Book Review: Bleeding Tarts (A Pie Town Mystery) by Kirsten Weiss

Old West ghost towns are as American as apple pie. So what better place to sponsor a pie-eating contest than the Bar X, a fake ghost town available for exclusive private events on the edge of Silicon Valley. Valentine Harris is providing the pies, hoping to boost business for her struggling Pie Town shop and become a regular supplier for the Bar X.

But no sooner does she arrive in town than a stray bullet explodes the cherry pie in her hands. And the delicious dessert is not the only victim. Val finds the Bar X bartender shot dead in an alley. Egged on by her flaky friend and pie crust specialist, Charlene, Val aims to draw out the shooter. But solving a real murder in a fake ghost town won't be easy as pie. And if Val doesn't watch her back, her pies won't be the only thing filled full of lead . . .

If you're in the market for a cozy to tickle your funny bone, look no further than Bleeding Tarts. Don't believe me? Check out the opening paragraphs...

I'm a huge fan of everything related to the Old West and ghost towns (and of course, pie), so that's what drew me in, but it was the characters, particularly octogenarian Charlene and the cat who is constantly draped across her neck, that left me grinning from ear to ear with the turn of each page. That lady is a pistol and I can't wait to try her signature cocktail, root beer and Kahlua. 

The mystery itself is quite complex, even with a fairly limited cast of suspects, and I was kept guessing until the end. I hope we get to revisit the ghost town in subsequent books because it seems to be very authentic, complete with a saloon, gunslingers, and even a resident ghost. Frederick the cat does not sleep through the entire book - he actually does something quite heroic at one point - and frequently hisses when something displeases him. The recipes at the end are mouth-watering and written unlike any recipes I've ever read. They had me in stitches much like the rest of the book!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. As members of the Amazon Associates affiliate program, if you click on our links and buy something Mudpie gets a little money for her piggy bank!