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Willow Creek Cozy Mystery #2
The Pecan Pie Poisoner
The pecan pie had a secret—and it wasn’t just cinnamon.
Cynthia Harper, a former Manhattan communications strategist turned small-town B&B owner, was hoping Willow Creek’s Fall Festival would be a sweet success. But when a notoriously harsh guest judge drops dead mid-contest—right after sampling a pie—things turn from festive to fatal.
Armed with caffeine, curiosity, and her golden retriever sidekick Duke, Cynthia dives headfirst into the mystery. With a sabotaged kitchen, bitter gossip, and a town full of suspects—from the weepy baker whose pie was under fire to a councilwoman with budget secrets to bury—Cynthia finds herself in deeper than a double crust.
Even Evan, her quiet contractor with a protective streak, can’t keep the danger at bay when someone starts targeting her inn. As evidence stacks up and the town turns against her, Cynthia must unravel family secrets, fake receipts, and a suspiciously missing bottle of extract before the killer bakes their next victim.
Because in Willow Creek, even a pie can kill—and this time, it’s personal.
Cynthia Harper, a former Manhattan communications strategist turned small-town B&B owner, was hoping Willow Creek’s Fall Festival would be a sweet success. But when a notoriously harsh guest judge drops dead mid-contest—right after sampling a pie—things turn from festive to fatal.
Armed with caffeine, curiosity, and her golden retriever sidekick Duke, Cynthia dives headfirst into the mystery. With a sabotaged kitchen, bitter gossip, and a town full of suspects—from the weepy baker whose pie was under fire to a councilwoman with budget secrets to bury—Cynthia finds herself in deeper than a double crust.
Even Evan, her quiet contractor with a protective streak, can’t keep the danger at bay when someone starts targeting her inn. As evidence stacks up and the town turns against her, Cynthia must unravel family secrets, fake receipts, and a suspiciously missing bottle of extract before the killer bakes their next victim.
Because in Willow Creek, even a pie can kill—and this time, it’s personal.
- GenresCozy Mystery
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2025
17 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 6, 2025
An exciting read full of suspense and mayhem to make it very entertaining. Great characters in it too. A captivating read from the start. I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers
September 2, 2025
A Promising Premise Undone by Narrative Incoherence
This novel arrives with an intriguing setup—a pie contest gone fatally wrong, a tangled web of family secrets, and a protagonist caught in the crossfire. Yet despite its potential, the execution falters under the weight of convoluted plotting and inconsistent character development.
The central mystery hinges on a pie and label-switching scheme that is never clearly explained. Walter’s death by poisoned pie should have been the narrative’s fulcrum, but the mechanics of who switched what and why remain opaque. The immediate suspicion cast on Cynthia feels unjustified, especially given that Maggie baked and submitted the pie. Strangely, Maggie is never considered a suspect, which undermines the logic of the investigation and the tension of the whodunit.
The subplot involving the discovery of a will is similarly muddled. Granger’s sudden arrival to arrest Cynthia for withholding evidence raises questions—how did he even know about the will, especially since no second copy had been filed? Cynthia had only just found it, and the circumstances of its discovery, aided implausibly by Duke’s scent-tracking abilities, strain credibility. Would old papers hidden in dusty corners truly retain a scent strong enough for a dog to follow?
Character inconsistencies abound. Lily, for instance, is portrayed as a young child despite being a teenager, and her presence in the pie tent—witnessed by several characters—makes the later surprise at seeing her on camera footage feel contrived. The subplot involving Jonathan, Charlie, Jasper, Walter, and Ethan (Graham) is equally perplexing, with Walter’s acquisition of Jonathan’s assets happening far too easily and without sufficient narrative justification.
Continuity errors further disrupt the reading experience. Ethan (Graham) is poisoned and sent to a clinic, yet shortly after, Cynthia finds his cabin empty—his belongings gone—despite stating he had just been released and couldn’t have traveled far. Later, she visits him again at the clinic with no explanation of his disappearance or re-admittance. Random name drops—Trevor, Marcus—appear without context or relevance, adding to the confusion.
One of the most jarring moments comes when Cynthia reveals to Lily that Ethan (Graham) is her biological father. This revelation is entirely unforeshadowed and lacks emotional grounding. Moreover, it feels narratively inappropriate for Cynthia to deliver such news, rather than Jasper or Ethan (Graham) himself.
Small but persistent inconsistencies—such as the alternating use of “Aunt Edie” and “Aunt Edith” without clarification—erode the story’s cohesion. Chapter 19 introduces a letter that Cynthia reads, only for its contents to inexplicably change when she rereads it a page later. Additionally, Cynthia refers to the emotional burden of discovering Walter’s body, though she witnessed his collapse publicly, not in isolation.
Even the timeline feels unstable. The book opens at the Autumn Festival where Walter dies, yet the final chapter states “The Autumn Festival was in full swing,” leaving readers to wonder whether a year has passed or if the festival is somehow recurring within the same narrative arc.
Ultimately, the novel suffers from a lack of narrative clarity and emotional resonance. The characters—particularly Cynthia—remain distant and difficult to connect with, often coming across as angry, evasive, or simply unengaging. There’s a dissonance in Cynthia’s portrayal that’s hard to pinpoint but impossible to ignore.
This story had the potential to be compelling, even memorable. But its promise is buried beneath a cascade of unresolved threads, implausible twists, and structural inconsistencies. As an ARC reader, I offer this critique with the hope that future revisions might bring sharper focus and deeper emotional truth to a premise that deserves both.
This novel arrives with an intriguing setup—a pie contest gone fatally wrong, a tangled web of family secrets, and a protagonist caught in the crossfire. Yet despite its potential, the execution falters under the weight of convoluted plotting and inconsistent character development.
The central mystery hinges on a pie and label-switching scheme that is never clearly explained. Walter’s death by poisoned pie should have been the narrative’s fulcrum, but the mechanics of who switched what and why remain opaque. The immediate suspicion cast on Cynthia feels unjustified, especially given that Maggie baked and submitted the pie. Strangely, Maggie is never considered a suspect, which undermines the logic of the investigation and the tension of the whodunit.
The subplot involving the discovery of a will is similarly muddled. Granger’s sudden arrival to arrest Cynthia for withholding evidence raises questions—how did he even know about the will, especially since no second copy had been filed? Cynthia had only just found it, and the circumstances of its discovery, aided implausibly by Duke’s scent-tracking abilities, strain credibility. Would old papers hidden in dusty corners truly retain a scent strong enough for a dog to follow?
Character inconsistencies abound. Lily, for instance, is portrayed as a young child despite being a teenager, and her presence in the pie tent—witnessed by several characters—makes the later surprise at seeing her on camera footage feel contrived. The subplot involving Jonathan, Charlie, Jasper, Walter, and Ethan (Graham) is equally perplexing, with Walter’s acquisition of Jonathan’s assets happening far too easily and without sufficient narrative justification.
Continuity errors further disrupt the reading experience. Ethan (Graham) is poisoned and sent to a clinic, yet shortly after, Cynthia finds his cabin empty—his belongings gone—despite stating he had just been released and couldn’t have traveled far. Later, she visits him again at the clinic with no explanation of his disappearance or re-admittance. Random name drops—Trevor, Marcus—appear without context or relevance, adding to the confusion.
One of the most jarring moments comes when Cynthia reveals to Lily that Ethan (Graham) is her biological father. This revelation is entirely unforeshadowed and lacks emotional grounding. Moreover, it feels narratively inappropriate for Cynthia to deliver such news, rather than Jasper or Ethan (Graham) himself.
Small but persistent inconsistencies—such as the alternating use of “Aunt Edie” and “Aunt Edith” without clarification—erode the story’s cohesion. Chapter 19 introduces a letter that Cynthia reads, only for its contents to inexplicably change when she rereads it a page later. Additionally, Cynthia refers to the emotional burden of discovering Walter’s body, though she witnessed his collapse publicly, not in isolation.
