Book Review: Stirring The Plot

Author: Daryl Wood Gerber

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

Publisher: Berkley

Series: Cookbook Nook Mystery # 3

Halloween in Crystal Cove, California, is a big deal, involving a spooky soiree where the Winsome Witches, a fund-raising group, gather to open up their purse strings and trade superstitions. But party magicians, fortune-tellers, and herbalists are only the beginning of this recipe for disaster…

Jenna Hart has packed The Cookbook Nook chock-full of everything from ghostly texts to witchy potions in anticipation of the annual fund-raiser luncheon. But there’s one unexpected addition to the menu: murder.

When the Head Priestess of the Winsome Witches is found dead under mysterious circumstances, there’s no logical answer and plenty of blame to go around. With her aunt, Vera, unable to call on her ability to foresee the future, Jenna will have to use more than just sleight of hand and a few magic tricks to conjure up the truth…

“Superstitions aren’t conjured out of thin air. Centuries of folklore create them. Do you remember back in the eighth grade how we used to dash past the cemetery holding our breath?”

The Crystal Cove Inn, one of the original establishments in town, was a charming bed-and-breakfast made of stone and wood. The grounds reminded me of an estate right out of a Jane Austen novel.

Whatever the reason, I was sufficiently shaken and stirred.

While the tavern’s colorful told us the history of the place, we dined on Halloween spiced popcorn, mini ghost cupcakes decorated with white icing and black licorice eyes, and Black Cat brew, which was a lusty mix of root beer laced with cinnamon.

Yet another Halloween read for me this month; I am doing great so far. Stirring The Plot is the second book in the Cookbook Nook mystery series. The spirit of Halloween is in the air at the Cookbook Nook. Katie is preparing some new, festive recipes as well as preparing for the Winsome Witches’, not real witches I might add, annual fundraiser. The Winsome Witches get together to induct a new member, Emma, right before the fundraiser and not long after Katie receives a call that their head priestess, Maya, has been found dead in her backyard. Jenna, our lead sleuth, is soon hot on the trail of this murder investigation. This story is full of Halloween spirit and is sure to entice readers of all ages.

I like to take notes while I read mystery books and with this particular story I thought I had it figured out so many times just to be proven wrong again. I was so wrapped up in the story both because of the cozy feeling it gave me because Halloween is right around the corner and because of the fun, fast-paced mystery that kept me guessing. By the time I had finished reading, even though I had been proved wrong multiple times, everything came together like a puzzle and made perfect sense. Give yourself a little treat this Halloween and pick up this holiday themed cozy mystery!