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Pizza Lovers #1
A Slice of Murder
Not too much happens in the sleepy little town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina, which is fine with pizza-purveyor extraordinaire Eleanor Swift. The spunky owner of A Slice of Delight is trying to mend her broken heart and could use a little quiet time. But when a late night delivery customer turns up dead, she's in for just the opposite in this delicious mystery series debut, featuring pizza as the prima character . . .
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2009
120 people are currently reading
2725 people want to read
About the author
Chris Cavender
7 books184 followersChris Cavender is the pseudonym used by Agatha Award nominated author Tim Myers.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 336 reviews
March 12, 2021
A Slice of murder is the first modern cozy mystery that I've reread (many times). When I reread it, there were many pages whose content was forgotten by me. It has a lot of charm going for it.
I do recommend it. It's not well rated on Goodreads, but there's some magic inculcated into this very compulsive book.
A factor that made this book special to me was precisely the two dimensional aspect of its characters. This gives A Slice of Murder, a fairy tale-like appeal. There is some thing frozen and eternal about it.
I do recommend it. It's not well rated on Goodreads, but there's some magic inculcated into this very compulsive book.
A factor that made this book special to me was precisely the two dimensional aspect of its characters. This gives A Slice of Murder, a fairy tale-like appeal. There is some thing frozen and eternal about it.
March 14, 2021
The first of the Pizza Lovers series is one that I remember well. It's the first book I rated on this site that earned a perfect score. Why I didn't write and start writing reviews after reading this one is in itself a mystery. Alas I've forgotten much about the 2nd and 3rd sequels. But here I do remember who the culprit is. All the books, all five of them earned 5 stars. I recommend this book and if you like it feel confident enough to read the sequels!
December 30, 2014
Eleanor Swift and her sister Madeline Spencer run and own the pizzeria A Slice of Delight in Timber Ridge North Carolina. When Eleanor discovers a dead body while delivering a pizza, everyone in the town thinks it is her. Can she find out who the real killer is and clear her name before she dies next? Read on and find out.
This is the first book of the Pizza Lover's Mysteries series and I enjoy reading them. Each book features recipes for pizza too. If you love Pizza and mysteries, then def check this series out. It is a delicious read.
This is the first book of the Pizza Lover's Mysteries series and I enjoy reading them. Each book features recipes for pizza too. If you love Pizza and mysteries, then def check this series out. It is a delicious read.
May 13, 2016
Okay mystery, but a little slow. Also, I had a hard time believing that in a small town, the chief of police would immediataely jump to the conclusion that the pizza delivery person who happens to be his ex girlfriend would be the killer. Forensics were nonexistent (time of death, anyone?) and the fact that so much info would be left in the murder victim's house really shows a seriously inadequate police department. This plotline was just totally unbelievable.
June 9, 2016
This is the first in the series, and new author for me. I wanted to like the book a lot better than I did. How could it miss? A cozy set in NC and featuring pizza? What’s not to love? To be perfectly honest, everything about the book…. I didn’t love any of it. The main character came across to me as kind of ditzy and whiny, characteristics I really don’t like in female cozy protagonists. The police chief was a narrow-minded jerk who was determined to pin the murder on Eleanor, evidence be darned. And the townspeople, with a few exceptions, were gossipy and narrow-minded. Painted a bad picture of Tarheels, and I hate that (since we happen to be very nice people). Beyond that, the plot (although very twisted) was not that difficult to figure out, and by the time it was over, I really didn’t even care who the murderer was, as long as the chief’s son was okay.
December 14, 2016
Please note that I gave this 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4 stars on Goodreads.
I have to say that I really do enjoy a good cozy mystery. I started reading these type of books when I was in college and even though they may not have been the most sophisticated mysteries out there, they have enough mystery and romantic elements that can appeal to a wider audience. I decided to read the first book in the "Pizza Lovers" mystery after my library recommended it to me. Fair warning though potential readers, do not read this book on an empty stomach. I craved pizza and red wine the entire time I was reading this book.
Taking place in Timber Ridge, North Carolina, "A Slice of Pizza" follows Eleanor Swift who finds a dead man after delivering pizza to his home. We find out a quick backstory to Eleanor (and I do mean quick) that she is now running her pizza parlor with her sister after her husband died (I think possibly a year or so earlier than the events in the book). Eleanor usually does not do deliveries, but after her pizza delivery boy calls off sick, she thinks nothing of running one by. Due to an altercation between Eleanor and the deceased she finds herself on the top of the suspect list. Due to a past with the local police chief, their animosity is also causing him to believe that Eleanor could be behind the murder.
I honestly found Eleanor a little meh for the most part. I absolutely adored her mystery loving sister Maddie though. Any fictional character that loves Agatha Christie is alright by me! And that is what through me for the most part. Eleanor is reluctant to investigate but then does once she realizes she stands a real chance of being arrested. However, it is really Maddie's insights and leg work that keep the story moving. I was not a fan of a lot of things happening off screen that we didn't get to see as readers. There was a lot of Maddie calling Eleanor to tell her what is occurring or the two of them briefing each other while making pizza in the kitchen at the pizza parlor.
The other characters needed a bit more development though in my opinion. The police chief was a jerk pretty much through the whole book. The backstory to his and Eleanor's relationship was a non-starter. Thank goodness the author does not seem to be throwing them together in a love triangle. I will say though that it's a bit much that a lot of men in this town seemed to have romantic designs on Eleanor (or at least it seemed that way to me). She finally deigns to go out on a date with someone and that whole thing stopped the momentum of the book for me. Eleanor spends a lot of time talking about how perfect her husband was though Maddie definitely seems like she has some things to say about it.
I found the writing good and honestly the descriptions of how Eleanor made her dough, created her pizzas and sandwiches, etc. sounded delicious. I was not kidding about do not read this if you are hungry. I maybe made myself a nice Italian hoagie with pepperoni, cheese, jalapeno peppers, and ham. Maybe (I totally did).
As I said though, the flow was off here and there and the mystery does drag a bit.
I did not guess the guilty party, and honestly the reasoning behind the murder was a bit of a letdown. I thought the ending could have been a little cleaner. Not a total home-run, but I could see myself reading the next book in the series.
I have to say that I really do enjoy a good cozy mystery. I started reading these type of books when I was in college and even though they may not have been the most sophisticated mysteries out there, they have enough mystery and romantic elements that can appeal to a wider audience. I decided to read the first book in the "Pizza Lovers" mystery after my library recommended it to me. Fair warning though potential readers, do not read this book on an empty stomach. I craved pizza and red wine the entire time I was reading this book.
Taking place in Timber Ridge, North Carolina, "A Slice of Pizza" follows Eleanor Swift who finds a dead man after delivering pizza to his home. We find out a quick backstory to Eleanor (and I do mean quick) that she is now running her pizza parlor with her sister after her husband died (I think possibly a year or so earlier than the events in the book). Eleanor usually does not do deliveries, but after her pizza delivery boy calls off sick, she thinks nothing of running one by. Due to an altercation between Eleanor and the deceased she finds herself on the top of the suspect list. Due to a past with the local police chief, their animosity is also causing him to believe that Eleanor could be behind the murder.
I honestly found Eleanor a little meh for the most part. I absolutely adored her mystery loving sister Maddie though. Any fictional character that loves Agatha Christie is alright by me! And that is what through me for the most part. Eleanor is reluctant to investigate but then does once she realizes she stands a real chance of being arrested. However, it is really Maddie's insights and leg work that keep the story moving. I was not a fan of a lot of things happening off screen that we didn't get to see as readers. There was a lot of Maddie calling Eleanor to tell her what is occurring or the two of them briefing each other while making pizza in the kitchen at the pizza parlor.
The other characters needed a bit more development though in my opinion. The police chief was a jerk pretty much through the whole book. The backstory to his and Eleanor's relationship was a non-starter. Thank goodness the author does not seem to be throwing them together in a love triangle. I will say though that it's a bit much that a lot of men in this town seemed to have romantic designs on Eleanor (or at least it seemed that way to me). She finally deigns to go out on a date with someone and that whole thing stopped the momentum of the book for me. Eleanor spends a lot of time talking about how perfect her husband was though Maddie definitely seems like she has some things to say about it.
I found the writing good and honestly the descriptions of how Eleanor made her dough, created her pizzas and sandwiches, etc. sounded delicious. I was not kidding about do not read this if you are hungry. I maybe made myself a nice Italian hoagie with pepperoni, cheese, jalapeno peppers, and ham. Maybe (I totally did).
As I said though, the flow was off here and there and the mystery does drag a bit.
I did not guess the guilty party, and honestly the reasoning behind the murder was a bit of a letdown. I thought the ending could have been a little cleaner. Not a total home-run, but I could see myself reading the next book in the series.
March 19, 2019
This is a fun, new-to-me series that I had sitting in my Kindle account for awhile now. I'd seen someone else in an online group had read it, so I wanted to give it a try too. I was pretty sure all along who the killer was, and I was right this time. It wasn't terribly hard to guess, but maybe it was supposed to be like one of the TV mysteries where the thrill is in the chasing down the killer. Although I don't think the main character knew who it was till the end, but maybe the police chief did.
I liked the two sisters Eleanor and Maddy. Maddy was a free spirit who was younger and had been married several times, but she was loyal to her sister and had come to work for her when Eleanor's husband died a couple years before. The pizzeria had been his dream, and Eleanor was determined to keep it open. There was a good amount of suspects, and of course, everyone had their secrets, including the police chief, Kevin. The showdown was a little bit of a nail-biter, and someone unexpected got to be a hero, actually two people were heroes for each other and it was pretty awesome. I definitely plan to continue reading the series.
I liked the two sisters Eleanor and Maddy. Maddy was a free spirit who was younger and had been married several times, but she was loyal to her sister and had come to work for her when Eleanor's husband died a couple years before. The pizzeria had been his dream, and Eleanor was determined to keep it open. There was a good amount of suspects, and of course, everyone had their secrets, including the police chief, Kevin. The showdown was a little bit of a nail-biter, and someone unexpected got to be a hero, actually two people were heroes for each other and it was pretty awesome. I definitely plan to continue reading the series.
June 19, 2010
First off I always feel duped when a cozy writer writes multiple series with different names. I can understand when you change genre you might want to change an authors name, but when you write within the same classification, why not use one single name.
