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Killer Comfort Food: Madison Mysteries, Book One
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Stacey Roberts
5 books99 followersStacey Roberts was born in a smoky hospital in New Jersey in 1971. Nine years later, he and his family moved into a Winnebago and traveled across the country. After several near-death experiences, they settled first in California and then Florida.
He attended college at Florida State University and University of Miami, where he received his B.A. in English Literature instead of Finance, which was a great disappointment to his mother.
He went on to get a Master’s degree in Early Modern European History at the University of Cincinnati, to which his mother said, “SSSStace. History? What do you need that for? What is wrong with you?”
His mother was right. He didn’t need it for anything, except to make arcane references about the Roman Empire or Henry VIII that no one else understands.
He founded a computer consulting firm outside of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1994, and resides in Northern Kentucky with his two brilliant daughters and their less than brilliant yellow dog Sophie.
He attended college at Florida State University and University of Miami, where he received his B.A. in English Literature instead of Finance, which was a great disappointment to his mother.
He went on to get a Master’s degree in Early Modern European History at the University of Cincinnati, to which his mother said, “SSSStace. History? What do you need that for? What is wrong with you?”
His mother was right. He didn’t need it for anything, except to make arcane references about the Roman Empire or Henry VIII that no one else understands.
He founded a computer consulting firm outside of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1994, and resides in Northern Kentucky with his two brilliant daughters and their less than brilliant yellow dog Sophie.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 4, 2026
This cover caught my eye.
It was a ok mystery with some great recipes.
The story is full of banter and sassiness.
I enjoyed how each chapter opened with a recipe.
Gene Four was a hoot!
September 24, 2026
This book is listed under both mystery and humor, which makes a lot of sense. There is a lot of both in this novel. The author is skilled at crafting both an entertaining story as well as creating interesting and complex characters. I truly enjoyed Amelia and her son, Gene Four, and the recipes that were included before each chapter were a fun and creative touch.
So many of the adults in young Amelia's life left her at a young age. When her uncle George dies, he surprises both of his sons as well as Amelia when he leaves her his farm and a huge amount of land. For a while, Amelia makes her own life incredibly hard with alcoholism. She finally learns how to keep that devil at bay, then all the property she owns begins to cause her a whole heap of trouble. She's a tough woman raising a genius son with an ex-husband who is less than helpful, and ex-in-laws who are even more than less than helpful. She's well versed in the use of her shotgun—and actually finds reason to use it several times throughout the book—and Roberts really had me, hook, line and …
Well, not sinker. There's a bit at the end where he explains how the murders—and there are plenty—were actually carried out, and while it was well written, I struggled with placement. Or something. I'm not even quite sure what the problem was, but it didn't flow for me. Perhaps one issue was that the perspective changed a couple of times without any warning and I had to run to keep up. It wasn't a smooth ride.
Then came the epilogue. I guess the only thing I can think to say about the epilogue is that maybe it went a step too far. I read that this book was the first of a series. I can see where Mr. Roberts might go with a second book, but I'm afraid if it isn't back to the past when Gene is a younger child, I have a hard time seeing how he will capture what he built in the majority of this first novel.
I really did love so much of this book, but I think I can only give it three and a half stars. I really hate that because there was so much to celebrate in the first three quarters of this tale.
So many of the adults in young Amelia's life left her at a young age. When her uncle George dies, he surprises both of his sons as well as Amelia when he leaves her his farm and a huge amount of land. For a while, Amelia makes her own life incredibly hard with alcoholism. She finally learns how to keep that devil at bay, then all the property she owns begins to cause her a whole heap of trouble. She's a tough woman raising a genius son with an ex-husband who is less than helpful, and ex-in-laws who are even more than less than helpful. She's well versed in the use of her shotgun—and actually finds reason to use it several times throughout the book—and Roberts really had me, hook, line and …
Well, not sinker. There's a bit at the end where he explains how the murders—and there are plenty—were actually carried out, and while it was well written, I struggled with placement. Or something. I'm not even quite sure what the problem was, but it didn't flow for me. Perhaps one issue was that the perspective changed a couple of times without any warning and I had to run to keep up. It wasn't a smooth ride.
Then came the epilogue. I guess the only thing I can think to say about the epilogue is that maybe it went a step too far. I read that this book was the first of a series. I can see where Mr. Roberts might go with a second book, but I'm afraid if it isn't back to the past when Gene is a younger child, I have a hard time seeing how he will capture what he built in the majority of this first novel.
