Misha Popp

*I received and advance copy for free, and I am leaving this honest and unbiased review voluntarily*

Hello Fellow Readers,

I've read a couple of books where baking and magic goes hand and hand but there is not a lot where the protagonist is using their magic for murder. Now, I am against murder (of course) but I am 100% rooting for Daisy. Does that make me a bad person? Maybe, but it does make for a very interesting story. Daisy is hard not to like, a little bit sweet, and a lot dark. I did get a little bit of Dexter vibes.

Or course, Daisy doesn't kill who she doesn't think deserves it, she very specific on who her victims are, but she does walk a very thin, fine line between hero and villain. The mystery aspect of the book was okay, although I guessed correctly on who the blackmailer was. The romance aspect was also pretty good, I kept waiting for Noel to make a sort of personality shift but was glad he remained on the up and up.

Overall, a unique start to a magic, mystery series.… (meer)

baker, contest, amateur-sleuth, series, witty, murder, murder-investigation, television, punny, culinary, magical-twist, friction, friendship, abusive-spouse, extortion, threats, law-enforcement,****

I think I missed out by not having read the first in series, but it's still a very good read.
This is the second in Misha Popp's Pies Before Guys Mystery Series and I hope it goes on for many more. Daisy has an interesting sideline with her pies and is planning to pursue that on the way home from a TV baking contest, but there is a big surprise happens when the target of her "special" pie gets murdered during the contest. Let the sleuthing begin!
The audio is narrated by chirpy experienced voice actor Tanya Eby.
I requested and received a free temporary audio copy from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley. Thank you!… (meer)

Daisy Ellery is a special pie maker. She imbues her pies with magic. Daisy can make a person feel courageous, she can make them tell the truth, or she can kill. She has rules in place regarding her deadly pies. The main rule is that they are only for men who have done terrible deeds. Daisy does not kill women with her pies. It seems that someone is on to her secret, and they intend to blackmail her. The blackmailer wants Daisy to deliver a special pie to three different women in exchange for his silence. Daisy needs to find out who is behind the blackmail and stop them before they share her secret. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies by Misha Popp is the debut of A Pies Before Guys Mysteries. I thought the story had an interesting premise (I have a weakness for paranormal cozy mysteries). I was looking forward to reading a fun cozy mystery (based on the blurb). Not long after I began reading, I was disabused of that notion. Daisy is basically a gun for hire. She may not get paid, but she does kill. It is hard to like a character who manages to justify her misdeeds. I felt there should be another way for her to use her gift. Daisy said her magic was different from her ancestors, but she is not sure why it is different. I kept hoping this would be addressed (maybe in future books). I did love the descriptions of Daisy’s dresses made for her by her grandmother. I was shocked at the significant amount of foul language in this book (I find it offensive and off-putting). I like to read cozy mysteries because they do not contain that type of language. I liked Daisy’s dog, Zoe. She is a friendly dog with a sweet temperament. I also liked Daisy’s pink retro trailer, Penny. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies does not have the fun cozy adventure that I was hoping for from the blurb. It is a dark story. The story touches upon some serious subjects (domestic violence, addiction, rape). There is no mystery to solve much to my disappointment. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies reads more like a romantic suspense novel than a cozy mystery. There is also a pie competition and romance with a man trying to save a family orchard. The story was missing the cozy elements and the lightheartedness. As you can tell, I did not enjoy reading Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies. While Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies was not for me, I suggest you try a sample to judge for yourself. Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies is a dark magical tale with a cute canine, a retro trailer, pie happy people, an outgoing orchard owner, a persuasive speaker, a bullying blackmailer, a pie competition, and a supernatural pie maker.… (meer)