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MURDER BY THE MILLIONS is the second book in the Literary Dining Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. With a book club gala theme of The Great Gatsby planned, caterer Allie Catt has the opportunity to pull out all the stops to showcase her growing business, Dream Cuisine, and in the process attract new clients. It’s a win-win for her and for her best friend, Tegan, owner of Feast for the Eyes bookstore and hostess of the event. The author does a marvelous job of bringing the theme of The Great Gatsby to life on the pages. Each chapter starts with a quote from the book, and she manages to make the quote pertinent to what happens in the story. Then there are the enticing descriptions, bringing each scene to life—from glittering costumes, to delectable food, to table settings, to music, each working to enhance the Gatsby mystique. I also enjoyed the character of Allie Catt and the friendship she has with Tegan. And while Allie may be at odds occasionally with Tegan’s sister, Vanna, there is character growth between the pair, which adds to the appeal.
While in the midst of planning the Gatsby event, Jason Gardner, a developer, comes to town and asks Allie to cater an extravagant party. While the business would be good for her, she’s troubled by his plans to replace historic buildings with a mall, no doubt impacting the small town’s businesses and the residents’ livelihoods. Still, Jason is charming, and Allie is finally convinced he’s not a bad guy at all. When he texts her it’s urgent she meet him at his estate late one night, she shows up only to find him murdered… and she’s been implicated in the crime! Reluctant but knowing she doesn’t have much choice, Allie starts asking questions and digging into Jason’s past. The mystery is well-plotted, and the story moves at a fast pace. There were twists that kept me guessing and turns that kept me glued to the pages until I’d read the very last word. The reveal answered all my questions, and the concluding festivities proved to be highly satisfying and quite dreamy!
As with all of Daryl Wood Gerber’s cozy mysteries, you can expect some mouthwatering mentions of food throughout the story, and a plethora of recipes at the back of the book. Murder by the Millions is no exception, and I couldn’t wait to try out the Simple Blueberry Tarts. Starting with frozen tart shells (I used the mini phyllo shells) the blueberry filling cooks up quickly on the stovetop. I liked the tartness brought by the addition of lemon juice to the mixture. It was a nice contrast to the sweet berries and whipped cream. I also enjoyed the use of fresh berries—half cooked and half left raw—which added a nice texture and bite to the tarts. These simple blueberry tarts really are simple to make and delicious to eat!
Synopsis
If it were true that the best thing a girl can be in this world is a fool, then Allie Catt would be out of luck. Fortunately, Allie’s business is a smashing success. And following her Pride and Prejudice event, grander plans await . . .
Feast for the Eyes bookstore manager and Allie’s best friend, Tegan, is hosting a book club soiree and wants it to be a glittering affair based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic Jazz Age-set novel, The Great Gatsby. Soon, Art Deco table settings and visions of flappers are dancing the Charleston in their heads. Even Tegan’s prickly sister, Vanna, is on board. And surely, Allie’s tuxedo cat, Darcy, thinks it’s the cat’s meow.
Amid the planning, charismatic developer Jason Gardner arrives in town to buy some historic buildings on Main Street. He, too, has plans: to create a modern mall. Allie is more than concerned. She even wants to protest. But when Jason invites her to cater a lavish party, she finds him surprisingly likable. Then she’s summoned to his estate for a meeting—and finds him dead.
Once again Allie’s landed in the middle of a crime scene.
A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print ARC copy of MURDER BY THE MILLIONS to one lucky winner! Contest ends November 2, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the KingSumo contest box located below recipe to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
Yield: 12 tarts
- 1 dozen frozen tart shells (may be gluten free)
- 3 cups fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Whipped cream, if desired
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Arrange the tart shells on the baking sheet and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until golden. Remove the shells from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
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Next, pour 1-1/2 cups of the blueberries into a small saucepan. Do not turn on the heat on the stove yet.
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In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add the sugar mixture and the lemon juice to the berries in the saucepan and stir. Next, bring the blueberry mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the berries burst and soften, and the juices thicken. Then allow the mixture to come to a boil, and cook for 1 minute more to thicken it further. This also removes some of the "starchiness" of the cornstarch.
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Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the remaining 1-1/2 cups blueberries. Let the blueberry filling sit for 1 minute, and then spoon it into the reserved tart shells. Allow the tarts to cool for 10 to 20 minutes so that the filling firms up.
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Serve the tarts with whipped cream, if desired. Refrigerate any leftover tarts.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
