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Savvy Summers #2
Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils: A Mystery
The next delectable mystery featuring quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, owner of a soul food café in Chicago.
Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago's South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course—mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits.
But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again.
Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it’s too late?
Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago's South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course—mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits.
But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again.
Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it’s too late?
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Sandra Jackson-Opoku
17 books208 followersSandra Jackson-Opoku is the author of the award-winning novel, The River Where Blood is Born and Hot Johnny and the Women Who Loved Him, an Essence Magazine Bestseller in Hardcover Fiction. She also coedited the anthology Revise the Psalm: Work Celebrating the Writing of Gwendolyn Brooks. Her fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works are widely published and produced in Adi Magazine, Midnight & Indigo, Aunt Chloe, Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, New Daughters of Africa, Obsidian, Another Chicago Magazine, storySouth, Lifeline Theatre, the Chicago Humanities Festival, and others. Professional recognition includes a Plentitudes Journal Prize, the Hearst Foundation James Baldwin Fellowship at MacDowell Arts, a National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Fellowship, an American Library Association Black Caucus Award, a City of Chicago Esteemed Artist Award, the Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award, a Globe Soup Story Award, the Joan Perry Barnes Fellow in Crime Writing at Storyknife Writers Retreat and a Pushcart Prize nomination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
August 16, 2026
Book 2 in the Savvy Summers Mysteries was a mouth-watering delight, and the amateur sleuthing was fantastic. But I hope Savvy doesn't let her first husband and the second chance of romance slip away. I love Savvy and Fanon!
As I mentioned earlier this year, I am loving the continued trend of amateur sleuths. Each of them is more zany than the other, holding down jobs and navigating family and friend relationships while also trying to solve whodunit. Savvy Summers is all that and more. I would love to sit at Essie's Place and have a grand feed( if you're hungry; the author includes all the recipes).
In this novel, when Savvy decides to offer her menu to a company luncheon, it soon ends in murder and someone close to Savvy is accused. Despite her own personal feelings and history, Savvy is determined to find out what happened.
Now, as much as I love Savvy, sometimes Penny, well, she gets on my nerves. Yet I love the comic relief and banter she does bring to the table. So she's enjoyable, but annoying. The perfect sidekick for the main protagonist!
I really hope there is a third book in the series.
Publication Date 21/07/26
Goodreads Review 16/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
As I mentioned earlier this year, I am loving the continued trend of amateur sleuths. Each of them is more zany than the other, holding down jobs and navigating family and friend relationships while also trying to solve whodunit. Savvy Summers is all that and more. I would love to sit at Essie's Place and have a grand feed( if you're hungry; the author includes all the recipes).
In this novel, when Savvy decides to offer her menu to a company luncheon, it soon ends in murder and someone close to Savvy is accused. Despite her own personal feelings and history, Savvy is determined to find out what happened.
Now, as much as I love Savvy, sometimes Penny, well, she gets on my nerves. Yet I love the comic relief and banter she does bring to the table. So she's enjoyable, but annoying. The perfect sidekick for the main protagonist!
I really hope there is a third book in the series.
Publication Date 21/07/26
Goodreads Review 16/08/26
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 3, 2026
⋆˙⟡ ── ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ 3★
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
If you get nothing else from this book, you’ll learn a lot about creole food, cooking, history, grammar, and music. The story itself seemed like it would be straightforward, but between the incessant nicknames and movie references, I started to become a bit overwhelmed.
This cozy mystery follows chef “Savvy” who is trying to uncover how a guest at a luncheon falls dead after consuming one of her meals. Since there were many people of interest, I genuinely didn’t have a clue as to whodunnit. Where I started to lose interest was when other non-related plots began developing out of nowhere. I thought they may somehow tie into the main story, but they just..didn’t. With the anticlimactic conclusion of the murder mystery, I felt the other plot lines were just unnecessary and served as space fillers.
Overall, the book was entertaining but not memorable.
ⓘ 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊.
If you get nothing else from this book, you’ll learn a lot about creole food, cooking, history, grammar, and music. The story itself seemed like it would be straightforward, but between the incessant nicknames and movie references, I started to become a bit overwhelmed.
This cozy mystery follows chef “Savvy” who is trying to uncover how a guest at a luncheon falls dead after consuming one of her meals. Since there were many people of interest, I genuinely didn’t have a clue as to whodunnit. Where I started to lose interest was when other non-related plots began developing out of nowhere. I thought they may somehow tie into the main story, but they just..didn’t. With the anticlimactic conclusion of the murder mystery, I felt the other plot lines were just unnecessary and served as space fillers.
Overall, the book was entertaining but not memorable.
July 26, 2026
3.5 rounded up to a 4
This really is such a cute little series. It's still a cozy murder mystery, with a talented chef who somehow keeps ending up playing amateur detective and getting herself into situations she absolutely did not need to insert herself into. She never seems to learn, but that's part of the fun.
The characters are definitely the highlight for me. They all have their own personalities, and they come off the page so well that I could easily picture them. They really feel like the kind of group you'd love to hang out with if they were real.
I did knock my rating down a bit because there were a few factual inaccuracies that could've been fixed with some pretty simple research. They weren't deal breakers, but they were noticeable enough to pull me out of the story for a minute.
Overall, though, this was another fun, cozy read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble everyone gets into next.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This really is such a cute little series. It's still a cozy murder mystery, with a talented chef who somehow keeps ending up playing amateur detective and getting herself into situations she absolutely did not need to insert herself into. She never seems to learn, but that's part of the fun.
The characters are definitely the highlight for me. They all have their own personalities, and they come off the page so well that I could easily picture them. They really feel like the kind of group you'd love to hang out with if they were real.
