A Slice of Murder

Chris Cavender introduces a new mystery series with
A Slice of Murder, and it's a saucy debut. The two main characters are fun together; there's a vast selection of possible villains, and it's a small town cozy mystery. It has all the ingredients needed for an enjoyable treat.

Eleanor Swift is a widow who owns a pizzeria in a small town, Timber Ridge, North Carolina. With the help of her sister, Maddy, she makes pizza, buses tables, and, when her staff fails to show up, even delivers pizza. Unfortunately, it was a pizza delivery that put her in hot water. One night, she took a pizza to a house where she found a body. She immediately called 911, but, since she had publicly slapped the victim, the chief of police, Kevin Hurley, thought she show more was the perfect suspect. It didn't help that she had dated Hurley in high school. In fact, it came as an added insult when he told his son he couldn't continue to work at the pizzeria.

When Eleanor feels her restaurant is threatened, she falls in with Maddy's scheme to investigate the murder. Maddy, who devours mysteries, feels they know enough of the gossip and people in Timber Ridge to find the killer. It's a small town, with a number of people who had reason to kill the victim, from the mayor and his wife, to the victim's neighbor and sister. So, which of those suspects is shooting at Eleanor?

A Slice of Murder is a promising start to a new mystery series. Eleanor and Maddy are mature characters, sisters who are supportive of each other, which is a welcome departure from many mysteries. Eleanor has some problems getting close to people. "Since my widowhood, I'd become fiercely independent, almost too proud or stubborn to take help from anyone else." But, Maddy keeps her grounded. Although Maddy has been married four or five times, she's the one with a sense of humor, the one who insists on calling the police for help.

A Slice of Murder might be the first book written under Chris Cavender's name. But, the name is a pseudonym for author Tim Myers, who has written other successful cozy mysteries under his own name, as well as the names of Elizabeth Bright and Melissa Glazer. This book might be just a slice of Myers' mystery background, but his writing style is now well-seasoned. A Slice of Murder is a savory treat for cozy mystery lovers, and we'll be waiting for seconds. "More, please," Chris Cavender. show less

Please note that I gave this 3.5 stars and rounded it up to 4 stars on Goodreads.

I have to say that I really do enjoy a good cozy mystery. I started reading these type of books when I was in college and even though they may not have been the most sophisticated mysteries out there, they have enough mystery and romantic elements that can appeal to a wider audience. I decided to read the first book in the "Pizza Lovers" mystery after my library recommended it to me. Fair warning though potential readers, do not read this book on an empty stomach. I craved pizza and red wine the entire time I was reading this book.

Taking place in Timber Ridge, North Carolina, "A Slice of Pizza" follows Eleanor Swift who finds a dead man after delivering show more pizza to his home. We find out a quick backstory to Eleanor (and I do mean quick) that she is now running her pizza parlor with her sister after her husband died (I think possibly a year or so earlier than the events in the book). Eleanor usually does not do deliveries, but after her pizza delivery boy calls off sick, she thinks nothing of running one by. Due to an altercation between Eleanor and the deceased she finds herself on the top of the suspect list. Due to a past with the local police chief, their animosity is also causing him to believe that Eleanor could be behind the murder.

I honestly found Eleanor a little meh for the most part. I absolutely adored her mystery loving sister Maddie though. Any fictional character that loves Agatha Christie is alright by me! And that is what through me for the most part. Eleanor is reluctant to investigate but then does once she realizes she stands a real chance of being arrested. However, it is really Maddie's insights and leg work that keep the story moving. I was not a fan of a lot of things happening off screen that we didn't get to see as readers. There was a lot of Maddie calling Eleanor to tell her what is occurring or the two of them briefing each other while making pizza in the kitchen at the pizza parlor.

The other characters needed a bit more development though in my opinion. The police chief was a jerk pretty much through the whole book. The backstory to his and Eleanor's relationship was a non-starter. Thank goodness the author does not seem to be throwing them together in a love triangle. I will say though that it's a bit much that a lot of men in this town seemed to have romantic designs on Eleanor (or at least it seemed that way to me). She finally deigns to go out on a date with someone and that whole thing stopped the momentum of the book for me. Eleanor spends a lot of time talking about how perfect her husband was though Maddie definitely seems like she has some things to say about it.

I found the writing good and honestly the descriptions of how Eleanor made her dough, created her pizzas and sandwiches, etc. sounded delicious. I was not kidding about do not read this if you are hungry. I maybe made myself a nice Italian hoagie with pepperoni, cheese, jalapeno peppers, and ham. Maybe (I totally did).

As I said though, the flow was off here and there and the mystery does drag a bit.

I did not guess the guilty party, and honestly the reasoning behind the murder was a bit of a letdown. I thought the ending could have been a little cleaner. Not a total home-run, but I could see myself reading the next book in the series. show less

I'm really surprised how much I enjoyed this mystery. Sometimes just the right story with just the right characters, with just the right setting and just the right balance of humor and drama makes for a really great read.

When a writer uses realistic situations and reactions, the reader can feel a better connection with the setting/characters. As a first in a series, that is important. I now will gladly read the rest of the series without fearing that unbelievable antics will ruin the book.

A very cute, fun story. I love the play between the two sisters.

Eleanor and her husband opened a pizzeria in their small town. When Joe died, Eleanor was determined to make the business successful. With the help of her sister, the business is doing fine. When someone murders the local Don Juan, the local police chief (and Eleanor's former boyfriend) thinks she did it. Mow Eleanor and her sister are out to find the real killer.

This is a very cute and fun story. I love the play between the two sisters. Their hum or is fun and refreshing.

Eleanor and her husband started a pizzeria in their small town. When Joe died, Eleanor was determined to make a go of the business, with the help of her sister, Maddy. Then someone murders the local Don Juan and the police Chief (Eleanore's former boyfriend) thinks Eleanor is guilty. Now Eleanor and Maddy are out to find the real killer.

This is a first book in a series but not the first book by this author. Written under a pen name this story demonstrates the outstanding abilities that Tim Myers has for writing "cozy" mysteries.

Eleanor Swift owns a pizzeria called A Slice of Delight, she has mostly students working for her but her sister works there too and between them they keep the place going after the death of Eleanor's husband more than two years ago.

When Eleanor goes out on a delivery and finds the customer dead, she becomes the lead suspect in a complicated murder case. It gets more complicated with an old boyfriend being police chief, his son working for her and an odd sister of the victim showing up. Blackmail, adultery, and suspicion run rampant in this show more one!

I'm looking forward to more by Mr. Myers, no matter what name he decides to write under, and there are several. show less

Eleanor Swift is working with her sister to keep the pizzeria open and so when she's out making a delivery and finds a dead body, she becomes a suspect.

An interesting group of characters and background and good mystery with attention-grabbing clues.