Gourd to Death is the fifth installment in the Pie Town Mystery series featuring Val Harris and set in San Nicholas, California. It's time for the annual Halloween festival and various events around town will include a pie baking contest, a pumpkin cannon, a corn maze and a giant pumpkin contest. Val has entered the pie baking contest and is going up against her boyfriend, Detective Gordon Carmichael.

Val and Charlene, her pie crust maker are taking a break from the shop and going to see the giant pumpkins when they discover the body of the local ophthalmologist crushed under one of the gourds. Chief Shaw points the finger at the pumpkin's owner, who happens to be the relative of another of Val's employees. With Gordon removed from the case due to personal conflict it's up to Val and Charlene to hunt down the killer.

A good addition to this quirky series. I was a little surprised that a few storylines were just left dangling so maybe they'll be wrapped up in a future installment. I was also disappointed that there was such a huge, glaring mistake at the end surrounding the capture of the killer that actually ruined the entire story for me but maybe, because I was reading an advanced copy the error was fixed in the print copy.

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