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Emily Cherry Cozy #1

A Troubling Case of Murder on the Menu: Cozy & Clean Mysteries

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Emily Cherry may be retired, but she’s not about to roll over and die!

Defying the doubts of her three adult children this plucky computer-shy grandma embarks on a unique path by launching her very own food blog. The only problem is that during her inaugural restaurant review, she stumbles upon a lifeless body.

In an instant, Emily's envisioned future as a food blogger plunges into uncertainty - and a brand-new amateur sleuth is born!

Cozy up in your favorite chair and prepare for a thrilling first adventure in this brand-new senior sleuthing series.


You are guaranteed to fall in love with retiree Emily Cherry and giggle at her uncanny ability to stumble into one head-scratching mystery after another.

92 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2023

223 people are currently reading
187 people want to read

About the author

Donna Doyle

103 books67 followers

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5 stars
123 (37%)
4 stars
109 (32%)
3 stars
70 (21%)
2 stars
20 (6%)
1 star
9 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,493 reviews326 followers
October 29, 2023
When Emily decides to start a food blog and ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, a cozy murder mystery ensues.

This story is a quick read and a little fun-sized bite of fun. I liked that it was cozy and clean, and that I could read it in a sitting.
Profile Image for Toi Marie .
115 reviews
July 26, 2025
Emily Cherry

This story is about an older retired lady named Emily Cherry. Emily has 3 older children and 2 granddaughters and decides now that she's retired to create her own blog and decide to do it about food. So the first restaurant she tries is The Silver Swan, where she meets a waiter named Aaron and he's not the nicest to her. After waiting a long time for her soup, she decides to use the restroom and ends up at the wrong door when the lighting is not enough in the hallway. This door leads her to the outside in back of the restaurant where she finds her waiter dead. This series is great for us older women, so grab a copy of book one and enjoy an afternoon or evening of sitting back and enjoying a nice mystery.
Profile Image for Beth Temin.
290 reviews
September 26, 2023
A waiter dies at the restaurant

Emily has decided to write a blog and begins by reviewing the food at a resraurant. Her waiter argues with the chef, then disappears. She gets up to find the restroom but ends up exiting the back door, where she finds her waiter's dead body. Of course, the male detective treats her like she is a frail old lady. I loved the female detective who treats her with respect, and when Emily discovers his death was due to an allergic reaction, she gains the respect of not only the detective, but her family. The best part was when she served her family the recipes she copied from the restaurant menu and they all loved it.
Profile Image for HAL.
418 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2023
A Delightful Cozy

Doyle checks all the right boxes for a great cozy mystery:
No swearing, no sex scenes, not gory or too descriptive, light reading without being silly and a solid plot that keeps the reader engaged. Having a very likeable, level headed senior who refuses to be coddled or patronized by those around her helps raise the entertainment rating, too. I can easily recommend this book for teens and adults. Great job Donna Doyle for another great cozy!
Profile Image for Tess Ailshire.
765 reviews4 followers
April 28, 2024
I didn't realize this was a novelette, or I probably wouldn't have bothered. It did help increase my "books read to date" number.

Thoroughly forgettable. Woman is confused; woman finds body; woman puts together things she knows; woman knows whodunit and is not surprised when the police unofficially confirm.

If you need a book to finish without thinking in an afternoon at the pool, have at it.
Profile Image for Kim Ligon.
Author 5 books33 followers
June 17, 2024
She may be older but she's sharp as ever

Emily's well meaning family seems to think she should sit still in retirement and do nothing that requires too much skill, thinking, or activity. Emily has other ideas and decides to begin a food blog. Boy, does she have something to blog about when there is a murder and she finds a key clue! Wonderful characters and engaging story. Can't wait to read more Emily Cherry stories!
1,677 reviews8 followers
June 21, 2024
A fun first book in the series

Emily is settling into retirement and being widowed . Her kids are trying to set her up on a cruise and or volunteering. She pushes back and tells them that she is planning to start a blog. As she starts to work on her blog she goes to a restaurant to do a food review on her order. However one of the restaurant staff is murdered. Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.
Profile Image for Kelly Ferrett.
284 reviews9 followers
November 17, 2023
A Troubling Case of Murder On The Menu.
A quick little read of murder! Emily Cherry is an elderly woman who has been widowed a while ago .. Her life is not fulfilling but what she is missing she isn’t sure of … goes through a few things her kids thinks she should do but are not interesting for her … she doesn’t feel old … just unfulfilled !
Enjoyable read which is quick and easy.
Profile Image for Elz.
110 reviews
March 15, 2025
This was a cute cozy "mystery" story. I would classify this between a Junie B Jones and Nancy Drew type of mystery. But for adults, considering the main character is an elderly woman talking about being retired and pensions and such.

I enjoyed my time reading this, but I don't see myself reaching for any of the others in this series.
Profile Image for Sofias Spooky Stuff.
11 reviews
November 5, 2025
This was a lovely, quick, read. We follow a retired widow, who is trying to find her passion…she tries blogging and stumbled into a whole new side of life! I loved it ….it was everything I want from a cozy mystery.
14 reviews
September 19, 2023
I love clean mysteries that have older women that solve problems. I am an older woman and I read a lot. I enjoyed this book immensely and now I am starting the second book.
4,417 reviews43 followers
October 26, 2023
Who killed Aaron and why??? Peanut allergy??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
Profile Image for Janet Miller.
894 reviews3 followers
November 11, 2023
A quick reading cute cozy mystery. Entertaining with interesting characters. Highly recommended.
1,415 reviews9 followers
December 30, 2023
Who killed Aaron and why and how??? Allergies??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
720 reviews
January 1, 2024
A fun story

Finding fun things to do to fill the empty days after becoming a widow was a challenge to this grandma.
She faced the challenge and was quite creative. 🤔
Profile Image for Larry.
2,969 reviews17 followers
February 22, 2024
I enjoyed this novella. The characters are fun, the plot is straight forward, and the premise is showing a retired lady, that she can have fun writing a blog. I do recommend this book.
Profile Image for Carolyn Thibodaux.
5 reviews
May 2, 2024
Being a senior citizen myself, I enjoy how this story consent rates on the fact that we can do just about anything we want. I do plan to continue with this series. I can empathize with Emily.
Profile Image for Terri Borkgren.
775 reviews6 followers
September 13, 2024
A cute cozy about a retiree who wants to start up a food blog and finds a body! A little over an hour to read and no gorry details. Check it out you'll not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Mae.
34 reviews
February 9, 2025
A cute story of a woman who retired but wanted something to do.
Profile Image for Kathryn .
351 reviews6 followers
February 24, 2025
Its cute. Granny is trying to find herself after the death of her husband and trying to keep her kids from putting her in bubble wrap. I can relate
832 reviews2 followers
June 6, 2025
A fun book to read and great story. Donna writes clean stories and that in itself makes it more interesting and entertaining.
Profile Image for Shawn Bird.
Author 38 books90 followers
June 22, 2025
I had to rewind a dozen times, I kept being distracted and bored. Pacing an issue.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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