The Pepper Peach Murder

by Meg Benjamin

Roxy Constantine is the jam queen of Shavano, Colorado. But her social life is a bust, and she’s still recovering from a bad experience as a line cook in Denver. Things improve when she meets tasty local chef Nate Robicheaux, but she’s also fending off the attentions of another local, Brett Holmes, who won’t take no for an answer. When Brett threatens to derail Roxy’s career, the two have a very public fight. A few days later, Brett is found murdered in his restaurant kitchen, and suddenly Roxy’s a prime suspect. Now Roxy must find the truth about Brett and his murderer before the town of Shavano decides her reign as jam queen is over for good.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2023

About the author

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance. Her newest series, the Folk, is a paranormal series from Soul Mate Publishing set in Colorado. Meg’s Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing). Along with contemporary romance, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England Romance Writers, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers. Meg’s Web site is http://www.MegBenjamin.com. You can follow her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1), Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/megbenjamin/), Twitter (http://twitter.com/megbenj1) and Instagram (meg_benjamin). Meg loves to hear from readers—contact her at meg@megbenjamin.com.

Reviews

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy discovering new towns in cozies. The towns are usually small, filled with interesting characters, and a killer. And not just one killer, but many, especially if it is a longer series!

Shavano, Colorado, seems like a quaint and quiet town, and Roxy is back home and has become the jam queen. But what brought her back is an incident that shook her to her core and has her wary of men. That is until she meets Nate. Nate also had an incident in his past that brought him home too. What neither expects is to become potential suspects in the murder of Brett Holmes.

When you read this book, you will quickly realize that Brett is not someone you would want to know or associate with. He is sleazy, conceited, and a bully. Maybe he doesn't deserve to be killed, but sometimes some characters just need to go away in one way or another. There are a few suspects, but it takes some sleuthing by Roxy and her bestie Susa to uncover the truth. 

We see Roxy talking to various potential suspects, but the clues are few and far between. Once the killer was revealed, it probably should have been an obvious answer based on other factors, but I just didn't see it. I don't think that the book really points the reader in any specific direction in regard to the killer. I would have liked to have seen a few more clues or even some red herrings. However, very little of the information pointed in any specific direction.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Roxy and Nate progress. However, I wonder if there is a potential triangle coming with Chief Fowler. Only future books will tell.

I loved reading about all the jam flavors. While I'm not a jam maker, I would have loved to have seen a few recipes included in the book.

This is a good start to a new series, and I look forward to future books and visiting Shavano again. We give this 4 paws up.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to what I hope is a new series! I loved the characters, especially Roxy, who is not your stereotypical cozy mystery heroine: she's tall, she's smart, she goes to work (my huge pet peeve for cozies). This is not a typical cozy in that it has a lot more darkness to it, particularly the reason she came back to her hometown, and it's a nice change from the whole divorce/lost job/boyfriend cheated on me trope. I loved the jam making and the market setting . All the characters are well developed and the mystery had me guessing, although I felt the final reveal to be a little lacking; there was never a real confession. Otherwise, I loved this and can't wait to continue with the series.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

[✷⁠Ley✷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and BookBuzz for early access to The Pepper Peach Murder for review.

The Pepper Peach Murder by Meg Benjamin is release January 16th, 2023

3.5 ⭐️

This a murder mystery / romance book for young adults. The story was entertaining. We follow Roxy who was formerly a chef, but an event happened that made her go back home and start a small jam business. In the while, someone ends up dead and Roxy is left to figure out this case for reasons you’ll have to read this book for. In the process she meets her love interest and you watch her grow stronger and trust again.

Truly a cute story.

[Lacey Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting mystery. I am not sure it would classify as a cozy mystery however it was well written and I enjoyed the story. I would have like the mystery to be front and center and it wasn't. Roxy is a jam queen and I am here for it. I had toast and jam many times while reading this. It was a fun and fast read. I enjoyed all the characters and the town of Shavano.
#ThePepperPeachMurder #NetGalley

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters in a fine whodunit complete with twists and unusual red herrings.
Really looking forward to more books in this new series as they keep getting better and better--unlike TV and films.
I requested and received an EARC from Wild Rose Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Kay West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, small town murder mystery with a saccharine-sweet female main character and a love interest with a golden retriever personality. Meg Benjamin did a great job of creating a small-town feel, while also making the characters interesting and their relationships feel lived in. The plot moved along quickly, and the banter was fun to read. I love that our main character, Roxy, has a ride-or-die best friend, and a backstory that extends beyond her small town. Unfortunately for me, the romance in this book has no spice. Based on the adorable cover of the book I was anticipating at least one chili. Perhaps the next book will allow Roxy to explore her relationship in more detail, which I'll definitely be reading!

For maximum enjoyment read this book on a rainy day, with your favourite jam on a croissant, and pet cuddles where possible.

Thank you NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for providing this book for review consideration.

[Kay West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, small town murder mystery with a saccharine-sweet female main character and a love interest with a golden retriever personality. Meg Benjamin did a great job of creating a small-town feel, while also making the characters interesting and their relationships feel lived in. The plot moved along quickly, and the banter was fun to read. I love that our main character, Roxy, has a ride-or-die best friend, and a backstory that extends beyond her small town. Unfortunately for me, the romance in this book has no spice. Based on the adorable cover of the book I was anticipating at least one chili. Perhaps the next book will allow Roxy to explore her relationship in more detail, which I'll definitely be reading!

For maximum enjoyment read this book on a rainy day, with your favourite jam on a croissant, and pet cuddles where possible.

Thank you NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for providing this book for review consideration.

[Kim Garrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The Pepper Peach Murder
by Meg Benjamin
Pub Date: 16 Jan 2023

This book is what I would classify as a "cozy" murder mystery. All that being said, there are some dark issues that while not descriptive, are part of the storyline. (Roxy is almost raped and the "bad guy" Brett has relationships with teenage girls which may or may not always be consensual.) There is a lot of yummy food talk, small town life, and sweet romance mixed in with the mystery of "who done it." as Roxy tries to clear her name and figure out the killer.

3.5 Stars

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced and compelling mystery that I hope is the start of a new series. Quirky characters, solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I had fun and liked it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about Roxy Constantine who came back and started a jam business, Luscious Delight in her hometown. The business is good only apparently someone's spreading rumors and telling them the bad reputation that she had in Denver. The person that bad-mouthing, Brett Holmes, was a womanizer and pursued an underage girl. Roxy is about to confront, but Brett was found killed in his kitchen where he works as a chef.

She's got good reasons to do something to clear her name rather than sitting around. Roxy is under suspicion because local people think she might be a murderer due to her lack of an alibi. A very straightforward whodunit regardless of repetitive writing.

I give 3 ⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for providing an earc in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

📚

#donereading #ThePepperPeachMurder by #MegBenjamin #emabaca #kindlepaperwhite #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #malaysiamembaca

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the toxic head chef of a local restaurant meets his end, Roxy Constantine becomes suspect number one!

The Pepper Peach Murder is an entertaining debut to Meg Benjamin's new cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights. While having all the fun hallmarks of the cozy mystery genre front and center, the story also explores a darker theme: sexual assault/harassment.

The protagonist, Roxy Constantine, is a great character. She's had her life disrupted, and her dreams smashed but is slowly coming back to life and taking a new direction with her career. What happened to her was horrible and unforgivable, but she refuses to let the assault and the betrayal which followed define the rest of her life.

Nate Robicheaux, Roxy's delectable love interest, is healing as well but doing so in the kitchen of his family's restaurant, now run by his brother, Bobby, and they don't quite see eye to eye on their business. I was glad there was a glimmer of them coming together by the book's end.

Susa is Roxy's "ride or die" best friend and is a competent and capable partner in crime-solving rather than the comic relief sidekick, which I thought was terrific. And perhaps, there's a little spark between Susa and the new police chief to fan in future books?

The plot builds when Roxy feels Chief Fowler isn't looking hard enough at other possible suspects for Brett's murder. There is little information forthcoming from that sector, so Roxy and Susa must create their own line of questioning based on who and what they know about the people in Shavano. I liked how Susa developed an online method for the two women to record and share with each other the results of their separate inquiries, and laughed over Susa's later discussion of the proper way to fill it out! With Brett's reputation as a jerk and a womanizer, there are quite a few avenues to pursue.

Since this is the first book in the series, many townspeople were introduced, and although many did not appear to have anything to do with the current murder, they were still easy to keep track of or follow as needed. When all was revealed, I thought the resolution made sense, and the case was wrapped up without going down a bunch of unnecessary rabbit holes. I am already looking forward to more of this series.

