Jammed with Secrets: A Murder Festival Cozy Mystery, Book 1

A Festival Mystery #1

by Selina Hill

A Disgraced Iron Chef.
A Boy-Band Star Found Dead.
A Troublesome Sheriff Ex.

Sadie Cruz, once an Iron Chef champion, watched her career implode overnight. With nothing left, she returned to her hometown, scraping by as a landlord for a handful of food trucks with only one tenant left to keep her afloat.

That fragile peace shatters during the town’s highly anticipated Murder Festival, when a member of the legendary ’90s boyband BoyzTone is found dead inside one of the food truck trailers. Overnight, the spotlight swings back to Sadie. This time, it’s aimed squarely at her as the prime suspect.

Making things worse, that one rented trailer is immediately seized by the town sheriff, Lex Hayes—the man whose ring she refused ten years ago. He now seems determined to block her at every turn.

With her reputation ruined and her livelihood locked behind crime-scene tape, Sadie has no choice but to investigate the murder herself. The sheriff may stand in her way, but if she wants to clear her name and unravel the mystery surrounding her food truck business, she’ll have to uncover the truth before her future is burnt to a crisp for good.

This cozy mystery with food
• A humorous chef sleuth cozy mystery, following a sharp-tongued former chef turned food truck owner who can’t resist poking her nose where murder lurks
• A cozy mystery sheriff romance, featuring a slow-burn dynamic with a small-town sheriff ex—brooding, guarded, and very much still unfinished business
• A lighthearted food cozy mystery set against comforting culinary vibes, second chances, and secrets simmering just beneath the surface
• A Murder Festival cozy mystery in a tight-knit rural town, where gossip spreads fast, alibis fall apart, and one crime hits far too close to home

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Selina Hill is a cozy mystery author who enjoys a cozy life of her own—sharing a small home with her family and two curious cats.

Her days are often spent training for marathons, writing every day, and getting lost in books.

Many of her mystery ideas arrive while she’s running through the park, turning quiet moments into clues, twists, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Reviews

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a good start to a new series, especially if you are a foodie! Sadie Cruz is heading back to her hometown of Sunmeadow, CA, her life in shambles. When she left ten years ago, she had so many dreams and was able to accomplish so many of them, including winning on Iron Chief! She had her own well-regarded restaurant until a food critic dropped dead in her place. Even though she, her food, and the restaurant were cleared, her life was in shambles. Returning to her hometown, where she was raised by her Aunt and Uncle, she still has five food trucks she had bought after her win that her aunt and uncle managed for her. Unfortunately, with the fallout, she is down to one tenant, and she is determined to keep him, although Josh is barely holding on . Determined to help drum up some business, she gets him into the Sunmeadow 90's Music Festival, and things start out very promising the first evening. Unfortunately, when they arrive in the morning to set up, they find the body of one of the 90's boy band members dead in the trailer. What follows is an interesting mystery, as Sadie makes new friends, finds old ones, and works to find answers and stop her world from imploding again! I really enjoyed the potential here, only one TSTL moment for our heroine, but I definitely enjoyed the world and business, Sadie is growing. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to discover! #JammedwithSecrets #AFestivalMystery #SelinaHill #bookreview #bookideas #retired readers

[Verity W · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series of small town cozy crimes and sees Sadie, a disgraced chef return to her home town to try and rebuild her life. She's trying to do this by running food trailers at a local music festival when a member of a 90s boyband is found dead in one of them. Not satisfied with the police investigation, Sadie starts to investigate herself to try and save her business.

The actual murder mystery plot was pretty good - but the problem here is Sadie. There are some issues with her backstory that make it hard for the reader to sympathise with her and entirely understandable why the people in town wouldn't want to eat her food. This is a problem entirely of the author's own creation - and made me wonder why it wasn't set up differently. And that's all I can say without spoilers - so for more details click the spoiler tags below.


So Sadie's restaurant went out of business because a man died there - and it is in the narrative from the start that it wasn't Sadie's fault and she was cleared but that no publicity was given tot he fact that the restaurant had been cleared, just to the allegations. It is only right at the end that it is revealed what happened to the man in the restaurant - that he was poisoned with cyanide. Now Sadie says that her restaurant was completely cleared by the police don't know where the cyanide came from and who did give it to her - so how can she have been cleared and are you sruprised that no one wants to eat her food? Top top that off, Sadie seems to go out of the way to be rude and combative to anyone who approaches her about it rather than explaining what happened. Now this is presumably because the author doesn't want to reveal what happened until the end, but it doesn't engender sympathy from the reader. To top that off, the cookies that are a key part of the plot are in a jar that has (sharp) chips and scratches in it - that she is still using in a professional food setting, knowing they are there and continues to use after someone scratches themselves (hard enough to draw blood) on them. Just no. And these are all choices made by the author so it didn't have to be like this. I suspect the cyanide is to set up a through train in the series as Sadie tries to solve that death, but honestly it's not worth it for the damage it does to the way you see her as a reader.



***Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.**

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series starter!!

I so enjoyed this book. It is well written, very easy to read, has good, strong characters, and a great storyline and mystery. It flows beautifully and kept my interest throughout. I didn't want to stop reading, and the book ending just had me wanting more.

Sadie is an award-winning chef, who's returned to her hometown after disaster struck her restaurant in San Francisco, following a food critic's death there. Though she had nothing to do with it, her reputation was ruined, and her boyfriend dumped her. The bad reputation unfortunately has followed her back to Sunmeadow.

She'd started a food truck business, renting them out, with her aunt and uncle managing them. After the disaster in San Francisco, all but one of the renters turned in the trucks. Applying to have the one remaining truck at a local festival, she hopes he'll renew his lease, so she has some income.

Of course, things don't go well… and a member of a 90's band, who were playing at the festival, is found dead in Sadie's trailer. The town sheriff, Lex, who had asked her to marry him 10 years ago, has seized the trailer.

Sadie's determination is wonderful, and shines through the story., as she fights to save her reputation by finding the murderer, with some help from a few friends (new and from her past). She struggles with Lex making the investigation, which he feels should be left to the officials, harder for her.

All in all, a great start to a new series. I'm hoping for some romance to come in future books and really look forward to book 2!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammed with Secrets

A Festival Mystery

by Selina Hill

After a prominent food critic dies at her popular San Francisco restaurant, Iron Chef Sadie Cruz’s career is gone. She returns home to Sunmeadow to regroup with her small fleet of food trucks. Business goes out well until a member of the boy band BoyzTone is found in her only operational food truck. Once again, a body has shut down Iron Chef Sadie. This time Sadie has nowhere else to go. No one else carries about Sadie’s career as much as Sadie, so she decides to solve the murder and save her business. Her investigation puts her at odds with Sheriff Lex Hayes, the man who proposed to her ten years ago. A proposal she refused. This makes for awkward, amusing encounters through the book.

Jammed with Secrets is a solid start to a new series. The conflict/backstory between Lex and Sadie keep adds tension. It’s a little difficult to nail down the murder’s identity, which is a good thing. Sheila Clarke, a resident of Sunmeadow and host of the Mrs. Podcast, is a good sidekick for Sheila because of all her connections in Sunmeadow, her daring plans, and the humor she brings to the novel. The book is also a quick read at just under 300 pages.

There are a few errors in the book with spelling, but loose ends are tied up by the end of the book. It’s a good debut novel. 4/5 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nancy]

Chef Sadie Cruz was once an Iron Chef champion with a renowned restaurant until there was a fatal incident. Now she’s back home, trying to regroup. But just as she begins to find her footing, tragedy strikes again.

This story pulled me in slowly, but by the halfway point I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what really happened. The twists made nearly every character seem like a plausible suspect. And go‑getter Shelia from The Mrs. Podcast was a fantastic addition to the cast.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie certainly doesn’t need the notoriety that comes when a man is found dead in her food truck. It hasn’t been long since she lost both her reputation and her restaurant after a customer died from eating one of her dishes.

The story features an interesting cast of characters and an engaging plot. I’m especially curious to learn who committed the original murder that cost Sadie her business and good name. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A chef who becomes an amateur sleuth sets out to clear her name in this fun, fast-paced story. It quickly pulled me in, and I found it hard to put down. The characters are likeable and well developed, the plot is engaging with a few good twists, and the writing style is easy and enjoyable to read. I highly recommend it and can hardly wait for the next book to be published.
I received a review copy and I'm leaving voluntary and honest review.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens for putting this ARC in my digital hands!

Chef Sadie, although down on her luck, still has enough fight in herself to get back up. What I enjoyed about this cozy mystery was the banter: between Sadie and her only remaining tenant Josh; Sadie and her new found friend Sheila; and Lex.