I did knock my rating down a bit because there were a few factual inaccuracies that could've been fixed with some pretty simple research. They weren't deal breakers, but they were noticeable enough to pull me out of the story for a minute.
Overall, though, this was another fun, cozy read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble everyone gets into next.
Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils once again proves that Savvy cannot simply feed people in peace. This woman tries to cater one little office luncheon with some Creole flair and suddenly somebody’s dead, everybody’s lying, and her café’s reputation is hanging on by a thread like a bra strap in a slasher movie.
And honestly? The second Savvy walked into that office building, I knew we were cooked. Not literally. Although the food in this series continues to sound so good that I would absolutely ignore several obvious warning signs to eat it. If Savvy handed me a po’boy and said, “There’s a small chance this becomes evidence later,” I’d still be reaching for hot sauce.
This time around, Savvy’s catering for her old friend Dori at Lefty Lucy, a company that specializes in products for left-handed people, which already sounds like the setup for the weirdest Parks and Recreation subplot imaginable. Then we meet the employees and suddenly it becomes very clear this office survives entirely on gossip, passive aggression, and whoever’s brave enough to refill the coffee pot. Everybody hates each other just enough to make murder feel less like a tragedy and more like an unfortunate team-building exercise.
The workplace drama in this book honestly deserves its own reality show. One employee keeps stealing people’s food like a raccoon with health insurance, another’s carrying enough bitterness to season a cast iron skillet, and every conversation feels two seconds away from becoming an HR incident. Meanwhile Savvy’s just trying to protect Essie’s Place from becoming known as Chicago’s most dangerous lunch spot.
Savvy herself continues to be the best part of this series for me because she feels like an actual grown woman with bills, history, grief, pride, and exactly zero patience for foolishness. She’s not running around acting invincible. She’s exhausted. She’s stressed. She’s trying to keep her business afloat while getting dragged into another murder investigation because apparently God looked down and said, “What if Jessica Fletcher had better recipes and lower tolerance for nonsense?”
And Penny. God bless Penny. Penny moves through this book like she’s one inconvenience away from bursting into either song or gossip, whichever arrives first. Her dynamic with Savvy still feels so natural and lived-in, like two women who have absolutely seen each other cry in a storage room and immediately pretended it never happened. Every time she popped up with another random observation or chaotic comment, I was back in.
What I really like about these books is that the mystery almost feels secondary to the neighborhood itself. The South Side setting, the food history, the auntie wisdom floating through every conversation, the way everybody knows everybody’s business before they know their own, it gives the story so much personality. Even when the plot occasionally wanders off like somebody’s uncle telling a story that somehow turns into three separate side quests before circling back, the warmth keeps it engaging.
That said, this one did feel a little looser than Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes. The pacing drifts in spots, and there are moments where the investigation seems less like active sleuthing and more like Savvy accidentally overhearing life-threatening information while trying to have a normal afternoon. But honestly, I was still having fun because the banter carries so much of the weight. The humor in this series feels conversational in a way I really enjoy, like sitting at the table with people who are simultaneously feeding you and judging you.
Also, tiny shoutout to this series for continuing to make middle-aged chemistry feel hotter than half the romance books currently trying to convince me a man saying “good girl” counts as a personality. The tension between Savvy and Fanon has that divorced-but-still-know-each-other-too-well energy that always hits. They argue like people who still remember each other’s favorite songs and worst habits, which unfortunately is my favorite flavor of romantic dysfunction.
Overall, this landed at a very solid 3.5 stars for me. The mystery itself didn’t fully knock me out, but the characters, humor, community, and food absolutely did. At this point I’d happily read twelve more books about Savvy solving crimes between catering orders and trying not to lose her mind dealing with other people’s nonsense.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Office Potlucks While Simultaneously Craving a Po’boy So Bad I’d Ignore Several Red Flags to Eat One
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. If book three gives me one more suspicious death tied to comfort food, I will be seated immediately.
And honestly? The second Savvy walked into that office building, I knew we were cooked. Not literally. Although the food in this series continues to sound so good that I would absolutely ignore several obvious warning signs to eat it. If Savvy handed me a po’boy and said, “There’s a small chance this becomes evidence later,” I’d still be reaching for hot sauce.
This time around, Savvy’s catering for her old friend Dori at Lefty Lucy, a company that specializes in products for left-handed people, which already sounds like the setup for the weirdest Parks and Recreation subplot imaginable. Then we meet the employees and suddenly it becomes very clear this office survives entirely on gossip, passive aggression, and whoever’s brave enough to refill the coffee pot. Everybody hates each other just enough to make murder feel less like a tragedy and more like an unfortunate team-building exercise.
The workplace drama in this book honestly deserves its own reality show. One employee keeps stealing people’s food like a raccoon with health insurance, another’s carrying enough bitterness to season a cast iron skillet, and every conversation feels two seconds away from becoming an HR incident. Meanwhile Savvy’s just trying to protect Essie’s Place from becoming known as Chicago’s most dangerous lunch spot.
Savvy herself continues to be the best part of this series for me because she feels like an actual grown woman with bills, history, grief, pride, and exactly zero patience for foolishness. She’s not running around acting invincible. She’s exhausted. She’s stressed. She’s trying to keep her business afloat while getting dragged into another murder investigation because apparently God looked down and said, “What if Jessica Fletcher had better recipes and lower tolerance for nonsense?”
And Penny. God bless Penny. Penny moves through this book like she’s one inconvenience away from bursting into either song or gossip, whichever arrives first. Her dynamic with Savvy still feels so natural and lived-in, like two women who have absolutely seen each other cry in a storage room and immediately pretended it never happened. Every time she popped up with another random observation or chaotic comment, I was back in.
What I really like about these books is that the mystery almost feels secondary to the neighborhood itself. The South Side setting, the food history, the auntie wisdom floating through every conversation, the way everybody knows everybody’s business before they know their own, it gives the story so much personality. Even when the plot occasionally wanders off like somebody’s uncle telling a story that somehow turns into three separate side quests before circling back, the warmth keeps it engaging.
That said, this one did feel a little looser than Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes. The pacing drifts in spots, and there are moments where the investigation seems less like active sleuthing and more like Savvy accidentally overhearing life-threatening information while trying to have a normal afternoon. But honestly, I was still having fun because the banter carries so much of the weight. The humor in this series feels conversational in a way I really enjoy, like sitting at the table with people who are simultaneously feeding you and judging you.
Also, tiny shoutout to this series for continuing to make middle-aged chemistry feel hotter than half the romance books currently trying to convince me a man saying “good girl” counts as a personality. The tension between Savvy and Fanon has that divorced-but-still-know-each-other-too-well energy that always hits. They argue like people who still remember each other’s favorite songs and worst habits, which unfortunately is my favorite flavor of romantic dysfunction.
Overall, this landed at a very solid 3.5 stars for me. The mystery itself didn’t fully knock me out, but the characters, humor, community, and food absolutely did. At this point I’d happily read twelve more books about Savvy solving crimes between catering orders and trying not to lose her mind dealing with other people’s nonsense.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Office Potlucks While Simultaneously Craving a Po’boy So Bad I’d Ignore Several Red Flags to Eat One
Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. If book three gives me one more suspicious death tied to comfort food, I will be seated immediately.
August 3, 2026
This series is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery comfort reads. The mystery kept me engaged, but honestly the close-knit, family-style cast of characters, the Chicago setting, Aunt Essie’s wisdom, and all the delicious food are what keep me coming back. I love that the recipes at the end let you bring a little piece of the story home, and the humor makes these books such an easy, enjoyable read. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery that’s fun, heartwarming, and makes the perfect palate cleanser between heavier books, I’d definitely recommend this series.
August 9, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Creole classics with a custom twist are on the menu when Savvy Summers caters a luncheon for Lefty Lucy, a left-handed tool design firm. The next day, when she returns to pick up a piece of equipment, she witnesses one of the employees suffering a health emergency after eating a sandwich Savvy had prepared. The woman later dies, putting Savvy, her food, and her business in the middle of another murder investigation. The sandwich had been tampered with, and Savvy’s friend Dori is Detective Emerson Jacob’s prime suspect. Determined to clear Dori’s name and the reputation of her soul food café, Savvy and her assistant manager Penny Lopés serve up their po’boys and try to serve up a little justice.
Sandra Jackson-Opoku has created fabulous characters for this series. Savvy is sassy, smart, and fun. She is always trying to take her soul food to the next level. Penny is a hoot with her vast music knowledge and her bursting into song whenever she can. Savvy’s “wasband”, Chicago Police Sergeant Fanon Franklin, stops by the café often and may have hopes of rekindling his relationship with Savvy. Detective Emerson Jacobs just wishes Savvy would keep her mind on her business and out of her investigation. Savvy’s daughter, Nzinga, calls her mom with some interesting information that really makes Savvy think.
In this installment, Savvy meets an intriguing unhoused man, Jimmy Blue, and his dog, Sergeant Stubby. Jimmy Blue is teaching his dog to speak in a unique way. A person clearly hiding their identity visits the café daily. They have Penny quite twitterpated, but Savvy just rolls with it. When and if they open up needs to happen at the customer’s pace. We are also introduced to the staff of Lefty Lucy: Savvy’s friend Dori, Kaden Boudreaux (Kahuna), Marge, and Minerva.
Something is truly wrong at Lefty Lucy, but would one of them kill to get what they want? Who else had access to the premises? I really enjoyed how Ms. Jackson-Opoku twisted together what was happening in Savvy’s life, the mystery guest, the unhoused man, his dog, and the murder. The story flowed seamlessly, with twists and turns, and clues precisely placed. I had a great time tagging along for all of it and appreciated the summary of the case and the outcome of all involved to tie up any loose ends.
As mentioned in Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes and throughout this book, Essie’s Café is closing while a new “multimillion-dollar community development” takes place. The ending was a little heartbreaking, but Savvy’s future looks bright. She will be catering, has landed a primo place to stay, and the new Essie’s place will be opening within the year. I hope readers are invited to the grand opening and a new mystery.
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils is a fresh and fun cozy mystery with engaging and unique characters, a captivating whodunit, and delectable soul food, wrapped in Chicago history. A Perfect Escape that I highly recommend. Read Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes first for maximum enjoyment. Be sure to check out the recipes!
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.
Creole classics with a custom twist are on the menu when Savvy Summers caters a luncheon for Lefty Lucy, a left-handed tool design firm. The next day, when she returns to pick up a piece of equipment, she witnesses one of the employees suffering a health emergency after eating a sandwich Savvy had prepared. The woman later dies, putting Savvy, her food, and her business in the middle of another murder investigation. The sandwich had been tampered with, and Savvy’s friend Dori is Detective Emerson Jacob’s prime suspect. Determined to clear Dori’s name and the reputation of her soul food café, Savvy and her assistant manager Penny Lopés serve up their po’boys and try to serve up a little justice.
Sandra Jackson-Opoku has created fabulous characters for this series. Savvy is sassy, smart, and fun. She is always trying to take her soul food to the next level. Penny is a hoot with her vast music knowledge and her bursting into song whenever she can. Savvy’s “wasband”, Chicago Police Sergeant Fanon Franklin, stops by the café often and may have hopes of rekindling his relationship with Savvy. Detective Emerson Jacobs just wishes Savvy would keep her mind on her business and out of her investigation. Savvy’s daughter, Nzinga, calls her mom with some interesting information that really makes Savvy think.
In this installment, Savvy meets an intriguing unhoused man, Jimmy Blue, and his dog, Sergeant Stubby. Jimmy Blue is teaching his dog to speak in a unique way. A person clearly hiding their identity visits the café daily. They have Penny quite twitterpated, but Savvy just rolls with it. When and if they open up needs to happen at the customer’s pace. We are also introduced to the staff of Lefty Lucy: Savvy’s friend Dori, Kaden Boudreaux (Kahuna), Marge, and Minerva.
Something is truly wrong at Lefty Lucy, but would one of them kill to get what they want? Who else had access to the premises? I really enjoyed how Ms. Jackson-Opoku twisted together what was happening in Savvy’s life, the mystery guest, the unhoused man, his dog, and the murder. The story flowed seamlessly, with twists and turns, and clues precisely placed. I had a great time tagging along for all of it and appreciated the summary of the case and the outcome of all involved to tie up any loose ends.
As mentioned in Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes and throughout this book, Essie’s Café is closing while a new “multimillion-dollar community development” takes place. The ending was a little heartbreaking, but Savvy’s future looks bright. She will be catering, has landed a primo place to stay, and the new Essie’s place will be opening within the year. I hope readers are invited to the grand opening and a new mystery.
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils is a fresh and fun cozy mystery with engaging and unique characters, a captivating whodunit, and delectable soul food, wrapped in Chicago history. A Perfect Escape that I highly recommend. Read Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes first for maximum enjoyment. Be sure to check out the recipes!
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.
July 19, 2026
This series continues to feel like such a refreshing take on the cozy mystery genre. I loved spending more time with Savvy and Penny, whose friendship is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the series. Their banter is quick, witty, and genuinely funny, and every conversation between them feels effortless. Savvy especially is such a fantastic heroine, she’s smart, outspoken, and absolutely unwilling to suffer fools.
Beyond the mystery itself, I loved how much this book celebrates Chicago’s South Side and Black culture. It almost felt like I was learning something new with every chapter, but never in a way that slowed the story down. Instead, the history, traditions, neighborhoods, food, and sense of community are woven naturally into the mystery, making the setting feel incredibly immersive. The Creole inspired menu Savvy creates had me hungry the entire time, and once again the food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering.
One unexpectedly delightful part of the story was the dog that communicates using a button board. I found those scenes completely fascinating—and honestly kind of amazing. Combined with the series’ signature humor, memorable supporting cast, and plenty of clever dialogue, it added another layer of charm to an already entertaining mystery.
Sandra Jackson-Opoku continues to carve out a unique space in the cozy mystery genre with this series. The mysteries are engaging, the characters are endlessly entertaining, and the vibrant sense of place makes these books stand out from the crowd. I’m officially invested in Savvy, Penny, and Essie’s Café, and I’d happily follow them into a third mystery.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Food centered cozy mysteries
* Strong female friendships
* Urban settings with rich community
* Black culture and Chicago history woven into the story
* Sharp humor and witty dialogue
* Cozy mysteries that feel modern and unique
Beyond the mystery itself, I loved how much this book celebrates Chicago’s South Side and Black culture. It almost felt like I was learning something new with every chapter, but never in a way that slowed the story down. Instead, the history, traditions, neighborhoods, food, and sense of community are woven naturally into the mystery, making the setting feel incredibly immersive. The Creole inspired menu Savvy creates had me hungry the entire time, and once again the food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering.
One unexpectedly delightful part of the story was the dog that communicates using a button board. I found those scenes completely fascinating—and honestly kind of amazing. Combined with the series’ signature humor, memorable supporting cast, and plenty of clever dialogue, it added another layer of charm to an already entertaining mystery.
Sandra Jackson-Opoku continues to carve out a unique space in the cozy mystery genre with this series. The mysteries are engaging, the characters are endlessly entertaining, and the vibrant sense of place makes these books stand out from the crowd. I’m officially invested in Savvy, Penny, and Essie’s Café, and I’d happily follow them into a third mystery.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
* Food centered cozy mysteries
* Strong female friendships
* Urban settings with rich community
* Black culture and Chicago history woven into the story
* Sharp humor and witty dialogue
* Cozy mysteries that feel modern and unique
July 24, 2026
Savvy is back with another incident of murder caused by food poisoning or is it? In this second book that can be read out of order and independently Savvy is still in the kitchen cooking up plenty of soul food Louisiana style and cooking up just as much mess. We get more background on characters and there is even a super smart dog in this one. There are new characters as well and it was fun discovering what was behind it all and I really enjoyed the conversation around food and there are quite a few recipes at the end of the book. That alone gets my money. Another thing I enjoyed about the book are the titles of the chapters they really pace the setting of the book and get you in the mood for what is ahead. Read this if you love cozy mysteries a lot of southern epithets, Louisiana style cooking, and nosey neighbors.
September 15, 2026
Savvy Summers is at it again! Testing new recipes in her kitchen and proving catering and good food to all the local events around her. Only, one prank turns into murder and a prying detective is upending everyone's life - and secrets.
