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Deep Dish Mysteries #1
Six Feet Deep Dish
Fresh mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, and the perfect recipe for a delicious first entry in Mindy Quigley's Six Feet Deep Dish , a delectable new series...
Delilah O’Leary can’t wait to open her new gourmet deep-dish pizzeria in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin―a charming resort town with a long history as a mobsters’ hideaway, millionaires’ playground, and vacation mecca. Engaged to a hunk with a hefty trust fund, Delilah is poised to begin a life that’s just about as delicious as one of her cheesy creations.
Just before opening night, though, Delilah’s plans for pizza perfection hit the skids when her fiancé dumps her and leaves her with a very large memento from their relationship―Butterball, their spoiled, plus-sized tabby cat.
Delilah’s trouble deepens when she discovers a dead body and finds her elderly aunt holding the murder weapon. Handsome local police detective Calvin Capone, great grandson of the legendary gangster, opens an investigation, threatening to sink Delilah’s pie-in-the-sky ambitions before they can even get off the ground. To save her aunt and get her pizza place generating some dough, Delilah must deliver the real killer.
Delilah O’Leary can’t wait to open her new gourmet deep-dish pizzeria in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin―a charming resort town with a long history as a mobsters’ hideaway, millionaires’ playground, and vacation mecca. Engaged to a hunk with a hefty trust fund, Delilah is poised to begin a life that’s just about as delicious as one of her cheesy creations.
Just before opening night, though, Delilah’s plans for pizza perfection hit the skids when her fiancé dumps her and leaves her with a very large memento from their relationship―Butterball, their spoiled, plus-sized tabby cat.
Delilah’s trouble deepens when she discovers a dead body and finds her elderly aunt holding the murder weapon. Handsome local police detective Calvin Capone, great grandson of the legendary gangster, opens an investigation, threatening to sink Delilah’s pie-in-the-sky ambitions before they can even get off the ground. To save her aunt and get her pizza place generating some dough, Delilah must deliver the real killer.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 23, 2022
About the author
Mindy Quigley
16 books376 followersMindy Quigley is the author of two cozy mystery series: the Deep Dish Mysteries (St. Martin's Press) and the Mount Moriah Mysteries.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
Her work has been featured in Parade and Woman's World. Her non-writing career has been stranger than fiction, taking her from the US to the UK, where she worked as the personal assistant to the scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, and as project manager for a research clinic founded by the author J.K. Rowling.
She lives in Virginia, with her Civil War history professor husband and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
April 11, 2024
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley is the first book in the cozy Deep Dish Mysteries series. As with most cozy mystery series each book of the Deep Dish Mysteries will contain it’s own mystery that will be fully solved so they could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. Of course the character development in each book will be carrying over to the next book for those wanting to continue the series.
Delilah O’Leary thought she was going to finally have it all once she opened up her new deep dish pizzeria in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Geneva Bay was the perfect touristy town that should make her business a success and she had everyone she loved around her, her fiance and her great-aunt Biz and Butterball her tabby cat. Things don’t always go as planned though and Delilah quickly learned that as her restaurant opened.
First Delilah finds out that her fiance no longer wants to marry her which leaves the problem of her funding as he was paying for their home and her business. Then just as the restaurant opens Delilah finds the body of her Aunt Biz’s caretaker, Jeremy. Biz had been complaining he wasn’t around but finding her holding the murder weapon Delilah is sure that her aunt had nothing to do with the murder and vows to help find who did.
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley was one of those stories that certainly did have a lot going on in it as soon as it began. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this first book which included some things I always look for with some quirkiness and humor, oh and a furry sidekick too. The setting being an old mobsters’ hideaway led to the detective being a descendant of a famous mobster which also gave a bit of flavor so to speak to the story with plenty of twists along the way too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Delilah O’Leary thought she was going to finally have it all once she opened up her new deep dish pizzeria in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Geneva Bay was the perfect touristy town that should make her business a success and she had everyone she loved around her, her fiance and her great-aunt Biz and Butterball her tabby cat. Things don’t always go as planned though and Delilah quickly learned that as her restaurant opened.
First Delilah finds out that her fiance no longer wants to marry her which leaves the problem of her funding as he was paying for their home and her business. Then just as the restaurant opens Delilah finds the body of her Aunt Biz’s caretaker, Jeremy. Biz had been complaining he wasn’t around but finding her holding the murder weapon Delilah is sure that her aunt had nothing to do with the murder and vows to help find who did.
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley was one of those stories that certainly did have a lot going on in it as soon as it began. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this first book which included some things I always look for with some quirkiness and humor, oh and a furry sidekick too. The setting being an old mobsters’ hideaway led to the detective being a descendant of a famous mobster which also gave a bit of flavor so to speak to the story with plenty of twists along the way too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 28, 2022
Six Feet Deep Dish is the first book in this series. it takes place in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O'Leary (Dee) is the main character. She is getting ready to open a gourmet deep-dish pizzeria along with her fiancé and business partner, Sam VanMeter. They live over the restaurant with Sam's cat, Butterball. Just before their trial opening she and Sam get into a huge fight and he leaves saying it is all over leaving Dee to prepare and deal with their opening. She has her employees Sonya Dokter, friend and sous chef; Daniel, friend and bartender; Melody, hostess and Carson her server. Everyone attending is enjoying themselves. Her aunt, Elizabeth O'Grady and her caretaker, Jeremy come to the opening but she seems not herself. Jeremy is also acting strange. When Dee goes out to get some air she finds Jeremy dead and her aunt unconscious in her wheelchair with the gun in her lap. Dee calls for help and people come out of the restaurant. The police are called. Detective Calvin Capone arrives, He goes to Dee;s apartment to interview her and her aunt about Jeremy's death and takes the gun which Delilah still has in her hands. He is also looking for Sam who seems to have disappeared. This is where the story takes off with all kinds of twists and turns with the supporting characters adding to the story. Dee is concerned she and her aunt will be arrested as suspects and she and her friends decide to find out who killed Jeremy and why. The next day while waiting for her friends a man named Robert Blakemore (Rabbit) is there to apply for the job as dishwasher. which she hires. While cleaning up after the opening Robert finds a purse on a purse hook at a side booth, which belonged to Veronica Tancka who also worked for Dee as a consultant sommelier for the wines for the restaurant. While having lunch with her employees they notice Veronica's BMW parked on the far side of the parking lot. Veronica arrives to pick up her purse and car which has her keys still in her purse. The night before she said that she and Carson were having sex in her car when Jeremy was murdered.
