When I reviewed Amy Patricia Meade’s first Tish Tarragon mystery, Cookin’ the Books, I said I loved the supporting cast, but I didn’t feel as if Tish was well-developed. The Curse of the Cherry Pie is the fourth in the series, and Tish has come into her own. She still has two supportive life-long friends. She’s added several others, and it’s easy to see why such a caring person has such good friends.

Tish is the owner of Cookin’ the Books Cafe. When Celestine Rufus’ husband dies, Tish steps in to help her friend and employee. Celestine had entered the Virginia Commonwealth Bake-Off, a prestigious, time-honored Southern event. Knowing her friend could use the prize money, Tish offers to take her place and give the money to Celestine if she wins. But, something is off at the event.

Tish has to present three baked items in the course of the contest, one savory, one decorated cake, and a signature item. When Tish says her signature item will be a cherry pie, people are horrified. The last two people to enter cherry pies are dead. Tish’s journalist friend, Julian, is hysterical when he hears that, but it’s too late for Tish to change her menu. She wants to know why two people are dead, and when she receives notes and threats, she’s even more determined to find the truth.

She doesn’t have much support at home. Tish’s lawyer boyfriend, Schuyler, is only concerned about how her investigation will reflect on his campaign for mayor. He has no awareness how it looks when he hires a catering company from Richmond for a campaign fundraiser when she has the only cafe in town and does catering. He supports the new acting sheriff, who is belligerent and sneers at Tish even when she’s threatened. She misses her friend Sheriff Reade who worked with her instead of against her. Fortunately, Julian and Tish’s friend Mary Jo are there to support and back her up, along with several deputies who miss Reade as well.

The Curse of the Cherry Pie has a wonderful cast of characters. The solution to the mystery came as a surprise to me, which I always enjoy. Foodies and fans of The Great British Baking Show will enjoy the contest and the discussion of food. And, the final couple pages of the story, set back at the cafe as Tish and her friends celebrate, was worth reading a second time. It was a perfect ending to any cozy mystery.

Amy Patricia Meade’s website is https://amypatriciameade.com/

The Curse of the Cherry Pie by Amy Patricia Meade. Severn House, 2021. ISBN 9780727890559 (hardcover), 224p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.