Things at Pie Town are typically hectic, bordering on frenetic. Val Harris agreed to host a poetry slam (huh?) to make one of her employees happy as her professor is one of the featured poets. Of course, things get out of control (what a shocker) and an argument and charges of plagiarism and up with a dead professor. The characters are interesting and engaging, especially, Charlene the eccentric piecrust maker. While the wackiness threatens to get out of control around the midpoint, it gets reined back in. The mystery is solid and the book (actually the whole series) is just a lot of fun.

This latest installment of books-I-get-up-at-6-am-in-order-to-read is Pies Before Guys by Kirsten Weiss. This is (as indicated by the frankly hilarious and also painfully accurate title) another baking-type mystery.

AND this one has recipes as well, people! I cannot even describe how happy that makes me. Plus, they seem like wicked good recipes, too - I can't wait until the stars align and I have the money, the time, and the kitchen equipment and facilities to try some of them. So, it could be a while.

Still, this is another series that I think I will start trying to hunt down in physical copy - and yes, it is a series. I've given up completely on landing upon the first book in a series at this point - Pies Before Guys is in fact the fourth book in this particular series (Pie Town Mysteries). Fortunately for me, this is another book series written in such a way that you can in fact pick one up at random (at least from what I gather about this one).

Now: the story. Our main character is Val, owner and baker of Pie Town in the small town of San Nicholas. She is involved with the local detective (who sounds like an absolute winner, let's be real here) and he best friend is also her chief pie-crust-maker: 70-something-year-old Charlene. Now, I find Charlene both absolutely hilarious and an absolute danger to herself and those around her - I'm sure we all know someone like that, but it speaks to Ms. Weiss' writing that Charlene frustrated me as much as she did.

The murder mystery in this book actually involves more than one death - a multi-murder, if you will. Somewhat ominously, it also centres around a university (college, because America) faculty, and for those who don't know, I am a student in, a tutor for, and a staff member of a university faculty in addition to being a campus resident. Concerning, no?

Now the mystery was one that I had figured around two thirds of the way through, so it wasn't as snarly as some I have read - then again, it is a cozy mystery and I don't read them to give myself a headache trying to figure out whodunnit. I read them because they are fun, and because some of them come with recipes. Which I want to try, because they sound amazing.

This is well worth a look (though, maybe start at the first book? Which is called The Quiche and the Dead, if anyone was wondering), and an enjoyable way to pass a few hours reading and, should you so wish, maybe a few hours in the kitchen as well.

I never had the opportunity to visit pie town or meet Val and her gang before. I was really excited to hear I was going to be traveling to Cali...and a pie shop….well let’s just say it didn’t take much persuasion.
I arrived right when pie town was hosting a poetry reading. Several of the readers were from the english department at the local community college. Pretty tame right….WRONG! When the reading ends two of the professors were having a screaming match about plagiarism, and within a couple hours one of them is dead….killed with a saber...YES I said saber lol. Well Val and the Baker street bakers (Charlene made me an honorary member) had to investigate...I mean another murder with affiliation to pie town...we needed to figure this out. Man it was a wild ride...trying to keep Charlene in line sometimes is a full time job...and with Val trying to get acquainted with her newly discovered half brother...and keeping pie town from crumbling...get it because it’s pie...lol. Well let’s just say I needed lots of R and R when I got back home!

My thoughts:
I want to start by saying this is the first book I have read in the series, and I will be going back and reading the first before I decide whether its right for me. I really wanted to love it! I mean the cover is great, and the title is amusing. The premise is right up my alley...I love bakery themed cozies. I just didn’t (love it)…. I found myself not connected with Val at all. She wasn’t very interesting, and made some very dumb decisions. It was super frustrating! I also thought there needed to be more setting development. It never gave me the cozy feeling..that would keep me anticipating the next installment.

I thought the author did a really good job with the mystery. I was guessing until the reveal. It includes recipes that sound mouthwatering delicious! I also really enjoyed Charlene. I always love the older eccentric side kick...and she did not disappoint...she was quite entertaining! For these reasons and as mentioned above I came in to the middle of the series I will be giving it a fair shot by reading book 1.

For lovers of food cozies get yourself a slice of pie or one of Val’s great quiches and enjoy!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Kirsten Weiss, and the publisher for this opportunity.

This was an overall enjoyable story. There are developed characters and some humor added in.
While I had guessed the murder, I enjoyed how he/she was revealed.
As a new reader to this series. I would recommend starting with book one.
I received this story from NetGalley

I’m between 3 and 4 stars for this fourth Pie Town Mystery. I was irritated by Charlene’s UFO antics and recklessness in the investigation. I was near to giving up on Val for her wishy-washy behavior and her paranoia in her relationship with Gordon. I’m starting to think Gordon is a saint. I don’t like Marla. I think there is plenty going on in the story line such that we don’t need an irritant for both Charlene (Marla) and Val (Heidi).
The opening felt a bit disjointed. I wasn’t expecting “die” to be in the first couple of sentences.
Two professors from a neighboring town college die. Val and Charlene investigate. Val goes along with a bunch of crazy schemes. It’s not clear who the perpetrator is until right at the end. Maybe I didn’t follow the right clues.
I guess I have talked myself firmly into 3 star territory.

First book in this series that I’ve read. Val and Charlene (pie crust specialist) are an outrageous pair to solve this mystery along with friends that are just a surprising and form the Baker Street Bakers crime solvers. Poetry has never been so deadly. Bonus Chapter from Gourd to Death!

Pies before Guys is the 4th title in the Pie Town Mystery series. Val, the shops owner is looking to improve her relationship with her newly discovered half-brother Doran. Reeling from the events in the last novel, Val is seemingly desperate to establish a strong relationship with Doran as she feels he is the only family she has left. Distanced from a shady Father who works as an enforcer for the mob, Val values her potential future relationship she might be able to have with Doran. Her romantic relationship is also looking positive as her involvement with Detective Gordon Carmichael seems to be thriving. Once again through her relationships take a pause after a deadly murder occurs right after a poetry reading held at Pie Town.

Pie Town employee and student Abril was so excited for the opportunity to host a poetry reading, that the murder of Professor Starke, a prolific and creative English professor, shocks her and the town of San Nicholas.

Val's best friend and pie crust aficionado Charlene takes the opportunity to get the Baker Street Bakers involved...as well as some pie tin UFOs...but since its Charlene the reader should know better than to ask.

Another well written instalment to the series, this specific title has a lot of moving parts. In an almost "Clue" like way we often get the opportunity to be in a room with many potential suspects. This one did keep me guessing till the end. I look forward to the next adventure for Val and the Baker Street Bakers!

This is number 4 in the "Pie Town" Mystery Series by cozy author Kristen Weiss. I have read the previous books in the series and always enjoy returning to "Pie Town" . Any reader can easily pick up the next in series and follow along as the author sets the backstory well for those that have not read the first in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. I highly recommend this next in series.

In this next in series our trusty crime fighting pie baking duo Val and Charlene are investigating a murder that occurs after a poetry reading at their pie shop. . The poetry reading was not without problems as two professors were heard arguing and the victim is one of them. Again Val finds the local police are implicating her shop and her employees so she must step up to investigate. The case proves to be difficult for Val and for the police. Clues abound and soon suspects are stacking up as Val and Charlene make inroads only they can .

I loved this next in series. Val and Charlene are a enjoyable fun duo . The added enjoyment is the descriptions of the pies and the adorable shop. I enjoy all the supporting charcters and the sleuth was full of surprises to conclusion. A winning next in series . Fun receipes are included in each book. Well done to the author !

Do you know what is even better than pie? A Pie Town mystery! This is exactly what I discovered when I dove head-first in the Pie Town Mysteries!

Pies Before Guys is the fourth book in the Pie Town Mysteries, and sees Pie Town owner, Val Harris, get involved in a murder investigation, when a college professor is found dead after he attends a poetry slam at her bakery. What did Professor Starke do to deserve such an untimely death? Was it the ex-wife? The ex-wife's boyfriend? Or someone else. It's up to the Baker Street Bakers to solve the mystery!

