Scan barcode
raeof_sunshinebooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
If you need a shorter cozy mystery to read on the go (in between appointments, etc) then this is one you might want to check out. It has everything a full length cozy has but in 130 pages.
I always love a cozy that involves food and this is the first time I’ve seen one that centers around recipes that are cooked in a cast iron skillet. (The recipes at the end look divine!) Jolie is sort of a mess, I think she is an introvert so has problems talking to people or fitting in unless it is her family or best friend, Ava. Plus we get a peek into her past when it comes to her biological father and the emotional abuse he inflicted on Joie which has a lot to do with how she acts and reacts to people and situations.
Jolie and Ava have planned this restaurant since they were young children and are the best of friends and even live next door to each other. They have a great relationship which hasn’t wavered even though Ava is in a relationship with Delilah – sometimes love interests get in the way of friendship. Despite their friendship, there are some tense moments in several spots in the book but I’m not going to reveal why you’ll have to read the book and find out.
There is quite a cast of characters but even with the varied characters, I was able to deduce who is the killer. I couldn’t tell you why, but something about this character’s actions and words clued me into their guilt. Now that isn’t to say that a few other characters didn’t seem a bit suspicious. There is also an attractive police detective that seems to have a thing for Jolie once they get past his initial brusqueness.
Overall a great start to a new series and we give this 4 paws up.
I always love a cozy that involves food and this is the first time I’ve seen one that centers around recipes that are cooked in a cast iron skillet. (The recipes at the end look divine!) Jolie is sort of a mess, I think she is an introvert so has problems talking to people or fitting in unless it is her family or best friend, Ava. Plus we get a peek into her past when it comes to her biological father and the emotional abuse he inflicted on Joie which has a lot to do with how she acts and reacts to people and situations.
Jolie and Ava have planned this restaurant since they were young children and are the best of friends and even live next door to each other. They have a great relationship which hasn’t wavered even though Ava is in a relationship with Delilah – sometimes love interests get in the way of friendship. Despite their friendship, there are some tense moments in several spots in the book but I’m not going to reveal why you’ll have to read the book and find out.
There is quite a cast of characters but even with the varied characters, I was able to deduce who is the killer. I couldn’t tell you why, but something about this character’s actions and words clued me into their guilt. Now that isn’t to say that a few other characters didn’t seem a bit suspicious. There is also an attractive police detective that seems to have a thing for Jolie once they get past his initial brusqueness.
Overall a great start to a new series and we give this 4 paws up.
andreah13's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
karen_the_baroness's review against another edition
5.0
Who would want to kill a harmless old lady?
Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is a splendid cozy mystery with lots of questions that Ms. Rath answers.
Jolie Tucker
Jolie is our sleuth and the co-owner of The Cast Iron Creations. She is a bright young twenty-two-year-old who is trying to solve the murder of her grandma’s dearest friend Ellie. Of course, she is thwarted by the killer and the police. Jolie is a very curious amateur sleuth and nothing that the chief Tobias and the new detective from Tri-City have any say.
I like that Jolie is helping solve the crime of her grandma’s dearest friend she wasn’t apart of her family but felt like she was. Jolie is excellent at trying to do that and not step on the police toes despite how small the town is. She loves to bake, and cook, but she's not a great social person, which is something that I can relate to.
Things to look for (and that I liked)
- The coziness of living in a small town like this will bring. I love living in small towns like this one.
- How everyone is concerned about Jolie is very comforting.
- The friendships that Jolie has with a lot of the people in town.
- It's very obvious how Keith and a certain Tri-City detective are trying to date Jolie.
- That despite the closeness of everyone in town, there are still ways to keep a secret.
5 Stars for Pineapple Upside Down Mystery by Jodi Roth
My rating for Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is five stars. To me, everything that Ms. Roth did with this book is fabulous. I completely fell in love with the characters and Jolie. The mystery was so sad, and it had me guessing, but I fell for one of the red herrings. The whole setting is another thing that I love. Oh, and there is a recipe for Jolie’s grandma’s pineapple upside down cake at the end of the book.
I highly recommend this book to all Cozy readers.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed my review of Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
dawnhosmer's review against another edition
4.0
Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath is an enjoyable cozy culinary mystery that has a delightful & diverse cast of characters you’ll fall in love with. This was an easy, fast read that left me guessing until the end – I never would’ve been able to figure out the who or the why on my own. Some of the underlying themes of the book are family ties and bonds that cross generations, friendships and pursuing our dreams/goals. I look forward to reading the rest of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. I also can't wait to try the recipe that was at the end of the book. Warning: Don't read this book while you're hungry because all of the descriptions of delicious food will make your mouth water.
dollycas's review against another edition
4.0
Dollycas’s Thoughts
When Jolie Tucker finds out her Grandma Opal is the top suspect in the death of her friend and owner of Chocolate Capers, Ellie Siler Jolie jumps from the cast iron frying pan into the fire to prove her innocence. What she learns could bring her very short-lived dream as co-owner of the Cast Iron Creations Restaurant to an end. She could also be the killer’s next victim . . .
A dead body, stolen recipes, and family secrets highlight this delightful cozy novella.
Jolie Tucker and her best friend Ava own Cast Iron Creations that features old family recipes made in cast iron skillets. Something her grandma Opal always wanted to do but was never able to do so. Jolie handles the kitchen because she is a real introvert and readers get a little bit of the backstory as to why. Joining Jolie is this story is a big cast. Her best friend Ava, other friends Lydia, Bradley, and Keith, Ava’s girlfriend Delilah, Grandma Opal and her daughter’s, along with Roxi who works at the restaurant and her brother Rex. We also have Detective Meiser, the investigator in charge of the case. At first, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everyone straight. It also felt like too many characters for a story of this length. But the author did a good job of making each unique and soon I had a handle on all the players.
This mystery was really twisted up. I did want to reach into the pages and slap the detective a few times. Jolie had a long list of suspects, essentially anyone that wasn’t her grandmother. She has a lot of good theories but the visiting detective in charge wasn’t interested in anything except maybe Jolie herself. The killer reveal was a surprise for me and a nice twist.
I really enjoyed the cast iron skillet theme and I am looking forward to getting to know these characters better and in more depth in the next book, Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder, out June 21.
When Jolie Tucker finds out her Grandma Opal is the top suspect in the death of her friend and owner of Chocolate Capers, Ellie Siler Jolie jumps from the cast iron frying pan into the fire to prove her innocence. What she learns could bring her very short-lived dream as co-owner of the Cast Iron Creations Restaurant to an end. She could also be the killer’s next victim . . .
A dead body, stolen recipes, and family secrets highlight this delightful cozy novella.
Jolie Tucker and her best friend Ava own Cast Iron Creations that features old family recipes made in cast iron skillets. Something her grandma Opal always wanted to do but was never able to do so. Jolie handles the kitchen because she is a real introvert and readers get a little bit of the backstory as to why. Joining Jolie is this story is a big cast. Her best friend Ava, other friends Lydia, Bradley, and Keith, Ava’s girlfriend Delilah, Grandma Opal and her daughter’s, along with Roxi who works at the restaurant and her brother Rex. We also have Detective Meiser, the investigator in charge of the case. At first, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everyone straight. It also felt like too many characters for a story of this length. But the author did a good job of making each unique and soon I had a handle on all the players.
This mystery was really twisted up. I did want to reach into the pages and slap the detective a few times. Jolie had a long list of suspects, essentially anyone that wasn’t her grandmother. She has a lot of good theories but the visiting detective in charge wasn’t interested in anything except maybe Jolie herself. The killer reveal was a surprise for me and a nice twist.
I really enjoyed the cast iron skillet theme and I am looking forward to getting to know these characters better and in more depth in the next book, Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder, out June 21.
wulfwyn's review against another edition
5.0
I came across this series when I answered a question in a Facebook group on cooking with a cast iron skillet. I love my cast iron skillet. I make all kinds of things in it. It is older than I am. A cozy mystery that includes cast iron skillet recipe? Yes, please. I bought the book to check it out and thoroughly enjoy myself! I really like the family and friends in this small town. I don’t want to say a lot about the plot so yes a dead body is involved along with another mystery that isn’t a dead body. Are they related or separate? I did not guess the ending at all. The ending is complete but there is something that happened to Jolie that I absolutely must have the next book to see how it goes. So maybe the ending is complete but not. I don’t know. What I do know is I’m definitely getting Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder. And this fall I’ll be on the lookout for Turkey Basted to Death, the book not dinner at my parents where my dad always says the turkey was basted to death. You know I have to get that book just for the title alone. My dad is going to crack up! I’m so looking forward to more books in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series.
More...