Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits

by Skylar Warren

Welcome to Honeybee’s diner, where the scent of butter and garlic wraps itself around you, thick and comforting. Jessie Haynes’ homestyle cooking feeds the hearts and souls of the good people of Willow Bluff. Until someone puts murder on the menu!

Y’all are invited to dig into a steamin’ plate of meatloaf. The diner’s well-worn red chairs have cradled folks from every corner of Willow Bluff—Jessie’s podcasting bestie, Tee, Old Mr Higgins, two mighty mischievous kittens, Biscuits and Gravy, and every tattling townsperson in between—so when the mayor turns blue after a bite of Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits, she finds herself in seriously hot water…

Suddenly, all eyes are swivelled toward Jessie. For fifty years her family has fed Willow Bluff, and Jessie won’t let one mouthful shatter the legacy of her grandmother’s secret recipes. The mayor’s peanut allergy was the talk of the town, so when traces are found in his food, Jessie must fight to clear her name.

An empty peanut packet in the diner’s pantry has Jessie and Tee hot on the heels of the murderer when another case of food tampering occurs at a nearby bakery. Someone is dishing out delicious death sentences—but how many locals will get served before Jessie can crack the case? Her investigation must be a recipe for success or Honeybee’s will be toast…

This unputdownable and addictive cozy mystery is full of Southern charm, a gripping whodunnit and a feisty amateur sleuth. It’s perfect for fans of Ellery Adams, R. L. Killmore and Joanne Fluke.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2026

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this one literally opens up with a BANG!

The small town (Willow Bluff, Georgia) Mayor comes in to the local restaurant (Honeybee’s Diner, that’s been run by the same family for generations…) looking for his daily dose of shrimp and grits. He takes one bite… heavenly… and… Drops…. Dead….

Not kidding!
This. Is. The. Opening. Of. The. Book!!!! 😮😮😮

Poor Jessie, who’s been working at the restaurant since she was knee high to a grasshopper, is in SHOCK! It’s now HER restaurant! And she is SO VERY CAREFUL OF EVERYTHING, as this was her grandmas legacy! And she will do any and everything to keep it in tip top shape, and in business!

So, when the local cops come (they know everyone in town by name), and shut down the restaurant while the investigation goes on… well, Jessie is heartbroken!

And, when they suggest that SHE is a suspect because he ate HER FOOD… well, the whole staff goes ballistic! Jessie is the sweetest, kindest soul you will ever meet. She wouldn’t hurt a fly!
Thank God her friend Tee does not have the same standards. She will take you down and talk about it later… and she is going to do everything in her power to prove Jessie innocent!

Mind you… This Is A Small Town!
Everyone knows everyone else!

And while they are “Bless Your Heart-ing” everyone, they are also talking up a storm and spreading rumors all over town. In coffee shops. At bakeries. In banks. On corners. At the pharmacy. Any and everywhere you can think of… lips are smacking and whispers are running from all these mouths… and Jessie’s livelihood hangs in the balance!

And… the descriptions will have YOUR mouth watering during the entire book!

Loved how all the staff and some of the community came together to defend Jessie and STAND BY HER while all this was going on! Also loved all the scandalous activity going on right under their noses in this little community! 😳🤣

Sweet, sassy with a side of ??? poison?? And…two cats named Biscuits and Gravy! 🩷 I mean, how could you not love this stuff???

#MurderWithASideOfShrimpAndGrits by @SkylarWarren and narrated Beautifully by @MeganGage.
Book #1 in the series. And, apparently, this is a debut author!

This one is DUE OUT TOMORROW, 5/13/26. Please keep your eyes 👀 open for it!!

4 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @BookoutureAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[Hannah The Cajun Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Murder With A Side of Shrimp and Grits* was such a fun, cozy read! 🍤✨ Being from the South (Louisiana 👋), the small town atmosphere felt super familiar — honestly gave me little Mississippi town vibes the whole time. I kept picturing Whistle Stop from Fried Green Tomatoes while reading. 🥹

The mystery itself had a very classic Agatha Christie feel with suspects being ruled out one by one. Even though technically the whole town could’ve done it, the small town setting made it feel very “closed room mystery”. 🔍

There were definitely some slower moments in the middle, but the banter and humor kept things entertaining enough that I never got bored through the slower pace.

And bonus points because I *did not* guess the who OR the why 👏😂 Always love when a cozy mystery can still surprise me at the end!

Thanks to Netgalley, Skylar Warren, and Bookouture Publishing for the ARC and chance to give my honest feedback

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits? More like shrimp and grits with a side of murder.

I’m always thankful for the complimentary ALCs from Bookouture Audio as they make up a big part of my reading life. This one didn’t fully land for me, but it still brought me enjoyment, just not necessarily in the way I expected. I was so excited to jump into a southern cozy mystery because the cover and title completely drew me in while also making me instantly hungry.

On the bright side, we are now having shrimp and grits for dinner tonight because the descriptions and atmosphere in this book were fantastic at painting a picture. The food, the restaurant scenes, and the overall southern small-town vibes were easily the strongest parts of the story. The author clearly has a knack for creating a world that feels lived in, complete with quirky denizens and descriptions so vivid you can practically smell the food while reading.

At the same time though, the flowery language occasionally became distracting for me and pulled focus away from the mystery itself. Speaking of distractions, it almost felt like the author got distracted from the actual central plot: a small-town murder. The mystery often came across as more of an afterthought while the larger focus stayed on the townspeople and cozy atmosphere surrounding them.

Honestly, had this leaned more fully into cozy fiction, women’s fiction, or even an upmarket style that focused more heavily on the emotional aspects and town dynamics, I think I would have enjoyed it considerably more. Those elements felt much stronger and more natural than the mystery side of the story.

