For fans of Sofie Kelly and Joanne Fluke, it’s the end of the tourist season in Split Pine– but a murder at the Lucky Pie Diner stirs up trouble for the sleepy town in this series debut.

Este March runs the family-owned Lucky Pie Diner on Split Pine Island in Northern Michigan. The pies at Lucky Pie aren’t just good, they’re magical, with a family recipe that grants certain customers their greatest hopes and dreams when they eat the pie. The remote island is closed to outsiders over the winter months, but on the last day of the season, the unpopular new produce vendor, Jeff, turns up dead on his boat, and Split Pine Island’s peace goes up in smoke.

Tom Cunningham, the local sheriff, casts suspicion onto Este, who may have been the last person to see Jeff alive. Not to mention several people witnessed her getting into an argument with the rude vendor in some of his final hours. Este decides to clear her name and her diner’s reputation by launching her own investigation, which means she must turn suspicion on her friends and neighbors, because only a local could have murdered the victim.

As Este investigates, she uncovers a deeper web of secrets, finding that many of the locals had reason to either frame her, or kill the victim. The clock is ticking to figure out the killer, and the clues in the case are flakier than an apple pie. Este will have to uncover the killer before her future crumbles.

Gretchen Rue's profile page

Gretchen Rue lives in the Canadian prairies, which affords her ample time to read during six months of winter. She plays cat mom to four mostly indifferent fur children, and plant mom to roughly 100 very demanding flora. When she isn't sipping tea and working on her next novel, she enjoys swimming, hiking, and watching baseball.

Praise for A Pie to Die For:
“A sweet treat for mystery mavens.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“[A] charming, magical cozy.”
—Booklist

“A fresh and fun read from cover to cover.”
—Midwest Book Review

“A good start to another small-town mystery series, with fun supporting characters, and lots of cute animals.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“Flavored with a soupcon of magic, this twisty tale will delight the mystery lover's heart and make the mouth water. Oh, the food! Featuring a unique cozy setting, a delightful amateur sleuth in Este March—intrepid, smart, AND master pie maker—along with a fresh cast of compelling townspeople, Gretchen Rue has penned a terrific entry to the Lucky Pie Mysteries. I can't wait for the next one!”
—Bailey Cates, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Bakery Mysteries

“A Pie to Die For is a mouth-watering mystery that had me savoring every page. Rue's descriptive writing captures the essence of Split Pine Island and its fun characters.”
—Catherine Bruns, USA Today bestselling author, and Daphne du Maurier Award Winner

“Gretchen Rue has written a delicious and well-crafted mystery . . . Highly recommended new series.”
—Christine DeSmet, writing coach/university instructor, author of the Fudge Shop Mystery Series and Mischief in Moonstone Series

“A deliciously magical mystery.”
—Cate Conte, author of the Full Moon Mysteries