Book Review - Sifting Through Clues

Sifting Through Clues (Cookbook Nook #8)
Author:  Daryl Wood Gerber
Publisher:  Beyond the Page Publishing
Publication Date:  April 23, 2019
4 Stars

Residents and tourists alike are gathered in Crystal Cove to celebrate Book Club Bonanza Week.  Jenna’s Cookbook Nook is getting in on the fun with literary themed cookbooks, culinary mysteries, and other book related merchandise.  One of the featured events that Jenna is participating in is a moving book club discussion group with food at each house along the tour.  At each of the first three houses, everyone seems to be having a good time discussing books and enjoying good company and good food.  When the book club members arrive at the last house, owned by Ivy Beale, they are dismayed when Ivy doesn’t answer her door.  They find the door ajar though, and the book club members pile in believing that Ivy must have gotten held up doing something.  Jenna heads to the kitchen where she finds Ivy.  She is lying on the ground with a rose quartz shard sticking out of her chest.  Jenna’s friend Pepper (who is also the daughter of Police Chief Cinnamon) becomes the primary suspect.  She enlists Jenna to help clear her name.  As Jenna scrutinizes people’s motives and alibis she finds there are plenty of other suspects.  Jenna must race against the clock to find the real killer before Cinnamon is forced to arrest her own mother.

Sifting Through Clues is the eighth book in the Cookbook Nook Series and follows Wreath Between the Lines.  It is another fabulous installment in the series.  The author does a great job with characterization.  She brings back many previously developed characters and introduces us to some new ones as well.  As a reader, I really feel like I understood these fantastic characters and the motives for their actions.

The plot and movement of this book are excellent as well.  The further I got into the book, the harder it was to put down.  There are plenty of clues to help the reader figure out whodunnit, but there are also lots of plot twists and turns to keep you guessing.  I particularly liked how the author wrapped up this story.

I can definitely recommend this book as it was great from start to finish!

In addition to a delicious mystery, the reader is introduced to many delightful sounding cookbooks, and many yummy sounding recipes are included at the end of the story.

Thanks to Net Galley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an ARC of this book.  #NetGalley #SiftingThroughClues