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I’m delighted to be participating in the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour presenting SEAMS LIKE THE PERFECT CRIME, the fourteenth book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries by Lois Winston! I’ve had my eye on this series for a while but this is the first opportunity I’ve had to finally read one… and now I need to add the previous thirteen books to my TBR list! Despite not know the entire backstory of protagonist Anastasia Pollack’s life, the author did an admirable job weaving in just enough information so that I never felt lost… although I have enough curiosity to make me determined to read and find out. This is one of those books where you love the characters, except for those who are meant to be hated. And thrown in for some humor is the Shakespearean-reciting African Grey parrot, called Ralph. Each of the players had very distinctive personalities, but I like Anastasia is a capable woman with a soft spot for those who need help. She may be a bit of a pushover, but when the situation calls for it, she stands firm and does the right thing. You can tell what kind of woman Anastasia is by the way her teen son lives his life and responds to those who need help as well. It added heartwarming moments to the storyline.

But as all cozy mysteries are prone to do, there is a murder and Anastasia gets involved after her son finds the victim. Goodness, the lead up to and the crime is certainly a page-turner! (Be sure to read the author’s note at the back of the book… it’s eye opening how the plot came to be.) Given the victim is a brand-new neighbor, Anastasia doesn’t know much about him or the people he knows. There is an added level of difficulty in finding out the suspects and the motives for his death, and the author is methodical in laying out the clues and the investigation. The plot moves along at a quick pace and as the story progressed, I found myself unable to put the book down until I’d read the very last sentence.

I enjoyed reading the instructions for Anastasia’s Quilted Memories Ideas at the back of the book. I’m not terribly crafty, but I love the idea of saving favorite clothing items (especially from children) and creating something that will last. And while the book itself doesn’t have any recipes, Anastasia’s best friend is constantly bringing delectable goodies to their office, with mouthwatering descriptions. You can read a brief excerpt (below) relating to Lois Winston’s recipe I’m sharing today—Apple Muffins with an Added Surprise! I loved how moist these muffins were, thanks to both apple and zucchini used in the batter. The cinnamon adds a nice flavor while the cream cheese filling adds richness. These make an excellent and delicious breakfast treat or perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up!

Amazon Synopsis

When staffing shortages continue to hamper the Union County homicide squad, Detective Sam Spader once again turns to his secret weapon, reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. How can she and husband Zack Barnes refuse when the victim is their new neighbor?

Revolutionary War reenactor Barry Sumner had the odd habit of spending hours mowing a small patch of packed dirt and weeds until his mower ran out of gas. He’d then guzzle beer on his front porch until he passed out. That’s where Anastasia’s son Nick discovers his body three days after the victim and his family moved into the newly built mini-McMansion across the street.

After a melee breaks out at the viewing, Spader zeroes in on the widow as his prime suspect. However, Anastasia has her doubts. There are other possible suspects, including a woman who’d had an affair with the victim, his ex-wife, the man overseeing the widow’s trust fund, a drug dealer, and the reenactors who were blackmailing the widow and victim.

Keep reading for an excerpt from the book:

Anastasia Pollack, magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth of my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, needs copious amounts of caffeine and baked goods to deal with everything I dump on her—from a communist mother-in-law to more dead bodies than the average big city homicide cop encounters in a lifetime on the force. Luckily, her BFF, food editor Cloris McWerther, keeps the magazine break room well stocked with both. Most of the time:

After suffering through the usual bumper-to-bumper morning commute, I arrived at work in time to snag a coffee in the break room. Unfortunately, I found only crumbs remaining on the plate of whatever goodies Cloris had provided this morning.

I popped my head into her cubicle and mumbled a half-hearted, “Morning.”

She took one look at me and frowned. “Get up on the wrong side of the bed?”

I held up my coffee mug. “Notice anything missing?”

“Should I?”

“Mondays are bad enough, but starting the week without a Cloris confection is a violation of the United Nations ban on torture.”

“Before you report me, check your desk.”

I spun around and stepped across the hall. A ginormous apple muffin sat on a napkin beside my keyboard. I called across the hall to her. “You’re now officially in my will.”

Cloris snorted. “So, I inherit your debt?”

“You never know. I may win the lottery someday.”

“You don’t play the lottery.”

“That could change.”

“I won’t hold my breath, but you’re welcome for the muffin.”

I blew her a kiss. “Best BFF ever.”

A special thanks to Lois Winston for providing three winners with a print or ebook copy of SEAMS LIKE THE PERFECT CRIME. Print limited to U.S. residents only. Contest ends February 17, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. Contest is administered by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour and the winner will be announced on this page and notified by email (so check your spam folder!)

Print

Apple Muffins with an Added Surprise

Servings: 12 muffins

Ingredients

Muffin Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 small peeled and diced apple, any variety suitable for baking

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

• 6 ounces whipped cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 egg yolk, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (F). Grease a 12-count muffin pan or line with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry muffin ingredients except the sugar.
3. Using a stand mixer, whisk together the oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Fold in the zucchini and apples.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together only until combined.
5. Using the stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and sugar until smooth and creamy.
6. Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, place a scoop of muffin batter into each muffin cup. Add a scoop of the cream cheese mixture. Then another scoop of muffin batter.

7. Bake at 425 degrees (F) for 5 minutes. Leaving the muffins in the oven, reduce the temperature to 350F and continue baking 15 minutes more.

8. Cool muffin tin on wire rack before removing muffins.

Cinnamon & Sugar's Note:

1. I added some coarse sparkling sugar to the tops of the muffins before baking.

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

February 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CRAFT  POST

February 7 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE POST

February 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 13 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 14 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 15 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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