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!

Samantha is a fun character who always seems to get mixed up in a murder investigation.
I enjoy this series since I lived on Cape Cod, and it's always fun trying to picture the different scenes in my head.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this fun series.
#MurderIsNoPicnic #NetGalley

Murder Is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third book in her Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series. Samantha Barnes just can't help herself it seems. Even when she tries to resist she can't help getting involved in a murder investigation. I like how she is able to reason out the significance of certain clues. It is also interesting that Detective Vivian "Vivvie" Peters listens to Sam's information and deductions. I like these characters and look forward to seeing more of them in the next book in the series.

Samantha Barnes. Cape Cod Foodie or detective? Sam is ecstatic when she meets legendary Clara Foster, former owner of the restaurant Clara’s Place, but when Clara suddenly dies in a house fire supposedly started in the kitchen of all places, Sam knows there’s more to the story than what police are seeing. What really happened the night of the fire?
Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Amy Pershing for the opportunity to read and review this cute cozy mystery. I loved this book! I loved all the characters, especially Sam. The fact that she has a dog named Diogi, well that just made me like her even more. I really liked seeing how Sam worked through the investigation as well as her own dilemmas she was facing in the book. It made the book that much more personal in my opinion. The book was a very easy and quick read that kept a steady pace. This is the third book in the series but is fine to be read as a stand-alone. If you like cozy mysteries then I would highly recommend this book! I’m rating this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

As the 4th of July approaches, Sam has decided to do a clambake for her picnic, to be topped off with the best blueberry buckle she can find. When famed local chef Clara offers to give Sam not only her recipe but a lesson in preparing it, Sam is more than excited. When Clara dies in a house fire and the authorities decide it was caused by carelessness in the kitchen, Sam refuses to believe that verdict and initiates her own investigation.

This is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first two. I've never been to Cape Cod, but the descriptions in these books make me want to do so – and soon. Sam, her friends and family seem like people I would love to enjoy a clambake with, and I am enjoying watching their relationships develop as the series progresses.

The mystery in this book was a good one, with several suspects for the police (and Sam) to consider, all with variations of the same motive. The person I had at the top of my list of suspects turned out to be correct, and the motive wasn't all that surprising, but I still look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing
Published: June 7, 2022
Berkley
Pages: 335
Genre: Cozy Mysteries
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Amy Pershing is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. In her previous career, she was the Managing Director and Global Head of Employee Communications at the Bank of New York Mellon. A few years ago (with the final college tuition bill paid!), she waved goodbye to Wall Street in order to write full time. A Side of Murder is her first novel.

“Words make things much too real.”

Things are going well for Sam; she may be coming into a large sum of money from the sale of the antique clock found during the cleanup over Christmas. Her friendships are all going well, and her relationship with Jason is still going strong, despite him training all the way in California. Things look blissfully peaceful until a mysterious death happens overnight, and Sam can’t accept that it’s an accident.

I love this series so much. The cast of characters is simply lovely. I enjoyed that we got some good time with most of our secondary characters in this book, which is necessary since these people are Samantha’s chosen family.

I love continuing to get to know Sam in her charming awkwardness. I enjoyed watching the friendship between Sam and Vivvie blossom. Sam had a lot of growth in this novel, and I love her realization.

We meet some new characters in this novel, and I love how Amy ties everyone into the story. Even the most minor characters have quirky moments that make them memorable.

The descriptions of the Cape and the sailing scenes were stunning. You will almost feel the breeze on your cheeks. The way Amy brings her settings to life is truly magical, and you will feel like you’re sitting with Sam and the crew, witnessing all the shenanigans.

There was a deeply emotional self-assuredness with Sam in this novel that I appreciate. Sam is coming into her own, and her comfort and safety with her home and her friends are starting to shine. I love that.

And, of course, Diogi is still my favorite. I love that Diogi and Sam are basically the same, just in dog and human form. Fiercely loyal, loving, and rather awkward at times. Dogs really just make everything better.

The way this book ended, I am ready for the next installation in this delicious series! Once again, Amy brought a beautiful story to life, filled with twists and turns, laughs, and lots of yummy food.

Will our Cape Cod Foodie be taking her show on the road? Will Sam be offering more how-to videos? Until next time, we just have to be patient!

This was a well-crafted and fast paced whodunit that quickly became a page-turner as I had to know if Samantha was right in her assumption. The author did a great job in sprinkling tidbits her and there and keeping me immersed in all aspects of this multi-plot drama. I liked the feel of the story and the comfortable tone that made it easy to follow along with what the author intended. There were a few red herrings that had me going in different directions, but it all came together with help from Sam, her friends, and the local police. I really enjoyed the small-town atmosphere which added ambiance to the telling of this tale. Overall, this was an excellent book in a series that continues to be a fantastic read. Looking forward to the next chapter in Sam’s adventures.

