A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns Series: Baker Street Mystery #3
Published by Kensington Books on July 23, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Culinary, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
Pages: 288
Format: Audiobook
Source: Libby
On the shores of Lake Michigan, influencer Maddy Montgomery has turned the bakery she inherited from her great aunt Octavia into a destination. There’s just one thing she won’t post: the body in the freezer . . .
Thanks to Maddy’s social media savvy, Baby Cakes Bakery is becoming a huge success—so much so that she’s attracted the attention of her former nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Brandy Denton. When Brandy blows into New Bison like an ill wind and disrupts a vlog Maddy’s filming, their argument goes viral. After Brandy’s body is found in the freezer at Baby Cakes, Maddy instantly goes from viral sensation to murder suspect.
As Maddy is still reeling from the murder, a stranger shows up in the bakery claiming to have been a friend of Octavia. He believes Maddy is in danger. When a second body washes up on the lake shore, it seems clear someone’s out to kill to keep a secret—and it may have to do with her great aunt.
Maddy rallies her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars; Sheriff April Johnson; and her veterinarian boyfriend Michael—not to mention her English mastiff Baby—to do some digging and root out whoever’s behind the killings . . .
My Review
I was excited to learn that the Baker Street Mystery Series had another book out, so of course, I went straight to Libby to check it out. I decided to listen to this book since I had listened to the previous two, and I really enjoyed the narrator. I love this series, and if I am being honest, Baby is the star of the books for me. I just love his big ol self. This is book three in the series, so if you are someone who enjoys reading books in order, then I wanted to give you a heads-up. Book one in the series, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder, really set everything up nicely.
In book three, we are back at the bakery, and a body is found in the freezer. Oddly enough, this body belongs to Maddy’s nemesis, Brandy, the fiance stealer from book one. It does not help that a video was taken of the two of them having a heated argument not long before Brandy shows up dead. Tropper Bob believes Maddy to be guilty and is trying his darndest to prove his theory. This is not the only mystery in this book because one of Aunt Octavia’s friends shows up with a package for Maddy. What is in the package? More importantly, does she ever receive it?
Maddy is still not a world-class baker by any means. In fact, she struggles with some of the simplest things to make. I love that she is still dedicated to learning and that she records herself in the process. The humor in this story is great, and Maddy’s ability to laugh at herself is refreshing because not everyone has this ability. New Bison is a far cry from what Maddy left back in LA, but she is finding her footing nicely in this little town in Michigan. She has developed friendships and found herself a great guy. I think it is safe to say that she is really settling into her new life as a bakery owner and dog mom.
Reader, the mystery from books one and two continues in book three. As I said, if you haven’t read the first two books in the series, it might be helpful to do so. This story has multiple mysteries to solve, but do not worry, Maddy and her friend group are up for the challenge regardless of Tropper Bob and all of his nonsense. If you are looking for a fun, cozy mystery with lots of humor and a fantastic animal sidekick, then give this series a go because I do not think you will be disappointed. I know I have really enjoyed watching Maddy grow and develop through the series so far, and as I said earlier, Baby is my all-time favorite character in this series. For me, he steals the show. Reader, have you read anything by this author? As always, I am curious to know because I do not know about you, but I am always on the lookout for another fun read. Until Next Time, Reader, Happy Reading.
Trigger Warnings:
- Murder
- Mentions of Cheating and Broken Engagements
- Mean Girl Behaviors (putting others down, acting superior, etc.)