Murder With a Slice of Pie: An Ivy Clark Mystery

Ivy Clark #6

by Kristy T Dixon

A train ride, a baking competition, and a murder. Is this what Ivy signed up for?

When José enters Sue’s Diner into a prestigious baking competition held aboard a scenic train ride, Ivy’s thrilled at the chance to showcase their culinary skills. The excitement takes a dark turn when one contestant—a notoriously difficult rival—ends up dead.

The victim’s sour attitude meant almost everyone had a reason to dislike him, and Ivy quickly realizes the murderer could be anyone on board. Ivy dives into the investigation, unearthing secrets, rivalries, and twisted motives.

Can Ivy piece together the clues before the competition reaches its final stop, or will the killer derail her sleuthing efforts—and make her the next target?

All aboard for a cozy mystery filled with delectable treats, intriguing characters, and a murder that’s anything but sweet!

Genres: Cozy Mystery

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery from Ivy and the gang, but this time they board a train. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, though. Not the ending of the book necessarily, but the end of the cooking contest. Which isn't quite the end of the mystery, which is also a bit weak come to think of it. And the mystery wraps up before the end of the book which seems more interested in setting up the next book then wrapping up the current story. Anyway, things are great while they're on the train and plot is rolling along, but things slow down about the same time they debark.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 6 of the Ivy Clark Mystery Series. Each book is a cozy mystery set in the small town of Muddy Creek, KD featuring Ivy the diner owner, Jett the Sheriff, Jose the cook, and Boyd the tagalong friend. Each book finds Ivy and team mixed up in a crazy murder mystery - usually in town, but this one happened while they were on a train going from LA to KC.

These books are easy and fun to read as Boyd is a hilarious character and there’s a sweet romance between In and Jett. Not we just have to wait and see if Jose meets his forever person (I’m going with Carrie on this one!).

[Cindy Hardy-pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cooking show and a mystery? Fun!

I love a good mystery, whether it's a television show or a book. And I adore cooking and I have a son who is a chef! This was a perfect book for me! As always, this mystery kept me guessing right up to the end. And the concept of the cooking show was fun and clever. I love how the "Diner family" keeps getting bigger, with both family by blood and family by choice. That's how it should be! I do have a suggestion for Kristy T Dixon... please write a Sue's Diner cookbook! I would happily but it!

[Goldie Fishbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new twist on a popular cozy mystery theme. I typically don’t like plots where there’s a cooking competition or a cook-off/bake-off but I really enjoyed this cooking competition because the premise was totally different then the other books I’ve read. Traveling to new venues on a train…adds an entirely different flavor to this book.

[Jeff Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasty Treat

Another fun adventure that moved really fast! My favorite 4 friends are caught up in another food mystery! I love how the author acknowledges the chaos that seems to follow Ivy where ever she goes! And each new adventure takes the reader deeper into Ivy and her relationship with Jett! Oh my Jett! So as stated another tasty treat!

[Susan Murphy]

I really do enjoy this series; Ivy is curious and always finding trouble with her side kicks. This time we got new characters and they were just rude. You could just envision the competition and the lengths they others would go to win. I enjoy the evolving relationship between Ivy and Jett, and I like that we get to see more of Boyd and Jose.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one didn't seem to have the same fun magic of the previous books. Now that Ivy and Jett are an official couple, they were more focused on rather than Ivy getting into attics with Jose and Boyd. I hope in the next one our trio get into more hijinks together!

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, but I read them so fast!

[Ebony | whatebonyreads]

I have enjoyed all of the books in this series thus far but this just seemed to move a little slow. I might come back to it but I'm going to skip it for right now.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This was good. Not my favorite in the series but still enjoyed it

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars