This cozy mystery was a bit bizarre to me. Although I didn’t hate it - I also didn’t really enjoy it all that much and did skip a few chapters. It was quirky and whimsical and had a very heavy feminist view.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect but I was very much pleasantly surprised! I really was rooting for Daisy and Pies before Guys. There were some parts and details that were surprising to me and I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed it as an audiobook as it gave more depth of what was happening between the characters. I liked that it showed you can still be a feminist but still stick to your own values as well.

This book was super cute and fun. I really enjoyed the magic that goes into the pies. The main character, Daisy, uses her abilities to right wrongs by murdering men who have harmed women with her pies. I can see where some folks would think this book was a bit dark because of the abuse some women suffered and the fact that there are folks who die. The mystery arises when Daisy is blackmailed. Watching her explore the mystery while continuing to bake pies and do what she can to help people was entertaining. I look forward to more books in this series. I would give this book 4/5.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Dreamscape for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. #MagicLiesandDeadlyPies

This book does a great job of taking a very serious issue and infusing some comic relief to lighten it. There is a very feminist vibe to it, that I don’t believe many cis gendered men will enjoy but to those who have dealt with some of these issues; it’s brilliant.

I read a lot of cozies and yet, this one still managed to delight and surprise me! Light on the mystery, heavy on the food (you will end up very hungry after reading or listening this so be warned), it kept me hooked until the sweet ending.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4665728957

I happen to be partial to cozy mysteries and was drawn to this one by the interesting title. It had to be fate - I loved this book! The premise is simple enough: a young lady has the power to put magic in her pies and runs a side business baking (for free) murder pies. Suffice it to say that they contain no poison, only magic, and are made by request only by the victims of violent, abusive men to serve to said men. Okay, that doesn’t sound so cozy….But most of her pies are only infused with goodness and do good in the world. The story takes a few twists and ‘The Pie Girl’ has more of a problem on her hands than she bargained for. The thing that grabbed me was the reader, she brought this book to life in a way that added a whole new dimension to the story. Now when I bake, I can’t help but try to infuse my cakes with a little of that magic.

This audiobook was provided by NetGalley on behalf of the publisher. The opinions are my own.

i was hooked on this novel from the first chapter! it combines mystery, romance, and friendship in a way that allows all the aspects to shine without drowning out the rest. i really loved the aspect of “found family” that was brought repeatedly brought up because it shows off the soft sides of all the characters. everyone’s story was given the perfect amount of time to develop but i felt myself falling for daisy and noel’s relationship the most! i think they are such an adorable couple and the fact that she’s a pie baker and he’s an orchard farmer is just too cute!

growing up, i loved the book “just add magic” which followed a group of teens as they followed yummy recipes that were able to influence those who ate it to do certain tasks. later on, “just add magic” got turned into a television series and i couldn’t stop thinking how great of a movie “magic, lies, and deadly pies” would make! my review of this novel would not be complete without mentioning all the foodie talk! daisy’s mouthwatering pies were enough to make my tummy grumble and my mouth water. i definitely found myself craving a piece of pie after reading all of her delicious creations!

Daisy makes pies to earn a living. She also makes pies to help out women who have been abused in some fashion. Both sets of pies use magic but the pies for the women who need help have a touch of murder magic added to them.
Daisy is a noble character, only wanting to kill those who deserve to be killed. She contacts women in a secret way but when she is contacted by a presumed man to kill three different women, Daisy is in trouble.
Added in to the plot is a man and a woman who are both vying for Daisy's attentions. Daisy is also entered in to a pie contest that has a large financial prize that she wants to win.
Opinion
I love paranormal books. Witchy books are one of my favorites. When I saw this one, I jumped at the chance to listen to it. I did have some reservations because the premise has the main character as a murderer. The plot itself was done well, with no one being murdered throughout the book. (They did talk about it happening in the past but it didn't actually happen during the book.)
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to more in this series. The ending was done well where a solution fit the need and not necessarily what you were expecting..
As mentioned above, I listened to the audio book. The narrator did a superb job in their performance. Different voices were used for different characters and tone and inflection were used to underline meaning throughout.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this audio book.

This book is a fantastic whimsical gothic spin on a feminist fighting the patriarchy. For those who don't know whimsical gothic to me is the Sabrina the Teenage Witch or Practical magic aesthetic and for me I had that vision the whole time I read this book. This is a lighthearted fun read with magical elements and the overall woman empowerment feel.

There is a "witch" who seems to magically bake her intent into her creations and deliver them to men who have wronged women. It takes place in modern day and knowing you are rooting for someone who murders people never felt so right. She fights the longing to be the average girl (aka someone who doesn't use her magical powers to kill bad men) while still using her gift to change the world. This book was fun quick, and overall enjoyable. I was rooting for the character but at times I wanted a little more insight into why she thought the way she did. Although toward the end we got to see more of the picture I wish there had been more clues along the way. She was a fun character fighting between what she wanted and what she felt called to do which I think is a relatable struggle.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book! I would definitely read more from this author and excited to see what else she writes.

