A fresh, funny follow up that serves up another satisfying mystery alongside incredible food, sharp humor, and a heartfelt celebration of Chicago’s South Side.

Goodreads | Savvy Summers and the Po Boy Perils

Release date: July 21, 2026

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

The next delectable mystery featuring quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, owner of a soul food café in Chicago.

Savvy has her work cut out when an old friend hires her to cater a company luncheon at a nearby office building on Chicago’s South Side. Stepping out of her traditional soul food comfort zone, Savvy whips together a menu of Creole classics, with her own spin, of course—mini po’boys with assorted fillings, sunburst salad, and bread pudding using Great Aunt Essie’s famous buttermilk biscuits.

But when someone is found dead in the company’s conference room, Savvy’s culinary creations are suddenly in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. While the focus should be on their delicious flavors and inventive techniques, Savvy’s beloved café instead becomes the center of a murder investigation once again.

Caught within a messy web of gossip, miscommunication, and fraught coworker relationships, Savvy will have to settle the confusion to clear her name. Somebody’s hiding something, and with the help of her trusty assistant manager, Penny Lopés, Savvy sets out uncover exactly who is to blame. With familiar faces turning up the heat on her investigation and her café still in hot water, will Savvy be able to save her reputation before it’s too late?

Review:

This series continues to feel like such a refreshing take on the cozy mystery genre. I loved spending more time with Savvy and Penny, whose friendship is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the series. Their banter is quick, witty, and genuinely funny, and every conversation between them feels effortless. Savvy especially is such a fantastic heroine, she’s smart, outspoken, and absolutely unwilling to suffer fools.

Beyond the mystery itself, I loved how much this book celebrates Chicago’s South Side and Black culture. It almost felt like I was learning something new with every chapter, but never in a way that slowed the story down. Instead, the history, traditions, neighborhoods, food, and sense of community are woven naturally into the mystery, making the setting feel incredibly immersive. The Creole inspired menu Savvy creates had me hungry the entire time, and once again the food descriptions were absolutely mouthwatering.

One unexpectedly delightful part of the story was the dog that communicates using a button board. I found those scenes completely fascinating—and honestly kind of amazing. Combined with the series’ signature humor, memorable supporting cast, and plenty of clever dialogue, it added another layer of charm to an already entertaining mystery. 

Sandra Jackson-Opoku continues to carve out a unique space in the cozy mystery genre with this series. The mysteries are engaging, the characters are endlessly entertaining, and the vibrant sense of place makes these books stand out from the crowd. I’m officially invested in Savvy, Penny, and Essie’s Café, and I’d happily follow them into a third mystery.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Food centered cozy mysteries
• Strong female friendships
• Urban settings with rich community
• Black culture and Chicago history woven into the story
• Sharp humor and witty dialogue
• Cozy mysteries that feel modern and unique

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Novelgossip!