Well, that rant being said, Eleanor is trying to make ends meet by continuing to run a pizzeria, A Slice of Delight, which she and her recently deceased husband had started together.
Near closing one evening she is called to make a delivery to Richard Olsen, but instead of getting the delivery tip she was anticipating, she is accused of his murder when he is discovered with a knife sticking out of his chest.
Though interesting, the storyline follows the rather typical pattern of amateur sleuth, ditzy sister and a small host of people that both lookout for each other and point fingers at the same time.
This is not the worst in the genre that I have read, and thank goodness, there was not a cleaver cat to help solve the mystery, but for the most part, there wasn't anything to really draw the reader back for more. Whether Cavender is writing as Tim Myers, or Elizabeth Bright or Melissa Glaser, the stories all fall within the same typical cozy mystery pattern.
If you are looking for easy entertainment, it is a good read, there are a few choppy points that had me wondering, but if you do not look too closely and like your mysteries on the light side, give it a try.
Well, that rant being said, Eleanor is trying to make ends meet by continuing to run a pizzeria, A Slice of Delight, which she and her recently deceased husband had started together.
Near closing one evening she is called to make a delivery to Richard Olsen, but instead of getting the delivery tip she was anticipating, she is accused of his murder when he is discovered with a knife sticking out of his chest.
Though interesting, the storyline follows the rather typical pattern of amateur sleuth, ditzy sister and a small host of people that both lookout for each other and point fingers at the same time.
This is not the worst in the genre that I have read, and thank goodness, there was not a cleaver cat to help solve the mystery, but for the most part, there wasn't anything to really draw the reader back for more. Whether Cavender is writing as Tim Myers, or Elizabeth Bright or Melissa Glaser, the stories all fall within the same typical cozy mystery pattern.
If you are looking for easy entertainment, it is a good read, there are a few choppy points that had me wondering, but if you do not look too closely and like your mysteries on the light side, give it a try.
April 17, 2021
I enjoyed this cozy culinary mystery set in the town of Timber Ridge in North Carolina. The MC is Eleanor, and she owns the local pizzeria. When she's delivering a pizza one night, she stumbles upon a dead body. The Chief of Police thinks she is a suspect, so she works with her sister Maggie to try and solve the mystery. I liked the characters and think it was a good start to a new cozy series.
June 27, 2021
Have you ever read a book that was so obviously written by a man? Like, this book screams male from every crevice. It was a bold choice for Chris to choose two sisters as his main characters and it really didn't pay off. The dialogue between the two was forced and awkward and lacked like any sort of sisterly fondness. Also, the fact that the creepy guy is going to become her actual love interest after she repeatedly tells him she doesn't want to date him and she's not interested is super problematic. He literally won't take her no for an answer even working out a "compromise" when she does go out with him and tells him she doesn't want a repeat...the compromise being she goes out with him once every week and they alter who picks/pays because while she says she doesn't want to go out again the date didn't go awful so clearly he knows best. Yuck.
Oh yeah, and this is a cozy mystery but the mystery aspect was hardly ever touched on in a meaningful way. As in, literally the two sisters with a pizza restaurant are the only ones interviewing people. Ugh. I will read the next one in the series, hoping this one was just trying to find its feet.
Oh yeah, and this is a cozy mystery but the mystery aspect was hardly ever touched on in a meaningful way. As in, literally the two sisters with a pizza restaurant are the only ones interviewing people. Ugh. I will read the next one in the series, hoping this one was just trying to find its feet.
June 3, 2018
I just started flipping entire pages by the end. Characters were wholly inconsistent, and the things people did made no sense. Also, some of the worst policing on the planet. Unrealistic, even for a cozy.
June 17, 2012
A fun little cozy mystery set in a pizza palor owned by Eleanor Swift, who finds a dead body while delivering a pizza. Eleanor sets off to prove her innocence with her sister, Maddy. This was a typical cozy. Nothing extrordinary sets it apart from other books in this genre.
Two little pet peeves, as soon as Eleanor put the newspapers in her car, I knew they would play a part in the story. It was kind of obvious, but the author still tried to surprise us with it. Duh.
Second, on the one hand the author stresses that the story takes place in a small town and while I can see someone hiding an affair, blackmail even, I find it hard to believe that Maddy's own sister whom she sees every day is able to hide all of these "favors" she's owed from so many members of the community. Really? I'm not that close to my sisters, but I would definitely pick up on something!
What I really enjoyed about the book was the voices of the characters was very authentic. I liked the banter between the sisters. It was funny, cute and not irritating.More often than not, authors tend to overexaggerate a relationship to get their point across, but Cavender got this one just right.
Overall, A Slice of Murder was a nice reading escape and an accurate example of a classic cozy mystery. I will pick up more from this series.
Two little pet peeves, as soon as Eleanor put the newspapers in her car, I knew they would play a part in the story. It was kind of obvious, but the author still tried to surprise us with it. Duh.
Second, on the one hand the author stresses that the story takes place in a small town and while I can see someone hiding an affair, blackmail even, I find it hard to believe that Maddy's own sister whom she sees every day is able to hide all of these "favors" she's owed from so many members of the community. Really? I'm not that close to my sisters, but I would definitely pick up on something!
What I really enjoyed about the book was the voices of the characters was very authentic. I liked the banter between the sisters. It was funny, cute and not irritating.More often than not, authors tend to overexaggerate a relationship to get their point across, but Cavender got this one just right.
Overall, A Slice of Murder was a nice reading escape and an accurate example of a classic cozy mystery. I will pick up more from this series.
March 15, 2016
I was not in love with this book. I wasn't even really in 'like'.
It was so obviously written by a man. There were pages of talk about getting ready to go, taking a shower (no details about the shower, just a page with characters talking about how they needed to take a shower, the order of the shower, where the shower would take place, etc.) and how they 'can't be seen without her makeup on'! Gracious! It felt like this book was written in the 80's or 90's, but no, 2008.
The things everyone does made no sense. No one wanted to report anything to the police, the police immediately jump to the main character as the murderer without any sort of evidence. Any time anyone comes up with evidence the police claim they're just covering up for Eleanor. Eleanor and Maddy bicker about all kinds of things that have no bearing on the plot and Eleanor cannot stop talking about her dead husband.
I just didn't like this book. :(
It was so obviously written by a man. There were pages of talk about getting ready to go, taking a shower (no details about the shower, just a page with characters talking about how they needed to take a shower, the order of the shower, where the shower would take place, etc.) and how they 'can't be seen without her makeup on'! Gracious! It felt like this book was written in the 80's or 90's, but no, 2008.
The things everyone does made no sense. No one wanted to report anything to the police, the police immediately jump to the main character as the murderer without any sort of evidence. Any time anyone comes up with evidence the police claim they're just covering up for Eleanor. Eleanor and Maddy bicker about all kinds of things that have no bearing on the plot and Eleanor cannot stop talking about her dead husband.
I just didn't like this book. :(
August 7, 2017
Good first entry in the series. I liked Eleanor and Maddy and their pizzeria. The story kept me guessing and even though it was long it didn't seem too long. I'd love for Eleanor to make me a pizza, they sound so good. Looking forward to making another visit to Timber Ridge.
November 30, 2014
Eleanor Swift dedicates her life to her pizza restaurant, A Slice of Delight, situated in the small town of Timber Ridge in North Carolina. Her late husband dreamed of making a success of the place and Eleanor is determined to carry on for him. With the help of her sister, Maddy, Eleanor is fulfilling his dreams as well as her own. Then, during a late night pizza delivery run, everything takes a deadly turn. She finds her customer dead and she’s the number one suspect.
The police chief is an old sweetheart of Eleanor’s and apparently holds a grudge, even though he’s married with a child now. He suspects her immediately and won’t listen to anything she has to say, but he doesn’t have the evidence to make an arrest. It doesn’t help when Eleanor, along with her sister, do their own investigation and constantly get in his way.
When Maddy and Eleanor uncover dark secrets about the victim, both of their lives are in danger. They are desperate to find the killer, before the killer finds them.
This is the first book in a cozy mystery series and it’s setting is a pizza place. There are six books in all. This has been sitting on my e-reader for awhile waiting for me and finally I had a chance to read it.
I thought the characters were realistic and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Eleanor and Maddy. They felt like real sisters. I, also, thought the author portrayed Eleanor realistically as a widow, who deeply loved her husband, and wasn’t interested in jumping into another relationship all that quickly. Often we see the characters be deeply in love but able to start over pretty fast with someone else. Not with Eleanor, which made her feel very real to me.
I couldn't believe how the entire town quickly jumped on the "Eleanor is a murderer" bandwagon so fast. Also, regardless of the police chief's previous relationship with Eleanor, he seemed just a bit too willing to accept her as the killer without looking any further. I thought there may be a relationship brewing there, but he's married and there doesn't seem to be any trouble in that marriage. I don't think a main character would be a homewrecker :) There is another guy in the mix but, like I said above, she's taking it slow...one step at a time.
The mystery was fast-paced and moved along quickly but I didn’t think the outcome was all that shocking. There weren’t too many twists and turns. The storyline wasn’t very complex, but it did make for an enjoyable, relaxing read. I already have the next two books in the series on my e-reader and looking forward to reading them. But, I must warn readers, you will be craving for pizza while reading and long after you close the book. I know I was!
The police chief is an old sweetheart of Eleanor’s and apparently holds a grudge, even though he’s married with a child now. He suspects her immediately and won’t listen to anything she has to say, but he doesn’t have the evidence to make an arrest. It doesn’t help when Eleanor, along with her sister, do their own investigation and constantly get in his way.
When Maddy and Eleanor uncover dark secrets about the victim, both of their lives are in danger. They are desperate to find the killer, before the killer finds them.
This is the first book in a cozy mystery series and it’s setting is a pizza place. There are six books in all. This has been sitting on my e-reader for awhile waiting for me and finally I had a chance to read it.
I thought the characters were realistic and I especially enjoyed the relationship between Eleanor and Maddy. They felt like real sisters. I, also, thought the author portrayed Eleanor realistically as a widow, who deeply loved her husband, and wasn’t interested in jumping into another relationship all that quickly. Often we see the characters be deeply in love but able to start over pretty fast with someone else. Not with Eleanor, which made her feel very real to me.
