What do you think?
Rate this book
Spiced to Death: A Texas Hill Country Cozy Mystery
A cozy Texas town.
A secret spice blend.
And a murder that’s anything but mild. . .
When Tilly Martin trades city life for small-town charm, she never expects her dream of running a needlepoint shop in Hillcrest, Texas, to unravel into danger. But when a renowned chef is found dead just before the opening dinner of the Hill Country Food Festival, it’s clear that someone has cooked up more than just a recipe for success.
As rumors of secret ingredients, stolen recipes, and family rivalries simmer across the small towns of the Texas Hill Country, Tilly is drawn into a whodunit that blends food, gossip, and long-buried secrets. From feuding chefs to hidden legacies, every clue pulls her deeper into the mystery and closer to a killer who won’t hesitate to silence the truth.
Armed with a cryptic notebook, a mysterious spice mix, and her mischievous gray cat, Stitches, Tilly must rely on her quick thinking and sharp eye to stitch together the case before the next victim falls.
Perfect for fans of culinary cozy mysteries, small-town sleuths, and clever whodunits, Spiced to Death is the first book in a heartwarming Texas Hill Country Cozy Mystery series full of twists, charm, and crafty surprises.
______________________________________________________
“Sage has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish… I ended up reading the book in a single evening because I simply had to know who the culprit was.” — W.W.
“I really enjoyed this story. I loved the combination of food and crafts. The characters are all well rounded, and the plot kept me guessing.” — C.G.
“A charming small town, endearing characters, and the adorable cat Stitches made this a perfect cozy mystery.” — C.D.
A secret spice blend.
And a murder that’s anything but mild. . .
When Tilly Martin trades city life for small-town charm, she never expects her dream of running a needlepoint shop in Hillcrest, Texas, to unravel into danger. But when a renowned chef is found dead just before the opening dinner of the Hill Country Food Festival, it’s clear that someone has cooked up more than just a recipe for success.
As rumors of secret ingredients, stolen recipes, and family rivalries simmer across the small towns of the Texas Hill Country, Tilly is drawn into a whodunit that blends food, gossip, and long-buried secrets. From feuding chefs to hidden legacies, every clue pulls her deeper into the mystery and closer to a killer who won’t hesitate to silence the truth.
Armed with a cryptic notebook, a mysterious spice mix, and her mischievous gray cat, Stitches, Tilly must rely on her quick thinking and sharp eye to stitch together the case before the next victim falls.
Perfect for fans of culinary cozy mysteries, small-town sleuths, and clever whodunits, Spiced to Death is the first book in a heartwarming Texas Hill Country Cozy Mystery series full of twists, charm, and crafty surprises.
______________________________________________________
“Sage has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish… I ended up reading the book in a single evening because I simply had to know who the culprit was.” — W.W.
“I really enjoyed this story. I loved the combination of food and crafts. The characters are all well rounded, and the plot kept me guessing.” — C.G.
“A charming small town, endearing characters, and the adorable cat Stitches made this a perfect cozy mystery.” — C.D.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 23, 2025
9 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Susana Sage
4 books3 followersSusana Sage writes cozy mysteries with a heart as big as Texas.
Set in the charming Texas Hill Country town of Hillcrest, her books follow amateur sleuth Tilly Martin, a young widow with a flair for needlepoint, a stubborn streak, and a tendency to land in the middle of murder investigations. She is often accompanied by her mischievous cat Stitches, who has a knack for finding clues. Blending small-town charm, quirky characters, and twisty plots, Susana’s stories are perfect for readers who love their mysteries served with friendship, sassy feline sidekicks, and a dash of spice.
When she’s not writing, you can find her adding to her ever-growing needlepoint stash and trying to complete current projects, sipping iced coffee on the porch, or being bossed around by her brown tabby cat. She’s passionate about creating stories that celebrate resilience, community, and clever women who don’t wait around for someone else to solve the mystery.
Set in the charming Texas Hill Country town of Hillcrest, her books follow amateur sleuth Tilly Martin, a young widow with a flair for needlepoint, a stubborn streak, and a tendency to land in the middle of murder investigations. She is often accompanied by her mischievous cat Stitches, who has a knack for finding clues. Blending small-town charm, quirky characters, and twisty plots, Susana’s stories are perfect for readers who love their mysteries served with friendship, sassy feline sidekicks, and a dash of spice.
When she’s not writing, you can find her adding to her ever-growing needlepoint stash and trying to complete current projects, sipping iced coffee on the porch, or being bossed around by her brown tabby cat. She’s passionate about creating stories that celebrate resilience, community, and clever women who don’t wait around for someone else to solve the mystery.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 25, 2025
When a celebrated chef is found dead before the Hill Country Food Festival, Tilly Martin and her friend, Sarah Chase are determined to solve the mystery. As they investigate, they find a trail of secret recipes, bitter feuds and a puzzling journal that leads to more questions than answers. Will Tilly and Sarah find the killer before they become the next victims?
Sage has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The town of Hillcrest is charming, and the characters are both likable and endearing. The mystery itself is well-plotted, with plausible suspects that keep you guessing. I ended up reading the book in a single evening because I simply had to know who the culprit was. I highly recommend this one to cozy mystery fans.
*I received this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in the review are solely my own.
Sage has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The town of Hillcrest is charming, and the characters are both likable and endearing. The mystery itself is well-plotted, with plausible suspects that keep you guessing. I ended up reading the book in a single evening because I simply had to know who the culprit was. I highly recommend this one to cozy mystery fans.
*I received this book as a gift and all opinions expressed in the review are solely my own.
September 1, 2025
Tilly and Sarah, quite the sleuthing pair!
With Tilly finally settled into her needlepoint shop, she’s becoming more and more accepted into the small Texas town. Now she has a best friend, Sarah, who helps her by designing canvases for her to sell. Not to mention, Stitches, her cat. Just before the Hill Country Food Festival, a local chef is murdered and when suspicion falls on Sarah, Tilly gets involved. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the combination of food and crafts. The characters are all well rounded, and the plot kept me guessing. A just truly enjoyable escape from reality and I can’t wait for the next one by Susana Sage.
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
With Tilly finally settled into her needlepoint shop, she’s becoming more and more accepted into the small Texas town. Now she has a best friend, Sarah, who helps her by designing canvases for her to sell. Not to mention, Stitches, her cat. Just before the Hill Country Food Festival, a local chef is murdered and when suspicion falls on Sarah, Tilly gets involved. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the combination of food and crafts. The characters are all well rounded, and the plot kept me guessing. A just truly enjoyable escape from reality and I can’t wait for the next one by Susana Sage.
I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.
August 30, 2025
Spiced to Death: A Texas Hill Country Cozy Mystery is now live on Amazon.
When a celebrated chef is found dead before the Hill Country Food Festival, Tilly Martin and her friend, Sarah Chase are determined to solve the mystery. As they investigate, they find a trail of secret recipes, bitter feuds and a puzzling journal that leads to more questions than answers.
Susana has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
The town of Hillcrest is charming, and the characters are both likable and endearing
What truly captivated me was the adorable cat, Stitches. He is so cute and a delightful addition to the story.
The plot was compelling from start to finish
When a celebrated chef is found dead before the Hill Country Food Festival, Tilly Martin and her friend, Sarah Chase are determined to solve the mystery. As they investigate, they find a trail of secret recipes, bitter feuds and a puzzling journal that leads to more questions than answers.
Susana has crafted a cozy mystery that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.
The town of Hillcrest is charming, and the characters are both likable and endearing
What truly captivated me was the adorable cat, Stitches. He is so cute and a delightful addition to the story.
The plot was compelling from start to finish
October 22, 2025
This story had charm. Located in the Texas Hill Country, not far from where I live, I recognized many features. Bar-b-Que and peaches are a big part of the culture, but I felt it was over used. Peach season is near June, and it was supposed to be spring. I’m not a fan of needlework so I had a hard time getting invested in that aspect. Some things bothered me. The shop is broken into but Tilly does nothing to take care of the locks or back door, she leaves a tote containing evidence on a bench and goes on looking for more evidence even knowing someone is after the clues she has, and I guessed the murderer as soon as he was presented. A good first effort but not quite my cup of tea
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Book Review: Spiced to Death by Susana Sage
I absolutely loved this story. It's everything I look for in a cozy mystery: a charming small town with a cast of endearing characters, and of course, a mystery to solve.
But what truly captivated me was the adorable cat, Stitches. He is so cute and a delightful addition to the story.
The plot was compelling from start to finish. I was truly captivated by this story and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
A perfect cozy mystery for any fan of the genre!
5 out of 5 stars.
I absolutely loved this story. It's everything I look for in a cozy mystery: a charming small town with a cast of endearing characters, and of course, a mystery to solve.
But what truly captivated me was the adorable cat, Stitches. He is so cute and a delightful addition to the story.
The plot was compelling from start to finish. I was truly captivated by this story and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.
A perfect cozy mystery for any fan of the genre!
5 out of 5 stars.
August 31, 2025
I want to thank the publisher and the author for gifting me an ARC of the book.
I have never read from this author before but I really really enjoyed this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by the story plot. Sometimes these books are on the bit of the cheesy side. This book was not. It actually gave me the creeps in some of the parts and it was a little darker than to normal cozy murder mystery.
I liked the main character and even though it was an easy fast read, the author did a great job not making the story felt rushed. I would for sure read from this author again.
I have never read from this author before but I really really enjoyed this book. I was so pleasantly surprised by the story plot. Sometimes these books are on the bit of the cheesy side. This book was not. It actually gave me the creeps in some of the parts and it was a little darker than to normal cozy murder mystery.
I liked the main character and even though it was an easy fast read, the author did a great job not making the story felt rushed. I would for sure read from this author again.
October 18, 2025
What a read. This book was really good, Tilly the new store owner in town is really making a name for herself, not just in her store but in solving crimes. Parts will make you laugh while other parts will get your blood boiling. Tilly didn't like the way a certain chef of the town did things, and the way he acted but when something happened she new she had to investigate as well as continue thinking up new ideas for her store. You want to find out what Tilly dug up, I suggest you check out this book. I on the other hand am getting the next one. Happy reading.
August 24, 2025
Spiced to Death is book #1 in the Texas Hill Country Cozy Mystery series by Susana Sage.
This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. Tilly is a likable character along with her cat, Stitches. I didn’t guess the killer until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This was an enjoyable cozy mystery. Tilly is a likable character along with her cat, Stitches. I didn’t guess the killer until the end.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
August 25, 2025
Tilly imagined her new start in life to go a little differently. This is a heartwarming cozy mystery with wonderful characters, especially Stitches, small town charm and a mystery that has plenty of surprises. A wonderful book to read.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from the author. I am leaving a voluntary and honest review.
September 6, 2025
worth reading
Good plot. Fun to read only complaint main is smart but very careless with clues. Main characters do not repeatedly make the same mistake but it didn’t ruin the book. Can’t wait for more
Good plot. Fun to read only complaint main is smart but very careless with clues. Main characters do not repeatedly make the same mistake but it didn’t ruin the book. Can’t wait for more
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews