GREAT READS

Pies and Prejudice

Ellery Adams.

When I'm looking for a relaxing read, I love cozy mysteries. My ideal day ends with a hot cup of tea and one of these delightful reads. Nevertheless, it's a challenge to find cozies that bring something new to the genre and I'm always on the look-out for new, light mysteries that are well written, with dynamic characters and locations that I can really sink into.

"Pies and Prejudice" is just that kind of read. Southern born Ella Mae LaFaye is a talented baker ready to graduate from a prestigious cooking school, living in New York with a handsome husband. Her life is vibrant and cosmopolitan, but quickly falls apart when she discovers her husband is having an affair. In shock and unsure what to do, Ella Mae seeks refuge with her family in her tiny Georgian hometown.

All of this may sound like countless other cozy tales, but here's the twist: Ella Mae's family is an all-female, eccentric and rowdy bunch. In fact, they are downright secretive and perhaps even... slightly supernatural. Nevertheless, they do their best to support Ella Mae in her crisis, encouraging her to stay and open her own little bakery in town.

Like in any cozy plot, a murder rocks the town and our heroine must figure out who-dun-it. But as she sleuths, Ella Mae begins to discover that her baked goods don't just taste magical, they are magical. People adore her culinary creations, but she must be careful as customers start to exhibit strange side-effects from devouring her delicious treats.

This is a fun and interesting read that adds a new element to the often cliché cozy narrative. For those who enjoy a splash of romance, this book has that, too. Readers who enjoy chick lit and culinary mysteries will love it!

Recommended by Erica Jesonis