A Cornucopia of Murder: Charlie Kingsley Mysteries, Book 7

Charlie Kingsley Mysteries #7

by Michele Pariza Wacek

When Charlie accepts an invitation for a potluck Thanksgiving feast, she immediately decides to bring dessert. Homemade pies, of course.

And they look so delicious that two of the guests decide to sneak a few bites before the meal.

Which wouldn’t be an issue, except they both end up dead!

Obviously, Charlie didn’t poison the pies, but that’s not how it appears. Can she solve the case in time to save the day?

Meet Charlie. Better known as “Aunt Charlie” from the award-winning Secrets of Redemption series. She's back, making teas and solving cases in this funny, twisty, cozy mystery series set in the 1990s in Redemption, Wisconsin.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

Audible Audio

First published November 21, 2023

About the author

A USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author, Michele taught herself to read at 3 years old because she wanted to write stories so badly. It took some time (and some detours) but now she does spend much of her time writing stories. Mystery stories, to be exact. They're clean and twisty, and range from psychological thrillers to cozies, with a dash of romance and supernatural thrown into the mix. If that wasn't enough, she posts lots of fun things on her blog, including short stories, puzzles, recipes and more, at MPWNovels.com.

Michele grew up in Wisconsin, (hence why all her books take place there), and currently lives there after spending nearly 30 years living in the mountains of Prescott, Arizona, with her husband and southern squirrel hunter Cassie.

When she's not writing, she's usually reading, hanging out with her dog, or watching the Food Network and imagining she's an awesome cook. (Spoiler alert, she's not. Luckily for the whole family, Mr. PW is in charge of the cooking.)

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 7 of 7.

Another series completed.

Charlie is invited to Thanksgiving dinner with a number of other people. Then murder happens to two people. They are trapped by a storm. They keep investigating and the truth comes out leading to the arrest of the killer.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024

On to other series and authors happy reading 📚 and have fun 🌙😀.

[Michele Wacek]

Not even Thanksgiving is safe from murder.

Book 7 in the award-winning Charlie Kingsley Mystery series!

Amazon/Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YDQ2NF4

Audio: https://mpwnovels.com/charlie-kingsle...

Signed paperbacks: https://mpwnovels.com/product/a-cornu...

[Chautona Havig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one.

Ambiguous but possible spoilery review below.

Usually, certain elements in this book would leave me with a feeling that it was not a "play fair" mystery, but I actually think it was. The author really did a brilliant job of making it possible to know what is what. I did figure it out fairly early on (and didn't at the same time) but it was pretty close to the end when I really understood what I'd figured out!

And goodness can this woman write spiteful, horrible people who won't shut up! Wow. I wanted to run around the inn with a soap bar and rag for the ugliness they spewed (no foul language... just venomous diatribes and accusations). Well done.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery centered at Thanksgiving. Small group of friends father for thanksgiving when the added u expected family members show. Lots of secrets revealed along with couple of murders. Am interesting who done it. A light read that flows nicely. *I was given an advanced reader copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Kymm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved "The Charlie Kingsley Mystery" series immensely since book one. I love Charlie, the tea and tincture shop owner and all her neighbors and friends in Redemption, WI. Redemption has its own creepy past and is known as a place where people seem to just disappear. In "A Cornucopia of Murder" Charlie and those with nowhere else to go for Thanksgiving meet at Nancy's hotel to celebrate. Charlie's in charge of the evening's pies and makes four of them to serve the expanding guest list. Not long after everyone arrives a huge storm hits, and the electricity goes out! They carry on but when it comes time for pie, they learn two of the guests are dead. When her mincemeat pie is discovered with a piece missing the group begins blaming Charlie. Although knowing Charlie, we know this will never do and she begins, with her cop friend Wyle, whose also there to celebrate to investigate. But, between Darla, the ghost at the hotel and a possible killer in their midst the group is restless and decides to stick together.

When a family secret is exposed Charlie begins to think there's, something more going on and with Wyle's help they begin to unravel the mysterious deaths. It's not anything near what you think it is and as per the rest of the series, the murderer will shock you. Charlie's quick mind and experience make this one another great story by Michelle Pariza Wacek. This could be a standalone book but it's always best to start with book one, in my opinion. Happy Reading!

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 7 in the Charlie Kingsley mystery series, and they just keep getting better. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed this series. If you have not taken the time to check these out, it is a must, do it now.

Charlie has been invited to spend Thanksgiving at the local inn, in the quaint, but sometimes perilous town of Redemption. She has been baking pies all day when Nancy, the inn owner, calls to inform her that there will more people attending than previously planned. So, Charlies decides on two more pies so that everyone can enjoy her delicious desserts.

When she arrives, she is greeted with another surprise guest, Wyle, the local police officer and love interest that's not a love interest. Also in attendance are the usuals from the town, Pat, Tilde, and Ginny. Ginny also has her kids there and there are two hotel guests.

Shortly after arriving it is obvious that there is much dysfunction amongst Ginny and her kids. Specifically, Caleb, who hasn't been in town in 20 or so years. Ever since he was accused of murder in high school. A freak ice storm and two murders later, things are not going well. Especially since it appears the pie that Charlie brought might have been the murder weapon. Can Charlie and Wyle solve the murder before the storm lets up?

I am never disappointed with the Charlie series. The world that Michele has created is rich and very intriguing. I love that the story is intertwined with the Redemption series set some years later. I love the mystery of the history of the town (really hoping she's got an explanation somewhere in her back pocket) and the characters she has created. I received this book free from Booksirens for an honest review.

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable read, once into it, I found it difficult to put down.

I loved the setting; looked in the Inn, seemingly with a murderer and possibly a ghost! And no way of contacting the outside world!

This was a good, solid mystery with strong characters and a fascinating back story of some of the characters .

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[BJayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michele Pariza Wacek can take a simple premise and turn it into a page-turning masterpiece! I highly recommend any of her books, as they have all caught my attention and held it until the very last page.

This book centers on a Thanksgiving meal with Charlie Kingsley and a few acquaintances and friends. They are gathered at the Redemption Inn in Redemption, Wisconsin, for this festive meal, with everyone contributing something to the meal. Charlie, of course, brings some of her mouth-watering pies. Sounds like a perfect gathering of friends and good food, right? It is, until two of the guests end up dead, a severe ice storm comes in, and the phones and power all go out. The remaining guests gather together in the main room in front of the fireplace, but tensions run high as they try to figure out what happened - and they all wonder if a killer lurks among them.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great series and this time, it's Thanksgiving and Charlie is spending it at the local inn. She has to make more pies as she is told very last minute, about extra guests. Two of the guests can't wait for dessert and eat some pie immediately and end up dead. Of course, all fingers point at Charlie.

This is a classic locked room type of mystery, which I love. A storm occurs leaving everyone essentially trapped in the inn and the telephone lines are down. The writing here is excellent and the tension among the guests, particularly the estranged family, is palpable. There is tension of a different kind here also between Charlie and Wyle and I love how these two keep dancing around each other. It's such a riveting tale and easy to read and I easily read it in a day. Hope there's lots more to come in this series.

[Janet Bunbuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. I really enjoy this series! Great characters with puzzling mysteries to solve. This one kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommend!

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cornucopia of Murder is book 7 in A Charlie Kingsley Mystery by Michele Pariza Wacek. It's Thanksgiving and Charlie and her friends are celebrating the holiday together with a feast. I think that the characters are outstanding and the murder kept me guessing until the end. As with many holidays, there is family secrets and some people at the dinner have revenge on their mind. I can't wait to read A Room for Murder… book 8 in thus fantastic series. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie is baking pies for Thanksgiving at the Inn. However, more people are showing up than expected so she has to make extra pies. Once everyone gathers, things get tense and the weather turns nasty. Nobody is able to leave, the phones and electric goes out and while eating the meal, two people die. Now everyone is suspicious of each other and Charlie has to figure out who and why before anybody else dies. A very good mystery with a finite list of suspects, in a ‘locked room’ style setting. Enjoy this intriguing mystery and see if you can solve it before Charlie.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Charlie accepts an invitation for a potluck Thanksgiving feast, she immediately decides to bring dessert. Homemade pies, of course. And they look so delicious that two of the guests decide to sneak a few bites before the meal. Which wouldn’t be an issue, except they both end up dead! Charlie didn't poison the pies but how else did the people die? It is a mystery.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it that the author gave clues throughout the book. I really enjoyed this book it was really good!!

[Ruth McDaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this "Aunt Charlie" book we find that Charley and her friend Pat are invited to a big Thanksgiving do at Nancy's hotel in Redemption. There are many more people than Charlie originally expected, so she was asked to bake extra pies.

While at this get together, there's a VERY dysfunctional family and even a guest that no one seems to know who it is. During the meal, there's a freak ice storm and everyone is trapped in the hotel with no working phones. And then….. Murder happens. Not one, but two. Charlie and Wylie find themselves trying to put clues together that make no sense.

While this was a good story, I found the ending to be quite unbelievable. The method of death wouldn't really have worked due to…. Let's say taste factors.

Anyway. I give this book 4 stars but only because of the unlikely ending.

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving my voluntary and honest review.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader copy. I have read others in the Redemption series. It is helpful to read them in order. This story reminded me of Agatha Christie with everyone being locked in and someone being the murderer. There are a lot of possibilities and opportunities for who did it and why. Looking forward to the next book! I am enjoying the fact that it is 1990 in Redemption, Wisconsin without cell phones.

[Danette Fowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes a great afternoon read. It is a cute cozy mystery and I never guessed who the murderer was until the end. So curl up and read this book on a stormy day and enjoy.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good cozy murder mystery. Stucked in a hotel on Thanksgiving during a winter storm without electricity or phone service, not one but two dead bodies are found. This is a fast paced story with several interesting characters. I enjoyed the dynamics the author created with all the different characters, some friends, estranged family members and hotel guests. The back stories with the ghost Darla and cold cases of the missing people added to the intrigued.
I received a free copy of this book via BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about dysfunctional families! These folks need a good shrink. Fabulous characters, as in all Michele's stories. A great read for a Happy Thanksgiving even if murder is also on the menu.
Highly Recommended.
I received this book from Booksirens and this is my honest review.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’ve read all of the Charlie Kingsley mystery books and enjoyed every one, including this one. This one has murders happening at Thanksgiving, along with a snowstorm that shuts off the power and the phones, stranding everyone at the Inn. Luckily, one of the guests is Officer Wyle and he starts asking questions, discovering just how dysfunctional many of the relationships between guests are! It’s a twisted and intriguing job, trying to untangle everything, especially since, without being able to call in a crime team, there’s no way to tell how the two people actually died. I received a free ARC and write this review voluntarily.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is never a dull moment in a Charlie Kingsley mystery, even if it is Thanksgiving and a time for food and fellowship. Charlie and her friends have been invited to the local inn for Thanksgiving. It is a good combination of friends and guests of the inn. Ginny's children have shown up for Thanksgiving. They give new meaning to dysfunctional family. These kids are so self-absorbed. When two the partygoers turn up dead, it appears they may have died after eating Charlie's pie. We all know that Charlie did not poison anyone, but we need to find out who did it. This mystery is made even more spooky when the lights go out. Someone in this group is a killer. Now they have to figure out who it is.

I once again enjoyed this book as I always enjoy reading about Charlie and her very observant sleuthing skills. There is not much that gets past her. I can tell you that I would be completely creeped out if I had to stay in an inn with two bodies, no electricity, no phones and no way to leave the premises. This was almost the stuff of a horror story, but it was just a good mystery. Michele Pariza Wacek will provide plenty of suspects and plenty of surprises along the way as is always her style. This is what makes reading her mysteries so interesting.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathy Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

IThis is the first book of the series that I have read and I found it quite entertaining. I love mysteries that occur around holidays and this fit the bill for Thanksgiving. This one is a typical locked room mystery where the people at the dinner end up stuck together at the Inn due to an ice storm.

Charlie is spending Thanksgiving at the local inn, in the town of Redemption. She offers to bring some delicious pies and just when she thought she was done baking, Nancy, the inn owner, calls to tell her more guests are coming to dinner, so Charlie decides to bake two more pies. (in particular the dreaded Mincemeat pie!)

When she arrives at the Inn, surprise! Wyle, the local police officer and sort of love interest has also been invited. Other guests from town are Pat, Tilde, and Ginny. with her kids and two hotel guests.

Several back stories are occurring with the dysfunctional family of Ginny and her kids. Guests that have alternate motives for being in town and then 2 murders with one of Charlie's mincemeat pies as the murder weapon. Add to it a ice storm keeping all the guests locked up together, and you have the makings of a great mystery.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and will read more of this series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis
With a Thanksgiving dinner at the inn to look forward to, all Charlie needs to concern herself with is the total number of pies she needs to bake for dessert. Alas, this is Redemption, and nothing here ever goes according to plan.

Characters
Due to the nature of the plot, the number of characters is limited. The usual favourites are in attendance and their own natural selves. Seated at the table are Charlie, Pat, Ginny, Tilde, and Nancy along with a few surprise guests.

Plot
Michele Pariza Wacek does this type of mystery so well! Each character is more than the sum of their parts, leading to a rich complexity that drives the plot. Clues are left in plain sight - to be gathered, or not, depending on how a reader likes to unfold the mystery.

Final Thoughts
As always, this portion of the series was a mixture of delight (celebrating Thanksgiving with old friends) and horror (the murder, naturally!). Such a good series - I highly recommend both this new book and the series in its entirety.

~~~~~~~
Thank you to BookSirens and Michele Pariza Wacek for the opportunity to review this eARC. My opinions are left freely and are, as always, honest and true.

[Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the seventh installment of this cozy mystery series, the story’s plot is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's classic locked-room mysteries. Despite my late entry into the series, I never felt lost or disconnected, a testament to the author's ability to create a standalone story. The narrative unfolds with a delightful pace, drawing me into a Thanksgiving gathering that takes a sinister turn, resulting in two unexpected deaths.

The story creates an atmosphere of suspense, amplified by the strained relationships within the guest list, particularly the estranged family members. The inability to leave due to the storm, compounded by downed telephone lines, added a layer of tension. I found the ending, with the reveal of the killer and their motive, to be very satisfying.

What intrigued me the most was how everyone was so accepting of Redemption’s history. “It was not uncommon for people to vanish in Redemption, Wisconsin…” Say what now?? I don’t think I could live in a cursed town where people just vanish, but that’s me (ha!).

“A Cornucopia of Murder,” was an easy and fast read and I look forward to starting the series from the beginning.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cornucopia of Murder is a solid 3 star murder mystery. The backdrop of Thanksgiving at a hotel with a mix of strangers trying to deal with the family drama to end all family dramas when they don't even know said family is done wonderfully.
Ginny's family are exactly like every worst family from r/aita, with the matriarch herself being the worst. There really is nothing worse than a mother with a golden child that can do no wrong.

Charlie, our main character unfortunately came across a little bland. I didn't dislike her but I can't see myself picking up a book just because she's in it either. I also feel like there could have been a few more clues for the reader to get involved but all in all, not a bad book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is a cozey murder mystery that will give you chills so well written with an array of characters you will definitely want to meet and discover their secrets .Though the characters are going to draw you in it's the enticement of the mystery that's filled with secrets, lies, betrayal and intrigue and a plot that you won't see coming that will have you captivated and turning page after compelling page until you've reached the unexpected and horrifying climatic conclusion. I couldn't have stopped reading if I wanted to, I was completely blown away throughout this cozey mystery murder. Michele 's writing of this series just keeps getting more and more ominous as well as captivating. Acquire " A Cornucopia of Murder " the seventh book in The Charlie Kingsley Mysteries. Kat

[Teri Radogna-linquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid mystery story that kept you engaged and interested from start to finish. Charlie is likable and you are rooting for her to solve the murder. The town of Redemption is just different enough that it keeps you wondering what will pop out or surprise you. Her relationship with Pat is a good one and I was rooting (hoping) that she would develop more of a relationship with Wyle ( hoping in future books she overcomes her relationship fears). Overall this was a solid mystery story and a good read from start to finish.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved that theme was actually around Thanksgiving. As a mood reader, so few books actually have a Thanksgiving theme. I enjoyed the fact that I had no idea who the murderer was( couldn’t forecast).

However, I wish there had been more evidence included in the story so I could play amateur sleuth and try to guess who the murderer was while reading the story. Part of the fun of a whodunnit book is seeing if we can accurately solve the mystery by the end of the book.

My favorite chuckle moment is when Nancy is telling the group about the resident ghost that has a preference for male guest who may also be homicidal.

If you enjoy a Thanksgiving gathering filled with family drama and murder, this book is perfect.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thanksgiving dinner invitation at the local inn seems like the perfect opportunity to enjoy a good meal with some friends. What could possibly go wrong? How about a storm, a power outage, a ghost, additional unexpected dinner guests, and a couple of dead bodies determined to have been murdered? It appears that the pies Charlie brought for dessert may have been tainted with poison. Wyle, a local police officer, is one of the unexpected guests and he and Charlie decide to try solving the crime on their own until help can arrive. No one knows who they can trust. Family secrets from some of the attendees are revealed relating to a possible murder many years before. It kept me guessing until the end.

[Fraxinus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Charlie's world and as an 80's child myself, it was nice to time travel back to the times before cell phones, internet, and Facebook. Charlie is getting ready for Thanksgiving at the hotel she stayed at when she first arrived in Redemption. However, when a storm hits taking out the lights and phone, Charlie finds herself stuck in the middle of another family's drama.

This was a quick, fun holiday read and the mystery was well-paced and interesting. I can't wait to see what the next installment of Aunt Charley brings.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.