Review and Giveaway: Pecan Pies and Homicides

Pecan Pies and Homicides (Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery - Book 3) by Ellery Adams

Publication Date: 01/07/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425252418
ISBN-13: 978-0425252413

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Ellery Adams on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Pies and Prejudice (2012), Peach Pies and Alibis (2013), Pecan Pies and Homicides (2014)

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Pecan Pies and Homicides, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Her Charmed Pie Shoppe is open for business, but baker Ella Mae LeFaye is about to discover solving a murder is not as easy as pie…
 
Owning the Charmed Pie Shoppe and serving enchanted treats in the magical town of Havenwood, Georgia, seemed like a little slice of heaven for Ella Mae LeFaye. But now her hopes for both a lasting romance with Hugh Dylan and business success are starting to seem like pie in the sky, and Ella’s left wondering: Where has the magic gone?
 
When an enchanted grove is set ablaze, Ella realizes she has more grave problems. With her magic waning, she’s going to have to sleuth from scratch to stop an arsonist who has no respect for sacred ground—or human life…

Thoughts:

Pecan Pies and Homicides is the third book in Ellery Adams' Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series. Fans of the series will be thrilled with Ella Mae's search for a way to free her mother from the Ash tree and in her amateur sleuthing. But it's not only murder afoot this time in Havenwood, but an arsonist as well. Adams has a way with description that is unparalleled in the genre and she does her homework on the magical aspects of this series. If you are looking for a little magic in your confections, this is the series for you!

What I liked:

One of the things I like about this series is Ellery Adams' attention to detail. The magic she writes about in this series is what I would call earth magic. It has a lot to do with the essence of life and that sort of thing. I appreciate the fact that Adams didn't go with a normal type of magic that readers may be over saturated with. The kinds of things she talks about in this series are different and really interesting, my Scottish grandfather would have said this is very old magic. Whatever it is, it makes for a great secondary theme in this mystery series.

Ella Mae and her family have been feuding with the Gaynor family for years and in Pecan Pies and Homicides readers learn a little more about what caused all the trouble. Apart from each other members of both families seem nice and caring but when put in proximity to the other family, all bets are off. I liked the background touches that Adams provides that only move the plot of this book along, but the story arc for the entire series.

Ella Mae and Hugh are slowly becoming more into each other, but it looks like there may be a few stumbling blocks ahead. Ella Mae can't tell him about her magic or she'll lose it and now there is a possibility that Hugh isn't quite normal either. I liked the daily life aspects of this book a lot. The romance between these two has had some ups and downs and I think I like where it's going.

The mystery part of the book was two-fold. First you have an arsonist who tried to burn down a sacred grove. Ella Mae is trying to figure out who it is and if it might happen again, all while looking for a way to free her mother from the ash tree (long story, but if you are a fan of the series you know what I'm talking about). Then you have a murder as well to try to solve. I liked the two-fold approach because it not only allowed the reader to see different aspects of each crime, it also brought in new characters and allowed readers to see old characters in new ways. I certainly didn't have arsonist or killer figured out until near the end of the book. 

What I didn't like:

As with any book that employs a paranormal element, the author has to be cautious about letting that element take over. I noticed it a little bit in this one, but then the mystery cranked up and it got better. It was just a little overwhelming in the beginning. Not a major problem with the plot to be sure. This was still an excellent addition to this intriguing series.

Bottom Line:

Pies, magic, murder and arson, that's what this book is about. It's a well written and interesting book that will appeal to those who love mysteries and the paranormal. Ella Mae ain't your average witch. Can't wait to see where Adams takes the gang from Havenwood next.

Pecan Pies and Homicides is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Ellery Adams has had a lifelong love affair with both stories and food. As a child, she used to make mud pies and eat them. Over the years, she became more adept in the kitchen, and when she’s not writing, she loves to don an apron and fill her home with the sweet, buttery scent of baking pies. Ms. Adams has held many jobs, including caterer, retail clerk, car salesperson, teacher, tutor, and tech writer, all while penning poems, children’s books, and novels. She writes and creates culinary delights from her home in central Virginia. 

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Pecan Pies and Homicides by Ellery Adams.

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~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, January 30th.

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