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Poppy Peters #4
Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet
From USA Today bestselling author A. Gardner comes the latest deadly delicious Poppy Peters installment...
Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert.
**Recipes included!**
Poppy Peters
Southern Peach Pie & A Dead Guy (book #1)
Chocolate Macaroons and a Dead Groom (book #2)
Ice Cream Bombes and Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Bananas Foster and a Dead Mobster (book #3)
Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet (book #4)
What critics are
"A charming cozy mystery featuring likable characters. A. Gardner does a marvelous job at keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what surprises A. Gardner has in store for us next!"
—Fresh Fiction
"If you are a fan of tasty mysteries that showcase delectable desserts and a strong heroine, this is one to pick up."
—Night Owl Reviews
"One of the best perks of summer is eating a warm slice of Georgia peach pie. Throw in a murder and you’ve got the makings of a juicy cozy mystery. Southern Peach Pie and a Dead A Poppy Peters Mystery by debut author A. Gardner is a delicious e-book."
—MomTrends, Ebook Pick for Summer
Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert.
**Recipes included!**
Poppy Peters
Southern Peach Pie & A Dead Guy (book #1)
Chocolate Macaroons and a Dead Groom (book #2)
Ice Cream Bombes and Stolen Thongs (short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection)
Bananas Foster and a Dead Mobster (book #3)
Strawberry Tartlets and a Dead Starlet (book #4)
What critics are
"A charming cozy mystery featuring likable characters. A. Gardner does a marvelous job at keeping the storyline fresh and entertaining. I look forward to seeing what surprises A. Gardner has in store for us next!"
—Fresh Fiction
"If you are a fan of tasty mysteries that showcase delectable desserts and a strong heroine, this is one to pick up."
—Night Owl Reviews
"One of the best perks of summer is eating a warm slice of Georgia peach pie. Throw in a murder and you’ve got the makings of a juicy cozy mystery. Southern Peach Pie and a Dead A Poppy Peters Mystery by debut author A. Gardner is a delicious e-book."
—MomTrends, Ebook Pick for Summer
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2016
154 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 1, 2020
This is the 4th in the series, one more to go. Fairly short, cute stories. This time, Poppy and Bree are in Alabama at a spa and resort for their new jobs. While they love being on the ocean, the owner's daughter who is the manager really gives them a hard time. When a country music singer is poisoned while a guest at the resort, they have to figure out who did it. Searching for evidence includes a trip to an alligator farm, and let's just say that meeting Big Bertha and Captain Crunch could have been a little too exciting.
July 25, 2016
Poppy Peters returns! She and classmate Bree have gotten jobs at Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa in the tourist town of Gator Bay. While enjoying her job as pastry chef, she has to put with the bad as well as the good. The bad being the boss's daughter and cat who seemingly spy on her and criticize her every move. When a local girl who has left and become a successful country music star comes back to stay at the Inn, it always means confusion and extra work for the chefs. This time when she comes, she has a new bodyguard who turns out to be Poppy's friend from Oregon, Presley. But before Poppy has much of a chance to talk with Presley, the country music star is found dead in his room. Begging Poppy to help him as he explains why the two had changed rooms, Poppy finally relents and agrees to once again help solve a murder and clear a friend. Watching the sleuthing unfold and the unlimited dedication to getting to the truth, I am once again reminded how enjoyable Poppy and friend Bree really are. Even battling mosquitoes and mud Poppy never waivers. Only a pair of alligators chasing her make her even slightly question what she is doing. Poppy is simply unflappable and dedicated. Of course there is plenty of food and pastry and desert discussion throughout the book, complete with easy to follow recipes at the end of the book. A fun mystery with so many twists and turns that ends upbeat and making you want to read the next book.
Best when read in order, this series will have you chuckling and alternately craving sweets.
June 21, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
I got the first book in this series as a freebie for the Kindle quite some time ago, and liked it enough to read more. After the first couple of books, though, the prices for the remainder of the series skyrocketed – over $700 per book at one point! – so I crossed them off my list. On a fluke, I checked prices one last time and found the Kindle versions of the rest of the series at prices I was willing to pay, so I bought all of them, just to be sure.