I really did love so much of this book, but I think I can only give it three and a half stars. I really hate that because there was so much to celebrate in the first three quarters of this tale.
September 21, 2026
This is such a unique book that it's really difficult to categorize. It is a mystery with heavy doses of snarky humor and drama. Each chapter features a recipe to give it a nod toward coziness, but you won't find any friendly churchmen on bicycles performing investigations in this one.
The first murder victim is quickly portrayed as a heavily fragranced jerk, so the stage is nicely set for irreverent humor about his less than honorable demise. Our protagonist, Amelia, is shocked to find herself a suspect and continues to be surprised by other rumors she discovers about herself. She is a sassy single mom with a genius son, who I have to believe is the author at age 12 or at least who he wishes he had been at age 12. He's devoted to his mom and obsessed with Roman history, which makes him a fun, quirky character.
Those who live in the Midwest will appreciate the small-town vibe and characters that will probably make you think of people you know. But they are more complex than that too. There's some great character development here, and not everyone is who they appear to be at the beginning of this book.
As the bodies pile up, the tone grows more serious, as does Amelia's need to somehow prove her innocence. This is a satisfying, fast-paced read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of the suspense. Recommended for anyone who loves mysteries or anyone who appreciates quick-witted humor. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for my Kindle copy. Opinions are my own.
The first murder victim is quickly portrayed as a heavily fragranced jerk, so the stage is nicely set for irreverent humor about his less than honorable demise. Our protagonist, Amelia, is shocked to find herself a suspect and continues to be surprised by other rumors she discovers about herself. She is a sassy single mom with a genius son, who I have to believe is the author at age 12 or at least who he wishes he had been at age 12. He's devoted to his mom and obsessed with Roman history, which makes him a fun, quirky character.
Those who live in the Midwest will appreciate the small-town vibe and characters that will probably make you think of people you know. But they are more complex than that too. There's some great character development here, and not everyone is who they appear to be at the beginning of this book.
As the bodies pile up, the tone grows more serious, as does Amelia's need to somehow prove her innocence. This is a satisfying, fast-paced read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in the midst of the suspense. Recommended for anyone who loves mysteries or anyone who appreciates quick-witted humor. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for my Kindle copy. Opinions are my own.
August 2, 2026
Killer Comfort Food by Stacey Roberts is Book 1 in the Masdison Mysteries series.
Killer Comfort Food follows Amelia Stark, who makes a chili for her company potluck and then shows up to work to find her boss dead, and her at the top of the suspect list.
Despite how the cover looks, this is not a cookbook! I received a arc copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I totally applied for the advanced reader copy (arc) of this book thinking it was a cookbook. I did end up liking the book though.
Despite not being a traditional cookbook, it does have a recipie at the start of each chapter, and I loved how each recipie was then woven through that chapter. I like how the author took recipies and altered their names such as concussion applied pie and grief au gratin. Her son is absolutely hilarious, I hope he is based off of a real person cause he seems awesome.
With less than 200 pages, it is a funny, entertaining and quick read. I would definitely read more books in this series.
#killercomfortfood #netgalley
Killer Comfort Food follows Amelia Stark, who makes a chili for her company potluck and then shows up to work to find her boss dead, and her at the top of the suspect list.
Despite how the cover looks, this is not a cookbook! I received a arc copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I totally applied for the advanced reader copy (arc) of this book thinking it was a cookbook. I did end up liking the book though.
Despite not being a traditional cookbook, it does have a recipie at the start of each chapter, and I loved how each recipie was then woven through that chapter. I like how the author took recipies and altered their names such as concussion applied pie and grief au gratin. Her son is absolutely hilarious, I hope he is based off of a real person cause he seems awesome.
With less than 200 pages, it is a funny, entertaining and quick read. I would definitely read more books in this series.
#killercomfortfood #netgalley
September 14, 2026
I discovered cozy mysteries around five years ago, and since then I’ve read dozens, particularly culinary cozies. Although Killer Comfort Food by Stacey Roberts is described as a cozy, and has certain elements (recipes, a main character that isn’t a sleuth but becomes one out of necessity, a small town setting, gossipy townspeople, long held secrets, etc.) I didn’t find it especially “cozy.” It’s not a traditional mystery, either.
So, what is this story? It’s one of the most hilarious, well-written books I’ve ever read, with dialogue that’s sassy, realistic, irreverent, occasionally profane, and jumps right off the page. There are characters you’ll love, and some you may hate, all of whom are well-written and multi-dimensional. Moments of light (the relationship and banter between the main character, Amelia Stark, and her brilliant and hilarious 12-year-old son, Gene Four—as in the fourth Gene in the lineage, or Gene Pool, as she sarcastically named her ex’s family), and moments that are very dark (violence, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse). Amelia is a spitfire who says what so many of us have thought at one time or another but couldn’t come up with the perfect zinger. I adored her!
Amelia (also known as “Lurleen” to some locals, and not said with affection) is a divorced, recovering alcoholic who lives in the small town of Madison, Indiana, with her son, Gene Four. Of course, everyone in the small town knows everybody’s business. She lives on a farm that was left to her by her beloved Uncle George and works as an accounts payable clerk at Madison Mechanical. When Amelia’s boss, the lecherous Larry, who the day before had made yet another grab for Amelia (resulting in two black eyes courtesy of our heroine), is found dead at his desk, many of the townspeople immediately point the finger at Amelia, and they get worse as the story plays out. Even the new detective in town thinks he’s already found his perpetrator. Not so fast. There are other deaths and incidents that don’t help Amelia’s case, but fortunately there are a few people on her side. There are even some teasers about a romance, but that, too, doesn’t play out until the very end. The epilogue was a delight as well.
There are so many elements to this story, and when combined, make for a recipe that was hard to resist. Speaking of recipes, one thing I loved was that each chapter cleverly started with a recipe (paella, lemon-blueberry scones, chili, apple pie, potatoes au gratin, meatloaf for the masses) that was woven through the chapter. I really liked that, interspersed with the ingredients list, were hints and one-liners about what was ahead in the chapter. It kept me reading, and it made me hungry, too. I was so immersed in their lives that, while at one point I thought I’d figured out “who done it,” I couldn’t be sure, and I needed to know the “how” besides the “who.” All I knew was that I had to keep reading, laughing, and yes, tearing up at one point. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the second installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Sons of Joy LLC for the opportunity to read this eARC. My review is my unbiased opinion. #NetGalley
So, what is this story? It’s one of the most hilarious, well-written books I’ve ever read, with dialogue that’s sassy, realistic, irreverent, occasionally profane, and jumps right off the page. There are characters you’ll love, and some you may hate, all of whom are well-written and multi-dimensional. Moments of light (the relationship and banter between the main character, Amelia Stark, and her brilliant and hilarious 12-year-old son, Gene Four—as in the fourth Gene in the lineage, or Gene Pool, as she sarcastically named her ex’s family), and moments that are very dark (violence, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse). Amelia is a spitfire who says what so many of us have thought at one time or another but couldn’t come up with the perfect zinger. I adored her!
Amelia (also known as “Lurleen” to some locals, and not said with affection) is a divorced, recovering alcoholic who lives in the small town of Madison, Indiana, with her son, Gene Four. Of course, everyone in the small town knows everybody’s business. She lives on a farm that was left to her by her beloved Uncle George and works as an accounts payable clerk at Madison Mechanical. When Amelia’s boss, the lecherous Larry, who the day before had made yet another grab for Amelia (resulting in two black eyes courtesy of our heroine), is found dead at his desk, many of the townspeople immediately point the finger at Amelia, and they get worse as the story plays out. Even the new detective in town thinks he’s already found his perpetrator. Not so fast. There are other deaths and incidents that don’t help Amelia’s case, but fortunately there are a few people on her side. There are even some teasers about a romance, but that, too, doesn’t play out until the very end. The epilogue was a delight as well.
There are so many elements to this story, and when combined, make for a recipe that was hard to resist. Speaking of recipes, one thing I loved was that each chapter cleverly started with a recipe (paella, lemon-blueberry scones, chili, apple pie, potatoes au gratin, meatloaf for the masses) that was woven through the chapter. I really liked that, interspersed with the ingredients list, were hints and one-liners about what was ahead in the chapter. It kept me reading, and it made me hungry, too. I was so immersed in their lives that, while at one point I thought I’d figured out “who done it,” I couldn’t be sure, and I needed to know the “how” besides the “who.” All I knew was that I had to keep reading, laughing, and yes, tearing up at one point. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the second installment. Thank you to NetGalley and Sons of Joy LLC for the opportunity to read this eARC. My review is my unbiased opinion. #NetGalley
August 25, 2026
Where to begin with Killer Comfort Food?
First off: it DOES have recipes. And they are actually pretty amusing and real! Most of them, anyway. That definitely caught my attention. They’re fairly basic recipes, so don’t go into this expecting anything spectacular from the food itself. But I really enjoyed how each chapter starts with a recipe that ties into what’s happening in the story. The humor in those little intros was one of the things that made this book so entertaining.
Now, let’s get one thing straight: this is absolutely not a thriller, and it’s not cozy either. I was expecting something cozy based on the title, description and cover, and… nope. What it is is hilarious.
Our FMC, Amelia, also known as Lurleen to some is snarky, rash, and has a great sense of humor. She’s a single mom, a recovering alcoholic, and definitely not afraid to fire a shotgun. She’s desperately trying to hold onto the property her uncle left her when people around her start turning up dead.
Her boss? Dead.
Plus a few extras? Dead.
And they aren't the only ones!
And suddenly, Amelia is the only common thread.
So naturally, everyone starts wondering if she’s the one doing the killing.
Add in her genius bookworm of a son (LOVE him), some absolutely hilarious family names (The Gene Pool?! 😂), and her dorky but “safe” boyfriend, and you have a story that is basically pure entertainment while you try to figure out who dun it before Amelia ends up behind bars.
I really loved that she got her HEA with a genuinely good guy. The murderer was a little expected for me, but I still really enjoyed the final chapter from their point of view. Getting to see the hows and whys behind the chosen victims was probably one of my favorite parts.
And the town bully! I loved that entire situation. Reading about her haveing to get up in front of everyone and publicly apologize because of their bet absolutely made me giggle.
There were a few things that didn’t quite work for me, though. I still don’t understand the Lurleen nickname. 😂 Maybe I missed something, but nobody really explains why Amelia is called that, and it’s so far removed from her actual name that I kept waiting for an explanation that never came. If you’re going to give someone a nickname that makes absolutely no sense, I need to know WHY.
Her son’s adult chapter at the end also felt a little meh to me. I didn’t feel like it added much to the story, and honestly, the book could have ended before that.
But overall? This was a fun, quick read. It took me under two hours, and Amelia’s personality carried the whole thing. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, too. It has a very distinctive voice, and I’d expect that same quirky humor to show up in her other books.
So if another book by this author crosses my table, I’d definitely pick it up. Not necessarily because I’m dying to solve another mystery, but because I want more of that humor.
A short, funny, entertaining read with a murder mystery attached.
First off: it DOES have recipes. And they are actually pretty amusing and real! Most of them, anyway. That definitely caught my attention. They’re fairly basic recipes, so don’t go into this expecting anything spectacular from the food itself. But I really enjoyed how each chapter starts with a recipe that ties into what’s happening in the story. The humor in those little intros was one of the things that made this book so entertaining.
Now, let’s get one thing straight: this is absolutely not a thriller, and it’s not cozy either. I was expecting something cozy based on the title, description and cover, and… nope. What it is is hilarious.
Our FMC, Amelia, also known as Lurleen to some is snarky, rash, and has a great sense of humor. She’s a single mom, a recovering alcoholic, and definitely not afraid to fire a shotgun. She’s desperately trying to hold onto the property her uncle left her when people around her start turning up dead.
Her boss? Dead.
Plus a few extras? Dead.
And they aren't the only ones!
And suddenly, Amelia is the only common thread.
So naturally, everyone starts wondering if she’s the one doing the killing.
Add in her genius bookworm of a son (LOVE him), some absolutely hilarious family names (The Gene Pool?! 😂), and her dorky but “safe” boyfriend, and you have a story that is basically pure entertainment while you try to figure out who dun it before Amelia ends up behind bars.
I really loved that she got her HEA with a genuinely good guy. The murderer was a little expected for me, but I still really enjoyed the final chapter from their point of view. Getting to see the hows and whys behind the chosen victims was probably one of my favorite parts.
And the town bully! I loved that entire situation. Reading about her haveing to get up in front of everyone and publicly apologize because of their bet absolutely made me giggle.
There were a few things that didn’t quite work for me, though. I still don’t understand the Lurleen nickname. 😂 Maybe I missed something, but nobody really explains why Amelia is called that, and it’s so far removed from her actual name that I kept waiting for an explanation that never came. If you’re going to give someone a nickname that makes absolutely no sense, I need to know WHY.
Her son’s adult chapter at the end also felt a little meh to me. I didn’t feel like it added much to the story, and honestly, the book could have ended before that.
But overall? This was a fun, quick read. It took me under two hours, and Amelia’s personality carried the whole thing. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, too. It has a very distinctive voice, and I’d expect that same quirky humor to show up in her other books.
So if another book by this author crosses my table, I’d definitely pick it up. Not necessarily because I’m dying to solve another mystery, but because I want more of that humor.
