This is the second book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series. I really like this series! In this book, Delilah is participating in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin's "Taste of Wisconsin" . Delilah's ex-fiancée is now dating Delilah's contest rival, a woman named Jordan who has opened up a juice bar.

When a patron of the juice bar dies in the shop, Delilah takes it upon herself to investigate. There's a police officer/love interest named Capone, yes - that one- and a fat cat named Butterball in the mix. I just really think this book is funny and I love the author's style.

There's murder, mystery, romance and pizza! Who could ask for more? I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

This was a great follow up to the first book in the Deep Dish mysteries! Great plot, and all the pizza made me hungry, be warned you will crave a slice while reading!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

To say I love pizza would be the understatement of the year. I'm so psyched someone finally decided to make a cozy. mystery series out of it. Hooray! And this series doesn't disappoint. And it couldn't be set anywhere better than cheesy Wisconsin. This book reminds me of the Milwaukeefest with it's Taste of Wisconsin contest.

This is another great installment in the Deep Dish series. Cozy mysteries are my comfort reads and I enjoyed being back in Geneva Bay with Delilah and her supporting characters. There is a lot of clean action in the one and it was fun to try to solve the mystery with the crew.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Wow what can I say about this title it was just an awesome read. This book was just something so wonderfully different I’ve never quite read anything like this. You should read to find out you won’t be disappointed. I’m definitely going to read more by this author.

This is the second book in this pizzeria cozy mystery series! I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first one. Butterball the cat is still my favorite, but the rest of the cast of characters are a lot of fun.

I found this one to be more fast paced and engaging and I’m more invested in continuing the series. It’s a fun quick read :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy!

This series is something special and just has such a unique flare. I think because the MC is a bit more jaded and down to earth person and is a bit more rough around the edges (which I looooove) than many cozy sleuths. There are a lot of grittier dynamics thanks to the fantastic characters the author has created. Her relationship with her aunt, her relationships with her ex, her and Sonya’s pasts, her ever changing relationship with the lead detective, all bring extra interesting layers in to the mystery story. And of course I was hungry the ENTIRE time!

This book is the second in the Deep Dish Mystery Series. It was fun from the start and everything I want from a cozy along with bonus recipes at the end!

The plot was very nicely paced, and the writing wasn’t overly descriptive making for a quick, enjoyable read.

I loved all of the characters, and even Delilah’s fiancé, Sam, grew on me. I enjoyed the great interactions and witty, one-liners among the cast of characters.

I’m normally not a fan of a series, but I plan on continuing with this one. I’m really enjoying this fairly new-to-me genre.

Was it the fun-loving fluffy kitty, Butterball, that won me over? Maybe . . . ☺️

This was my first book in this series and I know it won’t be the last. I love Delilah and her friends and family. I even love the name of her restaurant. lol There were times where I was like Delilah you have way too much on your plate, but everything was tided up at the end. I also loved all the recipes at the end of the book. That would make a cute Bookclub meeting.

I have been provided with a review copy of Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust from NetGalley for an impartial review. Oh my gosh this story was just epic. I just couldn’t put this story down and I was just captivated by everything that was taking place. The author truly outdid herself with this story. This story just had my emotions all over the place and I am so sad to see this book end. I just can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This is the second book in a series but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. I liked seeing more of the characters in this volume - and getting to know them even more. The mystery in the book was believable, and tied to the characters' day to day lives. I enjoyed the little twists in the mystery and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I adore this series! It's a fun cozy mystery, but it also has a little bit of a darker edge to it that I really liked. And hello, deep dish pizza? Yes, please! I really like Delilah and the cast of characters surrounding her. They make the story that much more intriguing and fun. Cannot wait for the next one!

A fun, interesting book. I liked the mystery and did not guess the ending!! The characters were fully fleshed out and likable. The plot was amusing and kept me involved the entire time. I could not put this book down. I highly enjoyed this series and looked forward to this book. I recommend this series.

*Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the copy of this book*

Pizzeria owner Delilah has her eyes set on winning the top prize at the local annual food festival. Alongside her crew, consisting of a spunky cat, her best friend, and crabby aunt, she is hard at work coming up with a new menu item that will impress the judges. Her biggest competition is the new juice bar owner, Jordan Watts, who also happens to be her ex-fiance's new girlfriend. When a customer appears to be poisoned at the juice bar, the whole town is shaken up. Delilah can't stay away from the investigation and discovers some unsettling details. The race is on to discovery the culprit and prevent another causality and any disruption to the town festivities.

Although this is the second book in the series, I was easily able to pick up this book without having read the first one. One of my favorite aspects about cozy mysteries are the characters - and this story had so many interesting characters, including the cute mischievous kitty. The twists were predictable but fun. My only issue was the hint of a romance that never really materialized - that would have put this book over the top for me.