Another fun cozy mystery. I liked getting to know the characters more. The mystery was good, kept me guessing, and I liked going through the motives and those that had access. The list was odd, a whole host of interesting personalities, and I liked exploring their movements. I loved the dog and his buttons! I can only imagine what my dog would say to me (or my cat!) My dog would definitely talk about treats all the time too!
I flipped this one to an audio, because I loved the first one, and it was just as good as the first time. A fun series I'm really enjoying. I can't wait for the next one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Another fun cozy mystery. I liked getting to know the characters more. The mystery was good, kept me guessing, and I liked going through the motives and those that had access. The list was odd, a whole host of interesting personalities, and I liked exploring their movements. I loved the dog and his buttons! I can only imagine what my dog would say to me (or my cat!) My dog would definitely talk about treats all the time too!
I flipped this one to an audio, because I loved the first one, and it was just as good as the first time. A fun series I'm really enjoying. I can't wait for the next one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
April 27, 2026
(4.5 stars rounded up)
Savvy Summers is taking it easy. After a post-holiday break, she's focused on new recipes and pouring love into her restaurant, Essie’s Place. Just like Aunt Essie always says “Aint nothing to do it but to do it”. Even still, Savvy finds herself mixed up in yet another mystery involving people she cares for. Will she be able to figure out what’s going on in her little corner of Chicago? Most importantly, can she keep herself out of danger while she does it?
I - REALLY enjoyed this book. Savvy made me giggle and yell at my Kindle at the same time with her endless need to figure out the truth. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was that it was so easy to love the characters. They are all so funny and come together so nicely. Throughout the book it truly felt like I was solving the mystery with them, which I really love in a book. Penny was absolutely hilarious during the entire book and I literally have a voice for her in my head.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of the different types of food that Savvy was cooking throughout the novel. I am a food motivated girl, so truly I was halfway drooling for most of these pages because the descriptions of the food were so detailed. It was also really interesting to be able to learn the history of a lot of popular dishes in Black culture. Specifically, how they have evolved, originating in places like Africa and the Islands and moving through the South and eventually making it to places like Chicago. I definitely enjoyed the sweet treat at the end of the book, that was definitely the cherry on top for me!
I also just have to say that I loved the shout out to a speech pathologist in the book. I'm a speech pathologist and rarely see us represented in a book, so that was really cool to see. In general, this book just felt really relatable in terms of popular references. It really made it feel like the book was happening in real time and like this was something that was going on actively in the moment. I found myself really immersed in the story, and as the plot really picked up it was hard for me to put the book down. I really feel like most people would enjoy this book. It's a quick and easy read, but had me guessing the entire time. Truly a very well done novel!
Thank you, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Savvy Summers is taking it easy. After a post-holiday break, she's focused on new recipes and pouring love into her restaurant, Essie’s Place. Just like Aunt Essie always says “Aint nothing to do it but to do it”. Even still, Savvy finds herself mixed up in yet another mystery involving people she cares for. Will she be able to figure out what’s going on in her little corner of Chicago? Most importantly, can she keep herself out of danger while she does it?
I - REALLY enjoyed this book. Savvy made me giggle and yell at my Kindle at the same time with her endless need to figure out the truth. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was that it was so easy to love the characters. They are all so funny and come together so nicely. Throughout the book it truly felt like I was solving the mystery with them, which I really love in a book. Penny was absolutely hilarious during the entire book and I literally have a voice for her in my head.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the inclusion of the different types of food that Savvy was cooking throughout the novel. I am a food motivated girl, so truly I was halfway drooling for most of these pages because the descriptions of the food were so detailed. It was also really interesting to be able to learn the history of a lot of popular dishes in Black culture. Specifically, how they have evolved, originating in places like Africa and the Islands and moving through the South and eventually making it to places like Chicago. I definitely enjoyed the sweet treat at the end of the book, that was definitely the cherry on top for me!
I also just have to say that I loved the shout out to a speech pathologist in the book. I'm a speech pathologist and rarely see us represented in a book, so that was really cool to see. In general, this book just felt really relatable in terms of popular references. It really made it feel like the book was happening in real time and like this was something that was going on actively in the moment. I found myself really immersed in the story, and as the plot really picked up it was hard for me to put the book down. I really feel like most people would enjoy this book. It's a quick and easy read, but had me guessing the entire time. Truly a very well done novel!
Thank you, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2026
I did not expect this book to be as funny as it was. The playful banter between the characters was hilarious. This book is a comedic mystery. This is my first time reading a book like this and I utterly enjoyed it. I did think some spots were a little slow and there were few storylines that didn’t quite tie into the plot but overall this was a really good read.⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own
August 4, 2026
Savvy Summers and the Po’Boy Perils did not disappoint!
I really enjoy Sapphire “Savvy” Summers and the colorful little crew surrounding her. Penny is still completely unhinged in the most entertaining way, Fernand brings his own charm to the mix, and Aunt Essie’s endless “Essie-isms” had me laughing throughout the story.
The mystery had plenty of cozy twists, but the characters and their relationships are what make this series so enjoyable. It felt familiar, warm, funny, and entertaining from beginning to end.
I truly hope there will be another book because I’m not ready to leave Savvy and her crew behind.
A solid 4-star cozy mystery.
⭐ Kee’s Verdict: Cozy Chaos Done Right
I really enjoy Sapphire “Savvy” Summers and the colorful little crew surrounding her. Penny is still completely unhinged in the most entertaining way, Fernand brings his own charm to the mix, and Aunt Essie’s endless “Essie-isms” had me laughing throughout the story.
The mystery had plenty of cozy twists, but the characters and their relationships are what make this series so enjoyable. It felt familiar, warm, funny, and entertaining from beginning to end.
I truly hope there will be another book because I’m not ready to leave Savvy and her crew behind.
