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Deep Dish Mysteries #4

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza

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The fourth book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her kitty companion, Butterball, get into the holiday spirit as Geneva Bay, Wisconsin hosts the nation’s premier snow sculpting championship. The annual event transforms the charming resort town into a wonderland of snow castles, ice rinks, and cozy cups of cocoa. On the eve of the festival though, a too-good-to-be-true Chrismukkah catering gig brings some frosty tidings and heralds an unexpected visit from Delilah’s high-intensity older sister. Suddenly it seems that the holidays may not be the hap-happiest season of all. And when a missing party guest’s frozen corpse turns up inside one of the town's snowy sculptures, murder threatens to put the celebrations—and Delilah’s crew—on ice for good.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2024

85 people are currently reading
6078 people want to read

About the author

Mindy Quigley

20 books438 followers
Mindy 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.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
Profile Image for Shirley Chapel.
727 reviews177 followers
October 22, 2024
Certainly not your average cozy mystery read. I found this one to be confusing and never really was able to get into the story. Perhaps if I had read the other books in the series then I might have been able to follow along. I was not at all surprised by who turned out to be the Whodunnit. I felt the books ending dragged out for far too long. Just not my cup of Christmas cheer. I realize that this book has many five star reviews . I thought it had a beautiful cover and the cat was my favorite character.
I don’t recommend this book to readers who are offended by bad language. In about the third or fourth chapter of the book the cussing started . Unprepared and unexpected it was almost as though a fist popped out of the page and punched me in the face. Though I will say the book didn’t have a lot of swearing but it was just the words that were used.
Readers that have been following this series will want to read this book. It is scheduled for release on 10/22/24.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are solely my own.
Profile Image for beachbum bookworm.
371 reviews617 followers
November 6, 2024
Im loving the deep dish cozy mystery series! This was a fun addition to the series! AS always this is how I enjoy experiencing winters...in a book! It's not Christmas time...it's not Hanukkah....it's Chrismukkah in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. When a guest at the party ends up dead.
Holidays, good pizza, fast paced mystery, and family drama make this a slice above the rest.I would like to thank netgalley, the author MIndy Quigley, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!
Profile Image for Jeanine.
286 reviews13 followers
November 25, 2024
I enjoyed reading this fourth installment of a Delilah & Son mystery. The entire gang plus a few extras showed up for Christmas dinner.
The story began with a catering event at a Chrismukkah party. The food was a combination of Jewish and Christmas treats. The next day at the opening of the snow sculpture contest a dead body is discovered in one of the blocks of snow. The discovery puts everyone in a funk that is not conducive to holiday merry making.
To make matters worse, Calvin Capone has a few people close to Delilah on his prime suspect list. What’s a pizza chef to do, but solve the mystery herself?
Profile Image for Louise.
1,124 reviews269 followers
December 9, 2024
Mindy Quigley writes wonderful mystery stories while making your mouth water with her food descriptions. I always enjoy my trips back to Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, a lake resort area. Sleep in Heavenly Pizza is the fourth book in her Deep Dish Mysteries series and is set in December. I was delighted to see that both Christmas and Hanukkah are featured in the story.

This time, a death occurs at a Chrismukkah party Delilah and her crew are catering at a local lakeside mansion. In addition to the “whodunit”, we have a lot of family drama, as Delilah’s sister and brother-in-law show up in town, unannounced. I enjoyed meeting Delilah’s step-niece Piper, who wound up pitching in at the restaurant while the restaurant was short-staffed. The winter atmosphere felt real including a couple of heavy snowstorms as well as a snow sculpture contest. Calvin Capone, Dee’s detective boyfriend, has to investigate the suspicious death so cannot leave the area for his family’s Caribbean cruise!

Delilah has a strong personality that might put off some people, but I find her lovable in her own way. She really sticks up for her employees who have become almost family for her. And her partner, Sonya, provides some common sense at different points in the story. Delilah’s aunt Biz is her usual feisty self; however, Biz’s personality transforms a bit with a lot of holiday cheer.

Some yummy recipes are included at the end of the book.