Lately, I've been throwing myself right into cozy mysteries mid-series. I love just diving right into a new cozy town, and cozy towns don't get much better than San Nicholas. San Nicholas is home to Pie Town, and all the quirky and interesting locals that hang out at the bakery! They don't get more quirky than pie-crust maker, Charlene, with her narcoleptic cat, Frederick, who hangs out on her shoulder all day. Charlene is obsessed with creating local and internet sensations with pie-dish UFO's and her adventures with this were absolutely hilarious!!

Kristen Weiss crafts an interesting whodunnit. She creates a tangle of a mystery, with very little suspects. Even given so little "players" in the mystery, I still wasn't able to solve the mystery before Val and Charlene. This is definitely a mystery that kept me on my toes!!

I really loved Pies Before Guys. This is a fun series in the culinary cozies sub-genre. It's full of unique, interesting characters - my favorite being Charlene, of course, because we all need a UFO-obsessed friend in our lives! I highly recommend this series, for both the mystery and colorful characters... and of course the delectable pie recipes too!!

Pie Before Guys by Kirsten Weiss is the 4th book in the Pie Town Mystery series, and I loved it. Pie Before Guys is a perfect blend of mystery and humor. Val owns the restaurant Pie Town, and she solves murders with her side kick, Charlene her elderly pie crust maker. Pie Town is hosting a poetry slam, and her employee Abril, is hosting it. When professor Michael Starke, who participated in the slam, is found dead a short distance away, the sleuthing begins. Not only is this book really funny, I often found myself laughing out loud a lot, the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I found this book to be a quick read, I read it in one day, with a well developed plot and unique characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love humorous cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book and series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If the title doesn’t get you the story will.

Do poetry and pies go together? Well maybe if the poetry was a little bit better and we didn’t end up with a murder on the plate. Val and her lovely and delicious pic shop host a poetry slam that gives readers a not your typical cozy.

Val and Charlene are coworkers and friends and have this thing for solving crime. Charlene is an instigator and likes to have fun with people. Val has a way of going along with what Charlene suggests. These two get themselves into trouble easier than they can make a pie. And when you think they can’t get any deeper into the crust, yes they just did. They are over the top and hysterical to boot.

Pies Before Guys is a laughter out loud, jaw dropping, outside the norm of cozy mystery. It did take me a bit to really get into the story but the comical content sure than made up for it. Kristen Weiss twisted this mystery right and I was shocked when the who done it was revealed. Pies before Guys is an enjoyable read.

Poetry, baked goods, and a mystery are the perfect ingredients that make this book a must read. The author paints the picture of the story so well for the reader, it is so easy to just turn the page and find yourself lost in the story. Excellent read and a great addition to the series.

Val isn't very into having a poetry slam at her pie shop but her young employee Abril who set it up is very excited. Val can't believe how boring the evening is until several of the posts get into a shouting match, one of those being Abril's professor. The other combatant is accusing the professor of plagiarism and just won't let it go. All goes from bad to worse when the body of the professor is found dead not long after the evening shut down. Val can't believe her pie shop is in the cross hairs again and knows that investigating is in her future. Val and Charlene start looking for clues but end up empty handed when it comes to clues. Val realizes they need to dig deeper otherwise it could be.The end for Pie Town. Meanwhile Val is trying to work on her new found relationship with her half-brother, he has moved to town which.gives them a chance.to get.to know each other better. Follow along as Val does her best to get Pie Town out of a bad light, works on her relationship with her half-brother, and keeps Charlene out of trouble. This series is filled with eccentric characters that will keep.you.coming back for more!

This series has quickly become one of my favorites. It is crazy funny with lots of characters who hi-jinks are outrageous. Each book is better than the last and since they are all great, that is saying something.

In this story, Val (the owner of Pie Town) has allowed one of her employees the use of Pie Town after hours for a poetry slam. There are a number of poets present, including Professor Starke. After the event, the professor is found murdered just a few steps away from the bakery.

Val and her fantastic pie crust specialist and landlord, Charlene are on the case. They are the Baker Street Bakers and usually solve much smaller crimes. However, when a murder threatens Pie Town, they gear up for the case.

All I can say is that just when you think that nothing more ridiculous and laugh out loud funny can occur, it does. I love reading these books because I never know what to expect.

There is always a real whodunnit and sometimes more than one. While the characters are over-the-top, the crimes are not. They are believable and the combination of the two make for a wonderful read.

I’m already looking forward to reading the next in the series. The only problem is having to wait.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I really like a lot of the characters and plot points in this series but Charlene has become a deal-breaker for me. She’s an antagonist that we’re supposed to see as a friend to our protagonist. She drives the action in such a negative way, but because it all works out in the end, we forgive her? I cannot read these books anymore - she has no growth or development.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

Val and Charlene are trying to stay out of trouble - again. When a poetry slam is hosted by their bakery Pie Town, it doesn't end well. Not just bad poetry is served up at the event but the ending turns deadly for Prof. Michael Starke. After reading a strange poem he is accused of plagiarism but is that any reason to kill him with his saber? The list of possible killers includes past amorous partners, other faculty members and it makes for a tough case for Val and Charlene to tackle. Can they find the killer without putting their safety on the line? Working with a rather reluctant Det. Carmichael they are faced with plenty of suspects hiding secrets galore.
This series always brings together a great cast of characters, humor, friendships and a well crafted puzzle to solve. Plus there is a cat. And pie! Just right for a quick reading getaway. I'm looking forward to book #5 Gourd to Death, due out August 25, 2020. I've saved a spot on my TBR list for it.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another knockout by Kirsten! These books keep getting better and better and I can’t get enough of all of the characters! They feel like a quirky long lost family! I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

One of Val's employees has persuaded her to host a poetry slam at Pie Town, and the event goes well, despite accusations of plagiarism. When one of the poets, who is also a professor at the nearby college, is found dead shortly afterwards, Val and Charlene decide to investigate.

This is the fourth book in the Pie Town series, and I am enjoying the series more with every installment. I like that Pie Town has become an established business and has acquired regular customers who have become like family to Val and her employees. It is fun watching the relationships grow and develop between the recurring characters, although I will admit to rolling my eyes more than once at some of Charlene's theories and antics, and I wish Val wasn't drawn into some of her schemes quite so easily. The mystery was a good one, even though I guessed the identity of the villain before it was revealed in the book. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Yes the poem was bad and yes it might have been plagiarized but was that worth killed Professor Michael Starke with a saber? Val had not idea that things would go quite so awry when she agreed, at the behest of Abril, who works for her at her restaurant Pie Town, to host a poetry slam. It should have been a good opportunity to sell pie and connect with the public but no...it turned into a murder investigation that gets Val and her friend Charlene (she's a hoot) into hot water with Val's love interest Detective Gordan Carmichael, whose supervisors are also tired of how Val meddles. There was, of course, more to Starke than met the eye. This treads familiar territory in the genre but I like the characters and the writing is nice. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. Don't worry if you haven't read the preceding books in the series- this will be fine as a standalone.

Val Harris is reluctantly hosting a poetry slam for the local community college at her bakery, Pie Town. But the evening turns into a nightmare when a professor is found murdered after being accused of plagiarism by another professor. Val and her pie crust maker/sidekick, Charlene, work together to catch the killer.

Pies before Guys by Kristen Weiss has everything I love in a cozy mystery- quirky characters, the small tight-knit community feeling, and a mystery with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Val's character was well-developed and I found it very easy to like her. But she came across as a bit of a pushover and I was happy to see her stand up for herself in the end. Charlene's over the top behavior annoyed me at times, but she grew on me as the story progressed and I really enjoyed the subplot with her pie tin UFOs. This was an enjoyable and entertaining cozy mystery and I definitely recommend it. It is the fourth book in the A Pie Town Mystery series, and can easily be read as a stand-alone.

I received an ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.