When the series started, I liked Poppy and her determination to make a go of her new career change, and while I still appreciate that, her lack of... focus? goals? direction? irritates me. Or maybe it’s her friend Bree who irritates me? If Bree wasn't in this book, I think I would have liked it more, so I rounded my rating up rather than down, since she's not the MC.
The setting of this book, fictional Gator Bay, Alabama, is almost a character itself, what with heat and humidity, swamps and gators, and potential hurricanes to deal with. The guests at the resort where Poppy and Bree are employed are a rather eccentric bunch, and the staff isn’t much better. They covered the gamut of stereotypes, and I could have done without most of them.
The murder here took place early in the book, and the victim, while popular, wasn’t an especially nice or thoughtful person, so there were quite a few suspects, but only a handful of obvious ones. I had one character at the top of my list almost from the person’s introduction, and I was quite happy to realize I was right. I didn’t quite work out the motive, which turned out to be logical, given the culprit’s identity, but misguided.
There are two books left in this series, which I’ve already purchased, so I’ll eventually read them, but not necessarily any time soon.
I got the first book in this series as a freebie for the Kindle quite some time ago, and liked it enough to read more. After the first couple of books, though, the prices for the remainder of the series skyrocketed – over $700 per book at one point! – so I crossed them off my list. On a fluke, I checked prices one last time and found the Kindle versions of the rest of the series at prices I was willing to pay, so I bought all of them, just to be sure.
When the series started, I liked Poppy and her determination to make a go of her new career change, and while I still appreciate that, her lack of... focus? goals? direction? irritates me. Or maybe it’s her friend Bree who irritates me? If Bree wasn't in this book, I think I would have liked it more, so I rounded my rating up rather than down, since she's not the MC.
The setting of this book, fictional Gator Bay, Alabama, is almost a character itself, what with heat and humidity, swamps and gators, and potential hurricanes to deal with. The guests at the resort where Poppy and Bree are employed are a rather eccentric bunch, and the staff isn’t much better. They covered the gamut of stereotypes, and I could have done without most of them.
The murder here took place early in the book, and the victim, while popular, wasn’t an especially nice or thoughtful person, so there were quite a few suspects, but only a handful of obvious ones. I had one character at the top of my list almost from the person’s introduction, and I was quite happy to realize I was right. I didn’t quite work out the motive, which turned out to be logical, given the culprit’s identity, but misguided.
There are two books left in this series, which I’ve already purchased, so I’ll eventually read them, but not necessarily any time soon.
June 19, 2017
I really liked this book.
Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert.
Poppy Peters, sometimes-sleuth and recent pastry school graduate, is soaking up the southern sun as the new official pastry chef of Magnolia Harbor Inn and Spa. But the sunny tourist town of Gator Bay is anything but pleasant when a country music star turns up dead in one of the hotel rooms...after eating one of Poppy's pastries! Ready to do anything to prove her tasty strawberry tartlets aren't to blame, Poppy's search for the killer takes her everywhere from a local fish n' fry to an abandoned gator farm. With the help of her kitchen mate Bree, an old flame, and a not-so-sweet cat named Muffin, Poppy finds herself wrapped up in a hurricane of clues. But which ones lead to the killer? Poppy must solve the riddle quickly or else she too might be fed a bite of a deadly dessert.
January 7, 2020
Strawberry Tartlets
A Great entertaining book with lots of excitement anyone that has a love of mysteries. Recommend it to everyone that has a love of mysteries. Looking forward to reading the next one love the recipes in the back of the books after finishing up with the story.
A Great entertaining book with lots of excitement anyone that has a love of mysteries. Recommend it to everyone that has a love of mysteries. Looking forward to reading the next one love the recipes in the back of the books after finishing up with the story.
April 27, 2022
Our heros, Poppy and Bree, have relocated to a Gulf Resort to bake and, of course, solve a murder! Good mystery; good recipes.
May 5, 2023
Fun cozy with interesting characters.
