A picture perfect fall setting, an apple orchard full of secrets, and enough cozy autumn vibes to make this foodie mystery feel like a crisp October day in book form.

Goodreads | Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival

Release date: August 25, 2026

Publisher: Kensington Cozies

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis:

For lovers of everything cozy and fall time, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall brings all the autumn vibes to a brand new series featuring a family of Washington State apple orchard owners who become entangled in a murder investigation…

In the foothills of Washington’s Cascade mountains, the Smith family’s Cider Falls Orchard is at its busiest amid the bustling autumn season—but when murder enters the mix, one bad apple may have spoiled the whole barrel . . .

If you care for the land, the land will care for you.

For generations, that’s been the Smith family’s motto. Between hayrides, apple picking, bonfires, and tasty apple treats, their Cider Falls Orchard provides an autumn bounty that draws locals and tourists alike. And now, Mcintosh “Macki” Smith—named after an apple variety, just like her siblings—is home too, after a bad breakup.

Macki is glad to be on hand when her parents are sidelined by an accident, and she’s even been persuaded to enter the Cider Falls Festival’s prestigious baking competition with her famous double crust apple pie. But someone has taken the contest to deadly serious levels . . .

It seems there are plenty of surprising motives for murder, especially after Macki learns that a crooked developer wants to buy and demolish the orchard—which makes her parents’ accident increasingly suspicious. But serving up the real killer will put her in unexpected danger, because someone in this picture-perfect town finds murder as easy as pie . . .

Review:

I wanted fall vibes and Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival delivered them in full. This book is autumn everywhere, from the orchard setting to the cider festival, baking, crisp seasonal atmosphere, and picture perfect small town backdrop. It has that cozy fall feeling I was specifically craving, and Traci Hall does a wonderful job making Cider Falls feel like a place I could happily spend an entire season.

I also really enjoyed how much was happening throughout the story. There are essentially two mysteries unfolding alongside each other: the actual murder investigation and the questions surrounding the accident involving Macki’s parents. Add in the financial problems facing the orchard and the developer who wants the property, and there are plenty of moving pieces. Somehow, though, it never felt like too much. Each storyline gave the plot another layer and kept me curious about what would happen next.

Macki was another highlight for me. Coming home gives her a chance to reconnect with her family and reignite her passion for baking, which I especially loved as a foodie reader. I always enjoy when a cozy mystery gives its protagonist something meaningful happening outside of the murder, and Macki’s journey makes this feel like the beginning of a larger story for both her and the orchard.

There is a fairly large cast of characters, but I found it surprisingly easy to keep everyone straight, and I enjoyed getting to know the people surrounding Macki and her family. The ending also left me with some very specific questions about where the series is headed—particularly when it comes to Macki’s romantic life. 👀 If that ending is hinting at the beginnings of a love triangle, I am going to need book two sooner rather than later.

Overall, this was a fantastic fall cozy read and a promising start to what I hope becomes a full series. Between the orchard setting, baking, family dynamics, layered mysteries, and autumn atmosphere, Apple Pies and Poisoned Lies at the Cider Falls Festival gave me exactly the cozy experience I was looking for.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Fall themed cozy mysteries
• Apple orchards and cider festivals
• Culinary mysteries and baking
• Small town settings
• Family owned businesses
• Multiple mysteries unfolding at once
• A hint of romantic 

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!