Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku; Narrated by Karen Chilton

I usually request books written by authors whose work I’ve enjoyed in the past, but the title and book cover for Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes drew me to read this novel, written by a “new to me” author, Sandra Jackson- Opoku. It was a fun read and I’m looking forward to/hoping for the next mystery Savvy and Penny get pulled into!

The story begins when Savvy Summers, the sassy, smart, chef-owner of Essie’s, is catering for a 50 year anniversary party - pulling together her special sweet potato pie as a last minute substitute when the cake is destroyed in a mishap. Matty, married to Grandy, a known womanizer, doesn’t hold back in her toast bringing a quick finish to the party. The following day, when Grandy shows up at Essie’s for his daily breakfast, eats a piece of Savvy’s experimental vegan version of the sweet potato pie and drops dead. Food poisoning? Natural causes? Or something more sinister – did someone kill him? Savvy and her assistant, Penny Lopes, find there are plenty of suspects, including themselves.
This was a pleasure to listen to. I enjoyed the story, the cameradie between Savvy and Penny, many laugh out loud moments.

Karen Chilton, as narrator, was fabulous with her characters – I could hear each one; and building suspense or hilarity in her voice modulation. Her timing was perfect – neither too fast nor too slow.

Thanks to Sandra Jackson-Opoku, NetGalley, Karen Chilton and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audio book.

I will DEFINITELY be continuing this series. The entire read, I couldn’t stop thinking about a dear friend who makes famous sweet potato cheesecakes and how I couldn’t wait to get him a copy. I love when a book reminds me of someone or someplace and Savvy Summers was all about that. From the Chicago references to all the mouth-watering recipes, this entire experience felt like a warm hug …with a couple murders, obviously.
Miss Savvy is a realistic sleuth. She didn’t put herself in danger or do extraordinarily dumb things to solve the mystery and her reasons were entirely justified as her business and reputation were on the line. And her sidekick(s)! Yes! Penny Lopés killed me and her ex-husband was an unexpectedly sweet and complex surprise. I even enjoyed our local detective and her personality quirks/twists.
4.5 stars rounded up, because, while some of parts may have dragged a tad, it’s an excellent kick-off to a new series!
The audio narration is really well-done, too!

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🔪🥧
Thank you so much partner @minotaur_books @macmillian.audio for the gifted copy and audiobook!

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes
by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Narrated by Karen Chilton

About the book 👇🏽

When Savvy Summers first opened Essie's soul food café, she never expected her customer-favorite sweet potato pie to become the center of a murder investigation. But when Grandy Jaspers, the 75-year-old neighborhood womanizer, drops dead at table two, she suddenly has more to worry about than just maintaining Essie's reputation for the finest soul food in the Chicagoland area.

Even as the police deem Grandy’s death an accident, Savvy quickly finds herself—and her beloved café—in the middle of an entire city’s worth of bad press. Desperate to clear her name and keep her business afloat, Savvy and her snooping assistant manager, Penny Lopés, take it upon themselves to find who really killed Grandy.

🔪 My thoughts:

I had such a good time with this one! It’s been a while since a cozy mystery hit the spot for me but this one did. This was a hybrid read, split equally between physical read and audiobook listen. I couldn’t tell you which one I loved more because they were both equally addictive. The narrator was a fabulous choice and held my attention throughout the listen. The two best parts… I didn’t guess the killer AND the recipes that had my mouth watering. And now I have a crazy craving for sweet potato pie with a ton of whipped cream! If you enjoy page turning cozy mysteries, fun characters, and books with food… you need to read this one! I will definitely be continuing the Savvy Summers series. Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is out July 29th!

Happy reading 📖🔪🥧

American culture includes many sub-cultures, and most of us are comfortable in our own little niche. It’s fun, however, to learn about other cultures, and anyone who’d like to experience the African American sub-culture, can start by reading a delightful new cozy mystery series, Savvy Summers Mysteries, by Sandra Jackson-Opoku. The first installment in the series is Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes, finds Sapphire Summers (known as Savvy to her friends), having problems in her soul food restaurant/catering business due to an old client dying in her restaurant. At first her sweet potato pie was blamed, and then when the autopsy showed he died of a heart attack, something didn’t seem right and it turned out he died of an overdose of Viagra. At that point she became suspicious that the victim was murdered, and started what is sure to be an amateur sleuthing career.

It is recommended that readers listen to this first novel via audio book because the narrator does such an excellent job and makes readers comfortable with the culture. The book, however, is well-written and easy to follow if one is reading it rather than listening to it. Jackson-Upoku does an excellent job of developing her characters, and they are likeable (Savvy and her friends; not some of the low-lives who are trying to ruin her business) and seem real. She also does a good job of making readers hungry with descriptions of Savvy’s soul food delights. Fortunately, there are some recipes included, but certainly not enough.

Even though it is a cozy, there is sexual innuendo and other inferences that differ from basic American culture. They aren’t overdone, however, and the novel is fun and delightful.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

What happens to the neighborhood restaurant when regular customers start dying after coming in contact with the famous sweet potato pie? Join Savvy and the rest of her crew as they work to figure out what happened before the wrong person is arrested! I enjoyed this book through the audiobook and the narration was just right. It kept me engaged and interested through the whole adventure. I loved that the main characters are all older adults who were still enjoying life. It was very cozy and I would love to see it continue as a series because I felt like there is so much more to know about the characters, although the mystery is solved nice and tidy in the end.

When Savvy Summers first opened Essie's soul food café, she never expected her customer-favorite sweet potato pie to become the center of a murder investigation. But when Grandy Jaspers, the 75-year-old neighborhood womanizer, drops dead at table two, she suddenly has more to worry about than just maintaining Essie's reputation for the finest soul food in the Chicagoland area.
Desperate to clear her name and keep her business afloat, Savvy and her snooping assistant manager, Penny Lopés, take it upon themselves to find who really killed Grandy.

This book was an quick and easy read.

Savvy Summers is a witty, no-nonsense soul food queen just trying to protect her café’s reputation… until a local womanizer drops dead after eating her famous sweet potato pie. With rumors flying and business tanking, Savvy and her nosy sidekick Penny become amateur sleuths on a mission to clear their name—and their menu.

This debut has charm, community drama, and a whole lot of pie 🥧. The mystery was light, the pacing a little uneven (was a little boring) at times, but Savvy’s voice? Unforgettable. I’d read another just to hang out at Essie’s again.

I loved this story! Savvy Summers is a wonderful protagonist. She's got real life experience behind her and the wisdom of a beloved aunt to fill in the gaps. I love the supporting cast too, everyone's hiding something in this story, and uncovering those little secrets along the way lets the main plot unfold slowly without the book dragging. I can't believe I didn't figure out the killer! It's a fair-play mystery, see if you can figure it out before Savvy!

The historical references scattered throughout the book were awesome. It was a clever was of introducing characters and their beliefs without too much fuss. So and so was a member of the BPP? Gotcha -- I have a better image in my mind about what kind of person they are and what matters to them. So and so was too young to remember Jim Crow? Ok, I see then why they might have a different view than someone a little older. I thought those moments flowed nicely, and for me they enhanced the story.

And as a little lagniappe, at least some recipes (likely all of them too!) are GOOD. I love cozy mysteries that come with recipes in the back, it's a genre staple, but I've been burned before by a cutesy recipe with bizarre secret ingredients to make it special. Any little extras in these recipes seemed to be actually good additions, not just there to be unique. The orange blossom lemonade is fabulous, and the hot chocolate with honey and peppermint is perhaps not my favorite, but definitely something I will be making for nieces and nephews this Christmas.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free arc, all opinions are my own.

I listened to the audiobook version of Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes and overall, I really liked it. The narration had a unique, ethnic vibe that gave the story extra life — it felt authentic, especially with the Southern food references and Chicago setting. That alone made the audio format worth it.

The short chapters made it super easy to follow along, and the pacing kept me engaged. The mystery itself had a fun twist — the way the men died (Viagra, of all things) definitely stood out and gave the plot something different.

This is very much a cozy mystery, so it stays light in tone even with murder involved, and it leans heavily on character and setting over graphic details or intense suspense.

What didn’t work as well for me was the fact that it’s told from only one point of view. I would’ve liked to hear from more characters to get a better feel for the story and community. With such a vibrant setup, it felt like a missed opportunity to dive deeper into other perspectives.

Still, I’d definitely check out the next book if this turns into a series. Savvy is a solid character, and the cultural elements give it a refreshing twist on the cozy mystery genre

A fun mystery that’s nothing too serious and all kinds of entertaining with a full and diverse cast. I would LOVE to eat at a cafe like Savvy’s! I have a feeling this is going to be a fun mystery series.

The narrator did a great job bringing the personalities of the characters to life!

A cozy mystery set in the South side of Chicago, Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku is full of charm and colorful characters. I would say that it took me a couple of chapters to get into the swing of the story, but once in it- I was hooked.

If you are looking for a charming cozy mystery, give this one a shot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to the audio in exchange for my honest opinions.

🧁 Cozy Mystery | Audiobook | Black Auntie Energy | Rating: ★★★★☆

📖 Synopsis:

Savvy Summers is the kind of woman who can whip up a soul-satisfying meal, drop a scripture in casual conversation, and still clock a lie from across the room. Her café, Savvy Soul, is a staple in her South Side Chicago neighborhood—a place where the food is seasoned, the gossip is spicy, and the community is full of characters with secrets simmering just under the surface.

But when someone turns up dead the morning after eating one of her catered sweet potato pies, the whispers start—and so does the finger-pointing. With her reputation, business, and freedom at stake, Savvy does what any good auntie would: prays first, then handles it herself.

⸻

🎧 What I Loved:

This audiobook was like curling up on a Sunday afternoon with gospel on low, sweet potato pie in the oven, and your favorite auntie ready to spill some tea and solve a crime. The narrator captured Savvy’s faith-filled sass perfectly—every hymn, every scripture quote, every knowing hum hit like a word from the elders.

The Southern Black church vibe mixed with cozy crime made this feel so rooted in culture. The neighborhood wasn’t just a backdrop—it was a character, with the narrator giving each person a distinct flavor. And baby, the food descriptions? Audible hunger.

🎧 What Gave Me Pause:

There were moments when the narration repeated character motives or background info a few too many times. It’s helpful if you’re multitasking while listening, but if you’re fully tuned in, it might feel a little overexplained.

⸻

Read If You Like:
• Auntie sleuths who quote scripture and ask follow-up questions
• Culinary cozies with cultural richness
• Southern hospitality, Chicago grit, and murder in the mix
• Arsenic and Adobo with sweet potato soul

Bookish Bakes Pairing: Bourbon-glazed sweet potato hand pies—pocket-sized and powerful, just like Savvy.

📢 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

First off, thank you NetGalley, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, and Macmillan for the ALC! I definitely enjoyed the narrator!

Overall, this is a good comfy book - I just don’t think it was for me.

Being that I am from Mississippi, I was excited to hear Hattiesburg mentioned in the book!

The book started off strong, but I got a little lost with all of the extra characters towards the middle of the book! I was so shocked when I found out who the suspect actually was!

I’m glad Savvy pushed the investigators to solve those cases.

Thank you for the recipe at the end of the book! Definitely going to give it a try.

I will still recommend others to read because what doesn’t work for me may work for someone else.!

At first, I was very intrigued by this book and the cast of characters, but it dragged in the middle and there was a one person aside from Savvy that I actually liked reading about. Ultimately, the book didn’t stick the landing of who was behind the murders.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is part of the Savvy Summers Mysteries. This is my impression of this series, and let me just say I am going to listen to the other books. This is a good, cozy, low-stakes murder mystery. The southern sass and wording were the cherry on top. I'm from the South, so this is my vibe.

The audiobook is narrated by Karen Chilton. She was the perfect narrator for this story. She was easy to listen to and also understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I started this story and was enjoying it. My copy ended up not downloading correctly so I only got a few chapters. Was surprised and then laughed when the wife of 50 years told her husband off for being a womanizer.
Going to get the book and finish it later.

I loved this book. It’s a true love letter to the South Side of Chicago, and that’s exactly why it worked for me. I lit up every time the author name dropped places I know: the mall where I bought my prom dress, the hospital my grandma worked at, the street my dad grew up on. That level of familiarity gave this story so much warmth and soul.

That said, I think for this series to really take off (and it could), it may need to dial back just a bit on the hyperlocal references. Also worth noting: the vernacular and slang are deeply South Side. If you didn’t grow up hearing it, or you’re unfamiliar with Black Chicago culture, some of the dialogue might be tough to follow. There were definitely moments where, if I wasn’t from here, I’d be like “what is Savvy even talking about?”

The story itself is cozy and sweet, very lowstakes mystery, full of food, community, and conversation. It reminded me a bit of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries but with less action and no chase scenes. Savvy is a late 50s widow with a nearly 40-year old son and a grandson so she’s not out here playing detective with a flashlight and a getaway car. And that’s kind of what makes it great.

If you're into slower-paced, character-driven cozies with a lot of flavor (literally and culturally), Savvy Summers is worth a read.

The narrator was the perfect choice to tell this story. She fit the character and gave the sass when needed.

I had a hard time getting into this story, There wasn't much about the crime from the start. The incident happened, but the story went more into the characters than the solving the crime. While I enjoyed the characters, there were too many to keep track of.

The writing was good and I loved the main character. I may give this book another shot in the future, but right now not for me.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

A well written mystery with plenty of "Southern sass", delicious food, and characters that are both relatable and loveable. Hope to see more additions to the series.

I loved this book. I could not stop listening. Cade owner turned self appointed detective Savvy Summers kept my attention. This author has been a phenomenal comedic mystery that was worth every minute I spent listening. The narrator was the icing on the cake. I will look for more books by this author and I highly recommend it. Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the privilege to listen to this audiobook.