A solid 4-star cozy mystery.
⭐ Kee’s Verdict: Cozy Chaos Done Right
July 21, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sandra Jackson-Opoku’s debut book in the Savvy Summers series, and I was super excited to read the second installment. Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils is a highly entertaining, charming, and fun book. This delightful, engaging, and cozy mystery is absolutely perfect for summer reading. I love everything about this book series, from the spirited, independent-minded Savvy Summers, who is no nonsense but kind, to the quick-witted relationship that Savvy and her assistant Penny have, and the fact that the storyline takes place in the heart of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood makes it even better. A huge thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC of the book.
In this latest whodunnit, Savvy Summers is hired to cater a corporate luncheon by an old friend. This isn’t her typical job, but of course, Savvy steps up and pulls together a fantastic menu of delicious Creole cuisine, including her Great Aunt’s scrumptious buttermilk biscuits. But things don’t go according to plan. When someone turns up dead in the building and it is determined that the person might have been poisoned. All eyes are now on Savvy and her Po’boy sandwiches as the culprit. She and her trusted assistant, Penny, must navigate through messy office gossip, communication breakdowns, and tense coworker relationships. Someone in this office is hiding behind a secret, and someone knows the truth. Can Savvy, along with Penny’s help, get to the bottom of this deadly luncheon to figure out who is at fault and redeem her culinary reputation?
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils is filled with memorable characters, witty banter, lots of Chi-town culture, delicious soul food that will leave you hungry, and plenty of unexpected, suspenseful twists that make this culinary mystery exceptionally satisfying. If you are looking for a fantastic cozy mystery series to read I highly recommend the Savvy Summers series.
In this latest whodunnit, Savvy Summers is hired to cater a corporate luncheon by an old friend. This isn’t her typical job, but of course, Savvy steps up and pulls together a fantastic menu of delicious Creole cuisine, including her Great Aunt’s scrumptious buttermilk biscuits. But things don’t go according to plan. When someone turns up dead in the building and it is determined that the person might have been poisoned. All eyes are now on Savvy and her Po’boy sandwiches as the culprit. She and her trusted assistant, Penny, must navigate through messy office gossip, communication breakdowns, and tense coworker relationships. Someone in this office is hiding behind a secret, and someone knows the truth. Can Savvy, along with Penny’s help, get to the bottom of this deadly luncheon to figure out who is at fault and redeem her culinary reputation?
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils is filled with memorable characters, witty banter, lots of Chi-town culture, delicious soul food that will leave you hungry, and plenty of unexpected, suspenseful twists that make this culinary mystery exceptionally satisfying. If you are looking for a fantastic cozy mystery series to read I highly recommend the Savvy Summers series.
July 21, 2026
While listening to this culinary cozy, I found myself seasoning ribs and baking sweet potatoes as the food comes alive through the sound to your tastebuds. The mystery sometimes feels secondary to the lead character of Savvy Summers but it is appreciated as there is more to her than cooking. Chicago is a wonderful setting for this book and the author adequately surveys the often over looked part of the big city, mainly the south side. Themes of strong female relationships, family as community, generational connectedness, Black community and its economic power and love.
Audiobook narration: There is a colorful sound from this narrator, Karen Chilton that comes off as a great visual of who Savvy Summers and the characters are. The authentic presentation is very real of all characters as it feels down to earth and southern at times. It’s never over the top to mock the tone of the book nor the messages conveyed.
Thanks to MacMillian audio and NetGalley for the ALC. #SavvySummersandthePoboyPerils #NetGalley. I recommend this to anyone who wants a lighthearted story without the heaviness of violence and sexual tones. You will enjoy the banter throughout the whole book. Also recommending this to all who grew up or enjoy a strong family connection as we all love the Aunt Essie and her sayings.
Fav Quote from Aunt Essie - He’s got nothing to offer but breath and britches. Also, whatever way you’re feeling gets cooked into the food.
Audiobook narration: There is a colorful sound from this narrator, Karen Chilton that comes off as a great visual of who Savvy Summers and the characters are. The authentic presentation is very real of all characters as it feels down to earth and southern at times. It’s never over the top to mock the tone of the book nor the messages conveyed.
Thanks to MacMillian audio and NetGalley for the ALC. #SavvySummersandthePoboyPerils #NetGalley. I recommend this to anyone who wants a lighthearted story without the heaviness of violence and sexual tones. You will enjoy the banter throughout the whole book. Also recommending this to all who grew up or enjoy a strong family connection as we all love the Aunt Essie and her sayings.
Fav Quote from Aunt Essie - He’s got nothing to offer but breath and britches. Also, whatever way you’re feeling gets cooked into the food.
July 22, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku was such a fun and entertaining cozy mystery! As a foodie, I especially loved the vivid descriptions of the food—they were absolutely mouthwatering and made me crave a po’boy more than once while reading.
The mystery kept me guessing until the very end, with plenty of twists that made it difficult to figure out who the culprit was. I also really enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and the charming small-town setting, which gave the story a warm, inviting feel.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as well, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Their performance added personality and charm, making the story even more enjoyable.
Overall, this was a delightful cozy mystery filled with delicious food, engaging characters, and an intriguing mystery. I would happily read another Savvy Summers adventure!
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku was such a fun and entertaining cozy mystery! As a foodie, I especially loved the vivid descriptions of the food—they were absolutely mouthwatering and made me crave a po’boy more than once while reading.
The mystery kept me guessing until the very end, with plenty of twists that made it difficult to figure out who the culprit was. I also really enjoyed the witty banter between the characters and the charming small-town setting, which gave the story a warm, inviting feel.
