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The historical references scattered throughout the book were awesome.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.

📖 Book: Savvy Summers and Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
⭐️ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Perfect Pour
🍸 Cocktail Pairing: Sweet Potato Sidecar – Spiced & Southern with a twist

This book is giving soul food, side-eye, and South Side drama and I was fully here for the mess.

Savvy Summers is the kind of heroine I want in every cozy mystery: funny, nosy, unapologetically Black, and trying to keep her business and her edges intact while solving a murder tied to her sweet potato pie. The plot was just the right kind of wild, and the cultural details from the food to the neighborhood, added real flavor.

It took a few bites to settle into the pace, but once it hit? Delicious.
I’m hoping this is just the first slice in a whole cozy mystery series, because I’d absolutely pull up to Essie’s Café again.

🍸 Sweet Potato Sidecar – Comfort with a Kick
2 oz bourbon or cognac
1 oz sweet potato purée (or pumpkin purée if subbing)
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz maple syrup
Dash of cinnamon + nutmeg
Garnish: cinnamon stick or sweet potato chip
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a coupe glass, and garnish.
Warm, comforting, and just enough spice to make you feel like solving a mystery.

⭐️ Rating: Perfect Pour – Smooth, flavorful, and just the right kick.

#CocktailsAndChapters #PerfectPourReads #SavvySummers #SweetPotatoCrimes #SandraJacksonOpoku #CozyMysteryVibes #BooksWithBite #BlackCozyMystery #Bookstagram #SpicedAndSleuthing #SweetPotatoSidecar

When a new cozy mystery series serves up a delicious cast of characters, a strong-willed, brokenhearted burgeoning detective, and enough food descriptions to make your stomach rumble through a storm, you know you have a winning recipe - and Sandra Jackson-Opoku has that in SAVVY SUMMERS AND THE SWEET POTATO CRIMES.

Sapphire "Savvy" Summers (formerly Franklin) is newly widowed, maybe not 100% over her earlier divorce, and navigating life with adult children living far away from her. She keeps herself busy with her soul food restaurant, known as Essie's, and she's surrounded herself with familial community, which is to say, people that love her, people that love to rib on her, and people that hate her guts. But when a catering client of hers drops dead (is the *first* to drop dead) from her sweet potato pie, Savvy realizes that, in order to save her business and preserve her sanity, she has to figure out who really would want to murder her client: An enraged wife, a jealous mistress, a slighted manager, a friend in debt, and shady government and business officials are just some of the suspects Savvy must consider, all while still cooking up the best food the South Side of Chicago has to offer.

Sandra Jackson-Opoku is decades deep into a rewarding career in literary fiction, poetry, and prose. That she's found a new chapter as a cozy mystery writer is quite the feat. It's that celebrated history that makes this story light to the tongue but rich in flavor. Savvy is a complex heroine, one who has understood the injustices she has experienced as Black woman business owner, navigating a gentrifying neighborhood and fragmented community. The author gives her plenty of grief to grapple with, elevating a straightforward mystery plot into a fascinating character study. Savvy narrates the novel, and she's a tough-but-fair type with great warmth for her community. The author also demonstrates excellent plotting for a cozy, wrapping the plot elements around the center of the story making it easy for the distracted reader to keep up with this vast cast of characters. The novel is wholly satisfying and accomplishes what many in her genre cannot: It doesn't just serve as a springboard for a whole series - it sticks the landing from the first jump.

I loved this book and the fantastic narration! I hope to read more about Savvy and her crew. The recipes at the end were the perfect touch!

I had the opportunity to receive an advanced audio copy of Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku. This engaging mystery follows a shop owner who unexpectedly steps into the role of amateur sleuth after two murders occur that she finds herself connected to.

The story blends culture, history, self-discovery, and suspense with a light, enjoyable tone. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters and setting to life. The pacing made it a quick and satisfying listen.

The character development was strong, and I appreciated how the mystery unfolded while exploring deeper themes. I truly enjoy this genre and found this to be a fun and compelling story. I'm looking forward to more from this author in the future.

This book was fantastic. The characters were interesting. The setting was rich. The plot kept me guessing. I loved how this cozy mystery was so different but still evoked a close-knit community. Savvy and Penny were so great and I loved the romance and humor. The narrator was AMAZING. She reminded me of disco djs, kind of like The Warriors? She really made the book. Fantastic.

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the first book in the Savvy Summers series. I read this book by listening to the audiobook. I had a hard time getting into this book, but I did enjoy the last half of this book. There were a lot of characters in this book, and I found it hard to follow at times. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.