This is a great series and can be read in any order. Perhaps there was less snappy dialogue and witty banter amongst the main protagonists than in previous escapades, when the appeal of these books is Tish and her zany colleagues rather than the plot itself. But this one was entertaining and I look forward to more from the author's regular cast.

Tish’s life has definitely changed since the last time we checked in on her. She’s now living in a small room that was previously a storeroom in her cafe kitchen because Tish’s best friend Mary Jo and her kids are living in Tish’s apartment above the cafe. The living situation isn’t ideal, but Tish is trying to make the best of it.

Unusually for a cozy mystery (at least the ones I’ve been reading) Tish has broken up with her boyfriend Schuyler (the one we’ve spent the last four books building up a romance with) and things are… not going well. Schuyler is now the new mayor of Hobson Glen, plus he’s still Tish’s landlord, and he’s not taking the breakup well. Which could definitely mean trouble in the near future for Tish. Fingers crossed things don’t get too bad for her heroine.

The murder of Retired Sheriff Carney has Tish and her friends digging into the past, alongside current Sheriff Clemson Reade and his team. Carney had recently become obsessed with the Honeycutt case, one that he couldn’t solve, and Tish is wondering if the obsession is what got Carney killed. Reade was still new to the force at the time and Carney was his mentor, so this case hits close to home for him.

As with previous instalments, the murder and action happens at a very steady pace and there is never a dull moment. There were a couple of red herrings, and some unexpected twists, but overall, it was a nice mystery that wasn’t too far-fetched and was quite interesting to watch unfold.

You can read this book as a standalone, but I think there’s are a few things happening that are require a bit more background to fully appreciate, including Schuyler’s hostility (which, honestly, I got a bit tired of – he was so charming in the first few books, so this about-face is tough to take), and the blossoming romance between Tish and Reade.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t add that, as always, the supporting characters are what make this series extra special to me. Tish’s friends, especially Mary Jo and their other bestie, anchorman Julian “Jules” Davis, are what keep Tish sane and they support her no matter how crazy things may get. I adore Jules – he’s one of my favourite supporting characters in any cozy mystery series so I’m just going to say that he didn’t get enough “air time” in this book. LOL.

All in all, From Ladle to Grave was a solid addition to the Tish Tarragon series. I’ve been reading this series from the start and it has yet to get boring or repetitive for me and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

*** Thank you to the publisher, Severn House, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

From ladle to grave by Amy Patricia Meade.
A Tish Tarragon mystery Book 5.
Could a body found in a graveyard be linked to a tragic murder twenty-five years ago? Tish Tarragon is plunged into a new case when a fundraising dinner in the local church hall leads to a dark discovery.
I very much enjoyed this book. Great story and characters. 4*.

I always fall for a punny title and a cozy mystery! This book is right up my alley. Always a fun genre for readers.

From Ladle to Grave is the fifth book in a series by Amy Patricia Meade featuring Letitia 'Tish' Tarragon. Set in Virginia, Tish, the owner of Cookin' the Books Café, is holding a fundraising dinner at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church. The event takes place every year and includes an auction. Afterwards, Tish is locking up and as she walks across the graveyard she trips on something and twists her ankle. Looking back to see what caused her to fall she spots a shoe... and it's attached to a dead body.

An extremely enjoyable cosy mystery with a very likeable protagonist in Tish, I was thoroughly engrossed in this story. The plot was engaging and it sported a colourful cast of supporting characters, including lovable and funny Jules and Celestine, who brought a warm family vibe to the proceedings. The literary food creations were also excellent. This was my second dip into the series and I did not feel lost even though I have not yet read the first instalments. A great tale that has left me keen to see what's in store for Tish and her cat, Tuna, going forward.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House Publishers via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Tish is back with another interesting catering event. Heroines of Literature. A fundraiser for St. Jude’s Episcopal Church. Things are humming along well when she notices a woman staring at her. Odd. But soon forgotten in the cleanup.

Walking home through the graveyard to lock up the hall, she literally stumbles over a body. A dead one.

The deceased has a fatal head wound and is lying on top of the Honeycutt plot. Daisy Honeycutt was murdered 25 years ago in a sensational case that shocked everyone.

The hunky Sheriff Reade is back and officially makes Tish a consultant! So off they go to solve a murder and find out why someone now wants this man dead. Could his reopening the case have something to do with it?

With twists and turns galore, I think this is the best one so far in the series. And oh that ending!

Very well done!

NetGalley/December 7th, 2021 by Severn House Publishers

I love Tish Tarragon series and I think this the best book so far as it's a page turner that kept me hooked and guessing. It's an excellent and tense mystery, full of red herring and twists.
The mystery is a bit darker but I loved the complexity and how the author manage to keep the suspence level.
There's also some changes in Tish life and had a lot of fun in reading about them and appreciated how they never became the main point of the story.
I was glad to meet again Jules, Celestine, Mary and the gang of characters. They're likeable and fleshed out as usual.
An excellent cozy mystery, a bit darker than usual.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

What a fun and quirky book to read. I was given this book by NetGalley to read and review and not having read the previous books in this series I though maybe I would miss out on something but alas this is as much a stand-alone read as it is a book in a series.

The story of a murder or should I say two murders, one from the past and one from the present. Are they connected? We shall see.

This book drew me in and set the scene, the characters were introduced in such a manner that you knew just enough about them and where they fit without there being to much information to overwhelm you. And so the story goes, and flows, with twists and turns and just when you think you might know.... Hmmm Maybe it wasn't him/her!

And to me that is what makes a good book. This one also had its quirkiness, Tish Tarragon who runs the cafe (Cookin' The Books) and consults on murder cases and her cat Tuna. I love the names of the towns, all the characters and found the story fun and interesting and very entertaining.

Thank you so much to Severn House for a free review copy of From Ladle To Grave!

Even though this is the fifth book in a series, the author did a great job introducing us to all of the characters and their relationships to one another. All of the appropriate callbacks were there and I always felt caught up. I love Tish's café, and that it is book themed! Also, how could I not love that she has a café cat named Tuna?

I enjoyed Tish, she has a very calm, thoughtful demeanor and she isn't hysterically bumbling around, obtrusively inserting herself into this murder investigation like many other cozy mysteries I've tried. In fact, she becomes an integral part of the Sherriff's investigative team in this installment.

The mystery itself was ok, it had shades of JonBenet Ramsey which gave me a little bit of an oogly feeling because it a case that still haunts me, but overall still multi layered and difficult to see whodunnit until the end. If I had any real quibble with the book, its that it is a little bit slow paced overall until the very end.

A good story, a good writer, interesting side characters and a fun world, I think Meade's series is totally worth getting into. 3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this book much more than the previous books in the series.
A winning combination of a literary and culinary cozy.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

A 25 year old murder case of a young girl brings the past to the present when the retired sheriff who investigated the case, is found murdered on the girl's grave. Tish and Sheriff Reade have two mysteries and the only way to solve both is to venture back in time. Secrets long buried bring murder to the cozy community of Ashton Courthouse.

Tish Tarragon is many things: an in-demand caterer and owner of "Cookin' The Books - a literary catering business) , loyal friend and now, a consultant for the Sheriff's department. In the series, Tish has gone from being perceived as a "busybody" to getting the credit she deserves for her sleuthing! The mystery is full of "twists and turns" and "red herrings" and as the puzzle pieces fall into place, they all fit perfectly. The lovable and funny Jules and Celestine, bring a warm, family feeling to the book and the literary food creations like "Harriet the Spy Tomato Sandwich" are fun!

I can't wait to visit the small town of Ashton Courthouse for the mystery, humor and food!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Enjoyed the story of sleuthing, which brings Tish to investigate. I liked the twists and turns and the mystery surrounding the murder. I hadn’t read any of the other stories but will do know! Looking forward to another mystery for Tish to solve.

My first in this series and I don't know how I feel about it still. I didn't love it, didn't hate it, just sort of sat there in the middle of the road. Something felt contrived and off but at the same time it was decently written and crafted. Might have to given the author another chance to knock my socks off.

From ladle to grave indeed! Tish has just finished catering a party at the church when she finds the body of retired Sheriff Carney stretched over the grave of Daisy Honeycutt, whose case he handled 25 years ago. Tish has recently been hired as a consultant to the Hobsen Glen PD so she. along with Sheriff Clemson Reade find themselves looking at a very cold case because Carney's been murdered the same way Daisy was. It's a nicely plotted and twisty mystery. I've been critical in the past of the punning in these novels and was pleased that it's been toned down this time. I like Tish, like Clemson, and am looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was the first in this series for me, but certainly not the last! The mystery was well done, the relationships just right, and more importantly, it was a mystery they actually solved. Not found the murder by accident, but they came across the murder through clues and detective work. I especially like that our heroine actually works with the law and that the romance portions of this are somewhat realistic.

