Who doesn’t love food, the 1980’s, and a murder mystery? The Pierogi Peril was a fast paced, entertaining story which leaves the reader wanting more. I adored Lydia and Grandma Mary’s mystery solving skills and hope other do too! Now…I am off to find some pierogis of my own to eat.


Disclaimer: this is book two in a series, however, it was easy to read it with no prior context. I am also so thankful for the ARC received via Netgalley.

Geri Krotow has written several novels and series. The Pierogi Peril is Geri Krotow's second novel in the Kielbasa Queen series, the first being The Kielbasa Killer. I would definitely recommend reading The Kielbasa Killer first (before The Pierogi Peril), as I was constantly feeling like I didn't know about "the background" of the primary character Lydia and her grandmother who solved the first mystery.

I'm Polish and make many dozen pierogi for our family Christmas party each year ... fondly called Grandma's Christmas. One of my cousin's name is Lydia and being from the Great Lake State, several things drew me to The Pierogi Peril, including the restaurant overlooking Lake Erie. (There aren't that many books with Midwest settings, although extending "Midwest" to Buffalo is a stretch.) That said, murder mysteries aren't my normal genre.

Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to (yet once again ... new to me) author Geri Krotow. Thank you to Severn House Publishing for approving my NetGalley request to read The Pierogi Peril. Publication date is Jan 2, 2024.

Rounding up Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. I'm definitely going to try the pierogi recipe also provided.

Lydia and her grandma are crime solving sleuths when at Lydia's café her culinary instructor - Madame Delphine - is found dead at the back of her café. In order to keep the café open and not hurt her new business Lydia and her grandma go sleuthing to find answers to how Madame passed away.

The book was a quick easy read and entertaining, which was a good break from heavy books.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy

It was my love of Pierogi that drew me to this cosy murder mystery. The book itself is a delight and perfect for keeping me company whilst snuggled on the sofa on a dank, dismal day.

A newly opened family run Polish themed cafe on the shores of Lake Erie is thrown into turmoil when owner Lydias former French pastry tutor, Madame Delphine graces them with her presence bringing family and students along with her. Things don't get any better when her body is found on the lakeshore beneath the broken decking.

This is the second in the Kielbasa Queen Mystery series of books and whilst I enjoyed reading it, I'd think I'd definitely have benefitted from reading the first before starting this one. That said this novel
has warmth, humour and as Lydia and her irrepressibly roguish Grandma Mary put their sleuthing skills together to find the villian I found myself completely wrapped up in this lighthearted easy read

My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the review copy, I was under no obligation and all opinions expressed are my own.

(Thank you to Severn House for the ARC!) All opinions are my own.

<b> "This was the magic Lydia found in her vocation: she was creating a meal for a patron to enjoy today, but she also relished keeping family memories alive, if only in her heart." </b>

<b> "No crying, ma cherie. We are women with a passion few understand." </b>


If there's one thing to know about me, I love a good mystery. I've never delved into different subgenres of mystery, let alone Cozy Mystery. The Pierogi Peril is just that - cozy. This story mostly centers family, and it's done in an authentic way. Mistakes, mishaps, murder - and good food is what it's all about. Lydia Wienewski's dream of a Polish-American Cafe and Bakery on the shore of Lake Erie comes with challenges. She navigates owning a business, finding her way in the world, and solves a mystery all at once. There are so many moments that are real and heartfelt. The interactions between Lydia and Stanley are authentic and display real relationships in the world. The entire character of Grandma was my favorite to read about. The special relationship that Lydia and her grandmother has is one of the threads that kept me going. They/re the iconic duo I was rooting for. I enjoyed getting to learn about Lydia's Polish heritage and the culture that influenced everything she did.

At times, I wondered about the storyline and background with Madame Delphine. Was there more to learn? Was that all there was to her character? She seemed to be much more of a complex character than we got to see in the story.

If you're someone who is looking for a heartwarming and lighthearted take on a murder mystery , this is your book! It's the perfect story to grab when you need something cozy.

I loved this!!!! It was such a fun read and really enjoyable. I definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC on exchange for an honest review.