed party becomes a murder scene. Someone who is attending is the murderer but no one knows who and why the person is killed. Add in a raging storm that cuts off the power to this large house and trees falling that prevent people from leaving only serves to add to the mystery. Delilah and the police chief ( who was in attendance at the party and a romantic interest of Delilah) attempt to solve the mystery. If you are a cat lover you will enjoy the antics of the 2 cats that add some comedic relief in the story. This book is an easy and enjoyable read.

I loved this book. A great addition to this terrific series. The plot moves quick and had lots of viable suspects and motives. Had me guessing a few times myself! If you love cozy mysteries, especially ones with delicious food, this is a must read. Highly recommend.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this one. A cozy mystery and cozy thriller wrapped nicely into one! I can’t stop thinking about it - I absolutely LOVE cozy mysteries! Especially ones with refreshing, unique stories.

After Delilah, a pizza chef, was hired to cater a party, little did she expect to see on of the attendees pass away after an “accident”. Was it an accident, or were other sneaky happenstances underfoot? As those in the party and the caterers are snowed in, Delilah works, partially alongside the police detective Calvin and her catering staff, to find the culprit.

This was a great cozy! Some locked isolated thriller vibes, which I loved, but from a cozy perspective. I loved this thought process. After so many cut off from the world thrillers that I’ve read lately, I really appreciate a calmer version. I love chances to stay on the edge of my seat at times, but also the opportunities to read a mystery without fear that someone is going to jump out at every corner.

I loved the characters, their backstories, and their relationships. And, adding Butterball, Delilah’s cat, to the story made it that much better! Some needed comedic relief at times.

This may be the third book in the series, but it worked well as a standalone too. I haven’t read the first two, but easily followed along. I love finding a new cozy series to jump into! I’m now on the hunt to find the first two to add to my collection - and will be keeping a close eye for the next one too!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from St. Martin’s Press and Mindy Quigley through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley is the third in the Deep Dish Mysteries. I have reviewed the first two books ( Six Feet Deep Dish and Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust). I enjoyed them and enjoyed the newest book in the series. I was given a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Delilah O’Leary’s focus is on keeping her restaurant open. Winter is the slow season in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. To keep going, she hopes to get catering jobs to supplement her restaurant business during the long winter. As the story opens, she is loading up to cater a party for le crème de la crème of Geneva Bay’s society. They are catering the Friends of the Library’s fundraising gala. The theme for the event is “Speakeasy Soiree”. Delilah is providing a menu of Chicago-themed food like Delilah’s signature deep-dish pizzas and Prohibition-era cocktails. The party is being held at Pam Philips’ house, which is located out on Bluff Point. (A key element – it is the house isolated out on a point.)

On the way to the party, Delilah receives a call from Isabel Barney, the head librarian, asking her to create and serve a “free from” pizza for one of the special guests. The pizza must be free from gluten, animal products, dairy, and no tomatoes. (Does she know what a pizza is, was the question.) This means that Delilah needs to make a stop at her house. Because of that stop, Delilah was picked up by Pam Philips’ boat and taken to her house. This throws her plans off and she is running late for the event. But her staff is at the house getting everything ready. When she gets to the kitchen and goes into the box to get her mixer, she finds the box empty. There is a mixer she can use in Pam’s kitchen but still, she finds it odd. Wouldn’t you have noticed that the box was empty on the way over in the boat?

The evening starts with drinks and canapes. Lola Capone, the mother of Delilia’s almost-boyfriend, Detective Calvin Capone, is the musical entertainment for the evening. Delilia goes out to check and see if all is going well and discovers that Calvin is his mother’s piano player. This is a surprise but Delilah decides just to ignore him and she will make it through. All is going well when the speeches start. And then a guest falls down the stairs and lands at the bottom of the staircase dead. Did he die from the fall? At the same time the party attendees are in shock from the body at the back of the room, a storm is raging outside. Most of the people who left right away get home but some of the party attendees are stuck in the house. A tree falls and blocks the driveway and with all the emergencies, the police cannot make it to the house until morning. As the night wears on, Delilah finds more and more suspicious things happening. There is another murder in the house and an attempted murder of Delilah’s best friend and sous chef. Can Delilah and Detective Capone solve the mysteries before everyone leaves in the morning when help arrives?