As for the narration by Megan Gage, I struggled a bit listening at 1x speed. While her pacing itself was decent, there were little things present that veteran audiobook listeners tend to notice, like lip smacking and muddied word endings. Thankfully, speeding it up improved the experience enough for me to comfortably continue listening, but I still couldn’t push it anywhere near my usual 2x speed because clarity became difficult. This ended up being one where I had to stay around 1.5x and remain pretty dialed in for it to work well for me.

So in the end, I did enjoy a good portion of this read because of the cozy atmosphere it created and the immersive southern setting. I just ultimately found myself disappointed that the mystery elements never quite met the mark for me.

[Brighton Troha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was tempted to DNF this book at multiple points. I was expecting a cozy mystery. Everything was described with flowery and overly colorful descriptions - with a random sentence here and there like ohh no but don’t forget there was a murder. The pacing of the whole book was off, with most of the book dragging on and on and then a super quick wrap up at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

[Cozy Reader Lady]

I got a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley and had to stop 10% of the way in at the 7th chapter. It had potential to be a good story. It was just over the top describing of literally everything. Way too much use of literary devices. It seemed as if every other sentence had the word "like" in it. I just couldn't keep listening to it, it highly irritated me and was too slow to build the story due to the previously mentioned issues.

[Amela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits follows Jessie, a third generation cook at her family diner, Honeybee's Hideaway. Jessie is serving what she thinks is a normal breakfast when the mayor suddenly collapses from an allergic reaction. While this tragic event is just treated as a tragedy initially, it comes out that Mayor Dobbins was murdered, and it's down to Jessie and her friends to clear her and the diner's name.

This was a fun cozy mystery with a lot of focus on the importance of food and your loved ones in times of crisis. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships and how they all pulled together to make sure that Honeybee's Hideaway wouldn't struggle after the mayor was murdered in the diner. I also felt like the narrator did a good job with the audiobook, and if felt like she got the emotion right, but it could be a little bit over the top at times.

This gets a 3.5 rounded down from me because it felt like the pacing in the middle dragged quite a bit. I think there was a lot of focus on how angry Jessie was at the town talking about her behind her back that could have been condensed, and it felt like we didn't actually get into trying to look for the murderer until after the 50% mark, or maybe it just felt that way because there were too many suspects.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ALC!

[Sheri Strba-Brozovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits overall, but it definitely took me a little while to fully get into the story. The beginning felt pretty slow, and at times the middle dragged on more than I expected. That being said, I’m really glad I stuck with it because the ending made it worth the finish.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the characters. Jessie was easy to root for, and the town itself felt alive because all of the townspeople were written so well into the story. I also really enjoyed the little side romance Jessie had going on — it added a nice cozy touch alongside the mystery.

While the pacing wasn’t perfect for me, the strong characters, cozy small-town atmosphere, and satisfying ending still made this an enjoyable read. A solid 3-star mystery for me!

[Lola]

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I DNF'd this one at 9%.

I liked the premise for this one, but something about the writing style just didn't work for me. I read a few chapters and it just didn't grip me, the way it was written didn't held my attention. I also felt like I didn't really get to know the main character and the focus was just on how this murder would hurt the family business. I didn't really had the urge to continue reading, so decided to DNF it.

[CourtneyRenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We went from cozy small town charm to murder pretty quickly. Jessie is working at her family restaurant when the mayor drops dead (1st chapter)! From here we embark on a who done it with a town divided somewhat on if the food at Honeybees is safe or has it been tampered with. 

This book was extremely descriptive, to much on some parts. At some point I guessed the ending but I still enjoyed the suspense and tense moments

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC. 

3.75 stars

[Stephen Soltis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits by Skylar Warren. This is one of those cozy mysteries that truly stands out.

What impressed me most was how well the book balanced strong character, setting, and plot development, which are areas that can sometimes feel a bit thin in the genre. The characters felt fully realized, the setting was vivid and immersive, and the mystery itself was thoughtfully built and satisfying to follow.

At the same time, it didn’t lose any of the charm that makes cozy mysteries so enjoyable. It still had that warm, engaging feel that makes you want to settle in and keep reading.

I also listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story and characters to life.

A perfect blend of depth and comfort, which is exactly what I hope for in a cozy mystery.

[Clara Lança · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits will take you to the heart of Georgia, to Willow Buff, a small town where news spread, the community is tight knit, and the food is to die for.
Jessie Hayne’s has been working tirelessly to run her grandmother’s legendary diner, Honeybee’s. For some it might only be a place to stop and grab a cup of coffee, but for Jessie and the people closest to her the diner represents decades of hard work and dedication.
In the morning of the diner’s 50th anniversary the establishment is more packed than usual with extra clientele turning up to celebrate, one of them being Mayor Dobbins; however, after taking a bite of his usual shrimp and grits the Mayor collapses with what we later come to find out was an allergic reaction to peanuts.
What follows is a chaotic mix of investigation, gossip, scrambled eggs and more gossip. As a formal investigation slowly ensues Jessie’s reputation is quickly being dragged through the mud by one of Willow Bluff’s most prolific gossiper – Barbara Platt. Being an estate agent, Barbara has always had her mind set on purchasing the space where Honeybee’s runs and find this new tragedy as an opportunity to spin her web of lies and deceit. After Roo, the local sheriff, forces Jessie to close the diner with reopening date in sight, she decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands and get to the bottom of this murder to clear her name. she quickly assembles a team of Norah (her mother), Tee (her bubbly and loyal childhood best friend), Maddie (Honeybee’s 17-year-old determined waitress) and Brad (Willow Buff’s new therapist who had just arrived fresh in town). As the group digs into the clues, they find that not only was this attack premeditated and targeted at the mayor, but the culprit was also trying to take the diner down in the chaos of everything. They quickly conjure up a list of possible suspects and try to question them without letting on that they’re on to them and as their investigation continues, they seem to rule out most of their possible culprits. This is until someone else has an allergic reaction to their usual order in a different establishment, and then the tables turn and the stakes are higher. As they get closer and closer to the truth the group must navigate the stress of their situation while staying composed enough to be inconspicuous to the killer.

The events of this novel revolve heavily around food, which is so well described that it will leave you hungry. Although I’ve never experienced this type of cuisine I was left feeling a real craving for all item son Honeybee’s menu.
Throughout the story the reader will get acquainted not only with the main set of characters, but also with the locals of Willow Buff. The one that stuck out to me the most was Tee, Jessie’s childhood best friend. Tee has a strong and defiant personality and is always quick to help our main character. She gives me the same vibes as Chloe Sullivan, as if she would have done anything to help Jessie not only with bringing the diner back but also managing her emotions as the events unravelled.
The prose is easy to read, and I feel like you could really turn your brain off and enjoy reading a small-town mystery murder without having to worry about missing clues or being confused by the plot.

The story starts off strong and dramatic, but in a way that seemed self-aware; however, after the first few chapters the plot starts to really stagnate and seem to be dragging until about 80% in when everything happens all at once. It also felt like it had to keep reminding the reader every two chapters that Honeybee’s was in real danger, and that Willow Buff is a small town where gossip travels fast, and I wish this would’ve been shown to the reader instead of constantly reminded through dialogue. I also felt that the events that pushed the plot forwards were forced. Jessie and Tee would walk to the supermarket just walk out empty handed, or Jessie would go into the hairdressers, just to then decide that she’d changed her mind and she actually didn’t want to buy any of the products, and you can tell the whole purpose of it was so the characters would eavesdrop and find new information, or to establish that the locals were gossiping and wary of Jessie! Although I know this wasn’t a criminal/mystery novel, I found the way the murder case was handled very unrealistic. Following the mayor’s death the diner was temporarily closed (for literally a day) and evidence was taken from the kitchen. However not even 48 hours later Jessie and her gang were cleaning the kitchen and found missed evidence (and kept on cleaning and potentially tampering with evidence after finding a key piece of evidence), and following this Roo decided it was okay to reopen the diner (but it’s okay because they were only allowed to serve a limited menu), which made absolutely no logical sense! Lastly, the dialogue also seemed a bit silly at times in a way that I felt like no one actually talks like that in real life.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book but I wish it had leaned more either towards a cosy small town mystery or a chilling criminal instead of limboing in the middle, and I wish it had taken more time actually showing the dynamics of this small town, and making us understand why Honeybee’s closing down would be such a tragedy to all the locals.

ARC from NetGalley

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mayor dies one bite into a plate of shrimp and grits and suddenly everybody in Willow Bluff starts acting like they’ve been waiting YEARS for an excuse to destroy this woman emotionally. I’m talking Olympic-level gossip. Competitive whispering. The kind of small-town energy where somebody sees an ambulance and immediately calls three cousins, two church friends, and a woman named Cheryl who “has a feeling.” And poor Jessie is standing there like, “I literally just served breakfast?”

That’s the thing I actually liked about Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits. Jessie never feels like one of those quirky cozy mystery heroines who treats murder investigations like a fun side quest between latte refills. This woman is STRESSED. Honeybee’s diner is her grandmother’s legacy, her livelihood, her second chance after life didn’t exactly pan out the way she hoped, and now the entire town is acting like she personally hunted the mayor for sport with a bag of peanuts.

Which honestly made the emotional core hit harder than I expected from a book with kittens named Biscuits and Gravy. Those cat names sound fake in the way Southern town things are always fake until you visit one and meet a real dog named Congressman.

The audiobook really carried the vibe for me too. Megan Gage narrates everybody with this warm, lived-in familiarity that makes even the nosiest side characters feel weirdly lovable. And thank God because these people TALK. Every conversation in this book feels like somebody leaning across a diner counter going, “Now I’m not one to speculate…” before delivering the most damaging information you’ve heard in your life.

The atmosphere is honestly the strongest part. Honeybee’s feels cozy in that hyper-specific Southern way where everything smells like coffee, butter, and unresolved family history. Every meal description made me hungry enough to become a problem. Somewhere around the third cobbler reference I started thinking maybe murder at a diner wouldn’t be the worst way to go, which feels medically concerning.

Now, did this book maybe spend a little too much time lovingly describing literally everything? Yes. Absolutely. There were moments where I felt like the story wandered off to admire its own hydrangeas while the murder plot waited in the car. But cozy mystery pacing is always a gamble because sometimes you’re here for crime and sometimes you’re here to eavesdrop on church ladies emotionally annihilating each other over pie. And honestly? I was into the mess of it all.

I also loved Tee, Jessie’s podcasting best friend, because every cozy mystery needs one person with absolutely unreasonable confidence. Tee has the energy of someone who says “I did a little digging” after committing several misdemeanors. Her running around town trying to clear Jessie’s name while also fully enjoying the drama felt extremely real to me. Like yes, support your friend, but also this is the biggest thing to happen in Willow Bluff since somebody backed into the Piggly Wiggly sign in 2009.

The mystery itself worked better for me once the story stopped trying so hard to be quaint and started letting the tension build. The food tampering angle actually gets pretty unsettling because allergies are terrifyingly easy to exploit, and there’s something especially nasty about turning comfort food into a weapon. The reveal comes in fast, but I had fun getting there, mostly because the town had approximately fourteen people acting suspicious at all times.

This ended up being a really solid three star audiobook for me. A little shaggy in the middle, deeply charming, very hungry-making, and full of the kind of Southern chaos where everyone says “bless his heart” right before describing somebody’s financial ruin in graphic detail.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Crave Peach Cobbler While Distrusting Every Potluck South of Atlanta

And thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. This audiobook mostly just convinced me that diner waitresses know everything and should probably be running the FBI.

[Hanarama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, NetGalley, and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review

"Someone was serving up more than comfort food in Willow Bluff..."

I gave this 3.5 stars

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits is a cosy culinary mystery with plenty of Southern small-town charm, delicious food descriptions, and a cast of characters that shows a lot of promise for future books in the series.

While this first instalment didn't completely win me over, I can absolutely see the potential of the Honeybee Diner Mysteries and would happily return to Willow Bluff for book two. The cosy atmosphere, family dynamics, and sense of community were easily the strongest parts of the story.


The Audiobook Performance
The narrator did a great job bringing the warmth and personality of Jessie to life. The Southern charm came through well, and the overall listening experience was engaging. My only small criticism is that some of the character voices sounded quite similar at times, particularly during conversations, which occasionally made it harder to distinguish between POVs.


Pros
• Cosy small-town atmosphere – Honeybee's Diner felt like somewhere I would genuinely want to visit. The food, local gossip, family connections, and community spirit created a wonderfully cosy backdrop for the mystery.

• Food and family vibes – This was my favourite aspect of the book. The diner scenes were warm and inviting, and the relationships between the characters gave the story its heart.

• Likeable cast – Jessie was easy to root for, and I enjoyed getting to know the residents of Willow Bluff. There are several side characters who I think could become real highlights as the series develops.

• Strong series potential – This felt very much like a foundation book. A lot of time is spent establishing the setting, characters, and recurring relationships, which should pay off in future instalments.

• Classic cosy mystery feel – Amateur sleuthing, a close-knit town full of nosey neighbours, comforting food, with a murder mystery at the centre. Fans of traditional cosy mysteries will likely find plenty to enjoy here!

Cons
• Repetition – Certain observations and descriptions felt repeated throughout the story, particularly references to people staring at Jessie or reacting to her presence. After a while, these moments began to drag and feel boring.

• POV distinction – I would have liked the different perspectives to have more distinctive voices. At times the characters inner dialogue sounded quite similar, both in the writing and the audiobook narration.

• Mystery takes a back seat at times – The focus on introducing the town and cast occasionally slowed the momentum of the investigation.


Final Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Willow Bluff. While this wasn't a standout cosy mystery for me, I think it's a solid debut that lays important groundwork for the rest of the series. The food descriptions had me hungry, the family dynamics were comforting, and the town itself felt welcoming.


Most importantly, I can see a lot of potential here. Now that the characters and setting have been established, I'm interested to see how future books build on that foundation and develop a stronger mystery alongside the cosy charm.

[Acantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the mayor drops dead while eating shrimps and grits, it doesn't take long for tongues to wag. Desperate to clear her name, Jessie sets out to try and uncover the truth.

I'm not from the South, I'm not even American. I've never had grits before. But the way in which food is described in this book is stunning. I want to try grits after this. I want chicken and biscuits, flaky and comforting. Peach cobbler that melts in the mouth... it all sounded so amazing and I could all but smell it as I read.

It's very clear the author loves Southern cooking, and that bleeds into every word she writes. This is a love letter to that kind of food and the hospitality that comes with it. And I bought into that, more than anything else in this story. It excels when its about the food and the community. The problems start to arise when the book begins to beat you over the head about community.

The overly flowery language and repetition started to drag rather quickly. The food, I can understand, but everything is described to within an inch of its life. It felt as if every chapter ended with either a character thinking about how she didn't know how they were going to get through this, or how loyalty/family/community was the heart of everything and they wouldn't be beaten by this dead.

And how many times do they first hear the word 'murder'? It feels like it happens three or four times, someone says something along the lines of 'this was deliberate/premeditated murder' and a 'chill' goes through the rest of the characters, as if this is the first time the word has been spoken.

Then there are the chapters that seem to exist solely to recap conversations we've already heard.

Willow Bluff does not seem like a nice place to live, in all honesty. The mayor isn't even dead on the floor, he's still struggling for breath and you have characters pointing the finger at Jessie and accusing her of all manner of deeds. The gossip and sheer nastiness doesn't stop there, she is attacked verbally constantly. People shake and look for an escape route when in a room with her, they instantly forget the 50 years of service the dinner had (and you will hear about those 50 years. A lot.) Then, when another poisoning happens, in a different location, the gossip instantly switches to there and its downright horrible. Jessie seems only too eager to blame the second woman as well, and you would have thought she would have been a bit more sympathetic.

The mystery seems a secondary concern to this focus on small town drama and the bonds. We spend more time talking about how people 'grew up' on the dinner's cooking, than we do on trying to solve the crime.

And when that does happen, its pretty much completely by accident.

I did like that Jessie had a real reason to solve this murder. she was driven to protect her business, her family name, rather than just being nosy.

But this isn't a series I can see myself continuing. It could have been half the length and would have benefited from an editor to remove some of the more painful repetitive moments.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Haynes is not coming back to Willow Bluff a failed reporter, she's returning as the new head chef and general manager of town institution Honeybee's Hideaway. Her family's diner is celebrating 50 years in business when the mayor stops in for his usual (Shrimp and Grits, extra shrimp) and drops dead after the first bite. Small towns being what they are, the gossip mill churns up some devastating rumors about the Honeybee, spurred on by one particularly ruthless local real estate agent who covets the diner's location. Jessie and her friends may have to speed up the sheriff's investigation if they want to serve peach cobbler ever again.


As previously seen with Sandra Jackson-Opoku's Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes, I cannot resist a mystery on NetGalley with soul food in the title. Also as previously seen with that book, I will now anxiously await book two.

As a small-town mystery, Shrimp & Grits is solid. The murder happens fast so the audience isn't left waiting forever for someone to die, the sleuth is neither a complete idiot nor a supergenius, and the town dynamics make sense. There's red herrings, distractions, possibly planted evidence, and I was kept guessing as to which of multiple plausible endings the author had gone with.

My favorite part of the story is the Pet Cop (as I call the primary Law Enforcement Officer always present in a cozy mystery). For once, the Pet Cop is not the protagonist's love interest and also does not irrationally hate her. Instead the Sheriff is a family friend, a woman who straightforwardly considers the evidence Jessie and her ensemble find while also warning them that they are dealing with a killer. Speaking of evidence, our little ensemble of sleuths don't hide evidence from the police or touch things they shouldn't. For once somebody understand the chain of evidence!

I could gush over this book longer, but I think the review is better served by pointing out that I had two friends pre-order the book already based on my initial impressions and ranting about how much of a unicorn it is. I cannot stop talking about this book.


On the audiobook, it is perfectly serviceable but I don't particularly care for this narrator. Using an irritating voice for an annoying character makes sense on the surface but when they say more than one sentence at a time, it quickly becomes grating. Also, some homonyms were used incorrectly (the bow of a ship was references but pronounced like a hair bow).

I received this audiobook through NetGalley as an ARC/ALC. Opinions are my own; thanks to BookoutureAudio for the read.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book but felt the story was too long. This is because the characters kept going over the same things or using lots of examples to explain the same thing, it was if the author had a word count that she needed to meet.
Otherwise it was a fun quirky mystery and you could even say it was the bees knees. I liked the characters, especially when they got around to doing the investigating, instead of feeling sorry for themselves. The story is mostly told by Jessie, with the exception of when the rest of the gang got there assignments and they went to interview suspects. This worked well, as I loved following the other characters, especially Tee the podcasting best friend and the quite teenager Matty. I liked the way the different personalities or jobs helped them find clues. Despite there being a murder involved the story is light hearted and even has teasing as a hiding relationship is about to bloom.

As for the investigation, there was plenty of suspects and motives to keep me guessing. I was close but didn't come up with the right suspect. Allergies are a common way to kill people in cozy mysteries (which is a scary thought with so many people living with that problem in the real world) but I think
the way the killer went about it was one of the clever ones. Looking forward to the next book, although maybe not so long, which is a change for me to say as I prefer longer stories.

With Honeybee's dinner celebrating 50 years of business and one that has been passed down through three generations, the last thing present owner Jessie wants is to go out of business. The death of the mayor after taking one bite of her grits could see that happen. The police close down the dinner to investigate how peanuts could get into her food and the rest of the town turns against her. The only way to stay in business is to find out how herself, especially as she knows peanuts have never crossed her threshold. As Jessie, her mum, best friend, employee and new resident, a handsome doctor investigate the more the contamination looks deliberate and the mayor was targeted. Which one of his enemies had a big enough motive to want him dead?
I liked the narrator. She gave each character there own distinctive sounding voice, making them easy to tell apart and turning it into a fun listen.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Tzia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Willow Bluff is a small, Georgia town where everybody knows everybody. Honeybee's diner has stood in the same spot being run by the same family for 50 years but it all comes close to being destroyed when the Mayor drops dead right there at the counter, just one bite into his shrimp and grits. Fingers immediately point at Jessie, the diner's current owner and chef - can she clear her name?

This started really promisingly, the writing was evocative and allowed me to really picture the scene and practically smell the delicious food. Seriously this is not a book to read if you're hungry because NOTHING in your kitchen will come close to the dishes served up here. The action started straight away and I was really invested in Jessie's story - I rooted for her in a big way. The author is obviously passionate about the legacy of family run establishments and the heart of a small town being preserved, and it's heart-warming up to a point.

Unfortunately that point is reached very quickly, because almost every chapter ends with a comment about how important Honeybee's is, how it's always been the heart of the community, how people grew up in the diner solving their worldly issues over a plate of good food. These things are important, yes - I hate to see small businesses suffer and the soul leave a community - but it's not on it's own a plot for a murder mystery.

None of the characters are really fleshed out, we don't actually know anything about anyone other than Jessie - and that makes it very hard to invest in them. For a team supposed to be 'investigating' a mystery there's really no investigation - each of the key characters talk to 2 potential suspects, the majority of whom can be ruled out immediately because they literally don't feature in the book outside of their one conversation. Then inevitably the next chapter we see when the gang all come together again is just a recap of the conversations we just saw...and they're not always even accurate recaps!

There is a nice reveal and plot twist when the killer is discovered, and there were enough breadcrumbs that a reader could have a good guess at what happened and how but to be honest, by that point I didn't really care who the culprit was.

Would I return to this series...maybe? If the plot was more about the mystery and the chapters less repetitive yes I would give the next in the series a chance.

- Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -

[LiteraryMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Skylar Warren. Jessie Haynes swapped her dreams of becoming a journalist in Atlanta for the sizzle of a fryer in her grandmother's diner. She takes feeding the folks of Willow Bluff seriously. So when the mayor drops dead after one bite of the famous shrimp and grits because of a severe peanut allergy, she refuses to let it shatter her grandmother's legacy. All eyes point toward Jessie since she made the grits herself, especially when an empty peanut packet is found in the diner's pantry. Like all small towns, gossip spreads fast while Jessie tries to clear her name.

Welcome to the cozy mystery world, Skylar Warren from Chi-Town! Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits is a fair introduction to a new series. The author gave enough background on the main character, Jessie Haynes, to make her familiar and likable. She is a strong Black woman with roots, confidence and good intentions. Unlike other heroines in cozy mysteries, she is directly impacted by the murder and tries to solve it for her family's reputation, not meddling for amateur sleuth fun.

While I appreciated getting to know all the residents of Willow Bluff (where ere'body knows ere'body), a great majority of the book focused on the community and relationships. Murder, which is usually the focus of a cozy mystery, was like an afterthought. Perhaps this was the author's intent for the first Honeybee Diner Mysteries novel but it caused the story to lag. It was a bit much once you add in the many metaphors, similes and analogies. Whew—it was heavy on descriptions like the grits were heavy on thickness.

Nevertheless, I plan to read the next book in the series titled Murder with a Side of Red Velvet. Hopefully it will focus more on the murder mystery and include recipes of the savory food that Jessie whips up in the chef's kitchen. I sure would like to try a piece of peach cobbler or the infamous grits that keeps the townfolk coming back through Honeybee Diner's doors.

Happy Early Pub Day to debut author Skylar Warren! Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits will be available Wednesday, May 13.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

[Carol Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost quit reading Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits during the first chapter. The Mayor comes into the Honeybee Cafe during their anniversary celebration, has a couple bites of his usual shrimp and grits and dies of an allergic reaction. This book is nothing if not overly descriptive, which was a bit much for me with a death from anaphylactic shock immediately followed by glares of suspicion directed towards Jessie, cook/owner of Honeybees, from the rest of the customers, many of whom had known her since she was a child. And Jessie immediately begins to catastrophize the situation. Turns out she wasn’t too far off, but the immediate overreactions all around didn’t make sense to me. I mean reacting to the death makes sense, it’s the immediate suspicion and “they’re all going to hate me” that didn’t.

As I mentioned, we get log details descriptions of everything, which sometimes worked and sometimes felt like the author threw every metaphor she could think of into the book. It’s rather wordy and repetitive. While I like Jessie and her crew, I wish they had more personality. Tee, Jessie’s best friend, seems awesome and confident, but we don’t need to hear about her bracelets and braids every time she’s mentioned. Jessie’s love interest, whose name I forget, is a nice guy, but he was instantly smitten with Jessie and willing to join her investigation, which seemed a little hasty for a therapist.

The mystery itself was secondary to the characters and the small town. The solution was fairly obvious since there just weren’t that many suspects and most people that Jessie and her friends question don’t feature in any scenes except that one.

I will say the narrator did a good job. She brought the Southern flavor to life without overdoing each. Each character had a distinct voice and she kept the pace moving along well.

It looks like the second in the series, Murder with a Side of Red Velvet, will be published later this year. I may pick it up. I think the series has potential if she tightens up the writing a bit.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Culinary cozy mysteries are a huge part of the category that is already a sub-category. Some pad their plots with incredibly meh recipes (repurposing Pillsbury cinnamon rolls to make them bigger is not a recipe) while others only include a few key recipes that enhance the story and characters (check out Mia P. Manansala's excellent Tita Rosie's Kitchen series). Then there are the ones that concentrate on the culinary setting and let the plot points lead the way.

The tagline for Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits is "an addictive, cozy culinary mystery" and boy, is it ever! Jessie Haynes is the owner and cook of Honeybee's diner in small town Georgia. After a stint studying journalism, she's back home following in her mom's and grandmother's footsteps. Everyone is happily celebrating Honeybee's 50th anniversary until the mayor drops dead in his shrimp and grits. Soon Jessie's best friend Tee and the teenage server from the diner are helping Jessie investigate plus spreading the news of the town on their new podcast.

The best part of this book are the characters. I kept thinking about them even when I wasn't reading the book. I definitely want to hear more from Jessie and her family, friends, and neighbors.

What I would have liked was a bit more editing of some of the descriptive passages. Warren is truly has a way with words, but some of the narration seemed to run on, especially in the middle of the book.

Also, does Tee already have a podcast before she starts one about happenings in Willow Bluff? Sometimes, it sounds like she does have podcasting experience, but if so, the other podcast is never named.

I may have been born and raised in the midwest, but I've spent the last 30+ years living in Tennessee and Kentucky. This book spoke to my life in the south and I look forward to following the further adventures of these characters. Now pass me those shrimp & grits!

4 lattes out of 5

Disclaimer: This eARC was provided by Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Julianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet books opens to a nightmare: while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Honeybee's Hideaway, Jessie's family restaurant, the mayor drops dead at the counter after one bite of her scrumptious shrimp and grits. The community is stunned and, quite frankly, scared. Did Jessie accidentally kill Mayor Dobbs and ruin her family's legacy or is something more sinister afoot? Hoping to clear her name- and regain her customers- Jessie begins to dip her toes in the suspect pool. While what could be the very instrument of death is found in Jessie's pantry, her list of suspects (with motive she doesn't have) continues to grow.

Tee isn't going to let her best friend go down alone. She starts her podcast to clear the air and promote the truth: Jessie is an innocent bystander, a smaller victim of this same crime! And Tee isn't the only one joining in the cause to clear Jessie's name: her closest loved ones- and one very handsome new therapist, Brad Bennet- all take up the mantle.

In the midst of their investigation, a customer at the Pie Palace bakeshop has an allergic reaction that raises new questions and more fears- is any store in town safe? This deliciously cozy mystery will keep you guessing until the very last second! I love that the ending makes logical sense and doesn't require suspension of disbelief.

It's books like this that made Hallmark a multi-billion dollar company! I hope they buy the rights from Warren and run a series like the Hannah Swensen Mysteries. As someone who has read all of Joanne Fluke and Ellie Alexander's mysteries, Skylar Warren rises to the top of my favorites list with this clean, faith included, perfect for all ages book! I'll keep my eye out for her second!

Troupes: small town, cozy setting, amateur sleuth, red herring, premature suspect, big reveal
Spice: 0/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸implied
Language: 0/5 👀

Big thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Zamora]

Some books simmer.
This one sizzles, served hot from the Honeybee Diner kitchen with a steamin’ plate of meatloaf, small‑town gossip, and a side of murder that no one in Willow Bluff saw coming — or maybe they did, because evidently it couldn’t have happened to a better person.

Skylar Warren delivers a cozy mystery that feels like slipping into a warm booth at your favorite hometown diner. The kind where everybody knows your name, your business, and your grandmama’s biscuit recipe. But when the mayor drops dead after tasting Jessie’s famous shrimp and grits, suddenly the town’s beloved staple — the woman who’s fed generations — finds herself fighting for her freedom and her family’s reputation.

And let me tell you…
I thought I knew who did it.
I was confident. Smug even.
But nope — this murderer was crafty, and Warren twisted the plot just enough to keep me sipping my tea a little louder.