I couldn't believe how the entire town quickly jumped on the "Eleanor is a murderer" bandwagon so fast. Also, regardless of the police chief's previous relationship with Eleanor, he seemed just a bit too willing to accept her as the killer without looking any further. I thought there may be a relationship brewing there, but he's married and there doesn't seem to be any trouble in that marriage. I don't think a main character would be a homewrecker :) There is another guy in the mix but, like I said above, she's taking it slow...one step at a time.
The mystery was fast-paced and moved along quickly but I didn’t think the outcome was all that shocking. There weren’t too many twists and turns. The storyline wasn’t very complex, but it did make for an enjoyable, relaxing read. I already have the next two books in the series on my e-reader and looking forward to reading them. But, I must warn readers, you will be craving for pizza while reading and long after you close the book. I know I was!
August 21, 2021
#1 in the Pizza Lovers cozy mystery series
A good one. I've had this book on my list for a long time and just hadn't gotten around to reading it. But I enjoyed it more than I expected. I like Eleanor and her place in the town. She and her late husband built a pizzeria business, and she's keeping it going now that she's a widow, with her sister helping her. I liked Eleanor and Maddy's sisterly relationship--bickering all the time, but still being very close. When Eleanor delivers a pizza and finds the recipient dead, she's one of the prime suspects, not only to the police but to many people in the town. Since it affects her business, she gets herself involved in the investigation in order to clear her name. I understand her motivation, although I was a little worried about her activities, which went a little deeper than just asking around. She put herself in danger, I thought, although I was glad that she recognized that and acknowledged it, sometimes going against her better judgment. She and Maddy made a good pair, and the mystery made sense and kept my interest. Light and enjoyable, a pleasant read. I plan to continue with this series at some point.
A good one. I've had this book on my list for a long time and just hadn't gotten around to reading it. But I enjoyed it more than I expected. I like Eleanor and her place in the town. She and her late husband built a pizzeria business, and she's keeping it going now that she's a widow, with her sister helping her. I liked Eleanor and Maddy's sisterly relationship--bickering all the time, but still being very close. When Eleanor delivers a pizza and finds the recipient dead, she's one of the prime suspects, not only to the police but to many people in the town. Since it affects her business, she gets herself involved in the investigation in order to clear her name. I understand her motivation, although I was a little worried about her activities, which went a little deeper than just asking around. She put herself in danger, I thought, although I was glad that she recognized that and acknowledged it, sometimes going against her better judgment. She and Maddy made a good pair, and the mystery made sense and kept my interest. Light and enjoyable, a pleasant read. I plan to continue with this series at some point.
June 28, 2010
A fun, light mystery that was well plotted out and made me hungry for pizza! I liked the dialogue between the main character and her sister, and the main character's inner struggle about dating after the death of her beloved husband made her seem very real. I look forward to the next book in the series!
February 15, 2012
Enjoyable cozy set in a small NC town.
January 25, 2021
As far as cozy mysteries go, this one was cute. I was looking for a book that featured pizza and I've read a few cozy mysteries before, so I gave it a shot. I wasn't a big fan of Eleanor Swift (the main character), but the town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina has enough life in it for me to find some characters I did enjoy. Eleanor's younger sister, Maddy, steals the spotlight in most of the pages she's in and is a very likeable sidekick. This has the basic plot of Eleanor being accused of murdering the dead townsperson she stumbled across while trying to deliver a pizza to them. She and her sister launch their own investigation in between trying to keep her pizzeria afloat in order to clear her name. The suspense isn't very high because the police chief decides Eleanor probably didn't do it within the first few pages as she is an established citizen and small business owner of the town. She and her "saucy" sister still zip all around town trying to solve the murder anyway. The author includes a basic dough and sauce recipe at the end of the book. This is book one in a series of about seven or so titles.
November 7, 2021
A light book, perfect for reading before bed. An history combining mystery, murder and pizza. Eleanor, the owner of A slice of Delight gets involve in the murder investigation of Richard Olsen and she is one of the suspects for his murder. She doesn't believe that the chief Kevin will find the true killer and she will go to jail. With the help of her sister Maddy, they will try to find the responsible.
Different characters, different suspects, we get into a daily life with gossips and good recipes for pizza. Need more intrigue for my taste but generally a great light mystery book.
I got the right killer a little before it was exposed.
Different characters, different suspects, we get into a daily life with gossips and good recipes for pizza. Need more intrigue for my taste but generally a great light mystery book.
I got the right killer a little before it was exposed.
zeroes-and-dnf
May 1, 2017April 2017: DNF. I don't like opening on the murder, I don't like when the MC seemingly has no understanding of police work, I don't like when the police suspects the (usually female) MC of having had sex with the murder victim and keeps pushing even after she denies it. 3 strikes, out.
June 29, 2020
A delivery person finds a dead body instead of a delivery tip and things just get worse from there when she and her sister decide to solve the case on their own!
June 3, 2021
Took me a while to get into this one.
August 25, 2024
(EDIT Aug 25, 2024: someone 'like'ing this review forced me to reread it, an whoa-boy is there a lot of swearing. This book really pissed me off. I've edited it down now. Also, I was writing it as I was reading, so I rearranged the paragraphs a little so this wouldn't read quite so train-of-thought.)
After a brief conversation with our chief of police, Maddy handed my cell phone back to me.
"What did he say?" I asked.
Maddy just shook her head. "He told me that he understood why I'd lie to protect you, but that it wasn't going to do anybody any good if I muddied the waters with rumors and lies about Richard Olsen."
Jesus f***. This is going to be one of those mysteries, isn't it. The mysteries where the policeman in charge of the case ignores all other potential suspects to focus solely on the main character, to the point that the only way for the real killer to be caught is for the main character to do the cop's job for them and nearly get murdered themselves to clear their own name. F***, this book isn't even subtle about it. The police flat out accuse the corroborating witness of lying. Like, it doesn't matter if you think she's lying or not, a**hole, you thank her for her time, ask her not to spread that information, and schedule an appointment to interview her, because now you've set yourself up to look like a complete d***head.
And two pages later the same sister makes a poorly timed joke and apologizes by, not kidding, reminding the main character that she tends to "try to diffuse tense situations with humor." That's the actual f***ing line. "I'm sorry. You know I try to diffuse tense situations with humor." That's so fucking awkward I can barely wrap my head around it. (EDIT Aug 25, 2024: this dialogue is so awkward that anytime I think my own writing is cringy, I legit think of this line to reassure myself than I'm at least better than this.)
Oh, Jesus. One page later and she's already decided to find the killer herself. The guy was discovered, like an hour ago, and yeah, she's a suspect, but it's been an hour. Give them until the next morning at least you fucking dumbass, they have nothing on you. Nothing . And there wasn't any need for this decision anyway since, at the end of chapter 2, her situation is spelled out quite clearly and she's given a solid reason (for a cozy) to investigate.
The man was found murdered at his house at around closing time. Bright and early the next morning the crime scene tape comes down and the man's sister arrives to go through her brother's effects, where our crime fighting team discover . Gee, it's a good thing the police investigated the crime scene so thoroughly or they might have f***ing missed something. (EDIT Aug 25, 2024: I'm actually debating adding more cursing in this paragraph. F*** this was stupid.)
THE VERDICT? The book is insulting to the reader's intelligence and while the only character you want to murder is the police chief - who nothing better to do than handle the investigation himself for some reason - none are particularly likable either. I've already put three in the not-feeling-it pile and that's a bit too much for one day, so I read it, but put this one down as a firm 'no'.
After a brief conversation with our chief of police, Maddy handed my cell phone back to me.
"What did he say?" I asked.
Maddy just shook her head. "He told me that he understood why I'd lie to protect you, but that it wasn't going to do anybody any good if I muddied the waters with rumors and lies about Richard Olsen."
Jesus f***. This is going to be one of those mysteries, isn't it. The mysteries where the policeman in charge of the case ignores all other potential suspects to focus solely on the main character, to the point that the only way for the real killer to be caught is for the main character to do the cop's job for them and nearly get murdered themselves to clear their own name. F***, this book isn't even subtle about it. The police flat out accuse the corroborating witness of lying. Like, it doesn't matter if you think she's lying or not, a**hole, you thank her for her time, ask her not to spread that information, and schedule an appointment to interview her, because now you've set yourself up to look like a complete d***head.
And two pages later the same sister makes a poorly timed joke and apologizes by, not kidding, reminding the main character that she tends to "try to diffuse tense situations with humor." That's the actual f***ing line. "I'm sorry. You know I try to diffuse tense situations with humor." That's so fucking awkward I can barely wrap my head around it. (EDIT Aug 25, 2024: this dialogue is so awkward that anytime I think my own writing is cringy, I legit think of this line to reassure myself than I'm at least better than this.)
Oh, Jesus. One page later and she's already decided to find the killer herself. The guy was discovered, like an hour ago, and yeah, she's a suspect, but it's been an hour. Give them until the next morning at least you fucking dumbass, they have nothing on you. Nothing . And there wasn't any need for this decision anyway since, at the end of chapter 2, her situation is spelled out quite clearly and she's given a solid reason (for a cozy) to investigate.
The man was found murdered at his house at around closing time. Bright and early the next morning the crime scene tape comes down and the man's sister arrives to go through her brother's effects, where our crime fighting team discover . Gee, it's a good thing the police investigated the crime scene so thoroughly or they might have f***ing missed something. (EDIT Aug 25, 2024: I'm actually debating adding more cursing in this paragraph. F*** this was stupid.)
THE VERDICT? The book is insulting to the reader's intelligence and while the only character you want to murder is the police chief - who nothing better to do than handle the investigation himself for some reason - none are particularly likable either. I've already put three in the not-feeling-it pile and that's a bit too much for one day, so I read it, but put this one down as a firm 'no'.
February 25, 2023
I was looking forward to a fun, light, cozy mystery about a pizza shop owner but instead I ended up feeling annoyed for the majority of the book. I'm not sure how or why I even finished it. The main character, Eleanor, was incredibly irritating. There was inconsistency in what her approximate age was supposed to be and her personality was not endearing. Even for fiction, the thought of these 2 sisters going around seeking alibis from townspeople was stretching it and the fact people responded to them was stretching it further. The outcome wasn't even a surprise after slugging through the book. Very disappointing.
March 10, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have read several books by this author, under his many pseudonyms, (Tim Myers, Casey Mayes, Melissa Glazer) so I knew would like this story.
Eleanor Swift and her husband owned A Slice of Delight. He has passed away and she and her sister now run the pizza joint with the help of a few part-timers. Eleanor takes a late pizza order and delivers it on her way home. But when she arrives at the address the door is ajar and her customer is dead on the floor. She does the right thing and calls 911 but when the police arrive she becomes the prime suspect. Before she loses everything she and her husband worked so hard for she needs to catch the real killer and knock the pepperoni out of them.
I love pizza and I bet you do too. This tasty mystery will delight your mind and put your taste buds on high alert. Ellie is a wonderful woman still trying to get used to life without her husband and several people think she needs to be out there dating. She has one admirer that practically begs to date her on a daily basis. Her sister, Maddy, is pushing her to accept but with a murder on her plate she doesn’t have time to think about dating. The police chief happens to be an old boyfriend from her younger days and she can’t believe he honestly thinks she could kill someone. His son even works for her or at least he did before this investigation when his dad made him quit. He was one angry teenager when that happened. So with some help from Maddy they start the own investigation and what they find is quite surprising. Now if they can just get her old flame to open his eyes to what really happened she can get back to serving some of the best pizzas in town.
Cavender has a great grasp on these characters. Ellie struggle to move on feels very real and her relationship with her sister is very believable. Police chief Kevin Hurley and the rest of the residents of Timber Ridge that actually thought Ellie was guilty really surprised me. I am glad she had some support and others came around to realize her true nature. But not the police chief. For me the jury is still out on him. This being the first book in the series I am holding out hope that he is better at his job in the future.
We were given a good mystery to solve. Several twists but I figured this one out a bit before Ellie. I did enjoy the way it all played out.
I love this pizza theme for a series. Each time Ellie knuckled out that dough, loaded on the toppings and sending those pizzas through the oven my mouth was watering.
Will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder, soon.
I have read several books by this author, under his many pseudonyms, (Tim Myers, Casey Mayes, Melissa Glazer) so I knew would like this story.
Eleanor Swift and her husband owned A Slice of Delight. He has passed away and she and her sister now run the pizza joint with the help of a few part-timers. Eleanor takes a late pizza order and delivers it on her way home. But when she arrives at the address the door is ajar and her customer is dead on the floor. She does the right thing and calls 911 but when the police arrive she becomes the prime suspect. Before she loses everything she and her husband worked so hard for she needs to catch the real killer and knock the pepperoni out of them.
I love pizza and I bet you do too. This tasty mystery will delight your mind and put your taste buds on high alert. Ellie is a wonderful woman still trying to get used to life without her husband and several people think she needs to be out there dating. She has one admirer that practically begs to date her on a daily basis. Her sister, Maddy, is pushing her to accept but with a murder on her plate she doesn’t have time to think about dating. The police chief happens to be an old boyfriend from her younger days and she can’t believe he honestly thinks she could kill someone. His son even works for her or at least he did before this investigation when his dad made him quit. He was one angry teenager when that happened. So with some help from Maddy they start the own investigation and what they find is quite surprising. Now if they can just get her old flame to open his eyes to what really happened she can get back to serving some of the best pizzas in town.
Cavender has a great grasp on these characters. Ellie struggle to move on feels very real and her relationship with her sister is very believable. Police chief Kevin Hurley and the rest of the residents of Timber Ridge that actually thought Ellie was guilty really surprised me. I am glad she had some support and others came around to realize her true nature. But not the police chief. For me the jury is still out on him. This being the first book in the series I am holding out hope that he is better at his job in the future.
We were given a good mystery to solve. Several twists but I figured this one out a bit before Ellie. I did enjoy the way it all played out.
I love this pizza theme for a series. Each time Ellie knuckled out that dough, loaded on the toppings and sending those pizzas through the oven my mouth was watering.
Will definitely be reading the next book in the series, Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder, soon.
December 5, 2011
Culinary Cozies thinks A SLICE OF MURDER is a “Yummy Read.” This first book in the Pizza Mystery series, by Chris Cavender, was a suspenseful delivery of pure mayhem.
Eleanor Swift, the owner of A Slice of Delight, gets quickly caught up in a murder investigation when she delivers one of her famous pizzas to a dead man. In no time flat, the small town of Timber Ridge, NC has named her the murderer. Leaving Eleanor (with the help of her sister Maddy) to solve the case and desperately try to clear her name.
Now that we’ve summed it up, let’s check out the individual ingredients in this culinary cozy:
Culinary Flavor – The pizzeria was fundamental to A SLICE OF MURDER as much as Eleanor Swift was herself. The pizza place represented who she was and how she interacted within her small town. Not to mention the fact that she would have never been a suspect if it wasn’t for the delivery order …
Cozy Setting – This cozy takes place in a small town filled with nosey, gossiping people. I have to say, it did turn me off a bit how much the inhabitants of Timber Ridge persecuted her for being a suspect. She had grown up there and many had known her all her life, but apparently it didn’t stop the rumor mill from being her judge, jury, and prosecutor.
Amateur Sleuth – Eleanor Swift was a character I immediately connected with. Her personal story is what drives A SLICE OF MURDER and makes it a good book.
As a reader, you immediately start to feel for her past, become frustrated with her present, and hope for her future.
Mystery – This cozy mystery was a suspenseful page-turner. By the end, the author had you suspecting everyone and fearful at every turn.
I think A SLICE OF MURDER, by Chris Cavender deserves a 4 out 5.
Eleanor Swift, the owner of A Slice of Delight, gets quickly caught up in a murder investigation when she delivers one of her famous pizzas to a dead man. In no time flat, the small town of Timber Ridge, NC has named her the murderer. Leaving Eleanor (with the help of her sister Maddy) to solve the case and desperately try to clear her name.
Now that we’ve summed it up, let’s check out the individual ingredients in this culinary cozy:
Culinary Flavor – The pizzeria was fundamental to A SLICE OF MURDER as much as Eleanor Swift was herself. The pizza place represented who she was and how she interacted within her small town. Not to mention the fact that she would have never been a suspect if it wasn’t for the delivery order …
Cozy Setting – This cozy takes place in a small town filled with nosey, gossiping people. I have to say, it did turn me off a bit how much the inhabitants of Timber Ridge persecuted her for being a suspect. She had grown up there and many had known her all her life, but apparently it didn’t stop the rumor mill from being her judge, jury, and prosecutor.
Amateur Sleuth – Eleanor Swift was a character I immediately connected with. Her personal story is what drives A SLICE OF MURDER and makes it a good book.
As a reader, you immediately start to feel for her past, become frustrated with her present, and hope for her future.
Mystery – This cozy mystery was a suspenseful page-turner. By the end, the author had you suspecting everyone and fearful at every turn.
I think A SLICE OF MURDER, by Chris Cavender deserves a 4 out 5.
March 21, 2015
I borrowed this book from my mother's Nook and have really enjoyed the first of the Pizza Lovers mystery series by Chris Cavender.
Eleanor Swift owns the local pizzeria of Timber Ridge, North Carolina. Her sister Maddy works with her after Eleanor's husband Joe was killed in a car accident. When her delivery boy calls off sick, Eleanor decides to do a run to deliver a pizza to Richard Olson but, when she arrives at his house, she sees him laying in his kitchen with a knife sticking out of his chest. She calls local police chief Kevin Hurley but, to her surprise, he places her on this top of his list of suspects. The best way she sees to get herself off that list is to do some fact finding with her sister to find the real killer. The more they dig, the more they realize that most of this small town should be listed as a suspect.
I liked the banter of the two sisters, Eleanor and Maddy, in the start of this series. It was a bit predictable but then I kept trying to convince myself that the obvious must be wrong. So for that reason it must be a success right? It is Jessica Fletcher ... Blue Ridge Mountain style ... predictable but fun. But beware as it makes you want to have a pizza. And guess what we had for dinner tonight? Seriously ... we had pizza. *grins*
Eleanor Swift owns the local pizzeria of Timber Ridge, North Carolina. Her sister Maddy works with her after Eleanor's husband Joe was killed in a car accident. When her delivery boy calls off sick, Eleanor decides to do a run to deliver a pizza to Richard Olson but, when she arrives at his house, she sees him laying in his kitchen with a knife sticking out of his chest. She calls local police chief Kevin Hurley but, to her surprise, he places her on this top of his list of suspects. The best way she sees to get herself off that list is to do some fact finding with her sister to find the real killer. The more they dig, the more they realize that most of this small town should be listed as a suspect.
I liked the banter of the two sisters, Eleanor and Maddy, in the start of this series. It was a bit predictable but then I kept trying to convince myself that the obvious must be wrong. So for that reason it must be a success right? It is Jessica Fletcher ... Blue Ridge Mountain style ... predictable but fun. But beware as it makes you want to have a pizza. And guess what we had for dinner tonight? Seriously ... we had pizza. *grins*
October 1, 2016
It was good!
Dispute the fact that the book started out dull, even though the murder was the first thing we encountered, the book was very good.
Eleanor and Maddy are sisters. Eleanor Owns The Slice of Delite Pizzeria in a small town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina. She has been the sole owner since her beloved husband was killed in a car accident. Maddy helps Eleanor at the Slice as they call the pizzeria. Eleanor delivers a pizza to a friend in town because her delivery people have all called in sick .
When she gets to the house, she sees the body though the door and calls the police. When the police get there, she becomes the chief suspect.
She then along with her sister tries to clear her name. That's when the story gets good and I had several people under suspicion. Although I did not have the correct person until the very end, the book was very good.
I would read others in the series and recommend them to my family and friends.
Dispute the fact that the book started out dull, even though the murder was the first thing we encountered, the book was very good.
Eleanor and Maddy are sisters. Eleanor Owns The Slice of Delite Pizzeria in a small town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina. She has been the sole owner since her beloved husband was killed in a car accident. Maddy helps Eleanor at the Slice as they call the pizzeria. Eleanor delivers a pizza to a friend in town because her delivery people have all called in sick .
When she gets to the house, she sees the body though the door and calls the police. When the police get there, she becomes the chief suspect.
She then along with her sister tries to clear her name. That's when the story gets good and I had several people under suspicion. Although I did not have the correct person until the very end, the book was very good.
I would read others in the series and recommend them to my family and friends.
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