While this could definitely be read as a standalone, you would not fully appreciate all the relationships that you would be privy to if you’ve read earlier books in the series.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for LORI CASWELL.
2,873 reviews327 followers
October 12, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts

We arrive in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin just in time for the holidays. The nation’s premier snow sculpting championship is set to begin soon and the town will become a winter wonderland of ice and snow sculptures. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary caters a Chrismukkah event for Daffi and Adrian Hoffman the evening before and is surprised to see her niece and brother-in-law in attendance without her sister. The surprises don't end with the party, the next day one of the sculptors makes a terrifying discovery.

It appears murder is on the menu and Delilah's crew and family will be getting more than a slice of attention. Can Delilah and her feline friend Butterball put the clues together to serve up the real killer before anyone else gets iced?

______

Ms. Quigley has created a sensational set of core characters for this series. I related to Aunt Biz and her longing for a family holiday. It is hard to get everyone together these days. At first Delilah's sister, Shea was not coming for Christmas but circumstances in the story brought her and her family to town. While they were all together at times you could cut the tension with a knife. Delilah feels so true to life. The woman has a huge heart. As this series continues, the supporting characters become more fleshed out too. It is easy to get invested in their lives.

The way the murder takes place and the aftermath was really freaky. Capone wants Delilah to stay out of the investigation. He wants to protect her, but she looks out for all her friends and family no matter what. The murder is linked to the Chrismukkah party and there is no shortage of suspects, including some dear to Delilah. Connections and interactions pared them down but people she cares about are still being questioned. As clues started to come together and motives and misdeeds were revealed epic twists had me reeling. The reveal had me gobsmacked and a little heartbroken.

While some heavy topics were themes in the mystery, Ms. Quigley adds a perfect amount of humor. She also mentions Wisconsin traditions and happenings that always make this Wisconsin girl smile.  Delilah mentions a previous Christmas when she flopped on the couch to "watch the Bears get clobbered by the Packers". Yes, a very enjoyable part of every Packer football season. They are two of the oldest teams in the NFL and have been rivals since 1921. Also, a Wisconsin winter is not for the faint at heart. There can be snow and frigid temps that need to be taken seriously especially when trying to solve a murder.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza was wonderfully plotted and written. Delilah, her friends, and her family had a heck of a holiday season. I loved tagging along for every minute of it.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Profile Image for Kate Shoop.
82 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2024
once again Mindy Quigley knows how to write a fun mystery. Sometime this genre works on an almost serial style tropes. It can be formulaic, but like the TV series "Psych," it never gets boring or repetitious. With a diverse cast of characters that have been as fleshed out as Delilah has. It's hard to make a reader care about the side characters as much as the main one, but Mindy has managed continually. Her food descriptions make me unnecessarily hungry though 😂 I'll definitely be buying a physical copy of this come release day!

** thanks to netgalley for an early copy. I've been asked to give my honest opinion**
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,180 reviews126 followers
July 23, 2024
I love this series and I always look forward to reading another book with this wonderful cast of characters.
The holidays bring excitement and joy to many people, however, fir Delilah, the holidays bring unhappy family members, and dead bodies!
When a guest goes missing and their body is found in a snow sculpture, Delilah has to dig deep to figure it all out.
Join Delilah and her cat Butterball as they search for answers to keep themselves out of trouble.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book .
Profile Image for Beth Cato.
Author 132 books697 followers
August 28, 2024
I received an advance copy from NetGalley.

This is the 4th book in the Deep Dish Mysteries series, set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, featuring chef Delilah O'Leary. I read the first book two years ago and didn't remember a lot of details, but I had no problem getting into this volume and the fun mystery it presents.

Delilah is immersed in catering Christmas and Hannukah celebrations (and combinations thereof) while Wisconsin is suitably snowy and cold outside. One event's big dramatic clashes between attendees leads to an even more dramatic next day, as Delilah attends a snow carving competition that reveals the dead body of a familiar party attendee. When Delilah's beloved staff and estranged family is wrapped up in the investigation led by her boyfriend, Detective Capone, she is quickly on the case to track down the real killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it is everything you want in a cozy mystery. When I read the first book, I had never been in the Upper Midwest, and now that I've lived in Minnesota for a year (2 miles from Wisconsin), I have an even deeper appreciation for the details around the setting. The ending of this book was fantastic. Even though I guessed at the guilty party early on, there were many twists and turns, including a ripped-from-the-headlines aspect I did not see coming.

I'd happily read more in this series, and more from this author!
Profile Image for Deborah Almada.
1,253 reviews40 followers
September 17, 2024
This is the fourth book in the series and probably my favorite. There is definitely something to be said for mysteries set around holidays, especially when you are far enough in to have several favorite characters. My problem with this series is that I find Dee, the MC, just a little too much, a tad too intense. This book has a lot of time with Sonya, Melody, Daniel, Capone, and Butterball, and generally, I prefer their company. That being said, there is a very interesting mystery that resolves around a catering event. Because of that, we get the whole crew plus some of Dee's family we haven't met before. With some of her staff and some of her family as suspects, you know Dee and Capone are going to have some difficult times. Come on and enjoy the slippery ride! Thanks to #Netgally, #StMartinsPress, and the author for an opportunity to read. #SleepinHeavenlyPizza #DeepDishMysteries #MindyQuigley #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
Profile Image for Linda.
2,330 reviews59 followers
December 14, 2024
Love this series!

Another great entry in the series. I really like the characters and holiday Biz was a treat. I enjoyed the mystery I. This one and loved having all the extra family here. As always the recipes sound amazing. This was the first book I actually read instead of listening to the audiobook and I did find myself channeling the narrator’s voices for the different characters.
Profile Image for Kathy Martin.
4,170 reviews116 followers
September 12, 2024
The fourth Deep Dish Mystery takes place around the Christmas/Hannukah holiday period. Delilah O'Leary and her crew are catering a party when she is surprised to see her niece and brother-in-law. They hadn't told her they were going to be in town.

The next day. when a body is discovered in one of the piles that was to become a snow sculpture, Delilah is on the case. Too many of the suspects are her employees and family. It is hard to remain in the Christmas spirit when someone connected to Delilah might be spending the holidays in jail.

I enjoyed this mystery. The characters were interesting and complex people. I also enjoyed the holiday recipes that ended the book.
Profile Image for Sue Em.
1,816 reviews122 followers
October 23, 2024
Rounding up from 4.5⭐
Catering a swanky Christmukah party would normally be a breeze for Delilah and her crew. But something has some of her crew on edge, and with the surprise attendance of her California brother-in-law and niece, then palpable tension among guests leaves Delilah stressed and at odds. The discovery of a body the next morning throws a wrench into her romantic plans too. Will the suspicion thrown onto her crew members, friends and family destroy her relationship with homicide detective, Capone? What sets this book/series apart for me is that Delilah is not always a likeable character with her Type-A black or white personality, but still has a great heart and ride-or-die friendships. She's not the only nuanced character in the story and that's refreshing in a typical cozy series. Come for the excellent mystery, enjoy the food descriptions, but appreciate the fully fledged characters. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christine.
1,970 reviews61 followers
October 11, 2024
Delilah "Dee" O'Leary owns an upscale pizzeria in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. She runs it with her best friend, Sonya, and the two are catering a "Chrismukkah" event - a party to celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah. There are a few snags, but overall the event goes well - until a woman who had gone missing from the party is found dead in a pile of snow where a snow sculpting competition is being held. 

This is the fifth book in the "cozyish" Deep Dish Mystery series. I've read most of them, but think this would work well as a standalone. My favorite part of the book is the actual event and the descriptions of the dishes being served. (Recipes for a couple of them can be found at the end of the book.) I could picture myself at the party and loved that both Christmas and Hanukkah foods were included. I also enjoy the friendship between Dee and Sonya and how their personalities complement each other. There was a little too much O'Leary family drama in this one. The parts that were tied in with the investigation were fine, but much of it wasn't and made it hard to like some of the characters. 

Dee is a capable investigator, but sometimes needs to take it down a notch. I think even she realized that showing up at an active crime scene to talk to her detective boyfriend about the case was the wrong thing to do. The case held my interest throughout the book, but when all the details were revealed, I was somewhat disappointed. The overall ending of this book, however, was touching and hopeful for Dee, her family, and her friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing the advance review copy of this ebook. My review is voluntary and unbiased. 
Profile Image for Brenda.
547 reviews30 followers
July 21, 2024
Sleep in Heavenly Pizza is the fourth installment in the Deep Dish Mysteries series set in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin and featuring pizza restaurant owner Delilah O'Leary. Delilah runs the deep dish pizzeria with her best friend Sonya Perlman-Dokter, her great aunt, Elizabeth "Biz" O'Leary and employees Melody Schacht, Rabbit, Daniel and Jarka.

The crew is catering an upscale Chrismukkah party for Daffi and Adrian Hoffman that seems to be going well until Rabbit disappears while he was supposed to be taking equipment back to the van. Delilah goes looking for him and following footsteps through the snow she ends up back inside the home and on the second floor. She encounters an eavesdropping, plate throwing young girl, a mysterious woman and her brother in law, Jonathan.

Delilah can't understand why Jonathan along with her niece Piper are at the party, especially since her sister Shea had turned down Aunt Biz's invitation to spend the holidays in Geneva Bay. It seems that Piper goes to college with the plate throwing girl (Hadley Hoffman) and Jonathan came with her.

The next day as the town gathers for the start of the annual snow sculpture festival, a dead body is found in one of the snow mounds. The body is that of the mysterious woman from the night before, Natasha La Cotti. Seems that quite a few people had history with Natasha, including Jonathan and Daniel's mother.

Detective Calvin Capone, Delilah's boyfriend begins his investigation and warns her to stay away, but when Jonathan becomes a suspect she knows she needs to find the real killer. Shea arrives in town to be with her husband and she's far from in the holiday spirit and tensions are boiling over.
Delilah uncovers both a college admissions scam and a corrupt businessman with repercussions that rock her family and her employees.

A great addition to the series with a returning cast of characters, the introduction of Delilah's sister, and of course the loveable furry feline, Butterball. Oh, and some mouthwatering recipes too. I look forward to more adventures and more pizza!

I received an advanced copy of Sleep in Heavenly Pizza from NetGalley via St. Martin's Press. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Rachaelbookhunter.
454 reviews
December 30, 2024
I didn't want to stop reading this.

Was it because of all the pizza and other yummy food descriptions? Maybe it's the body found in a large cylinder of snow. Or it could be because the Deep Dish mystery series by Mindy Quigley is irresistible and continues to be one of my favorites.

It's Christmas time in Geneva Bay. Delilah and crew are catering a party at a grand ski resort and hotel. Things at the party don't end well but at least there's a snow sculpting competition at the park to look forward to the next day. Until a body is found in one of the blocks of snow that is. A surprise visit from family further complicates things and pretty much everyone is a suspect.

Family is a key theme this time around. Things are complicated and the reader can only hope the holidays end happily. The characters feel like real people and it's great to see their lives and relationships develop. I love them all

The mystery is very interesting as well and there is plenty of weird stuff, and snow, going on to complicate things. There is one element of the mystery I figured out from the very beginning so I felt pretty smart when it was revealed. And the killer was one of my suspects.

Sleep in Heavenly Pizza is one of my favorite mysteries of the year as I knew it would be. Like pizza, every book in this series is good and I can't wait for the next one! I have my fingers crossed for Melody.
Profile Image for Anita (Hearts and Whodunits).
1,015 reviews18 followers
September 9, 2025
Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her kitty companion, Butterball, get into the holiday spirit as Geneva Bay, Wisconsin hosts the nation’s premier snow sculpting championship. The annual event transforms the resort town into a wonderland of snow castles, ice rinks, and cozy cups of cocoa. On the eve of the festival though, a Chrismukkah catering gig brings some frosty tidings and heralds a visit from Delilah’s older sister. When a missing party guest’s frozen corpse turns up inside one of the town's snowy sculptures, murder threatens to put the celebrations, and Delilah’s crew, on ice for good.
This was a great addition to a wonderful cozy mystery series. I love how Delilah has grown as an amateur sleuth, And Biz is hysterical, and lightens the heavy scenes gratefully. The side characters are enjoyable to read about. Honestly the culprit was one of my suspects, and I was surprised when I was right because usually, I'm not. The plot was engaging, and the setting put me in the holiday spirit. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
991 reviews108 followers
December 2, 2025
Deep Dish Mysteries #4

I really enjoy this culinary cozy series! The mystery always captures my attention, the characters are perfectly quirky and the food descriptions are always fantastic. There are even a few recipes included at the end of the book!

In this story, we get to celebrate the Christmas season with the crew at the pizzeria and even visit a fancy ski resort. I got a kick over Sonya's mom making sure she had everything she needed to observe Hanuka! It was interesting meeting Delilah's sister, BIL and niece. I think hearing more about Delilah's past helped me understand her character more and explained why she seeks perfection so much. It also perfectly displayed the struggle over family dynamics that many struggle with around Christmas. I love that the holiday season softens Aunt Biz's snarky demeanor.

The mystery was very well done. One of my favorite characters since beginning this series has been Rabbit. I love that Delilah has given this ex-con a second chance and I absolutely loved meeting his precious daughter in this story. To have Rabbit tangled up in this murder case, kept me anxious until the big reveal.

Butterball, Delilah's tabby cat, once again created quite a shenanigan throughout this story. I love seeing what mischief he gets into and enjoy the reveal at the end of each book. He definitely provides the comedic relief!

I just won the 5th book, At Death's Dough, from a giveaway hosted by Cozy Crime Reads. I look forward to starting it soon!
Profile Image for Jessica.
477 reviews18 followers
December 16, 2024
Amazing! My Favorite of the series! Can't wait for book 5!
695 reviews14 followers
August 16, 2024
In the latest instalment of this wonderful cozy mystery, whatever traditions families observe during the holiday season, Delilah will cater the most delicious food. A murder during her event isn’t on her menu. I love all the employees at Delilah’s upscale restaurant. Each one has an individual story, background, achievements, problems, heartaches and love life. They don’t just work at the restaurant – they are a family. My favorite part of the series is of course the scrumptious food. Well, maybe it’s Butterball the cat. Then there’s Aunt Biz, a spunky octogenarian with personality. I’ve never visited Wisconsin so I appreciate the picture the author paints in my mind. I’ve read all in the series and this one shows a poignant side of Delilah. She’s not her usual cheery self as she balances the stressful holiday season, family drama and solving a murder. Her relationship with the delicious local police detective is evolving. Will her meddling and investigating to clear her family and employees names put a strain on the budding romance? Her estranged sister’s unexpected arrival just ramped the tension higher. Another enjoyable plot that kept me changing my mind about the killer. This will be perfect to read during the holidays or just because of the mouthwatering recipes included. Can’t wait to see where the next part of Delilah’s life will take her.
An Advance Reader Copy of “Sleep in Heavenly Pizza” (Deep Dish Mysteries #4) by Mindy Quigley, was provided by St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books (via NetGalley) publication expected 10/22/2024. These honest, personal thoughts and opinions are all my own, given voluntarily without compensation.
Profile Image for Liz.
1,166 reviews10 followers
January 1, 2025
Delilah continues to frustrate me. I know in a cozy the whole deal is for the untrained MC to be butting in or accidentally getting involved and while that's not great in the real world it generally works. The problem here is it feels like she knows better and yet she doesn't have the self control not to do certain things -- such as detouring to the actual crime scene when she'd already texted Capone the information she was showing up to give him. And as nice as it is that she recognizes that she's stubborn and sometimes she doesn't listen or apologize, there has been very little action to make me think she's growing at all. It's fine if she still exhibits those characteristics now and then, but show me she's actually working on it instead of noticing it and then just continuing on as is.

The other thing I had a problem with in this one was how she (and Capone to a much lesser degree) treated Rabbit. Yes, he has this past and yes, he'll always be in recovery but he's never been anything other than a hard worker in her restaurant. I could see if this had been a recurring problem with him, never showing up on time or even just missing a shift here and there, but that wasn't the case. It just felt gross to have one hiccup throw off her entire picture of him because of something he'd done before they'd ever met.

Definitely not my favorite of the series, but I will probably check in on the next one to see if it bounces back. 2.5 stars.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
573 reviews7 followers
October 14, 2024
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley is a mystery infused with family drama.

Will Delilah find the culprit and wreck everyone's perfect Christmas?

Delilah O'Leary
Our sleuth is Delilah, the chef and owner of Delilah & Son, Geneva Bay's premier pizza restaurant. Dee is somewhat of a perfectionist and busybody, although I don't think she would agree with that last part. She is a fantastic chef, however, it seems she shouldn't cater events outside the restaurant. The last couple have ended with deaths.

I like Delilah. She is witty and intelligent, and she speaks her mind, although, at times, she really needs to stop and think before opening her mouth. I love that she is loyal to her friends and family. Dee does so much to help out those around her. Her cat, Butterball, does seem to steal some of the scenes, which is entirely expected. Dee's relationship with Detective Capone is blossoming well.

The Mystery
At the end of the Chrismukkah party, one of the guests disappears from the party, forgetting her coat. Said guest is found the next day in one of the blocks of snow at the city park, where it will be transformed into a piece of art. There are so many suspects, and each is holding their own secrets. But secrets in a small town never stay secret. As some of Delilah's staff and family members are suspects, she is trying to stay a step ahead of her boyfriend, who is investigating the murder. Are all of the secrets part of the same main secret-? It looks like it is up to Dee to figure it all out.

Five Stars
I love this sleuth and her friends. My rating for Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley is five stars. I truly enjoyed the mystery, and the characters are entertaining. I recommend this cozy mystery to all.

Check out the recipes at the back of the book, which includes Tear-and-Share Christmas Tree Pizza Bread, Sonya's Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Jelly Donuts), Sonya's Bubbe Ilene's Imperfectly Perfect Latkes, and The Castillo Family's Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog).

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley .

Until the next time,

Jen Signature for BBT
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Profile Image for Aymee.
663 reviews22 followers
November 5, 2024
Welcome back to Geneva Bay, just in time for the holidays and, of course, another murder.

Delilah's about to encounter her toughest mystery yet. One in which nearly everyone close to her is a suspect. The way she handles it all was impressive. I'm not sure I could have remained half as calm or clear-headed as she did, if it were me. Despite her moments of doubt and fears, she pulls it together and helps Capone find the culprit. And still manages to make some amazing food while she does it. She's really come a long way from the first book, where I found her a bit inflexible and annoying. But the longer she's surrounded by her friends and Auntie Biz, the more she relaxes and mellows. She'll never be totally mellow, but that's okay, too.

It was also fun to watch her relationship with Capone blossom. He's awfully hard to resist, and I like learning more about him and his family as we go along. Same for the others as each book gives more backstory on the employees of Delilah & Son. Daniel was in the spotlight this time around and getting to meet his mother was a joy. Not anything like I expected, but perfect all the same.

The murder had me all out of sorts. I suspected everyone and had proof for no one. It was a bit more involved than the previous murders, and I enjoy that, even in a cozy. As the pieces fell into place, all the little clues made sense. The reveal did make me sad, and I wanted to rage at everyone but the actual culprit, something that's unusual for me.

This is truly one of my favorite cozy series these days. Every character is important, from Delilah's BFF, Son, to Rabbit's daughter, Everleigh. It's what makes the books so engaging and easy to read. Plus, I love good, strong friendships and Delilah has them with everyone. Honestly, I could be happy if she and Capone never got together romantically just as long as we get them bantering and flirting because it's just that much fun. The only downside is that I wind up craving pizza for the three or four days it takes me to finish a book. But, in the grand scheme of things, is that really a downside?

*Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Susan Moxley.
1,080 reviews22 followers
February 2, 2025
The fourth book in the delectable Deep Dish Mystery series, set in a Wisconsin pizzeria.Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her kitty companion, Butterball, get into the holiday spirit as Geneva Bay, Wisconsin hosts the nation’s premier snow sculpting championship. The annual event transforms the charming resort town into a wonderland of snow castles, ice rinks, and cozy cups of cocoa. On the eve of the festival though, a too-good-to-be-true Chrismukkah catering gig brings some frosty tidings and heralds an unexpected visit from Delilah’s high-intensity older sister. Suddenly it seems that the holidays may not be the hap-happiest season of all. And when a missing party guest’s frozen corpse turns up inside one of the town's snowy sculptures, murder threatens to put the celebrations—and Delilah’s crew—on ice for good.
Profile Image for Shaina.
1,146 reviews6 followers
October 13, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mindy Quigley for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Sleep in Heavenly Pizza coming out October 22, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary and her kitty companion, Butterball, get into the holiday spirit as Geneva Bay, Wisconsin hosts the nation’s premier snow sculpting championship. The annual event transforms the charming resort town into a wonderland of snow castles, ice rinks, and cozy cups of cocoa.

On the eve of the festival though, a too-good-to-be-true Chrismukkah catering gig brings some frosty tidings and heralds an unexpected visit from Delilah’s high-intensity older sister. Suddenly it seems that the holidays may not be the hap-happiest season of all. And when one of the town’s snowy sculptures reveals a chilling surprise, murder threatens to put the celebrations—and Delilah’s crew—on ice for good.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I need to read the other books in the series. I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries and I really love punny titles. I love Christmastime/Hanukkah mysteries. I think Delilah was a really fun character. I loved the small town setting. I loved the mystery. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!
Profile Image for Jay.
634 reviews21 followers
December 31, 2024
After swearing off-site catering events following the events of the previous book in the series (PUBLIC ANCHOVY #1), Delilah and Son owner Delilah O'Leary can't resist another fancy party job when the money is so great as to once again build the nest egg for the business through the long cold winter of Geneve Bay, Wisconsin.

It's that party that serves as the opening backdrop for the holiday themed SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PIZZA, the fourth book in author Mindy Quiqley's Deep Dish mystery series.

And it's that party that will hold court throughout the book when there are repercussions aplenty for a number of people surrounding Delilah whether it is her actual family or her chosen one. An accident and overwrought and overdramatized reaction sends her server Rabbit off on what looks to be either a return to the bottle or a return to his criminal ways. There's drama for Delilah when she accidentally stumbles across the hosts of the party in what could only be seen as a compromising situation. Worse yet, her brother-in-law and niece are at the party. And never so much as told her they were even in town.

All that pales in the grand scheme of things when a woman's body turns up after the party is over. The investigation will be led by Detective Capone, Delilah's boyfriend. But what she doesn't know is just how many of those she loves will end up tied up in the case. Her bartender, her server, her brother-in-law and many others.

What a way to approach the Christmas holiday, right? While trying to clear their names, Delilah will but heads with Capone, leaving them at odds as you might expect. But as other suspects emerge, how will they find the real killer?

And why is Delilah's estranged sister Shea in town...without telling her! It's a mess to be sure and it will require all of Delilah's powers of observation and her OCD to figure out the truth before Santa Claus comes town...or will she get run over by a reindeer...or the killer?

Let me say that I did like most of the plot of SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PIZZA. The cast of characters continues to be fantastic. We get more of a look into bartender Daniel's past with his mom in town. And boy is she a spitfire! There's so much to learn about Delilah's own family in the book as well. Grumpy Aunt Biz turns into a Christmas junkie for the holidays was not a path I expected to see her go down. And Rabbit, ah poor Rabbit. Love the guy, wish he'd catch a break a little more often though.

The mystery behind the woman's death was pretty well constructed. With so many possible killers, winnowing them away made for interesting reading. I think the problem I had with the final reveal was how it made me feel about one character while being more outraged by other, more peripheral, characters. It's a complicated resolution and I guess maybe I hate the notion of being conflicted. So I guess that's more on me and less on how Mindy Quiqley constructed the reveal of just whodunnit.

But that nitpick aside, I was very happy to once again find my way to Geneva Bay, even during the holiday season. Because SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PIZZA once again delivered a (mostly) deeply delicious and satisfying mystery with some of my up and coming new favorite characters.
187 reviews1 follower
December 24, 2024
Please note:
I won my copy of this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

This is my first Deep Dish Mystery and it didn’t disappoint. The mystery was solid, but not so complex that the reader couldn’t solve it themselves. I especially liked how things tied together.

The characters are some of the best I’ve read in a cozy mystery. Delilah at first seems very cookie cutter protagonist for this genre, but her complex family and work ethic add a bit of spice to her personality. I love that she hires people like a parolee - a first I’ve seen in a series like this where the character is sympathetic - and acknowledges the class differences that the people around her face. It flows much better in this narrative than others I’ve read. I’m glad Quigley added these plot points and they are relevant to the mystery.

The recipes included in the back look good. I hope to try some.

I’d love to read more of this series. This book was a good starting point (even if it wasn’t the first) while not boring returning readers with info dumping.
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Author 22 books505 followers
December 17, 2024
What's not to love...Pizza, a cozy snow-covered town, a nod to the Chicago gangsters, holiday festivities, quirky characters, and a chubby cat? This twisty mystery is a fun way to celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah!
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