Murder Is No Picnic (Cape Cod Foodie Mystery, #3) by Amy Pershing

Murder Is No Picnic (Cape Cod Foodie Mystery, #3) Reviews

• 
  K.A. Davis

  MURDER IS NO PICNIC, the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series by Amy Pershing, is a delicious read with fun, engaging characters! I’m always excited when I start a book and discover it has a holiday theme. In this newest release, the 4th of July is just around the corner and protagonist Samantha (Sam) Barnes is ready to delve into finding the perfect food to celebrate. As a Cape Cod food reporter, i.e. the Cape Cod Foodie, I greatly enjoyed how the author weaves Sam’s hunt for the very best blueberry buckle in the world with the murder of the woman who makes it. Except, authorities are calling it a tragic accident, but Sam is pretty certain there was foul play involved. As the pot is stirred to find suspects and the plot thickens as secrets are revealed, the police pounce on Sam’s boyfriend’s cousin. In an effort to prove his innocence, Sam steps up her investigation with the help of her close friends. Ms. Pershing writes a well-paced mystery and for those with sharp instincts, the clues will help you suss out the killer… or at least make you suspicious. I also loved how Sam and Detective Vivian Peters—Vivvie to her friends—have developed more of a friendship, as they bond over Sam giving the detective sailing lessons… which just might come in handy in the investigation.
  
  In cozy mysteries, the mystery goes hand-in-hand with both characters and the setting, and Ms. Pershing has those in spades! With witty dialog and humor to lighten the scenes, Sam and her friends have great chemistry. Their get-togethers to talk over clues and suspects always include plenty of mouthwatering food. And, as in previous books, her adorable, goofy dog, Dioge, steals each and every scene. And who can resist the charm of Cape Cod? From the beaches, to the open water, to the dunes, to the weathered houses, the strong descriptions make it all come to life, making me want to visit, and since that’s not possible at the moment, makes me yearn for the next book in the series!
  
  As the Cape Cod Foodie, Sam’s life revolves around food, all for the betterment of readers. Be prepared to be hungry as you read! Thankfully, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to try. And, of course, there’s a recipe for Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle, which lives up to its name! I wasn’t familiar with “Buckle” but according to Ms. Pershing, the term comes from the way the streusel topping buckles when you cook it. My taste testers loved the thick, crunchy streusel topping, which enhances the sweet vanilla cake studded with fresh blueberries. With a dollop of freshly whipped cream, this really is darn fine!
  
  I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
• 
  LORI CASWELL

  Dollycas’s Thoughts
  
  Foodie Samantha Barnes has big plans for the 4th of July. A clambake on the beach outside the home she inherited from her Aunt Ida. She just needs the perfect dessert to serve and she finds it while out for dinner at the legendary Clara’s Place. The “Best Blueberry Buckle in the World!” and the famous cookbook author Clara Foster has agreed to give a buckle baking lesson. Sam is thrilled especially when she learns the recipe’s secret ingredient.
  
  Sam is shocked when she learns Clara has died when her house caught fire shortly after she left. She is even more appalled when the fire is blamed on Clara’s carelessness. Sam saw the way Clara worked in her well-designed kitchen. There is no way Clara caused that fire. Thankfully Sam’s doubts get the police to open an investigation but they are focused on her boyfriend Jason’s cousin who just happens to be the new owner of Clara’s Place as their prime suspect.
  
  So while Sam is firming up plans for her clambake she needs to come up with the perfect recipe to find Clara’s killer. She knows her friends are going to help her even though Detective Vivian Peters may not like it.
  
  I have to start with the setting for this series. Every time I open a Cape Cod Foodie Mystery I am excited to arrive at Aunt Ida’s, now Sam’s home with the spectacular views. Ida had added a little ell to the house when she could no longer keep up with the huge place. That ell is the perfect place for Sam and her dog Dioge (D-O-G) and Jason’s visiting cat as she and Jason work to renovate the big house as time and money allow. Ms. Pershing describes everything so well readers can take a literary vacay to the Cape.
  
  She has also created a wonderful cast of characters. A group of long-time friends that come together so naturally for fun and sleuthing all while usually devouring something that made my mouth water. Their dialogues are fresh and true to life including the inner dialogues of Sam as she tries to solve the mystery. This time Jillian took the lead but everyone stepped up to do whatever they could to catch the killer. What I really enjoyed was that the tricky relationship between Sam and Detective Vivian Peters, Vivvie to her friends, is starting to blossom into a real friendship. Vivien took time to listen to Sam’s theories and her “evidence” no matter how crazy they were. Again that big scene-stealer Dioge stole my heart. I do wish Jason hadn’t been out of town for most of the story but it added a little romantic drama to the story.
  
  The author has blended a terrific mystery with the characters’ everyday lives that draws readers right into the story. She dishes up some well-placed twists and some nice red herrings that sure kept me guessing. My attention was glued to the pages as the killer was taken down and a favorite character was rescued. I was surprised by the way the capture played out but quickly realized it was a very satisfying way to wrap up the case. What happened after that was so nice. When I turned the final page I had a great big smile on my face.
  
  I am so glad one of the recipes included in the book is for the Darn Fine Blueberry Buckle. People of my generation may remember feeding their infants Gerber’s, Blueberry Buckle. I am not a blueberry fan but when my husband would feed the kids it was 1 spoonful for him then one spoonful for the child until the jar was empty. I think he is going to enjoy this adult version a lot.
  
  Murder Is No Picnic was a grand read with characters I love to visit, delectable food, and a fun mystery to solve. This is a perfect book for the upcoming holiday when you need to escape the heat of the day or come up with a dish for your own family picnic.
  
  I can’t wait for the next installment of this entertaining cozy culinary mystery series!
• 
  François Thurston

  AMY PERSHING HAS CLEARLY HIT HER STRIDE IN WHAT IS THE BEST BOOK IN THE ENTIRE SERIES!
  
  I have no problems at all admitting that I was rather nervous going into this book.
  
  While, I thought that book number one was OK. Book number two really did let me down. However, from the moment I began this book and all the way through to its conclusion, I had no cause for concern.
  
  There are some definite differences between book 2, and book 3 that came about definitely for the positive.
  
  The first I'd like to mention is the minimalistic amount of characters. In the second book I found it really hard to keep up with who was who and when the murderer was revealed I honestly didn't remember who that person was. In this book I knew who the murderer was right away (once they had been revealed) and that is a massive win.
  I think one of the toughest obstacles when writing a book under a genre that is known for having shorter books is having the exact right amount of characters. Have too few and readers may feel that there's not enough characters to explore a deep enough plot. Have too many and as I've said, it's hard to remember who everyone is. But in this book, Amy Pershing definitely hit the nail on the head.
  
  I truly enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between Samantha and Vivian especially. Considering how things were for the majority of book number two and the beginning of book #3, I Love how their arc came to the conclusion that it did.
  Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention DOG. Yes, pronounced ‘dee-oh-gee’. This delightful dog has kept me captivated from book one all the way through to the end of book 3. While I am more of a cat person myself, I cannot deny that Amy Pershing found a way to take a dog as an animal and still make the book feel cosy. (Mad Props!)
  
  Overall, this book had a much more cosy feel compared to mystery feel and I definitely appreciated that.
  A great example of this being that the murder is wrapped up 9 chapters before the end of the book. While I don't know if this was intentional because Amy pushing needed to wrap up the series or not, it allowed for a nice big bow to be wrapped up with the series.
  
  I'll admit I'm a little sad if this is the final book in the series, because as I said earlier, I do feel that Amy Pershing really hit her stride with this third book. The love and warmth that I felt from this book and experienced with the book, including with Samantha's cooking and food titbits, was just really beautiful to experience.
  
  A friend once told me “If you don't like the first book in the cosy mystery series, at least give book two ago to see if it has improved.” I actually enjoyed book 1, giving it four stars on the whole. So it wasn't so much about whether or not to continue on with book 2. However, I'll be honest, book 2 really did let me down and so I struggled with whether or not I wanted to pick up book 3.
  
  Fortunately, I have a SAS List (Standing for "serious about series") and this series was on that list to be completed by the end of 2022. I believe this is what gave me the final push to pick up book three in the first place.
  
  I am so so SO glad I did.
  
  Amy Pershing, If this is truly to be the end of our journey with the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series, thank you very much for writing an amazing final book!
  
  Trust me, If you are considering whether or not to pick up book three, I highly recommend that you do. Not only are there amazing character arcs and a pretty decent mystery, but Amy Pershing also takes the time to make sure to wrap up everything in the series.
  
  I am somewhat a little saddened to have to now leave the series behind if there is not going to be a book #4. But I can truly say that on the whole, I have absolutely enjoyed my time with this series and that Amy Pershing is an author that I'm definitely going to consider reading more of in the future.
  
  4.5 Stars from me!
  Xoxo.
  
• 
  Ileana Renfroe

  I just finished reading Murder is No Picnic, book 3 in A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery Series.
  
  This cozy mystery was so good I devoured it in one sitting.
  
  In this story, we find celebrity and famed cookbook author, and retired restaurateur, dead. So, Sam decides to find out for herself what really happened to Clara Foster. She couldn't believe someone like Sam would be that careless to let a fire get out of control and kill her, especially if she can't believe it herself.
  
  A great story with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. until the very end. Can't wait for book 4.
• 
  Kristina Anderson

  Samantha Barnes, the Cape Cod Foodie, eats the best blueberry buckle she has ever experienced. She learns it is the recipe of renowned chef, Clara Foster. Clara agrees to a video shoot with Samantha where they will make the blueberry buckle. Samantha loves Clara’s beachside home with its original artwork and a wonderful cookbook collection. The next morning, Samantha learns that there was a fire at Clara’s house and the chef is dead. At first blush, it looks like the fire was an accident. When Samantha looks at the scene with Detective Vivian Peters, she notices a couple of clues that indicate foul play. Samantha with the help of her friends sets out to sift through the clues and question suspects. Samantha will need to be careful, or she could get burned. Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of Cape Cod. The food depictions will have your mouth watering. I just loved hearing about Clara’s wonderful cookbook collection. It contained one-a-kind cookbooks that collectors would kill to own. The mystery was interesting. There were some good clues at the scene, and it was interesting how the crime was set up. A foodie was definitely needed to discern the crime scene. There are a handful of suspects along with a red herring. There are clues to help readers identify the guilty party before the unique reveal. I like that we get all of our questions answered regarding the crime. Samantha, though, does need to work on her questioning technique. She lacks subtlety. I was surprised when the mystery was solved with about twenty percent of the book still to go. There was one item about this whodunit that was left up in the air. I wonder if it will be revisited in future books. I like the inclusion of the cat and dog in the story. I just love Diogi. He is such a sweetie. Samantha’s relationship with Jason is suffering while he is away in Santa Barbara. Sam worried about Jason and his feelings frequently while he was away. If Jason misses a call, Samantha worries that he is breaking up with her (or no longer cares about her). I wish there had been less focus on the romance and more on the mystery. I did feel that Samantha was a little “Sam” centric this time around. She was focused on her life, romance, house, etc. (and we get to hear all of her thoughts). I had to laugh at Samantha’s reaction to the news about the clock found in her attic. The whole world gets to enjoy her response since it was filmed for Antiques in the Attic. We are left with a cliffhanger at the end. I thought the question could easily have been solved before the end of the book. We will have to wait until next time to find out what happens. There are recipes at the end of the book for a summer picnic including one for a delectable blueberry buckle. Murder is No Picnic is a fun summer cozy mystery with blueberry buckle, a killer cookbook collection, an amazing art collection, a demanding dognapper, a beautiful boat, a curious crime, a Cape Cod clam bake, and fun Fourth of July festivities.
• 
  Barb

  3.5 stars, rounded up
  
  As the 4th of July approaches, Sam has decided to do a clambake for her holiday picnic, to be topped off with the best blueberry buckle she can find. When famed local chef Clara offers to give Sam not only her recipe but a lesson in preparing it, Sam is more than excited. When Clara dies in a house fire soon after and the authorities decide it was caused by carelessness in the kitchen, Sam refuses to believe that verdict and initiates her own investigation.
  
  This is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first two. I've never been to Cape Cod, but the descriptions in these books make me want to do so – and soon. Sam, her friends and family seem like people I would love to enjoy a clambake with, and I am enjoying watching their relationships develop as the series progresses.
  
  The mystery in this book was a good one, with several suspects for the police (and Sam) to consider, all with variations of the same motive. The person I had at the top of my list of suspects turned out to be correct, and the motive wasn't all that surprising, but I still look forward to reading the next book in the series.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
  
• 
  L.M.

  Samantha Barnes is looking forward to the 4th of July. She knows she wants to see the local parade and have her friends over for a clambake but what she really needs is the perfect dessert to finish off the perfect day. At Clara's Place, a local restaurant, she finds the world's best Blueberry Buckle and Clara herself offers to show her how to make it. Even better? She'll make it on camera for another Cape Cod Foodie video!
  
  Unfortunately, though the video shoot goes great, by the next morning the star chef is dead. The police think her death was an accident caused by a combination of forgetfulness and sleeping pills. Samantha knows better but her insistence that Clara's death was no accident backfires and the one person she didn't want taking the fall ends up behind bars.
  
