The Curse of the Cherry Pie

by Amy Patricia Meade

Overview

A sharp and tangy culinary mystery featuring Tish Tarragon. Can Tish beat the curse of the cherry pie to win first prize at the Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off?

When literary caterer Letitia 'Tish' Tarragon's friend and star baker at Cookin' the Books cafe, Celestine Rufus, pulls out of the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off, an anxious Tish reluctantly takes her place. Will her signature bake, a frangipane cherry pie, be up to the grade?

As the bake-off gets underway, Tish's worries increase when she learns that two contestants from the previous two competitions also had cherry pies on their menus . . . and both women died suddenly before making their bakes.

Amid bitter rivalries, simmering jealousy and the bakers' insatiable appetite for winning, is the curse of the cherry pie about to strike again?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780297712
Publisher:	Severn House
Publication date:	12/30/2021
Series:	A Tish Tarragon mystery , #4
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.55(w) x 8.74(h) x (d)

About the Author

Amy Patricia Meade is a native of Long Island, NY. Now residing in Bristol, England, Amy spends her time writing mysteries with a humorous or historical bent, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and The Crime Writers Association.

Editorial Reviews

Meade makes each character memorable in this layered, cleverly constructed story. The ending will surprise even seasoned cozy readers. Recommend Tish to fans of Laura Childs' Theodosia Browning -Booklist

From the Publisher

Suggest this series to fans of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen novels

Booklist on The Garden Club Murder

03/01/2021

Meade’s delicious fourth Tish Tarragon mystery (after 2020’s The Christmas Fair Killer) finds Tish, the owner of Cookin’ the Books Café and Catering in Hobson Glen, Va., hoping to win the prestigious annual Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off. Tish, who plans to turn over the $15,000 first prize to a recently widowed friend and employee in need of the money, discovers that two strong contenders, who were expected to unseat Whitney Liddell as champion, died during a previous bake-off. She begins to look more closely at her competitors, particularly Whitney, a proponent of Christian family values who has won the event for three consecutive years. Cutthroat tactics, blind ambition, and murderous impulses are brought to a boil as Tish unearths some surprising means and motives for the two deaths. Meade skillfully sets up tantalizing red herrings, while leaving the actual clues hidden in plain sight. In contrast to earlier outings, Tish doesn’t constantly refer to all the great books she’s read or drop silly puns, and she’s no longer willfully oblivious to danger. Fans will welcome her growing maturity as a character. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds Literary. (May)

Publishers Weekly

★ 11/05/2021

This is Meade's fourth Tish Tarragon mystery (following The Christmas Fair Killer). After Celestine Rufus's husband dies, she's not up to participating in the Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off, so Tish (Celestine's boss at Cookin' the Books Café) steps in to take her place. When Tish lists her three entries for the bake-off, including a signature cherry pie, everyone reacts badly. The last two contestants who entered cherry pies are dead. Tish's journalist friend Julian hysterically calls the pie cursed and begs her to change her entry. But Tish wants to discover how a respected Southern event is connected to two deaths. Tish's lawyer boyfriend is only concerned about how her investigation reflects on his campaign for mayor, while the acting sheriff sneers at the notes and threats she receives. Fortunately, Tish's lifelong friends are in her corner. VERDICT A delicious character-driven treat for fans of The Great British Baking Show or Krista Davis's "Domestic Diva" mysteries. Foodies will relish this latest addition to a series featuring a likable amateur sleuth with supportive, well-developed friends, along with recipes and talk of food.

Library Journal

2021-02-10
A cooking contest becomes a matter of life and death for a cafe owner who's also an amateur detective.

Tish Tarragon attends a funeral along with boyfriend Schuyler Thompson and a group of her besties to support widowed Celestine Rufus, Tish’s friend and employee. Schuyler, who’s running for mayor of Hobson’s Glen, Virginia, can’t linger for the funeral lunch at Tish’s Cookin’ the Books, but obnoxious new sheriff Wade Lightbody barges in, trashes the reputation of former Sheriff Reade, who left suddenly, and makes it abundantly clear that he disapproves of Tish’s sleuthing successes. Discouraged but unbowed, Tish decides to enter the Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off in Celestine’s place in hopes of winning the prize money for her. Her savory and showstopper bake plans are well received, but her selection of cherry pie is met with horror because two former contestants who also chose cherry pie died suddenly. Tish is nearly electrocuted when someone frays the cord on her mixer, and she receives threatening notes that only make her more determined to investigate. Now that the same person has won the contest for three years running, there are plenty of accusations of favoritism. Luckily, Reade’s officers, who remain loyal to him, help Tish dig up information about the other contestants. Schuyler’s complaints about Tish’s lack of support for his ambitions while he belittles hers leave her frazzled. Luckily, both old college buds and new friends support her efforts and watch her back.

Foodies will enjoy the cooking tips along with a tricky mystery and hints of romance to come.

Kirkus Reviews