As far as cozies go, Jammed with Secrets isn’t groundbreaking, but it delivers in all the ways you want a book in this genre to and I look forward to what Chef Sadie might get up to in the next book or even to have the chance to meet Aunt Maria and Uncle Rob!

[Geraldine Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely murder mystery.
I really enjoyed the protagonist chef cum detective Sadie Cruz.
The style of writing is quite humorous so although dreadful things happen to Sadie, the reader doesn't feel brought down by them.
I really look forward to reading another book by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Robert Foland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jammed With Secrets" is a charming mystery novel where Selina Hill delivers a captivating story filled with a fantastic cast of characters. It grabs your attention right from the start and keeps you hooked until the end—an intriguing mystery through and through.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story turned out to be a twisted tale of greed, pure greed!!! When the secrets were all revealed at the end, I felt crestfallen, heartbroken, and gutted that it all came down to betrayals and greed. Master manipulation and blame shifting were major components of this evil game. I had someone else in my mind for whodunit, and I was wrong. A cunning game plan, but not cunning enough in the end!!! I did like the gumption, initiative, and industry that Sadie has shown, it made her a character I can get behind. Suspense, drama/danger, and a possible rekindled romance!!! I'm here for it all. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest review.

[elijahsreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

jammed with secrets was an amazing debut, but also easily up there with one of my favorite cozy mysteries. Now I loved all the elements of it; the foodie, the boy bands, the mystery!!

I will be reading this entire series as it comes out because it’s just so good and I totally recommend everyone to pick it up!

[Martha Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. This is a new series and I would recommend reading. Very well written.

[Jane Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a good book this was.

I didn’t realize who the killer was until the last two chapters.

[Sharon Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammed With Secrets
This is a good cozy mystery. The heroine, Sadie Cruz, is an accomplished businesswoman, a type A Iron Chef with a well-established restaurant in San Francisco. Suddenly, her world falls apart after a death in her restaurant is erroneously linked to the food she served. Rumors spread, and soon, her restaurant business and her reputation are in tatters. She returns to the nearby hometown she fled several years earlier to lick her wounds. Luckily, she could stay at the home of her aunt and uncle.
She quietly organized a series of food trucks that she rented out to maintain some income, but when her name became associated with them, most vendors canceled their leases. When she was down to one lease, she rushed to convince the chef, Josh, an Asian fusion cook, to give her a try a bit longer. Sadie got him booked at the local festival, and he saw his business pick up. A retooled former “boy band” was a headliner at the music festival and brought in crowds, that is, until one member was found dead in Josh’s truck with Sadie's "jammy cookies" crumbled on his body.
Afraid that her income was further jeopardized, Sadie decides to investigate to save he remaining truck, which is now a closed crime scene. This is complicated by Sadie learning that the lead sheriff detective is none other than her high school boyfriend, Lex, whom she dropped when she went off to pursue her chef dreams. Stymied, she meets Sheila, a Mom Podcaster who has her finger on the pulse of the community through her many school and neighborhood connections. The two team up with Sheila providing the intel, while Sadie does the footwork of investigating.
Read on as the two sleuths try to work with and around the officials, venture into questionable situations, and trip down the wrong paths. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the band do not exactly help, and when their manager is suspected of committing suicide, the plot, as they say, thickens.
The supporting characters in this story are well drawn; I hope this is the first of a series as I look forward to more escapades with Sadie and friends.
Is the culprit outed? Does Sadie get her reputation back? What happens with Sheriff Lex?
Read this book to learn more about this interesting storyline, and you’ll be intrigued also.
I received an advance review copy of this book and have reviewed it fairly.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jammed With Secrets is a sharp, fast‑paced mystery with a deliciously messy heroine at its centre. Sadie Cruz—once an Iron Chef darling, now a disgraced culinary outcast—returns to her hometown hoping for anonymity and a quiet restart. Instead, she walks straight into a murder scene, a media frenzy, and the unwelcome glare of her past.

The premise is instantly addictive: a ’90s boy‑band star found dead in Sadie’s last remaining food trailer, a sheriff who also happens to be the ex‑fiancé she left behind, and a town all too ready to believe the worst. The author balances humour, tension, and emotional grit beautifully, giving Sadie a voice that’s equal parts vulnerable, stubborn, and fiercely determined.