I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as well, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Their performance added personality and charm, making the story even more enjoyable.
Overall, this was a delightful cozy mystery filled with delicious food, engaging characters, and an intriguing mystery. I would happily read another Savvy Summers adventure!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I think I liked this one more than the first one because I was more familiar with the food being presented. That’s not to say that the first one’s food didn’t appeal to me; I just wasn’t as familiar with the flavors, so they didn’t become as much a character for me as these did. I loved the community just as much as the first and the banter between Savvy and her friends and customers had me laughing out loud in spots. The mystery was well paced, and I enjoyed following along as Savvy figured out who the guilty party was. I loved the use of the dog and the button board to help in the investigation. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the review copies.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the review copies.
July 29, 2026
Penny continues to be one of my favorite characters in this series. She always has me smiling with her humor, and I loved all the song and movie references sprinkled throughout the story.
I also enjoyed seeing Savvy step outside her comfort zone with a new menu for the catering event. As always, the food descriptions made me hungry!
While I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the previous book, I still had a good time with the mystery. It took me a little longer to get fully invested, and I felt like Savvy was trying to take on too much of the investigation herself at times. That said, there was an unexpected twist that I was happy to see, and it kept the ending interesting.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Savvy and Penny get into next.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
I also enjoyed seeing Savvy step outside her comfort zone with a new menu for the catering event. As always, the food descriptions made me hungry!
While I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the previous book, I still had a good time with the mystery. It took me a little longer to get fully invested, and I felt like Savvy was trying to take on too much of the investigation herself at times. That said, there was an unexpected twist that I was happy to see, and it kept the ending interesting.
I’m looking forward to seeing what Savvy and Penny get into next.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2026
I’m loving the cozy mystery vibes of this series. For me it wasn’t a mystery I could figure out what happened. Which I love. It kept me guessing on who did it. I also loved how descriptive the recipe’s were.
July 13, 2026
Savvy Summers and the Po’boy Perils by Sandra Jackson-Opoku is the second story in this delightful and enjoyable cozy mystery series.
The plot flows seamlessly from start to finish, making it easy to stay engaged throughout. Sandra Jackson-Opoku continues to craft great characters that feel real and relatable, with distinct personalities that keep the story lively. The dialogue is sharp and interesting, drawing you into each conversation and adding depth to the mystery.
The story is entertaining and full of charm, and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery that leaves me excited for the next installment in the series.
The plot flows seamlessly from start to finish, making it easy to stay engaged throughout. Sandra Jackson-Opoku continues to craft great characters that feel real and relatable, with distinct personalities that keep the story lively. The dialogue is sharp and interesting, drawing you into each conversation and adding depth to the mystery.
The story is entertaining and full of charm, and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery that leaves me excited for the next installment in the series.
July 25, 2026
Mixed up in the murder mystery are two other mysteries. One is the identity of a new daily guest to Essie's. Who are they? What do they want? Why are they spending nearly every day just sitting at the café?
And then there's Jimmy Blue and his dog Sgt. Stubby. What is the unhoused man's story? How is he so knowledgable? Where is his family. When they appear to be witnesses to the murder via po'boy, the murderer goes after Jimmy Blue.
I'll admit I was far more invested in Jimmy Blue and Sgt. Stubby than I was with the first murder. They were such interesting, likable characters.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...
And then there's Jimmy Blue and his dog Sgt. Stubby. What is the unhoused man's story? How is he so knowledgable? Where is his family. When they appear to be witnesses to the murder via po'boy, the murderer goes after Jimmy Blue.
I'll admit I was far more invested in Jimmy Blue and Sgt. Stubby than I was with the first murder. They were such interesting, likable characters.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2026/com...
July 21, 2026
This is the second book in the Savvy Summers Cozy Mystery Series. Savvy is asked to cater an event. While there, she meets Minevra, who is a stealer of food. The next day she is dead, and the cause of her death is one of Savvy's Po'boys.
Savvy and her kitchen help, Penny, are soon on the case, even though the police say stay out of it.
The characters are so fun. They are well developed and grow, which is a plus in any book. Jackson-Opoku kept me engaged in book. There was one twist that got me. It hits shelves today, July 21, 2026.
Thanks Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Sandra Jackson-Opoku for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #sandrajacksonopoku #SavvySummersandThePo'BoyPerils
Savvy and her kitchen help, Penny, are soon on the case, even though the police say stay out of it.
The characters are so fun. They are well developed and grow, which is a plus in any book. Jackson-Opoku kept me engaged in book. There was one twist that got me. It hits shelves today, July 21, 2026.
Thanks Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Sandra Jackson-Opoku for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
#Netgalley #Stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #sandrajacksonopoku #SavvySummersandThePo'BoyPerils
June 5, 2026
Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils is book two in Sandra Jackson-Opuku's Savvy Summers Mysteries series, and as much as I enjoyed book one, I found book two even better.
After catering a work event for a friend, she returns to the office to retrieve her air fryer, when one of the employees is stricken and needs medical assistance after eating one of Savvy's po'boys. The next day Savvy is informed that the woman died at the hospital, and she is once again drawn into a murder investigation in the hopes of clearing herself and saving the reputation of her café, Essie's Place.
Although this is book two in the series, Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils is easily read as a standalone novel. There are some recurring characters, but they are always introduced well enough that a new reader would not be lost.
There is no shortage of suspects in this book, which kept me guessing throughout the story. Just when I would settle on who I thought the murderer was, some new development would pop up and make me doubt my assumptions. I rather enjoyed that, I find it less interesting when I can guess the culprit easily.
