Years ago, I went through a phase of reading a few different mystery series that were very food-centric. A Holiday for Homicide from the Cook-Off Mysteries is the newest one for me to read. While I have not read other titles in this particular series, I had no issue reading the book as a standalone.

The plot was solid and the characters were enticing enough. I found the cook-off component an interesting twist and liked seeing a few recipes at the end of the book. (That's something I adored with other series I had read.)

I'm game to read other titles by Devon Delaney and tip my hat to her for drawing from her experience in the cook-off world to write these novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an advance reader copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Beyond the Page the ARC of this book. This was an honest review.

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of reality TV cooking competitions so this series is a favorite of mine. Even so, I find the author's writing robotic at times. I loved the mystery around the actual cooking competition. The intriguing messages left on napkins and Sherry's brother food truck warning about something suspicious kept me reading. I was shocked the competition actually kept going after the murder of the producer. Everyone involved in the competition seemed to be suspects. I look forward to reading more in this series.

This is a first in this series for me and it was great. There's lots of action and a non stop read. Characters are great and mostly likeable. Looking forward to more from this author.

Sherry Oliveri is a multiple-time winner of cook-offs, and enjoys creating new recipes while having fun at the same time. She's been chosen for one that takes place in her small town of Augustin. Unfortunately, though, she's not able to tell anyone, because this one is different in that it's a television program that's set to air on Labor Day, and it must be kept under wraps.

Meanwhile, she plays tennis most every morning with her friend Kat, who works for the mayor. She also discovers that Kat knows a member of the production team; which becomes a problem when that person is murdered, and Kat becomes a suspect. When both Kat and her mother ask for Sherry's help in finding a killer, she can't say no. But who wanted the person dead? Also, who's writing cryptic notes about the show on napkins? And is Sherry in any danger of being killed next?...

I have read every book in this series and I have enjoyed them all quite a bit. Ms. Delaney gives us characters that are believable, and even more so, likeable as well. I do enjoy following Sherry's life and her cook-offs, mainly because I love to cook and bake myself. (Although I have no interest in entering any contests!)

In this mystery, the notes allude to a secret that someone has which could turn the competition on its side. But who is the subject? No one seems to know, and no one seems to be the author. Sherry is suspicious of someone on the production crew, and even Kat's new boyfriend, Garrett, who is a local journalist hired to document and film it all. Tensions are running high, and barbs are being thrown, but when they go in every direction, Sherry knows she needs to focus on the three-day event if she has a chance of winning.

With accidents occurring and contestants being eliminated, Sherry hunkers down and does what she does best: focuses on what's in front of her at the time she needs to. Which means the event comes first and finding a killer is next, if she can just concentrate enough...

I do like the fact that she shares what she knows with Detective Ray Bease, who values her input and doesn't dismiss her out of hand; it lends to a personal relationship as well (platonic), where their friendship doesn't interfere in his investigations. Sherry also has a good support group, including her boyfriend Don, who doesn't try to change her or get mad at her for what she does. (Even as he worries, which is normal).

When Sherry comes to the end of the competition, it is a surprise all around, including to me. I was as stunned as she was. It was decent, and didn't go for the 'oomph' view that television seems to go for these days. When she discovers -- as we know she will -- the killer, it was a bit of a surprise, although I knew who is was a little earlier than Sherry; but we had the clues and only needed to put them together. It was both sad and needless, but you can never get into the mind of a killer (nor would I want to -- I just love reading about them; ghoulish, I know!).

All in all, this was another winner for this author, and I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

Sherry Olivera is excited that she has been chosen for a three day cooking challenge that will.be shown on national television. She has to keep that excitement under wraps because she isn't aloud to tell anyone yet. While everyone involved has been told to keep quiet someone has been posting messages that the whole town can read. When one of the production crew is found dead the messages become something the police need to take a look at. Sherry decides she needs to look into things but can't let her cooking slide because she would still like to win the challenge. Things take a turn when the host tells them something shocking. Will she find the killer and cook perfect dishes at the same time?

This was a not for me I'm afraid. I didn't realise that this was well into a series, but sometimes this can work but this one just didn't. I was lost in a morass of characters that weren't explained as well as a writing style that I found really hard going - especially the dialogue. And then when we got to the final act it was all just... a bit far fetched. Never mind, clearly it must work better for other people because it wouldn't have got to number 9 in a series if it didn't!

Sherry is excited. She has entered many cooking competitions. However, when a tv producer comes to her little town and invites her to a special tv competition, she can't say no! However, when curious notes appear on napkins distributed via her brother's food truck, the trouble begins. Sherry has worked before with the local police. They are not above asking her advice. When a tv employee turns up dead, the show must go on, but before another murder occurs. A good, fast read. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

This was a first book for me by this author. I was drawn to it by the cozy mystery setting while incorporating the baking theme. Sherry Oliveri is excited to be chosen to participate in a cooking contest. Only catch is that she is not allowed to tell anyone outside the contest. Things turn dicey when cryptic notes start showing up. When one of the production crew is found dead, will Sherry be able to find the killer in time to win the contest? I received a copy through Netgalley, A review was not required.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Holiday for Homicide is the ninth book in the Cook-Off Mystery series. In this latest installment, Sherry is once again investigating a murder. This time, the victim was involved in a cooking show that was scheduled to air soon. As Sherry participated in the show, she tries to find out who the murderer is. A Holiday for Homicide is a great entry in this series, both for readers of the series and newcomers. The mystery is interesting and well written. Ms. Delaney's writing pulls the reader into the story very quickly, and it's a challenge to put the book down, as you want to know what happens next. Great read, very enjoyable!

Sherry is chosen for a 3 day cooking challenge that will be televised. She is equal parts excited and nervous. The contestants aren't given any hints as to what will be required of them. Then there is a body and things really go sideways. She will need to combine her competition skills with her investigative abilities. This was a delightful read and I cannot wait for more.

Devon Delaney returns with the latest installment in her cozy mystery series featuring Sherry Oliveri, a successful cooking competitor. This time, a cooking competition is being filmed in Sherry’s hometown, but the NDA requires that she not say a word about anything from whether she’s competing to what happened to a missing assistant. Luckily, Sherry’s friends aren’t bound by the same restrictions. The book is well-paced and engaging. It comes with recipes as an extra bonus and is a solid addition to this series. It can be read as a standalone.

A cooking themed cosy mystery. This is the first book I have read by this author and in this series. It seems a well plotted mystery and the cooking competition was a fun and entertaining idea that was new to me. It was a tiny bit heavy on the cooking theme for me but that might just be me as it's not my thing. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Holiday for Homicide is book #9 in the Cook-Off Mystery series by Devon Delaney.

I’m a fan of cooking shows which drew me to this series. This was an entertaining addition to the series. I like the characters and have enjoyed catching up with them again. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing in the murder mystery and I enjoyed the competition. There are recipes at the end which is an added bonus.

Thank you to the author, Beyond the Page Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

When Sherry Oliveri finds herself in a cook off in her hometown, she certainly didn’t expect a murder investigation to be included. Member of the crew that found murdered, and cryptic clues are being given out at her brother’s food truck, all Sherry can do is follow the clues, along with the rest of the town.

With a competition heating up and the clues piling up, can Sherry solve the case before a second side of murder is plated?

This is long been a great series. Every single entry is chock full of red herrings, and clues to keep you guessing to the end, where you will find delicious recipes direct from the book. If you haven’t read an entry in this series yet, no worries. Every entry reads fine as a standalone. Even with some carryover on the main characters lives, you’ll easily pick it up and have clarification. So go ahead and start with this book, but I promise you you’re gonna wanna read them all!

This series is always a hit/miss to me and I enjoyed this one. A well plotted and solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

rug-hooking, family, family-business, family-dynamics, recipes, cookoff, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, friendship, friends, cooking, siblings, missing-persons, threats, disappearance, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, small-business, small-town, investigations, murder, TV/film-industry****

Sherry Oliveri is a seasoned (pun intended) cooking competition celebrity who has an equally successful history of solving murders that happen in her vicinity. This time the contest is coming to her town and the tension is there because of an NDA at the same time that there are sneaky clues printed on napkins left at her brother's food truck. Then two young women disappear and one of them is found murdered and the investigation begins. Good absorbing read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you
#CookOffMysteriesBk9

I enjoyed this fun, fresh cozy with a culinary theme! I love foodie books, but I especially love food competition themes as I am a huge fan of those shows. This one did not disappoint!

Sherry is a seasoned cook-off competitor with a talent for investigating murders. She lives in a small town with a close circle of family and friends. The author creates several mysteries within the story beyond the murder, from an anonymous gossip napkin publisher to the cooking show itself. The cooking show was designed to surprise the contestants and, therefore, the reader as well, which I thought was fun.

Personally, I enjoyed the cooking theme more than the mystery, but I chalk that up to the author’s creative and delicious food descriptions. I wanted to eat everything, especially that burger!!

I recommend this for cozy culinary fans who would enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek into competition food TV.

Thank you NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for sending this DRC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A HOLIDAY FOR HOMICIDE (Book 8 of the Cook-Off Mystery series) by Devon Delaney in exchange for an honest review. Sherry Oliveri is excited to participate in a new cooking competition reality show called, “Relish.” Despite Sherry’s experience in other cooking competitions, this three-day cooking challenge is something entirely different. When one of the crew is murdered, Sherry is in a unique position to help the homicide detectives figure out what happened.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book and the series to fans of food and competition themed cozy murder mysteries.

#AHolidayforHomicide #NetGalley

This is a fun, entertaining read. I enjoyed the mystery and how it played out. Sherry and all the side characters are fun to spend time with. I loved the small town feel and the cooking show competition and how it played out – unique take. The story is easy to read and get into.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.