Excellent! From Ladle to Grave, the fifth Tish Tarragon, is the best in an outstanding series. Amy Patricia Meade brings us characters to love and a challenging mystery to puzzle over as Tish and Clemson's relationship finally makes a step in the right direction. I was almost as delighted as Tish when Sheriff Reade returned to town and now he has invited her to officially consult with the department. Tish's friends are more than happy to make sure that she as has much time as possible to work with the infatuated lawman while Tish is insistent that her interest is helping him discover who murdered his mentor. The plot is complex and nothing is quite as it seems which is one of the hallmarks of Ms. Meade's books that makes them irresistible!
I want to thank NetGalley, Severn House, and Amy Patricia Meade for the great time I had reading the ARC of From Ladle to Grave. If you haven't heard about it from me, you will.
#NetGalley, #FromLadletoGrave #SevernHouse #AmyPatriciaMeade

When I had a few quibbles about the first Tish Tarragon mystery, Cookin’ the Books, I never thought the author Amy Patricia Meade would go on to write such interesting mysteries in the series. The fourth book, The Curse of the Cherry Pie, was an enjoyable mystery that reminded me of The Great British Bake Off. Now, with From Ladle to Grave, Meade has written a police procedural that combines a current investigation with a cold case. How does she include her amateur sleuth? Tish is hired as a consultant for the Sheriff’s Department.

Leave it to Tish to trip over a body in a cemetery. When Sheriff Clemson Reade is called, he recognizes the murder victim as his mentor, former Sheriff Gadsden Carney. Carney was found on Daisy Honeycutt’s grave. That was the one case that bothered him from his career. Although he was retired, he had started looking into it again almost twenty-five years later. Reade’s convinced someone connected to that earlier case wanted to keep Carney quiet.

When Sheriff Reade hires Tish to act as a consultant because she’s helped solve so many cases, all of her close friends hope Clemson and Tish will discover that they’re attracted to each other. But, each of them have reasons to be a little gun shy, so they’re taking it slow. But, they’re spending large chunks of the day together while Tish’s employees cover the cafe.

From Ladle to Grave is not an action-packed mystery. Instead, Clemson and Tish retrace the first investigation to find a killer. Years earlier, six-year-old Daisy Honeycutt was found murdered ,with a head injury, in her parents’ garage on the day of the their Fourth of July barbecue. Daisy’s father was Senator Benton Honeycutt. Her mother, Delilah, eventually confessed to the murder, and died in prison. Now, someone hit former Sheriff Carney in the head, and left the body at Daisy’s grave. The Senator and Delilah are both dead. Sheriff Reade and Tish reinterview everyone else who was present on the day of Daisy’s murder.

Meade does na excellent job misdirecting the reader, sending us to several people as possible suspects. I never suspected the actual killer. But, it was so refreshing to read about an amateur sleuth who did not set out by herself to confront a killer. She left messages for the police when she couldn’t reach Sheriff Reade, and he was the one she worried about.

If you like mysteries that rely on careful investigation and witness interviews, Meade’s From Ladle to Grave might work even if you haven’t read the previous four books in the series.

Enjoyable Amateur Sleuthing Ensues….
The fifth in the entertaining Tish Tarragon series of mysteries finds, literary caterer, Tish stumbling, quite literally, over a dead body. In a graveyard, which is as it should be, if it were not on the wrong side of the ground. Could this find be a linked to a case from the past? Enjoyable amateur sleuthing soon ensues. A well written, and always comforting to read, mystery with an endearing protagonist in Tish and an engaging plot populated with a colourful cast of supporting characters. As fun as ever. Delightful, much needed escapism

Could a body found in a graveyard be linked to a tragic murder twenty-five years ago? Tish Tarragon is plunged into a new case when a fundraising dinner in the local church hall leads to a dark discovery. I really enjoy a good mystery within a mystery. This is a fun series!
#FromLadletoGrave #NetGalley

I swear, sitting down with a Tish Tarragon mystery is like a cup of warm tea with a sugary pastry: comforting and enjoyable the whole way through, and you always want a bit more!

In this fifth book in the series, the reader is introduced to two cases as the dynamic duo of sheriff Clemson and caterer Tish set out to solve both mysteries together in more ways than one. I won't say more on the plot other than that though. The mystery is very well-done and kept me guessing right up to the reveal so I don't want to accidentally give anything away in my excitement!

Meade does a great job at twisting expectations. I really enjoyed the intertwining of past and present with the cases and within Tish herself as she faces the unfortunate fact that often our memories can betray us. And that ending, I'm going to need book 6 ASAP please and thank you!

I continue to highly recommend the Tarragon series as my favorite set of cozy mysteries. If you haven't started them yet, go get book 1, and if you have you're in for a real treat with this one.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.