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DEATH UNFILTERD is the fourth book in the Ground Rules Mysteries by Emmeline Duncan. I think each book gets better and better, as it builds on the preceding storyline so that the reader gets a deeper insight into protagonist Sage Caplin, her family, and her crew of baristas. There’s also the thread of Sage’s con-artist mom running through each story. It adds a depth of emotion as Sage struggles to overcome her guilt at how she was a part of her mom’s schemes as a young child, then abandoned when she’d outgrown her usefulness. In Death Unfiltered, old wounds are opened, and she comes face-to-face with one of her mother’s victims. Because of this, it’s probably best to start at the beginning of the series, even though this could be read as a standalone based on the murder mystery itself.
Ms. Duncan has created a colorful cast of characters in a very colorful city: Portland, Oregon. With edgy vibes and a definite love of coffee, Sage and her company, Ground Rules, certainly fits in. There are vivid descriptions to bring the locale to life and it’s hard to not want to book a flight right away to visit. Sage and her business partner, Harley, are opening a brick-and-mortar store. Everyone is excited about the new venture except the neighboring Breakfast Bandits shop owner, Bianca. When Bianca drops dead after sipping on Ground Rules coffee on the morning of their grand opening, it looks like their fledgling business might not survive. With Sage in the crosshairs of law enforcement and a true-crime podcaster dogging and recording her every step, Sage must find the actual killer. This well-plotted mystery has a good pace. Ms. Duncan weaves coffee details, the subplot of Sage’s mom, and the murder together into a cohesive story that never lags. I was truly surprised at the reveal… I never suspected the culprit. And with a zinger of an ending, it will take all my patience to wait until I can have the next book in hand to find out what happens next!
There are several recipes included at the back of the book, including drinks, plus savory and sweet dishes. I couldn’t wait to try the naturally gluten-free and dairy-free recipe for Ground Rules Blondies. Oh. My. Word. These are so yummy! It was difficult sharing even a single piece with anyone else. But, I did… and my husband immediately asked me to make another pan. These are actually very easy to mix up, and in my household, the ingredients are already staples I readily have on hand. The only hard part is waiting for the blondies to cool to slice it into squares!
Amazon Synopsis
Ground Rules isn’t the only newcomer set to open in Portland’s grand new Button Building. Fortunately, most of the fellow micro-restaurant owners and patrons are great—with two exceptions. There’s Rose, a true-crime podcaster and active TikToker who’s pestering Sage for an interview about her estranged con-artist mother; and Bianca, the familiar and perpetually unpleasant owner of Breakfast Bandits. Bianca is abrasive to everyone, so Sage doesn’t feel singled out. . . . Until Bianca falls dead at the building’s grand opening—a to-go cup of Ground Rules coffee in her hand. Laced with Ketamine, also known as Special K.
It doesn’t help that just before she collapsed, Bianca was publicly rude to Sage. Or that Bianca’s boyfriend points the police toward Sage. Or that Rose, still hung up on investigating Sage’s mom, has declared she’ll solve the murder. Now it will be up to Sage to sift through a complex blend of motives, blackmail, and old and new rivalries to get to the truth of a very bitter brew . . .
A special thanks to Emmeline Duncan for offering TWO print arc copies of DEATH UNFILTERED plus some fun swag! Contest ends April 7, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
One of the joys of this blondie recipe is that it's naturally gluten-free, but you'd never guess that based on the taste. The almond flour gives these a chewy deliciousness that's almost addictive. Mixing in oat flour (versus one hundred percent almond) makes the blondies a lighter, airier texture. If you want to serve this to a GF friend, make sure your oat flour is certified gluten-free.
This recipe is also naturally dairy-free, but again, you can't tell based on taste!
- 1 cup almond flour & oat flour mix (either 3/4 almond flour and 1/4 cup GF oat flour; or 1/2 and 1/2)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with parchment paper (or grease the pan well, but honestly, use parchment paper; the cleanup is much easier).
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Mix the brown sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Using a fork, make sure to blend the dry ingredients.
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Add the oil, egg, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon (or similar). The batter will feel more like cookie dough than brownie or cake batter.
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Pour the dough into the waiting 8-by-8-inch pan and use the wooden spoon to spread it out.
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Bake for 25-30 minutes. One way to check of the blondies are done: insert a toothpick into the blondie; you want it to be mostly crumb-free when you pull the toothpick back out.
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Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Slice into squares once the blondies are fully cooled off.
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You can use all-purpose flour, but then your blondies won't have the chewy, nutty taste.
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If you can't find gluten-free oat flour, simply whirl your gluten-free whole oats in a blender or a food processor until fine.
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I added a quick powdered sugar and water drizzle for the top. I forgot to write down the exact measurements but start with 3/4 cup powdered sugar and add 2-1/2 teaspoons of water. Stir until absorbed. Add a tiny bit of water at a time (like 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon), stirring well until combined, until desired consistency is reached. The key is to not add too much water all at once.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This author is new to me. The book sounds like a great read!
I love ARCs; I love to bake; this could be a win-win here!
This sounds great. I’m tempted to add nuts and/or chocolate chips.
Either or both would be a great addition!
Thanks for the recipe, this is a new Author for me. her book sounds very good, thank you
Penney
The book sounds great. I need to catch up on this series. And these blondies look delicious.
Sounds like a good book and a yummy recipe.
I have the other books in this series and enjoyed them a lot.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing the recipe