Delilah finds her aunt on the bedroom floor unconscious and calls for an ambulance. While at the hospital she finds out that the pills she has been taking were opiates which apparently had been given to her by Jeremy to keep her drugged. She goes back to the apartment to get the pills and finds that they are not there. Someone has taken them. She calls and notifies the detective that the pills are not there.
The story picks up pace with Delilah and her workers doing their own investigations. She and Detective Capone try to work together but at times come to disagreements. Sam is finally found and Dee and he decide that they are better as friends. He will continue to fund her restaurant. Delilah finally opens and although things are going well the story takes an unexpected turn and there is a lot of suspense until the ending when the murderer is exposed.
The last chapter is when Detective Capone arrives at her restaurant with Butterball who has gotten into a fight with his cat. Brujo Delilah realizes that it is his cat that has been fighting with Butterball. After a few harsh words they realize they must give each other some slack as no one is perfect. It will be interesting to see where their friendship goes in the next book in this series..
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for this ARC.
Delilah finds her aunt on the bedroom floor unconscious and calls for an ambulance. While at the hospital she finds out that the pills she has been taking were opiates which apparently had been given to her by Jeremy to keep her drugged. She goes back to the apartment to get the pills and finds that they are not there. Someone has taken them. She calls and notifies the detective that the pills are not there.
The story picks up pace with Delilah and her workers doing their own investigations. She and Detective Capone try to work together but at times come to disagreements. Sam is finally found and Dee and he decide that they are better as friends. He will continue to fund her restaurant. Delilah finally opens and although things are going well the story takes an unexpected turn and there is a lot of suspense until the ending when the murderer is exposed.
The last chapter is when Detective Capone arrives at her restaurant with Butterball who has gotten into a fight with his cat. Brujo Delilah realizes that it is his cat that has been fighting with Butterball. After a few harsh words they realize they must give each other some slack as no one is perfect. It will be interesting to see where their friendship goes in the next book in this series..
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for this ARC.
July 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: fatphobia (excessive), murder, mention of cancer
I was so excited for this book when it came to my attention, because I'm always down for a good cozy mystery, and this one incorporates one of my favorites foods - pizza! However, the story fell far short of the mark for me, with a plot that didn’t really grip me, characters that were impossible to connect to, and a story that had bigger issues than the murder our MC (and the police) were trying to solve.
Unfortunately, it incorporates a ton of fatphobia throughout the story, which made it really difficult to connect to the MC. You know those books that feature women written by men who clearly have no concept of how women actually think or function? Yeah, this was exactly like that, except it was a plus-size character written by a thin person who has no idea about how plus-size people live or think. There's near-constant references to her weight, other people's weight, the eating habits of our MC and others, and the standout "typical lunch" which included two shots of espresso, "a chocolate chip muffin, a turkey club, and a slice of quiche Lorraine. I had a lot of thinking to do, and ... I wanted to do it on a full stomach..." Seriously?
While there was plenty of diversity in the characters, it felt like the author was running through a diversity checklist, so everyone wound up being more like caricatures instead of genuine people. Rather than making the characters feel genuine and inclusive, we wound up with a collection of stereotypes, including:
The hot, ex-military Puerto Rican hunk, working as a bartender and sending all his money home to his family, struggling to survive in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Highlights include him throwing out Spanish phrases at every opportunity for no apparent reason, then having to translate them because no one understands them.
The lesbian, Jewish chef who comes from a literal dynasty of lawyers, but she can't turn to her rich family to bail her out because she decided to go her own way and not be a lawyer.
The overachieving Asian entrepreneur who is excessively focused on status and luxury items, but doesn't have much of a personality aside from this and her beautiful looks. Oh, and she's also super skinny. Of course.
Can't forget about the old, doddering, disabled aunt who can't do anything for herself because she's old and disabled, so they just kind of push her off on someone else to take care of. She isn't given any agency, and neither are the other older people in the story, because who cares about old people, right? They're all just nosy and annoying and meddling, or super sweet and corny, apparently.
As I got deeper into the story, there were inconsistencies that could have been easily solved by simple research or speaking to someone with any experience in mental health or the medical field. The author demonstrated absolutely zero understanding of physical dependence, withdrawal, or how detoxification from substances works, and that is a significant part of the story, so as someone who has worked in that field, I really just found it laughable at how it was handled. As far as Delilah's "detective work," she didn't actually DO any, she just kind of stumbled over everything while repeatedly dreaming about Detective Capone's "pillowy lips," which is a phrase I could absolutely do without seeing ever again in my life.
Finally, one of my favorite parts of cozy mysteries comes at the end - the recipes! I was thrilled to see that there was a deep dish recipe included at the end. As a New Yorker, I totally understand that in Chicago-style deep dish pizza, they put the sauce on top of the toppings. Which I feel is weird, but I'm fully prepared to accept as a location based difference. However, this was included IN THE RECIPE:
"Deep-dish pizza goes cheese, then toppings, THEN sauce. If you do it the other way around, you're not making deep-dish pizza. You're making hot garbage and you have only yourself to blame."
I wasn't prepared to see a personal preference described as "hot garbage" when literally everywhere other than Chicago puts the sauce under the toppings, because duh, toppings are called toppings because THEY GO ON TOP. My opinion? This book and the note at the end of the recipe are hot garbage, and the author only has herself to blame.
CONTENT WARNING: fatphobia (excessive), murder, mention of cancer
I was so excited for this book when it came to my attention, because I'm always down for a good cozy mystery, and this one incorporates one of my favorites foods - pizza! However, the story fell far short of the mark for me, with a plot that didn’t really grip me, characters that were impossible to connect to, and a story that had bigger issues than the murder our MC (and the police) were trying to solve.
Unfortunately, it incorporates a ton of fatphobia throughout the story, which made it really difficult to connect to the MC. You know those books that feature women written by men who clearly have no concept of how women actually think or function? Yeah, this was exactly like that, except it was a plus-size character written by a thin person who has no idea about how plus-size people live or think. There's near-constant references to her weight, other people's weight, the eating habits of our MC and others, and the standout "typical lunch" which included two shots of espresso, "a chocolate chip muffin, a turkey club, and a slice of quiche Lorraine. I had a lot of thinking to do, and ... I wanted to do it on a full stomach..." Seriously?
While there was plenty of diversity in the characters, it felt like the author was running through a diversity checklist, so everyone wound up being more like caricatures instead of genuine people. Rather than making the characters feel genuine and inclusive, we wound up with a collection of stereotypes, including:
The hot, ex-military Puerto Rican hunk, working as a bartender and sending all his money home to his family, struggling to survive in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Highlights include him throwing out Spanish phrases at every opportunity for no apparent reason, then having to translate them because no one understands them.
The lesbian, Jewish chef who comes from a literal dynasty of lawyers, but she can't turn to her rich family to bail her out because she decided to go her own way and not be a lawyer.
The overachieving Asian entrepreneur who is excessively focused on status and luxury items, but doesn't have much of a personality aside from this and her beautiful looks. Oh, and she's also super skinny. Of course.
Can't forget about the old, doddering, disabled aunt who can't do anything for herself because she's old and disabled, so they just kind of push her off on someone else to take care of. She isn't given any agency, and neither are the other older people in the story, because who cares about old people, right? They're all just nosy and annoying and meddling, or super sweet and corny, apparently.
As I got deeper into the story, there were inconsistencies that could have been easily solved by simple research or speaking to someone with any experience in mental health or the medical field. The author demonstrated absolutely zero understanding of physical dependence, withdrawal, or how detoxification from substances works, and that is a significant part of the story, so as someone who has worked in that field, I really just found it laughable at how it was handled. As far as Delilah's "detective work," she didn't actually DO any, she just kind of stumbled over everything while repeatedly dreaming about Detective Capone's "pillowy lips," which is a phrase I could absolutely do without seeing ever again in my life.
Finally, one of my favorite parts of cozy mysteries comes at the end - the recipes! I was thrilled to see that there was a deep dish recipe included at the end. As a New Yorker, I totally understand that in Chicago-style deep dish pizza, they put the sauce on top of the toppings. Which I feel is weird, but I'm fully prepared to accept as a location based difference. However, this was included IN THE RECIPE:
"Deep-dish pizza goes cheese, then toppings, THEN sauce. If you do it the other way around, you're not making deep-dish pizza. You're making hot garbage and you have only yourself to blame."
I wasn't prepared to see a personal preference described as "hot garbage" when literally everywhere other than Chicago puts the sauce under the toppings, because duh, toppings are called toppings because THEY GO ON TOP. My opinion? This book and the note at the end of the recipe are hot garbage, and the author only has herself to blame.
June 24, 2022
Delilah's dream to open a deep dish pizza restaurant is about to come true. Her wealthy fiance Sam has bankrolled the restaurant in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and they have moved there with their portly cat, Butterball. But then they get into a big argument, Sam disappears, and the restaurant's fate is in question because Sam has all the money. Could it get any worse? Apparently it could, because there is a murder on opening night. Delilah is determined to help the handsome detective, Capone, solve the case, assisted by her staff and of course, Butterball. A great cozy mystery has likable characters, an interesting setting, and a twisty plot-- and a cat with personality makes it even better. This is one of the best I've read in awhile; I look forward to reading more by Mindy Quigley. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
July 18, 2022
I love this book and am delighted to find a new cozy mystery series that I truly enjoy. The writing flows. The plot is well-paced. The characters are multi-dimensional. There is no tedious descriptions to increase word count. The characters and social situation have an air of authenticity to them. It's a delicious .new series and this first book has whet my appetite for more.
July 15, 2022
The first book in a new series.
The pacing could have been quicker, Butterball the cat was the star of the show.
I didn’t love Delilah, who praised herself for being a good investigator but stumbled into clues.
The pacing could have been quicker, Butterball the cat was the star of the show.
I didn’t love Delilah, who praised herself for being a good investigator but stumbled into clues.
August 27, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Delilah O’Leary has many fond memories of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, so when her fiancé agrees to bankroll her dream of opening a gourmet deep-dish pizzeria she knows Geneva Bay is the perfect place. Plus her Aunt Biz has some health issues and Delilah wants to be nearby. She pulls inspiration for the restaurant’s decor from the mobster history of the town. Not everyone thinks that is a good idea so she hopes her idea doesn’t backfire.
On the night of a soft opening, the sign for the outdoor pizzeria arrives with an error that leads to a fight between Delilah and Sam. A fight that has Sam packing his bags and leaving Delilah in the sauce regarding the future of her dream pizza place and the future of her life if Sam truly leaves her, but for now she needs to serve her customers.
With all the things on her plate, the last thing she needs is any more trouble but this is just not her day. Her Aunt Biz wasn’t feeling well and her caregiver takes her outside for some fresh air. When they fail to return Delilah goes to look for them. She finds a horrific scene of a dead body and her aunt holding the murder weapon.
Enter hunky Detective Calvin Capone, yes he is related to that Capone. Delilah has more to worry about than if the detective thinks about her decor. She needs to find the real killer to save her Aunt Biz and her pizzeria.
I love starting a new cozy series and this one has the added delight of being set in my home state. I was thrilled that the author even got the dialogue and phrasing right. One character sounded just like my Aunt Evie. The descriptions of Wisconsin hit home too.
Speaking of characters, Delilah is very OCD and a little harsh, making her a hard protagonist to like. She has friends working with her but she is a very difficult boss. Her fiancé Sam is a trust fund guy without a care in the world. His laid-back attitude is tolerated by Delilah until it isn’t, yeah the fight. I didn’t really care for him either. Aunt Biz is a treasure. But it is Butterball that gets all my love and steals the show. He is one spoiled kitty and he has the body to show it. The author introduces a lot of characters right off the bat. Some are a bit more fleshed out than others, all have plenty of room to grow and maybe in Delilah’s case a little nicer.
The mystery was intriguing but not very complex. Detective Capone warned Delilah several times to leave the investigation to him but Delilah was basically having clues dropped in her lap. I plucked each one out right away and solved the mystery pretty early in the story. I was a little put off by Delilah’s daydreaming about the detective. It made her come off even more fickle than when the story started. I have learned it is hard to have a very complex mystery in the first book of a series because all the characters have to be introduced and the world-building needed to define the locale fills many pages.
I really enjoyed the gourmet pizzas that were created and their descriptions. I was craving pizza from the first page to the last. Recipes are included at the end of the book including the correct way to make a deep-dish pizza.
With Six Feet Deep Dish, Ms. Quigley has given the series a good crust foundation and spooned on the sauce. I hope in future books she makes her characters more engaging and more representative of the residents of Wisconsin. I have a good feeling about this series so I am rounding my rating up.
Delilah O’Leary has many fond memories of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, so when her fiancé agrees to bankroll her dream of opening a gourmet deep-dish pizzeria she knows Geneva Bay is the perfect place. Plus her Aunt Biz has some health issues and Delilah wants to be nearby. She pulls inspiration for the restaurant’s decor from the mobster history of the town. Not everyone thinks that is a good idea so she hopes her idea doesn’t backfire.
On the night of a soft opening, the sign for the outdoor pizzeria arrives with an error that leads to a fight between Delilah and Sam. A fight that has Sam packing his bags and leaving Delilah in the sauce regarding the future of her dream pizza place and the future of her life if Sam truly leaves her, but for now she needs to serve her customers.
