DNF @ 25%. I have generally enjoyed this series and will continue to recommend it, but at this time I need to focus on different books and this one isn't keeping my interest.

This is book 3 in the Cape Cod Foodie series. It prime summer and the the 4th of July is just calling for a Clam Bake picnic. Samantha has it all planned except for the perfect Blueberry Buckle for dessert. Clara is going to teach Sam how to make the perfect Buckle but is killed in a fire before they can start. With several suspects it seems unlikely that the fire was an accident. This book can be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the small town setting and the re-occuring characters.

This was a fantastic holiday read! The family dynamics were wonderful, and I loved the Fourth of July theme! The murder mystery was well paced, and I loved the plot twists!

This book is definitely for foodies!
The author does a great job with all the details and descriptions of food. It makes me want to cook and eat alongside the characters. This book also includes recipes for readers. I enjoyed the story and characters. I look forward to checking out the rest of this series.


My thanks to Berkley/Penguin Random House and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review!

Murder Is No Picnic is the third book in Amy Pershing’s Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series. This book can be read as a standalone. Famous restauranteur Clara Foster invites Samantha Barnes, the Cape Cod Foodie, to her home to film a cooking demonstration making her delectable Blueberry Buckle. That night, after the filming, Clara dies in a fire at her home. Samantha doesn’t believe it was an accident. Detective Vivian Peters has her suspicions as well. Can Samantha and Vivian smoke out the killer before their July 4th plans go up in flames?

This book was absolutely amazing! It was a fast-paced read, with a lot of action to keep me engaged from beginning to end. The town of Fair Harbor is a charming setting. The characters spend a lot of time on or near the water, which made me very happy. Ms. Pershing’s detailed descriptions brought the setting to life. Characters are well-developed and have strong, supportive, and loyal relationships. There is quite a bit of humor in the story. Normally, one of the supporting characters is my favorite in a story, but in this story the protagonist, Samantha, is my favorite. I love her wit and sarcasm. Helene is also a favorite with her no-nonsense, matter-of-fact personality. Helene’s explanation of “one truth” is very powerful. I also appreciated Summer’s view on pets. Ms. Pershing has woven cooking tips into the story, some of which I wrote down, and of course, there are recipes at the end. The mystery is cleverly plotted with plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The “catch the killer” scene is a wild ride that had me on the edge of my seat. It was absolutely my favorite scene in the book, maybe in any book that I’ve ever read. I hope the next book comes out soon, I’m desperate to know what’s going to happen with Samantha and Jason’s relationship.

I highly recommend this book to all cozy readers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

MURDER IS NO PICNIC, the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing, is a delicious read with fun, engaging characters! I’m always excited when I start a book and discover it has a holiday theme. In this newest release, the 4th of July is just around the corner and protagonist Samantha (Sam) Barnes is ready to delve into finding the perfect food to celebrate. As a Cape Cod food reporter, i.e. the Cape Cod Foodie, I greatly enjoyed how the author weaves Sam’s hunt for the very best blueberry buckle in the world with the murder of the woman who makes it. Except, authorities are calling it a tragic accident, but Sam is pretty certain there was foul play involved. As the pot is stirred to find suspects and the plot thickens as secrets are revealed, the police pounce on Sam’s boyfriend’s cousin. In an effort to prove his innocence, Sam steps up her investigation with the help of her close friends. Ms. Pershing writes a well-paced mystery and for those with sharp instincts, the clues will help you suss out the killer… or at least make you suspicious. I also loved how Sam and Detective Vivian Peters—Vivvie to her friends—have developed more of a friendship, as they bond over Sam giving the detective sailing lessons… which just might come in handy in the investigation.

In cozy mysteries, the mystery goes hand-in-hand with both characters and the setting, and Ms. Pershing has those in spades! With witty dialog and humor to lighten the scenes, Sam and her friends have great chemistry. Their get-togethers to talk over clues and suspects always include plenty of mouthwatering food. And, as in previous books, her adorable, goofy dog, Dioge, steals each and every scene. And who can resist the charm of Cape Cod? From the beaches, to the open water, to the dunes, to the weathered houses, the strong descriptions make it all come to life, making me want to visit, and since that’s not possible at the moment, makes me yearn for the next book in the series!

As the Cape Cod Foodie, Sam’s life revolves around food, all for the betterment of readers. Be prepared to be hungry as you read! Thankfully, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try.