A short, funny, entertaining read with a murder mystery attached.
September 23, 2026
"Let's just keep control of ourselves."
I read this book while traveling and completely enjoyed it. It tells the story of Amelia Stark (aka Lurleen...as her ex-husband christened her and apparently the town followed) a single parent to a precocious and very, very smart preteen (Gene Four). Divorced from Gene Three, a recovering alcoholic and someone with not much of a filter, Amelia has inherited the property of her aunt and uncle. It's a sizeable amount of land, but the taxes alone make life difficult for her survive.
Amelia works at the local furnace company and her boss, Larry, unfortunately is found dead a few days after Amelia has given him two black eyes for trying to rub up against her. Although not ruled a murder, the pretty boy sheriff is itching to find a crime and the town is more than happy to point accusing fingers in Amelia's direction. To make matters worse, while entertaining the local doctor (who was her childhood friend), Joey Harris, Amelia's neighbor shows up battered and bruised. Her husband, Cornelius Heinz Hochstadter V isn't far behind and Amelia threatens to shoot him if he doesn't leave her property. Days later, guess what? Corny Ketchup is dead.
This story is a quick read and was an excellent book to read while traveling. I snickered and laughed out loud many times. It also includes actual recipes (although you will need to remove some of the ingredients such as 1 ambitious police detective and 30 intrepid townsfolks with flashlights. It looks as if this is going to be a series and not only would I read another book in the series, I want to check out Stacey Roberts' other books. He has a podcast and a love for history (evident in the book).
I was given access to this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
#netgalley
I read this book while traveling and completely enjoyed it. It tells the story of Amelia Stark (aka Lurleen...as her ex-husband christened her and apparently the town followed) a single parent to a precocious and very, very smart preteen (Gene Four). Divorced from Gene Three, a recovering alcoholic and someone with not much of a filter, Amelia has inherited the property of her aunt and uncle. It's a sizeable amount of land, but the taxes alone make life difficult for her survive.
Amelia works at the local furnace company and her boss, Larry, unfortunately is found dead a few days after Amelia has given him two black eyes for trying to rub up against her. Although not ruled a murder, the pretty boy sheriff is itching to find a crime and the town is more than happy to point accusing fingers in Amelia's direction. To make matters worse, while entertaining the local doctor (who was her childhood friend), Joey Harris, Amelia's neighbor shows up battered and bruised. Her husband, Cornelius Heinz Hochstadter V isn't far behind and Amelia threatens to shoot him if he doesn't leave her property. Days later, guess what? Corny Ketchup is dead.
This story is a quick read and was an excellent book to read while traveling. I snickered and laughed out loud many times. It also includes actual recipes (although you will need to remove some of the ingredients such as 1 ambitious police detective and 30 intrepid townsfolks with flashlights. It looks as if this is going to be a series and not only would I read another book in the series, I want to check out Stacey Roberts' other books. He has a podcast and a love for history (evident in the book).
I was given access to this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
#netgalley
July 16, 2026
This is NOT a cozy mystery! The cover makes it look cozy and if you pick it up for that, you will probably be disappointed. This book is much more like a pulp mystery. I am rating this based on it being a pulp style mystery.
Amelia is a recovering alcoholic fighting to keep the land inheritance she was given, raise her very intelligent son, and protect herself from creeps. Very early on her boss makes an inappropriate pass at her and she punches him. He ends up dead later that day in a very compromising position with his computer. Amelia is the prime suspect, so now she becomes an investigator to clear her name. There are more deaths along with a moltov cocktail, a few confrontations with a gun, and a pleasant camgirl. The mystery and investigation are well done. I grew to really like the characters. There is plenty of quirkiness thrown in to keep the book feeling lighter. I did not figure out the murderer until the end, but I probably should have been suspicious earlier. I liked the twist that our pulp mystery detective was not only a woman, but also a mother.
Overall, good mystery, plenty of quirky drama, and pretty good characters.
Amelia is a recovering alcoholic fighting to keep the land inheritance she was given, raise her very intelligent son, and protect herself from creeps. Very early on her boss makes an inappropriate pass at her and she punches him. He ends up dead later that day in a very compromising position with his computer. Amelia is the prime suspect, so now she becomes an investigator to clear her name. There are more deaths along with a moltov cocktail, a few confrontations with a gun, and a pleasant camgirl. The mystery and investigation are well done. I grew to really like the characters. There is plenty of quirkiness thrown in to keep the book feeling lighter. I did not figure out the murderer until the end, but I probably should have been suspicious earlier. I liked the twist that our pulp mystery detective was not only a woman, but also a mother.
