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Deep Dish Mysteries #3
Public Anchovy #1
Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in Mindy Quigley's delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.
While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move.
But Delilah’s hopes of perfecting a new “free-from” pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too.
While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move.
But Delilah’s hopes of perfecting a new “free-from” pizza recipe for a charity bash are dashed when a dead body crashes the party. Soon, Capone, Delilah, and her entire staff are trapped in an isolated mansion and embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
To catch an increasingly-desperate killer, Delilah will have to top all of her previous crime-solving accomplishments, and a few pizzas, too.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 26, 2023
About the author
Mindy Quigley
19 books466 followersMindy Quigley is the author of two cozy mystery series: the Deep Dish Mysteries (St. Martin's Press) and the Mount Moriah Mysteries.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 347 reviews
August 2, 2024
Delilah O’Leary is thrilled that she’s been asked to cater the posh fund raiser for the library since she needs events like this to help her restaurant get through the lean winter months. The event is being held at a remote mansion on the outskirts of the town. Unfortunately, the first big storm of the season is due in that night. Even worse, someone dies during the event, and the storm traps Delilah, Detective Capone, Delilah’s staff, and some of the guests, at the mansion. As it becomes clear that the death was a murder, Delilah begins to poke around. Are they trapped with a killer?
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is a mystery trope we don’t see very often any more, and I was a little concerned about the author pulling it off when I sat down to read it. I need not have worried. There was plenty here to keep me engaged and confused as we worked toward the logical climax. We do see most of the regulars (only one gets a cameo as a result of the set up), and it was nice to get updates on them. Meanwhile, the suspects kept me guessing. The atmosphere of the storm also added to the fun of the story. There are some recipes at the end, and the focus on creating a pizza with alternative ingredients. This is the best book in the series to date.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 18, 2023
Public Anchovy #1 is the third book in a great cozy mystery series set in a lake resort town in Wisconsin. Even though it’s the third book in the series, I think this would definitely work as a standalone or as your entry into the series.
Delilah owns a pizza restaurant that does twists on traditional Chicago-style deep dish pizza, with her best friend Sonya. The restaurant is called Delilah and Son, ha! This time the summer season has come and gone and many summer residents have departed. Luckily the restaurant is asked to cater a big fund-raising dinner for the local library, which is housed in a historic building. The party is being hosted by a wealthy tech entrepreneur (female, yay!) in the rambling old lakeside mansion she has been restoring.
Delilah has loved this lake community since she was young. Her great-aunt Elizabeth (“Biz”) lives there and is a big reason she started the restaurant there. The town has a gangster history and the local detective is a descendent of the infamous Al Capone. He figures large in each of the books.
The mystery in this one was really well done and kept me guessing. The elderly outgoing board chair of the library falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Earlier he had been hinting darkly at something fishy going on. It’s a “dark and stormy night” and this also plays a large part in the events, making it a sort of locked-room mystery.
Delilah’s ex-fiance left her in charge of their cat, Butterball, who plays quite the role in this story, accidentally being transported to the party location. He’s great comic relief. I love the supporting characters who work in the restaurant: Sonya, Rabbit, an ex-con, Daniel, the bartender, Jarka, a Bulgarian doctor who is temporary supporting herself as a waitress, and Melody, a young woman who acts as an assistant to Auntie Biz along with working in the restaurant. Delilah works with the police in these mysteries and she doesn’t do really dumb stuff, putting herself in danger - that unfortunately happens too often in cozy mysteries.
Several recipes are included at the end of the book, written in a chatty way, as if one of the book’s characters is giving you the recipe personally.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Delilah owns a pizza restaurant that does twists on traditional Chicago-style deep dish pizza, with her best friend Sonya. The restaurant is called Delilah and Son, ha! This time the summer season has come and gone and many summer residents have departed. Luckily the restaurant is asked to cater a big fund-raising dinner for the local library, which is housed in a historic building. The party is being hosted by a wealthy tech entrepreneur (female, yay!) in the rambling old lakeside mansion she has been restoring.
Delilah has loved this lake community since she was young. Her great-aunt Elizabeth (“Biz”) lives there and is a big reason she started the restaurant there. The town has a gangster history and the local detective is a descendent of the infamous Al Capone. He figures large in each of the books.
The mystery in this one was really well done and kept me guessing. The elderly outgoing board chair of the library falls down a flight of stairs and dies. Earlier he had been hinting darkly at something fishy going on. It’s a “dark and stormy night” and this also plays a large part in the events, making it a sort of locked-room mystery.
Delilah’s ex-fiance left her in charge of their cat, Butterball, who plays quite the role in this story, accidentally being transported to the party location. He’s great comic relief. I love the supporting characters who work in the restaurant: Sonya, Rabbit, an ex-con, Daniel, the bartender, Jarka, a Bulgarian doctor who is temporary supporting herself as a waitress, and Melody, a young woman who acts as an assistant to Auntie Biz along with working in the restaurant. Delilah works with the police in these mysteries and she doesn’t do really dumb stuff, putting herself in danger - that unfortunately happens too often in cozy mysteries.
Several recipes are included at the end of the book, written in a chatty way, as if one of the book’s characters is giving you the recipe personally.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2023
Delilah is hired to cater a party for a wealthy group of library benefactors. It's a dark and stormy night, and an older gentleman who is making cryptic statements about wrongdoing is found dead. Was it murder? Capone, Delilah's secret crush and the town policeman, is playing the piano at the event, so everyone is trapped in the old mansion with a murderer, but who could it be? The storm damage prevents the rest of the police from coming out, so Delilah is determined to help Capone solve the case. I really liked the first book in this series, but found this one more formulaic. There are delicious sounding recipes included, though. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
December 23, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Winter in Wisconsin can be very pretty but it's cold so Delilah has to add catering to her repertoire to keep her restaurant in the black. She and her staff have been hired to cater a Prohibition-themed fundraiser for the library at Bluff Point, one of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin's "most opulent private residences". At the last minute, one of the guests has requested a “free-from” pizza without gluten, dairy, or nightshade plants causing Delilah to send her staff ahead to the venue while she went home to gather everything she needed to fulfill the request. She unknowingly brings back a surprise guest.
Before the food is served and after a little entertainment, Edgar Clemmons, former chair of the library board, tumbles down the stairs to his death. Some of the guests leave as the snow continues to fall but before Delilah, her crew, and several other guests can leave they learn that they are trapped until plows can clear up higher-priority roads and highways. It also means EMS can't get there to remove Edgar's body.
Was Edgar's death an accident or was he murdered? Are Delilah, Capone, her staff, and others in the company of a killer? When the apparent murder weapon is found in an unusual place and the head librarian is killed Capone and Delilah get in high gear to isolate the killer before anyone else dies.
_____
I was so happy to return to Geneva Bay and the great characters Ms. Quigley has created. At the start of the story, Delilah was lamenting mostly in her own head about her relationship with Calvin Capone going nowhere because he never called. Well spending time trapped in a mansion with the killer on the loose sure changed that. Capone's mother was introduced and played a larger role than I had expected. Aunt Biz is dealing with a huge change in her life and not handling it well. Sonya finds herself fainting at one point and in danger at another but she is still there for Delilah as she tries to piece all the clues together. Each of Delilah's staff has their own talents and interesting backstories. We continue to learn more about them in this book. Ms. Quigley's characters are multidimensional and continue to grow as the series continues.
The setting at Bluff Point was fantastic. It had so many unique rooms, alcoves, stairways, an observation tower, and a dumb waiter. It was right on the water too with a dock and a good size boat. It was a character all on its own. The author did an excellent job describing everything. I easily visualized all the places and happenings.
The mystery was very well-plotted with a plethora of twists and turns. Edgar Clemmons had a mission when he arrived at the party and that got him killed. The fundraiser was for the library so it was apropos that some books provided some major drama and clues. I enjoyed the way Delilah and Capone worked together, not only to solve the murders but to keep everyone safe. Yes, Delilah went a little rogue a couple of times but I would have been disappointed if she hadn't. Her A-ha moment was priceless. But it was an unexpected person that set the showdown in motion and what a showdown it was!
I love that this series is set in my home state and while Geneva Bay is fictional I have a very good idea of the city it is based on. There is even a mansion there similar to Bluff Point. Ms. Quigley draws from Wisconsin history, especially regarding the Capones, Calvin's relatives. I find myself looking for little references that give me a warm feeling of home. I also love Chicago Deep Dish Pizza and appreciate the recipes included in the book. This time they include an Italian Beef Crostini and Delilah's Free-from-Pizza Deep Dish Pizza recipe for those looking for vegan, or gluten-free or dairy-free pizza but not one I will be trying. I need my meat and cheese, no anchovies, please.
Public Anchovy #1 was A Perfect Escape for me. Engaging characters, a terrific mystery, and a very intriguing setting kept me entertained until the final word. I can't wait until Ms. Quigley serves up another huge slice of the next Deep Dish Mystery.
Winter in Wisconsin can be very pretty but it's cold so Delilah has to add catering to her repertoire to keep her restaurant in the black. She and her staff have been hired to cater a Prohibition-themed fundraiser for the library at Bluff Point, one of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin's "most opulent private residences". At the last minute, one of the guests has requested a “free-from” pizza without gluten, dairy, or nightshade plants causing Delilah to send her staff ahead to the venue while she went home to gather everything she needed to fulfill the request. She unknowingly brings back a surprise guest.
Before the food is served and after a little entertainment, Edgar Clemmons, former chair of the library board, tumbles down the stairs to his death. Some of the guests leave as the snow continues to fall but before Delilah, her crew, and several other guests can leave they learn that they are trapped until plows can clear up higher-priority roads and highways. It also means EMS can't get there to remove Edgar's body.
Was Edgar's death an accident or was he murdered? Are Delilah, Capone, her staff, and others in the company of a killer? When the apparent murder weapon is found in an unusual place and the head librarian is killed Capone and Delilah get in high gear to isolate the killer before anyone else dies.
_____
I was so happy to return to Geneva Bay and the great characters Ms. Quigley has created. At the start of the story, Delilah was lamenting mostly in her own head about her relationship with Calvin Capone going nowhere because he never called. Well spending time trapped in a mansion with the killer on the loose sure changed that. Capone's mother was introduced and played a larger role than I had expected. Aunt Biz is dealing with a huge change in her life and not handling it well. Sonya finds herself fainting at one point and in danger at another but she is still there for Delilah as she tries to piece all the clues together. Each of Delilah's staff has their own talents and interesting backstories. We continue to learn more about them in this book. Ms. Quigley's characters are multidimensional and continue to grow as the series continues.
The setting at Bluff Point was fantastic. It had so many unique rooms, alcoves, stairways, an observation tower, and a dumb waiter. It was right on the water too with a dock and a good size boat. It was a character all on its own. The author did an excellent job describing everything. I easily visualized all the places and happenings.
The mystery was very well-plotted with a plethora of twists and turns. Edgar Clemmons had a mission when he arrived at the party and that got him killed. The fundraiser was for the library so it was apropos that some books provided some major drama and clues. I enjoyed the way Delilah and Capone worked together, not only to solve the murders but to keep everyone safe. Yes, Delilah went a little rogue a couple of times but I would have been disappointed if she hadn't. Her A-ha moment was priceless. But it was an unexpected person that set the showdown in motion and what a showdown it was!
I love that this series is set in my home state and while Geneva Bay is fictional I have a very good idea of the city it is based on. There is even a mansion there similar to Bluff Point. Ms. Quigley draws from Wisconsin history, especially regarding the Capones, Calvin's relatives. I find myself looking for little references that give me a warm feeling of home. I also love Chicago Deep Dish Pizza and appreciate the recipes included in the book. This time they include an Italian Beef Crostini and Delilah's Free-from-Pizza Deep Dish Pizza recipe for those looking for vegan, or gluten-free or dairy-free pizza but not one I will be trying. I need my meat and cheese, no anchovies, please.
Public Anchovy #1 was A Perfect Escape for me. Engaging characters, a terrific mystery, and a very intriguing setting kept me entertained until the final word. I can't wait until Ms. Quigley serves up another huge slice of the next Deep Dish Mystery.
December 16, 2023
Review coming soon.
January 2, 2024
Public Anchovy #1 is the third novel in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, but it is possible to read it as a standalone.
The main characters of the novel, Delilah and Sonya get involved in a double murder investigation when two guests at a charity function are found dead under suspicious circumstances. Both Delilah and Sonya are likeable characters each with their own cute sense of humor. There is a third regular character — Butterball the cat. And although cute, I didn’t see the point, nor the need for having a cat in the mix.
The narrative was a little slow for my tastes and a little too methodical. But I managed to speed through all of the “window dressing” without any problems, and without missing out of any of the finer points.
The finale wasn’t a surprise, but I did like the manner in which the story played out for the big reveal and the motive behind the murders. It was very “Perry Mason-like.”
Like most cozy mystery novels, there are several recipes at the end of the book that showcased some of the delectable offerings mentioned in the novel.
Overall, Public Anchovy #1 was a delightful read. Four stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The main characters of the novel, Delilah and Sonya get involved in a double murder investigation when two guests at a charity function are found dead under suspicious circumstances. Both Delilah and Sonya are likeable characters each with their own cute sense of humor. There is a third regular character — Butterball the cat. And although cute, I didn’t see the point, nor the need for having a cat in the mix.
The narrative was a little slow for my tastes and a little too methodical. But I managed to speed through all of the “window dressing” without any problems, and without missing out of any of the finer points.
The finale wasn’t a surprise, but I did like the manner in which the story played out for the big reveal and the motive behind the murders. It was very “Perry Mason-like.”
Like most cozy mystery novels, there are several recipes at the end of the book that showcased some of the delectable offerings mentioned in the novel.
Overall, Public Anchovy #1 was a delightful read. Four stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 24, 2024
Amazing!! 🤩🤯
My family kept needing me during this cozy or I 100% would have binged it in one sitting! A friend I was buddy reading with had live updates as my jaw dropped several times. (Thanks Jenn for the support 😅)
This book is the exact reason I read cozy mysteries. It was such a puzzle and at any given time my invisible string web (picture a detectives board on a TV show) was not even close to solving this one. Every time I thought, ok…now we solve, the author hits us with another BAM moment and the chaos just kept building. My nerves are shot -I think I need a pizza. 😅😏
This series continues to get better and better -book #4 has a release date and a spot on my shelves reserved.
Order up! This one’s a winner!
My family kept needing me during this cozy or I 100% would have binged it in one sitting! A friend I was buddy reading with had live updates as my jaw dropped several times. (Thanks Jenn for the support 😅)
This book is the exact reason I read cozy mysteries. It was such a puzzle and at any given time my invisible string web (picture a detectives board on a TV show) was not even close to solving this one. Every time I thought, ok…now we solve, the author hits us with another BAM moment and the chaos just kept building. My nerves are shot -I think I need a pizza. 😅😏
This series continues to get better and better -book #4 has a release date and a spot on my shelves reserved.
Order up! This one’s a winner!
December 27, 2023
Agatha Christie, Delilah & Son style.
Public Anchovy #1 is perfection. You've got characters trapped in a mansion without electricity while a storm rages outside. Dead bodies are piling up. Cats are running wild. You have a pizza without cheese, gluten, or tomato sauce yet sounds delicious. Creaks on the stairs and shadowy figures roaming at night have everyone frightened.
But don't worry, the capable Calvin Capone is there. Not that he couldn't use help from Delilah and crew. Despite some personally awkward situations for our favorite people you couldn't have better allies. They really are the best. Speaking of the best, Butterball is one awesome cat and we get to spend a lot of time with him on this dark and stormy night.
Prepare to be creeped out just a little, like in any good classic mystery. Most of the time you will be laughing though. This is one funny series but also very sweet. The writing is wonderful. There are plenty of shenanigans and wild theories. It has everything you could possibly want in a mystery.
I have enjoyed every single book in this series. Public Anchovy #1 is the third. Thank you so much Mindy Quigley and St. Martin's Press for the copy and the chance to read it early! I love this series so much I started reading immediately. If you love mysteries, cozy mysteries, books with cats, you have to read it!
Public Anchovy #1 is perfection. You've got characters trapped in a mansion without electricity while a storm rages outside. Dead bodies are piling up. Cats are running wild. You have a pizza without cheese, gluten, or tomato sauce yet sounds delicious. Creaks on the stairs and shadowy figures roaming at night have everyone frightened.
But don't worry, the capable Calvin Capone is there. Not that he couldn't use help from Delilah and crew. Despite some personally awkward situations for our favorite people you couldn't have better allies. They really are the best. Speaking of the best, Butterball is one awesome cat and we get to spend a lot of time with him on this dark and stormy night.
Prepare to be creeped out just a little, like in any good classic mystery. Most of the time you will be laughing though. This is one funny series but also very sweet. The writing is wonderful. There are plenty of shenanigans and wild theories. It has everything you could possibly want in a mystery.
I have enjoyed every single book in this series. Public Anchovy #1 is the third. Thank you so much Mindy Quigley and St. Martin's Press for the copy and the chance to read it early! I love this series so much I started reading immediately. If you love mysteries, cozy mysteries, books with cats, you have to read it!
March 14, 2024
This was an excellent cozy mystery! Public Anchovy #1 is book 3 in the Deep Dish Mysteries series by Mindy Quigley. This was my first book by this author and I loved it! Even though this is book three you can easily jump right into this book. This cozy mystery has great characters and a wonderful mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series! Also, this book will leave you craving a deep dish pizza, I’m off to buy a pizza now!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.
January 4, 2024
I really enjoyed this read and getting to know some of the main characters better. Had a few LOL moments, especially from Sonya's quips. My love for B-Man just continues to grow. I'm looking forward to the next one and seeing how that kiss progresses!!!
February 10, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up! This story was like Clue meets Downton Abbey meets The Maltese Falcon meets Agatha Christie. This story contains spoilers for The Maltese Falcon and one spoiler for Murder on the Orient Express. This mystery takes place at a party at a mansion with high society. A terrible storm keeps them at the mansion where many things ensue. I loved the mystery and I wasn't able to figure out the killer or the why. It was action packed and intense due to the circumstances. I'm glad I read it and will definitely continue the series!
December 12, 2023
Thank you to Edelweiss and St. Martin’s Press for an eArC of this book. The Deep Dish Mystery series is one of my top top favorites. I love the characters so much, and Delilah’s sassy and honest narration is so fun to read. All the books in the series have been 5 stars for me, and this third book is on another level of awesomeness. We’ve got Delilah and her restaurant crew stranded with a bunch of rich people in a mansion during a storm - and of course, a murder occurs! This is every mystery-lover’s dream. Nail-biting suspense is balanced perfectly with moments of humor. Don’t worry, our favorite large and in charge cat Butterball is there too. I truly look forward to more books in this series.
December 19, 2023
This is the third book in this series. I do recommend reading the 1st two before reading this one so that you have the background on everyone but the book can still be read as a standalone.
I have read the first two and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed coming back to see how Delilah and her gang were doing.
Delilah’s restaurant gets an offsite catering gig at one of the local lake mansions that is hosting a fundraiser.
There is a murder pretty quickly upon their arrival. It is interesting how the author manages to create the murder, clear out everyone except Delilah and her crew, Capone and a few others thus creating backdrop for locked room mystery. She even manages to get the cat over to the mansion!
I enjoyed this and was surprised at the end. Great installment in this series. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I have read the first two and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed coming back to see how Delilah and her gang were doing.
Delilah’s restaurant gets an offsite catering gig at one of the local lake mansions that is hosting a fundraiser.
There is a murder pretty quickly upon their arrival. It is interesting how the author manages to create the murder, clear out everyone except Delilah and her crew, Capone and a few others thus creating backdrop for locked room mystery. She even manages to get the cat over to the mansion!
I enjoyed this and was surprised at the end. Great installment in this series. I’m looking forward to the next book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
November 3, 2023
I finally finished this book, it took me forever because I had a hard time wanting to read it. I simply did not care for any of the characters. When that happens, you don't feel involved and don't want to read the book. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a chance to read it.
June 28, 2025
Delilah O’Leary is quite successful with her rather new pizzeria. Asked to serve at an event, with the guest of honor having strict dietary needs, Delilah is bound and determined to meet her needs. Delilah gathers her friends and staff, and all of the supplies she can think of and heads to the party location on a lake property. This makes this third book in Mindy Quigley's series a locked room mystery.
When the guest of honor is found dead, the suspect pool is rather small, as they are stuck at their location. Shockingly, Delilah's hefty cat Butterball managed to stow away and just might be responsible for the death, as the victim apparently fell down the stairs.
Delilah can't imagine Butterball being responsible, and seeks to discover what really happened. She begins to question the guests, all while Detective Calvin Capone is there as well. While he would much rather Delilah step back, she has no intention of doing so. She makes Capone realize that with only so many guests, the murderer must be in their midst.
While this is a delightful cozy mystery story, the characters are a real joy. Delilah and Capone play well off of each other, and even his mother Lola plays her role in this story. As I have read the first two books in this series, Six Feet, Deep Dish and Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust, I loved seeing the relationship between Delilah and Calvin evolve, and also how Delilah shows her wit when it comes to solving murders. I do hope this series continues, as it is thoroughly enjoyable.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
When the guest of honor is found dead, the suspect pool is rather small, as they are stuck at their location. Shockingly, Delilah's hefty cat Butterball managed to stow away and just might be responsible for the death, as the victim apparently fell down the stairs.
Delilah can't imagine Butterball being responsible, and seeks to discover what really happened. She begins to question the guests, all while Detective Calvin Capone is there as well. While he would much rather Delilah step back, she has no intention of doing so. She makes Capone realize that with only so many guests, the murderer must be in their midst.
While this is a delightful cozy mystery story, the characters are a real joy. Delilah and Capone play well off of each other, and even his mother Lola plays her role in this story. As I have read the first two books in this series, Six Feet, Deep Dish and Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust, I loved seeing the relationship between Delilah and Calvin evolve, and also how Delilah shows her wit when it comes to solving murders. I do hope this series continues, as it is thoroughly enjoyable.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
October 19, 2023
#PublicAnchovy1 #NetGalley is the third book in this series.
I was thrilled to be selected to read an advanced copy of this book.
Set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, Delilah is excited to be catering a charity event, even if a guest has a very limited dietary menu.
Creating a "free from" pizza is a challenge, but with her best friend and sous chef Sonya by her side, she knows she's got this.
Things take a wrong turn when a dead body is discovered and they are all trapped in the mansion, while a storm rages outside.
Delilah knows she shouldn't poke her nose into the investigation, but she can't resist, and with hunky police detective Calvin Capone by her side, she knows she's in for a wild adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
I'm happy to recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
I was thrilled to be selected to read an advanced copy of this book.
Set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, Delilah is excited to be catering a charity event, even if a guest has a very limited dietary menu.
Creating a "free from" pizza is a challenge, but with her best friend and sous chef Sonya by her side, she knows she's got this.
Things take a wrong turn when a dead body is discovered and they are all trapped in the mansion, while a storm rages outside.
Delilah knows she shouldn't poke her nose into the investigation, but she can't resist, and with hunky police detective Calvin Capone by her side, she knows she's in for a wild adventure.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
I'm happy to recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.
November 11, 2023
I really enjoy this book!!
I am not typically a cozy mystery fan, but I am becoming one and this book helped me on my way to becoming a full blown fan!
I am not typically a cozy mystery fan, but I am becoming one and this book helped me on my way to becoming a full blown fan!
January 11, 2024
Haven't read this. Am reviewing an anchovy sandwich I just had. ( recipe at bottom )
I was hungry and it was lunch time. Felix G Mills was sloafing on the sofa, having not moved since morn'.
All I had that was fish in a can in my cupboard was tinned anchovies in olive oil on top of a can of chopped tomatoes in my cupboard. Naturally I had it in a sandwich.
Despite being horrifically salty it was enjoyable.
Recipe:
- Toast ; 2 slices of aldi seeded bread on setting 5 of my toaster ; toasted from frozen
-spread
-sardine
Mix ingredients together in ball. Enjoy on plate.
I was hungry and it was lunch time. Felix G Mills was sloafing on the sofa, having not moved since morn'.
All I had that was fish in a can in my cupboard was tinned anchovies in olive oil on top of a can of chopped tomatoes in my cupboard. Naturally I had it in a sandwich.
Despite being horrifically salty it was enjoyable.
Recipe:
- Toast ; 2 slices of aldi seeded bread on setting 5 of my toaster ; toasted from frozen
-spread
-sardine
Mix ingredients together in ball. Enjoy on plate.
January 24, 2024
Great mystery! I especially enjoyed it because of the film noir theme.
February 16, 2025
Very enjoyable cozy mystery! Great cast! Intriguing murder mystery!
December 29, 2023
This book was an excellent addition to this fun, cozy series. I absolutely love Delilah, her cat, and all of the supporting characters who are her friends. The setting of this particular murder was original and interesting with all of the people trapped at the venue being potential suspects. It had a definite Gatita Christie feel, and I enjoyed every page. I’m loving the romance that is brewing between Delilah and Detective Capone. The writing is clever and makes me laugh out loud as I’m reading. This is a great series series that I highly recommend to readers of cozies. many thanks to the author, St. Martins Paperbacks and £NetGalley for my review copy.
December 31, 2023
"While Geneva Bay’s upper crust gets ready to party down at a Prohibition-themed fundraiser, pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is focused on seeing her struggling restaurant through the winter slow season. The temperature outside is plummeting, but Delilah’s love life might finally be heating up, as hunky police detective Calvin Capone seems poised to (finally) make a move."
Delilah is an amateur sleuth. It takes some time but she figures it all out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
Delilah is an amateur sleuth. It takes some time but she figures it all out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
January 12, 2024
This series gets better with each book. A fast paced read with no sagging middle. The author does a masterful job of making the reader feel like they are part of the story. An amazing setting, interesting premise, well developed characters, plenty of sarcasm, and hilarious antics from the cat, Butterball, and a cleverly plotted mystery make this a fun read that I couldn’t put down. This has become one of my favorite cozy series and I hope there are many more books to come.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2024
This book was a great, quick read!
Delilah and Son are back at it again - this time they are catering a fancy fundraising gala for the Friends of the Library, in a mansion on the water. Only dealing with picky eaters isn't their biggest issue at this event; the outgoing chair of the Friends of the Library Board, Edgar Clemmons, passes along a sinister message, and some rare books, to Delilah, who is supposed to pass them on to Sonya.
Sonya has no idea what the message means or why she was given the books, but she can't ask because Edgar is killed and there are no shortage of suspects. A huge storm hits, some guests leave, but some get stuck behind - with the dead body!
Lucky for those remaining, Detective Capone is on the scene, but when the power goes out his job of catching the killer gets a little harder. With help, unable to reach the mansion, and another murder taking place, Capone actually asks Delilah for help.
This story was really enjoyable and not easy to figure out, especially given that there are only so many people stuck in the house and someone is obviously the killer. I was happy to see that Capone and Delilah make progress on their "relationship", plus we get to meet Capone's mom, Lola. Fear not, Butterball is also throughout the story and just may end up saving the day.
I read this on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Delilah and Son are back at it again - this time they are catering a fancy fundraising gala for the Friends of the Library, in a mansion on the water. Only dealing with picky eaters isn't their biggest issue at this event; the outgoing chair of the Friends of the Library Board, Edgar Clemmons, passes along a sinister message, and some rare books, to Delilah, who is supposed to pass them on to Sonya.
Sonya has no idea what the message means or why she was given the books, but she can't ask because Edgar is killed and there are no shortage of suspects. A huge storm hits, some guests leave, but some get stuck behind - with the dead body!
Lucky for those remaining, Detective Capone is on the scene, but when the power goes out his job of catching the killer gets a little harder. With help, unable to reach the mansion, and another murder taking place, Capone actually asks Delilah for help.
This story was really enjoyable and not easy to figure out, especially given that there are only so many people stuck in the house and someone is obviously the killer. I was happy to see that Capone and Delilah make progress on their "relationship", plus we get to meet Capone's mom, Lola. Fear not, Butterball is also throughout the story and just may end up saving the day.
I read this on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2025
Deep Dish Mysteries #3
This culinary cozy was so entertaining! The pizza crew has been hired to cater a charity event at a posh mansion across the bay. Just when they thought dietary restrictions would be their biggest challenge, they suddenly find themselves entangled in a murder mystery.
I was leery about having an entire story set away from the pizzeria so early in the series. Thankfully, it was executed perfectly. The regular crew comes along to help make the event a success. Don't worry, everyone's favorite mischievous cat, Butterball, even stows away and becomes a big part of the story. I really enjoyed getting to know Jarka more. She's the Bulgarian server who was a doctor in her country, but it having difficulties passing the language test making her such a fascinating character. I like that aunt Biz stayed home for this one. Having her and Delilah separated helped ease their tension against one another and was a nice break from their harsh bickering. Of course Detective Capone is attending the event and we even get to meet his mother, as well as learn about her secrets!
What made this story extra entertaining though was the closed door mystery! The crew along with a handful of plausible suspects are all trapped at the mansion after a heavy storm blocks the roadways. As more and more clues and bodies accumulate, you know someone in the room is the actual culprit. The reveal would have made Hercule Poirot so proud! Once it started, the entire room was revealing secrets and pointing fingers. It easily is one of my favorite reveals I've read in quite some time.
There was some great character development, especially with Capone! I'm looking forward to catching up with this series and seeing what mischief the pizzeria finds themselves in around Christmastime!
This culinary cozy was so entertaining! The pizza crew has been hired to cater a charity event at a posh mansion across the bay. Just when they thought dietary restrictions would be their biggest challenge, they suddenly find themselves entangled in a murder mystery.
I was leery about having an entire story set away from the pizzeria so early in the series. Thankfully, it was executed perfectly. The regular crew comes along to help make the event a success. Don't worry, everyone's favorite mischievous cat, Butterball, even stows away and becomes a big part of the story. I really enjoyed getting to know Jarka more. She's the Bulgarian server who was a doctor in her country, but it having difficulties passing the language test making her such a fascinating character. I like that aunt Biz stayed home for this one. Having her and Delilah separated helped ease their tension against one another and was a nice break from their harsh bickering. Of course Detective Capone is attending the event and we even get to meet his mother, as well as learn about her secrets!
What made this story extra entertaining though was the closed door mystery! The crew along with a handful of plausible suspects are all trapped at the mansion after a heavy storm blocks the roadways. As more and more clues and bodies accumulate, you know someone in the room is the actual culprit. The reveal would have made Hercule Poirot so proud! Once it started, the entire room was revealing secrets and pointing fingers. It easily is one of my favorite reveals I've read in quite some time.
There was some great character development, especially with Capone! I'm looking forward to catching up with this series and seeing what mischief the pizzeria finds themselves in around Christmastime!
April 19, 2026
The long, lean winter months are approaching, when Geneva Bay will be as dead as one of Al Capone's victims. Dee's new living arrangements aren't quite working out as well as she had hoped and she's determined to succeed no matter what. In order to take care of herself, her staff and keep her restaurant afloat, she agrees to a catering gig for the Friends of the Library board. It has a 1920s theme and the staff have been invited to stay and have some fun after the meal is served. On their way to the historic mansion where the event will be held, Dee receives a last minute request for a "free from" pizza. As in no gluten, no dairy and ... no members of the nightshade family, including tomato. So basically free FROM actual pizza? Dee is horrified and upset at the last minute request. How can she make something so free from taste like actual pizza? It took ages to perfect her gluten free crust recipe. How to replicate the cheese and sauce flavors? Luckily Sam and Aunt Biz have just the right ingredients in the kitchen to create a not pizza pizza. Things start to go wrong as soon as they arrive. A storm is brewing, they forgot the stand mixer, Melody's dress doesn't fit and some creepy outgoing board member gives Dee a cryptic message for Sonya along with some old books and before anyone can toast the new board or try any of Dee's pizza, Edgar falls down the stairs and dies. At first everyone is horrified at the tragic accident but them rumors of a feline mischief maker spread. Uh-oh! Oh no! It couldn't be? NO! Fortunately, no felines were involved in the death but probably a human. As the storm intensifies, trees are downed and guests are forced to spend the night in a mansion where no one can escape a murderer and the police can not come in. The murderer tries and fails to strike again leading to some shocking realizations and another dead body. Capone has to rely on Dee, the only person he can trust, to contain the scene of the crime and question the suspects.
I didn't enjoy this mystery as much as the previous one. It was WAY WAY too obvious. The clues were right there in Edgar's hands, passed along to Sonya who shared with Dee and Capone. I had already guessed what was going on. I wasn't 100% certain if what I suspected was the motive or a side plot. It seemed more like a side plot. The atmosphere was eerie and there was more at stake here which made the story less cozy. I also didn't appreciate the "Mickey" part of the plot. That doesn't belong in a cozy. The 1920s themed party was fun while it lasted and I enjoyed learning about Geneva Bay's Gilded Age-1920s history. The homes sound like the Gilded Age "cottages" in Newport!
Dee is a little more likable now. She's stubborn and proud but realizes stubborn pride doesn't get you anywhere. She's very loyal and truly cares about her staff. They're family, not expendable seasonal workers and Dee is willing to take work she doesn't like or want to do in order to take care of the staff and keep her restaurant open through the winter. She could have laid off Jarka, Daniel, Melody and Rabbit and rehired them in the summer but she didn't. Dee is protective of her found family and will fight to the death to defend them. She still isn't getting along with Aunt Biz, understandably. I understand Aunt Biz is hurt and embarrassed but it's done and what can you do? When Dee is informed by everyone else of her fault, she accepts her relationship with Aunt Biz is her fault. Their unwillingness to talk to each other and Aunt Biz's inability to express emotions drives me crazy. She can't even say she's proud of Dee for her accomplishments.
Butterball is absolutely adorable but so so naughty! He's HANGRY for some real food! Since there seem to be anchovies involved in the cooking this time around, give the cat some! They have to be better for him and more appealing to his taste buds than zucchini treats. (yuck to both but he's a cat, so... fish yes, veggies? Not so much.) Plus he's a hero after the last two investigations. He needs to keep Dee safe and help the dumb humans. After that he should get a reward. I don't think he lacks social skills. I think he tries to make friends in his own way but he's a pampered house cat and not a street cat. He's a lover not a fighter. I am certain those other cats started it!
I still don't think Dee and Capone have much chemistry. He ghosted her for months and then suddenly appears at the same party, also working. It's cute his family thinks he and Dee belong together but I disagree. Dee is tough but she's not too smart and actually neither is he. They don't manage to figure out what's going on even though they have the clues literally in their hands. It was implausible but obvious. Capone runs around with his gun playing bad cop but letting Dee help with the investigation. The killer can't go anywhere! He chooses to use Dee when he wants to and then avoids her. I understand he's super busy but he could at least text and say he's working and can he stop by after the dinner rush when he's done or Monday when she's not working? How about coffee on Monday? or lunch? Sure she's busy too but they could at least have coffee in between errands and chores.
I enjoy the secondary characters more. Once again Dee leaves poor Sonya to do all the work. Sonya is stuck in the kitchen and doesn't even know her friend has been murdered. She doesn't seem that broken up about it when she learns the news. Sonya can't solve the mystery but I chalk that up to being stressed, exhausted and confused. I am enjoying the comments about Sonya's ex-girlfriends. They're certainly very.... unique. Son's bad dad jokes notwithstanding, she has a lot to offer and I hope she finds someone normal soon. Melody is sweet, innocent and very young. I understand her concerns about her dress but most young women her age would be happy to wear such a thing and the solution was quick and easy. Melody also gets on her high horse about justice and her perceived wrongs or moral code being broken. She still has a lot of growing up to do. Daniel is flirtatious and fun but I don't see him being interested in Melody in the same way she's into him. I hope she gets over her infatuation soon. Daniel is warm and caring and willing to comfort Melody but not quite in anything more than a big brotherly way. I appreciate his research into Prohibition era cocktails to make his drinks more authentic. I'm surprised this library board crowd is into drinking so much.
I love Jarka! She's so serious it's funny. She is highly intelligent and capable but still seems to have had a toxic relationship with a man that continues to be toxic. I suspect this mystery man seen arguing with Jarka is probably an ex, possibly her husband and possibly why she left Bulgaria. She's supposed to be Bulgarian but for some reason she sounds like a Russian villain in a Cold War movie in my head.
I absolutely loved Isabel Berney, the the chair of the library board (they say Friends of the Library, but the FOTL doesn't do the kind of things or have the kind of power that's going on in this novel), is a tireless advocate for the library. She's a real bibliophile and able to guilt trip even Dee, a "barbarian" who doesn't read, into providing the "free from" pizza. Isabel seems nice and I know we would get along! The hostess, Pam Phillips, also seems nice. A tech billionaire, she's also a library lover and bibliophile. She collects rare books for her home library but sometimes it seems like a game to her. She won the bid for the house in the same way but at least she did it out of pure love for the historic architecture, unlike the other bidders. She also engineered a coup to take over the library board. I have a feeling these two ladies are at odds with the rest of the board, possibly each other and all of these board members have a motive for killing one another.
Pam has a purebred Ragdoll cat, Gloria, who seems to have taken it upon herself to give Butterball a hard time. Sure he invaded her territory but it's more than that. It's like she deliberately flirts with him, teases him, only to turn on poor Butterball who just wants to make friends. Uh are they fixed? Maybe she's in season? I'm not a cat person, I can't say if this is normal behavior but I think both cats know more than the humans and once again do something heroic. If only the humans could listen to them!