I enjoyed hearing about all the various jam flavors and enough of the jam-making process to know it was something I wouldn't want to tackle myself. I'll stick to trying out some of those amazing-sounding concoctions when I run across them at local farmers' markets and craft shows. Pepper Peach is absolutely on my shopping list, too.

I highly recommend THE PEPPER PEACH MURDER to cozy mystery readers who enjoy culinary-themed stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warning: the female main character Roxy was sexually assaulted in the past. It is described once not overly graphic but still there. It is also referred to and her overcoming this event is a theme as she develops a new relationship with a man.

Roxy Constantine the jam queen of Shavano. A former line cook in Denver she’s back in her home town with her own business after a horrid experience with a head chef and a whole lot of him spreading lies about her. She’s happy with her new life, home and business but she wishes it hadn’t come at such a high personal cost. Still shook but taking back some control she agrees to go out with Nate her neighbor at the farmers market where she sells her jams and a chef formerly in Vegas now working at his family’s diner. A great opportunity arises for some national recognition when a tv show is looking for contributors and Roxy applies. However a man from her past who won’t take no for an answer is dogging her and threatening her shot. A confrontation at the market occurs and the locals rally to help Roxy. Grateful but wanting to put it behind her she doesn’t report him. Unfortunately for Roxy it’s not that easy. When the troublemaker Brett turns up dead she turns into the prime suspect. When the townspeople start to look at her like she’s guilty she and her bff Susa decide to become sleuths. Can they catch the killer before Roxy loses her business and her freedom?
This is an excellent mystery. I was captivated from page 1! I love Roxy and her pluckiness. I also think she is a wonderful example of a survivor, flawed yet determined. The victim is a sleaze who courts derision wherever he goes and is missing nothing but the tiny mustache to twirl when he does extra sleazy things lol. Roxy’s friends and family and the extended townspeople are colorful and make up a vibrant atmosphere. I was super pleased to have found this book and this author. I’m a mystery aficionado and this is a wonderful story! Highly recommend!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carey P.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant read. I admit that I am biased because I love cooking. So I thoroughly enjoyed following along with all of Roxy’s jam recipes and Nate’s pork chop ideas. The whole concept of a pepper peach jam just sounds amazing. As someone who cooks, I prefer risky unusual flavors, and Roxy delivered. I also thought that the author did a good job with the setting. The farmers market, the restaurant scene and the overall culture of Shavano was described very well. It was one of the novel’s most charming aspects.
The book provides the reader with romance, food and murder. What else is there in life, right? Roxy is a strong woman who stands up for herself. She refuses to remain passive in the police investigation of the murder when it may jeopardize her jam business. In other words, she isn't going down without a fight. She’s stubborn but all in good ways. Nate is a caring gentle soul, but I would've liked to see his character develop more. At the same time, maybe Roxy needs a partner who is simple and drama-free. Brent makes a good villain whose ego is fed through the amount of attention he receives from many women. Yet his arrogance gets the best of him.
If readers want to visit a town in Colorado full of tasty food and quirky locals, then they'll be right at home. I would have liked some more twists and turns in the plot, but the author did well in keeping readers guessing overall. Lastly, I have a strong urge to make my own jams now thanks to this book.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s time to sell at the local farmer’s market and that meant bringing several jars of the unique pepper peach jam. There’s no feat unturned for the “jam queen of Shavano, CO.” Roxy was going to sell out of the pepper peach if it killed her.

Story, for the most part, had a clever and witty narrative that was easy to get into. Roxy’s backstory on how she ended up in the jam business was shocking and unbelievable. Fortunately, that awful experience led her to something good, but, unfortunately, she was still suffering the traumatic effects from it. The opportunity to be broadcast on a cooking show gives Roxy the hope of possibly expanding her business. It was time to make more jam. Jam, jam, and more jam.

Although the narrative was nice and easy, it was also rather long and dramatically slowed down the story. This was supposed to be a mystery, right? A murder mystery? Well, where’s the dead body already? All Roxy talked about was jam and the people at the farmer’s market. Sure, there were some exciting scenes like the chef from her past coming back to assault her again. But, seriously, we were 10 chapters in and there was no murder. Usually, the dead body has shown up in like the first 2 chapters already. But I was getting nothing. At this point, this was starting to feel like a jip. You can only hear about jams to a certain point before it becomes redundant and stale.

Overall, this was a fairly nice read, but it just didn’t meet my expectations for a standard cozy mystery.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Murdered the Despicable Brett Holmes ? . . .

Roxy Constantine has moved back home after a frightening sexual assault in Denver. She has started a small business making and selling delicious jams and is doing quite well. Unfortunately, womanizer Brett Holmes has to feed his ego and ignores her refusals of his unwanted attentions. So when Brett turns up dead, Roxy becomes the main suspect for the crime. Chief Fowler doesn’t seem to be putting much effort into the investigation, so Roxy and her awesome best friend Susa jump into the thick of things to find the truth. Will she discover who murdered Brett? Will Roxy and the kind local chef Nate Robicheaux pursue a relationship with each other that could be healing for both of them?

I enjoyed this story line and the characters we meet along the way. I admired Roxy’s strength and courage to not let fear hold her back after her horrible attack. And I definitely look forward to future stories in this series. Grab your copy and see if you can figure out who killed Brett Holmes. Don’t let the mouth-watering jams sidetrack you from your goal!

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is entitled the pepper peach murder by Meg Benjamin. Roxy Constantine is the main character of the story who has a Jam business in her hometown of Shavano, Colorado. After moving back home, with her social life in shambles, and she was still recovering from a bad experience (trigger warning) as a line cook in Denver. Things improve when she meets Nate Robicheaux, but she’s also fending off the attentions of another local, Brett Holmes, who won’t take no for an answer. When Brett threatens to derail Roxy’s career, the two have a very public fight. A few days later, Brett is found murdered in his restaurant kitchen, and suddenly Roxy’s a prime suspect. Now Roxy must find the truth about Brett and his murderer before the town of Shavano turns against her.
I quite enjoyed reading this book. It has cute, quirky characters and is a great beginning to a new series. I thought this was a great original story.. and I already can't wait until the next novel comes out!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roxy Constantine is the jam queen of Shavano, Colorado. She uses as much local produce as possible from her Uncle Mike's farm, and her products are a big hit at the local farmer's market. Unfortunately, her past has returned to haunt her. She successfully escaped an almost sexual assault in Denver, but a co-worker finds her and won't take no for an answer. Meanwhile, Nate Robicheaux begins to pursue her. She's not sure she's ready for a serious relationship, though. And the problems mount when she's suspected of murder. Can she clear her name and continue her reign as local jam queen while navigating a complicated love life?
Roxy is a rock star. I love her can-do attitude and determination to support local businesses and herself. I also like that she knows herself and makes decisions that are best for her.
The story wasn't super engaging, though. I felt like I was looking in on the narrative rather than part of the events.
I would really like to taste that pepper peach jam!

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & BookBuzz for an advanced copy of this book!

Shavano is the kind of small town I dream to live in. I loved the characters and the world-building, including the internal monologue of our narrator Roxy. Her finding romance again, her building her confidence, and her standing up for herself when others try to put her down.

The book felt rushed overall, and I thought that at some points it forgot it was a murder mystery. Totally get that it was going for cozy mystery vibes, and maybe I read too many hardcore criminal thrillers that I was expecting some more detailed investigation, but it seemed a bit too nonchalant in places.

Definitely an easy read - and very easy to fall in love with Roxy and Shavano. But pepper peach jam? I’m gonna have to pass on that. Would definitely try rose petal.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read. I love a good cozy mystery and this one was really good. Roxy Constantine is back in her hometown after a terrible experience in Denver. She makes jams and sells them at the local farmers market and has made a name for herself. Everything is going well, except for an old colleague, Brett Holmes, takes a job at a local restaurant and decides he wants to go out with Roxy. She has no interest in him but he keeps asking. At one of the markets she meets handsome Nate Robicheaux. They hit it off and start seeing each other. Brett makes a scene and then he is found dead. Roxy is the number one suspect. She starts digging in to find out who killed Brett. I really enjoyed everything about this story. The plot, the characters and the pace were spot on. Really looking forward to reading more about these characters.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Linda Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and getting immersed in the town of Shavano. It's filled with quirky characters and is a great beginning to a new series. Roxy is the town's jam queen who thought she escaped her past. When an annoying reminder of her past harasses her, then ends up dead, she is quickly seen as a suspect. As her business falters, she takes things into her own hands and starts investigating.

I loved Roxy and her jams...and I kind of want to try her pepper peach jam. This was an entertaining book that kept me up way too late in the night finishing it. Fans of the genre will love this book. The author is on my must read authors' list and I already can't wait until the next Luscious Delights novel.

[Tara Kristjansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pepper Peach Murder is a fun read, the characters are very likable, and the story kept my attention most of the way through, the beginning was a little slow for me, but towards the middle it started to pick up, I do think this is worth a read if you are into True Crime/Detective Shows, which I am. I did feel like the reader gets to know Roxy very well and I really felt like I connected to her character. I am happy to give this 4 Stars and recommend it to others if you like true crime. I believe this is the first book in the series and I’m excited to see where the series goes from here!

Thank you very much to Meg Benjamin, Wild Rose Press , and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Emmy McCabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roxy is the owner of Luscious Delights, a small company that makes all kinds of jams to sell at the local Farmer's Market. At the Farmer's Market, Roxie encounters a man from her past when she worked in Denver as a line chef. Her encounter with Brett Holmes forced Roxy to leave Denver and return home to Shareano. Shortly after the unpleasant visit to her booth, Brett was found murdered in the restaurant that he worked. Since Roxy and Brett were seen arguing at her booth, she has become a suspect. Roxy and her best friend Susa take upon themselves to get involved in the search for the killer so her life and can get back to normal. This is a great story with lots of suspects, Brett was not a nice person!!

[Nicole Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you BookBuzz, Meg Benjamin and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. This was such an amazing book yet it wasn't your typical mystery. It had so much raw real life added to it and so many different character layers that just added ti the uniqueness of the story. I am so excited for this series and cannot wait to read more of this series. The main character Roxy is such a beautifully portrayed character. This story felt real and nothing felt forced. The books execution of a small town murder story and the who's done it plot kept you guessing all the way to the end. Hands down 4 stars for this one and I cannot wait to read what happens next.

[Diane Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Wild Rose Press for the advance reader's copy of this title.

I was drawn to this book because I make peach pepper jam. Hopefully it will not lead to murder in any way. I was hoping that there might be recipes involved. I hated that Roxy had dealt with sexual harassment and that it had ended up affecting her work. I loved that she found romance--but hated that someone from her past continued the harassment, and especially that she was then blamed when he wound up dead. Can't a girl catch a break?

Delighted to see that there are already two more books in this series!

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars! I really liked the premise of the story. I loved Roxy's story and character development. She's a little nutty at times, but I'm super quirky as well as I was here for it. I also really enjoy books that have a foodie element, such as a chef, etc, so I appreciated the jam business angle. it was fun to follow the murder mystery element of the story. There was nothing especially nuanced about this story, but it was a simple, quick read.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, every "main" character is well written. Roxy is someone I'd want to be friends with. I could almost taste her jams in my mind, I desperately wanted to pet Norman, get drinks with Susa and belly up to the kitchen table with Uncle Mike. Fowler, well, I'm not sure exactly what I want to do with him, lol. Nate, well, a backyard picnic with him sounds like a dream. I wanted to kick Brett's ass myself several times and I wish Shavano, Colorado was a place to visit and hit up their farmer's market. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This was superbly written debut novel for a series and I'm REALLY excited to see what happens next.

[Louisa Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

Starting out I had some mixed feelings about this book, but it quickly went away by chapter three. The way that Meg Benjamin wrote her story quickly won me over, and the combination of cozy murder and a gentle love story soon had me caught up in its web.
The story did not leave with an immediate resolve to either the murder or the gentle love story, which, curiously did not cause any confusion on my part, but left with a resolve to continue on with Book 2 of this series.

[Brenda's · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Pepper Peach Murder" by Meg Benjamin is a fast paced mystery filled with interesting characters. What happens when a chefs past comes to disturb her sweet future making Pepper Peach Jam. Very enjoyable read with a twist of an ending!

🌟 Thank You to the Publisher, Author and Netgalley for e-book in exchange for an Honest review!!
#PepperPeachMurder
#Netgalley

[Alyssa Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Roxy was a very likable protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Nate develop over the book. I am hoping this is the start of the series! The mystery itself was fast-paced and easy to follow. I am leaving this review in exchange for an advanced copy from NetGalley, however this review is voluntary.

[CelticMoonGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read.
Keeping in tone with the food setting for this lovely book, it had a wonderful set of ingredients to work with great characters and ensemble, good balance of details, pinch of intrigue, dash of mystery and enjoyable food journey.
Lovely three course adventure with bonus cozy romance for dessert.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.