July 25, 2016
Bree and Poppy are working at Magnolia Harbor Inn in Gator Bay. The Inn is owned by Hattie Mae Scott but the current innkeeper is her daughter, Cherie along with her cat, Muffin. Gilly is the chef and is very demanding. Bree is relieved that Poppy has finally shown up. Poppy starts the pastry for the Strawberry Tartlets for dinner. Gator Bay's famous Lacey Leigh Nichols who became a country music star has checked in. Frankie, the Inns all around worker, leaves the kitchen to deliver Lacey's breakfast. Poppy runs after her with the salt and pepper that she forgot. Cherie's cat, Muffin, watches Poppy from down the hall. When she knocks on the door, she discovers that Lacey's bodyguard is Presley whom she dated for a summer in college. The strawberry tartlets that she makes for dinner that night turn out to be deadly.
A. Gardner has written a book with a beautiful setting, intrigue, action and lots of drama. Poppy has continued to evolve nicely in each book. The recipes are excellent too. I can't wait to try a couple of them myself. An enthralling mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.
A. Gardner has written a book with a beautiful setting, intrigue, action and lots of drama. Poppy has continued to evolve nicely in each book. The recipes are excellent too. I can't wait to try a couple of them myself. An enthralling mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.
July 22, 2016
Poppy Peters and her pastery school roommate, Bree have landed jobs at a hotel/spa in a popular tourist town. Poppy volunteers to deliver a breakfast tray to a country music star when the person hired to deliver the trays doesn't show up. Poppy runs into her old boyfriend, Presley when she knocks on the door. When the country music star ends up murdered, Presley asks Poppy for help because he think the killer was after him. Poppy finds herself investigating to unravel the mystery.
This is an enjoyable addition to the Poppy Peters series. It quickly drew my attention and kept me reading. It was ice seeing Poppy and Bree together again, I really enjoy these characters. The mystery was well plotted and had plenty of suspects that kept me guessing who the culprit was. I look forward to reading Poppy's next adventure.
I received a copy of this manuscript from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is an enjoyable addition to the Poppy Peters series. It quickly drew my attention and kept me reading. It was ice seeing Poppy and Bree together again, I really enjoy these characters. The mystery was well plotted and had plenty of suspects that kept me guessing who the culprit was. I look forward to reading Poppy's next adventure.
I received a copy of this manuscript from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
Whodunnit?? Very entertaining mystery. Really gets the investigating juices pumped up. Poppy & Bree are great at what they do and both have their comic moments. Poppy is willing to take any risk to prove her tartlets are not “killers” and although Bree has her nervous energy issues, lol she adds perspective to the case solving. The author cleverly adds a monkey wrench or two into the plot which had me indecisive to the culprit which builds the suspense.
July 17, 2016
Make sure you are not hungry before reading. Poppy & Bree are at it again. Someone dies at the hotel they are working & poppies Ex was The bodyguard who was supposed to be watching the dead person. He asks poppy for help which he though someone was trying to kill him. They come to find out the cat was spying on all the guests & the inn keeper was the one who was behind the murder.
August 1, 2016
Awesome
This one really kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong. This one has a few twists and a surprise ending that left me eagerly awaiting the next book. Can't wait to see what adventure is next.
This one really kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong. This one has a few twists and a surprise ending that left me eagerly awaiting the next book. Can't wait to see what adventure is next.
August 2, 2016
When a old flame comes back into your life and death follows.
Poppy is always running into dead people but not at the feet of her old crush. Is he in danger or was he the cause this time. Always a good read with lots of great recipes at the end.
Poppy is always running into dead people but not at the feet of her old crush. Is he in danger or was he the cause this time. Always a good read with lots of great recipes at the end.
July 22, 2016
Great read. Can't wait to see what happens next in Poppys life
August 10, 2016
Pretty good, I like these easy reads.
August 15, 2016
Interesting read
What an interesting read. I like the characters and how they proceed to get into trouble and finally find their way out.
What an interesting read. I like the characters and how they proceed to get into trouble and finally find their way out.
August 15, 2016
Fun Reading
I gave this book a five star rating because I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed the characters and their story. I would recommend it to anyone.
I gave this book a five star rating because I thought it was a good book. I enjoyed the characters and their story. I would recommend it to anyone.
December 13, 2016
I enjoyed this one just as much as the first in the series. its a fun cozy mystery and not too predictable.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews