What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries #1
Pineapple Upside Down Murder
Welcome to Leavensport, OH, where DEATH takes a DELICIOUS turn! Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations, who, at her best friend Ava’s request, steps out of her comfort zone. This leads her into the shade of a killer in the small, cozy village of Leavensport, Ohio. The victim is the village's beloved Ellie Siler who runs the village sweet spot, Chocolate Capers. Jolie finds her grandma Opal is a prime suspect and goes on a search for answers only to find out that her family's secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all. Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line. The answers are assuredly lethal.
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryCozy
133 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2018
30 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Rath
16 books234 followersMoving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her nine cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 11, 2019
Dollycas’s Thoughts
When Jolie Tucker finds out her Grandma Opal is the top suspect in the death of her friend and owner of Chocolate Capers, Ellie Siler Jolie jumps from the cast iron frying pan into the fire to prove her innocence. What she learns could bring her very short-lived dream as co-owner of the Cast Iron Creations Restaurant to an end. She could also be the killer’s next victim . . .
A dead body, stolen recipes, and family secrets highlight this delightful cozy novella.
Jolie Tucker and her best friend Ava own Cast Iron Creations that features old family recipes made in cast iron skillets. Something her grandma Opal always wanted to do but was never able to do so. Jolie handles the kitchen because she is a real introvert and readers get a little bit of the backstory as to why. Joining Jolie is this story is a big cast. Her best friend Ava, other friends Lydia, Bradley, and Keith, Ava’s girlfriend Delilah, Grandma Opal and her daughter’s, along with Roxi who works at the restaurant and her brother Rex. We also have Detective Meiser, the investigator in charge of the case. At first, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everyone straight. It also felt like too many characters for a story of this length. But the author did a good job of making each unique and soon I had a handle on all the players.
This mystery was really twisted up. I did want to reach into the pages and slap the detective a few times. Jolie had a long list of suspects, essentially anyone that wasn’t her grandmother. She has a lot of good theories but the visiting detective in charge wasn’t interested in anything except maybe Jolie herself. The killer reveal was a surprise for me and a nice twist.
I really enjoyed the cast iron skillet theme and I am looking forward to getting to know these characters better and in more depth in the next book, Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder, out June 21.
When Jolie Tucker finds out her Grandma Opal is the top suspect in the death of her friend and owner of Chocolate Capers, Ellie Siler Jolie jumps from the cast iron frying pan into the fire to prove her innocence. What she learns could bring her very short-lived dream as co-owner of the Cast Iron Creations Restaurant to an end. She could also be the killer’s next victim . . .
A dead body, stolen recipes, and family secrets highlight this delightful cozy novella.
Jolie Tucker and her best friend Ava own Cast Iron Creations that features old family recipes made in cast iron skillets. Something her grandma Opal always wanted to do but was never able to do so. Jolie handles the kitchen because she is a real introvert and readers get a little bit of the backstory as to why. Joining Jolie is this story is a big cast. Her best friend Ava, other friends Lydia, Bradley, and Keith, Ava’s girlfriend Delilah, Grandma Opal and her daughter’s, along with Roxi who works at the restaurant and her brother Rex. We also have Detective Meiser, the investigator in charge of the case. At first, I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep everyone straight. It also felt like too many characters for a story of this length. But the author did a good job of making each unique and soon I had a handle on all the players.
This mystery was really twisted up. I did want to reach into the pages and slap the detective a few times. Jolie had a long list of suspects, essentially anyone that wasn’t her grandmother. She has a lot of good theories but the visiting detective in charge wasn’t interested in anything except maybe Jolie herself. The killer reveal was a surprise for me and a nice twist.
I really enjoyed the cast iron skillet theme and I am looking forward to getting to know these characters better and in more depth in the next book, Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder, out June 21.
December 17, 2018
Along with her best friend, Ava, Jolie Tucker owns the Cast Iron Creations restaurant. Jolie uses her family’s secret recipes to entice her customers. She’s dismayed when her recipe box is stolen. She doesn’t know how she will break the news to her grandmother Opal. However, her grandmother has bigger problems when her best friend Ellie is found dead and Opal is arrested for the murder.
Jolie is beside herself as she tries to find out who could have done something so horrible. Her restaurant, as well as her family, is in jeopardy and it’s up to Jolie to prove them innocent.
What a delightful cozy mystery! It’s set in the perfect setting for a cozy mystery - a small, close-knit village. Although it’s a short read, the characters are well-written and come to life. They already feel like close friends.
It’s a cute, quick read. I was able to read it in a few short hours. I did suspect who the killer was, but I wasn’t sure of the hows and whys of it. I enjoyed trying to put the puzzle together with Jolie. I hope there will be more books as I’d love to re-visit this small town in Ohio.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jolie is beside herself as she tries to find out who could have done something so horrible. Her restaurant, as well as her family, is in jeopardy and it’s up to Jolie to prove them innocent.
What a delightful cozy mystery! It’s set in the perfect setting for a cozy mystery - a small, close-knit village. Although it’s a short read, the characters are well-written and come to life. They already feel like close friends.
It’s a cute, quick read. I was able to read it in a few short hours. I did suspect who the killer was, but I wasn’t sure of the hows and whys of it. I enjoyed trying to put the puzzle together with Jolie. I hope there will be more books as I’d love to re-visit this small town in Ohio.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 14, 2018
A great start to a new series. Interesting characters & a twisted plot make for a fun read.
August 13, 2019
I came across this series when I answered a question in a Facebook group on cooking with a cast iron skillet. I love my cast iron skillet. I make all kinds of things in it. It is older than I am. A cozy mystery that includes cast iron skillet recipe? Yes, please. I bought the book to check it out and thoroughly enjoy myself! I really like the family and friends in this small town. I don’t want to say a lot about the plot so yes a dead body is involved along with another mystery that isn’t a dead body. Are they related or separate? I did not guess the ending at all. The ending is complete but there is something that happened to Jolie that I absolutely must have the next book to see how it goes. So maybe the ending is complete but not. I don’t know. What I do know is I’m definitely getting Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread Murder. And this fall I’ll be on the lookout for Turkey Basted to Death, the book not dinner at my parents where my dad always says the turkey was basted to death. You know I have to get that book just for the title alone. My dad is going to crack up! I’m so looking forward to more books in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series.
December 1, 2020
First of all, I'm not a huge fan of cozy mysteries, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one. Extremely well written, with relatable characters, it held my interest throughout. Not as dark as I prefer, but it says cozy in the description. I will be reading the next one. Also, it has a recipe at the end that my sweet tooth is screaming at me to try!
December 22, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Great start to this adorable cozy mystery series. Julie is co-owner of a little restaurant that cooks with cast iron skillet only using time tested family recipes. Things are going smooth until one morning with recipes turn up stolen and grannys best friend is dead in the alley out back. When Granny becomes the main suspect she starts asking questions which leads one doozy of an ending. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Great start to this adorable cozy mystery series. Julie is co-owner of a little restaurant that cooks with cast iron skillet only using time tested family recipes. Things are going smooth until one morning with recipes turn up stolen and grannys best friend is dead in the alley out back. When Granny becomes the main suspect she starts asking questions which leads one doozy of an ending. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
November 2, 2018
The book will capture your attention immediately, with the setting being a small town in Ohio. The author does a good job pulling you into the town and introducing you to the characters while setting the scene for Book 2. I am looking forward to reading this series.
September 14, 2020
Fun short and sweet cozy mystery!
November 10, 2018
Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath is an enjoyable cozy culinary mystery that has a delightful & diverse cast of characters you’ll fall in love with. This was an easy, fast read that left me guessing until the end – I never would’ve been able to figure out the who or the why on my own. Some of the underlying themes of the book are family ties and bonds that cross generations, friendships and pursuing our dreams/goals. I look forward to reading the rest of the Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. I also can't wait to try the recipe that was at the end of the book. Warning: Don't read this book while you're hungry because all of the descriptions of delicious food will make your mouth water.
November 9, 2018
Everything about Pineapple Upside Down Murder is a delight - from the title and cover art to the loveable but eccentric characters to the quaint small-town setting to the suspenseful twists and turns - all of it! This cozy mystery quickly draws you into the dynamics of Jolie and Ava's charming community; after a couple of chapters, you will feel like a neighbor yourself. You will be making plans to stop by Jolie's restaurant for some gossip and a piece of pineapple upside down cake until you remember that you are just you, snuggled up with a good book, a warm blanket, and a soothing cup of tea on your own couch at home. The idea of basing this mystery series on cast iron skillet creations is clever and fresh, and I can't wait for the next book about Jolie's adventures to be released. Rath does an excellent job of maintaining suspense while also exploring the joys and challenges of our most important relationships, those with our friends, our family, our neighbors, and, of course, our cats. This is a fun read!
October 29, 2018
"Pineapple Upside Down Murder" is the perfect cozy mystery. The characters are quirky and cool, the town is small and artsy. It reminds me of Yellow Springs, Ohio. I want Jolie and Ava to be my besties. Fortunately for all of us, this is only Book 1 in the series. Which means there are more coming along!
The main character is a sensitive fighter who doesn't give up, and does things for herself. Great female role model!
This book is the perfect blend of mysterious, funny, and a little scary, coming together as the perfect pleasure read. The twist at the end caught me by surprise. Waiting for the next one!
The main character is a sensitive fighter who doesn't give up, and does things for herself. Great female role model!
This book is the perfect blend of mysterious, funny, and a little scary, coming together as the perfect pleasure read. The twist at the end caught me by surprise. Waiting for the next one!
January 16, 2019
I loved this story, the characters were good! I love how it all turn out, I'm looking forward to the next one in this series.
December 19, 2018
If you need a shorter cozy mystery to read on the go (in between appointments, etc) then this is one you might want to check out. It has everything a full length cozy has but in 130 pages.
I always love a cozy that involves food and this is the first time I’ve seen one that centers around recipes that are cooked in a cast iron skillet. (The recipes at the end look divine!) Jolie is sort of a mess, I think she is an introvert so has problems talking to people or fitting in unless it is her family or best friend, Ava. Plus we get a peek into her past when it comes to her biological father and the emotional abuse he inflicted on Joie which has a lot to do with how she acts and reacts to people and situations.
Jolie and Ava have planned this restaurant since they were young children and are the best of friends and even live next door to each other. They have a great relationship which hasn’t wavered even though Ava is in a relationship with Delilah – sometimes love interests get in the way of friendship. Despite their friendship, there are some tense moments in several spots in the book but I’m not going to reveal why you’ll have to read the book and find out.
There is quite a cast of characters but even with the varied characters, I was able to deduce who is the killer. I couldn’t tell you why, but something about this character’s actions and words clued me into their guilt. Now that isn’t to say that a few other characters didn’t seem a bit suspicious. There is also an attractive police detective that seems to have a thing for Jolie once they get past his initial brusqueness.
Overall a great start to a new series and we give this 4 paws up.
I always love a cozy that involves food and this is the first time I’ve seen one that centers around recipes that are cooked in a cast iron skillet. (The recipes at the end look divine!) Jolie is sort of a mess, I think she is an introvert so has problems talking to people or fitting in unless it is her family or best friend, Ava. Plus we get a peek into her past when it comes to her biological father and the emotional abuse he inflicted on Joie which has a lot to do with how she acts and reacts to people and situations.
Jolie and Ava have planned this restaurant since they were young children and are the best of friends and even live next door to each other. They have a great relationship which hasn’t wavered even though Ava is in a relationship with Delilah – sometimes love interests get in the way of friendship. Despite their friendship, there are some tense moments in several spots in the book but I’m not going to reveal why you’ll have to read the book and find out.
There is quite a cast of characters but even with the varied characters, I was able to deduce who is the killer. I couldn’t tell you why, but something about this character’s actions and words clued me into their guilt. Now that isn’t to say that a few other characters didn’t seem a bit suspicious. There is also an attractive police detective that seems to have a thing for Jolie once they get past his initial brusqueness.
Overall a great start to a new series and we give this 4 paws up.
December 28, 2018
Great debut cozy
This is a wonderful debut of a cozy mystery. young, smart, and fiesty Jolie Tucker decides opens up Cast Iron Creation in her hometown ,of Leavenport, Ohio, along with her childhood best friend, Ava. To showcase her family's Cast Skillet recipes and share them with the whole town. When the recipes disappear and an older woman is found dead, in the alley behind her shop. Jolie decides to look into it. This book is short, less then 150 pages, but still a great, well thought out mystery whodunit. It is well written. The characters are fleshed out, and we'll thought, a little quirky and flawed but still. This is definitely a book I would recommend to mystery readers.
This is a wonderful debut of a cozy mystery. young, smart, and fiesty Jolie Tucker decides opens up Cast Iron Creation in her hometown ,of Leavenport, Ohio, along with her childhood best friend, Ava. To showcase her family's Cast Skillet recipes and share them with the whole town. When the recipes disappear and an older woman is found dead, in the alley behind her shop. Jolie decides to look into it. This book is short, less then 150 pages, but still a great, well thought out mystery whodunit. It is well written. The characters are fleshed out, and we'll thought, a little quirky and flawed but still. This is definitely a book I would recommend to mystery readers.
January 18, 2019
Yummy
What a fun book. I never knew that there are recipes that use a cast iron skillet. I look forward to reading more books about Jolie and her family. I liked all her cats and her friends Ava and Betsy. A wonderful friend to rely on.
What a fun book. I never knew that there are recipes that use a cast iron skillet. I look forward to reading more books about Jolie and her family. I liked all her cats and her friends Ava and Betsy. A wonderful friend to rely on.
December 5, 2018
With a quirky population of characters who have known each other for many years, this small town cozy is full of surprises. Centered on food and friendship, there are secrets that span generations. Including feisty kittens and a strong, fierce senior citizen, having known the local top cop isn't a get out of jail free card when a visiting detective is in charge of a murder case.
Fast paced, easy to read, packed with action.
Fast paced, easy to read, packed with action.
August 29, 2020
It's not often the other reviews for a book let me down, but this one baffles me. There was little to no character introduction, and I had trouble keeping all the player straight. It felt a bit like this was the third or forth book in a series, and I should know all these people already. Story felt rushed, and I was frankly glad the story was so short.
October 7, 2020
A great story with great characters! Well-written plotline, suspense, a few laughs, overall a quick and enjoyable read! You will be craving pineapple upside down cake by the time you finish this story!
July 1, 2019
Who would want to kill a harmless old lady?
Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is a splendid cozy mystery with lots of questions that Ms. Rath answers.
Jolie Tucker
Jolie is our sleuth and the co-owner of The Cast Iron Creations. She is a bright young twenty-two-year-old who is trying to solve the murder of her grandma’s dearest friend Ellie. Of course, she is thwarted by the killer and the police. Jolie is a very curious amateur sleuth and nothing that the chief Tobias and the new detective from Tri-City have any say.
I like that Jolie is helping solve the crime of her grandma’s dearest friend she wasn’t apart of her family but felt like she was. Jolie is excellent at trying to do that and not step on the police toes despite how small the town is. She loves to bake, and cook, but she's not a great social person, which is something that I can relate to.
Things to look for (and that I liked)
The coziness of living in a small town like this will bring. I love living in small towns like this one.
How everyone is concerned about Jolie is very comforting.
The friendships that Jolie has with a lot of the people in town.
It's very obvious how Keith and a certain Tri-City detective are trying to date Jolie.
That despite the closeness of everyone in town, there are still ways to keep a secret.
5 Stars for Pineapple Upside Down Mystery by Jodi Roth
My rating for Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is five stars. To me, everything that Ms. Roth did with this book is fabulous. I completely fell in love with the characters and Jolie. The mystery was so sad, and it had me guessing, but I fell for one of the red herrings. The whole setting is another thing that I love. Oh, and there is a recipe for Jolie’s grandma’s pineapple upside down cake at the end of the book.
I highly recommend this book to all Cozy readers.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed my review of Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is a splendid cozy mystery with lots of questions that Ms. Rath answers.
Jolie Tucker
Jolie is our sleuth and the co-owner of The Cast Iron Creations. She is a bright young twenty-two-year-old who is trying to solve the murder of her grandma’s dearest friend Ellie. Of course, she is thwarted by the killer and the police. Jolie is a very curious amateur sleuth and nothing that the chief Tobias and the new detective from Tri-City have any say.
I like that Jolie is helping solve the crime of her grandma’s dearest friend she wasn’t apart of her family but felt like she was. Jolie is excellent at trying to do that and not step on the police toes despite how small the town is. She loves to bake, and cook, but she's not a great social person, which is something that I can relate to.
Things to look for (and that I liked)
The coziness of living in a small town like this will bring. I love living in small towns like this one.
How everyone is concerned about Jolie is very comforting.
The friendships that Jolie has with a lot of the people in town.
It's very obvious how Keith and a certain Tri-City detective are trying to date Jolie.
That despite the closeness of everyone in town, there are still ways to keep a secret.
5 Stars for Pineapple Upside Down Mystery by Jodi Roth My rating for Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Roth is five stars. To me, everything that Ms. Roth did with this book is fabulous. I completely fell in love with the characters and Jolie. The mystery was so sad, and it had me guessing, but I fell for one of the red herrings. The whole setting is another thing that I love. Oh, and there is a recipe for Jolie’s grandma’s pineapple upside down cake at the end of the book.
I highly recommend this book to all Cozy readers.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed my review of Pineapple Upside Down Murder by Jodi Rath.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
October 4, 2019
I found this book on the small sale rack set up by Friends of the Library at my local library. I suspect it might have been purchased for the summer reading program and they had a couple copies left over and decided to sell them. I wasn't sure if the book was written for adults or teens--the language seems a bit simplistic at times for adults.
It's a shame the book looks a bit "cheaply made" because the story is decent and the characters are memorable. I like that it is set in a small Ohio town. I liked the town map at the front, but the way it was reproduced made it seem a bit blurry and the type was so small that it was hard to read some of the store names etc. on it. Also the cover promotes "tasty recipes inside" but recipes is a bit of a misnomer--there is one recipe printed (for Pineapple Upside Down Cake--and even at that, the "secret" ingredient is left out of the recipe and apparently you are expected to figure out what it is by reading the story to find where it is mentioned.) Yes, there are other recipes talked about in the book, but that's not usually what I think when I see the words "tasty recipes inside".
The main characters were well developed, but there were so many characters that I had trouble keeping them all straight and figuring out their history together. Bradley seems to have a history with one of the main characters that I never figured out and he's also kind of on-again, off-again with Lydia from what Jolie thinks in the book.
I liked that the whole town pulls together for the stray animal benefit (and probably for other causes as well). I liked Jolie's idea to try to get the food-related businesses in town to cooperate and to cross-promote each other rather than viewing each other as competition.
WARNING: SPOILERS MAY LIE AHEAD--READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION
Jolie and Ava have opened a restaurant using Jolie's family recipes (most made in cast iron cookware). The recipes are housed in a special box. The recipes and the box go missing. Then Ellie is found murdered behind the restaurant.
Accusations fly--one of them being that the family recipes weren't really owned by the Tucker family. Opal is arrested as a suspect in Ellie's murder. Betsy misses Ellie's funeral which is out of character for her. Jolie skips out of an event she promised her grandmother and her family she would do to try to find Betsy and gets a bit more than she bargained for.
Keith and Meiser seem to be being set up by the author to form a love triangle with Jolie.
It's a shame the book looks a bit "cheaply made" because the story is decent and the characters are memorable. I like that it is set in a small Ohio town. I liked the town map at the front, but the way it was reproduced made it seem a bit blurry and the type was so small that it was hard to read some of the store names etc. on it. Also the cover promotes "tasty recipes inside" but recipes is a bit of a misnomer--there is one recipe printed (for Pineapple Upside Down Cake--and even at that, the "secret" ingredient is left out of the recipe and apparently you are expected to figure out what it is by reading the story to find where it is mentioned.) Yes, there are other recipes talked about in the book, but that's not usually what I think when I see the words "tasty recipes inside".