With all the things on her plate, the last thing she needs is any more trouble but this is just not her day. Her Aunt Biz wasn’t feeling well and her caregiver takes her outside for some fresh air. When they fail to return Delilah goes to look for them. She finds a horrific scene of a dead body and her aunt holding the murder weapon.
Enter hunky Detective Calvin Capone, yes he is related to that Capone. Delilah has more to worry about than if the detective thinks about her decor. She needs to find the real killer to save her Aunt Biz and her pizzeria.
I love starting a new cozy series and this one has the added delight of being set in my home state. I was thrilled that the author even got the dialogue and phrasing right. One character sounded just like my Aunt Evie. The descriptions of Wisconsin hit home too.
Speaking of characters, Delilah is very OCD and a little harsh, making her a hard protagonist to like. She has friends working with her but she is a very difficult boss. Her fiancé Sam is a trust fund guy without a care in the world. His laid-back attitude is tolerated by Delilah until it isn’t, yeah the fight. I didn’t really care for him either. Aunt Biz is a treasure. But it is Butterball that gets all my love and steals the show. He is one spoiled kitty and he has the body to show it. The author introduces a lot of characters right off the bat. Some are a bit more fleshed out than others, all have plenty of room to grow and maybe in Delilah’s case a little nicer.
The mystery was intriguing but not very complex. Detective Capone warned Delilah several times to leave the investigation to him but Delilah was basically having clues dropped in her lap. I plucked each one out right away and solved the mystery pretty early in the story. I was a little put off by Delilah’s daydreaming about the detective. It made her come off even more fickle than when the story started. I have learned it is hard to have a very complex mystery in the first book of a series because all the characters have to be introduced and the world-building needed to define the locale fills many pages.
I really enjoyed the gourmet pizzas that were created and their descriptions. I was craving pizza from the first page to the last. Recipes are included at the end of the book including the correct way to make a deep-dish pizza.
With Six Feet Deep Dish, Ms. Quigley has given the series a good crust foundation and spooned on the sauce. I hope in future books she makes her characters more engaging and more representative of the residents of Wisconsin. I have a good feeling about this series so I am rounding my rating up.
June 1, 2023
Six Feet Deep Dish is the perfect start to this brand-new culinary cozy mystery! And it features one of my favorite food items: pizza! I love the setting; a pizza place with lake views, and I found the plot to be fast paced and fun! Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres to read even though the idea of an amateur sleuth solving the mystery before police is unbelievable. But I think that’s why I love them so much! Suspend belief for a few hours and be prepared to be hungry! Because this one is a must read!
July 21, 2022
A pizza restaurant with an upscale twist in the resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, a chef whose main concern has been the menu, not murder, a group of quirky and lovable supporting characters, a detective whose family tree includes Al Capone and a chubby, adorable cat named Butterball all make this a cozy mystery you'll love!
Delilah O' Leary, has all the cozy elements I love - she's independent, sassy, soft-hearted and determined to make it in the restaurant world. I liked that Delilah was in her late 30's and was not perfect. Through the book, she learns about herself and how to be an amateur sleuth which made her seem more "real". Of course, Butterball was quite a character! The descriptions of Geneva Bay, with its "millionaires row" of mansions and gorgeous scenery made the book even more enjoyable.
There's a bit of everything - mystery, humor, romance, friendship and a cast of characters you'll love meeting!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Delilah O' Leary, has all the cozy elements I love - she's independent, sassy, soft-hearted and determined to make it in the restaurant world. I liked that Delilah was in her late 30's and was not perfect. Through the book, she learns about herself and how to be an amateur sleuth which made her seem more "real". Of course, Butterball was quite a character! The descriptions of Geneva Bay, with its "millionaires row" of mansions and gorgeous scenery made the book even more enjoyable.
There's a bit of everything - mystery, humor, romance, friendship and a cast of characters you'll love meeting!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 22, 2022
This is one of the best series debut books I’ve read in a long time. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and the setting of the newly opening pizza restaurant. The way the author described food was absolutely mouth watering and so vivid I wanted to eat it all. All of the characters were interesting and I can’t wait to see more of them. The story hooked me right away and I couldn’t put it down (I read most of the book in one day). It kept me on my toes with being overly dramatic. Delilah was level headed and made pretty good choices even though she was snooping. I enjoyed the dynamic between her and the lead detective. The ending was interesting and satisfying and I cannot wait for more!
August 14, 2022
As if opening a new restaurant wasn't challenging enough for Delilah try throwing in a murder too. Delilah is a perfectionist. Her perfectionism combined with the stress of opening a restaurant led to an argument with her fiancé/business partner on the day of their soft opening and he left her. Somehow, Delilah pulls it all together and it is going well until someone gets murdered.
This story is a good blend of mystery, humor and a hint of romance. This is book #1 in the Deep Dish Mysteries series. I hope we get to get to see a lot more of all the great cast of unique secondary characters in future books. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story is a good blend of mystery, humor and a hint of romance. This is book #1 in the Deep Dish Mysteries series. I hope we get to get to see a lot more of all the great cast of unique secondary characters in future books. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 29, 2022
Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley is a great cozy mystery that is the first in a new series: Deep Dish Mysteries. I truly loved this!
This is such a great first book. It really takes off from the very get-go.
The cast of characters, their interactions, their whip-smart dialogue, the one-liners, the cheekiness…it is hilarious and perfect. The balance between this and the murder/mystery, the past guilts, the inner and external struggles that each character is dealing with, is spot on.
This book takes place in the small lakeside vacation town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O’Leary is the main character, but the additional characters: Aunt Biz, Daniel, Sonya, Melody, Butterball (my own orange cat was plump and named Butterfinger as I have found a kindred spirit ), and Capone….make for a great book. Even the recipes have sass.
I am soooooo looking forward to new books.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/23/22.
This is such a great first book. It really takes off from the very get-go.
The cast of characters, their interactions, their whip-smart dialogue, the one-liners, the cheekiness…it is hilarious and perfect. The balance between this and the murder/mystery, the past guilts, the inner and external struggles that each character is dealing with, is spot on.
This book takes place in the small lakeside vacation town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin. Delilah O’Leary is the main character, but the additional characters: Aunt Biz, Daniel, Sonya, Melody, Butterball (my own orange cat was plump and named Butterfinger as I have found a kindred spirit ), and Capone….make for a great book. Even the recipes have sass.
I am soooooo looking forward to new books.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/23/22.
February 11, 2022
If you read deeply in crime fiction—from psychological thrillers to locked room mysteries—you’ll notice that each subgenre shares some similarities, like types of characters, settings, and narrative devices. This is especially true of cozies, whose readers like a good balance between the familiar and the new.
But every now and again a cozy comes along in which the author not only checks off all of the boxes but does such an excellent job in the process that the book totally stands out from the crowd. This is the case with Six Feet Deep Dish, which stars chef Delilah O’Leary, whose larger-than-life personality takes hold of the narrative and never lets go. We’re in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin—a resort town a couple of hours north of Chicago—and Delilah is about to fulfill a lifelong ambition and open her own restaurant featuring gourmet, deep-dish pizza. But as opening night rolls around, she hits a few speed bumps: her uber-rich fiancé, who was bankrolling the endeavor, dumps her and disappears. Then a murder takes place during the opening, and her elderly aunt is found over the dead body, clutching the murder weapon.
Delilah realizes that to save her aunt—and her restaurant—she needs to step it up and, with the help of the restaurant staff, find the killer. Droll and witty, sophisticated and credible, this is a series to watch out for.—Brian Kenney, First Clue
For more reviews of crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
But every now and again a cozy comes along in which the author not only checks off all of the boxes but does such an excellent job in the process that the book totally stands out from the crowd. This is the case with Six Feet Deep Dish, which stars chef Delilah O’Leary, whose larger-than-life personality takes hold of the narrative and never lets go. We’re in Geneva Bay, Wisconsin—a resort town a couple of hours north of Chicago—and Delilah is about to fulfill a lifelong ambition and open her own restaurant featuring gourmet, deep-dish pizza. But as opening night rolls around, she hits a few speed bumps: her uber-rich fiancé, who was bankrolling the endeavor, dumps her and disappears. Then a murder takes place during the opening, and her elderly aunt is found over the dead body, clutching the murder weapon.
Delilah realizes that to save her aunt—and her restaurant—she needs to step it up and, with the help of the restaurant staff, find the killer. Droll and witty, sophisticated and credible, this is a series to watch out for.—Brian Kenney, First Clue
For more reviews of crime fiction, subscribe to our weekly newsletter, First Clue: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/First...
February 25, 2022
I like to alternate cozy mystery, thriller, SF, literary, romance, and nonfiction. I know, I'm a super nerd. Since a lot of my friends write cozies, I don't often discover new ones. I am so happy my friend Julie Anne Lindsey told me about this book, because this is another series I'm going to add to my list. Delilah O'Leary is just about to open her pizza restaurant in her sleepy town, bolstered by the funding from her rich fiance. But in the space of two chapters, Delilah gets dumped, she has to postpone her grand opening, and her elderly aunt's caregiver is murdered. Delilah's thrown into the mystery along with the many characters introduced in the first few chapters. Auntie Biz's gun was the murder weapon, and Detective Capone (yes, a descendant of that Capone) is nipping at her heels. Funny, complex, and full of sass, this series starter bodes well for things to come. I loved Delilah's voice--and even the recipes at the end are narrated by the characters! (also, I craved pizza the whole time I was reading it!)
August 10, 2022
Introducing Delilah O'Leary, a new amateur sleuth and chef in a deep dish pizza restaurant. A perfect casting, incredibly clever dialogue, one-liners, cheekiness, all the characters...it's hilarious. The pizzas in the book sounded delicious, as well as the recipes. Ultimately, Delilah gets dumped by her boyfriend, Sam, who has some serious pocket money. Butterball, the plump cat they share, stole the show.
When the dead body was discovered, it was full of intrigue, suspense, and kept me on the edge of my seat. This novel ended with a different kind of twist when Delilah found the killer. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.
When the dead body was discovered, it was full of intrigue, suspense, and kept me on the edge of my seat. This novel ended with a different kind of twist when Delilah found the killer. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is an honest review.
July 27, 2022
As satisfying as your favorite slice of pie! Six Feet Deep Dish is a delicious debut and a great addition to the culinary cozy menu. Quigley does a wonderful job with the plot and there are some hilarious one liners. I will definitely be recommending this read to cozy mystery fans. I only have one complaint— I don't like anchovies on my pizza. And by anchovies I mean the italicized Spanish! This might have been the publisher and not the chef (author), but I hope we will not see it in book two of the series. Daniel, the Puerto Rican bartender, is dishy. He doesn't need the italic garnish.
December 29, 2023
Source: Borrowed from the library via Libby ebook
Content warnings: fatphobia, elder abuse, prescription drug abuse
New author and series to me, I picked this due to a monthly feature in the Goodreads cozy mystery group. liked this book but didn't totally love it. I think a lot of it came down to the MC Delilah's attitude. Although she got a little better later into the book, I found her unpleasant to follow with her anger issues, comments about weight, and general mean comments (calling people dweebs, Sam's hobbies stupid, etc.)
There are diverse characters here, but I didn't feel like we got to know all of them very well yet. I liked Sonya, the best friend/sous chef, and Rabbit, the ex-con.
The mystery was alright. I had a feeling about the killer, but the journey to get there is the main appeal to me anyway.
Unfortunately this book might just have not been a good fit for me at this time, as I like to read as as escape from real life, and the issues regarding Auntie Biz's decline and care needs are a bit too close to what I am dealing with now with my elderly mom.
I did like that the recipes had comments from the other characters' POV. That was a fun touch.
Not sure if I will continue with this series. Probably won't rule it out, but low priority on the TBR list.
Content warnings: fatphobia, elder abuse, prescription drug abuse
New author and series to me, I picked this due to a monthly feature in the Goodreads cozy mystery group. liked this book but didn't totally love it. I think a lot of it came down to the MC Delilah's attitude. Although she got a little better later into the book, I found her unpleasant to follow with her anger issues, comments about weight, and general mean comments (calling people dweebs, Sam's hobbies stupid, etc.)
There are diverse characters here, but I didn't feel like we got to know all of them very well yet. I liked Sonya, the best friend/sous chef, and Rabbit, the ex-con.
The mystery was alright. I had a feeling about the killer, but the journey to get there is the main appeal to me anyway.
Unfortunately this book might just have not been a good fit for me at this time, as I like to read as as escape from real life, and the issues regarding Auntie Biz's decline and care needs are a bit too close to what I am dealing with now with my elderly mom.
I did like that the recipes had comments from the other characters' POV. That was a fun touch.
Not sure if I will continue with this series. Probably won't rule it out, but low priority on the TBR list.
