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DEATH OF A GINGERBREAD MAN is the seventeenth book in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mysteries by Lee Hollis. Nothing is better than being surrounded by family while celebrating the Christmas season… unless your father, who abandoned you forty-odd years ago, shows up at the very same time your mother comes for an extended stay. Protagonist Hayley Powell’s quiet Christmas is filled with angst trying to juggle her parents and then turns into a nightmare when her father becomes a murder suspect. The author does a marvelous job setting the stage for not only family drama along with the sights, sounds, and tastes of the season, but interjects humor to keep the story lighthearted. I also appreciated getting to know Hayley’s backstory through the sudden appearance of her father. She has had quite the life, and while this can easily be read as a standalone, starting with the first book and witnessing her growth, the changes in her life and family, and her investigative prowess is highly satisfying. One of the key strengths in this series is the characters who easily become your close friends and trust me, you don’t want to miss out on any of their shenanigans.
With Hayley’s dad becoming a suspect in the murder of a gingerbread house contestant—and what could be more awkward than him being the father-in-law to the chief of police?!?—Hayley finds she must get involved and clear his name. Except, she knows next to nothing about him and his past is fraught with run-ins with the law. Could he be the killer, or is someone trying to frame him? I enjoy how Hayley’s best friends pitch in to find clues, along with Hayley’s mother and her close friends. It’s a team effort to track the culprit down. There are several twists I didn’t see coming and suspects galore that kept me guessing. The mystery was well-plotted and with everything going on, the book was fast-paced. I didn’t want to set it down until I’d read to the very end. If you enjoy holiday-themed cozy mysteries with memorable characters and a few chuckles, then I highly recommend this newest release!
Not only does Hayley own and run a restaurant, but she is also writes the Island Food & Spirits newspaper column. She always includes an anecdote plus recipes—for both food and drink—with her column and I greatly enjoy the addition of these every few chapters. Given the gingerbread theme of the book, I just had to try out the recipe for Mom’s Gingerbread. With a generous amount of spices and molasses, this dark, rich cake captures the flavors of the holiday season perfectly. It makes a large cake to feed a crowd, making it ideal for parties. No matter how you serve it—on its own, or with whipped cream or ice cream—this dessert will be a hit!
Amazon Synopsis
With the holiday season in full swing, food and cocktails columnist and restauranteur Hayley Powell has lots to check off her last-minute to-do list. Not included is the sudden arrival of her father, who hasn’t been in the picture since she believed in Santa Claus. Dwight Jordan’s presence in Bar Harbor might just be the unwanted gift that keeps on giving—especially after he becomes the top suspect in a case of yuletide murder . . .
As Hayley plans a New Year’s Eve bash while handling a hefty helping of family drama, she must lean into her closest friends to unravel a twisted mystery. Because the countdown is on to find out who killed the sore loser at the gingerbread house contest before Dwight disappears again—this time behind bars. And the more Hayley learns about the possible culprits, the more she knows it’s either crack the case ASAP or watch everything crumble like a stale cookie . . .
A special thanks to Lee Hollis for offering a print copy of DEATH OF A GINGERBREAD MAN to one lucky winner! Contest ends September 22, 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!)
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ginger
- 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup boiling water
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your 13x9-inch baking dish with baking spray.
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In a stand mixer, mix your eggs, sugar, molasses, spices, oil, and boiling water until well combined. Mix your baking powder into the flour and add a little at a time to the batter mixture until it is all combined.
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Pour the batter into your greased baking dish and place in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
That sounds delicious! I might have to make those soon!
Sounds like a book I will enjoy.
I love gingerbread and this looks so yummy!
Fun series and recipe for gingerbread! Thank you for the contest!!
Love this series and can’t wait for this new book. I look forward to trying this Gingerbread recipe during the holidays. New recipes are always fun to try and I think a cream cheese topping will go well with the flavor.
I love this series. I’m thinking I may be making this gingerbread today.
Love the recipe! The book sounds like a very intriguing mystery!
Gingerbread is great warm with applesauce.
Try putting a layer of applesauce in the pan before adding the batter.
I have read a couple books in this series and enjoyed them. As Fall approaches I always get hungry for gingerbread and molasses cookies. This recipe looks delicious.
Sorry to have to ask, but is it baking SODA or baking powder? Both are mentioned.
It’s baking powder that is used. Sorry for the confusion — I’ll correct the recipe!
I’ll be making these soon! And the book sounds good. I see myself getting hooked into it.