What really makes the story sing is the dynamic between Sadie and Sheriff Lex Hayes. Their shared history adds a crackling undercurrent to every confrontation—equal parts resentment, unfinished business, and reluctant chemistry. Watching them circle each other while the stakes climb higher is half the fun.

The mystery itself is tightly plotted, with plenty of twists, red herrings, and small‑town secrets simmering beneath the surface. As Sadie digs deeper, the narrative blends culinary flair with crime‑scene chaos in a way that feels fresh and genuinely entertaining. By the time the truth comes out, you’re fully invested in her fight to reclaim her life.
A lively, engaging, and compulsively readable mystery perfect for fans of character‑driven whodunits with a dash of humour and heart. Sadie Cruz is the kind of flawed, fiery protagonist you can’t help rooting for.

With thanks to Selina Hill, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kcaroth1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jammed with Secrets by Selina Hill is the first in the series featuring Sadie Cruz, a humiliated chef. After rising to fame as an iron chef, her restaurant closes when a man dies after eating her food. Although cleared of the crime, public suspicion remains, and she returns to her hometown to manage some food truck rentals. Only one vendor remains for the food truck, so she places all of her energy on it and the festival surrounding an NSYNC-like boy band. Everything gets worse when a body is left in the food truck.

The best thing about this is the relationship between Sadie and her truck vendor, Josh. They have fun banter and make a good team as they try and solve the mystery. Plus, the food sounds good! She also has a good insta-friendship with a local podcaster. On the other hand, Sadie is otherwise constantly uptight and refuses to let the skeptics know that she has been cleared of the previous charges. Understandably, her life is difficult right now, but she is grating and puts herself in dangerous situations without much thought.

Because I didn’t like Sadie and didn’t see much change in her throughout the story, I probably disliked the trope of potential love interest with the sheriff more than I usually would. There is a scene in a conference room in city hall that is supposed to be funny but just seemed silly and forced.
Ultimately, the mystery was pretty good with a lot of twists and red herrings. It is well written, and I think there is potential for the series as Sadie starts to find her place in the community.

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the eARC.
2.5 stars rounded to 3

[Estelle Bouldin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love cozy mysteries with a fallen-from-grace heroine, and a small town that’s just itching to spill its secrets, Jammed with Secrets is a delightful treat.

Sadie Cruz is a layered protagonist. Once an Iron Chef champion, she returns to her hometown under a cloud of scandal after a food critic dies at her restaurant. She has a mix of sharp wit, bruised pride, and stubborn determination to rebuild her life. Her internal monologue is funny, self-aware, and just prickly enough to keep things interesting.

The setting is pure cozy gold: a sunny small town, a bustling food-truck plaza, and a nostalgic ’90s music festival that feels vivid and fun without overwhelming the mystery. I especially loved the food-truck angle—it’s a fresh twist on the usual bakery/bookshop setup, and the food descriptions (jammy heart cookies, chow mein, festival snacks) will absolutely make you hungry.

The mystery unfolds at a comfortable pace, layering personal drama, town politics, and buried resentments in a way that feels natural rather than forced. There are plenty of subtle clues and character moments that kept me guessing, and when things turn dark, the contrast with the otherwise cheerful festival atmosphere works beautifully.

What really stood out to me was the emotional undercurrent: themes of reputation, second chances, and how hard it is to escape a story once a town decides who you are. Sadie’s journey isn’t just about solving a crime—it’s about reclaiming her identity on her own terms.

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars: This is Hill's first entry in the Festival Mystery Series which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery set in California. Featuring a disgraced Iron Chef champion who finds herself turning sleuth after discovering a legendary '90s boyband member dead inside one of her food trailers smeared with the remnants of one of her jam cookies. Now a prime suspect with her livelihood locked behind crime-scene tape and her sheriff ex hell-bent on sabotaging her investigation, she'll have to work fast to find out who among the boybander's fans, family and fellow group members killed the singer if she's going to salvage her last chance at a life she can live before it's burnt to a crisp for good.

With plenty of twists and turns, Hill has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Hill's writing and character work are brilliant; the main character's well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.

A great start to a new series and I look forward to reading more. Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and ARC provided by Selina Hill Publishing | Selina Hill Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a new series follows disgraced celebrity chef Sadie Cruz. After having to shut down her restaurant, she goes to live with her aunt and uncle and run the food trucks she has in her name. However, things take a turn when a famous boyband member is found dead in one of her trucks. Although she is not a suspect, another death is being tied to her name, which she knows will for sure doom her. She sets out to find the true culprit to get her business back on track.