Overall, good mystery, plenty of quirky drama, and pretty good characters.
July 17, 2026
Killer Comfort Food by Stacey Roberts was an engaging who-dun-it full of the recipes Amelia prepares for friends and family, which looked delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but struggle writing a review because I don't want to give anything away. It was set in the obligatory small town however, Amelia (Lurleen),the fmc in this book, is much more of a black sheep and tougher than the usual fmc, which was a breath of fresh air! There are quite a few twists, the ending really caught me by surprise! I did not care for the epilogue however. I felt it went a little too far.
I would give this book 3.25 stars, if partial stars were available. It is definitely more than 3 stars in my opinion. I recommend this book, especially for fans of Diane Mott Davidson or Joanne Fluke.
This galley was provided to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. This review is my own opinion and not influenced by anyone.
#KillerComfortFood
#NetGalley
I would give this book 3.25 stars, if partial stars were available. It is definitely more than 3 stars in my opinion. I recommend this book, especially for fans of Diane Mott Davidson or Joanne Fluke.
This galley was provided to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. This review is my own opinion and not influenced by anyone.
#KillerComfortFood
#NetGalley
September 24, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this one, especially because the premise sounded like it would be the perfect cozy mystery, but unfortunately it didn't work for me.
The parts I enjoyed most were the recipes and the banter between Amelia and Gene Four. Their mother-son dynamic brought some warmth and personality to the story.
Unfortunately, the mystery itself felt too predictable for me and didn't keep me hooked. I was hoping for more suspense and intrigue, especially as the story progressed, but the climax felt rather underwhelming.
I also expected more of that cozy + food + mystery feeling from Killer Comfort Food, but I never quite connected with the story in the way I hoped I would.
Overall, the recipes and Amelia and Gene Four's relationship were enjoyable, but the mystery and pacing didn't work for me.
The parts I enjoyed most were the recipes and the banter between Amelia and Gene Four. Their mother-son dynamic brought some warmth and personality to the story.
Unfortunately, the mystery itself felt too predictable for me and didn't keep me hooked. I was hoping for more suspense and intrigue, especially as the story progressed, but the climax felt rather underwhelming.
I also expected more of that cozy + food + mystery feeling from Killer Comfort Food, but I never quite connected with the story in the way I hoped I would.
Overall, the recipes and Amelia and Gene Four's relationship were enjoyable, but the mystery and pacing didn't work for me.
July 26, 2026
ARC Reader
The cover makes it look like some cozy mystery. It is misleading. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked this up. Though I oddly did really enjoy it. I think the cover being misleading is the point. This can describe exactly how this book progresses. It is actually something I really liked about it.
It sort of reminded me of The Mistletoe Murders.
I actually really enjoyed the snark and sass . Not to mention how each chapter opened with a recipe.
At times the writing did seem to skip and be more point by point rather than story like. Though the story makes up for it.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what book two holds. I do want to know more about what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue.
The cover makes it look like some cozy mystery. It is misleading. I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked this up. Though I oddly did really enjoy it. I think the cover being misleading is the point. This can describe exactly how this book progresses. It is actually something I really liked about it.
It sort of reminded me of The Mistletoe Murders.
I actually really enjoyed the snark and sass . Not to mention how each chapter opened with a recipe.
At times the writing did seem to skip and be more point by point rather than story like. Though the story makes up for it.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what book two holds. I do want to know more about what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue.
July 14, 2026
This was not my favorite. The writing style was mostly not for me. I did not enjoy how bullet point it felt, instead of story-like. I didn't enjoy how snarky and sassy Amelia was. I didn't like the characters very much. I hated how often the same phrases were repeated. The whole Gene thing was more confusing than funny or cute.
It was an alright mystery. I just wasn't invested enough to care about it.
It was an alright mystery. I just wasn't invested enough to care about it.
August 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC
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This was fun. Amelia is a sassy, independent woman and unlike typical cozy protagonists. She's faced very realistic setbacks and made her own way. Some good twists in the plot and plenty of good recipes to make you hungry.
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This was fun. Amelia is a sassy, independent woman and unlike typical cozy protagonists. She's faced very realistic setbacks and made her own way. Some good twists in the plot and plenty of good recipes to make you hungry.
September 7, 2026
Brilliant way of writing! Fun read with a good twist, and filled with recipes. The characters were a hoot and absolutely necessary. Amelia is a badass and no one will change my mind on that. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews