Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber: A Cozy Mystery That Has It All: Books, Food, and a Killer Reveal

Read time: 4 minutes

🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by Sara Van Beckum
⏱ Duration: 10 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Kensington Cozies
📅 Published: October 22, 2024

Book Blurb:

Allie Catt — yes, that’s her ACTUAL name, and yes, she has a cat named Darcy — is a personal chef and caterer in the mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, who has cracked the code on unforgettable events: theme every party around her clients’ favourite books. Pride and Prejudice canapés? Done. Gatsby-inspired cocktails? Absolutely. Business is booming, the bookish references are delightful, and life is good — until Tegan’s aunt Marigold, beloved co-owner of a local bookshop, turns up dead. With her best friend suddenly the prime suspect, Allie channels her inner Poirot and Sherlock to clear Tegan’s name, sift through the clues, and make sure the killer doesn’t get to serve a second course of murder.

Let’s talk … murder!!!

I stumbled into this one completely by accident, and I am SO glad I did. Because here’s the thing: Allie Catt. JUST the name. And then Daryl Wood Gerber hits you with literary-themed dinner parties AND a cozy mystery AND food descriptions that made me pause the audio-book to go raid my kitchen. This book knew EXACTLY what it was doing, and it did it beautifully.

What I didn’t expect was how much I’d fall for the friendships at the heart of this story. Allie and Tegan’s dynamic is the kind of ride-or-die energy I am always here for in a cozy. They’re not just friends, they’re the kind of friends who will apparently commit mild amateur detective crimes for each other. And Chloe, the third wheel of this little trio, slots right in like she was always meant to be there. The aunt, Marigold, is so warmly written that her absence HURTS! You feel the loss in the way the town feels it, which makes the mystery land with real emotional weight. I was just as invested as Allie in finding out who did it.. And I Did NOT see the reveal coming. Satisfying in the best possible way.

And then there’s Sara Van Beckum. I genuinely think this audiobook narration elevated the entire experience for me. Every character had their own distinct voice and presence. Allie’s nervous energy, Tegan’s bulldozing determination, the warmth of the smaller town characters. It all came alive in a way that made the ten hours fly by. If you’re an audiobook reader even slightly intrigued by this premise, DO NOT skip the audio version. It’s the full package.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely, this is the cozy mystery series debut I didn’t know I needed. Books, food, friendship, a cat named Darcy, and a mystery that actually surprised me? Add this to your TBR immediately. It’s charming without being saccharine, clever without being smug, and the Asheville mountain setting is the perfect backdrop for a story this warm and twisty. I’m already eyeing book two.

Read Next

If Murder on the Page gave you all the right feelings, here’s where to go next:

1. The Book Club Murder by Clare Chase — bookshop setting, close-knit community, and a mystery that keeps you guessing; perfect for readers who loved the literary atmosphere.
2. Rosamund and the Scoundrel by Ellery Adams — food-forward cozy with deeply satisfying friendships and a lead character who solves crimes with as much heart as curiosity.
3. The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by C.L. Miller — a debut series with a similarly sharp amateur sleuth, unexpected reveals, and a setting that wraps around you like a warm blanket.
4. Murder at the Book Club by Betsy Reavley — for readers who loved the book-club-meets-murder energy and want their literary references to come with a body count.
5. One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay — a Bookmobile librarian solves mysteries with wit, warmth, and excellent taste in fiction; if you loved Allie’s bookish detective instincts, this series is your next obsession.

Plates, Pages, and Plot Twists: What’s Your Comfort Read Combo?

This book had me thinking: we all have that ONE pairing that just WORKS for us as readers. Books and tea? Mysteries and takeout at midnight? Cozies and a cat on your lap? Tell me in the comments. What’s YOUR ultimate reading comfort combo? And would a literary-themed dinner party actually get you to socialize? Because I would RSVP so fast.

Book Links

Want to purchase this or any of your favourite books while supporting a local bookstore? Consider purchasing using the sites below — these work with independent local bookstore owners to fulfil your book orders. #SupportLocal

Indiebookstores.ca | Bookshop.org
Follow Daryl Wood Gerber for latest on Allie Catt’s journey
Check out more books from Kensington Cozies