I really liked this book. Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres of books to read and this one had characters I became invested in and want to continue reading about. I received this free copy for an honest review from Netgalley. I will be looking for more from this author.

This is a charming first in series that has all the cozy elements we readers love done to perfection. A intriquing mystery, a smart savvy protagnist and a wonderful island setting. I loved that all the supporting characters added to the fun and that the main setting is the "magical" pie bakery. I look forward to the second in series and further adventures of the bakery, our protaganist and sleuthing.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

Fun fun vacay read; this was a great poolside read while I was cruising. The series continues to impress me and I look forward to more character development as this keeps going.

This is such a perfect start to a new cozy series. The island of Split Pine is the ideal location for a murder mystery, quaint & cut off for the season. I loved Este! She’s bright & a very strong lead to carry the whole story. Rue’s writing is everything you could want, rich, descriptive & well thought out. The Lucky Pie Diner is a true gem of an idea, the kind other writers will wish they had come up with. The mystery itself was a really well thought out one, I wasn’t sure who the guilty party was & the ending was tied up nicely. I can only hope there will be more books in the future. This is a definite recommend.

A very foodie cozy. The sleuthing takes a backseat to the food prep.

The day after Lucky Pie Diner owner Este March had an argument with the new produce delivery guy the man is found dead on his boat, holding a copy of Este’s invoice. Naturally, she gets the feeling she is considered a suspect. Thus she is determined to investigate herself, lest the local sheriff - a nice guy, but about as experienced in running a murder investigation as Este is - misses some vital clues.

The story is set on Split Pine, an island off the Michigan coast, where tourists are welcome March through October, but come November everyone that is not a permanent resident of the island must leave. It’s one of the many bylaws of the island that make me wonder what would happen if these were challenged in court. And since some of the bylaws don’t respect personal property or encourage some kind of monopolistic truck system, it is surprising Este doesn’t mention the bylaws have ever been challenged.

Anyway, produce guy. Rather unexpectedly Este’s regular produce guy is replaced by Jeff, who not only doesn’t deliver her order in full, he also charges twice as much for what he does deliver. No wonder Este is upset with the man.

The next morning, after Jeff is found dead, the sheriff informs her Jeff’s last stop was at her diner and there is a witness to their argument.

Here’s what’s bothering me about that: if Jeff’s last stop was at seven a.m. why did he not leave the island soon after? What kept him on the island until at least the evening? (When he was killed.) And why does Este not ask these questions as part of her investigation?

Don’t know if the sheriff is investigating that angle. Or investigating at all. Okay, quite rightly the sheriff doesn’t share the details of his investigation with Este, but town gossip also has not picked up on his investigation other than his interview with Este. So either town gossip is slacking or the sheriff is (and the way town gossip operates it’s probably the latter).

The sheriff does tell Este not to get involved in the investigation when she shares with him what she found out about her former produce guy. Uhm, no. Doing a search on the sudden disappearance of your vender is actually smart business acumen. The only link to the sheriff’s investigation is Este’s assumption that there is a link.

Decent enough cozy. Not enough viable suspects to make for an interesting mystery. Well-written though and Este is a likeable character, even if she talks about the dishes she cooks and the pies she makes too much (and seemed to have forgotten about her newly adopted cat the day the power went out).

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The book follows Este who is in charge of a pie dinner in Michigan. All is quiet on the island until Jeff turns out dead. The sheriff (Tom) believes Este is responsible for his death because of the witnesses who saw her argue with him. Like any true cozy we follow her as she tries to investigate the crime. I loved this cozy and it's ideal for cozy mystery beginners and those in need of a cozy mystery

This book had all the elements I love in a cozy mystery - mystery, intrigue, and a touch of drama. And of course, it had great characters.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

A Pie to Die For is a new cozy mystery series about an island in northern Michigan during early November. Este is the owner of a diner that has famous pies with a bit of “magic” in them. When the new produce supplier is found dead, she is the main suspect. She tries to solve the mystery herself to save her diner and her name.

I loved the setting of this book. The island was so cozy and cute. Since it is November in the book, the fall vibes were full force and I love that. Este had a cute little cottage and I’m jealous, that’s how I want to live. I liked the characters and the relationships throughout the book. Since the island is small, everyone knows everyone and they all mostly get along.

I feel like the mystery was a bit lackluster. I wanted just a bit more investigating and mystery around the murder. I feel like a few things were left open. I do look forward to more from this series!

Thanks so much to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc of this in exchange for an honest review!

I think this book is just ok. I enjoyed the mystery part but it feels like the dialogue is really focused how much people are focused on the “lucky” pie. The explanation of how the magic happens is given many times. The people are always asking if they got the lucky pie, and how do they get one, how it is made etc. Also what kind of pies are made..… There’s also a lot of focus on how isolated the island is, how people are in fear, how hard it is to get fresh produce. It takes away from the whole mystery, investigating, even the personalities of the characters. I think the reason for everything is kind of lame, and is short and unexpected like the author wasn’t sure how to end it and just threw it in. #APietoDieFor #NetGalley

A great start to a new series. Pies with a little luck in them. People come in took get a good luck pie. A distributor winds up dead Este tries to figure out who did it.

Visit the cozy town of Split Pine, where everyone knows and trusts each other enough to leave their doors open. Until one day there is a murder in the docks. The new produce man, who is rather off-putting is found on his boat with the receipt of goods for Este's diner The Lucky Pie Diner in his hand. Can Este and detective Tom Cunningham find the murderer before it's too late?

Split Pine is the type of community that I'd love to live in. Open and friendly, where (most) of the neighbors watch out for each other. It's a charming small town. The sense of danger after the murder of the produce man is strong. There is a sense of the pies that Este makes being lucky as she pours a certain type of energy into them while creating (which reminded me a bit of The Heartbreak Bakery). The baking scenes are cozy and relaxing to read, especially for food lovers.

There were, however, a few things in this book that could have been better. For one, the characters feel a bit flat and one-dimensional, either "all good" like Este or "all bad" like Jersey and her dad, who are actively trying to buy the land Este lives in. I would have loved to see either a good quality about a bad character and vice versa, or even just a quirk that is memorable about the characters.

Also, the ending was a bit of a surprise and a letdown. Even though there are small hints given throughout the narrative, it still feels a bit out of place. I would have liked the killer to have played more of an active role in the narrative.

Overall, this book follows the format of a cozy. There are a lot of positives but a few things that could have been improved. I enjoyed A Pie to Die For and will look for the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest feedback.

This was really a nice read! Especially since I’m from to UP of Michigan. I know where this Island is derived from and have been there. The story is about a restaurant owner who gets questioned about a delivery person who meets a bad fate after seeing her. It's in her nature she has to find the real culprit. Even though she’s told for her own safety to leave it alone. I found the book entertaining and it reminded me of home. I like the characters and would read any other stories that would follow if any. Thank you, NetGalley, and publishers Crooked Lane Books for this eARC.

I adored this cozy mystery. It was such a warm and delightful read! It was more just like a cozy read with some murder and mystery sprinkled in. I feel like 75% of it was just pure foodie coziness and 25% was the murder mystery. This may deter some readers but I honestly couldn’t get enough.
I’m glad Este’s recipes were included at the end of the book because she made so many foods that sounded delicious.
I love this little island and it’s inhabitants and can’t wait to read more books by Gretchen Rue!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the copy of this eARC!

If you live in a popular tourist destination it can sometimes get a bit overcrowded. For six months of the year Split Pine Island's population explodes but on the 1st November everyone who isn't a permanent resident leaves and peace returns for the cold and snowy winter months.

For Este March, who runs her family's popular Lucky Pie Diner, business is so good in the warmer months that she can afford to serve just locals the rest of the year. Unfortunately, as she prepares to open for her first quieter day, she learns a body has been found and, even worse, she is the local sheriff's prime suspect! With no visitors left the killer has to be someone she knows, but who? Determined to prove her innocence Este begins her own investigation but can she find out whodunnit before her reputation and that of her diner are in tatters?

The first in a new series this had a good mystery but, for me there was far too much other stuff! Without spoilers it's difficult to go into detail but there is one thread which could potentially be a good storyline for a follow-up book by itself. My biggest problem however, was the amount of detail included on how almost everything in the diner was made until it got to the point that I just didn't care about any of the soups or pies available, even the magic ones! That said I didn't guess the culprit which is always a plus point. There are recipes at the end of the book which do look lovely.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I love the author's Witches Brew Mystery Series (I gave book 2 five stars) but unfortunately this isn't for me.

Was a great story w a fun an interesting plot twist. The characters was fun and free spirited which helped keep the reader engaged in the story. Looking forward to what the author has in store next.

Este is accused of murder but she didn't have anything to do with it. The culprit is no one she would have suspected.
Tom Cunningham, the local sheriff, casts suspicion onto Este, who may have been the last person to see Jeff alive. Not to mention several people witnessed her getting into an argument with the rude vendor in some of his final hours. Este decides to clear her name and her diner’s reputation by launching her own investigation, which means she must turn suspicion on her friends and neighbors, because only a local could have murdered the victim..
Who killed the guy who was disliked?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

This is a cute book with a charming location. I just fell in love with the little cozy island and wanted to bake pies. The mystery was fun but it does dawdle at times. Would recommend.

This is the first in a brand new series. Este March runs the Lucky Pie Diner which she took over from her family and lives on Split Pine Island in the UP (Upper Pennisula) Michigan. Este continues the family tradition of the women in her family of baking “lucky” pies. Only Este knows which pies are lucky, however, the thought of lucky pies keeps her busy especially on the last day of the tourist season. Split Pine is an island that has no motor vehicles and tourists leave for the season on November 1st. Este gets to the diner early that day and when she runs to the market for a quick shopping trip she overhears Bruno the grocer in a heated argument with someone and learns that Jeff is the new produce man. When Jeff arrives at the diner he is just as rude and Este is shocked when he has increased the prices and they also have words. So when he is found dead the next day she is the prime suspect. The Sheriff is a former pro baseball player(Detroit Tigers) and is the brother of her best friend Kitty and Este has a bit of a crush on him. Este feels like everyone is talking about her and is concerned the murder might hurt the diner in the off season, so she decides she is going to clear her name. As she begins to investigate she is threatened and she does share info with Tom as they try and piece together who could have wanted Jeff dead. This is a good first story in a series, all first books can be a little slow in parts as we are introduced to all the key characters in Este’s life. I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next installment.

I enjoyed this first book in a new series. I enjoyed reading about the life on the island and the cooking and baking that Este does and would definitely want to read more books in this series, although I still prefer her other series, books 1 and 2 of the Witches' Brew Mysteries.

A Pie to Die For is a charming book which follows our main character, Este as she navigates through the end of the tourist season. However, the day after the island is, more or less separated from the mainland, someone is dead.

I found this book to be very cozy. I felt as though I was transported to Split Pines, where there are small business, fall vibes and gossiping neighbors. The descriptions of the diner where Este works, such as baking various pies and decorating her shop, transported me to a simpler vibe which was exactly what I needed to escape the world.

The characters were believable and I really enjoyed following Este as she roamed around the island. The mystery is present in the story, however I found the vibes to be more fulfilling. With the island consisting of only so many people, it seemed as though there were only so many potential suspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially someone in need of some escapism! I would love to continue reading about Este and her next chapters in life.