  I absolutely loved the first book in this series. The second one dragged a bit with page-long paragraphs covering things of no consequence to the story. This book also had a lot of long, draggy paragraphs but I also noticed other things that didn't work for me. Sam talks to herself all the time, calling herself by name. Sam thinks, for no apparent reason, that her relationship with Jason is on the rocks. Sure, he's halfway across the country and it's hard for them to coordinate time to talk, but Sam assumes they're about to break up every time he misses a call. The story was very natural, the investigation was good, I just didn't appreciate that Sam has started to seem very self-centered and a lot less mature.
  
  This book also did something that is a pet peeve of mine. The mystery was solved about 3/4 of the way through the book... and then the book kept going. For no reason. Nothing happens in the last 1/4 or so of the book. Sam goes to the store and buys lots of butter. Sam goes to a parade. They dig a pit for the clambake (that takes a week and we see it all). The whole time I'm thinking "maybe that person wasn't really the killer, maybe something else is going to happen." Nope. Nothing happens. At all. And, despite all the extra stuff at the end the book still ends with a cliffhanger. The one question that could for sure have been answered in all those many extra pages is left unanswered at the end.
  
  I think this author has potential and I will continue to read books by her but I think I'm done with the particular series. There are things I like about the series but as an artist acquaintance of mine says every artist needs someone who's a true friend to look at their work and tell them the truth about it so they don't put something out there that's not as good as they could make it. I think that true friend is the only thing Pershing needs.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
• 
  Tari

  Summer at Cape Cod sounds really awesome, and the author's descriptions of the scenery and food almost make me feel like I'm right there with Sam and her friends. I loved how Jillian organized a sleuthing team and everyone did a little something toward figuring out why their local famous chef was killed in a fire when she clearly wouldn't have been so careless with her stove and food.
  
  Diogi continues to crack me up in this series! What a sweet, goofy dog who wuvs Helene and boat rides. I always giggle when I see what he wuvs, so funny! It was weird with Jason being on a job out in California although he did pop back home a few times. I could tell Sam missed him like crazy. I thought it was kinda cool that Vivvie the detective was treating Sam more like a peer now and not being snarky. Seems the good detective was a natural at sailing and loved taking lessons from Sam. It definitely came in handy for apprehending a killer!
  
  I liked that the showdown wasn't necessarily life-threatening this time, although what happened right before was pretty exciting. The festive Fourth of July clambake and ending was the perfect thing to top off the mystery as families and friends gathered to have some fun. Jason and Sam just enjoyed the time together.
  
  I'm so eager now to read the next book, but I don't think I better spill why, lol. You'll know when you read it, but I was just happy that Jason and Samantha at the end felt like they were comfortable in their relationship. Sam's grown quite a bit from the very first book and she's actually starting to behave more like an adult...but still have fun! ;)
  
  I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book releases June 7, 2022.
• 
  Deanne Patterson

  The July Fourth holiday is the perfect time for blueberry buckle,picnics and fireworks but is it also the perfect time for murder?
  As the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series we find Samantha entering a blueberry buckle competition. This food critic is working with a celebrity chef of the best caliber to get the tips and tricks needed to win this competition.
  When the chef is found dead from a suspicious house fire Samantha is on the case and we run through all the clues as she tries to prove it's murder.
  An appealing foodie cozy mystery it will keep readers entertained and guessing right to the end.
  
  
  Publish date 07 Jun 2022
  I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
  All opinions expressed are my own.
  
  
• 
  Kim

  Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries, and a cozy mystery series that I highly recommend.
  
  Pershing writes wonderfully descriptive passages about Cape Cod, the town, and the food. So much so, that I always feel like I’m actually there. While many fans come back to a cozy series because the characters have come to feel like friends (and those in this series do too), I keep coming back because I am blown away by the details Pershing includes in every book. Even with things that I would not normally find too interesting (like how to sail a boat), Pershing is able to make it enjoyable.
  
  And Pershing’s characters are another layer that adds to the stories. They are so well written and developed, even from book one, A Side of Murder. There are so many fantastic characters but I think Sam's next door neighbor, Helene, who is a librarian with a rich past, might be my favorite. And Diogi, Sam’s loyal and sassy canine friend, of course.
  
  Another thing that I really enjoy about Pershing’s series is that while the main character and friends do go over the suspect list a time or three, it’s not too overdone like in other cozies I have read. I have stopped reading series because there was just so much fluff aka going over the murder board, that I got bored and decided not to go back.
  
  So if you are looking for a near perfect cozy mystery series, you need to check out the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries!
• 
  Katreader

  MURDER IS NO PICNIC by Amy Pershing
  The Third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery
  
  A birthday celebration at famed restaurant Clara's Place leads Cape Cod Foodie Samantha Barnes to, not only gustatory delights, but an introduction to famed chef Clara Foster. Awe leads to delight when the retired culinary icon invites Sam and Jenny to her home to film an episode of the Cape Cod Foodie. After a delightful day making the best blueberry buckle ever Sam is stunned to learn that a fire broke out during the night killing Clara. Was it a tragic accident? Or something more sinister?
  
  Self deprecating Samantha Barnes is coming into her own in the third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery. While she still has doubts and some uncertainties, she's becoming aware of who she is and where she belongs. Surrounded by friends she's learning what's important in life. I love Diogi and Ciati, but two other characters really shone for me, Vivvie Peters and Abraham Beame. I'd love to call both of them friends and I hope we get to see more of Abraham in future books.
  
  Delectable descriptions of food as well as cooking tips pepper the pages. Although I'm not a fan of seafood, I still find my stomach grumbling as I read. And I really want to find some huckleberries!
  
  There are lots of laughs in MURDER IS NO PICNIC, but there are also heartfelt moments and worrying ones as well. A terrifying escape and rescue had me clutching the book reading well after the bubbles were gone and the water turned cold! Love, bravery, and skill triumphed and I was able to emerge from my bathtub with a sigh of relief.
  
  Friendship, food, and fun make MURDER IS NO PICNIC an outstanding mystery guaranteed to keep you enthralled.
• 
  Dawn

  This is the third installment of the Cape Cod Foodie Mysteries. I have not read either of the first two books and believe this book is able to stand alone. This book exudes summer vacation and makes me want to spend time on the water, enjoying the cool breeze and sun. The setting is very inviting. The characters in this book are realistic and well-developed. The storyline in this book is unique and interesting. I picked up my book every chance I had because I wanted to know what was happening next. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in the series and recommend this book.
• 
  Alisha Carderella

  3.25 stars
• 
  Lisa~Ilovemypug~ Currier

  Samantha is a fun character who always seems to get mixed up in a murder investigation.
  I enjoy this series since I lived on Cape Cod, and it's always fun trying to picture the different scenes in my head.
  I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this fun series.
  #MurderIsNoPicnic #NetGalley
• 
  Cozy Reviews

  This is the third Cape Cod Foodie Mystery with a delightful Fourth Of July Setting. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.
  
  We return to the Cape preparing for Fourth Of July activities. Samantha is entering a blueberry buckle competition and is excited to work with a celebrity chef on a new recipe she plans to enter. When the chef dies in a suspicious house fire Samantha is on the case and determined to prove it was murder. Suspects abound and Samantha is focused on the chef's new hire at her restaurant who had reason to murder his boss. As clues build and red herrings stifle the investigation Samantha presses on with the help of her friends and local police.
  
  This was a intriguing mystery with plenty of clues to keep the reader guessing to conclusion. I enjoy the setting of the Cape in summertime and the delightful charcters.
• 
  Jay

  MURDER IS NO PICNIC, the third book in author Amy Pershing's Cape Cod Foodie mystery series finds Samantha Barnes (the titular Cape Cod Foodie) looking forward to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday. She's got a big picnic planned for all her friends and is gearing to play host to the event.
  
  But she's missing her boyfriend Jason who is off in California on an exchange program through his harbormaster job. Life keeps moving ever onward though and Sam is continuing to work at the local newspaper. She writing reviews of restaurants and doing her surprising popular Cape Cod Foodie videos as well.
  
  A night out with friends leads to an invitation from local restauranteur legend Clara Foster to learn how to make her famous Blueberry Buckle dessert. Things go well and Sam has another hit video on her hands.
  
  But the next day, Clara is dead. The victim of a house fire, she's found to be at fault for her own death with the cops blaming carelessness in the kitchen for her death. Sam refuses to believe this because she knew how Clara worked in the kitchen and there is no way the described events of Clara's death make sense.
  
  With Sam asking questions, she soon turns up more questions about the official explanation and soon the cops have to investigate the death as a murder. But there are any number of people who might've wanted the stern taskmaster of a chef dead. But which one of the suspects did it?
  
  Sam has her hands full with the picnic plans but as she begins to work with the detective assigned to the case, answers revealed only lead to more suspects and questions. As they dig deeper Sam and someone very close to her are soon targeted by the real killer and she will have to do everything she can to shed light on the murderer.
  
  I've liked the first two books in this series, but I think Amy Pershing really found her groove with MURDER IS NO PICNIC. Sam is settling into her new life back on Cape Cod and she's growing roots. She's had some success bringing killers to justice which kind of adds to her local celebrity, but then there's her personal life. Her friends, her boyfriend and her outsized dog Diogi.
  
  I loved how Amy Pershing incorporated the real-life Cape Cod Baseball League into one part of the story while crafting an intriguing and very satisfying main mystery plotline. As for the more personal aspects of the book, they are quite fun as well. From Sam's worries about her relationship to how she interacts with her best friends three young boys, you can't help but come to adore her. And her supporting cast once again enlivens the book in any number of ways. Her slightly brusque boss at the paper is always a hoot and her next-door neighbor Helene always being on hand to offer (and sometimes not to) advice helps add great dimension to the story telling.
  
  I can only hope there are more Cape Cod Foodie mysteries to come because MURDER IS NO PICNIC was a deeply satisfying read all the way round.
• 
  KKEC Reads

  Murder is No Picnic by Amy Pershing
  Published: June 7, 2022
  Berkley
  Pages: 335
  Genre: Cozy Mysteries
  KKECReads Rating: 5/5
  I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
  
  Amy Pershing is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. In her previous career, she was the Managing Director and Global Head of Employee Communications at the Bank of New York Mellon. A few years ago (with the final college tuition bill paid!), she waved goodbye to Wall Street in order to write full time. A Side of Murder is her first novel.
  
  “Words make things much too real.”
  
  Things are going well for Sam; she may be coming into a large sum of money from the sale of the antique clock found during the cleanup over Christmas. Her friendships are all going well, and her relationship with Jason is still going strong, despite him training all the way in California. Things look blissfully peaceful until a mysterious death happens overnight, and Sam can’t accept that it’s an accident.
  
  I love this series so much. The cast of characters is simply lovely. I enjoyed that we got some good time with most of our secondary characters in this book, which is necessary since these people are Samantha’s chosen family.
  
  I love continuing to get to know Sam in her charming awkwardness. I enjoyed watching the friendship between Sam and Vivvie blossom. Sam had a lot of growth in this novel, and I love her realization.
  
  We meet some new characters in this novel, and I love how Amy ties everyone into the story. Even the most minor characters have quirky moments that make them memorable.
  
  The descriptions of the Cape and the sailing scenes were stunning. You will almost feel the breeze on your cheeks. The way Amy brings her settings to life is truly magical, and you will feel like you’re sitting with Sam and the crew, witnessing all the shenanigans.
  
  There was a deeply emotional self-assuredness with Sam in this novel that I appreciate. Sam is coming into her own, and her comfort and safety with her home and her friends are starting to shine. I love that.
  
  And, of course, Diogi is still my favorite. I love that Diogi and Sam are basically the same, just in dog and human form. Fiercely loyal, loving, and rather awkward at times. Dogs really just make everything better.
  
  The way this book ended, I am ready for the next installation in this delicious series! Once again, Amy brought a beautiful story to life, filled with twists and turns, laughs, and lots of yummy food.
  
  Will our Cape Cod Foodie be taking her show on the road? Will Sam be offering more how-to videos? Until next time, we just have to be patient!
  
  Special thanks to the amazing Amy Pershing for allowing me to continue to read and review her novels! Amy, I appreciate you so much and I cannot wait to read the next. Thank you!
  
  
• 
  Maria

  I love this series! There's something so real and normal about Sam that makes her so enjoyable to read about. She's not overly cutesy as some other cozy mystery characters are so she's more believable. I love the setting and the food makes my mouth water. The mystery was well written and I was guessing right along with her as she tried to solve it. I can't wait to see what happens next.
• 
  Doreen

  6/20/2022 The best in the series yet! Full review tk at
  CriminalElement.com.
• 
  Claudia Russell

  I love this series and this one was my favorites!! This book was engaging, humorous, and has sweet romance ❤️❤️❤️
• 
  Lacey Harrington

  The first book in the series was a home run. The characters are well developed and fun. Its been a while since I truly enjoyed a first book in a series. The Fourth of July is coming, and for professional food lover Samantha Barnes, it’s all about the picnic. Okay, and the fireworks. And the parade. But mostly the picnic. What could be better than a DIY clambake followed by the best blueberry buckle in the world? Sam has finally found the perfect recipe in the kitchen of Clara Foster, famed cookbook author and retired restaurateur, and she’s thrilled when Clara agrees to a buckle baking lesson.
  But when Clara dies in a house fire blamed on carelessness in the kitchen, Sam doesn’t believe it. Unfortunately, her doubts set in motion an investigation pointing to the new owner of Clara’s legendary restaurant—and a cousin of Sam’s harbormaster boyfriend. So, in between researching the Cape’s best lobster rolls and planning her clambake, Sam needs to find Clara's killer before the fireworks really start....
  Sam is a fun, quirky, intelligent MC. Overall a fantastic start to a new series.
  #MurderIsNoPicnic #NetGalley
• 
  Erin

  Samantha Barnes. Cape Cod Foodie or detective? Sam is ecstatic when she meets legendary Clara Foster, former owner of the restaurant Clara’s Place, but when Clara suddenly dies in a house fire supposedly started in the kitchen of all places, Sam knows there’s more to the story than what police are seeing. What really happened the night of the fire?
  Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Amy Pershing for the opportunity to read and review this cute cozy mystery. I loved this book! I loved all the characters, especially Sam. The fact that she has a dog named Diogi, well that just made me like her even more. I really liked seeing how Sam worked through the investigation as well as her own dilemmas she was facing in the book. It made the book that much more personal in my opinion. The book was a very easy and quick read that kept a steady pace. This is the third book in the series but is fine to be read as a stand-alone. If you like cozy mysteries then I would highly recommend this book! I’m rating this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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  K.B. Wilson

  The first book in this series blew me away with its sharp writing & quirky characters, so I knew I’d be back for more. I’m saving book two for Xmas time, so that’s why I’m reading the third. I loved it just as much, if not more! Pershing’s writing is very unique, it reads like a lot of contemporary thrillers not just like a cozy. The mystery itself was quite intriguing & Samantha is one of the stronger lead characters I’ve read recently. She also has a perfect group of friends (especially next door neighbour Helene). Sleuthing groups are always a positive for me! I love reading about Cape Cod & the ocean & the food, it’s one of my favourite cozy mystery settings. This is definitely a strong series & one I look forward to reading more of.
  
  Thank you NetGalley & Berkeley Publishing for the ARC of this book to review.
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  Deborah Almada

  Another really good book in this series. I really enjoy Sam, she is absolutely real with all her strengths and self doubt. She is a good friend, a smart and curious woman, loves her fur babies and can cook up a storm. While her boyfriend, the harbor master, Jason is away Sam works at being the Cape Cod Foodie, spending time with friends and teaching Vivian, a local police detective how to sail, but you know she can't stay out of trouble. When a well known chief she just met and featured in one of her Foodie videos is found dead in a fire at her home, Sam just has to figure out what happened. A wild ride and interesting mystery. Really looking for more books in this series!
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  Margie

  Murder Is No Picnic by Amy Pershing is the third book in her Cape Cod Foodie Mystery series. Samantha Barnes just can't help herself it seems. Even when she tries to resist she can't help getting involved in a murder investigation. I like how she is able to reason out the significance of certain clues. It is also interesting that Detective Vivian "Vivvie" Peters listens to Sam's information and deductions. I like these characters and look forward to seeing more of them in the next book in the series.
  
  I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
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  Kay Garrett

  MURDER IS NO PICNIC by Amy Pershing is the third book in the Cape Cod Foodie Mystery Series. It’s the well-crafted whodunit centered round Samantha (Sam) Barnes, the Cape Cod Foodie, and the upcoming Fourth of July celebration.
  
  Sam is super excited and making big plans for a big 4th of July picnic she’s hosting complete with a DIY clambake. Even more so after finding the perfect Blueberry Buckle to serve for dessert while dining with friends at Clara’s Place, a Provincetown restaurant. They’d gathered there to celebrate the birthday of Helene, the 60ish year old neighbor and good friend of Sam’s. Sam’s delight over the dessert led to her being introduced to the person behind the recipe and original owner of the establishment. That introduction lead to Sam meeting with Clara the next day to make and film the dessert for her Cape Cod Foodie section.
  
  Sam was immediately taken with Clara and greatly enjoys the time she spent with her both in conversation and learning her secrets behind her delicious buckle. It made it all the harder when she hears the next morning of Clara’s untimely death from smoke inhalation from a fire at her home. Given the assignment from her boss to check into things as a follow up on the segment she recorded the day before has Sam seeing first-hand the devastation left by the fire. She also immediately gets the feeling that things aren’t quite right with what the police are surmising.
  
  With friends like Miles - who thought of Clara as his aunt, and his mother - Clara’s dear friend, along with the rest of the gang are ready, willing and able to do what it takes to figure out the real truth. Sam finds herself once again in the position of trying to figure out whodunit and why.
  
  Will Sam’s nosing around lead the police to trying to finger Ed Captiva, the Chef and new owner of Clara’s Place? Ed is also the cousin to her boyfriend, Jason. If he’s suspect, how will that affect Sam and Jason’s relationship that has been sporadic at best of late with so many miles between them? What do burnt antique cookbooks, missing possible priceless artwork (or great copies) and cast iron skillets have in connection to the case and who was interested or responsible for which? Will sailing lessons between instructor and student build a new relationship between Sam and the detective having Sam looking at Vivian Peters through new eyes? When sharing of evidence leans more one sided, will Sam be able to give Vivian enough information to help solve the case before anyone else becomes a victim? Through it all, can Sam and Jason figure out what’s important in their lives? Will being committed to one another help them find the answers they need for the future?
  
  MURDER IS NO PICNIC is a fabulous, well-written whodunit that will have you playing amateur sleuth right alongside Sam and the Fair Harbor police department. The clues and suspects are many as you weave through the facts to see which are true and which don’t aid in solving the case. Throughout the story, Amy Pershing reveals a bit more about Sam’s life – her dreams and insecurities, what a great group of people Sam is fortunate enough to call friends, and her relationship with Jason. Although part of a series, MURDER IS NO PICNIC can most definitely be read as a standalone book. I will say that with the mystery solved into Clara’s death, there are still enough loose ends on different fronts that have me excited for the next book in this series to be released. I highly suggest it to anyone that loves a great cozy mystery or just a very well written book in general. Definitely gets my FIVE STAR rating!
  
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  Lali & Michelle

  #2 in the Cape Cod Foodie mystery series was one of my favorite cozies in 2023, so I was a little worried that #3 would not measure up. But Murder is No Picnic definitely measured up and might even be better than its predecessor. Samantha is a former NYC chef who, after a moment in the kitchen went viral, lost her job and was "forced" to return to the Cape Cod town where she grew up. Her parents have retired to Florida, but she still has friends from her childhood there and a budding romance with the harbormaster. She also has a house she inherited from her Aunt Ida and Dioge, the best dog ever.
  
  Samantha's new job is as the "Cape Cod Foodie," writing for the local paper and filming videos with her childhood best friend Jenny. After a great meal at a local restaurant, Sam is thrilled to be filming a video on how to make Blueberry Buckle with former chef and cookbook author, Clara. Sam finds Clara to be a little narcissistic and a little arrogant, so when Clara dies in a fire the night after Sam and Jenny visited her home, there are a number of people who might have had reason to wish Clara ill. But who had motive to resort to murder? The new owner of the restaurant whom Clara was threatening to sue? Her niece who was desperate for money? Her neighbor who believed Clara's plans for her home might threaten the cove where they lived? Or someone else entirely?
  
  This is quickly becoming my favorite cozy series, because the books are both extremely well-plotted and create a community of friends that you want to revisit again and again. Sam is a great protagonist, intelligent and brave without being reckless. She is loyal to the friends she has and in each book adds new friends--this book sees a major shift in her relationship with detective Vivian, a promising development for future books. Another aspect of this series I really enjoy is the diversity of characters. Sam's friends include all types of people--all ages, races, sexual orientations, etc. But it is all handled very matter of factly and each one has a life beyond their "representation." For example, detective Vivian is a Wampanoag and references are made to her culture in ways that seem very natural to the story.
  
  Each of the books also involves Sam preparing for a special celebration with her friends. In this book, it is the Fourth of July. Sam is hosting a clambake and the thought she puts into creating a special experience for her friends is inspiring and makes me want to be a better friend, lol. She is still working on her aunt's house and screens in the porch, buys a large picnic table and a peacock chair and installs a porch swing. Then there is discussion of the food and everyone's contribution. Some people might not enjoy such attention to details that are really irrelevant to the mystery, but this reveals a lot about Sam's character. The more the reader loves her, the more we feel the stakes when she is at risk.
  
  Finally, the author writes some really great scenes. Two of my favorites in this book involve 1) Sam's friends watching her appearance on the TV show Antiques in the Attic and her reaction when she finds out the value of the antique clock her mother had discovered in Aunt Ida's attic and 2) Sam's reaction when Dioge is kidnapped and his life is at risk . For a book to a be a five star for me, it usually has to have an emotional impact and this one definitely did. Can't wait for the next book, especially since this one left us with a little cliffhanger.