One bite. One dead man. One very suspicious pie. Reggie “Boom Mic” McGraw made a living roasting the citizens of Pelican Shores on the airwaves. But when he drops dead after his starring role as judge in the Pie-Off competition, the town’s beloved Fourth of July celebration erupts into pandemonium. Now the whole island is in a frenzy. And Finn Dockrey, art café owner and reluctant sleuth, finds herself at the center of the chaos. Her best friend’s pie was the last one Reggie ever tasted. When the town starts pointing fingers, it’s up to Finn and Birdie to prove her innocence. The trail of clues weaves through the turmoil of the day's celebration. The infamous Red, White, and Afloat Boat Parade and a reinvented Ms. Firecracker Pageant escalate the patriotic mayhem. And the People's Choice Pie-Off taste testing is overflowing with suspicion. Did the killer plan to murder just Reggie? Or is the whole town at risk if they taste the pies? Finn and Birdie grab their animal crime-solving duo, Beau and Queen Bean, to work their way through the lineup of eccentric suspects. A salty old sea captain, a wannabe Hollywood starlet, the Gyotaku street artist, and a pie thief with a guilty conscience. Everyone seems to be hiding something. As Finn inches closer to the truth, tensions flare and fireworks fly, both on and off the docks. And that smoldering spark with Pelican Shores’ most charming detective? Let’s just say the Fourth might not be the only thing lighting up the sky. Death, Pageants and Pie is a whip-smart, cozy mystery with explosive secrets, pageant drama, and a twisty trail leading to one shocking killer.