This was a fun rom-com (not spicy, but fun) with a twist of mystery (not too mysterious, but still). Kasey and Jackson are a great couple and their scenes were wonderful. So too was the relationship between the two of them and the two senior pie bakers, Mags (Kasey’s grandmother) and Celia (Jackson’s aunt). Great rapport between all of these main characters.

When Kasey pitches her grandmother’s pie business as a potential investment while in a business meeting, she needs to scramble to get things in order. Mags has no intention of selling hers and Celia’s baking business. It’s as successful as they want it to be and it’s all been word of mouth.

Then Kasey notices some special orders on the books and they seem to correspond with the deaths of some rather unpleasant husbands in town. And there’s the issue of a locked pantry. She enlists Jackson to help solve the mystery while trying to keep her grandmother from finding out she used them to help her career.

I listened to the audiobook and Mia Barron did an excellent job. Her character voices were good and she kept the pace of the book right where it should be.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the e-audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kasey Nottingham has had a crush on Jackson, her grandmother's Celia's roommate's nephew, forever. But she assumes it's hopeless and takes a job in a sort of think tank for new businesses in Washington D.C., a few hours away from her Winston-Salem home. In a desperate attempt to find a new business to promote and hold onto her job, she proposes that the baking business run and owned by her grandmother and Celia, Mags' Desserts, may be interested in selling. Much to her surprise and dismay, her boss loves the idea and sends her back to lay the groundwork for the sale with her grandmother, Mags, and Celia.

Knowing her grandmother isn't interested in selling is a minor complication. Kasey assumes it will all go nowhere and she can hold onto the job a bit longer. But, her boss has other ideas. At the same time, Kasey runs across a few mysteries in the business, irregularities as it were. For example, she finds a locked cabinet where nothing has been locked before, starred names in customer lists, and hears of deaths connected to those names. Connecting the dots, Kasey is afraid her grandmother and Celia are helping other women join their ranks as widows in Winston-Salem. And, she's trying to figure out if her crush on Jackson may be going somewhere, and keep the reason for her visit a secret from the women who know her best. Of course, it all comes crashing down in some laugh-out-loud incidents and Kasey has to confess all.

This book is a good escapist read. Narrator Mia Barron voices Kasey with just the right accent and brings the characters to life.

The Usual Family Mayhem is a delightful book by HelenKay Dimon. When Kasey Nottingham takes a job working for a company that likes to make deals for investors she doesn't really think she will need to come up with any ideas. Her boss puts her on the spot where she decides to bring up an idea she is sure they won't be interested in, except it turns out they are. She is then tasked to go home and try to convince her grandma, Mags and partner Celia into making their business of baking into a nationwide business.

When she returns home she puts off talking to them about it because she thinks there might be a chance that they are up to something more than just making pies.

The book was hilarious at times and slightly frustrating at others. There were many times where I thought the truth would come out, but turns out there were many characters in the story with secrets of their own. I would definitely recommend this book to some of my patrons and know they will find the witty banter and humor enjoyable.

This cozy mystery serves up suspense with a generous side of mouthwatering pie. Kasey gets pulled into a string of mysterious deaths tied to her grandma’s pie shop, uncovering family secrets along the way. The vivid food descriptions are a treat, and Kasey’s budding romance adds a sweet layer to the plot. Entertaining, warm, and just twisty enough to keep you hooked.

This book is such a fun book to listen to and I really enjoyed the narration. It's a bit of a wild ride among the pies and potential killers, but Kasey and Jackson are gold together as they investigate the mysterious circumstances. I loved the romance and appreciated the witty humor sprinkled throughout the book. Mags and Celia are fantastic and I really liked the ending. This a great read that you won't want to put down.

The narrator isn't a believable 26-yo, but otherwise did a nice job.

Too much romance and too much food for me. Southern cozies aren't my thing.

The story moved pretty slowly. I would've liked it better had the author focused less on the dead end job and hot childhood friend and more on the mystery.

I did love the "ladies." I miss my grandma and appreciate stories with important older women.

Thank you NetGalley and LibroFM for the audio ARC. I will share this title with my book groups.

This story is an absolute delight—equal parts mystery, comedy, and family chaos wrapped up in a quirky, small-town setting. The blend of humor and suspense keeps the pace lively, while the sharp, witty dialogue makes every interaction entertaining. The family dynamic is both heartwarming and hilariously dysfunctional, with secrets and shenanigans unfolding at every turn. The underlying mystery is just the right mix of outrageous and believable, making it impossible to stop listening.
The narration elevates the story, bringing each character’s personality to life with charm and energy. The delivery captures the humor and sass perfectly, making the banter and comedic timing even sharper. The audiobook format enhances the fast-paced, laugh-out-loud moments, while also drawing out the emotional depth beneath the surface. This is an irresistibly fun listen that blends small-town charm, a little romance, and just a hint of criminal mischief in the best way possible.

I thought this was a cute family cozy mystery with a great twist to the mystery. I enjoyed the relationships of both the grandmother and the granddaughter- both with each other and with their love interests. I feel like the 2 stories could have meshed better, but I always forgot about one when the other came up (and vice versa). Honestly, the mystery storyline was s good one, but it got lost behind the childhood love story and the business story. But, by the end, I enjoyed all the l I pieces.

An easy read.

A twisty cozy mystery involving senior bakers accused of murder. I am always here for a good women getting revenge on bad men story and this one was top notch. With poison 'funeral pies' and a second chance romance, this was all around a fun listen. Good on audio and perfect for fans of the Pies before guys mystery series by Misha Popp. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun and charming read! I really liked the protaganist, Kasey, and how she stumbled along until she found the answers she was looking for. I also liked the romance element with Jackson, who is top book boyfriend material. But my absolute favorite characters were Gram Mags and Celia. I love them, they made me laugh almost every time they appeared. I would 100% read a whole book just about them. This book is perfect for romance and cozy mystery readers alike!

I also loved the narration, the narrator did a great job with all the different characters. Each one had a specific voice which made it easy to follow along.

I gave it 4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars!

Now I need to go find some cupcakes. And muffins. And pie.

A foodie mystery that works as serviceable read-alike for the Pies Before Guys series. A recommended purchase for collections where cozies are particularly popular.

This reminded me a little of You, with a view because of the family craziness and love. I was so obsessed with the disfunction and humor!

The Usual Family Mayhem was an incredibly fun, captivating read that felt as welcoming and cozy as a warm pie from grandma! Each of the characters was incredibly relatable. Our main character, Kasey, is a bit all over the place – but that feels like the perfect representation of what is actually going on in that brain of hers. She’s stronger than she thinks and capable of so much more than some give her credit for. This was the perfect light read that left me wanting more – not because I wasn’t satisfied but, just like perfect baked goods, even when your full, you can always make room for the really good stuff! I’d love to see more from these lovely characters in the future and will absolutely be reading more from Helenkay Dimon!