This one was a bit different. Was it a mystery or a thriller or something completely different? Daisy bakes pies for a living and some of those pies kill people, only men and only those who hurt women. Daisy seeks out these women who need her services by going to women's groups and they have to be referred to her first. This is not the only part of this story. There is also someone who is blackmailing her and wants her to kill people to keep her secret. Oh, and at the same time she is entered into a state pie baking contest and starting a romantic endeavor. Twists and turns and pies, lots of pies.

I definitely have some mixed feelings on this book! Right at the beginning of the book I thought, oh this is going to be funny due to the style and word choices, but that seemed to taper off a bit as the book progressed. This book is listed as a mystery, but I didn't get the normal mystery vibes or hook into the plot. It tended to meander about a bit too much and was more about a "murder for hire" business and being found out than a true mystery.

What I did really like was the overall concept from a creativity standpoint. Putting magic into pies to influence the targeted eater was quite intriguing (even if used to harm). The descriptions of the magic and pies added good explanation and some fun. Of course, some pie contests were part of the plot for some added fun.

The narrator was pretty entertaining and helped add a little of the comedic relief. If it hadn't been an Audiobook, I dont know if I would have pushed through it. Overall if you like contemporary comedic dramas, this book may be more for you than if you are into mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.

Cute cozy mystery wherein the main character is a “murderer” who bakes her pies with magic that can channel intent and emotions. She doesn’t use them to murder just anyone, they are used to help women in abusive relationships and can’t get out on their own. She never accepts payment for them, only requests that her clients share her info with any of their friends or acquaintances that might be future clients. When she starts getting messages telling her that they know what she’s doing and if she doesn’t do what they say, they will out her. She goes into full detective mode to figure out who is behind the messages before it’s too late.
This wasn’t a typical cozy mystery-it was darker than a typical story, used some bad language and she questioned her sexuality. That being said, I enjoyed men getting what was coming to them, especially one that is close to home for her. Her dog was adorable and when she finds love, it warmed my heart. Not sure what book two of the series will hold, but I’m sure I’ll read it.
I really enjoyed the narration-it was well done, not super cheesy and the descriptions of the food and especially the pies was fab!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

As far as mysteries go, a magical pie is a brilliant idea. Beware this is not a cozy mystery although some aspects of the story may appear that way.

Overall, Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies was a fun read. Interesting characters, that is until it reached the section where Melly was introduced. Then it became repetitive and after a while, I was tired of the political views and rallies.

When I read a mystery I do not want to read about gender issues or anything else except the mystery. Basically what happens, who did it, and show me how that person or people were identified and caught.

Dexter meets bakery centered cozy mystery and Finlay Donovan with Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies.

First off, this book is simply described as a "mystery/thriller." While it has major cozy mystery vibes, this is not a true cozy mystery. The mystery element to the book exists, but is more similar to books like Finlay Donovan is Killing It in the sense that you are moreso reading to see how the main character will get out of the situation.

Pros:
As far as the story goes itself, I found it enjoyable. I loved the twist of knowing the killer immediately but not the victims. I also really liked that even though it feels so much like a cozy mystery, we had different types of characters that we don't usually get in a cozy mystery and that the main character, who is seemingly super sweet and innocent, is able to live in that gray area of "is she helping or hurting?" I would really like to see this continue as a series and see what other situations our main character will find herself in and how all of the characters will continue to develop.

It was so great that the recipes were all grouped together at the end. I have a love-hate relationship with recipes in audio books and I'm sure someone else out there probably does too. For those of us who just don't enjoy recipes to be read out to us, it is very easy to skip this section at the end. As I was reviewing this book, I did not skip and even though I don't personally enjoy listening to the recipes I am happy that they are available for people who do enjoy having the recipes available as they all sounded delicious.

I also really enjoyed the narration for this book and would love to hear more by Tanya Eby. I would hope that if this becomes a series, Eby would continue on as the narrator throughout.

Cons:
I understand her past struggles but I did find Daisy to be a little insensitive when it comes to trauma and addiction.
I also believe that Melly is a little too young feeling in the way that she approaches her interest in Daisy and her willingness to tell her secrets to basically anyone who will listen. I would hope to see growth in both characters in any future books.

Potential Cons:
I personally didn't have a big issue with this but I have seen (and expect to continue to see) some negative reviews about the beliefs and politics that surround the character of Melly. I feel as though the beliefs expressed matched what the author saw as a big part of Milly's identity and they are very timely issues that would be normal to encounter when it comes to a rally or speech held by an activist. I would also assume the author probably knew that not everyone would agree with the character’s stances on each issue. HOWEVER, if reading opposing political views (especially those regarding LBGTQ+ rights, issue that center around gender and race, and the ramifications of physical/sexual assault) is going to be very upsetting to you, this may not be the book/series for you.

Love these characters! The main character is the sweetest serial killer you will ever meet! She dresses like a 50's housewife and makes the best pie ever, although a few have a magical twist that kill bad men. Witty and fun, this audiobook is perfect those who are looking for a sweet, paranormal, serial killer with a cause! This book was so much fun to listen too and the narrator brought the characters to life! Each character is flawed which makes them so much more relatable. I don't know if the author plans to do another book with these characters or not, but I will definitely be watching for more. In fact, I'll be heading to see if this author has any other books as her writing is fun while dealing with a serious issue that many women have faced. If only we could all bake a magical murder pie or maybe it's good that we can't....

This was labelled as a cozy mystery. Its not,
This premise was very fun and promising. The first few chapters were great!
Then the main character got very annoying and her constant reasonings for her actions were very childish. She claims to be woke but immediately casts judgement on seeing her friend leaving an NA meeting and blames trauma. She goes on a date with both of her new friends. She's using her magic pies to coerce information from people all while preaching how important consent is. I found this book to be very liberal young 20s white feminist. All the ideals with few real world perspectives.

After all, guys are always telling us to smile, truth is they should be nervous when we do.

Daisy Ellery bakes magical pies for murder, or to tamper with emotions. Murder pies are only for the men who have abused women. One day Daisy receives an anonymous letter saying if she doesn’t murder the people listed she will be exposed for her murder pies. So the rest of the story is trying to figure out who and why sent the letter.

This book was very interesting. I loved that these women were given justice. A trigger warning for some may be needed. This story is categorized as a cozy mystery story but I’m not sure if that category works because technically Daisy is a murderer. There is a little bit of romance thrown in the mix which was nice. The bonus recipes at the end are a nice little surprise. Overall, I enjoyed the story and would recommend it to friends.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for providing this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies is a cozy mystery with magical realism about a pie maker, Daisy Ellery. Daisy has the ability to make magic pies that can influence people to feel strong, focused, calm, or forgetful. And she can also make pies that can kill people. She sees herself as a sort of vigilante to help women in bad situations by making them pies to feel stronger, and making their problem men die. A program she calls "Pies Before Guys". One day, she receives an anonymous request that she kill three innocent women listed and she’ll be outed to the community as a pie murderer if she doesn’t follow through. In her quest to discover who her blackmailer is she ends up in a love triangle with a farm boy and a quirky political activist. Overall, this was a really great book with lots of dark humor. I loved the magical realism aspect of it as well. Additionally, it was nice to see so much diversity included in a book without it seeming forced. (I think this is the first book I’ve read with a main character that’s bi!) I’m looking forward to other books in the series, as I love each of the characters and can’t wait to see what they’re up to next!

I was completely charmed by Daisy and her amazing pies. The story was a perfect balance of cozy and cute with a touch of thriller/mystery thrown in. I loved Daisy and the community that she built for herself (despite her reluctance to do so. I can only cross my fingers and hope there's a sequel!

Disclaimer, I have only read about 2 other "Cozy" type mysteries and from what I understand this is NOT a true fit into that genre. I was drawn to the book just because the cover was super cute. But what unfolded on the pages (well the audio version) just ended up being Misha Popp's stance on social and political issues. Clearly this woman is a feminist that hates all men, Men in this book are demonized as abusive, power hungry sex offenders.
I did not connect with one of the characters. Not a single one, yes people even the dog (not that I ever do) I saw some people fell in love with her dog Zoey, really?? The dog had no personality....not sure what people saw there....moving on. The main character Daisy I think is suppose to be this "Charming" girl that wears her grandmothers handmaid clothes and is a baker (sounds like a Hallmark movie right?) Not exactly Daisy makes pies that are laced with magic to kill men (Only men can be killed by her pies and they have to be given one because someone asked her to make one of these special kiler pies.....stupid.) Basically cut to the chase she is a serial killer dressed in ridiculous clothes,
Melly-a total left of left liberal is possibly the most annoying character? Is just an angry woman that Pops uses as a way to shout her social message. I am not even going to repeat all the Political and Social Messages she forces upon the reader.
Throw in the fact that Popp saturates the book with sexually diverse characters in a distasteful way in my opinion.
Ill save you time and rewrite the book you can read it in 30 seconds.
I'm Daisy an angry woman that kills men under the disguise as being innocent ditzy girl. Obama is the best thing that has ever happened to America. Trump is worse than the devil. Traditional gender roles are broken and I'll throw it in your face. Men are ALL like Donald trump unless they fit into the sexually diverse group. Oh yeah and dogs reign supreme.


Sorry this was NOT a hit with me. I will not read this author again.
Thank you Net Gally for this advanced audiobook read. I was not paid or compensated for this honest review.