As in the first book the author has provided a glossary of terms at the end of the book, but in most cases I don't think it's really necessary to check as even if you are unsure of the meaning of a word, you can generally work it out based on the context. Additionally there are several tempting recipes for dishes that were mentioned in the book.
I really enjoyed Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils, and I look forward to the next book in the series. I'm interested to see how some of the issues mentioned in this book work out in Savvy's personal life, not the least of which is how she handles the changes coming for her café. I would recommend this book to any lover of cozy mysteries, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After catering a work event for a friend, she returns to the office to retrieve her air fryer, when one of the employees is stricken and needs medical assistance after eating one of Savvy's po'boys. The next day Savvy is informed that the woman died at the hospital, and she is once again drawn into a murder investigation in the hopes of clearing herself and saving the reputation of her café, Essie's Place.
Although this is book two in the series, Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils is easily read as a standalone novel. There are some recurring characters, but they are always introduced well enough that a new reader would not be lost.
There is no shortage of suspects in this book, which kept me guessing throughout the story. Just when I would settle on who I thought the murderer was, some new development would pop up and make me doubt my assumptions. I rather enjoyed that, I find it less interesting when I can guess the culprit easily.
As in the first book the author has provided a glossary of terms at the end of the book, but in most cases I don't think it's really necessary to check as even if you are unsure of the meaning of a word, you can generally work it out based on the context. Additionally there are several tempting recipes for dishes that were mentioned in the book.
I really enjoyed Savvy Summers and the Po'boy Perils, and I look forward to the next book in the series. I'm interested to see how some of the issues mentioned in this book work out in Savvy's personal life, not the least of which is how she handles the changes coming for her café. I would recommend this book to any lover of cozy mysteries, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2026
Another Savvy Summers mystery, and I enjoyed book 2 just as much as the first one!
Penny is starting to become a little frustrating for me. I like her, but at the same time, she can be such a negative Nancy. Dori also caught my attention with her habit of reheating Savvy’s nachos, I’m hoping Fanon ain’t going for it.
Jimmy Blue quickly became one of my favorites, and I hope we get to see more of him in future books. If there is a book 3, I’m hoping we get some closure on where the restaurant situation ends up. I’m also hoping Fanon and Savvy find their way back to each other because I’m rooting for them!
Penny is starting to become a little frustrating for me. I like her, but at the same time, she can be such a negative Nancy. Dori also caught my attention with her habit of reheating Savvy’s nachos, I’m hoping Fanon ain’t going for it.
Jimmy Blue quickly became one of my favorites, and I hope we get to see more of him in future books. If there is a book 3, I’m hoping we get some closure on where the restaurant situation ends up. I’m also hoping Fanon and Savvy find their way back to each other because I’m rooting for them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
I received an ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to both Minotaur Books and the author, Sandra Jackson-Opoku.
This is the second book in the Savvy Summers series, and they just keep getting better. I really enjoy spending time with Savvy, as well as her sous chef/assistant Penny Lopez, ex-husband Fanon, and the other regulars in Savvy’s life. The mystery was interesting and it kept me guessing. The food descriptions and included recipes had my mouth watering; I need a seat at Essie’s Place. I never feel impatient with this series; for me, the story flows very smoothly. I love learning about Creole history and cooking, and getting more peeks into Savvy’s life. I’m already looking forward to her next adventure. I would recommend this to other readers.
This is the second book in the Savvy Summers series, and they just keep getting better. I really enjoy spending time with Savvy, as well as her sous chef/assistant Penny Lopez, ex-husband Fanon, and the other regulars in Savvy’s life. The mystery was interesting and it kept me guessing. The food descriptions and included recipes had my mouth watering; I need a seat at Essie’s Place. I never feel impatient with this series; for me, the story flows very smoothly. I love learning about Creole history and cooking, and getting more peeks into Savvy’s life. I’m already looking forward to her next adventure. I would recommend this to other readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first book in this series that I've read, and I'm so glad I did.
Savvy is a fun character and her sense of humor is a great part of the book.
Savvy agrees to cater an old friends company lunch, but the people are very odd.
Savvy is shocked when she finds out someone died from eating one of her sandwiches, and as the truth unravels, she realizes that everyone has secrets they wish to keep hidden.
I really liked this book and I am sure other readers will too.
Savvy is a fun character and her sense of humor is a great part of the book.
Savvy agrees to cater an old friends company lunch, but the people are very odd.
Savvy is shocked when she finds out someone died from eating one of her sandwiches, and as the truth unravels, she realizes that everyone has secrets they wish to keep hidden.
I really liked this book and I am sure other readers will too.
May 7, 2026
I really like this 2nd volume of the Savvy Summers series. I felt much more invested in the characters and I like the deeper dive into their back stories. This mystery felt more complicated than in the first volume. It feels like this series is developing and I can’t wait to read the next installment—hints of great things happening!
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2026
Savvy Summers is back in a new cozy murder mystery. Dori, a friend of Savvy's late husband, hires her to cater for her company's presentation. Of course, someone ends up dead. There's no shortage of suspects but all signs point to Dori. Savvy tries to help prove Dori's innocence while, at the same time, wondering just how close was Dori's 'friendship' with her late husband. I enjoyed this a bit more than the 1st book. It was good reconnecting with the characters Savvy, her crazy/funny assistant Penny, and her ex-husband Fanon that keeps coming around.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.
July 23, 2026
This is the second installment in the series. I don’t really think it’s essential to have read the first book because there is enough background given in this one. The pacing was better in this book - not as slow and seemed a bit more focused on the mystery. Characters and setting are entertaining. A good solid cozy mystery.
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