It's outgoing board member Edgar Clemmons who winds up dead. An elderly gent named after J. Edgar Hoover (ew) he seems to think he's a modern moral crusader like his namesake (also ew) and it's his duty to tell everyone how to behave and probably what to read/not read. He's out of touch with reality and it's no wonder they pushed him off the board. He also says something extremely rude about Lola Capone, who is performing at the party. It's none of his business who she associates with or what her son's last name is. It's just a name not who he is. Cal never met his father or grandfather, let alone his (in)famous great-grandfather! Yet Sonya and Edgar have struck up an odd friendship, bonding over a love of film noir. Clemmons seems to think something suspicious is going on and tries to send a message to Sonya. It's almost like he had a premonition of his own death.
Count Leka Simeon Victor Hohenstaufen-Chandon seems like a controlling jerk. He's also a super snob. An artist from Jarka's hometown in Bulgaria, they seem to know each other well, maybe intimately, but the relationship is difficult/complicated? He is engaged to the major donor requesting the "free from" pizza, Zaria Singhal, and they also seem to have a complex relationship. Dee is not amused and something tells me she'd never considering hiring this guy even if he needed a job. He seems to think because he's descended from nobility it entitles him to NOT have to work for a living, yet the money is long gone. Zaria must be giving him a commission from the rare books he finds for her to sell or she's his sugar mama. I don't like them together and I don't really like them period. Zaria is nice enough on her own but I suspect Victor may be coercing her into unethical things.
Other party guests include Aunt Biz's former neighbors, Kennedy Criss and B.L. Huddleston. Kennedy is a mean girl *itch who makes snide remarks about Aunt Biz's former home and anything else she doesn't think worthy of her status as a trophy wife. B.L. Huddleston is on his third wife and while he's friendly, he's smarmy friendly. This couple does not seem happily married.
With Kennedy, the author addresses the craze for control of the library "curating knowledge" for a privileged few vs. the public. Charging children for story time? SERIOUSLY? The whole point of a public library is the public! It's free, tax supported. Start a private library if you want to be that way. You still pay taxes for the public library, feel free to challenge books but read them first. Kennedy is a horrid snob and sounds like she's right out of Downton Abbey in the actual 1920s.
Lola Capone loves her son but she doesn't always tell him everything. She seems to be like Sonya, a woman who needs to be in love. Lola needs a man to help her and to be happy. That's old-fashioned of her. She seems to be doing well on her own but it was hard when Cal was young. I feel bad he had such a rough childhood but she did the best she could in her circumstances.
All the suspects have alibis for the time of death. How can any of them be a murderer?
I was disappointed the book didn't include the recipe for pizza the way the first two did. It's a good thing I took a picture of it. It's easy to make and tastes good but it's not Pizzeria Uno's.
I didn't enjoy this mystery as much as the previous one. It was WAY WAY too obvious. The clues were right there in Edgar's hands, passed along to Sonya who shared with Dee and Capone. I had already guessed what was going on. I wasn't 100% certain if what I suspected was the motive or a side plot. It seemed more like a side plot. The atmosphere was eerie and there was more at stake here which made the story less cozy. I also didn't appreciate the "Mickey" part of the plot. That doesn't belong in a cozy. The 1920s themed party was fun while it lasted and I enjoyed learning about Geneva Bay's Gilded Age-1920s history. The homes sound like the Gilded Age "cottages" in Newport!
Dee is a little more likable now. She's stubborn and proud but realizes stubborn pride doesn't get you anywhere. She's very loyal and truly cares about her staff. They're family, not expendable seasonal workers and Dee is willing to take work she doesn't like or want to do in order to take care of the staff and keep her restaurant open through the winter. She could have laid off Jarka, Daniel, Melody and Rabbit and rehired them in the summer but she didn't. Dee is protective of her found family and will fight to the death to defend them. She still isn't getting along with Aunt Biz, understandably. I understand Aunt Biz is hurt and embarrassed but it's done and what can you do? When Dee is informed by everyone else of her fault, she accepts her relationship with Aunt Biz is her fault. Their unwillingness to talk to each other and Aunt Biz's inability to express emotions drives me crazy. She can't even say she's proud of Dee for her accomplishments.
Butterball is absolutely adorable but so so naughty! He's HANGRY for some real food! Since there seem to be anchovies involved in the cooking this time around, give the cat some! They have to be better for him and more appealing to his taste buds than zucchini treats. (yuck to both but he's a cat, so... fish yes, veggies? Not so much.) Plus he's a hero after the last two investigations. He needs to keep Dee safe and help the dumb humans. After that he should get a reward. I don't think he lacks social skills. I think he tries to make friends in his own way but he's a pampered house cat and not a street cat. He's a lover not a fighter. I am certain those other cats started it!
I still don't think Dee and Capone have much chemistry. He ghosted her for months and then suddenly appears at the same party, also working. It's cute his family thinks he and Dee belong together but I disagree. Dee is tough but she's not too smart and actually neither is he. They don't manage to figure out what's going on even though they have the clues literally in their hands. It was implausible but obvious. Capone runs around with his gun playing bad cop but letting Dee help with the investigation. The killer can't go anywhere! He chooses to use Dee when he wants to and then avoids her. I understand he's super busy but he could at least text and say he's working and can he stop by after the dinner rush when he's done or Monday when she's not working? How about coffee on Monday? or lunch? Sure she's busy too but they could at least have coffee in between errands and chores.
I enjoy the secondary characters more. Once again Dee leaves poor Sonya to do all the work. Sonya is stuck in the kitchen and doesn't even know her friend has been murdered. She doesn't seem that broken up about it when she learns the news. Sonya can't solve the mystery but I chalk that up to being stressed, exhausted and confused. I am enjoying the comments about Sonya's ex-girlfriends. They're certainly very.... unique. Son's bad dad jokes notwithstanding, she has a lot to offer and I hope she finds someone normal soon. Melody is sweet, innocent and very young. I understand her concerns about her dress but most young women her age would be happy to wear such a thing and the solution was quick and easy. Melody also gets on her high horse about justice and her perceived wrongs or moral code being broken. She still has a lot of growing up to do. Daniel is flirtatious and fun but I don't see him being interested in Melody in the same way she's into him. I hope she gets over her infatuation soon. Daniel is warm and caring and willing to comfort Melody but not quite in anything more than a big brotherly way. I appreciate his research into Prohibition era cocktails to make his drinks more authentic. I'm surprised this library board crowd is into drinking so much.
I love Jarka! She's so serious it's funny. She is highly intelligent and capable but still seems to have had a toxic relationship with a man that continues to be toxic. I suspect this mystery man seen arguing with Jarka is probably an ex, possibly her husband and possibly why she left Bulgaria. She's supposed to be Bulgarian but for some reason she sounds like a Russian villain in a Cold War movie in my head.
I absolutely loved Isabel Berney, the the chair of the library board (they say Friends of the Library, but the FOTL doesn't do the kind of things or have the kind of power that's going on in this novel), is a tireless advocate for the library. She's a real bibliophile and able to guilt trip even Dee, a "barbarian" who doesn't read, into providing the "free from" pizza. Isabel seems nice and I know we would get along! The hostess, Pam Phillips, also seems nice. A tech billionaire, she's also a library lover and bibliophile. She collects rare books for her home library but sometimes it seems like a game to her. She won the bid for the house in the same way but at least she did it out of pure love for the historic architecture, unlike the other bidders. She also engineered a coup to take over the library board. I have a feeling these two ladies are at odds with the rest of the board, possibly each other and all of these board members have a motive for killing one another.
Pam has a purebred Ragdoll cat, Gloria, who seems to have taken it upon herself to give Butterball a hard time. Sure he invaded her territory but it's more than that. It's like she deliberately flirts with him, teases him, only to turn on poor Butterball who just wants to make friends. Uh are they fixed? Maybe she's in season? I'm not a cat person, I can't say if this is normal behavior but I think both cats know more than the humans and once again do something heroic. If only the humans could listen to them!
It's outgoing board member Edgar Clemmons who winds up dead. An elderly gent named after J. Edgar Hoover (ew) he seems to think he's a modern moral crusader like his namesake (also ew) and it's his duty to tell everyone how to behave and probably what to read/not read. He's out of touch with reality and it's no wonder they pushed him off the board. He also says something extremely rude about Lola Capone, who is performing at the party. It's none of his business who she associates with or what her son's last name is. It's just a name not who he is. Cal never met his father or grandfather, let alone his (in)famous great-grandfather! Yet Sonya and Edgar have struck up an odd friendship, bonding over a love of film noir. Clemmons seems to think something suspicious is going on and tries to send a message to Sonya. It's almost like he had a premonition of his own death.
Count Leka Simeon Victor Hohenstaufen-Chandon seems like a controlling jerk. He's also a super snob. An artist from Jarka's hometown in Bulgaria, they seem to know each other well, maybe intimately, but the relationship is difficult/complicated? He is engaged to the major donor requesting the "free from" pizza, Zaria Singhal, and they also seem to have a complex relationship. Dee is not amused and something tells me she'd never considering hiring this guy even if he needed a job. He seems to think because he's descended from nobility it entitles him to NOT have to work for a living, yet the money is long gone. Zaria must be giving him a commission from the rare books he finds for her to sell or she's his sugar mama. I don't like them together and I don't really like them period. Zaria is nice enough on her own but I suspect Victor may be coercing her into unethical things.
Other party guests include Aunt Biz's former neighbors, Kennedy Criss and B.L. Huddleston. Kennedy is a mean girl *itch who makes snide remarks about Aunt Biz's former home and anything else she doesn't think worthy of her status as a trophy wife. B.L. Huddleston is on his third wife and while he's friendly, he's smarmy friendly. This couple does not seem happily married.
With Kennedy, the author addresses the craze for control of the library "curating knowledge" for a privileged few vs. the public. Charging children for story time? SERIOUSLY? The whole point of a public library is the public! It's free, tax supported. Start a private library if you want to be that way. You still pay taxes for the public library, feel free to challenge books but read them first. Kennedy is a horrid snob and sounds like she's right out of Downton Abbey in the actual 1920s.
Lola Capone loves her son but she doesn't always tell him everything. She seems to be like Sonya, a woman who needs to be in love. Lola needs a man to help her and to be happy. That's old-fashioned of her. She seems to be doing well on her own but it was hard when Cal was young. I feel bad he had such a rough childhood but she did the best she could in her circumstances.
All the suspects have alibis for the time of death. How can any of them be a murderer?
I was disappointed the book didn't include the recipe for pizza the way the first two did. It's a good thing I took a picture of it. It's easy to make and tastes good but it's not Pizzeria Uno's.
November 14, 2023
I've read all three of the books in this series (although I'm positive this one would work well as a stand alone). I really like how Mindy Quigley has switched up the setting and crime in each of them, and this one was my favorite. It reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie! The characters were good and the food sounded great, as usual! Another tasty winner.
December 13, 2023
I LOVED this book. My favorite of this series (which is already amazing). A mansion on hill by the lake during a storm with no power, isolated, everyone stuck there overnight, with a murderer lurking?! Yes please sign me up 😂 my favorite troupe / setting. Delilah is quick on her feet, no nonsense, smart and sassy and protective of her people and her cat and she absolutely shone in this book! This book had a darker edge to it (this series does in general, but this one especially because there were NO breaks, not much lighthearted banter or side stories). Butterball is also an absolute star for both drama and laughs. I cannot recommend this series enough!
February 29, 2024
Public Anchovy #1 had the makings of a classic Christie novel in a contemporary setting and I was here for it! This closed circle based installment of the Deep Dish Mysteries was I believe the best one yet. It was fun, mysterious and felt like a game of Clue was being played out just like one of my favourite movies by the same name. All the suspects were stuck overnight in one location and as a result, chaos ensued. I didn’t solve this mystery as the red herrings thrown in the mix were entertaining yet did their job; to make the detective (or amateur sleuth) be steered off the trail in figuring out who was the murderer.
Overall, if you love the game of Clue and/or love the movie Clue, this is the book for you and validates why this series has made it to my list of favourite cozies.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. Thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Overall, if you love the game of Clue and/or love the movie Clue, this is the book for you and validates why this series has made it to my list of favourite cozies.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy. Thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
November 26, 2023
A mansion during a storm, library books and a catered meal. What does all of this have in common? It’s the perfect setting for a murder or two in Public Anchovy #1 by Mindy Quigley.
Another great book featuring Delilah, Capone, Butterball, Sony, Jarka and the rest of the crew. I enjoyed this book as much as the first 2 books. It’s a great series with a lovely cast of characters and an always not too easy to figure out crime.
I will definitely continue to read these books when they are released. One of my favorite series.
Another great book featuring Delilah, Capone, Butterball, Sony, Jarka and the rest of the crew. I enjoyed this book as much as the first 2 books. It’s a great series with a lovely cast of characters and an always not too easy to figure out crime.
I will definitely continue to read these books when they are released. One of my favorite series.
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