Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies

Magic, Murder, and So Much Sugar #PiesBeforeGuys

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1. Baking Bad (on my TBR!)
2. A Study in Scarlet Women
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Daisy Ellery’s magical pies have the ability to make one tell the truth, feel confident or hopeful or calm…and for a particular few, one slice can kill. Unlike the Ellery women before her, Daisy uses her magic to free women from their abusive partners by making and delivering murder pies. She has lived a nomadic lifestyle with her pitbull, Zoe, for most of her adult life, but she finally begins to settle in Turnbridge, MA. There, she has loyal customers, a found family, and love in the air. One thing she also has, however, is a blackmailer. This person knows about Daisy’s murder pies and, in exchange for silence, she might be forced to serve up murder pies to three innocent women. Can Daisy unmask her blackmailer before she has to use her magic for true evil?

I am obsessed with this new cozy mystery series! And I cannot wait for a Pies Before Guys sequel. Listening to this title on audiobook through Hoopla, I instantly fell in love with Daisy as a vigilante badass with a 1950s wardrobe. I have purchased a physical copy since completing this gem. The cast of characters surrounding our heroine is just as vivid and endearing. I felt emotionally invested in their growing and fluctuating relationships. This is a fascinating mystery because it focuses on uncovering a blackmailer in order to prevent the death of innocents. Daisy has killed many abusive, violent men before, but she has protocols and rules that must be strictly adhered to before any of this takes place. I appreciated the system, and I honestly found it to be a sound one. She was a gray character with sense no matter where your own morals stand, and I believe that’s what a true gray character should be. This was a cozy with crucial messages and themes I 100% could get behind: domestic violence awareness, feminism, and women supporting women. Popp balances these important topics with some subplotted romance, an adorable dog and community, and a most captivating mystery.

As the series moves forward – hopefully to many, MANY more books – I hope Popp delves deeper into examples beyond domestic violence performed by straight cis men toward straight cis women. With the amount of diversity and care she has put into this first book, I have full faith in her and her characters to face these challenges head-on.

Content Warnings

idun_aurora's review

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book ticked many of my boxes. Cozy murder, mystery, HBTIQ+ and feminist themes, some romance, a sprinkle of magic, mouthwatering descriptions of pastries, and a cute dog. There are even recipes!

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