Amy Pershing really hits her stride in this, the third book of the Cape Cod Foodie mystery series. Our heroine is Samantha Barnes, a former NYC chef with an unfortunate penchant for viral online notoriety. Nowadays, she lives a quieter life on the Massachusetts coast, writing a food column and doing video segments as the Cape Cod Foodie for the local paper, while fixing up the home she inherited from her late Aunt Ida.

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, Sam is thinking of hosting a big picnic for her friends. Her boyfriend Jason Captiva will also be back from the West Coast where he’s been undertaking professional training as a harbormaster for the past few weeks. Sam has mixed feelings about this, mostly due to her own commitment issues. She is definitely looking forward to spending time with all her loved ones though, especially after she discovers the perfect blueberry buckle to serve them while dining at famed local restaurant Clara’s Place.

The owner Ed happens to be Jason’s cousin, but the restaurant itself was founded by the legendary Clara Foster, who is happy to share her buckle recipe with the younger woman. She invites Sam over to her home, and the two women plan to tape a Cape Cod Foodie segment featuring the buckle. In the process, Sam and Clara grow genuinely fond of each other, with Sam promising to come back the day after filming in order to return a basket Clara loaned her.

So imagine Sam’s devastation when her editor Krista Baker asks her the next day to write Clara’s obituary. Apparently, Clara had died of smoke inhalation from a house fire the night before, caused by leaving a pan burning over an open flame. Sam refuses to believe that a seasoned chef like Clara would be so thoughtless as to accidentally start a fire that way. The ever-pragmatic Krista decides that this attitude means that Sam is the perfect person to cover the story and sends her off to the crime scene to get the full details.

As Sam strikes up a tentative friendship with lead investigator Detective Vivian Peters, she becomes increasingly convinced that someone deliberately staged the fire in order to kill Clara. But who could have possibly had it in for the local cooking icon? Perhaps more importantly, who would have profited from her death?

I really enjoyed spending time with Sam as she wrestled with all sorts of doubts and insecurities in the process of not only solving the mystery of Clara’s demise, but also figuring out her future with Jason. It was a delight to watch her entirely unwarranted worries about Vivian transform into a genuine friendship. The murder mystery and its solution unfolded organically, but most of all, I was struck by the wisdom of Sam’s beloved neighbor Helene when she talked about how “people with only one truth can be very dangerous.” This was an extremely wise take on the culinary cozy, with just the perfect amount of Cape Cod summertime flavor to really transport readers to the setting.

There were three recipes included here, arrayed as a delightful picnic menu. I decided to try out the appetizer because I love seafood dips:

QUOTE
Keep It Simple Clam Dip
(yields 2 cups)

1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 7-ounce can minced clams (drained but reserving 2 tablespoons of the clam liquid)
1 cup sour cream
⅛ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or more to taste)
1-2 tablespoons lemon juice

Drain the clams, reserving 2 tablespoons of the liquid, and mash into the softened cream cheese. Add the clam liquid, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice, and blend well.

Serve with a good strong potato chip, like Cape Cod Potato Chips.
END QUOTE

This was very delicious and very easy to put together, but I really wish there had been more clam in it! Maybe it’s just the type of canned clam I had but I would definitely put another drained can of clam meat in there. That aside, the flavors were totally on point, and Cape Cod Potato Chips were absolutely fabulous for this. While I did slice up a few baguette rounds as a lower sodium alternative, I found that the saltiness of the potato chips was perfect for the amount of rich creaminess here. This is definitely a dip I’ll be having again over the summer (with the addition of a little more clam meat!)

Next week, we stay in the area to whip up a soup from my very favorite culinary cozy author, as small-town grievances give way to murder. Do join me!

Murder is No Picnic: A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
By Amy Pershing
Berkley
June 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

Having finally given up on the dream of owning her own restaurant, Samantha Barnes has established herself as the Cape Cod Foodie, the Clarion’s newspaper food writer. And while she’s looking forward to Fair Harbor’s Fourth of July celebrations full of parades and barbeques, Sam is even more thrilled to discover that the legendary Clara Foster still has a hand in running the French country Clara’s Place restaurant, and not only that, she’s willing to share her secret for her Best Blueberry Buckle in the World. Sam may be more of an eater than a cook and has never before done a video cooking demonstration, she can’t resist Clara’s offer to do a segment filmed out of the icon’s own enviable kitchen. Even that astounding experience pales in comparison to Clara’s priceless cookbook collection that includes a signed first edition Escoffier’s Le guide culinaire and even 1747’s The Art of Cooking. Those would seem to be the only original masterpieces in Clara’s possession though, admitting that the paintings by Edward Hopper on display are only copies painted by Clara’s late wife after selling the originals to fund the restaurant.