The main characters were well developed, but there were so many characters that I had trouble keeping them all straight and figuring out their history together. Bradley seems to have a history with one of the main characters that I never figured out and he's also kind of on-again, off-again with Lydia from what Jolie thinks in the book.
I liked that the whole town pulls together for the stray animal benefit (and probably for other causes as well). I liked Jolie's idea to try to get the food-related businesses in town to cooperate and to cross-promote each other rather than viewing each other as competition.
WARNING: SPOILERS MAY LIE AHEAD--READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION
Jolie and Ava have opened a restaurant using Jolie's family recipes (most made in cast iron cookware). The recipes are housed in a special box. The recipes and the box go missing. Then Ellie is found murdered behind the restaurant.
Accusations fly--one of them being that the family recipes weren't really owned by the Tucker family. Opal is arrested as a suspect in Ellie's murder. Betsy misses Ellie's funeral which is out of character for her. Jolie skips out of an event she promised her grandmother and her family she would do to try to find Betsy and gets a bit more than she bargained for.
Keith and Meiser seem to be being set up by the author to form a love triangle with Jolie.
August 19, 2020
Meet Jolie Tucker. She and her lifelong bestie Ava own Cast Iron Creations, a small cozy restaurant that uses Jolie's family cast iron pan recipes to keep her clientele fed and happy.
Leavensport is a great town filled with people who have known each other forever. But someone has stolen Jolie's recipe box. Straight out of the "secret" hiding place! On the heels of that discovery, she rushes out her back door to discover Ellie Siler dead. In the dumpster!
When Jolie's grandma - and Ellie's best friend - becomes the prime suspect, the girls get to sleuthing. After all, when the police have shut down your place of business while THEY investigate what else are you going to do? Rath has given us two mysteries to solve here, but somehow you just know the two events are linked.
Pineapple Upside Murder is a well written, entertaining read. Rath has created a whole village of characters that take no time at all to make you their friends. All through the book, I found myself hoping that none of these great people I'd just met turned out to be a murderer!
Book One of a series that already has several volumes - all the better for binge-reading - I know that Jolie and Ave, and all the residents of Leavensport will soon be among my favourite cozy characters!
Leavensport is a great town filled with people who have known each other forever. But someone has stolen Jolie's recipe box. Straight out of the "secret" hiding place! On the heels of that discovery, she rushes out her back door to discover Ellie Siler dead. In the dumpster!
When Jolie's grandma - and Ellie's best friend - becomes the prime suspect, the girls get to sleuthing. After all, when the police have shut down your place of business while THEY investigate what else are you going to do? Rath has given us two mysteries to solve here, but somehow you just know the two events are linked.
Pineapple Upside Murder is a well written, entertaining read. Rath has created a whole village of characters that take no time at all to make you their friends. All through the book, I found myself hoping that none of these great people I'd just met turned out to be a murderer!
Book One of a series that already has several volumes - all the better for binge-reading - I know that Jolie and Ave, and all the residents of Leavensport will soon be among my favourite cozy characters!
August 5, 2019
It's always fun to find a new cozy mystery series. Jodi Rath's Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series, was a good find! Her book has a colorful cover that shows Jolie Tucker and one of her four cats. Jolie and her friend, Ava, own Cast Iron Creations in Leavensport, Ohio. It was founded on Jolie's family's secret cast iron recipes. One day, Ellie Siler is discovered dead in the dumpster behind their shop! Ellie was Jolie's grandmother's best friend, and helped raise her as a kid. The prime suspect turns out to be Grandma Opal! Jolie's sleuthing is hampered by visiting detective, Mick Meiser. Book 1 in this series, has a likable group of tight knit characters, a hint of a future romance for Jolie, and it will be fun to see what they get up to next! I'm looking forward to Book 2--Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder.
May 25, 2020
I've been wanting to start this series since it came out, and I'm glad I finally did. Jolie sure has a crazy family and friend in Ava, but they always made for some good comic relief. There were happy and sad moments as they mourned the murder of Grandma Opal's best friend. When Jolie was attacked at the restaurant, she knew she had to be getting close to who killed Ellie. There were so many new people to get to know, I wasn't really sure who might have done it, so either way I was surprised. By the end of the book, I was very comfortable with all the regular characters and how they all fit into Jolie and Ava's lives.
The showdown was a good one. Jolie had some help, but she did a pretty good job taking down the killer with her messed-up shoulder. I really liked the ending and how everything turned out and can't wait to read the next book!
The showdown was a good one. Jolie had some help, but she did a pretty good job taking down the killer with her messed-up shoulder. I really liked the ending and how everything turned out and can't wait to read the next book!
June 21, 2019
Please do not take this rating as a bad thing, Ms. Rath. It is not, however, I have a couple of issues with this debut novel.
Although, thoughtfully, a map was included at the beginning of the story line, the book really would have been improved with a 'Cast of Characters, ' or the equivalent. The character names came flooding out and I truly had a difficult time trying to place each in their proper places.
The story mainly felt rushed. Truly, it was a good story plot, but, it was choppy and rushed. In my opinion, you have a full novel inside you and this novella proves you could write one.
So, yes, I will read book two. I am also asking readers and authors to give this series a chance. I know this is just a debut book Ms. Rath shows promise.
Although, thoughtfully, a map was included at the beginning of the story line, the book really would have been improved with a 'Cast of Characters, ' or the equivalent. The character names came flooding out and I truly had a difficult time trying to place each in their proper places.
The story mainly felt rushed. Truly, it was a good story plot, but, it was choppy and rushed. In my opinion, you have a full novel inside you and this novella proves you could write one.
So, yes, I will read book two. I am also asking readers and authors to give this series a chance. I know this is just a debut book Ms. Rath shows promise.
July 12, 2020
I always enjoy a clean cozey murder mystery with the outrageous caracters, vibrant challenging in so many ways and chalked full of intreage and humor as well. This cozeymystery fills each and every one of my favorite things. The writing is brilliant the story line so fabulous and the rest of the mystery is great. So aquier a copy today and start enjoying the "Pineapple Upside Down Murder "as much as I have. ☺😯😔😕🙄😮😊Kat
November 29, 2021
Pineapple Upside Down Murders is the first in the Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries.. the main character is Jolie Tucker. Jolie and her best friend Ava open up a cafe using Jolie's family cast iron skillet recipes. Those recipes go missing, and then the body of family friend, Ellie Siler, is found behind the restaurant. Jolie's grandmother even becomes a prime suspect in the case, by the lead investigator in the case, Detective Mick Meiser. It's actually great as far as a cozy mystery, even though it was shorter then most.
November 13, 2019
Friendship and family are the keys to this sweet mystery. Lots of wonderful characters all somehow related to the murder of a sweet old lady and a box of missing recipes. I did not see that end coming. Great twists along the way and more trouble on the way in book 2. Really looking forward to it. Loved the author's dedication and a map of the town is included too.
March 17, 2020
I stumbled across this book and decided to give it a read. I’m glad I did because I loved this story and how it all turn out. I loved the characters especially the sassy grandma. They were interesting and fun. There were plenty of surprises and twists. Towards the end of the book, I was trying to figure out who Jolie should end up with yes I do love a good love interest.
June 5, 2020
This was a great cozy mystery. I love all the characters and the twists and turns in the plot. I look forward to reading the next book in there series. I've never made pineapple upside down cake but after reading the story and seeing the recipe, I'm going to give it a shot with my cast iron skillet.
August 24, 2020
Jodi sent me a copy of this in a fb drawing along with some nice bookmarks. Front of book is very eye catching. Imagine starting to bake for shop, but box of treasured family recipes not in hiding place. Moments later body of a friend found in dumpster out back.
Author keeps reader wondering what is going on Recommend to others that enjoy a murder mystery.
Author keeps reader wondering what is going on Recommend to others that enjoy a murder mystery.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews