dukefn99's review
4.0
See my whole review at https://novelsalive.com/2021/11/02/4-star-review-an-eggnog-to-die-for-by-amy-pershing-2/
peggyemi's review
4.0
An Eggnog to Die For is the second installment in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series and is a delightful follow-up to the author's debut. Christmas is coming to the Cape and Sam is in the middle of preparations for the holidays, including her Feast of the Five Fishes. Unfortunately, the holiday festivities are interrupted when Sam finds a dead Santa in one of the restaurants she is reviewing. With two books under her belt in this series, I feel like the author has provided readers with very likable characters. Sam is a bit impulsive, but that is not unexpected with an amateur sleuth. She is very perceptive and sees things that are sometimes overlooked by others. I also appreciate how she works through the clues with Jason as a sounding board before doing anything too impetuous. Sam is surrounded by a solid cast of secondary characters, including her lovable dog Diogi. I really enjoyed meeting her parents and look forward to having them included in future books. Sam does come by her sleuthing naturally through her mother.
The mystery was well done and the author did a wonderful job of cooking up some red herrings that kept me guessing. I will admit to being surprised by the killer's identity. I fell for the false trail of clues and was totally off the mark in my thought process.
So far, I have really enjoyed both books in the series and I look forward to seeing where the author takes these characters and the series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The mystery was well done and the author did a wonderful job of cooking up some red herrings that kept me guessing. I will admit to being surprised by the killer's identity. I fell for the false trail of clues and was totally off the mark in my thought process.
So far, I have really enjoyed both books in the series and I look forward to seeing where the author takes these characters and the series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
pzhorton4's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Better than the first book. I do like that no clues are "hidden" so if you're paying attention you could come to the correct conclusion at the same time as the MC.
reader_cheryl's review
4.0
An Eggnog to Die For
A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
by Amy Pershing
Samantha Barnes is a disgraced former chef now making her living as a restaurant food critic and host of a foodie video series in her hometown of Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. The Ginger Jar is the latest eatery for the video series. It’s the town’s first ever small plates and craft cocktails restaurant and has met with great success with the younger crowd. It has, however, raised suspicion with the town’s older folk because of its unusual offerings. There’s a move to revoke the Ginger Jar’s liquor license because the owners aren’t of good moral character. According to Massachusetts law, anyone with a financial stake in a business that serves liquor has to be of sound character.
Recently elected to the town’s select board, Caleb Mayo is the one suspicious of the eatery’s owners. When Samantha mistakes the office in the Ginger Jar for a bathroom, she discovers Caleb, still dressed as Santa Clause from an earlier parade, sprawled on the floor. Julie and Martin Bruni, brother and sister owners of the Ginger Jar, are the immediate suspects. But it turns out, not the only suspects. As Samantha and her journalist mother dig deeper, other suspects come into play and one of them doesn’t want to be found out.
A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
by Amy Pershing
Samantha Barnes is a disgraced former chef now making her living as a restaurant food critic and host of a foodie video series in her hometown of Fair Harbor, Massachusetts. The Ginger Jar is the latest eatery for the video series. It’s the town’s first ever small plates and craft cocktails restaurant and has met with great success with the younger crowd. It has, however, raised suspicion with the town’s older folk because of its unusual offerings. There’s a move to revoke the Ginger Jar’s liquor license because the owners aren’t of good moral character. According to Massachusetts law, anyone with a financial stake in a business that serves liquor has to be of sound character.
Recently elected to the town’s select board, Caleb Mayo is the one suspicious of the eatery’s owners. When Samantha mistakes the office in the Ginger Jar for a bathroom, she discovers Caleb, still dressed as Santa Clause from an earlier parade, sprawled on the floor. Julie and Martin Bruni, brother and sister owners of the Ginger Jar, are the immediate suspects. But it turns out, not the only suspects. As Samantha and her journalist mother dig deeper, other suspects come into play and one of them doesn’t want to be found out.
meezcarrie's review
4.0
I’m always on the lookout for new-to-me cozy mystery series to follow – it’s the childhood Murder She Wrote & now Hallmark Mysteries fan in me, I guess. I somehow missed reading book one in Amy Pershing’s Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries but jumping in with book two was delightful nonetheless. I’m definitely looking forward to book three!
An Eggnog to Die For has a lot going for it: a charming northeastern setting at Christmas, engaging characters (main & supporting), adorable pets, a plucky & extroverted restaurant reviewer-slash-former-chef, her introverted & swoony harbormaster boyfriend, droolworthy food & drink mentions, and the best part – a mystery that took me by surprise more than once. I really enjoyed meeting Samantha (Sam) and her gaggle of family & friends, including the aforementioned swoony boyfriend Jason. Each character is winsome in his/her own way, and the fact that we are treated to Sam’s perspective through the first person narrative makes her particular character even more relatable. She’s witty and intuitive, very perceptive, engaging, and exactly the kind of person you would want to hang out with in real life – or, you know, solve your murder or clear your name, should worse come to worse lol.
Speaking of Sam’s murder-solving abilities, Pershing has crafted a skillfully twisted plot with plenty of suspects and some turns you may not be expecting. I was truly stunned by one such particular curve, though in hindsight I shouldn’t have been. The author expertly mixes authentic clues among the red herrings in such a way that it’s easy to look back and see the clues all come together but in the moment, when you’re reading it for the first time, you won’t be able to distinguish one from the other.
Bottom Line: Witty & smart, An Eggnog to Die For by Amy Pershing is deliciously entertaining. The mystery is excellent in plotting & technique, keeping readers guessing when it comes to whodunnit. Sam, Diogi (which is the best dog name ever when you know where it came from) and her crew of amateur sleuths (aka her family & friends) are very likable and relatable too. The perfect cozy to get you in the Christmas spirit, murder notwithstanding.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some mild cursing (and one particularly strong instance) in this novel.
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
An Eggnog to Die For has a lot going for it: a charming northeastern setting at Christmas, engaging characters (main & supporting), adorable pets, a plucky & extroverted restaurant reviewer-slash-former-chef, her introverted & swoony harbormaster boyfriend, droolworthy food & drink mentions, and the best part – a mystery that took me by surprise more than once. I really enjoyed meeting Samantha (Sam) and her gaggle of family & friends, including the aforementioned swoony boyfriend Jason. Each character is winsome in his/her own way, and the fact that we are treated to Sam’s perspective through the first person narrative makes her particular character even more relatable. She’s witty and intuitive, very perceptive, engaging, and exactly the kind of person you would want to hang out with in real life – or, you know, solve your murder or clear your name, should worse come to worse lol.
Speaking of Sam’s murder-solving abilities, Pershing has crafted a skillfully twisted plot with plenty of suspects and some turns you may not be expecting. I was truly stunned by one such particular curve, though in hindsight I shouldn’t have been. The author expertly mixes authentic clues among the red herrings in such a way that it’s easy to look back and see the clues all come together but in the moment, when you’re reading it for the first time, you won’t be able to distinguish one from the other.
Bottom Line: Witty & smart, An Eggnog to Die For by Amy Pershing is deliciously entertaining. The mystery is excellent in plotting & technique, keeping readers guessing when it comes to whodunnit. Sam, Diogi (which is the best dog name ever when you know where it came from) and her crew of amateur sleuths (aka her family & friends) are very likable and relatable too. The perfect cozy to get you in the Christmas spirit, murder notwithstanding.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some mild cursing (and one particularly strong instance) in this novel.
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
bek67's review
3.0
I'm guessing if I had actually read this book instead of listening to it, I might have enjoyed it more. The narrator's voice was fine, but she inhaled so loud 95% of the time. Super annoying and frustrating. I have listened to plenty of audiobooks and I have never come across this before. Best way for me to describe it would be to say she violently inhaled-LOL. The fact that she didn't do it all the time, tells me she is capable of not doing. I have no idea how this made it into production. The noisy inhale just set a bad tone for me. If I had another audiobook to listen to at the time I probably would have just stopped this one but I didn't.
madsmcw_reads's review
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
cj_mo_2222's review
3.0
3.5 stars - Great setting and descriptions and an interesting plot, but the pace is somewhat uneven.