A Good Day to Pie

⭐⭐⭐

A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp is a cozy mystery novel that follows Daisy, a baker who adds a bit of murder into specific pies she bakes. She and her dog Zoe deliver these pies to people in town who deserve a little punishment. When she enters a televised baking competition with a chance to win $100k, she must continue her deadly hobby while keeping up with the show's demands. However, she discovers that one of the judges is her intended next victim and when he ends up dead before receiving his pie, Daisy must solve the murder and avoid getting caught before someone exposes her secret.

As someone who enjoyed the first book in the series, I found this second installment lacking in comparison. The unique elements that made the first book stand out were overshadowed by the generic baking competition plotline that seemed recycled from other cozy mysteries I've read recently. Additionally, many beloved characters from the previous book were absent here, leaving me feeling disconnected from the story's emotional core. That being said, I still plan on reading book three in hopes that this author gets back to what made this series so enjoyable for me initially. On a positive note, A Good Day to Pie features an eye-catching cover design and includes some bonus recipes which are always fun to try out!

ARC Via NetGalley

Tasty, feminist, fantasy mystery.  Just as with the first, I was completely sucked in as soon as I started reading. The vigilante theme surrounding abusive men pushes it out of the ‘cozy' mystery slot, but there is still so much wholesomeness and compassion to enjoy. 
I was really concerned the reality tv/cooking challenge show angle for this book in the series would have me disliking it, but it ended up being a fun element and a way to meet new characters. 
I love the candidates who are supportive of each other, and how Daisy checks in with everybody regardless of whether they've behaved well. 
 I was struck by how the author uses the protagonist POV to express appreciation for the skill and artistry involved in all kinds of different baking (not just Pie Girl's pies). 
I think the mystery and magic in this series comes secondary to the interpersonal, encompassing both drama and character development, but it has a lightness to it that stops the messaging from being heavy-handed. 
Eagerly awaiting my library's acquisition of the third in the series, out this year! 
⚠️Abuse, sexual harrassment, allusion to SA, discussion of assisted suicide