That overwhelming cooking experience would be the last between the women, as the following morning Sam’s editor calls with the assignment to write Clara’s obituary. A kitchen fire not only burnt through Clara’s home, it destroyed the book collection and tragically left her dead. Sam’s objections that she writes food editorials and not obituaries are overturned the more she learns about the “accidental” death. Clara’s arthritis would have prevented her from using a heavy cast iron pan that was the source of the fire, and she would never place it on a much smaller burner or use it to cook – shudder – generic brand bacon. Teaming with Detective Vivian Peters, whom Sam isn’t jealous of, not at all – they quickly learn of disputes over Clara’s estate and rivalries within the restaurant. Things get really uncomfortable when Chef Ed Captiva becomes the primary suspect, as he just happens to be the cousin of Jason Captiva, Sam’s maybe-sorta-mostly boyfriend.

This book should come with the warning, “Do not read on an empty stomach.” There are so many glorious descriptions of the seafood Cape Cod is famous for that readers will be desperate for their own clambake or lobster roll. Even though Sam does take an adventurous tour in Clara’s kitchen to create the infamous World’s Best Blueberry Buckle (the secret is using huckleberries), she focuses on taste-tasting the variety of crustacean sandwiches available during the summer. A recipe is included for a “Darn Fine” if not “Best” blueberry buckle, satisfying those cozy readers looking to take a test run themselves. Romance readers will be wanting more of the interactions between Sam and Jason, whose various jobs have taken them out of town and testing their commitment needs and fears. The adorable Diogi (D-O-G) and Ciati (C-A-T) fill out the rest of their tentative family, it’s just up to the humans to embrace it. Sailing lessons, seafood preparations, an explanation of the differences between a picnic table and an outdoor dining set, and a petnapping make this the perfect escapist destination for the summer.

I'm really enjoying this series! Sam isn't my favorite main character but I'm beginning to connect with her a bit more and I really like the side characters and of course I adore her big yellow dog. He's such a fun cozy sidekick. Sam's career in Cape Cod is really starting to gain traction as she becomes known as the "Cape Cod Foodie" and I love that she's working with her friend Jenny and force of nature Krista.

We meet the victim almost immediately in the book and she gets some page time before she meets her untimely end. Clara is a complicated woman which leads to a number of possible suspects and motives. I really liked that Sam spends some time with former high school classmate and current police detective Vivvie. I also liked that Sam was pulled into the investigation somewhat officially.

Like the previous two books in this series this has a bit of a slower start but we are essentially following Sam around in her day to day life so we really get a sense of who she is and the world she lives in. The mystery kept me guessing and for most of the book I had really no idea the who and the why.

This series keeps getting stronger and this was my favorite book yet. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing where the series goes. If you enjoy foodie cozies with interesting side characters and a big clumsy dog this is a must read!

Have I mentioned how much I love the Cape Cod Foodie mystery series? I didn't warm up to Samantha until partway through the first book, but now I can't get enough of her and her pets and her extended family. This time, Samantha is invited to make blueberry buckle with a famous cookbook author, Clara Foster. She can barely contain her enthusiasm as they're filming the video for her Cape Cod Foodie series...and then she's crushed when Clara dies in a house fire that same night. (As a reader, I was almost as sad. Clara was such a neat character!) The circumstances of the fire just don't make sense, and Samantha finds herself helping in the investigation. There are also some complications in her personal life, making this an enjoyable read I couldn't put down.

MURDER IS NO PICNIC by Amy Pershing
The Third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery

A birthday celebration at famed restaurant Clara's Place leads Cape Cod Foodie Samantha Barnes to, not only gustatory delights, but an introduction to famed chef Clara Foster. Awe leads to delight when the retired culinary icon invites Sam and Jenny to her home to film an episode of the Cape Cod Foodie. After a delightful day making the best blueberry buckle ever Sam is stunned to learn that a fire broke out during the night killing Clara. Was it a tragic accident? Or something more sinister?

Self deprecating Samantha Barnes is coming into her own in the third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. While she still has doubts and some uncertainties, she's becoming aware of who she is and where she belongs. Surrounded by friends she's learning what's important in life. I love Diogi and Ciati, but two other characters really shone for me, Vivvie Peters and Abraham Beame. I'd love to call both of them friends and I hope we get to see more of Abraham in future books.

Delectable descriptions of food as well as cooking tips pepper the pages. Although I'm not a fan of seafood, I still find my stomach grumbling as I read. And I really want to find some huckleberries!

There are lots of laughs in MURDER IS NO PICNIC, but there are also heartfelt moments and worrying ones as well. A terrifying escape and rescue had me clutching the book reading well after the bubbles were gone and the water turned cold! Love, bravery, and skill triumphed and I was able to emerge from my bathtub with a sigh of relief.

Friendship, food, and fun make MURDER IS NO PICNIC an outstanding mystery guaranteed to keep you enthralled.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Foodie Samantha Barnes has big plans for the 4th of July. A clambake on the beach outside the home she inherited from her Aunt Ida. She just needs the perfect dessert to serve and she finds it while out for dinner at the legendary Clara’s Place. The “Best Blueberry Buckle in the World!” and the famous cookbook author Clara Foster has agreed to give a buckle baking lesson. Sam is thrilled especially when she learns the recipe’s secret ingredient.

Sam is shocked when she learns Clara has died when her house caught fire shortly after she left. She is even more appalled when the fire is blamed on Clara’s carelessness. Sam saw the way Clara worked in her well-designed kitchen. There is no way Clara caused that fire. Thankfully Sam’s doubts get the police to open an investigation but they are focused on her boyfriend Jason’s cousin who just happens to be the new owner of Clara’s Place as their prime suspect.

So while Sam is firming up plans for her clambake she needs to come up with the perfect recipe to find Clara’s killer. She knows her friends are going to help her even though Detective Vivian Peters may not like it.

I have to start with the setting for this series. Every time I open a Cape Cod Foodie Mystery I am excited to arrive at Aunt Ida’s, now Sam’s home with the spectacular views. Ida had added a little ell to the house when she could no longer keep up with the huge place. That ell is the perfect place for Sam and her dog Dioge (D-O-G) and Jason’s visiting cat as she and Jason work to renovate the big house as time and money allow. Ms. Pershing describes everything so well readers can take a literary vacay to the Cape.

She has also created a wonderful cast of characters. A group of long-time friends that come together so naturally for fun and sleuthing all while usually devouring something that made my mouth water. Their dialogues are fresh and true to life including the inner dialogues of Sam as she tries to solve the mystery. This time Jillian took the lead but everyone stepped up to do whatever they could to catch the killer. What I really enjoyed was that the tricky relationship between Sam and Detective Vivian Peters, Vivvie to her friends, is starting to blossom into a real friendship. Vivien took time to listen to Sam’s theories and her “evidence” no matter how crazy they were. Again that big scene-stealer Dioge stole my heart. I do wish Jason hadn’t been out of town for most of the story but it added a little romantic drama to the story.

The author has blended a terrific mystery with the characters’ everyday lives that draws readers right into the story. She dishes up some well-placed twists and some nice red herrings that sure kept me guessing. My attention was glued to the pages as the killer was taken down and a favorite character was rescued. I was surprised by the way the capture played out but quickly realized it was a very satisfying way to wrap up the case. What happened after that was so nice. When I turned the final page I had a great big smile on my face.

I am so glad one of the recipes included in the book is for the Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle. People of my generation may remember feeding their infants Gerber’s, Blueberry Buckle. I am not a blueberry fan but when my husband would feed the kids it was 1 spoonful for him then one spoonful for the child until the jar was empty. I think he is going to enjoy this adult version a lot.

Murder Is No Picnic was a grand read with characters I love to visit, delectable food, and a fun mystery to solve. This is a perfect book for the upcoming holiday when you need to escape the heat of the day or come up with a dish for your own family picnic.

I can’t wait for the next installment of this entertaining cozy culinary mystery series!

This is the third installment of the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries. I have not read either of the first two books and believe this book is able to stand alone. This book exudes summer vacation and makes me want to spend time on the water, enjoying the cool breeze and sun. The setting is very inviting. The characters in this book are realistic and well-developed. The storyline in this book is unique and interesting. I picked up my book every chance I had because I wanted to know what was happening next. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in the series and recommend this book.

Samantha Barnes, the Cape Cod Foodie, eats the best blueberry buckle she has ever experienced. She learns it is the recipe of renowned chef, Clara Foster. Clara agrees to a video shoot with Samantha where they will make the blueberry buckle. Samantha loves Clara’s beachside home with its original artwork and a wonderful cookbook collection. The next morning, Samantha learns that there was a fire at Clara’s house and the chef is dead. At first blush, it looks like the fire was an accident. When Samantha looks at the scene with Detective Vivian Peters, she notices a couple of clues that indicate foul play. Samantha with the help of her friends sets out to sift through the clues and question suspects. Samantha will need to be careful, or she could get burned. Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of Cape Cod. The food depictions will have your mouth watering. I just loved hearing about Clara’s wonderful cookbook collection. It contained one-a-kind cookbooks that collectors would kill to own. The mystery was interesting. There were some good clues at the scene, and it was interesting how the crime was set up. A foodie was definitely needed to discern the crime scene. There are a handful of suspects along with a red herring. There are clues to help readers identify the guilty party before the unique reveal. I like that we get all of our questions answered regarding the crime. Samantha, though, does need to work on her questioning technique. She lacks subtlety. I was surprised when the mystery was solved with about twenty percent of the book still to go. There was one item about this whodunit that was left up in the air. I wonder if it will be revisited in future books. I like the inclusion of the cat and dog in the story. I just love Diogi. He is such a sweetie. Samantha’s relationship with Jason is suffering while he is away in Santa Barbara. Sam worried about Jason and his feelings frequently while he was away. If Jason misses a call, Samantha worries that he is breaking up with her (or no longer cares about her). I wish there had been less focus on the romance and more on the mystery. I did feel that Samantha was a little “Sam” centric this time around. She was focused on her life, romance, house, etc. (and we get to hear all of her thoughts). I had to laugh at Samantha’s reaction to the news about the clock found in her attic. The whole world gets to enjoy her response since it was filmed for Antiques in the Attic. We are left with a cliffhanger at the end. I thought the question could easily have been solved before the end of the book. We will have to wait until next time to find out what happens. There are recipes at the end of the book for a summer picnic including one for a delectable blueberry buckle. Murder is No Picnic is a fun summer cozy mystery with blueberry buckle, a killer cookbook collection, an amazing art collection, a demanding dognapper, a beautiful boat, a curious crime, a Cape Cod clam bake, and fun Fourth of July festivities.

Murder is No Picnic is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series. It is the first one I have read. The author did a brilliant job of getting me up to speed in the first chapter. Many of the key characters are at a luncheon celebrating a birthday. This gives new readers to the series a glimpse of who is who and their relationship to Samantha Barnes (aka Sam), the main character. She is a multifaceted woman. Aside from being a darn good cook, she is the local paper’s food reporter, a rising YouTube star and still finds time to be an amateur sleuth.

Sam is speechless when she encounters one of her cooking heroes, Clara Foster at the luncheon. She is the founder of a famous restaurant and author of a classic cookbook. Not only does Sam meet her, she is invited to Clara’s house to learn the secrets of the delicious dessert the ladies just swooned over. Overjoyed, Sam agrees.

A couple of days later, Sam and her best friend and videographer Jenny head to Clara’s home. While making the delicious blueberry buckle as promised, Sam and Jenny learn more about their host than they ever imagined. She shared details of her life and home while they baked. And most importantly to Sam, she learns the secret to the perfect blueberry buckle.

Tragically, Sam learns the next day that Clara has perished in a house fire. On the surface it seems like a horrible accident. But Sam soon realizes that this was no accident. She has to find out what happened. And even worse, a relative of Sam’s boyfriend is arrested for the murder. She needs to double down her efforts to solve this crime. Unfortunately, the unknown killer is not happy with Sam’s meddling, could she be the next victim?

Murder is No Picnic is an interesting, engaging cozy mystery. The characters are sometimes quirky, just like many in small towns sprinkled throughout America. The solid mystery is the backbone of the story, yet the side plots of Sam’s sailing skills, her relationship with her boyfriend Jason and the interaction with others in the town makes for a great book.

This is the first book I have read by Amy Pershing, but will not be the last. It read well as a stand-alone novel, but I would like to read the other books in the series. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great writing and cozy mysteries.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2022 Laura Hartman

I’ve enjoyed the Cape Cod Foodie series by Amy Pershing, so when I saw that Murder Is No Picnic is releasing and on a blog tour, I knew I needed to review it. I was not disappointed.

Sam has once again stumbled into a murder mystery. This time it is local celebrity chef Clara, whom she had the pleasure of just visiting at her house the previous day. Sam and her friends all band together to solve the mystery—and it’s not entirely smooth sailing.

I like Sam. She’s completely relatable and real. She has trouble accepting compliments, she doesn’t look like the girl next door, and she’s insecure in her relationship with her boyfriend. Most of what she does revolves around food, and it’s her love language. It’s easy to picture myself in her circle of friends.

I found the mystery intriguing. A retired celebrity chef dies in a fire at her house. At first glance, it appears to be an accident, but Sam just doesn’t believe it. She helps Vivvie, the local police detective with whom she is starting to build a friendship, with the investigation. There are plenty of suspects and motives floating around, and it’s up to Sam to sift through them all to find the culprit. It was a fun ride to go on, and the conclusion was a bit unexpected and satisfying.

Murder Is No Picnic is a great addition to the Cape Cod Foodie series. I was entertained from page one with wonderful characters and a solid mystery. I can’t wait to continue this series and highly recommend it to cozy mystery fans—especially those who enjoy recipes and cooking tips thrown into the mix.

This is one of my favorite new cozy series. I like to think of it as more modern than some of the other cozy series out there. The characters are very real and very relatable and there are truly no eye rolling moments in any of these books. There’s a perfect balance between character in setting building and a mystery. The mystery in this one as well plotted and a great summer theme. Loved it.

I used to sort of giggle at the punny titles and mass market paperbacks of the cozy mystery world. 🐱🧶🔪 But in the last year or two, I’ve found that they offer so much comfort and joy! They often involve small towns, tight knit communities, and people who’ve fled busy lives for a different pace. A gentle mystery solved by our resident sleuth and a touch of low to no steam romance. What’s not to love?
⠀
Amy Pershing’s Cape Cod Foodie mysteries offer all of that, plus great writing, the glorious setting of Cape Cod, delicious food, and a dog named Diogi (D-O-G 🐶.) The author’s love and knowledge of the area shines through the books and the people. Though I’ve never been to the Cape, I can just feel its sensibilities seeping through every word.
⠀
This is a great series if you’re curious about the cozy genre but want something well written and more sophisticated. I think you’ll love ex-NYC chef, Samantha, her shabby but warm house, and her lovable local friends.
⠀
Book 3, Murder is No Picnic, releases this Tuesday, June 7th! Thanks to @netgalley and @berkleypub for an advance copy of the e-book.
⠀

Summer at Cape Cod sounds really awesome, and the author's descriptions of the scenery and food almost make me feel like I'm right there with Sam and her friends. I loved how Jillian organized a sleuthing team and everyone did a little something toward figuring out why their local famous chef was killed in a fire when she clearly wouldn't have been so careless with her stove and food.

Diogi continues to crack me up in this series! What a sweet, goofy dog who wuvs Helene and boat rides. I always giggle when I see what he wuvs, so funny! It was weird with Jason being on a job out in California although he did pop back home a few times. I could tell Sam missed him like crazy. I thought it was kinda cool that Vivvie the detective was treating Sam more like a peer now and not being snarky. Seems the good detective was a natural at sailing and loved taking lessons from Sam. It definitely came in handy for apprehending a killer!

I liked that the showdown wasn't necessarily life-threatening this time, although what happened right before was pretty exciting. The festive Fourth of July clambake and ending was the perfect thing to top off the mystery as families and friends gathered to have some fun. Jason and Sam just enjoyed the time together.

I'm so eager now to read the next book, but I don't think I better spill why, lol. You'll know when you read it, but I was just happy that Jason and Samantha at the end felt like they were comfortable in their relationship. Sam's grown quite a bit from the very first book and she's actually starting to behave more like an adult...but still have fun! ;)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries, and a cozy mystery series that I highly recommend.

Pershing writes wonderfully descriptive passages about Cape Cod, the town, and the food. So much so, that I always feel like I’m actually there. While many fans come back to a cozy series because the characters have come to feel like friends (and those in this series do too), I keep coming back because I am blown away by the details Pershing includes in every book. Even with things that I would not normally find too interesting (like how to sail a boat), Pershing is able to make it enjoyable.

And Pershing’s characters are another layer that adds to the stories. They are so well written and developed, even from book one, A Side of Murder. There are so many fantastic characters but I think Sam's next door neighbor, Helene, who is a librarian with a rich past, might be my favorite. And Diogi, Sam’s loyal and sassy canine friend, of course.

Another thing that I really enjoy about Pershing’s series is that while the main character and friends do go over the suspect list a time or three, it’s not too overdone like in other cozies I have read. I have stopped reading series because there was just so much fluff aka going over the murder board, that I got bored and decided not to go back.

So if you are looking for a near perfect cozy mystery series, you need to check out the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries!