In Mindy Quigley's fourth Deep Dish cozy, Deliah and Butterball, her feline friend, deal with a frozen corpse showing up at the annual sculpting competition. This holiday mystery is hip-deep in snow and intriguing events.

r Fellow Reader,

We are back this week with a new installment in the Deep Dish Mysteries. I have reviewed the three previous books in the series, Public Anchovy (Public Anchovy Review) Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust (Crust to Crust review), and Six Feet Deep Dish (my review).

The series takes place in Geneva Lake, WI. Geneva Lake is a tourist destination, and winters can be quiet except during the famous snow sculpting championship. When Delilah O’Leary, the owner of the local pizza restaurant, is asked to cater a Chrismukkah gig, she is delighted. The party will take place during the competition.

Unfortunately, a person disappears from the party and is discovered frozen in a snow sculpture.

The cast of suspects includes a new character in the series, Delilah’s brother-in-law. What was his connection and why was he at the party with Delilah’s niece? They hadn’t told Delilah or her aunt they were coming to town. And where is Delilah’s sister? The sisters aren’t close mostly because Delilah feels her sister is constantly judging her and finding her wanting.

Unfortunately, the murder brings some questions about Delilah’s staff. She hates to be suspicious of them but things are going on that raise questions about their backgrounds. She hates feeling they could be involved but she doesn’t step back from investigating.

This fourth installment continues the character-driven series with new characters and Delilah’s role as narrator. And what is going on with the romance with Calvin Capone? Things are progressing slowly but there is progress.

If you like the other books in the series, I think you will be happy with this installment. There is more in this story; I’m sure because we know more about the characters. Can it stand on its own? I think so but it is hard to be completely sure because I have read all the series. I am glad when there is a new book in the series if that helps you decide.

Thanks for reading!

I did receive a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion. The book will be published on  October 22, 2024.

Delilah and her team from an upscale pizzeria were catering a glamorous house party, and everything was running smoothly due to her meticulous attention to detail. However, after a mishap, one of her employees disappeared, a body was discovered, and Delilah found herself entangled in a mystery, trying to clear her friends and a family member from her detective boyfriend’s list of suspects.

This intriguing mystery was intertwined with family drama, friendship and a touch of romance. The plot was well written, and the author did an outstanding job providing details that really made the story come to life. This is another great installment in A Deep Dish Mystery series by Mindy Quigley.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza
Deep Dish Mystery #4
by Mindy Quigley
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Mystery/Cozy Mystery
Pages: 320
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

When a guest from the Chrismukkah house party pizza chef Delilah O’Leary catered shows up embedded in a block of snow, she’s drawn into investigating the bizarre death.

Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary has her hands full. It’s Christmas in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and she and her staff at Delilah and Son are catering a glitzy Chrismukkah house party, and Delilah doesn’t want anything to go wrong. But the evening brings a torrent of questions. Her employee, Rabbit, disappears. The only sign Delilah can find is his footprints in the snow, as well as someone else’s-and that someone else is a woman, wearing stilettos. Trying to find him, she ends up on the second floor, where she sees a young woman appearing to eavesdrop at one of the doors. Delilah unexpectedly crosses paths with her brother-in-law Jonathan Savage at the same party. Delilah’s sister, Shea, had refused Delilah’s Christmas invitation. So why is he in Geneva Bay instead of home in Pasadena? Then hours after the party, one of the guests is found dead. Her body is discovered when snow sculptors uncover her as they begin work for their entry in the well-known snow sculpting championship. As Delilah begins to investigate this murder, she’ll uncover layers of lies and deceit that lead back to her family.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza has a complex plot, but one that is fully resolved by the end. The characters are complicated, mainly focusing around family groups. The relationship between Delilah and her sister, Shea is a focus of the book. Shea is the older of the two, and Delilah has never measured up in Shea’s eyes. Their complicated relationship takes a new turn in this novel. But family members can also be extraordinarily cruel to one another, and that pain can spill out in the darkest ways.

Overall, Sleep in Heavenly Pizza, is a solid read. The plot is complicated, but not convoluted. The relationships between the characters are difficult, sometimes painful, but also full of love. 4/5 stars.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza is the 4th book in the Deep Dish Mysteries and it is an enjoyable addition to the series. The characters are likable and the cozy mystery was good. Delilah O'Leary owns an upscale pizza restaurant and her best friend Sonya works with her along with Melanie, Daniel, Rabbit and Jarka. They are like a family. Delilah is dating Detective Capone and their relationship seems to finally be progressing. It is Christmas and Hanukkah and Geneva Bay, WI is having an Ice Sculpture Competition. Delilah & Son's is catering a big party and there are some odd things going on and a guest goes missing. Delilah and Capone are on a date watching the ice sculpting when a dead body turns up. Daniel, his Mom Angie, Rabbit and Delilah's brother-in-law Jonathan are all suspects which causes tension between Delilah and Capone. They work through it and he is the primary source for information. I like this more than when the main character ends up in peril trying to get clues. There are a lot of secrets, lies, and omissions to keep things interesting. Delilah and her sister Shea are not close but Shea, her 3 year old son Caleb, stepdaughter Piper, and husband Jonathan all end up staying with her. There is a lot of tension between all of them, Delilah and Aunt Biz which adds some drama to the story. Delilah's cat Butterball certainly is a part of it all. Everything is r
resolved just in time for Christmas. The ending was interesting and without suspence and peril. This is an enjoyable cozy mystery! #SleepInHeavenlyPizza #DeepDishMysteries #MinotaurPress #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Delilah and her crew are catering a party where she is surprised to see her brother-in-law and niece as guests.
When a guest's body is found the next day, Delilah wonders if her brother-in-law's relationship with the murdered
woman is a factor. When it turns out that two of her employees also have ties to the woman, the suspect list
increases. Bent on keeping family and friends safe, Delilah is determined to discover the person responsible.
Enjoyed learning more about Delilah's family and employees, Look forward to reading the next book in the
series.
#SleepinHeavenlyPiza #StMartinsPress #MinotaurBooks #NetGalley

Want to get into the holiday spirit through a delightful cozy? This is for you! I really enjoy this series and this latest installment is no different. One particular thing I found really fun was getting to see the families of various characters. It really gave some fun insight into who they are in the way that only families can. The mystery in this book was solid - not overly amazing, but still fun to read. I’m also waiting for Delilah and Capone to figure their relationship out!! Overall, another solid entry into a fun series.

This is the fourth book in the series and probably my favorite. There is definitely something to be said for mysteries set around holidays, especially when you are far enough in to have several favorite characters. My problem with this series is that I find Dee, the MC, just a little too much, a tad too intense. This book has a lot of time with Sonya, Melody, Daniel, Capone, and Butterball, and generally, I prefer their company. That being said, there is a very interesting mystery that resolves around a catering event. Because of that, we get the whole crew plus some of Dee's family we haven't met before. With some of her staff and some of her family as suspects, you know Dee and Capone are going to have some difficult times. Come on and enjoy the slippery ride! Thanks to #Netgally, #StMartinsPress, and the author for an opportunity to read. #SleepinHeavenlyPizza #DeepDishMysteries #MindyQuigley #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

This book is part of the Deep Dish mystery series, and I consider it the best so far. In this complex plot line, Dee and friends get involved in helping law enforcement solve the mystery of a woman who fell from a balcony on a snowy winter night after a fancy party. Dee and associates run a pizza restaurant and catered the event. Many things about the woman's death just do not add up. When law enforcement starts to question members of Dee's family and her friends, tension mounts as the story builds to a surprising conclusion.

As a reader of many mysteries, I am usually pretty good at guessing the outcome. This book was an exception! I never saw that ending coming, although it all made sense. Add in the holiday celebrations for Christmas and Hanukkah, and you have the recipe for an outstanding mystery with a resounding resolution. The recipes at the end with their humorous comments just add value to this story.

Readers who enjoy culinary mysteries with quirky characters will find this latest addition to the series to be intriguing and a definite page-turner. For those returning to this series, the characters are further developed, supporting the feeling of being with family. New and interesting character depths are explored in this story, although it can be read as a standalone novel. This book contains no steamy intimate scenes or strong language or descriptive violence.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley (thank you very much!) in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Readers looking for a culinary cozy with a Christmas setting will love this! It is the fourth book in a series, but I hadn't read the first three and I no trouble keeping up, so readers can jump right in and go back to older titles if they like this one -- which I think they will!

The fourth Deep Dish Mystery takes place around the Christmas/Hannukah holiday period. Delilah O'Leary and her crew are catering a party when she is surprised to see her niece and brother-in-law. They hadn't told her they were going to be in town.

The next day. when a body is discovered in one of the piles that was to become a snow sculpture, Delilah is on the case. Too many of the suspects are her employees and family. It is hard to remain in the Christmas spirit when someone connected to Delilah might be spending the holidays in jail.

I enjoyed this mystery. The characters were interesting and complex people. I also enjoyed the holiday recipes that ended the book.

I am so very sorry, I just could not get into this book
I received a complimentary copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Certainly not your average cozy mystery read. I found this one to be confusing and never really was able to get into the story. Perhaps if I had read the other books in the series then I might have been able to follow along. I was not at all surprised by who turned out to be the Whodunnit. I felt the books ending dragged out for far too long. Just not my cup of Christmas cheer. I realize that this book has many five star reviews . I thought it had a beautiful cover and the cat was my favorite character.
I don’t recommend this book to readers who are offended by bad language. In about the third or fourth chapter of the book the cussing started . Unprepared and unexpected it was almost as though a fist popped out of the page and punched me in the face. Though I will say the book didn’t have a lot of swearing but it was just the words that were used.
Readers that have been following this series will want to read this book. It is scheduled for release on 10/22/24.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are solely my own.

Delilah O'Leary of Delilah & Son Pizza caters a "Chrismukkah" party for Daffi and Adrian Hoffman. It seems to be going well until the end when Delilah follow footprints from the catering van to another door to the house and up the stairs where there is a very tense atmosphere Hadley Hoffman and her parents and a guest, Natasha La Cotti. Delilah's brother-in-law is also there, much to her surprise, as her sister, Shea, always declines invitations to the holidays as Dee and Aunt Biz are "too extra". Both Daniel the bartender and "Rabbit" the busboy and dishwasher are acting oddly. Delilah's niece Piper is the only one who is normal. Hadley and Piper are sorority sisters, the reason she is at the party.
The next day, Rabbit calls in "sick" for the rest of the week to Sonya, the sous chef instead of Delilah, which is totally out of character for the 6 months paroled and sober always reliable Rabbit.
At the snow sculpture contest, a body in found one of the cylinders when they start to remove the excess snow. The body is Natasha who had an argument with almost everyone the night of the party. Delilah's boyfriend, Calvin Capone, has the miss his family's Christmas cruise to investigate.
Delilah (to Capone's dismay) helps to separate the victims from the villains, sort out problems for friends and family and maybe, just maybe heal her own family's relationships.
This series just keeps getting better.
I love how the characters keep showing different aspects of their character each book. How OCD Delilah who has always felt "less than" her rocket scientist sister Shea. How Aunt Biz, usually a curmudgeon, is totally different in the holidays. How some of the staff at the pizza restaurant are coming out of their shells, so to speak.
Altogether a good read.

Who doesn’t love pizza? This is the fourth book in Mindy Quigley’s Deep Dish Mysteries series, and Quigley manages to pack in a lot for a cozy mystery. As usual, Quigley’s characters are colorful and amusing. The mystery is set in Wisconsin during a snowy lead up to Christmas and Hannukah and features everything from feasts to skiing to ice carving contests to frozen dead bodies. It is a perfect set up to touch on family dynamics during the holidays and all of the drama that can lead to. But there are also laughs and recipes and even some current events thrown in for good measure.
I gobbled this book down like a delicious deep-dish pizza.
SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PIZZA is out Oct. 22, 2024.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

“Sleep in Heavenly Pizza” is the fourth book in this delightful series and Mindy Quigley does it again! This book maintains the same quirky, fun, mysterious and engaging balance that the first three books in the series did. This time, there’s more family, more romance and more hijinks in the midst. It’s a cozy mystery set in the coziest time of the year! Delilah and Co are certainly worth the hype!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley.

This is the 4th book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, featuring chef Delilah O'Leary. I read the first book two years ago and didn't remember a lot of details, but I had no problem getting into this volume and the fun mystery it presents.

Delilah is immersed in catering Christmas and Hannukah celebrations (and combinations thereof) while Wisconsin is suitably snowy and cold outside. One event's big dramatic clashes between attendees leads to an even more dramatic next day, as Delilah attends a snow carving competition that reveals the dead body of a familiar party attendee. When Delilah's beloved staff and estranged family is wrapped up in the investigation led by her boyfriend, Detective Capone, she is quickly on the case to track down the real killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it is everything you want in a cozy mystery. When I read the first book, I had never been in the Upper Midwest, and now that I've lived in Minnesota for a year (2 miles from Wisconsin), I have an even deeper appreciation for the details around the setting. The ending of this book was fantastic. Even though I guessed at the guilty party early on, there were many twists and turns, including a ripped-from-the-headlines aspect I did not see coming.

I'd happily read more in this series, and more from this author!

This is one of my favorite current cozy series. It probably helps that I love pizza and cats, but I also love Quigley's writing. She's able to keep me guessing without the ending seeming like it came out of left field. The characters feel like old friends. I wish I could hang out with them (while eating some deep dish pizza, of course).

snow-season, situational-humor, verbal-humor, recipes, control-freak, contemporary, multigenerational, murder, relationship-issues, relationships, relatives, pet-cat, chef, local-law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, restauranteur, restaurant, caterer, friendship, friends, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, Wisconsin, pizza, foodie, family drama, family dynamics****

It all happens in a wealthy small town in southern Wisconsin where the top cop is a very law-abiding descendant of Al Capone. Delilah O’Leary is catering a very high-end Chrismukkah party (Christmas+Hannukkah) and is surprised to see that some of the guests are her very own relatives. Things get hairy, and then there is the body that appears inside the snow sculpture. Tempers flare, nerves are frayed, and the investigation gets harrowing. But the food and the recipes are excellent!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Oct 22, 2024
#DeepDishMysteriesBk4

I like this series, but I admit I'm not sad that Jarka is out of most of this book. She's just one quirk too much for me.

The plot is fairly complex, and there are a lot of strings of evidence and red herrings, too. That's all great background, but I find that the relationships here are what really keep me reading. I love when Delilah ponders that the holiday season, even with all that's gone wrong, feels like the beginning of something hopeful. "Like just maybe we could take off our costumes, turn down the stage lights, and be our messy selves." If your family has complicated relationships (is there a family that doesn't?), then the layers and stories woven throughout this overall mystery will resonate with you.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.