And then there are Biscuits and Gravy — the mischievous kittens who stole my heart as quickly as they stole scraps from the diner kitchen. Their antics added the perfect sprinkle of charm, balancing the tension with cozy warmth. Honestly, those two are as essential to the story’s comfort as the family and friends who rally around Jessie when everything starts to crumble.

Skylar Warren is a welcome addition to the cozy murder mystery community — her storytelling is warm, witty, and wonderfully Southern. She knows how to build a town you want to visit and characters you want to protect.

And Megan Gage?
Her narration is pure Southern sunshine.
She captures Willow Bluff’s charm, its gossip, its grit — but especially Jessie’s heart. Megan’s voice wraps around the story like a soft quilt, giving every character their own flavor and making the mystery feel alive.

This is a cozy mystery steeped slow, seasoned right, and served with heart.
A perfect comfort read for anyone who loves small towns, big secrets, and a heroine worth rooting for.

[Samadhee Ismail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits is a cozy mystery novel which starts off with the apparent murder of the town's mayor.

Jessie Haynes inherited her grandmother's diner in Willow Buff after her unsuccessful stint as a journalist in Atlanta. She follows her grandmother's recipes although she was slightly under pressure to live up to her grandmother's expectations. The mayor is a frequent visitor to the diner but on one visit, after he orders his usual shrimps and grits, the mayor falls unconscious and then died along the way to the hospital. When doing autopsy, it was found that the mayor had died from peanut allergy. Jessie knows that she never used peanuts in her meals and that someone is trying to sabotage the diner and ruin its reputation. Together with Tee, Maddy, her mother Norah and new friend Dr. Bennett, they must find out who is responsible for the mayor's death as there are several people in the town who do actually wanted the mayor to be dead.

Honestly, I actually liked and enjoyed this book. The book has an air of Southern charm with those southern accents the characters are speaking in. The food and pies descriptions are all mouthwatering and delicious. The characters, particularly Tee are all likable--maybe except Barbara. But, despite being a cozy mystery, I feel the story was way too long and could have been shorter. Maybe too much flowery descriptions and maybe if those descriptions have been reduced, then this book would have been a great book.

I am not sure if this book is going to be a series but if it was a part of the series, then I am looking forward to read more books from the series and from this author. Overall this is worth 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

[Stephanie Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love a culinary mystery and southern diners are the bedrock in many southern towns; which make for a perfect setting for a small-town southern mystery!

Skylar Warren is superb with character development. Each character in the story had their own unique voice, thoughts and personalities which enhances the readers engagement and connection to them. There was one character among Jessie’s circle that at first, I had a hard time trusting. His name is Chad and he is fairly new to town, and a therapist. To me, he seemed a bit too eager to help and please. He was too perfect in my opinion but eventually, I started to warm up to him a little, but still… I absolutely adore Maddie and Tee! Maddie is a teenager that works at the diner and she is so thoughtful, and loyal like Tee who is Jessie’s best friend that anyone would love to have!

From the start, I started making a mental note of suspects and practically everyone in the town could have done it! Needless to say, the mayor wasn’t a popular guy by a long shot.

This story would be great on film and as I read sheriff Roo’s role, I couldn’t help think that a younger Cherry Jones from the movie “Signs” with Mel Gibson would be a fantastic candidate for the role.

My only complaint is that I believe there are a couple scenes that could have been left out because they really didn’t help push the story forward, and it made the story a little too long. That said, it is so minor and it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed this mystery.

A charming, fun read and I highly recommend this book. I will be on the lookout for more stories by this author!

Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com

I obtained an ARC from the publishers ( @Bookouture ) through NetGalley for an honest review.

[BreezyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder with a Side of Shrimp and Grits follows Jessie Haynes as she returns to the small Southern town of Willow Bluff to take over her grandmother’s diner, HoneyBee’s. What first appears to be an unfortunate accident soon turns into a full murder investigation, with secrets, town drama, and plenty of suspects along the way.

As someone who mostly listens to audiobooks while driving or working, I’m always looking for stories that can really keep my attention, and this one took a little while to fully pull me in. The setting of Willow Bluff and HoneyBee’s diner gave this book that classic cozy Southern mystery feel, and the food descriptions were honestly some of my favorite parts. Every time they described the biscuits and gravy or diner food I was hungry all over again. The audiobook narrator also did a really good job and helped bring the town and characters to life.

For me, the biggest issue was the pacing in the beginning. Some descriptions felt overly long and the story moved slower than I expected for a mystery. Around the halfway point and especially closer to the end, things finally started picking up.

While I did guess part of the mystery early on, the final reveal still had some twists that surprised me and made the payoff worth it. Overall, this felt like a solid start to a cozy mystery series. While it was slower and not the most memorable read for me, the ending definitely improved my overall enjoyment and made me interested enough to continue the series.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3)
Enjoyment: Medium
Memorability: Low-Medium
Pacing: Slow burn
Predictability: Medium

Thank you to #NetGalley, Skylar Warren, and Bookouture Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. #MurderwithaSideofShrimpandGrits

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be prepared: this murder with a side of shrimp and grits is served on a bed of sass with a helping of cheek and I enjoyed every bite.

In the first book of what is planned to be a cozy mystery series, we meet Jessie, the owner of the local diner. Her grandmother built it and gathered the community around it, her mother carried on the legacy for years, and now Jessie is the third generation behind the counter. And then… murder threatens fifty years of family legacy when a customer takes a bite of shrimp and grits and falls dead.

…I mean, seriously, what are we supposed to think? I’d suspect the food too. And I wouldn’t be entirely wrong. The question is: if it wasn’t someone who cooked or served the food, how did whatever was in it get there without anyone noticing?

Sometimes in cozy mysteries I know from the very beginning who is going to get murdered, but this one genuinely surprised me. Not the person I expected at all. The murder solution surprised me too. One seemingly obvious line of inquiry goes largely unexplored until late in the story, and once it finally appears, all the clues seem to click into place — right before the ending delivers one final whiplash twist.

A first book in a series cannot do everything at once, and this one provides a strong introduction to Willow Bluff and people who live there. Jessie always has support from her mom, her future love interest Brad is absolutely sweet and charming, and her friend Tee is fierce and resilient. While not every character had the same psychological depth, I can already vividly imagine this Georgia town and I’m looking forward to returning to see what happens next.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Skylar Warren for an advanced electronic copy of this book.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this cozy mystery it’s the kind of book that pulls you in right away with its small town charm and keeps you hooked with a fun fast paced whodunnit.The story centers around Jessie Haynes, who runs Honeybee’s Diner in the tight knit town of Willow Bluff. Her cooking is basically the heart of the community, so when the mayor suddenly dies after eating her shrimp and grits, everything turns upside down. It quickly becomes clear that this wasn’t an accident there were peanuts in the dish, despite everyone knowing about the mayor’s allergy. With suspicion falling on her and her family’s reputation on the line, Jessie teams up with her best friend Tee to find the real killer.What I liked most was the setting and the characters. The diner feels so warm inviting and the town is full of quirky, memorable people (and the kittens, Biscuits and Gravy, were honestly adorable). Jessie is a great main character determined, loyal, and easy to root for, especially since she’s trying to protect not just herself, but her family’s legacy.The mystery itself was really engaging. Just when it feels like Jessie is getting close to the truth, more food tampering incidents pop up, raising the stakes and making things more intense. I liked how it kept me guessing without getting too complicated, which is exactly what I want from a cozy mystery.Overall, this was such a fun and satisfying read. It’s got a great mix of humor, suspense, and heart, with just enough danger to keep things interesting without losing that comforting, small town feel. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with strong female leads, food centered settings, and a touch of Southern charm, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you #netgalley and #Bookouture for the ALC version of this story.

The narrator is great.
The characters are interesting.
The setting is terrific.

The story is too long. It honestly could have lost about 20 chapters. (Chapters are short.) Too much unnecessary repeating. Chapters would begin with a rundown of the last chapter which is great if you're watching a weekly tv show. But not necessary in a book from one chapter to the next. The author did a good job setting the scene, describing characters etc in the first few chapters. The following 20 chapters just repeated and rehashed everything said in the first 5-7 chapters. Story really picked when the supporting characters started interviewing suspects.

Even with all the red herrings, I still had the killer pegged. But the reason was a big surprise!

The narrator did a great job. And kept the characters consistent and entertaining. There were a few words said incorrectly. Formica being the most prominent. It might be spoken that way in other countries, but in America it's pronounced four-my-ka. (forgive my countryfied attempt at phonics.) At least I've never heard it said any other way. But that was really one of maybe two or 3 times that caused me to pause. As good as she is, I recommend reading the physical copy of the story. It will allow you to skim through most of the first half.

I am giving this 3 stars. One for a good narrator. One for an interesting story. And one for the killer reveal. 2 stars removed because of the constant repeating of the same info. If the killer reveal hadn't been so good, I would have only given it a 2 star rating. I would give a 2nd book a chance.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

The lime-green blazer she wore was so aggressively bright it looked radioactive...
She inhaled and her pointy nose twitched like a rabbit sniffing the air for predators.

In a place like Willow Bluff, privacy was a luxury that disappeared the moment something interesting happened...

Don’t you have a condo to sell somewhere? Or a soul to find? Or literally anything better to do than eavesdrop on other people’s tragedy like it’s your favorite soap opera and you’re the star of the show?

But you know how folks are around here. They’d rather feast on scandal than swallow the truth.

That woman could start a fire in a rainstorm.

One gentleman from Macon wrote a haiku about your biscuits. Another one from Athens composed what I can only describe as a love sonnet dedicated to your macaroni and cheese.

My Review:

This was a fun and engaging read that held my interest, piqued my curiosity, and kept me smirking with quirky, humorous, yet knowable descriptions of her offbeat and colorful characters throughout my perusal. Coming from a small town myself, I could well picture the judgmental, pearl-clutching, narrow-minded, and gossip-mongering hoard. I was surprised to see this was the author’s debut; she has penned an amusing, insightful, and well-plotted tale that kept me guessing as well as happily entertained.  However, it was murder for my diet as the vivid descriptions of her food offerings had me salivating.  I could practically smell her delicious meals, and her evocative words invoked massive hunger pangs and a disgruntled growling stomach.  

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a charming introduction to a small Southern town, Willow Bluff, and all its idiosyncrasies. Our action mainly flows around a beloved diner, Honeybee's Hideaway. Jessie has recently taken over the diner from her Mom because of her health issues, since she learned the family business from her grandmother Hattie "Honeybee" Hayes as a child at her knees she came home from Atlanta to take over. On this particular Sunday morning, the Hayes family is celebrating the diner's 50th anniversary when disaster strikes, Mayor Richard Dobbins has joined the celebration and ordered his favorite Shrimp and Grits, but one bite in he is clutching his throat and fighting for air, everyone know the mayor has a severe allergy to peanuts, but unfortunately his epi-pen is nowhere to be found and there are no peanuts in the Shrimp and Grits. Come to find out someone had added peanut dust to the mayor's meal. Who wanted the mayor dead? Why was someone putting the blame on Jesse and Honeybees? Was it the head of the Chamber of Commerce? The local fire chief whose budget was slashed? Or someone more personal? Join Jesse as she tries to save her family's business reputation with the help of family, friends, employees, and a new doctor in town, Bradley Bennett. Come along for a good mystery, interesting characters, and southern food that will make your mouth water! Thanks to #Netgally, #Bookouture, and the author for an opportunity to read. #MurderwithaSideofShrimpandGrits #HoneybeesDinerMysteries #SkylarWarren #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader