Poison at the Chili Cook Off: A Cozy Culinary Mystery (Large Print)($12.99Value)

Description

At the annual Maple Hollow Chili Cook-Off, the biggest worry is usually whether the judges can handle the heat. This year, however, someone brings something far more dangerous to the table. When Ellie Harper, owner of Harper’s Bakery, sets up her usual booth beside the town gazebo, she expects a lively day of friendly rivalry, simmering chili pots, and plenty of baked goods to keep contestants fueled. Maple Hollow’s cook-off is the highlight of the season, drawing neighbors, farmers, and visitors from miles around. But the festive atmosphere turns deadly when outspoken local investigator Gordon Pike suddenly collapses in the middle of the competition. Within minutes, the cheerful crowd realizes the unthinkable has happened. Someone has poisoned him. As the town reels from the shocking death, Ellie finds herself pulled into the mystery. Gordon had spent the week before the festival digging into rumors about local produce suppliers, and he had loudly promised to reveal a scandal during the cook-off. Now his phone is missing a crucial photograph, and the list of suspects includes nearly everyone standing near the chili booths that afternoon. With the help of her sharp-witted friend Clara Bennett and the steady guidance of Sheriff Reed, Ellie begins untangling the web of accusations and half-truths swirling around Maple Hollow. Farmers argue over produce shipments, business rivalries simmer beneath polite smiles, and one missing muffin may hold the key to the entire crime. But as Ellie follows the trail of clues through the town square, the bakery kitchen, and the surrounding farms, she discovers that Gordon Pike’s investigation uncovered something far more complicated than anyone expected. The truth behind his death isn’t about greed or corruption. It’s about pride, reputation, and how far someone will go to protect a lie once it begins to unravel. Filled with small-town charm, warm bakery scenes, and a twisty mystery that keeps readers guessing, Poison at the Chili Cook-Off is a cozy culinary whodunit where the stakes are high, the suspects are close to home, and even the sweetest treats might hide a deadly secret.