This is the first book I've read by this author. It's also a first in a series. Savvy is an interesting character and is likable. The other cast of characters are all a little quirky. I liked the setting in Chicago and is written by someone who is familiar with the city. The story was good, but it took me a while to get into the story. The resolution was good and the pace picked up as we neared the end of the story. I think this will appeal to cozy mystery fans. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for this ARC!! I really enjoyed this book a lot and cant wait to checkout more from this author!!

Ok this was a fun book to read! Loved the mystery, loved the cozy aspect, summer and culinary parts! Everything was just a perfect blend. We need more little gems like this!

The first book in a series carries a lot of responsibility. It needs to engage the reader in a plot while at the same time introducing a lot of characters and getting the reader to care about (some of) them. There is a lot of background in this introduction and I think I would have liked it if some had been saved for future installments. Yes, I do intend to read the continuing adventures of Savvy, Penny, Fanon, etc. But I would have liked them just as much had there been a bit fewer characters and more plot focus. I also felt like some of the story lines could have arched into future books. Basic statement: I want more Savvy Summers and am worried it was all given to us too quickly in this first book! Savvy is sassy, intelligent, and offers a refreshing narrative in the very full food-based cozy genre!

I really loved the characters in this one. Everyone could do with a Savvy in their life. There's humor to go along with the mystery. Its an engaging read. This author is new to me and I will definitely read her again!

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku was a thrilling and entertaining murder mystery that kept me engaged and turning pages. Our main character Savvy Summers opens Essie’s soul food cafe, where her sweet potato pie is loved by many locals in the neighbourhood but when one of these locals drops dead at the cafe after eating the famous sweet potato pie, the future of the soul food cafe is uncertain. We read as our main character tries to solve the mystery and clear the name of her cafe and save its reputation. This was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the setting and overall felt like I was immersed in the story, which as a reader is all you want in a murder mystery book. If you love murder mysteries, and small town vibes, this book is definitely for you! Thank you Sandra Jackson-Opoku, St.Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book was really different from the cozies I’m used to reading, but the characters were interesting. Penny, Savvy’s sous chef cracked me up sometimes! I gotta agree with her that at times Savvy was just too accommodating as she found out at the showdown. She got some help from an unlikely source she didn’t even realize knew where she was. And usually I’m not in favor of someone getting back with an ex, but in Savvy’s case, it might just work. It was fun seeing at the end the list compiling all late great-Aunt Essie's different sayings.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Minotaur/St. Martin via NetGalley, ,and my opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. This was a fun book that kept me on my toes wondering whodunnit. I loved the vivid descriptions of the setting and all of the tasty food. Savvy as a fun, relatable amateur sleuth and I loved Penny, her sassy sidekick. At times the pace felt a little slow but the ending was very satisfying! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

I will start off by saying I love how this book is unapologetically black! From the second I read "aw sookie-sookie now," I just knew I was going to enjoy this book! The language, the ebonics, the epithets, the food, the dialogues, certain mentions, and references - loved it! It all added a particular coziness and, for me, one that was relatable and hit home.
Savvy Summers And The Sweet Potato Crimes is a cozy mystery, with the murder being on the lighter side and more palatable than your regular murder mystery. The story itself was good, however, I felt like some chapters were simply fillers. Good thing the chapters are short! The pacing was steady enough to hold the cozy feel of the book, and the characters were very highly likable.
I like that this book is very unique, with unique characters (like Grandy) and a death like his (viagra overdose). This book is fun and has lots of banter, and at some points, felt like a hug to me (with mentions of grands, community, upbringing, etc.) I loved Savvy in particular and can't wait to see what else is in store for her!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sandra Jackson-Opoku for this ARC!

I really liked Savvy she is such a fun character, she is incredibly dedicated to her community and her food. She had a rough start to life, losing people she loved and relies on her Aunt whos food she is passing on through her restaurant. And she certainly lives up to the nickname, good at reading people and situations even if at times she speaks in ways that may get her in trouble.

Secondary characters are a mix of good and okay. At times they feel like there are going to fall into categories of stereotypes but I felt the author did well enough job to give the majority of them a bit more depth that keeps them from just being one noted. They are not perfect, they have flaws and I really appreciated it. Some are unfortunately a one note character but those are in it very much so that was fine.

One of my favorite parts about cozy mysteries that are themed around restaurants and food also have the best sounding recipes. The author does a great job of bringing the food to life, I want to eat at Savvy’s restaurant. A good book that has food in it makes the food its own character, strange to say but I also appreciate a book that does that and this book does this well. And of course she has recipes in the back of the book that make me want to try that to die for sweet potato pie and I also appreciated that it was vegan.

I liked that for the most part the mystery is really a secondary part of the story. In fact that mystery part doesn’t really kick into full steam until about the 60% mark which is okay with me not being a huge mystery fan. The mystery does play out well, it doesn’t feel forced or completely out of reality. Savvy is smart and goes about solving the mystery through tricks that works with her job. The mystery also presents some good red herrings and misdirection that work really well in the story. I liked that the mystery was multi layered but the main murder still drives the story.

Overall Savvy Summers is a fun read with some great sounding food and I do hope the author continues, she is setting up a series with new adventures and new characters to explore.

Sandra Jackson-Opoku is not a debut author, but this is her debut cozy mystery. It's a real treat!

Set on the South Side of Chicago, with plentiful mentions of the various component neighborhoods (including my own childhood neighborhood—Hyde Park), the story includes quite a range of fully developed characters—mostly members of the immediate community. Savvy is an especially appealing and interesting character—we learn about her childhood, family, relationships, and careers. The story also includes elements of the Great Migration, politics, greed, infidelity, culture, and music. It makes for an immersive experience.

By the time this story takes place, Savvy's Great-Aunt Essie—who raised her after she was orphaned at age 10—has been dead for over 40 years. Unsurprisingly, though, Savvy continues to be heavily influenced by Aunt Essie's expressions, which add so much color, emotion, and humor throughout the story. There is a section at the end of the book that “translates” Essie's expressions, as well as a section with some of her recipes.

It appears that a series is planned. I'm looking forward to reading more!

I found the plot to be a bit meandering and hard to follow. The reveal summed up everything nicely but honestly how it got there was beyond me. The recipes in the back were a nice touch.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is a unique look at life for Savy Summers. It is a mystery as to who killed two men and how did they do it by Sandra Jackson-Opoku. Because one murder though it was thought to be a death by natural naturals happened right in Savy Summers’ café. From there the story becomes complicated and convoluted but Savy begins the task of unraveling all of the deeds, motives and relationships one by one. Of course, the police are on the job, but this woman is a master at reading people.

An entertaining mystery with cultural flavor by a writer that is not new just new to me. Not exactly a cozy mystery since it has some violence and bad language. However, for a different mystery be sure to check out Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes which has some wonderful recipes shared too.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is a flavorful first book in the Savvy Summers series. It introduces a lively community, a strong protagonist, and a soulful culinary twist on the cozy mystery genre. Savvy herself is a solid lead—smart, determined, and engaging—and her banter with assistant manager Penny adds a welcome touch of humor and camaraderie.

That said, the book isn’t without its missteps. The opening scenes are abrupt and a bit confusing, making it hard to get a grip on the characters and their relationships at first. And while the mystery eventually finds its footing, the zenith and resolution felt a bit far-fetched, though still satisfying in a cozy kind of way.

One minor drawback is the over-reliance on humor in some of the passages, which often feels forced and more focused on punchlines than progressing the plot. Similarly, there’s a fair amount of gossip, rivalries, and squabbling—while sometimes entertaining, it occasionally veers into mean-spirited or excessive territory.

The cultural and social references to the 1960s were interesting and added depth, but the use of "Black English" vernacular may be a mixed bag for readers. On one hand, it brought a distinctive voice and rhythm to the narration, which I really enjoyed; on the other, it wasn’t always clear whether it enriched characterization or leaned too heavily on stereotype to mark race or economic status.

In the end, Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes offers a quirky-yet-close-knit community, a memorable lead, and a promising setup for future entries.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

My fellow readers who love amateur sleuths, Savvy Summers is about to become one of your favourites. Set in Chicago, Savvy Summers is a cafe owner who wants to show people love by creating delicious recipes. But when a customer passes and some people start looking at Savvy's food, she knows she is going to have to do something. So, Savvy and her assistant manager, Penny Lopes, are going to crack the case. Of course, like any amateur sleuth, neither her police ex-husband nor his ice queen partner wants Savvy's help. But nothing is going to stop her!


This was a fun read. I am a Savvy fan, and I hope that we will get more Savvy books in the future. But be warned, you're soon going to be heading to the kitchen to whip up some sweet potato pie.



Expected Publication 29/07/25
Goodreads Review 28/07/25

3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Savvy is a strong, witty lead, and her dynamic with Penny Lopés adds charm and humor to the sleuthing. The cultural richness and food descriptions are a highlight, making the setting feel alive and delicious (and made me want a sweet potato pie!)

While the mystery is enjoyable, it’s not particularly twisty, and some plot threads feel a bit rushed or underdeveloped. Still, it’s a cozy and satisfying read—perfect for fans of culinary mysteries and strong female protagonists. Also really enjoyed Aunt Essie's epithets throughout the book and specifically listed at the end!

My thanks to Net Galley, St Martin's Minotaur for allowing me to review this arc.

This was a really cute and clever read. I liked the way the stories in the diner conveyed Southern charm, yet it was set in the Southside of Chicago. Lol...death by viagra....lol....that was something definitely different. Loved the recipes and all the talk of sweet potato pie made me hungry. Looking forward to more from these characters.

This was a fun cozy mystery. I was entertained trying to figure out who the murderer was. There was good twists that kept me guessing the entire time.

Loved this story right from the beginning. It was is warm, sassy, nostalgic and cozy for a murder mystery!

While in my reading slump, I discovered another genre I can read to get out of my slumps… Cozy mysteries. The funnier the better. Which is why I LOVED this one. I could feel myself slipping into one and then I started this, saw what this case was about, and I lost it and couldn’t stop laughing. And this is how I fell in love with Savvy lol

So there was so much I laughed about in this book. The first thing was the very beginning before anything happened. She did this long speech to say thank you that was so heartfelt and then all of a sudden, she called him out for cheating. In front of everyone lol And I remember barking out a laugh because I was so caught off guard. I felt bad because of what happened to her, but I laughed my ass off because she got her revenge. And the other thing that made me laugh was the rumor that it was Savvy’s pies. One thing about Black people, ESPECIALLY if they’re chefs, they’re proud of their food. And for anybody to talk bad about the desserts or pies that they have become famous for, I can guarantee it won’t end well. And sure enough, they were going at it lol

The mystery itself was good. I didn’t know who it was, but that was because she only metered out information a little at a time. And usually that annoys me, but in this story I think it actually made sense? She was finding out information a little at every meal she served, so it made sense that she only found out some here and there. But I will say, once I knew what the murder weapon was, I knew how they did it. Like immediately. Also, this book shocked me. Normally I would have DNFed this because of the OD (y’all know how I am about substance abuse) but this one was actually more shocking and I was so caught off guard.. He OD’ed on Viagra. I ended up just reading it to find out what happened because I hadn’t ever read a book that had this in it lol

The characters were ok. I wanted Savvy to be more funny than she was tho. All the side characters were funny, but Savvy seemed basic? Idk how to explain it. Like all the side characters had big personalities and were so much fun. Like the person she owned the restaurant with. I loved her. She was hilarious but she also had her own problems. I loved how well rounded she was. Savvy usually wasn’t like that, so I didn’t get how this happened. She was so good throughout this whole book but only to make sure that people couldn’t blame anything on her pies and ruin her reputation. Which I get, so it’s hard for me to understand how she wasn’t mad. She had all this happening to her restaurant, but literally nothing made her mad. I don’t understand how she was just like eh ok to all of this.

The writing style was good, made even better by the audio narration. Karen Chilton has narrated a number of audiobooks. I thought I hadn’t listened to any, but I looked and there were so many. Definitely one of my favorites and I didn’t even know. I will be looking for more ASAP. Just like you should. Go ahead and start with this one and we can both keep going from there.