The first book in the series was a home run. The characters are well developed and fun. Its been a while since I truly enjoyed a first book in a series. The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic. Okay, and the fireworks. And the parade. But mostly the picnic. What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson.
But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant—and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend. So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara's killer before the fireworks really start....
Sam is a fun, quirky, intelligent MC. Overall a fantastic start to a new series.
#MurderIsNoPicnic #NetGalley

The first book in this series blew me away with its sharp writing & quirky characters, so I knew I’d be back for more. I’m saving book two for Xmas time, so that’s why I’m reading the third. I loved it just as much, if not more! Pershing’s writing is very unique, it reads like a lot of contemporary thrillers not just like a cozy. The mystery itself was quite intriguing & Samantha is one of the stronger lead characters I’ve read recently. She also has a perfect group of friends (especially next door neighbour Helene). Sleuthing groups are always a positive for me! I love reading about Cape Cod & the ocean & the food, it’s one of my favourite cozy mystery settings. This is definitely a strong series & one I look forward to reading more of.

Samantha Barnes is looking forward to the 4th of July. She knows she wants to see the local parade and have her friends over for a clambake but what she really needs is the perfect dessert to finish off the perfect day. At Clara's Place, a local restaurant, she finds the world's best Blueberry Buckle and Clara herself offers to show her how to make it. Even better? She'll make it on camera for another Cape Cod Foodie video!

Unfortunately, though the video shoot goes great, by the next morning the star chef is dead. The police think her death was an accident caused by a combination of forgetfulness and sleeping pills. Samantha knows better but her insistence that Clara's death was no accident backfires and the one person she didn't want taking the fall ends up behind bars.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series. The second one dragged a bit with page-long paragraphs covering things of no consequence to the story. This book also had a lot of long, draggy paragraphs but I also noticed other things that didn't work for me. Sam talks to herself all the time, calling herself by name. Sam thinks, for no apparent reason, that her relationship with Jason is on the rocks. Sure, he's halfway across the country and it's hard for them to coordinate time to talk, but Sam assumes they're about to break up every time he misses a call. The story was very natural, the investigation was good, I just didn't appreciate that Sam has started to seem very self-centered and a lot less mature.

This book also did something that is a pet peeve of mine. The mystery was solved about 3/4 of the way through the book... and then the book kept going. For no reason. Nothing happens in the last 1/4 or so of the book. Sam goes to the store and buys lots of butter. Sam goes to a parade. They dig a pit for the clambake (that takes a week and we see it all). The whole time I'm thinking "maybe that person wasn't really the killer, maybe something else is going to happen." Nope. Nothing happens. At all. And, despite all the extra stuff at the end the book still ends with a cliffhanger. The one question that could for sure have been answered in all those many extra pages is left unanswered at the end.

I think this author has potential and I will continue to read books by her but I think I'm done with the particular series. There are things I like about the series but as an artist acquaintance of mine says every artist needs someone who's a true friend to look at their work and tell them the truth about it so they don't put something out there that's not as good as they could make it. I think that true friend is the only thing Pershing needs.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

The July Fourth holiday is the perfect time for blueberry buckle,picnics and fireworks but is it also the perfect time for murder?
As the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series we find Samantha entering a blueberry buckle competition. This food critic is working with a celebrity chef of the best caliber to get the tips and tricks needed to win this competition.
When the chef is found dead from a suspicious house fire Samantha is on the case and we run through all the clues as she tries to prove it's murder.
An appealing foodie cozy mystery it will keep readers entertained and guessing right to the end.


Publish date 07 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery with a delightful Fourth Of July Setting. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.

We return to the Cape preparing for Fourth Of July activities. Samantha is entering a blueberry buckle competition and is excited to work with a celebrity chef on a new recipe she plans to enter. When the chef dies in a suspicious house fire Samantha is on the case and determined to prove it was murder. Suspects abound and Samantha is focused on the chef's new hire at her restaurant who had reason to murder his boss. As clues build and red herrings stifle the investigation Samantha presses on with the help of her friends and local police.

This was a intriguing mystery with plenty of clues to keep the reader guessing to conclusion. I enjoy the setting of the Cape in summertime and the delightful charcters.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Such a cute setting I really enjoyed the characters as well. But you have to have a great setting as a wonderful foundation for a buck in my opinion and this definitely had it.

I just finished reading Murder is No Picnic, book 3 in A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery Series.

This cozy mystery was so good I devoured it in one sitting.

In this story, we find celebrity and famed cookbook author, and retired restaurateur, dead. So, Sam decides to find out for herself what really happened to Clara Foster. She couldn't believe someone like Sam would be that careless to let a fire get out of control and kill her, especially if she can't believe it herself.

A great story with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. until the very end. Can't wait for book 4.

Now I need to get book one and book two in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery Series!
Murder Is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is book three in an amazing series!

This cozy mystery was so well-plotted and written.
This is such a unique premise that lends the narrative a slightly more serious thread to the overall cozy genre. The author balanced it all nicely.
Filled with an amazing amount of twists and turns there was always something happening.
Along with very well developed characters. Samantha Barnes was a delightful character, who I truly enjoyed following along with in this brilliant story!
The murder mystery element was also executed perfectly, I was guessing right until the end! The suspense builds up slowly, but the twist at the end will make you say Wowza!
Very entertaining read from start to finish.

I can't wait to buy the first two in this set!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Berkley,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.