Fatal Festival: A Candice Holladay Cozy Mystery

by Carla Crowe

242 pages, Paperback

Published October 23, 2025

Reviews

[Marietta]

Another great book by Carla Crowe. She has her main character Candice Holladay with her German shepherd Chowder doing what comes natural to her when they find another dead body at beginning of the Fall Festival. The first thing she does is get a hold of the Chief of police to let him know and then she starts to investigate what has happen even though she is no longer on the police force. Her friend Christopher Donovan just happens to come along about this time as he is working the Fall Festival as a reporter for the local paper. With all his contracts from before Christopher can help Candice with her sleuthing as well as her friend Gracie Beckett. There are lots of twist and turns and just as many suspects as the victim did not make friend very well as she was always completing with everyone with her pies as that was the last legacy that her family had as one the suspects. But Candice does not stop looking for the truth even when some of the suspects are very prominent citizen from East Black Oak. I would recommend this book and the whole series as a must read. You can not put this book down once you start to read it as there is so much happening and you don’t want to miss any of it.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic addition to the Candice Holladay Cozy Mystery series that keeps you guessing until the end. Just before the Fall Festival Candice's incredibly smart, clue finding, German Shephard, Chowder finds the dead body of Martha Simms, a pie baking champion. Candice, Chowder, reporter, Christopher Donovan and the local police chief are investigating the case. What secrets does the town hold that involved Martha and the Simms family? This is a page turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat, especially when Candice gets very close to finding the truth and a murderer. Can she get out of this one unscathed? This is a page turner you can't put down once you begin. Not only do I recommend this book, but I highly recommend the entire series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Cynthia Woodlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. I would have liked the characters to be more developed because there were so many of them. It got confusing sometimes with all of the characters and who was who. This book takes place during a lively town festival. The story follows Candice Holladay, an amateur sleuth, as she navigates a web of secrets, danger, and intrigue.

Candice, with her sharp instincts and determination, dives headfirst into the mystery, balancing her relationships with her quirky sleuthing friends, the dashing reporter Christopher Donovan, and the local authorities. The festival, with its vibrant energy and underlying tension, becomes a character in its own right. This book is fast-paced with many twists and turns. Overall, this is a good book.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as the fall pie festival starts Chowder and Candice find Martha Simm's body hidden under a bunch of material. The group at The Crime Scene bookstore go into investigating mode and find a lot more than they were expecting. The are rumors of judges being paid off, money being siphoned off into shell corporations, and theft of some very special recipes. Candice is our ringleader but she has help from lots of people to figure out who the bad guys were and they were able to return their little town sadder but wiser to bad people.
I received an arc and this is my review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the Fall Festival, reigning pie champion Martha Simms’ body is discovered by Candice’s German Shepherd. Who is responsible for her death? Balancing her amateur sleuth friends and reporter Christopher Donovan with the local police chief and the mayor, Candice uncovers a chilling truth. This is a very good mystery. I would say it deserves a 4.75 rating.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Lorraine O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely great! The author crafted a well thought out plot with likeable characters. This is a full length book, she skimped no detail. It's written completely with all the details, not like the usual short eBooks. You feel as though you are part of the group looking for the murderer. The tension felt real during the search. This book earned 5* and more. A definite must read!
I am an ARC reader.

[Cherie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Candace’s dog Chowder discovers the body of the reigning pie champion just before the fall festival, whispers emerge of stolen recipes and land disputes and poison that may have led to her death. Candace, together with her group of amateur sleuths race against time to find the killer and discover the secrets that someone is willing to kill in order to keep secret. This is another great mystery that keeps you guessing and reading through the end. This is one you won’t want to miss!
Cherie

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good cozy mystery in the series - all can be read standalone. With more mysteries to figure out in town and in a race against a killer this mystery will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. Intriguing to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s festival time in East Black Oak and Chief Sterling and his staff are very busy. Chowder and Candice find reigning pie champion Martha Simms dead body before the festival begins. Who wanted to silence her and why? Why do people think silence is better than truth?
Candice, Christopher & Gracie investigate, with help from Lucy and two with four legs. Plenty of suspense.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chowder is a great German shepherd - even when he's finding a dead body! But then more is discovered. Who is stealing the festival's funds? How are they? How long has it been going on? They are just some of the questions Candice has to find answers to. An interesting who dunnit with unseen twists and turns! Recommended. This impartial review is given from my reading an ARC version of the story.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Exciting mystery with Murder and lots of suspense . Great characters to this book too. I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and recommend this book to other readers.

[Soscha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-done. I’m not sure which volume this book is but I can feel it: much character development.

And…cozy puppy, cozy kitty 💕