August 14, 2022
If you enjoy cozy mysteries you absolutely cannot miss this first book in the Deep Dish Mystery Series. I had never read anything by Mindy Quigley and I feel like I’ve been missing out! this fresh cozy was so entertaining with its great characters and compelling story. Delilah O’Leary is about to open her dream pizzeria restaurant in Geneva Bay Wisconsin with her fiancé, Sam. Unfortunately, Delilah and Sam have a fight on the night of their soft opening and Sam takes off. Delilah continues on with the event and, though hectic, the customers are loving her food and the evening seems like a success. But near the end of the evening A dead body is discovered and Delilah‘s elderly aunt is holding the gun. to make matters worse, the victim is her aunts nurse. As the investigation begins, Delilah feels she must find the real killer and clear Aunt Biz’s name.
I’ve read many cozy mysteries but this one is special. The story is fresh and organic in the way it moves along. It has a natural flow with no forced situation’s, which makes for a clean seamless plot. The characters are fun, interesting and realistic. I liked all of the characters and I loved the humor in Mindy Quigley sprinkles throughout. This cozy had me laughing out loud all throughout the book. I love Delilah‘s personality and she is so funny, which made me want to keep reading.
There are also several delicious recipes for pizza and other items on her menu in the back of the book. If you love pizza and Italian dishes, you won’t want to miss them.
This cozy mystery series is definitely at the top of my list to keep up with. with the great writing, characters, and location, this series has so much potential and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I flew through this first book and was sorry to see it end. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read many cozy mysteries but this one is special. The story is fresh and organic in the way it moves along. It has a natural flow with no forced situation’s, which makes for a clean seamless plot. The characters are fun, interesting and realistic. I liked all of the characters and I loved the humor in Mindy Quigley sprinkles throughout. This cozy had me laughing out loud all throughout the book. I love Delilah‘s personality and she is so funny, which made me want to keep reading.
There are also several delicious recipes for pizza and other items on her menu in the back of the book. If you love pizza and Italian dishes, you won’t want to miss them.
This cozy mystery series is definitely at the top of my list to keep up with. with the great writing, characters, and location, this series has so much potential and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I flew through this first book and was sorry to see it end. I highly recommend it.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2022
I live in Wisconsin and love pizza and cozy mysteries, so how could I not love Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley?!?
This first in a new series takes place in a ritzier part of Wisconsin, Geneva Bay and is filled with tantalizing food descriptions (with recipes at the end) and a wonderful cast of characters. Most people keep coming back to a cozy series because they enjoy the characters and may even feel as if they are catching up with friends. Quigley has a well rounded group (felon, lesbian, dreamboat with an accent, quirky elderly lady, and a cat that steals the page!) of really developed characters, especially for a first book in a series.
Quigley also incorporates the perfect balance of sleuthing with actual story. Some authors dedicate ¾ of the book to sleuthing with not enough story to keep things interesting, but Quigley already has it mastered.
The mystery itself was well done with plenty of suspects and some red herrings to keep things interesting.
Already looking forward to the next book in the Deep Dish Mysteries and getting to know these fabulous characters even more.
This first in a new series takes place in a ritzier part of Wisconsin, Geneva Bay and is filled with tantalizing food descriptions (with recipes at the end) and a wonderful cast of characters. Most people keep coming back to a cozy series because they enjoy the characters and may even feel as if they are catching up with friends. Quigley has a well rounded group (felon, lesbian, dreamboat with an accent, quirky elderly lady, and a cat that steals the page!) of really developed characters, especially for a first book in a series.
Quigley also incorporates the perfect balance of sleuthing with actual story. Some authors dedicate ¾ of the book to sleuthing with not enough story to keep things interesting, but Quigley already has it mastered.
The mystery itself was well done with plenty of suspects and some red herrings to keep things interesting.
Already looking forward to the next book in the Deep Dish Mysteries and getting to know these fabulous characters even more.
August 8, 2022
I found this to be a fun introduction to a new series and to an author new to me. I have to admit that I didn't really like Delilah at first, with her type A personality being a turn-off. But her fiance's dogged conflict avoidance wasn't exactly endearing either. Butterball was probably the star of the show, lol. But as the book progressed, I actually started liking Delilah, especially when she started listening to her friends. I also liked that even though she hated sitting still and meditating, unlike her fiance, she did stop to reflect and considered her own mistakes. And the bottom line is that I liked that she had a good heart and truly wanted her restaurant to succeed not just because it was a lifelong dream, but also because it would help her friends. Sonya, her best friend and sous-chef, was exactly who she needed to snap out of her single-mindedness, but I also liked the balance that the rest of the staff brought. And I loved Aunt Biz and know we'll see more from her in future books.
In terms of the mystery, it was complex enough to keep me guessing, although I had wondered about the culprit earlier on (but not the reason). In some ways, it felt like Delilah was stumbling onto the clues, but thinking back, she and her friends thought about ways to proceed and she was able to delegate different aspects of the case. I feel like her type A personality was an asset here, even if she was new to all of this. I do like that she and Capone did talk things out and that they were both able to acknowledge mistakes they had made. I also liked when he suggested she stay out of things that he explained mistakes she had made and she was able to see it, even if she hates being wrong. Altogether, it gives me hope for a possible future relationship.
The book has recipes at the end, mainly for the pizzas, which sounded amazing, but as I'm gluten-free, I will probably not try them. There is also a recipe for one of the cocktails that sounds really yummy and I'm tempted to try the salad since I've always wanted to try using fennel.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books. Fans of cozy mysteries will likely eat this book up, heh heh.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is due to be published on August 23.
In terms of the mystery, it was complex enough to keep me guessing, although I had wondered about the culprit earlier on (but not the reason). In some ways, it felt like Delilah was stumbling onto the clues, but thinking back, she and her friends thought about ways to proceed and she was able to delegate different aspects of the case. I feel like her type A personality was an asset here, even if she was new to all of this. I do like that she and Capone did talk things out and that they were both able to acknowledge mistakes they had made. I also liked when he suggested she stay out of things that he explained mistakes she had made and she was able to see it, even if she hates being wrong. Altogether, it gives me hope for a possible future relationship.
The book has recipes at the end, mainly for the pizzas, which sounded amazing, but as I'm gluten-free, I will probably not try them. There is also a recipe for one of the cocktails that sounds really yummy and I'm tempted to try the salad since I've always wanted to try using fennel.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books. Fans of cozy mysteries will likely eat this book up, heh heh.
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is due to be published on August 23.
July 19, 2022
What a delight! I not only found a new-to-me author to follow but the joy of reading this fast-paced, fun cozy mystery. Delilah O'Leary is focused so much on opening her new gourmet pizzeria that the worst of her control freak side has ruined a relationship, then she discovers a dead body outside at the pizzeria's soft opening. It's her elderly Aunt Biz's caretaker, Jeremy. The murder weapon is found in her aunt's possession. Enter Geneva Bay's police detective Capone, great grandson of the legendary Al Capone. Fur is going to fly and it isn't all going to come from Butterball, Deliliah's plus-sized cat.
