Tag: Misha Popp

REVIEW: The Last to Pie by Misha Popp

REVIEW: The Last to Pie by Misha Popp

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

When it comes to murder pies, Daisy has a system. The requester identifies themselves in very specific ways. So when an unusual request comes through, she can’t shake the feeling that it could be a trap. But she also knows the statistics – police officers are 40% more likely to commit domestic violence than the average person.  If the requester is legit, she doesn’t have a lot of options for help. So Daisy eventually reaches out again to test the request a bit more.

But the person goes silent before Daisy can decide if she’s going to take the job. Daisy does some investigating, but she can’t find the woman. Her boyfriend acts like she never even existed. Daisy feels guilty for having waited, and responsible if something has happened to the woman. So she goes all in on her own investigation. She has to know what happened before she can decide if the guy’s murder pie needs to be delivered or not.

Review

“What I do is terrible, but it’s also necessary.”

This is Daisy’s thinking about the Pies Before Guys part of her business.  Her magic allows her to provide a pie that will convince an abuser to either turn from his ways, or keel over as the only way he will “stop.” I have loved this dark, unique, thought-provoking series from book one,  but this new story is darker and more stressful than the first two books. The villain is every awful story you’ve ever read about sadistic, narcissistic individuals becoming police officers to wield that power so they can get away with anything. There were times I had to put the book down and take a break from the darkness of it all.

And because the villain is so bad AND he’s a cop, Daisy is in all sorts of new layers of danger. And that puts her friends and her future in jeopardy – not to mention the risks for the person or people she’s trying to help.

All of the ethical questions around “murder pies” and Daisy’s magic are amped up here too. What is the “right” thing to do when faced with an enemy with a badge and cohorts who also misuse their positions and power?

Fans of the series as well as readers who enjoy a “morally grey” character should give this series a look – although I do recommend reading the books in order. The “mystery” here is a smaller part of the story – what happened to the missing woman, how will Daisy figure it out –  but I enjoyed watching Daisy and her friends work through the mystery – and the larger pie-related ethical questions. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ – Great!

REVIEW: A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp

REVIEW: A Good Day to Pie by Misha Popp

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Daisy’s primary business is baking pies. But only a special segment of her customers know about “Pies Before Guys.” That’s the mostly-secret baking business where wronged and wounded women can buy a magical pie that will make the man stop his shenanigans. It’s not Daisy’s fault that for some of these trolls the only thing that will stop them is their death.

Daisy is doing a TV bake off with the hopes of winning money to keep funding Pies Before Guys. But she doesn’t expect that one of the contest judges is the man she’s supposed to deliver a magical pie to on the way home. When the judge later dies – without the help of Daisy’s special baked goods – she starts looking for a killer.

Review

Not unlike an excellent pie, an excellent mystery requires the right ingredients at proper amounts, blended together. Murder, Lies, and Deadly Pies was my favorite book of 2022. That’s a lot to live up to. But A Good Day to Pie was up to the task.

I was afraid the baking contest might be a drag for me – I don’t watch baking shows, and I’ve read other books recently with a similar setting. But this really surpassed other examples of the set up. I was riveted by the competition and zipped through every challenge to see what would happen next. And I adored the little community formed by the contestants.

For a long time I worried that the murder would keep Daisy from using her magic, but that worry was unnecessary. Everything was woven into the story, and I was supremely satisfied how it all came together.

This is a distinct and different series that is hitting me in a way I didn’t know I needed. It seems weird to love a series with a protagonist who is essentially a killer. But the way Daisy’s power works means she only provides the pies and magic. The “victims” bring on their own demise by their lack of repentance. That might feel too dark for some readers, but it’s hitting just the right tone for me these days. I’ll be sticking with Daisy and Pies Before Guys for the long haul! (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½ = I loved it! Would re-read.