Overall Series Rating 4.5 Stars (Books 1-4)

On the Chopping Block (A Callie’s Kitchen Mystery, #1)

Such a fun series. I am totally invested in Callie and Company and the future endeavors in Crystal Bay. As much as I love Callie, I think its all her friends and family that make me love this series so much. Callie is a hard working Greek bistro owner as well as a single mom, so of course she has time to be an amateur sleuth and mystery solver. Callie just has a knack for finding dead bodies.

Ms. Kales does a great job developing the lovable characters. The characters are so relatable. Yes its a small town and quite over the top in many cases, but the relationships and emotions, as well as day to day routines, are real. I feel like I have been in many of the same situations with family, exes, friends, budding romances, coworkers, etc.

The books have many plot twists that will keep you guessing until the end. Each book has a theme surrounding it. From a Cook Off to Christmas and Halloween to Murder Mystery Dinners, each book will offer you a new adventure in Crystal Bay, WI.

If I had to pick a favorite so far in the series, it would be Spiced and Iced (Book 2). In this book, Callie’s strength is tested, and tested hard. She has many trials thrown at her and she never breaks. Callie is a protagonist that I could truly admire, definitely a super woman. And let’s face it, its Christmas Time. Nothing better than a Christmas themed Cozy!!

The books also made me hungry, as I love Mediterranean dishes. There are several recipes in the back of the books that I will definitely try, especially the Greek Coffee Cakes!

I am impatiently awaiting Book 5. I highly recommend this series to anyone that already has a love for Cozy Mysteries or is looking to dive into the genre. Callie is a very strong woman, so even though this a cozy, you will enjoy this series if you love mysteries with a strong female protagonist. This series is also available on Kindle Unlimited.