I found myself immediately sucked into the story. Not only is Delilah's personality one you can't ignore but her pizzeria staff is made up of equally unique characters. All have back stories and needs and depend on Delilah to one extent or the other. Oh, the pressure of being the boss. They have her back, fortunately, and the dialogue, quips, and zingers seem to flow naturally, making them someone we'd like to know. Despite having just seen Sam, her boyfriend exit, she finds herself drawn to Capone. His backstory trickles out as the book continues and you will find yourself liking him, too, I'm sure. Delilah sure did but, well, will that be enough? Maybe. Life is never perfect, alas.
Who killed Jeremy? As it turns out, there are many legitimate suspects. Since Delilah was storming out of the pizzeria determined to fire Carson when she found the body and he was nowhere to be found, he's an obvious suspect. Biz? After all, the gun was hers. Who steals Aunt Biz's medications? Why does she wind up in the hospital? Did Sam's jaunt cleanse his heart chakra and help him reconnect with himself? Why does Veronica call Jeremy a viper? What surprise is found in Biz's shed? And, oh, so much more. The twist at the end was a stunner. Put this one on your "TBR" list and enjoy the recipes at the end, too. They were made extra special by being given in the "voices" of various characters, adding to the fun. Let's just say, I rarely do more than scan recipes. These I read with a grin.
Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for inviting me to Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, for Delilah's grand opening. It was fun and I will definitely be back.
I found myself immediately sucked into the story. Not only is Delilah's personality one you can't ignore but her pizzeria staff is made up of equally unique characters. All have back stories and needs and depend on Delilah to one extent or the other. Oh, the pressure of being the boss. They have her back, fortunately, and the dialogue, quips, and zingers seem to flow naturally, making them someone we'd like to know. Despite having just seen Sam, her boyfriend exit, she finds herself drawn to Capone. His backstory trickles out as the book continues and you will find yourself liking him, too, I'm sure. Delilah sure did but, well, will that be enough? Maybe. Life is never perfect, alas.
Who killed Jeremy? As it turns out, there are many legitimate suspects. Since Delilah was storming out of the pizzeria determined to fire Carson when she found the body and he was nowhere to be found, he's an obvious suspect. Biz? After all, the gun was hers. Who steals Aunt Biz's medications? Why does she wind up in the hospital? Did Sam's jaunt cleanse his heart chakra and help him reconnect with himself? Why does Veronica call Jeremy a viper? What surprise is found in Biz's shed? And, oh, so much more. The twist at the end was a stunner. Put this one on your "TBR" list and enjoy the recipes at the end, too. They were made extra special by being given in the "voices" of various characters, adding to the fun. Let's just say, I rarely do more than scan recipes. These I read with a grin.
Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for inviting me to Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, for Delilah's grand opening. It was fun and I will definitely be back.
August 23, 2022
I really enjoyed the start of this new series! When characters grab my attention as quickly as these key characters did, in my book that's a winner of a cozy mystery. Biz and Delilah were a little out of the ordinary type cozy characters since Biz was definitely not your typical cute, squishy-huggy great aunt and Dee (as Delilah was called) was a real force to be reckoned with but still had her soft side moments. I could definitely tell she and Aunt Biz were super close.
The ladies were both strong yet didn't mind (too much anyway) having people look after them when needed. Although Dee could get on my nerves a little bit being such a control freak, lol. I'm not sure I could work for her, but her team sure seemed happy, so that's the main thing. I mean, I thought I was bad at giving up control over certain things, but that lady's got me beat haha! Some of the stuff she wanted to say to people absolutely cracked me up because it's just what I would've been thinking of saying but not saying, particularly when it came to teen employee Carson!
Wow what a showdown! I honestly had the actual perp in mind but not for the reasons they ended up being the killer. It almost made me feel sad for the perp, but that's all I'm gonna say about it without going and spoiling things. Kind of a case where the person killed was a pretty lowdown scoundrel and some people figured the person deserved it. I enjoyed the ending and hope we find Delilah and Cal becoming better friends in the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
The ladies were both strong yet didn't mind (too much anyway) having people look after them when needed. Although Dee could get on my nerves a little bit being such a control freak, lol. I'm not sure I could work for her, but her team sure seemed happy, so that's the main thing. I mean, I thought I was bad at giving up control over certain things, but that lady's got me beat haha! Some of the stuff she wanted to say to people absolutely cracked me up because it's just what I would've been thinking of saying but not saying, particularly when it came to teen employee Carson!
Wow what a showdown! I honestly had the actual perp in mind but not for the reasons they ended up being the killer. It almost made me feel sad for the perp, but that's all I'm gonna say about it without going and spoiling things. Kind of a case where the person killed was a pretty lowdown scoundrel and some people figured the person deserved it. I enjoyed the ending and hope we find Delilah and Cal becoming better friends in the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
June 26, 2022
Delilah is a good main character, but I really disliked her fiancé Sam. There was a good solid mystery that kept me guessing, and I like the setting of a pizza place. I think this series has great potential and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.
#SixFeetDeepDish #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#SixFeetDeepDish #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
September 7, 2022
I absolutely loved this book. It was more edgy than most cozies but that's what I loved about it. I felt the storyline was original. Great characters. Perfect setting. I love Butterball the cat. I'm excited for what the author has in store for the next installment.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a free copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
January 18, 2023
Main character Delilah is not very likable, which is the kiss of death for me. I have to like the main character to get invested in the story. Also too much fat phobia-they even fat shame the poor cat.
August 25, 2022
A terrific start to a new cozy mystery series! Delilah is opening a new pizza restaurant in a lake resort town in Wisconsin. Since it’s not far from Chicago, the specialty is deep dish pizza. Delilah has loved this lake community since she was young. Her great-aunt Elizabeth (“Biz”) lives there and has a live-in caretaker named Jeremy.
Delilah and her fiancé Sam have really different personalities: Delilah is driven and Sam is super-laid-back, so you can imagine the conflicts they have. On the night of the restaurant’s soft opening, Sam leaves in a huff after a big argument. That same night, Auntie Biz’s caretaker is found shot to death and Auntie Biz is holding the gun!
I loved the people who work in the restaurant, especially her best friend Sonya and newcomer Rabbit. I hope further books in the series will continue to highlight them, along with Daniel and Melody. And we definitely want to see more of Detective Capone! As often in cozy mysteries, pets play a large role and this one features Butterball, an aptly named cat.
Delilah’s driven personality could be grating, but it often made me smile. There’s a scene in the hospital where she tries to relax and breathe, trying to remember the calming, centering techniques she was taught with Sam on a yoga retreat. I completely related to this: “the first thing that came to mind was my feeling of supreme antsiness at the memory of having to sit still in those stupid workshops and do nothing for hours. Hours that could’ve been spent accomplishing something.” Ha!
There are several recipes at the end, written in a chatty way, which fits the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Delilah and her fiancé Sam have really different personalities: Delilah is driven and Sam is super-laid-back, so you can imagine the conflicts they have. On the night of the restaurant’s soft opening, Sam leaves in a huff after a big argument. That same night, Auntie Biz’s caretaker is found shot to death and Auntie Biz is holding the gun!
I loved the people who work in the restaurant, especially her best friend Sonya and newcomer Rabbit. I hope further books in the series will continue to highlight them, along with Daniel and Melody. And we definitely want to see more of Detective Capone! As often in cozy mysteries, pets play a large role and this one features Butterball, an aptly named cat.
Delilah’s driven personality could be grating, but it often made me smile. There’s a scene in the hospital where she tries to relax and breathe, trying to remember the calming, centering techniques she was taught with Sam on a yoga retreat. I completely related to this: “the first thing that came to mind was my feeling of supreme antsiness at the memory of having to sit still in those stupid workshops and do nothing for hours. Hours that could’ve been spent accomplishing something.” Ha!
There are several recipes at the end, written in a chatty way, which fits the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 2, 2023
Delilah O’Leary is very excited to be opening her new gourmet pizzeria. However, finding a dead body right at the time she is opening is not the way to start a new business. What’s more is her elderly aunt is the one that was found holding the murder weapon. The victim was her aunt’s caretaker. Will the detective on the case, Calvin Capone, who just happens to be the great grandson of legendary gangster Al Capone, be able to find the murderer and help prevent Delilah’s business from crashing even before it even gets started?
Delilah really needs this fresh start. She has just broken off her engagement to and now they are sharing custody of their hefty cat Butterball. Meanwhile, not only is Delilah concerned about her business, and the murder that has occurred, but also she’s concerned for the health and safety of her aunt. Managing everything is important to Delilah because she wants to move forward in her life.
Since Delilah has so much at stake, she involves herself in the investigation, because for one thing, she knows her aunt has not killed anyone. Meanwhile, she is still navigating her relationship with her ex, as well as the possibility of moving on to another romantic entanglement. This book has a bit of humor, especially when we read of the exploits of her plus sized cat.
What an enjoyable start to a new cozy mystery series by Mindy Quigley. This engaging read concludes with several delectable recipes.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Delilah really needs this fresh start. She has just broken off her engagement to and now they are sharing custody of their hefty cat Butterball. Meanwhile, not only is Delilah concerned about her business, and the murder that has occurred, but also she’s concerned for the health and safety of her aunt. Managing everything is important to Delilah because she wants to move forward in her life.
Since Delilah has so much at stake, she involves herself in the investigation, because for one thing, she knows her aunt has not killed anyone. Meanwhile, she is still navigating her relationship with her ex, as well as the possibility of moving on to another romantic entanglement. This book has a bit of humor, especially when we read of the exploits of her plus sized cat.
What an enjoyable start to a new cozy mystery series by Mindy Quigley. This engaging read concludes with several delectable recipes.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 17, 2023
There were moments as this plot was developing where I wasn't sure where it was going, or if I would continue reading the book. However, I am very much glad that I continued, as it quickly became obvious that this was a well-written and interesting cozy.
The relationship between Delilah and Sam was troubling (at best) and I struggled with the dichotomy between Delilah's strong personality and seemingly-good business sense with how she let Sam handle certain business items. That definitely bothered me, but I was happy with the resolution as it worked itself out throughout the book. While I saw some of the plot points coming (especially pertaining to Aunt Biz), I didn't catch on to the murderer until late in the book. And recipes...WOW! This author did not skimp on the recipes included at the end!
Overall, this is a great first edition to a new series and I'm already trying to work the next installment into an upcoming vlog. Highly recommend if you enjoy cozies set in resort towns or restaurants.
The relationship between Delilah and Sam was troubling (at best) and I struggled with the dichotomy between Delilah's strong personality and seemingly-good business sense with how she let Sam handle certain business items. That definitely bothered me, but I was happy with the resolution as it worked itself out throughout the book. While I saw some of the plot points coming (especially pertaining to Aunt Biz), I didn't catch on to the murderer until late in the book. And recipes...WOW! This author did not skimp on the recipes included at the end!
Overall, this is a great first edition to a new series and I'm already trying to work the next installment into an upcoming vlog. Highly recommend if you enjoy cozies set in resort towns or restaurants.
July 14, 2023
First in a new series. Good characters. Loved Butterball the cat.
August 21, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my ARC!
Pub date: 8/23/22
Genre: cozy mystery (first in a new series)
In one sentence: Delilah is all set to open a pizza restaurant - but when her fiance dumps her and dead body is discovered outside the restaurant, she's in deep dish trouble.
I love food cozies, so I was really excited to read this one. Delilah's friendship with chef Sonya and her aunt Biz were the highlight of the book - as was the delicious deep dish pizza and the wacky cat Butterball. I didn't love Delilah's relationship with fiance Sam (he was a grade A jerk), and I'm hoping he's not as involved in upcoming books. The mystery was pretty compelling overall.
My reason for rating this one 3 stars rather than 4 is the fatphobia - Delilah kept describing herself as large and comparing her body to that of others, drawing attention to one character's thinness and assuming that she didn't eat, etc.. This is 2022, and I prefer body positivity or neutrality in my stories. I can definitely see this fat shaming being triggering to some readers. There are plenty of other cozies out there, so I'm not sure I'll read another book in this series.
Pub date: 8/23/22
Genre: cozy mystery (first in a new series)
In one sentence: Delilah is all set to open a pizza restaurant - but when her fiance dumps her and dead body is discovered outside the restaurant, she's in deep dish trouble.
I love food cozies, so I was really excited to read this one. Delilah's friendship with chef Sonya and her aunt Biz were the highlight of the book - as was the delicious deep dish pizza and the wacky cat Butterball. I didn't love Delilah's relationship with fiance Sam (he was a grade A jerk), and I'm hoping he's not as involved in upcoming books. The mystery was pretty compelling overall.
My reason for rating this one 3 stars rather than 4 is the fatphobia - Delilah kept describing herself as large and comparing her body to that of others, drawing attention to one character's thinness and assuming that she didn't eat, etc.. This is 2022, and I prefer body positivity or neutrality in my stories. I can definitely see this fat shaming being triggering to some readers. There are plenty of other cozies out there, so I'm not sure I'll read another book in this series.
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