After reading the first book in the Deep Dish series, I was so excited to have a chance to read the second installment. And I was rewarded with a great story! The same characters are back … Delilah and as the book details describe, her cantankerous great aunt, her BFF, and of course, her overweight cat, Butterball. You also meet some new individuals which leads to a rocky start. There are lots of twists and turns and you will stay invested in the story until the end. I enjoy the humor and the slight tension between Delilah and Detective Calvine Capone. This is a great cozy mystery series and I look forward to the next adventure in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Newly single pizzeria owner Delilah O’Leary is determined to keep her restaurant afloat. But living in the picturesque resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, is expensive. She decides to try and win the hefty cash prize during the town’s annual “Taste of Wisconsin” culinary contest. She can't quite get the recipe right, though. So, she calls on her colleagues for help. But when she witnesses a murder at the local juice bar, she begins to question everyone. No one may be safe. And she might lose her business, too. What will Delilah have to do to survive?
I enjoyed this cozy mystery. The pizzas sound amazing! And the recipes at the end are a nice bonus.
The storyline was a little predictable. But the author included enough red herrings to keep it interesting.
I also really liked the variety of characters. They're not all cookie-cutter but have unique backgrounds, hobbies, interests, talents, and accents.
I would definitely read more books by this author and the rest of the books in this series.

"Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust" by Mindy Quigley is a cozy mystery that takes readers on a culinary adventure in the charming resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O'Leary, the newly single pizzeria owner, is a relatable and determined protagonist. With her sassy cat Butterball, wisecracking BFF, and cantankerous great-aunt by her side, Delilah sets her sights on winning a culinary contest to save her struggling restaurant.

Mindy Quigley's storytelling shines when it comes to creating a vivid small-town setting filled with quirky characters. The concept of a culinary contest adds a fun and engaging element to the plot, and the Pretzel Crust Deep-Dish Bratwurst Pizza recipe is a unique and mouthwatering touch.

A great follow up to the first Deep Dish Mystery (though it can be read as a standalone easily!).

Plot

In Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust, Delilah is working hard to keep her pizzeria in Geneva Bay afloat after she broke up with her fiancé (and the financier of the restaurant) Sam a few months prior. The end-of-summer Taste of Wisconsin festival is the perfect way to bring in some loyal customers, particularly among locals who will hopefully frequent the restaurant all winter long.

Delilah is working hard to perfect her recipe, which is a play on local Wisconsin culinary delights—bratwurst, cheddar, and pretzel crust. Her best friend and co-owner is getting a bit tired of tasting each new version of the pizza, but both are determined to show up the contest. Winning would get her publicity she needs, but the cash prize wouldn’t hurt when it comes to financing payroll!

Meanwhile her ex, Sam, has found a new love interest Jordan, the owner of a healthy juice bar in town. Jordan is also entering the contest. Meanwhile, Sam and Delilah are still working out how to best share custody of Butterball, the cat they both love. But while Delilah tries to perfect her recipe, she notices her aunt Biz seems more unhappy than usual. Why is she pushing Delilah away?

Delilah barely has time to worry about that because someone gets poisoned at the juice bar by a tainted smoothie, and someone close to Delilah’s crew is the prime suspect. Accusations fly, suspects are everywhere, and Delilah needs to get to the bottom of it all before another person gets murdered!

Reflection

I loved the first book in the series, but I actually thought this one was even better. Delilah is settling into her new life, single, owning a business, caring for her aunt, and trying to work out how to grow from the end of her relationship. The staff of her pizzeria is a bit less prominent in this book, and while I missed them, I was glad to spend more time with Delilah and seeing her grow as a character.

The first book spent a lot of time establishing the fictional town and dynamics among the central characters. This allowed the second book the breathing room to lean more heavily into the mystery. We were introduced to a few new characters, and the setting with the Tase of Wisconsin coming up and the celebrity judge (who happened to have an unpleasant history with Sonya) was a lot of fun.

The juxtaposition between Delilah and her cheesy, meaty, buttery deep dish fare with Jordan’s green smoothie empire was really interesting. Delilah handles the new love interest for Sam like a champ, doing her best to support her business (and try to like kale juice) and also respect their relationship. All of this is reflected in Butterball, who despite Sam’s diet plan (and Delilah attempting to follow it), doesn’t seem to be helping Butterball at all. In fact, he’s still packing on the pounds and is grumpier than usual!

The mystery had lots of twists and turns and stayed light and breezy. Quigley adds her signature humor throughout and I found myself laughing along with the characters multiple times. We definitely had some good red herrings. I’ve been enjoying the small bits of mafia tie-ins throughout the series. It’s a nice callback to Chicago history (and maybe current events…). I wasn’t sure who the culprit would be, and I liked that finding out the motive helped everything snap into place. I also really enjoy the dynamic between Detective Capone and Delilah. It isn’t over the top, or unrealistic. It never overshadows the main mystery, it compliments it.

With a dash of mafia activity, an unhappy cat on a diet, and some interesting storylines around Delilah’s aunt Biz and her evolving post-break-up relationship with Sam—this book had my heart! I also loved seeing how Delilah and her best friend and employee Sonya worked together and came up with their recipe for the festival.

A must-read culinary cozy mystery!

Thanks to St Martin’s Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

It's time to head to Geneva Bay to visit with Delilah and friends as they getting ready for the "Taste of Wisconsin' competition. Just as Delilah is perfecting her pizza a snooty chef is murdered and Delilah has to find the killer before her restaurant partner, Sonya, is arrested. There is also the issue that Butterball, the cat, is gaining weight which is curious because he's on a special diet. And why is her Great Aunt in such a cranky mood. These characters are almost 'over-the-top' but they are still likable. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

I'm really enjoying this series and am excited to see where things will go for Delilah in the next book. Butterball was amazing too, such an adorable cat!

My suspicion about who the killer was bounced around throughout the book but the author stumped me again. I was surprised at the reveal!

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.