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A review by leandrathetbrzero
The Last to Pie by Misha Popp
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What would you do if you were Daisy Ellery, baking extraordinaire and killer of bad men, and your most recent murder pie order was requested for a local police officer?
After the Great British Bake Off-esque backdrop of book 2, Misha Popp thrusts Daisy Ellery and her readers into a tense narrative, in which a young woman is abused by her boyfriend and then disappears without a trace. No one is looking for her except Daisy, and she is driven by guilt. She hesitated when the woman's murder pie order came in, seeing the intended target was a cop. Daisy knows the statistic; domestic violence perpetrated by cops is rampant. However, she also must protect herself, her past clients, and the future women she intends to help. Uncertain if this was a ruse by the authorities to catch her, Daisy waits. Now, with the woman missing, the time for waiting is over, but when the cop boyfriend turns his attention onto her, it seems that neither Daisy nor those she cares about are safe until this man is stopped.
This was a powerful narrative. At times the intensity of the mystery was fueled by the themes of domestic violence as well as police corruption and abuse of power. I appreciate Misha Popp's willingness to address these issues in the Pies Before Guys series, and it's one of the reasons why this series is an Auto-Preorder for me every year. While this is the first book in the series not to receive a 5 star from me, it's not because this is a sub-par storyline. I was gripped by Daisy's struggle to find this missing woman, the ticking clock making this narrative time sensitive, and the continued depiction of a community that supports Daisy. This book lost points from me for the awkward love triangle that the author seemed to include, as Melly continues to hang around and undermine Daisy's relationship with Noel, even if that isn't Melly's intent. With that said, I did like the Daisy is a woman character who doesn't want children, and I hope that continues to be her character arc.
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
Original Pub Date: 21 May 2024
Reading Format: print + audio
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies—5 stars
A Good Day to Pie—5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!
After the Great British Bake Off-esque backdrop of book 2, Misha Popp thrusts Daisy Ellery and her readers into a tense narrative, in which a young woman is abused by her boyfriend and then disappears without a trace. No one is looking for her except Daisy, and she is driven by guilt. She hesitated when the woman's murder pie order came in, seeing the intended target was a cop. Daisy knows the statistic; domestic violence perpetrated by cops is rampant. However, she also must protect herself, her past clients, and the future women she intends to help. Uncertain if this was a ruse by the authorities to catch her, Daisy waits. Now, with the woman missing, the time for waiting is over, but when the cop boyfriend turns his attention onto her, it seems that neither Daisy nor those she cares about are safe until this man is stopped.
This was a powerful narrative. At times the intensity of the mystery was fueled by the themes of domestic violence as well as police corruption and abuse of power. I appreciate Misha Popp's willingness to address these issues in the Pies Before Guys series, and it's one of the reasons why this series is an Auto-Preorder for me every year. While this is the first book in the series not to receive a 5 star from me, it's not because this is a sub-par storyline. I was gripped by Daisy's struggle to find this missing woman, the ticking clock making this narrative time sensitive, and the continued depiction of a community that supports Daisy. This book lost points from me for the awkward love triangle that the author seemed to include, as Melly continues to hang around and undermine Daisy's relationship with Noel, even if that isn't Melly's intent. With that said, I did like the Daisy is a woman character who doesn't want children, and I hope that continues to be her character arc.
Actual Rating: 4.25 stars
Original Pub Date: 21 May 2024
Reading Format: print + audio
PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies—5 stars
A Good Day to Pie—5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an E-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review!