Even the timeline feels unstable. The book opens at the Autumn Festival where Walter dies, yet the final chapter states “The Autumn Festival was in full swing,” leaving readers to wonder whether a year has passed or if the festival is somehow recurring within the same narrative arc.
Ultimately, the novel suffers from a lack of narrative clarity and emotional resonance. The characters—particularly Cynthia—remain distant and difficult to connect with, often coming across as angry, evasive, or simply unengaging. There’s a dissonance in Cynthia’s portrayal that’s hard to pinpoint but impossible to ignore.
This story had the potential to be compelling, even memorable. But its promise is buried beneath a cascade of unresolved threads, implausible twists, and structural inconsistencies. As an ARC reader, I offer this critique with the hope that future revisions might bring sharper focus and deeper emotional truth to a premise that deserves both.
September 18, 2025
I received this book as an ARC with my promise to review it upon completion. I was supposed to put the review on Amazon, but was not permitted because of my lack of recent Amazon purchases. However, I did let the author know that I'll be reviewing it here so she can see I kept my promise, even if on a different venue.
I enjoyed reading this. I was a little confused for a while because so much was going on at the same time, but as a plus, that also meant it wasn't boring. Cynthia was fortunate enough to inherit a B&B from her Aunt Edie. Though they'd never met, it seemed Aunt Edie knew more about Cynthia than she knew about herself. She'd left notes throughout the property that always seemed to pop up at the right times to help her out. Each one provided insight into what was currently happening and why as well as clues to help solve the mysterious goings-on.
Such a nice little town with an array of characters, some not too savory, but almost all with some kind of understandable reasoning behind their actions, even if not realized at first. It's the kind of town I wouldn't mind living in. Not overly political where people eventually listen to the whole story instead of insisting on their own assumptions without all the facts.
The only issue I had was how Cynthia knew about Lily's father before anyone else did. Either I glossed over that part or it wasn't as clear to me as it was expected to be. And, the photo she found - if Graham and Lily were in the photo, why didn't Graham know about Lily? And why was she hesitant to show Lily or Graham the photo? I hope the next book in the series explains that.
I was sorry to learn about Cynthia's cat Whiskers. On a personal note, I wouldn't have taken the dog. I'm not a dog person, but she at least kept looking for her cat before giving up while keeping Duke out of the pound. I would love to have a B&B, but I don't cook, so I'd have to add a cooks wages to the expense of owning one. And, a housekeeper as well. Another of my "I don't do" items. Still, I'd enjoy meeting new people from different parts of the country or world. Cynthia somehow manages to take care of everything while doing everything else at the same time. Very talented and EXCELLENT time management skills. Kind of wish there were some recipes to go with those mentioned in the book. Like the Bourbon Apple Pie? Yes, please!!!
I like that she let down her defenses with Evan, but began their relationship slowly, which I appreciate. And, she didn't point fingers when clues seemed to indicate this or that person may have been involved. She let the story tell itself as she went along. Some of those people may have been involved, but because she let the story play out, she realized it wasn't nearly as nefarious as she'd initially feared.
I looked forward to each new chapter. I do recommend this to anyone who loves cozy mysteries - especially those based in small-town America.
I enjoyed reading this. I was a little confused for a while because so much was going on at the same time, but as a plus, that also meant it wasn't boring. Cynthia was fortunate enough to inherit a B&B from her Aunt Edie. Though they'd never met, it seemed Aunt Edie knew more about Cynthia than she knew about herself. She'd left notes throughout the property that always seemed to pop up at the right times to help her out. Each one provided insight into what was currently happening and why as well as clues to help solve the mysterious goings-on.
Such a nice little town with an array of characters, some not too savory, but almost all with some kind of understandable reasoning behind their actions, even if not realized at first. It's the kind of town I wouldn't mind living in. Not overly political where people eventually listen to the whole story instead of insisting on their own assumptions without all the facts.
The only issue I had was how Cynthia knew about Lily's father before anyone else did. Either I glossed over that part or it wasn't as clear to me as it was expected to be. And, the photo she found - if Graham and Lily were in the photo, why didn't Graham know about Lily? And why was she hesitant to show Lily or Graham the photo? I hope the next book in the series explains that.
I was sorry to learn about Cynthia's cat Whiskers. On a personal note, I wouldn't have taken the dog. I'm not a dog person, but she at least kept looking for her cat before giving up while keeping Duke out of the pound. I would love to have a B&B, but I don't cook, so I'd have to add a cooks wages to the expense of owning one. And, a housekeeper as well. Another of my "I don't do" items. Still, I'd enjoy meeting new people from different parts of the country or world. Cynthia somehow manages to take care of everything while doing everything else at the same time. Very talented and EXCELLENT time management skills. Kind of wish there were some recipes to go with those mentioned in the book. Like the Bourbon Apple Pie? Yes, please!!!
I like that she let down her defenses with Evan, but began their relationship slowly, which I appreciate. And, she didn't point fingers when clues seemed to indicate this or that person may have been involved. She let the story tell itself as she went along. Some of those people may have been involved, but because she let the story play out, she realized it wasn't nearly as nefarious as she'd initially feared.
I looked forward to each new chapter. I do recommend this to anyone who loves cozy mysteries - especially those based in small-town America.
September 3, 2025
A Complicated Solution . . .
Cynthia Harper relocated from New York to this small town in the midst of a chaotic Autumn Festival. Her friend, librarian Maggie Alder, called out to her so they could get to the baking tent and watch the judging. She was introduced to Walter Prentiss who writes food columns for the Gazette. But she had already met him a few weeks earlier when he stopped in at her B&B. Then Maggie told her she had baked a pie with Cynthia’s Aunt Edie’s recipe and entered it under Cynthia’s name. And Cynthia is not comfortable having it submitted as her entry. She watched Walter judging a pie and something seemed off with him. He was constantly moving as if he had too many espressos to drink and he seemed uncomfortable. He began to sweat and his fingers shook. Was he sick? Duke, Cynthia’s dog, gave a short whine. He started scratching under the table where Cynthia saw an unlabeled amber glass partially buried in the grass. Walter took a bite of the pie Maggie entered under Cynthia’s name. Walter started to cough. As they waited for the EMTs, Cynthia saw a piece of cardstock, torn and smudged with something like pie filling. She reached for it and saw “Entry Fifteen”, but the writing didn’t match the others as it should have. She put the card in her pocket with the vial as a stranger sneaked out through the side flap of the tent.
Since the pie Cynthia allegedly entered into the contest was the means of killing Walter, she became the primary suspect… even though Maggie made and entered the pie and Cynthia had nothing to do with it. I was surprised that Cynthia held back what was obviously potential evidence. But will she and Duke be able to track down the real killer and unravel the motive for what happened and the player(s) involved? Or will others be blamed as the guilty one walks away?
A few inconsistencies spoiled the story for me a little bit, but I still enjoyed it and will gladly continue reading this series.
Cynthia Harper relocated from New York to this small town in the midst of a chaotic Autumn Festival. Her friend, librarian Maggie Alder, called out to her so they could get to the baking tent and watch the judging. She was introduced to Walter Prentiss who writes food columns for the Gazette. But she had already met him a few weeks earlier when he stopped in at her B&B. Then Maggie told her she had baked a pie with Cynthia’s Aunt Edie’s recipe and entered it under Cynthia’s name. And Cynthia is not comfortable having it submitted as her entry. She watched Walter judging a pie and something seemed off with him. He was constantly moving as if he had too many espressos to drink and he seemed uncomfortable. He began to sweat and his fingers shook. Was he sick? Duke, Cynthia’s dog, gave a short whine. He started scratching under the table where Cynthia saw an unlabeled amber glass partially buried in the grass. Walter took a bite of the pie Maggie entered under Cynthia’s name. Walter started to cough. As they waited for the EMTs, Cynthia saw a piece of cardstock, torn and smudged with something like pie filling. She reached for it and saw “Entry Fifteen”, but the writing didn’t match the others as it should have. She put the card in her pocket with the vial as a stranger sneaked out through the side flap of the tent.
Since the pie Cynthia allegedly entered into the contest was the means of killing Walter, she became the primary suspect… even though Maggie made and entered the pie and Cynthia had nothing to do with it. I was surprised that Cynthia held back what was obviously potential evidence. But will she and Duke be able to track down the real killer and unravel the motive for what happened and the player(s) involved? Or will others be blamed as the guilty one walks away?
A few inconsistencies spoiled the story for me a little bit, but I still enjoyed it and will gladly continue reading this series.
September 18, 2025
Cynthia Harper left her marketing job behind and thought her life wouldn’t be so much of a bind . Opening up a B&B in the small town of Willow Creek . It’s the town’s Fall festival. But there’s dire consequences for one of the judges who are a pecan pie ,he dropped dead just like that and now she’s on the trail to find out just what this entailed along with her golden retriever sidekick Duke . Then someone started targeting her inn much to her chagrin . It’s not adding up but there’s lots of people to investigate and they even turn against her!? This takes the biscuit or should that be pie and flummoxed as to the reason why.. Oh my ! Great as ever and very clever weave . Of course Cynthia Harper achieves her goal before it’s too late and thank goodness she’s no longer a subject of hate…Great writing,I enjoyed this book . I’m sure you will too ,go take a look .
September 2, 2025
Small town secrets
A judge in a pie eating contest is murdered.
He wasn't a very well liked man so there's a veritable cornucopia of suspects in town.
Cynthia is on the case with her clue hunting dog Duke.
She gets some clues from her deceased aunt in the form of notes left behind.
There's also help in the form of Evan, her contractor along with a possible budding romance.
I really appreciated how immersed I was able to become based on the author's descriptions, I felt as though I were actually at a fall festival with all the sounds and sights being described so realistically.
A judge in a pie eating contest is murdered.
He wasn't a very well liked man so there's a veritable cornucopia of suspects in town.
Cynthia is on the case with her clue hunting dog Duke.
She gets some clues from her deceased aunt in the form of notes left behind.
There's also help in the form of Evan, her contractor along with a possible budding romance.
I really appreciated how immersed I was able to become based on the author's descriptions, I felt as though I were actually at a fall festival with all the sounds and sights being described so realistically.
September 2, 2025
The Autumn Festival is full of small town charm until a nasty judge of the pie contest dies after his first bite. Cynthia’s entry (which she didn’t even bake) was the cause; the judge was poisoned! First, the sheriff suspects Cynthia, so she begins digging for answers. For a little town, there are a lot of buried secrets and long-held grudges. Cynthia, with the help of her dog Duke, keeps digging to uncover the truth. Cynthia moved to the town after inheriting her aunt’s home and is making strong friendships and beginning to feel at home. This is an enjoyable read in a cozy fall setting.
Thanks to Jenni Marie for the ARC.
Thanks to Jenni Marie for the ARC.
September 4, 2025
So who did murder Walter?
During a pie contest, one of the judges, Walter Prentiss, the man everyone loves to hate, died after tasting one of the pies. When that happens, Cynthia knows she has to try and figure out just who killed him, especially when Duke, her faithful four-legged companion, finds a small vial under the table. I really do enjoy these stories. They are a wonderful escape, keeping me reading to find out who really did the deed. This one is a bit more emotional than the last as Cynthia learns more about the aunt who left her the B&B.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
During a pie contest, one of the judges, Walter Prentiss, the man everyone loves to hate, died after tasting one of the pies. When that happens, Cynthia knows she has to try and figure out just who killed him, especially when Duke, her faithful four-legged companion, finds a small vial under the table. I really do enjoy these stories. They are a wonderful escape, keeping me reading to find out who really did the deed. This one is a bit more emotional than the last as Cynthia learns more about the aunt who left her the B&B.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 4, 2025
It is the time for the Willow Creek’s Fall Festival and new owner of the B&B, Cynthia Harper and her golden retriever Duke were excited to see the festival a huge success. But when one of the disagreeable judges drops dead after sampling a pecan pie, Cynthia along with Duke decide to investigate. She is dealing with quite a few potential suspects as well as a sabotaged kitchen and many secrets to uncover, each move puts Cynthia in danger. Can her contractor help keep her safe? Can she find a murderer before she becomes a victim herself? This is a fast paced, fun read that grabs you from the beginning. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
September 4, 2025
Cynthia Harper just inherited a B&B from her Aunt Edie who was a force in the town of Willow Creek, she spent her time taking care of everyone. Now Cynthia is having to step into her footsteps and help solve the murder of a man that wasn't very well liked in the town. He was poisoned with a pie that was supposed to be her aunt's recipe. Cynthia did a lot of investigating and going places she probably shouldn't have but she got results and helped to solve the mystery all the while finding hidden messages from her aunt.
I received an arc and this is my review.
I received an arc and this is my review.
September 13, 2025
What is beneath the Crust of Willow Creek? Where will the trail end? There are so many layers—community, family, years—where is the bottom of this pile? With Duke by her side, Cynthia is determined to dig through all of the secrets. Interim Sheriff Granger wants to keep her safe—will he also help? Will the pie be open before someone else is hurt or killed? If you like lots of suspects and possible solutions before you get to the end of the story, this is the book for you. Is your guess the right one? This is an exciting book! I read an ARC of The Pecan Pie Poisoner.
September 10, 2025
First off, I was given an ARC for a honest review!
I hope the author keeps writing this series. It is a clean cozy mystery that I could defintely see as a Hallmark movie. Our main character is in advertising in New York and comes home to inherit her aunt's b and b in a small town. She has with her her trusty side kick, a puppy dog who is always finding clues for her. She helps solve murders and has the possibility of two suitors :)
Clean, cozy mystery! I highly recommend!
I hope the author keeps writing this series. It is a clean cozy mystery that I could defintely see as a Hallmark movie. Our main character is in advertising in New York and comes home to inherit her aunt's b and b in a small town. She has with her her trusty side kick, a puppy dog who is always finding clues for her. She helps solve murders and has the possibility of two suitors :)
Clean, cozy mystery! I highly recommend!
November 16, 2025
"The Pecan Pie Poisoner (A Willow Creek Cozy Mystery #2)" by Jenni Marie is set at a fall backing contest. Cynthia inadvertently gets entered into a pie contest that ends up with a judge dead. There's lots of potential problems as a real estate deal takes some focus as well. Lots of town secrets get revealed. Cynthia even gets taken to jail for obstruction and withholding evidence temporarily. It keeps you guessing.
September 4, 2025
This is a cozy mystery set in a small town - those are my favorite. I was trying to solve the mystery right alongside Cynthia. It kept me engaged and turning pages to find out what happened next. You meet many characters along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and I encourage you to grab a copy, grab a blanket and settle in.
September 7, 2025
Cynthia found a dead body. It was a much hated man that she hated as much as anyone else. It turns into a mystery to solve or else be blamed for it.
This is a poignant story full of twists and turns
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
This is a poignant story full of twists and turns
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author This in no way affects my opinion of this book.
August 31, 2025
Wonderful book; Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2025
Well crafted and great characters. Good storyline and did not figure out murderer until the end of tale. Could not put it down.
Received ARC copy from BookFunnel and this review is given willingly
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2025
Well crafted and great characters. Good storyline and did not figure out murderer until the end of tale. Could not put it down.
Received ARC copy from BookFunnel and this review is given willingly
September 15, 2025
An interesting cozy mystery with mayhem and suspense throughout. Many possible suspects in the death of a man who was not well liked. Well-developed, interesting characters. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my honest review.
September 16, 2025
Cynthia Harper and her dog Duke find themselves in the middle of solving the murder of Walter Prentiss. Walter was a judge in the pie competition and after one bite of pie he dies. A delightful cozy mystery with many suspects.
September 6, 2025
I received an ARC. A bit of confusion about some of the characters. A poisoned pie and death. Lots of surprises hidden behind the motive.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews