Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery)
by Daryl Wood Gerber
About Murder by the Millions
Murder by the Millions (A Literary Dining Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – North Carolina
Publisher : Kensington Cozies
Publication date : October 28, 2025
Print length : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496748204
ISBN-13 : 978-1496748201
Digital ISBN-13 : 978-1496748225
ASIN : B0DX58P859
Audiobook ASIN B0DW5MKYKZ
Audio CD ISBN-13 : 979-8228545793
In a beautiful mountain community near Asheville, North Carolina, caterer and personal chef Allie Catt serves up mouthwatering, literary-themed dinner parties inspired by her clients’ favorite books. Her next event is sure to be a roaring success—if a murderer isn’t a killjoy . . .
If it were true that the best thing a girl can be in this world is a fool, then Allie Catt would be out of luck. Fortunately, Allie’s business is a smashing success. And following her Pride and Prejudice event, grander plans await . . .
Feast for the Eyes bookstore manager and Allie’s best friend, Tegan, is hosting a book club soiree and wants it to be a glittering affair based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic Jazz Age-set novel, The Great Gatsby. Soon, Art Deco table settings and visions of flappers are dancing the Charleston in their heads. Even Tegan’s prickly sister, Vanna, is on board. And surely, Allie’s tuxedo cat, Darcy, thinks it’s the cat’s meow.
Amid the planning, charismatic developer Jason Gardner arrives in town to buy some historic buildings on Main Street. He, too, has plans: to create a modern mall. Allie is more than concerned. She even wants to protest. But when Jason invites her to cater a lavish party, she finds him surprisingly likable. Then she’s summoned to his estate for a meeting—and finds him dead.Once again Allie’s landed in the middle of a crime scene. Worse, one of her earrings is later discovered near the body. And when police learn she was upset about the mall, she’s suspect #1. Allie’s blossoming sleuthing skills once cleared Tegan’s name, but can she save herself—before a killer writes her a not-so-great Gatsbyesque ending . . .
I have never read a book by Daryl Wood Gerber that I haven’t liked! She writes such wonderful locations and characters, you feel like you’re part of the story.
Here, we find Allie Catt, caterer and part-owner of her friend Tegan’s bookstore, getting ready to host a Great Gatsby-themed book soiree. As they’re prepping, a real-life Gatsby figure in the person of Jason Gardner returns to his hometown to build a shopping mall. Some people, including Allie, aren’t in favor of the project, but as she starts to get to know him, Jason begins to win Allie over. But when she finds him dead in his home after his urgent summons to her, she soon becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
Any story with food and a bookstore is a winner in my book! And that’s without even getting into what makes this so much fun to read. I love the friendship between Allie and Tegan, and the frenemy-ship between Allie and Vanna, Tegan’s sister. They have an uneasy peace, but Vanna does seem to try to find ways to stir the pot. (I haven’t read the first book in the series yet, but I have seen reviews saying they get along better here than in the first one. Maybe they’ll get to be actual friends yet!)
And I am a sucker for foodie mysteries, so I loved the catering aspect! And the recipes! Swoon! I have no plans of ever being a caterer, but now I have inspiration for all kinds of things to try out.
The big reveal didn’t necessarily happen when and how one might expect, and it snuck up on me. I love mysteries that don’t give everything away too soon, and Gerber excels at that.
All that to say, if you like mysteries that include food and books, that are well researched and elegantly written, and that string you along with clues until the reveal hits, you will love Murder by the Millions. Don’t do like me – start with the first and get all the backstory, then read this one!
About Daryl Wood Gerber
Daryl Wood Gerber is the Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Literary Dining Mysteries, the Fairy Garden Mysteries, the French Bistro Mysteries, and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries, as well as the Cheese Shop Mysteries written under the name Avery Aames. She also writes standalone suspense novels and the Aspen Adams Novels of Suspense. Prior to her career as a novelist, she was an actress with roles in television shows including “Murder, She Wrote,” and she wrote for the popular TV sitcom “Out of this World.” Originally from the Bay Area, she now lives in Southern California, where she likes to cook, garden, and spend time with her frisky Goldendoodle named Sparky.
Author Links
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Purchase Links
I am blushing. Thank you for your lovely review. I’m so thrilled that you enjoy my stories. That’s my entire goal. ~ Daryl
Thank you for stopping by my blog! It’s my pleasure to keep on reading. 🙂
I am a fan of Daryl Woods Gerber’s books and wasn’t sure if I wanted to start a new series. After reading your review, I think my mind is made up. Great review, Lisa.
Thanks, Carla! I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!
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