This was a pretty good first book in a cozy series! It took a while for Sadie to get more likable I'd say, but then once she got into investigating, I really liked it. I like the side characters that seemingly will be in future books, and I think this series has a lot of promise!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Jammed with Secrets! Sadie was likeable and relatable, a character that you want to root for. I liked that upon her return she made friends with someone new, not reuniting with an old high school best friend like what often happens in cozies. Sheila was a fun sleuthing partner and I also hope we see more of Josh in future books. I also enjoyed the Lex storyline and can't wait to see where that goes.
The story was well written and fast paced. The suspects were plentiful and keeps you guessing the whole way through. I read it through in one day because I didn't want put it down. I hope to see more of Sadie, Lex, and everyone else in Sunmeadow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Selina Hill Publishing for the ARC.

[Devi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review validation pending an answer from the author

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 301 pages
⏱ 4 hours
🏷️ ARC provided by BookSiren

A disgraced chef, a dead pop star, and a bunch of gossip-hungry townsfolk!!! Selina Hill knows exactly how to blend humor, heart, and homicide. Jammed with Secrets checks every box I crave in a cozy mystery: it’s full of flavor (literally), features a stubborn but lovable sleuth, and wraps the tension in just enough warmth to keep the comfort high. The food descriptions had me craving bao buns and kimchi fries, and the set piece at the music festival food trucks? Perfect atmosphere.

Sadie Cruz is a classic cozy protagonist with a twist. She’s disgraced, defensive, and determined not to let one bad chapter define her entire life. I loved how her past as an Iron Chef added stakes beyond the murder itself. This isn’t just about solving a crime, it’s about reclaiming her identity. The romance angle with the sheriff ex adds just the right amount of tension. Stoic, clenched-jaw energy? Yes, please.

The mystery itself kept me hooked with solid suspects, clever red herrings, and that satisfying "aha" moment when pieces clicked. It's not groundbreakingly twisty, but it doesn't need to be. The real draw is the culinary cozy heart, the second-chance romance, and Sadie's determination to reclaim her life. The pacing zipped along nicely for a quick 4-hour read, with just enough humor and heart to balance the stakes. Fans of food truck mysteries or Carmela Dutra-style cozies will totally get why this one hits the spot.

Would I recommend it?
If you're hunting for a fresh culinary cozy mystery with food truck flair, small-town drama, ex-romance tension, and a sassy sleuth who cooks up trouble, this culinary cozy delivers. It's satisfying, fun, and leaves you hungry for more. Fingers crossed Selina Hill turns this into a series.

Spill the Sauce: What's Your Favorite Foodie Cozy Mystery?

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie may have returned to her hometown with her tail between her legs, but she refuses to give up. Doing her best to get her food truck business back on track, she participates in a local music fest featuring a retro boy band.

When one of the members is killed and found in her food truck, Sadie is determined to not only get her business back on track but too clear her name as well. Will Sadie be able to serve up a killer alongside saving her business?

This is a great start to a new cozy series. I look forward to reading more future entries are released.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie Cruz had it all at one time. A tragic accident and a fall from grace sends Sadie back to her hometown to pick up the pieces and reinvent her future. Disaster strikes again and Sadie finds herself the subject of another investigation. Will she be able to clear herself again? What does her future hold? Sometimes fast paced and other times a slow road, Jammed with Secrets is a good beginning to a new series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jammed with Secrets is Book 1 in A Festival Mystery by Selina Hills. Sadie is A disgraced Iron Chef and she is returning to her home town. The story is about second chances. Sadie wants to lease her food trucks not get embroiled in another murder case. The town sheriff, Lex, is Sadie's former boyfriend. Will Lex save Sadie or lock her up!? Great characters and a very good story equal a can't put down book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ruined chef trying to start over as a food truck owner runs across the body of a 90's rock star in her food truck. Who Killed him? Who would want him dead? This is a great book.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shannon Foudray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of a new cozy mystery series introduces us to Sadie, a disgraced chef, who’s heading back to her hometown with the hopes she can finally find her footing again. A very interesting mystery that keeps you engaged from start to finish

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Exciting to the end. Great mystery for a quick afternoon read. I enjoyed the main characters especially since they had a past history. Can’t wait for the next book.