Murder on the Page (Literary Dining Mystery 1), by Daryl Wood Gerber

 🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

I have really been enjoying Daryl Wood Gerber's Fairy Garden Mystery series from the beginning, so I was delighted to find out she was writing a new series. I happily accepted an ARC of Murder on the Page (Literary Dining Mystery 1). This series has two hooks. One is classic books and the other is a culinary theme. I'm pleased to say, this first installment is a recipe for success. 

The series is set in a mountain community in Asheville, North Carolina. In Murder on the Page, we are introduced to caterer and personal chef, Allie Catt. (Honestly, I was already hooked with such a clever name.) Allie Catt has a cat named Darcy, who adds to the coziness and charm of this first in series. Allie caters themed events based on classic books, the first one being Pride and Prejudice. When a relative of Tegan, one of Allie's clients and best friends, is murdered and Tegan becomes the prime suspect, Allie sets out to prove her friend's innocence.

I really enjoyed Murder on the Page. I was immediately drawn to Allie and all of the other main characters. They certainly have distinct personalities, but together they created a warmth I felt throughout the book. It can be difficult for me to remember characters, especially with a first in series. The list of characters at the beginning of the book was a great help to me. For the most part, I was able to keep track of them in my mind, but there were times when I referred back to the list. I always appreciate when authors provide a list of characters.

Being a first in series, I was not sure who would remain main characters in future installments, which made it more challenging to figure out who the culprit was. I thought I had it figured out early in the book (which was really just a hunch), but when I had just a few chapters left to read, I realized I was wrong and I figured out who the real killer was not long before Allie did. It was a well-crafted mystery with lots of twists and turns. 

With any first in series, there's always the challenge of keeping the story moving while also introducing us to the characters. In Murder on the Page, I never felt like the introduction of the characters interfered with the flow of the story. We get to know them while the main plot keeps moving at a comfortable pace.

With the book theme for Murder on the Page being Pride and Prejudice, there are quotes from Jane Austen's classic at the beginning of each chapter. I also really enjoyed the references to the classic book, especially when characters in this book are compared to those in Pride and Prejudice. It gave me a clearer picture of who they are. That being said, you don't have to have read Pride and Prejudice to enjoy Murder on the Page. This book can still easily be enjoyed with no prior knowledge of Jane Austen's classic. However, it may just make you want to pick up Pride and Prejudice.

For fans of culinary cozies, you will enjoy the many references to food throughout the book, as well as the delicious-sounding recipes at the end. If you eat gluten-free, no worries!  There are gluten-free versions of the recipes too,

I can't wait to read more books in this series when they are published. I'm looking forward to spending more time with the main characters and I'm excited to see which classics are highlighted in future installments. This is the kind of series that will likely add to my to-be-read list. In the meantime, I highly recommend reading Murder on the Page, by Daryl Wood Gerber. It released today, October 22nd.

Thank you to Daryl Wood Gerber for providing me with an ARC of Murder on the Page in exchange for an honest review.