Another good cozy mystery by Mindy Quigley. Since I have read the books in order it is hard for me to say if reading them out of order would make a difference. I think it would as far as the almost romance of Delilah and Calvin goes. Also, many of the characters are the same (Delilah’s kitchen staff). I would suggest that you read them in order and that isn’t just my always-present desire to read all series in order.


Have a happy holiday season. I hope you find ways to make it last as long as possible.

Rating: 4/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This was truly a cute, cozy mystery thriller all wrapped up into one. This was my first cozy mystery and now I can see why so many people enjoy them. When reading this book, you will be taken to a catering event, catered for by Delilah, who is a great chef. While on her way to the start of the gig she gets a call from the hostess of the party asking for a late minute change to one of the dishes for one of the guests at the party and she is forced to go back home to grab a few things. After she arrives at the mansion, she is unwillingly thrown into who murdered this person. With the help of Capone, a handsome detective, who is one of the guests at the party, her catering crew, and the other guest they’re able to figure out who did it and why.

I enjoyed the easy way the plot went, there were funny moments, serious, heartfelt, and of course the shock of someone dying. The plot did not slow down in pace at all or fall flat, I was intrigued the whole time and wanted to see if who I thought was correct. I thought the plot twists throughout the book were well placed and were not out of character. I loved the characters in this book, mostly Delilah, Sonya and finally Butterball (the cutest chunkiest cat). I thought all the characters were easy to connect with and omg, the food that the characters make sound so amazing. I loved that at the end of the book you got some of the recipes, I know I can’t wait to try some of them out.

This was my first Quigley book, but it won’t be my last. I am hoping that I will have time later this month to read her other ones so I can get to know the characters better and to read another great mystery book.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

My latest book 📖 review is for Mindy Quigley's book Public Anchovy #1. This is a part of her Deep Dish Mysteries.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me this early copy! I devoured this one in a day. All the talk of pizza had me craving it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a cute murder mystery, with a cast of characters you will love, that includes a beloved cat! Delilah is a chef of a pizza restaurant in Geneva Bay and she has been asked to cater a high society fundraiser for the public library. As Delilah and her team are trying to prep everything for the party, they are asked to make a change for a special attendee with some allergies. She runs by her home to gather some ingredients and meet her team at the event.
Just as the appetizers are served and the party is under way, a dead body falls down the stairs. Delilah had a cryptic conversation with the deceased just minutes before. Now her handsome crush, police detective 🕵️‍♀️ Capone, that was attending with his mother, is on the case. Delilah will help him solve the murder and feed everyone while she's at it.
Grab this book! It comes out December 26! Get yourself a late Christmas 🎄 present.
#crazybooknerd
#NetGalley
#PublicAnchovy1
#bookstagram

Delilah and crew are hired to cater a Prohibition-themed fundraiser at an isolated historic mansion to raise money for the public library when a suspicious death occurs at the party. Thanks to a winter storm, they end up trapped overnight inside the venue with the murderer among them.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series! And book three did not disappoint! I love Delilah. She is relatable, competent, clever, a bit sarcastic, and always makes me laugh. She also has a heart of gold, and I love her relationships in this book, particularly with her best friend and sou chef, Sonya. The two of them alone would be worth tuning in for, but you also get a quirky supporting cast that feels real and is so much fun to spend time with and a cat that is a total scene-stealer. Then there's Delilah's chemistry with hunky police detective Calvin Capone. Swoon!

Taking the group off-site from the restaurant and putting them in a remote house setting with the murderer among them gave the book Agatha Christie vibes that I really enjoyed! So atmospheric! The mystery is well-plotted with enough red herrings to keep you guessing and is full of fun literary and film references. Quigley's writing style is engaging, and this is well-paced. The fantastic food descriptions will have you seriously craving pizza! Delicious recipes are included, and this one features a gluten-free crust recipe I will definitely try! A fun touch with the recipes is that they are presented "in character" by Sonya, Delilah, and Daniel, the bartender.
Cozy mystery lovers will definitely want to grab this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the free book!

I can tell this author has been at this business of writing a long time. Wonderful fictional universe to get lost in. Jessica Fletcher would feel right at home. Fully developed characters, suspenseful plot.

3 Stars!

I admit the first thing that drew me to this book was the title. When I read it, I genuinely chuckled out loud. I also didn’t realize that it was the 3rd in the series until I started to read it. As someone who had not read the first two, I was not lost at all and believe that this could be a standalone. It felt a bit campy at times in the dialogue and seemed to follow the dark and stormy night murder mystery formula, but the moments of comic relief and moving action kept it going.

It was a fun book and an easy read, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys the cozy mystery genre.

Thanks so much to the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read early.

Anchove #1 is the 3rd book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series and it was hard to put down! It is not set at Halloween but should have been. The characters are likable and interesting and the cozy mystery kept me guessing. ,Delilah and her crew are catering a Prohibition themed party. Detective Calvin Capone is there with his mother. Delilah likes Calvin but he has been avoiding her and she doesn’t know why. One of the guests ends up dead (well 2 actually) and there is a bad snowstorm so they are all stranded…. wiith a killer! The story moves at a good pace and there is enough going on that it really is intriguing. Delilah and Calvin and Calvin’s mother really add to the story. This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery! #PublicAnchovy1 #DeepDishMysteries #NetGalley. #StMartinsPress

Mindy Quigley has done it again in the third book of her Deep Dish Mysteries series, "Public Anchovy #1". What a great title!

This adventure starts off with the gang from Delilah & Son going to Bluff Point to cater a fundraising party. It's for Friends of the Library and put on by Isabel Berney and Pam Phillips, in Pam's home. Everyone is dressed up in their 20's costumes.

Delilah had learned from her Aunt Biz that Lola Capone, Det. Calvin Capone's mom, will be there as the entertainment. What she didn't know until things were under way was that Calvin will be playing the piano while his mom is singing.

It's a good thing he's there because it doesn't take long before things start happening. This is a clever "locked room" caper with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages in anticipation, while you crave pizza. And it's terrific that Delilah and Capone are working together again and the sparks are flying.

Thank you to Katie Holt at St. Martins Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy. "Public Anchovy #1" comes out on December 26, 2023 so treat yourself to this one. You know you want to revisit these awesome characters and see what they're getting into this time!

I LOVED this book. My favorite of this series (which is already amazing). A mansion on hill by the lake during a storm with no power, isolated, everyone stuck there overnight, with a murderer lurking?! Yes please sign me up 😂 my favorite troupe / setting. Delilah is quick on her feet, no nonsense, smart and sassy and protective of her people and her cat and she absolutely shone in this book! This book had a darker edge to it (this series does in general, but this one especially because there were NO breaks, not much lighthearted banter or side stories). Butterball is also an absolute star for both drama and laughs. I cannot recommend this series enough!

So delicious! Although I'm not usually one for cozies, I LOVE Mindy's series. This is my third, and she does not disappoint. Now if she could only give me a really good veggie deep dish pizza recipe, I'd be ever so grateful.

Public Anchovy #1 is the 3rd book of the series of Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley.
If this book is the first you read, you can easily fall in love with the characters and the storyline.
A wonderful cozy mystery that captivates you from the first chapter and has you reading till the end. You will be second guessing the whodunnit and the how’s up until the end.

I received an advanced copy from St. Martin’s publishing group and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in the Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley. It follows head chef Delilah and her restaurant crew as they cater an exclusive fundraiser for the local library. Set at a huge mansion in the middle of a terrible storm, it has major Agatha Christie vibes. There is a death during the party and no one can leave because the storm cuts off the road, not even the murderer! Luckily Detective Capone is at the party accompanying his mother as she was performing and is there to work with Delilah to uncover the mystery.

Lots of fun, many twists, some romance and of course a lot of Butterball the cat. I really enjoy this series!

I absolutely loved this third book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series!! I found it to have one of the most clever locked room mystery plots I've read in a long time.

Besides an outstanding plot, I also loved the recurring characters, especially pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her staff, as well as the police detective, Calvin Capone (yes, a fictional descendant of Al),

The setting, in the fictional upscale community of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin (which sounds an awful lot like the Lake Geneva, WI I've visited many times), is great, too.

All in all, this book is a winner and one of my favorite "new to me" authors I've read this year. So much so that I immediately picked up the first two books in the series.

Highly recommended to cozy fans!!

I’m a sucker for a locked room (or house, in this case) mystery so this was just perfect for a rainy afternoon. The setting was intriguing and I loved the addition of Butterball into the plot. Delilah is smart and savvy, finding ways to aid the investigation without breaking any laws and her budding romance with Capone really progresses in this one. The writing flows well, making it easy to get swept up into the story. I am a big fan of this series and can’t wait for the next one.

I loved this story! I'm a sucker for cozy mysteries and this one fits the bill. A murder mystery where everyone is basically locked down into a location makes figuring out who did it harder, but so much fun! Delilah is getting closer to the hunky police detective Calvin Capone and I'm loving where that's going! Can't wait to see where they next mystery takes us, hopefully with Calvin asking Delilah on a date!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

The third Deep Dish cozy mystery finds Delilah and her crew catering a Prohibition themed fundraiser for the library. When a book collector ends up dead and a storm cuts off the house from the outside world, Delilah realizes she is stuck with a killer. She must investigate before she is the next body.

I enjoyed the change of scenery here! I'm like Delilah's normal setting fine, but this was fun to have a remote location, cut off from the outside. There were good clues, and good pacing. Plus we get advancement in Delilah's personal story line. Can't wait for the next one!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Public Anchovy #1 was a fun locked door mystery. It is like Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, but with pizza. It is always nice to visit Geneva’s Bay (Lake Geneva WI). I have actually visited (my book bestie lives in the town) and Mindy is spot on with all her references and locations.

Delilah and friends are hired to cater a posh 20’s prohibition party and things go wrong from the start. Never fear, Geneva Bay’s best are on the case.

Though this is the 3rd book in the series but in may be read as a standalone. I enjoyed visiting all the characters and catching up on their lives. Excited to see how Delilah and Capone’s relationship will play out after that ending.

Was a fun whodunit read. Perfect for the cozy weather right now. I was able to cuddle up with it an a warm drink and finish it super quickly.

There were plenty of interesting characters to learn about. Like a last minute guest who has strange allergies that Delilah had to work around. One of the even stranger guests ends up falling down the stairs and dying. But alas it is storming outside so everyone must stay at the venue. Was it an accident? Was it on purpose? Luckily Delilah's love interest of a police officer is there to help on the case.

I had a great time reading this and recommended it to any fans of cozy books.

This is the third book of Mindy Quingley’s Deep Dish cozy mystery, Delilah is straggling with her pizza restaurant during the slow season, she starts catering to keeping herself staying in the business. When a dead body crashes the party, Delilah and her friends are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled an increasingly desperate killer.
I love this mystery, setting is great, characters are fun, love story is interesting. This is will be my favourite cozy mystery on going.
Highly recommended
5 stars

Delilah, Sonya and their crew are on their way to cater a Prohibition themed party for the library board. Delilah is counting on catering business to keep her restaurant afloat during the lean winter months. At the last minute, Delilah has to go back to the restaurant to fulfill a special request. When she arrives at the mansion, she finds one of her employees seemingly arguing with a guest. Since Delilah is busy with the party, she doesn’t have time to wonder about that. She is very surprised to find that the entertainment that night is her possible boyfriend’s mother. And, as she looks closer, the accompanist is Calvin Capone, the possible boyfriend. Calvin is also a police detective in Geneva Bay. After the appetizers are served and the entertainment finished, one of the guests seemingly falls down the stairs to his death. Calvin immediately takes charge. He enlists Delilah’s help in the investigation of what seems to be a tragic accident. But then the bodies start to pile up. Another winning cozy mystery from Mindy Quigly.

Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in a great cozy mystery series set in a lake resort town in Wisconsin. Even though it’s the third book in the series, I think this would definitely work as a standalone or as your entry into the series.

Delilah owns a pizza restaurant that does twists on traditional Chicago-style deep dish pizza, with her best friend Sonya. The restaurant is called Delilah and Son, ha! This time the summer season has come and gone and many summer residents have departed. Luckily the restaurant is asked to cater a big fund-raising dinner for the local library, which is housed in a historic building. The party is being hosted by a wealthy tech entrepreneur (female, yay!) in the rambling old lakeside mansion she has been restoring.

Delilah has loved this lake community since she was young. Her great-aunt Elizabeth (“Biz”) lives there and is a big reason she started the restaurant there. The town has a gangster history and the local detective is a descendent of the infamous Al Capone. He figures large in each of the books.

The mystery in this one was really well done and kept me guessing. The elderly outgoing board chair of the library falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Earlier he had been hinting darkly at something fishy going on. It’s a “dark and stormy night” and this also plays a large part in the events, making it a sort of locked-room mystery.

Delilah’s ex-fiance left her in charge of their cat, Butterball, who plays quite the role in this story, accidentally being transported to the party location. He’s great comic relief. I love the supporting characters who work in the restaurant: Sonya, Rabbit, an ex-con, Daniel, the bartender, Jarka, a Bulgarian doctor who is temporary supporting herself as a waitress, and Melody, a young woman who acts as an assistant to Auntie Biz along with working in the restaurant. Delilah works with the police in these mysteries and she doesn’t do really dumb stuff, putting herself in danger - that unfortunately happens too often in cozy mysteries.

Several recipes are included at the end of the book, written in a chatty way, as if one of the book’s characters is giving you the recipe personally.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun cozy mystery with interesting, likable, and varied characters. Delilah runs a restaurant and is catering a fancy roaring 20’s fund-raising for the library party. At the last minute, one of the guests requests a free-from pizza because of her allergies. As if that isn’t difficult enough, just as the party is starting, one of the guests dies, falling down the stairs. Is it an accident…or is it murder? Luckily, a police detective is among the guests…a descendant of Al Capone, no less! Delilah can’t help snooping and the group is stranded overnight at the manor due to a massive storm with a murderer in their midst.
I stayed up late because I had to find out whodunit. I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Here is the third in a series for those who enjoy traditional/cozy mysteries. It is a fun read.

All of the elements that readers of this genre look for are here. There are an appealing protagonist, something to learn about (restaurants/pizza), a bit of romance, pet (cat) and (of course), a body. Follow Delilah and those in her town as she figures everything out. It offers a perfect way to relax on a December night.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

Delilah will be catering a library fundraiser at Pam Phillips Mansion on a remote island. There's a last minute free from pizza added to the catering plans which really throws a wrench in Delilah's plans. As they are beginning the show with Lola Capone. Edgar Clemons falls down the stairs. They aren't sure if it's an accident or murder. As the night goes on the storm knocks out the power and strands several guests. Delilah and Detective Capone have their hands full.

This was such a fun mystery I had no idea whodunnit. It was quite scary in parts when the power was out and they weren't sure what was happening. I really enjoyed this mystery and can't wait to read more of this series.

This is the third book in this series. I do recommend reading the 1st two before reading this one so that you have the background on everyone but the book can still be read as a standalone.

I have read the first two and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed coming back to see how Delilah and her gang were doing.

Delilah’s restaurant gets an offsite catering gig at one of the local lake mansions that is hosting a fundraiser.

There is a murder pretty quickly upon their arrival. It is interesting how the author manages to create the murder, clear out everyone except Delilah and her crew, Capone and a few others thus creating backdrop for locked room mystery. She even manages to get the cat over to the mansion!

I enjoyed this and was surprised at the end. Great installment in this series. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

4 stars. I've never read a cozy mystery before-- the closest I've come is the Finlay Donovan series, but boy was this delightful. I should start by saying that Public Anchovy #1 is the 3rd book in the Deep Dish series, but you can absolutely read this book without having read books 1 and 2. I haven't read those books, but had no problem following allowing. But, you better believe I will be cycling back and reading those as well.

What can you expect from Public Anchovy #1? For starters- a mystery. I'm pleased to say that I wasn't able to guess who the bad guy was or what the motivation was. But there were several clues/ hints planted along the way. I love being surprised in books, so this was a big plus for me. A crazy cast of characters- The secondary characters in this one were a hoot! They weren't totally ridiculous, but definitely fun personalities to keep things interesting. A romance- yes! There was also a romance, which took me a bit by surprise, because I was not expecting that going into this. Ok, to be fair, it's more like the diet coke of romance. We get the sprinkling of tension between the main character and the lead detective, but romance definitely feels like it is in their future. And finally, a crazy pet. Oh my goodness, but Butterball the cat may have just been my favorite character! Yes he was silly, and yes, he was a cat. But I don't care. I loved all the drama and humor he brought to this book. Honestly, this was just a fun read. Even though people kept dying, it still felt light and cozy. This is totally the type of book I'd love to read on vacation, or maybe a rainy day while curled up with a blanket.

Thank you so much to Quigley, SMP and netgalley for the early copy of this one. Clearly, I recommend.

This is a cute mystery with a fantastic locked room premise and a couple of cats for comic relief. Delilah is on her way to a catering job with her best friend and business partner Sonya when she gets a phone call that sends things off the rails. Before everything is over Delilah has had to come up with a deep dish pizza free from gluten, dairy, and tomatoes on the fly, a very annoyed, very large feline, and an evening that starts with a fatal fall and keeps getting worse.

The group of suspects is small on number but heavy on potential motives and most of them were rather awful. As the night goes on the stakes get higher and that makes for a fast paced read. I loved the restaurant crew and while the premise for Butterball's (which is a fantastic name for a cat!) presence is a bit ridiculous I couldn't help but love him. I enjoyed the writing style and the food references and now want some garlic knots and a deep dish pizza!

Delilah wasn't my favorite main character but I'm assuming the more books I read in the series the more I'll like her. The ending especially runs a bit towards the farce side side of things which isn't necessarily my favorite type of cozy. That said, this was a fun read and a series I'm looking forward to reading more from.

I'm a foodie fan so when I seen this book I knew I had to have it.
What a fun read! I loved in guessing who dun it.
I finished this book in one evening because I just had to see who did it. I had an idea it apparently the wrong one! Wow, was I surprised.
Amazing characters that you'll love in getting to know. Especially the kitty cat. To me, he's what made this story.
A well written plot that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. A story I didn't want to end. Definitely lots of twists and turns to keep you entertained.
I loved every minute of this story. It didn't disappoint.
5 stars along with a cute cover. I highly recommend!
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for a copy of this book.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The main character of this book, Delilah O'Leary, has been hired to cater a fundraising party with a Roaring 20s theme, with several wealthy residents of the town in attendance. Someone is murdered at the party and a storm prevents anyone from leaving the mansion where the event is being held. There is a diverse group of people from the town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, stranded there including Delilah and her staff, the wealthy party guests, as well as Detective Calvin Capone and his mother. With the exception of the handsome detective, everyone is a suspect, even Deliah's cat Butterball!

It takes a while for things to get going in the book, but once the murder occurs and witnesses and suspects are all stuck together, the tension increases and things become really interesting! Part of the tension is of course being trapped with an unidentified murderer, but also with the attitudes of some of the party guests who look down on some of the other people because of their background or social status.

I like the suspense of the story, especially Delilah starts helping Capone with the investigation. I really liked the way things wrap up at the end. This is the third book in the Deep Dish Mystery series, but works very well as a standalone. I have only read one prior book in the series and was still able to enjoy the story.
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I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Delilah and her crew from “Delilah and Son” are hoping to generate income in the slow season by catering. A “Prohibition” themed fundraiser at an exclusive mansion will hopefully give them the exposure they need so be successful all year round.
Last minute a “free-from” pizza request puts a lot of time pressure on the crew, and downhill it goes when a dead body falls down the stairs, and to top it off a storm has isolated the crew and guests at the mansion.
Lovely “locked” room mystery, keeps you guessing at every turn.

This is my first book by Mindy Quigley. I really enjoyed her character development. The story had many twists and turns. Even though it is the third book in the series, I didn't feel like I had missed anything. I do plan to go back and read the first two. Set on a dark stormy night, it made for a good cozy to curl up with. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

I had mixed feelings about the first two Deep Dish Mysteries, but after this one I'm completely hooked. It's a fast paced, extremely fun mystery that could only happen in this series. Delilah and her staff are catering a prohibition themed dinner party in a historic mansion when an unexpected death occurs and a storm hits, knocking out the power and blocking the roads, leaving everyone trapped in the dark with a killer. I don't want to spoil the plot, but starting with the original murder suspect, the night keeps getting wilder. It's probably a good idea to read the first two books before this one, if only so you'll understand why Delilah is living in a house owned by her pet cat, Butterball.

Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley is the third book in the Deep Dish Mysteries, and it’s my favorite one so far. And that’s saying a lot since I really enjoyed the first two!

What drew me to this series initially is that it takes place in Wisconsin, my home state, and that it revolves around a chef that makes specialty pizzas and other Wisconsin favorites, with recipes at the end of the book, of course.

Quickly into the first book I really enjoyed that Quigley not only had well developed characters, but a wide diversity in the cast, including: felon, lesbian, dreamboat with an accent, quirky elderly lady who’s also very grumpy, and a cat that steals the page! In Public Anchovy #1 we get to spend even more time with these great people, Butterball continues to steal every scene he’s in (and we get a ragdoll kitty in this one two), and Delilah’s relationship with the detective heats up a bit.

But what I really loved about this one was the classic storyline of people getting stuck in a huge home where a murder or two occurs, and then there’s the final reveal a la Agatha Christie. I mean, how much more perfect can a book be for a mystery lover?! We also get an upstairs/downstairs vibe with the rich socialites from the book world and the staff from Delilah’s restaurant, which was a fun addition.

I knew early on who the killer was, and I think long time mystery and cozy readers may too, but some may still be a bit surprised with the twist. I didn’t figure out the one key piece though until Delilah revealed it, so in that regard, I didn’t have it all figured out. Which I always enjoy.

I highly recommend this series and can’t wait to come back to Geneva Bay, WI. again to catch up with Delilah and her friends and staff.

Agatha Christy set the standard for creating the closed circle mystery, and it is a technique that many writers employ in creating a mystery. Mindy Quigley uses this technique in Book 3 of the Deep Dish Mysteries, Public Anchovy #1. The title is cute, but thankfully there are no anchovies on the menu of this pizza restaurant. I have read the 2 previous novels in this series and recommend that readers do so; however, this novel is constructed well enough that the book could stand alone.

Public Anchovy #1 includes all the same characters from the first 2 books, except for a handful of possible bad guys. All of the bad guys function very nicely as red herrings. Two cats, Butterball and Gloria, provide the comic relief. The food sounds great and the winter storm isolating 14 people and a dead man creates a good scenario for this cozy mystery. There are many good clues, which allow detective fiction fans to predict the ending. Even thought I had the mystery figured out, the book was a fun, fast read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC. I did enjoy this novel and do recommend it, especially for cozy mystery fans.

A twist on the locked room mystery, Delilah and her crew end up stuck in a remote mansion with a bunch of rich party guests, her crush, Detective Capone and his mother, a dead body, and her crazy cat, Butterball. When more attacks happen, everyone becomes a suspect. Adding to the tension is the mistrust and attitudes of the wealthy towards the common folk.

There’s plenty of food and humor and the mystery kept me guessing. I figured out what the motive could be, but not who was the culprit. The setting also added to the mysteriousness, especially after a rainstorm knocks out the power, and everyone is creeping around in the dark and shadows.

What I also like about this series is that the side characters get their own stories instead of being relegated to the background. This time, the reader gets to learn more about the mysterious Jarka and I love her even more.

Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in the Deep Dish Mystery series. I haven't read the first two books in the series, but I didn't have any trouble figuring out the characters. There didn't seem to be any references to previous cases either. If I didn't know it was book 3, I would have thought it was book 1.

If you like dark and stormy-set murder mysteries, then you definitely need to read this book. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a locked room mystery as many of the guests leave after the man falls to his death, but a raging storm traps a few of the characters at the isolated mansion where the library fundraiser is being held.

I really enjoyed the mystery. The budding romance between Delilah and Calvin not so much. If I wanted a romance I would read a romance novel, not a cozy mystery. The characters, though, are likable. They are just quirky enough to make the novel fun.

There is a book mentioned in this story that came up during one of my book club meetings recently. And because I was familiar with the plot, I did figure out portions of the mystery before the characters. But it was still a great read.

If you are looking for a fun mystery, grab a cozy blanket, a warm beverage, and this novel.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/12/public-anchovy-1-by-mindy-quigley-review.html