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Samantha Davies Mysteries #4
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder
Autumn has arrived in the small town of Wings Falls in upstate New York, and children's book author Samantha Davies couldn't be happier. She's excited to attend the town's annual Taste of Wings Falls craft and food festival with her boyfriend Detective Hank Johnson. The fair features several booths, like the one Sam's rug hooking group, the Loopy Ladies, have set up as a fundraiser to send underprivileged children to summer camps, as well as home-grown vegetables, like the 2,000-pound pumpkin grown by Farmer Scooter that he's proudly displayed on the back of his truck. But maybe the biggest draws for the fair is the barbeque cook-off. Samantha is friends with the owners of the three restaurants participating, but she is betting on Franny Goodway, the owner of Sweetie Pie's Café, taking home this year's coveted first place prize.
But things take a stomach-churning turn when several fair goers become ill after chowing down on Franny's pulled pork delight. Franny insists it's not her fault... but when Sam sees Franny vehemently arguing with the new loan officer at the town's bank, she knows something is wrong.
Little did Sam know how wrong.
That evening as Sam takes her dachshund, Porkchop, for a stroll, she finds the body of the loan officer...crushed under a 2,000 pound pumpkin and deader than the fall leaves covering the ground! Franny instantly becomes the number one suspect, and it's up to Sam to prove her friend innocent of the man's murder. Can she find a killer, and navigate her relationship with her detective boyfriend, and save Sweetie Pie's Café?
"A doggone entertaining mystery filled with small town scandals! Funny and entertaining!"
~ Fresh Fiction
But things take a stomach-churning turn when several fair goers become ill after chowing down on Franny's pulled pork delight. Franny insists it's not her fault... but when Sam sees Franny vehemently arguing with the new loan officer at the town's bank, she knows something is wrong.
Little did Sam know how wrong.
That evening as Sam takes her dachshund, Porkchop, for a stroll, she finds the body of the loan officer...crushed under a 2,000 pound pumpkin and deader than the fall leaves covering the ground! Franny instantly becomes the number one suspect, and it's up to Sam to prove her friend innocent of the man's murder. Can she find a killer, and navigate her relationship with her detective boyfriend, and save Sweetie Pie's Café?
"A doggone entertaining mystery filled with small town scandals! Funny and entertaining!"
~ Fresh Fiction
- GenresMysteryCozyCozy Mystery
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2023
114 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 24, 2024
It was fine. It's a cozy murder. I really dislike the "southern" characters and I think that is what took me away from enjoying the story.
September 6, 2023
Great new addition to the Samantha Davies Mystery Series! Easy read, good solid characters and interesting storylines. Looking forward to the next one!
September 24, 2023
The best advice that I can give readers when picking up Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder by S.A. Kazlo is to just sit back and enjoy the story and murder because trying to solve the latest murder in this series will be impossible !!! Unless,of course, you are Nancy Drew...then I say go for it !!
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder is the fourth book in the Samantha Davis Mystery series and the series is full of great characters, a charming little town with quaint stores and restaurants and yes murder !!
In Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder the town of Wings Falls is celebrating the town with their annual Taste of Wings Falls Fair. Three local restaurants will be competing for the Best Barbeque Prize, local vendors will be selling their homemade goodies and everyone will be checking out Scooter Dickerson's 2,000 pound pumpkin.....unfortunately no one knew that Scooter's pumpkin was going to roll off of the truck and kill the new local bank loan officer, Edgar Jensen. Also people become ill after eating one of the competing restaurants pulled pork sandwiches.
To say local Detective Hank Johnson was going to have his hands full with this case is stating it lightly. The suspect list for both instances is long and unfortunately Hank's younger brother, Aaron, is on both lists as a suspect. Hank's girlfriend, Sam, does not believe that Aaron would do anything to jeopardize his girlfriend's aunt's restaurant and put something in the pulled pork and also Sam doesn't believe he is capable of murder.
Sam along with her cousin Candie put on their investigator hats and start looking into both cases. As they look into Edgar's death they find out that he was giving members of the community a hard time when they applied for loans as well as charging a "special fee" along with the interest if they were to receive the loan. After talking to some people they find out that all of the contestants in the barbeque contest had applied for loans and were unhappy with Edgar's behavior, Edgar and his wife were seen arguing the day of the fair and Sam's childhood enemy, Police Officer Joe Peters and his wife had bad dealings with his also. But were any of them capable of pushing a 2,000 pound pumpkin on the man ??
Readers will have their hands full reading this tasty tale and will love everything about it. The Samantha Davies Mystery series will become of favorite for sure, if it hasn't already.
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder is the fourth book in the Samantha Davis Mystery series and the series is full of great characters, a charming little town with quaint stores and restaurants and yes murder !!
In Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder the town of Wings Falls is celebrating the town with their annual Taste of Wings Falls Fair. Three local restaurants will be competing for the Best Barbeque Prize, local vendors will be selling their homemade goodies and everyone will be checking out Scooter Dickerson's 2,000 pound pumpkin.....unfortunately no one knew that Scooter's pumpkin was going to roll off of the truck and kill the new local bank loan officer, Edgar Jensen. Also people become ill after eating one of the competing restaurants pulled pork sandwiches.
To say local Detective Hank Johnson was going to have his hands full with this case is stating it lightly. The suspect list for both instances is long and unfortunately Hank's younger brother, Aaron, is on both lists as a suspect. Hank's girlfriend, Sam, does not believe that Aaron would do anything to jeopardize his girlfriend's aunt's restaurant and put something in the pulled pork and also Sam doesn't believe he is capable of murder.
Sam along with her cousin Candie put on their investigator hats and start looking into both cases. As they look into Edgar's death they find out that he was giving members of the community a hard time when they applied for loans as well as charging a "special fee" along with the interest if they were to receive the loan. After talking to some people they find out that all of the contestants in the barbeque contest had applied for loans and were unhappy with Edgar's behavior, Edgar and his wife were seen arguing the day of the fair and Sam's childhood enemy, Police Officer Joe Peters and his wife had bad dealings with his also. But were any of them capable of pushing a 2,000 pound pumpkin on the man ??
Readers will have their hands full reading this tasty tale and will love everything about it. The Samantha Davies Mystery series will become of favorite for sure, if it hasn't already.
October 4, 2023
It’s that time of year again, A Taste of Wings Falls, and this year in addition to the vendors, a pet parade, and the annual Wings Falls Annual Barbeque Contest, we get murder by massive pumpkin. Samantha “Sam” Davies and her Southern Belle cousin Candie Hogan, hookers by hobby; no not those kind of hookers, rug hookers with the Loopy Ladies, are ready to sleuth out the solution.
There are excellent descriptions and bits of backstory, and plenty of romance making this a stand-alone cozy, with several mysteries to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. The first mystery involves Sam, who is mystified as to why her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, was not the winner of the pet parade costume contest in his adorable sheriff’s hat. While I was surprised that Candie’s fairy dressed cat Dixie strolled her way into second place. Alas, all of the fun of the pet parade is slightly overshadowed by the multiple fracases seen between the new loan shark, I mean loan officer, Edgar Jensen, and various community members. These loans seem to require a large bit of collateral and a ‘special fee’ just to get them processed, loans that are needed to pay for college for Joy, start a new business for Portia Peters, purchase restaurant appliances for Clint Higgins, and a restaurant remodel to bring it to code for Bill Collins.
While out for a walk Sam runs into Aaron, Hank’s baby brother, the two hear a scream and go to check it out. Who would have thought that a 2,000 pound pumpkin could be used as a murder weapon? Sam for one did not see that coming or the visual aspect of the body likened to a bowl of Jell-o by Sgt. Joe Peters aka her childhood nemesis Sandy. Not everyone is a fan of Jell-o and no one seemed to be a fan of Edgar, including his wife who was also seen haranguing the man for not getting her money soon enough.
Visualizing Edgar under that pumpkin could make someone nauseous, nauseous like the tainted barbecue that Franny of Sweetie Pie’s was unknowingly serving. Looks like no one will be getting a trophy for best barbecue this year since the contest had to be shut down and sample taken. Now San and Candie have two mysteries to look into. There are people to question and a huge sale to get to where even more clues are discovered. I did not figure out who the guilty party was with all of the red herrings flopping around but I did enjoy the story.
There are excellent descriptions and bits of backstory, and plenty of romance making this a stand-alone cozy, with several mysteries to keep the reader engaged and turning pages. The first mystery involves Sam, who is mystified as to why her beloved dachshund, Porkchop, was not the winner of the pet parade costume contest in his adorable sheriff’s hat. While I was surprised that Candie’s fairy dressed cat Dixie strolled her way into second place. Alas, all of the fun of the pet parade is slightly overshadowed by the multiple fracases seen between the new loan shark, I mean loan officer, Edgar Jensen, and various community members. These loans seem to require a large bit of collateral and a ‘special fee’ just to get them processed, loans that are needed to pay for college for Joy, start a new business for Portia Peters, purchase restaurant appliances for Clint Higgins, and a restaurant remodel to bring it to code for Bill Collins.
While out for a walk Sam runs into Aaron, Hank’s baby brother, the two hear a scream and go to check it out. Who would have thought that a 2,000 pound pumpkin could be used as a murder weapon? Sam for one did not see that coming or the visual aspect of the body likened to a bowl of Jell-o by Sgt. Joe Peters aka her childhood nemesis Sandy. Not everyone is a fan of Jell-o and no one seemed to be a fan of Edgar, including his wife who was also seen haranguing the man for not getting her money soon enough.
Visualizing Edgar under that pumpkin could make someone nauseous, nauseous like the tainted barbecue that Franny of Sweetie Pie’s was unknowingly serving. Looks like no one will be getting a trophy for best barbecue this year since the contest had to be shut down and sample taken. Now San and Candie have two mysteries to look into. There are people to question and a huge sale to get to where even more clues are discovered. I did not figure out who the guilty party was with all of the red herrings flopping around but I did enjoy the story.
November 20, 2025
We were cruising along at a solid 3 until the last couple chapters, then I had to knock it down to a 2.5. The scenery in upstate NY is lovely and familiar, I appreciate all the mentions of pets, and the cozy mystery is fine. However, it took about half of the book to even get to the main events of the plot which needed to be investigated, and by then I was really tired of the festival. I also don’t understand the insistence on delineating white and minority characters through “bouncing curls” and “dark skin” repeatedly - if it was so important that certain characters are from minority communities, their identities should be more complex than their hairstyles and complexion. Also not sure why Aaron has to “make something of himself” by going to college? The main character is pretty damn judgey for a basically unemployed middle age divorcee trying to turn hobbies into personality traits. Must be nice to be handed a paid-off house and have your ex just give you silent partnership in a lucrative business. Definitely soured me on the author and wanting any more of the series.
Synopsis: Sam goes to her small town’s craft and food festival featuring three prominent BBQ restaurants and a 2,000lb pumpkin. One of the best stalls ends up poisoning multiple visitors. The new bank loan manager, who seems to be making more enemies than friends, ends up crushed under the pumpkin. Can Sam figure out the solution before she- or her faithful companion Porkchop - are next?
Synopsis: Sam goes to her small town’s craft and food festival featuring three prominent BBQ restaurants and a 2,000lb pumpkin. One of the best stalls ends up poisoning multiple visitors. The new bank loan manager, who seems to be making more enemies than friends, ends up crushed under the pumpkin. Can Sam figure out the solution before she- or her faithful companion Porkchop - are next?
October 20, 2025
Fall Murder Mystery
What do lavender and pumpkins have in common? Nothing, unless you’re talking about this book where a 2000 pound pumpkin is the murder weapon and lavender is used as a weapon. The fall festival is in full swing in Sam’s small town of Wing’s Falls. Vendors are selling everything from hooked rug coasters to barbecue. Sam and her cousin Candice enter their pets in the pet costume parade and are looking forward to trying the three different barbecue vendors’ goodies for the cooking contest. Until dozens of people get sick from Franny’s food, owner of Sweetie Pie’s. Sam and her cousin go on the hunt to figure out who tainted the pork before Aaron, Hank’s younger brother can be blamed for the deed. In addition, the crooked bank manager is causing problems for several of the townsfolk’s and when he ends up dead, there are too many suspects.
Sam, Candice, and Sam’s adorable wiener dog Porkchop are busy in this story with suspects all over the place. The mystery is well done with all sorts of twists and turns and an ending that satisfies. And for once, I didn’t have it all figured out beforehand! Yay!
Recommended.
What do lavender and pumpkins have in common? Nothing, unless you’re talking about this book where a 2000 pound pumpkin is the murder weapon and lavender is used as a weapon. The fall festival is in full swing in Sam’s small town of Wing’s Falls. Vendors are selling everything from hooked rug coasters to barbecue. Sam and her cousin Candice enter their pets in the pet costume parade and are looking forward to trying the three different barbecue vendors’ goodies for the cooking contest. Until dozens of people get sick from Franny’s food, owner of Sweetie Pie’s. Sam and her cousin go on the hunt to figure out who tainted the pork before Aaron, Hank’s younger brother can be blamed for the deed. In addition, the crooked bank manager is causing problems for several of the townsfolk’s and when he ends up dead, there are too many suspects.
Sam, Candice, and Sam’s adorable wiener dog Porkchop are busy in this story with suspects all over the place. The mystery is well done with all sorts of twists and turns and an ending that satisfies. And for once, I didn’t have it all figured out beforehand! Yay!
Recommended.
September 19, 2023
More strange doings in Wings Falls as Sam, her main squeeze Hank, her BFF/cousin Candie go for a relaxing day eating at the Taste of Wings Falls Festival. Doggies Porkchop and Nina are dressed in their costumes for the pet parade. This being Wings Falls and Halloween, their relaxing day takes a scary turn.
Someone sabotages Sweetie Pie's barbecue, making people sick and taking Sweetie Pie out of the running for best barbecue. Hank's brother Aaron is a suspect. Sam and Candie take off faster than a witch on a broom to find the culprit. To make a bad situation worse, bank officer Edgar is found crushed under a giant pumpkin. There are numerous suspects as Edgar was hated by half the town.
Pups, Pumpkins and Murder is a great entry in the Samantha Davies mysteries. So good to visit Sam, Candie, Porkchop, Hank, the Loopy Ladies and the town of Wings Falls. Scary good fun.
Someone sabotages Sweetie Pie's barbecue, making people sick and taking Sweetie Pie out of the running for best barbecue. Hank's brother Aaron is a suspect. Sam and Candie take off faster than a witch on a broom to find the culprit. To make a bad situation worse, bank officer Edgar is found crushed under a giant pumpkin. There are numerous suspects as Edgar was hated by half the town.
Pups, Pumpkins and Murder is a great entry in the Samantha Davies mysteries. So good to visit Sam, Candie, Porkchop, Hank, the Loopy Ladies and the town of Wings Falls. Scary good fun.
February 29, 2024
Definitely light reading and just about the perfect definition of a “beach read“. Was surprised to find that this was the fourth book in the authors series, as it read sophomoric, with clumsy phrases, and excessive re-describing the same issue or event. The main characters are one dimensional. Put plainly, no one kisses, their significant other when they get up to use the ladies room while out to dinner, let alone the numerous other times described in the book – redundant. If every time you come home, you’re putting out, “kibble“ for your small dog, you’ll have to change his name from “Porkchop” to,”Porker”! Overall I found the book to be silly and actually had a difficult time finishing it.
November 7, 2023
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder, the fourth book in the Samantha Davies cozy mystery series does not disappoint. Trouble once again brews in Wings Falls. The slightly kooky, warm, and wonderful Sam, her dachshund Porkchop, and a familiar cast of characters are in danger as the case continues. S.A. Kazlo has once more created the perfect combination of a pleasant small town and its colorful characters, with a murder with an unusual weapon. Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder is a fun and entertaining book. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
October 29, 2024
This is the first book I read from this author. It’s ok but a bit “fluffy”… And a dog called Porkchop poor doggie and then she still calls him Porkie…. Anyway. All the tropes for a quick murder mystery. Nosy parker delving into things she shouldn’t luckily her boyfriend is with the police etc etc. it’s a quick read if that’s what you’re looking for and if you don’t mind repeats like “brushing back the wayward curl” how many times did we have to read that? Still if you have nothing better might as well read this one.
November 9, 2025
11/25. Another fluffy book. Sam Davies, author, rug hooker, girlfriend of one of the town's police officers, and owner of a dachshund named Porkchop, gets involved in investigating crimes in her small town with her blingy cousin, Candie. This time, the two want to know who could have tampered with a friend's barbecue which caused townspeople to become ill. And then there was the death of the loan officer of the town's bank in an unusual manner. Some creative names of groups and businesses provide a laugh, but the repetition of already introduced situations and names was distracting to me.
September 19, 2023
I received a copy from the publisher.
Sam and her doggie Porkchop are at the fall festival. There are 3 entries in the BBQ competition and Sam is friends with them all. People start getting sick from Franny's entry and then someone winds up dead. Everything points to Franny, but Sam is determined to prove her innocent. Along with her boyfriend, detective Hank and her cousin, they are on the case. This is a great series.
Sam and her doggie Porkchop are at the fall festival. There are 3 entries in the BBQ competition and Sam is friends with them all. People start getting sick from Franny's entry and then someone winds up dead. Everything points to Franny, but Sam is determined to prove her innocent. Along with her boyfriend, detective Hank and her cousin, they are on the case. This is a great series.
September 20, 2023
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder is a well plotted mystery with small town quirkiness, murder, pets and rug hooking enthusiasts! I love this series with older couples and the cousin sleuths. There are always too many suspects and even possible motives, but the murder victim was one unpleasant man! I never figure out who did it, but I love spending time with the cousing and the hooking ladies. The book captured and held my attention. It was not lights out until I reached the end!
October 8, 2024
Pups, Pumpkins, and Murder
Sam is helping her boyfriend, Hank to find the murderer of a bank officer during an autumn festival. During the festival one of her friends was serving barbecue beef sandwiches from her cafe and everyone was getting sick. Who had doctored the meat with something that made everyone really sick? Sam began to investigate. Will she clear up both cases.???
Sam is helping her boyfriend, Hank to find the murderer of a bank officer during an autumn festival. During the festival one of her friends was serving barbecue beef sandwiches from her cafe and everyone was getting sick. Who had doctored the meat with something that made everyone really sick? Sam began to investigate. Will she clear up both cases.???
September 22, 2023
Fall. Fires and smores. Small town festivals. Foods. Pets. Murder???
This fun book is about small town living at it's best and worst. With wonderful characters and loads of sweet romance, the story includes multiple mysteries of various types. From canines to humans there are surprises throughout the book. A relaxed pace story that holds your attention until the very end. Delightful!
This fun book is about small town living at it's best and worst. With wonderful characters and loads of sweet romance, the story includes multiple mysteries of various types. From canines to humans there are surprises throughout the book. A relaxed pace story that holds your attention until the very end. Delightful!
October 16, 2024
An interesting sleuthing mystery
I really enjoyed th fact that all of the characters are introduced by the end of the second chapter. It begins and ends with hot chocolate and real Smores in front of a backyard fire pit. Its loaded with lots of small town mystery and mayhem. Perfect short novel for fall nights.
I really enjoyed th fact that all of the characters are introduced by the end of the second chapter. It begins and ends with hot chocolate and real Smores in front of a backyard fire pit. Its loaded with lots of small town mystery and mayhem. Perfect short novel for fall nights.
October 17, 2024
Pups, Pumpkins and Murder
I want to say that I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well established, the plot was "okay". The read reminded me of something a person was assigned to write that had 50,000 words or whatever number this is long. It was long and laborious.
I want to say that I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well established, the plot was "okay". The read reminded me of something a person was assigned to write that had 50,000 words or whatever number this is long. It was long and laborious.
September 19, 2023
i love this book! a really fun to read mystery with quirky complex characters and a fast paced story! Love all the pets! I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review. A real page turner an a must read!
September 24, 2023
BBQ, Poison & Murder
A lot happening in this book and Sam finds herself in the middle of it all. I really enjoyed reading this. I love the original storyline and hobby of the main character and of course the Doxie Porkchop! I look forward to reading more.
A lot happening in this book and Sam finds herself in the middle of it all. I really enjoyed reading this. I love the original storyline and hobby of the main character and of course the Doxie Porkchop! I look forward to reading more.
January 12, 2024
What's not to love about this latest Samantha Davies Mystery? It has well-defined characters, cute pups, and lots of small town intrigue. And just when you think you have it figured out, you find out you don't. I recommend this fun read to get lost in for a few hours.
October 14, 2024
2.5 Stars. Cute cozy mystery. When people fall ill after consuming food at the fall fest in a small town, Samantha assists her boyfriend/police officer in finding out who the culprit is - especially after someone winds up crushed by the prize winning huge pumpkin. Could use some minor editing.
September 19, 2023
Loved it!
September 24, 2023
So good
I love this series so much. The characters are great and there is just the right amount of humor and romance mixed in with the mystery.
I love this series so much. The characters are great and there is just the right amount of humor and romance mixed in with the mystery.
October 17, 2023
Once again Kazlo gives us a great taste of small-town life amid all of the fall colors and nippy temperatures. Unraveling the mystery with the Loopy Ladies, Sam and Candie - always fun!
October 11, 2024
More romance than mystery. I’ve read some other books by this author that I enjoyed more, this was disappointing.
October 11, 2024
I have not read the other books in this series but I’m sure they are enjoyable as this book. This was light reading with love
You will enjoy this book because it has heart
You will enjoy this book because it has heart
October 27, 2024
Detailed
I wasn't sure if I would finish reading this book as I lost interest half way through but I persisted
I wasn't sure if I would finish reading this book as I lost interest half way through but I persisted
November 1, 2024
If you love a cozy mystery set in a small town with dogs in it,you will love this series. No bad language or over the top violence. There’s even romance! What could be better?
October 13, 2025
A fun mystery for animal lovers
I enjoy the strong relationship with the cousins. The mystery is fun , and a few red herrings through me off. Great series for animal lovers
I enjoy the strong relationship with the cousins. The mystery is fun , and a few red herrings through me off. Great series for animal lovers
October 26, 2025
This book was really fun and kept you guessing the whole time as to who had done what. I highly recommend this fun book :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews