In Magnolia Bluff, Georgia, the biscuits are fluffy, the gossip is hot, and somebody just killed the waitress. As nice as folks are down South, they ain’t gonna tolerate that, sugar!
When Nadine Peters is found dead beside a pot of buttered grits at Gracie’s Diner, the sheriff calls it a tragic accident. June calls that assessment nonsense.
Nadine knew that kitchen better than anyone in town—and she didn’t slip.
With the Magnolia Food Festival around the corner and rumors spreading faster than sweet tea at a church picnic, June and her sharp-tongued friends in the Books & Biscuits Club start digging into Magnolia Bluff’s secrets. Between casseroles, gossip, and a healthy dose of Southern stubbornness, they uncover clues that point to something far more sinister than a simple kitchen mishap.
But in a town where everyone knows everyone, the truth can be the most dangerous thing of all. Kiss My Grits, It’s Murder is a laugh-out-loud Southern cozy mystery packed with small-town charm, feisty friendships, and a mystery stickier than peach cobbler on a summer night.
Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke, Rosie A. Point, and Ellery Adams, this delightful whodunit serves up sweet tea, sass, and a killer hiding in plain sight.
This one just didn’t work for me. The writing felt very repetitive, with the same wording and phrases popping up over and over, which made the story drag more than it should have.
The mystery itself was fine, but I never really got pulled into it or connected with the characters. Thought it would be super cute because it was southern characters but nothing was funny or charming in it. Thankfully it was a short read, because I’m not sure I would have stuck with it if it were any longer.
I loved the idea, but it wasn't done well. There were so many butter/biscuit/Southern cliches that it was distracting. The computer-generated audio version was absolutely terrible. I have a hard time supporting authors who use AI for their work. It was bad enough that I will not continue the series.
I love clean cozy mysteries, so I read a lot of them. This one was extremely basic. Seems like the author described the same scenes using different words over and over. We get it, it was a quaint town. I was relieved when it was over .
At first, I was thrilled with the wonderful southernisms in this book. “That woman’s secret ingredient has always been gossip. She couldn’t serve a plate without seasoning it with a rumor.” "My cousin’s neighbor’s uncle was there." Delicious.
But it didn't take too long for them to slow down the story, making it difficult to read. They started popping up in every other sentence, and many of them didn't even make sense. "The smell of cornbread filled June Mae Hatcher's kitchen like forgiveness." "And in this town, honey's spelled g-r-i-t-s." Huh?
And then there were lines like "Something about those three words—ask Don—gnawed." Halfway through the book, the protagonist's husband shows up. He's never mentioned before then, even though most of the plot happens in their house at all hours. In fact, we really don't know anything about June Mae Hatcher or any of the rest of the characters at all. Other than the fact that they can't complete a sentence without adding justice, crime, butter, or biscuits to the end.
Sweet tea, classic southern sayings that convey everything from sympathy to joy, biscuits and comfort food. This enjoyable novel had it all. A new author for me that had me hooked with the title. Four friends who gather weekly for their book club with a side of gossip, tea and delicious snacks. The death of an employee of the local diner sends everyone into shock and the four friends into full sluthing mode. Trying to piece together clues as to who would this long term town resident dead involves speculation with a side of sweet tea and comforting southern dishes from main dishes to desserts. Four feisty ladies who refuse to stop until they have solved the case. Enjoyable with phrases one only hears in the deep south, from Bless her Heart which conveys any number of things based on the tone of voice, shopping at the Piggly Wiggly which I haven't heard of in 50 years brought back pleasant memories and laugh out loud moments. We'll done!
Pleasant read with strong Southern issues. The four friends find themselves horrified at the death of a local business woman. They always believe it's murder, but the sheriff calls it accidental and threatens them as they find connections with several local people. The denouement is a little dissatisfying.
A fun, quick, and cozy read with strong Southern flavor. The perfect book if you want something light and entertaining rather than intense or suspenseful. I loved the friendship between the Biscuit and Books ladies. Since I live in Savannah, I enjoyed all of the southern sayings and references to the area since the fictional Magnolia Bluff is supposed to be near Savannah.
It felt like I was reading the same thing over and over in certain parts. Also, it would have been nice if there had been more dialogue. It was a tell you story, not show you type of story. I found that boring. I liked the first few chapters, then it felt repetitive and shallow. The mystery was uneventful and not that exciting.
Shallow. We knew nothing about the characters besides they were comfortable with silence when it came to each other. A lot of the same description over and over. We learned nothing about the characters or their lives. Sure short and to the point, but I found it boring. I wanted to like it, I just did not.
If I knew how to cackle, I would have been doing it through this entire story. The cast as stellar and each lady was a needed part of the whole dynamic. It was as if the Golden Girls and the cast of the Alice’s Diner tv show had a child and it became this. Plus it added a dose of exceptional cozy mystery drama. Loved it.
I really enjoyed this mystery. Nothing like a small town group of female friends to figure out who did their dear friend in and why. The author draws you in will small town charm. Vivid descriptions of the surroundings , sights and smells put you right there with these tenacious ladies. Very well written. I highly recommend Kiss My Grits, It's Murder.
It was a quick read. I liked the southern feel to it. It felt cozy. I did feel like in parts it was repetitive and I never understood why they didn't talk to each other more. It felt kind of odd and after a while it got on my nerves because I wanted them to talk about emotions or their thoughts.