The Quiche and the Dead (A Pie Town Mystery Book 1)

Val Harris moved to San Nicholas to be with her fiancee, but then the engagement failed. But she stayed to run her shop, Pie Town. Then one day her neighbor, who runs the comic shop next door, drops dead after taking a bite of her quiche. After that business drops off. When a member of the library board dies, and Val finds the body, the local police term her unlucky, and say the deaths are accidents, even when the woman's former husband dies, too.Val and her crust maker, Charlene, are not so sure the deaths are accidental, and they set out to get to the bottom of things before the person responsible for the deaths add Val and Charlene to their list of those who need to be six-feet under.I absolutely loved this book. Val is a strong character who is willing to work to overcome her woes, including her break with her fiancee. She won't lie down when things start to go wrong at Pie Town and is willing to join with Charlene to investigate.For me, Charlene was a perfect side kick. She is a conspiracy theorist who wears her deaf cat around her shoulders. I should have marked the number of time I laughed out loud at Charlene's antics. She is the perfect addition to this book. As are the gamers who stick around Pie Town, no matter that others stay away after the death.All in all I could see myself in Pie Town, enjoying food and a book while Val and Charlene puttered around and solved the mystery, which was wonderfully plotted. I hate to admit I did not figure it out and was just as shocked as Val at the killer's identity.This book has put this series on my favorites list. I'm looking forward to another slice of mystery from Pie Town.

I read lighthearted mysteries when I'm feeling down and need a pick-me-up. Well, The Quiche and the Dead did more than just lift my mood, it left me in awe of the author's imagination, writing skills, sense of humour and...cooking ability!I mean, really! A murder mystery that actually makes some [subtle] social commentary? has realistic dialogue? has main characters who are instantly recognizable and come across as real people? has secondary characters who aren't 2 dimensional plot devices? is well written and edited? and does all this whilst making you want to try one, or all, of the pies featured in the story? Oh, and has a tight plot and excellent pacing?Frankly, I was going to give The Quiche and the Dead 5 stars even before I reached the final page, but then I finished the story and discovered that the author really did know how to cook and had provided recipes for all the pies in the story!Apologies if that was a spoiler, but I'm a foodie and intend to try those recipes in my own kitchen. In fact, I intend to buy more of the Pie Town series in case there are more goodies at the end. And for the story, of course. :)Would I recommend The Quiche and the Dead...you bet, with bells on!

This author's style is difficult to get into. The plot development was slow and unnecessarily complicated. The protagonist was poorly constructed. I would not recommend this series.

I have read a lot of books by this author, but this series isn't something I want to continue, and it's entirely due to the protagonist's bossy, manipulative, rude, egotistical sidekick Charlene. I simply can't stand her.She really adds nothing to the plot, and I can't understand why the protagonist - who is Charlene's employer, by the way (not even a relative or anything) - lets this mean old bat push her around. I am an old bat, too, but good grief I would never act this way. She's not funny, she's not cute, she's not even pathetic, she's just a self-absorbed conspiracy theorist who thinks she knows better than everyone, including the cops.Maybe I have reached saturation point with these types, as we seem to see them on tv quite a bit *cough* QAnon *cough*, so I'm just sick of stupid people my age...I don't know. I like the other characters, and the plot of this book was well done.I don't think I'll continue with this series.

This book is light, engaging, and, best of all, includes recipes in the back. I read it for a book club, and it served that purpose perfectly. It's not high literature, but you're not here for that. You're here for puns and characters and a few twists, and this book delivers.

Confession: I know Kirsten personally. Bought my copy and I’m mad at myself for not reading this sooner.This is one of her can’t put down mysteries. What Kirsten does is use solid crafting models for cozy mysteries and then throws in fresh characters, situations, and plot twists. Her protagonist Val is someone you know, perhaps even look at in the mirror, and you are rooting for her from page one. Three cheers too for Frederick the Cat.I read this in 4 days. Devoured it. 5-stars all the way.

I really enjoyed this one. Good back story and mystery. Nice small town charm and cast of characters.

This series is at the top of my new favorites list. Val Harris opens a Pie shop in her new town. When one of her favorite regulars dies after eating her new breakfast pie, Val must figure out what really killed him before her reputation and shop suffer the consequences.I loved the characters that inhabit this series. the dynamic between Val and her quirky, older pie crust maker is fresh and spirited. I laughed out loud several times while reading this fun story.

I've been looking for new cozy mystery writers as I have finished most of the various series I am reading . The synopsis sounded interesting for this story , so I gave it a try .I managed 38% .The pie shop has been open for 5 months and is becoming successful when a regular , a comic store owner , dies while eating a quiche . Teaming up with her pastry chef , a 70 something , conspiracy theorist and best pastry maker in North California , ex-girlfriend of the dead man , to find the killer , 'cos the police aren't up to the job .The dead man , Joe , was a fan of Sherlock Holmes and with a friend , would armchair investigate local mysteries and so they want to see what mysteries they were tackling , as it is obvious to the pair that this will lead them to the killer. So the first case they look into involves a batty old woman who is being bothered by ' Bigfoot ' and yes it gets sillier and sillier and I just gave up . I didn't get to the slicing and dicing of the library board members as mentioned by other reviewers and frankly I couldn't give a damn .The author also writes cozy mysteries with witches in and others set in a paranormal museum --- if only I'd known that before I bought this book .