December 19, 2022
Baker Daisy Ellery, the narrator of Popp’s welcome sequel to 2022’s Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies, can work magic into her pies—honesty, helpfulness, success, even revenge. Her specialty is doling out karma. She runs a side gig selling “murder” pies on the dark web to abused women, though her magic can’t kill anyone who doesn’t have it coming. When Daisy is invited to participate in a TV baking contest, she’s determined to win it on her baking talent alone—no magic allowed. To her surprise, she discovers one of the contest judges is her latest murder pie target. Things take a deadly turn when someone beats Daisy to it and kills the judge before the contest is over. The show must go on, however, and Daisy has to find the killer before the police learn she was hired to deliver justice to the awful judge. The fun premise and the in-depth descriptions of food more than make up for a large cast that can be hard to keep track of and a less than clear explanation of the pie magic. Several delicious (non-magic) recipes round out a volume sure to please culinary cozy fans. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Reese Literary.
January 1, 2023
An RV-based pie business has a dark side. Pie Girl Daisy Ellery parks her recreational vehicle behind Frank's Diner and pays her rent by supplying Frank with pies. Now that she's won the state pie contest, she's been invited to audition for Bake My Day, America's answer to the popular Great British Baking Show. She hopes to use her winnings to expand her other business, Pies Before Guys, for which she bakes magic into pies to help desperate women rid themselves of horribly abusive men. Upon arriving at the fabulous hotel home of the TV production company for a two-week stay, she meets the other contestants, all with their own talents and clashing personalities. The judges are baking doyenne Juliet Barnes, chef Leland Graham, and Bryan Miller, who Daisy is horrified to realize is scheduled to be the recipient of one of her magical pies. During the first day of baking, which is devoted to cookies, one judge's comments border on cruelty. Things get even worse when a contestant is found dead in an apparent accident. But the show must go on since everyone's signed nondisclosure agreements. The police investigation begins only when Bryan dies in a fall from his balcony, provoking Daisy's curiosity. When the contestants who've been cut but must stay to the end discover that the house is filled with secret passages, she finds a way to snoop, fully aware that her connection with Pies Before Guys would spell serious trouble if it were discovered even though she'd never delivered her pie to Bryan. A plethora of suspects and scrumptiously detailed descriptions of each contestant's entries will wow foodies.
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