A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH is the third book in the Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns. This fast-paced contemporary cozy mystery is both protagonist Maddy Montgomery’s life revolving around her bakery (and learning to bake with hilarious results!) and a crafty, multi-faceted mystery spanning the three books in the series. Ms. Burns has created memorable characters from Maddy’s English mastiff dog, Baby, to her boyfriend veterinarian Michael, to her roommate, Sheriff April, to her Admirable father, as well as her deceased aunt’s elderly friends. I love how they all come together to solve the murder of Maddy’s nemesis and call themselves the Baker Street Irregulars. I especially enjoyed seeing Maddy’s father more involved in this book and their close relationship brings an emotional note to the story. While there may be drama and angst between Maddy and her fiancé-stealing nemesis leading up to the murder, the core characters are kind and supportive of each other. The kind of people you’d like to call friends.

In this newest release, Maddy comes face-to-face with Brandy Denton, the woman who stole her fiancé, and is subsequently murdered at her bakery. There’s also a mysterious man who seems to stalk her, and Maddy can’t figure out why or who he is. Ms. Burns has created a complex plot that kept me turning pages and guessing who would have wanted to murdered Brandy since Maddy was the only one in town who knew her… or was she? There are twists I didn’t see coming, and I appreciated that the ongoing mystery thread weaving throughout all three books is finally resolved with an edge-of-your-seat conclusion. I hope that doesn’t mean that this is the end of the series because I love hanging out with Maddy, Baby, and the entire gang and can’t wait to read more!

There are several mouthwatering dishes mentioned in the story, and the author has included a few recipes at the back of the book to try at home. When I came upon the recipe for Old-Fashioned Pound Cake, I knew I had to make it. There’s something so appealing about the ultra rich, dense cake with nothing more than vanilla for flavoring. And since it’s baked in a Bundt pan, there’s no need for embellishing with elaborate frosting for visual appeal either. It’s the perfect dessert all on its own or the canvas for adding berries, ice cream, or whipped cream to satisfy your sweet tooth!

 

 

Amazon Synopsis

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 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 . . .

 

 

 

 

 

A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering an arc print copy of A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH to one lucky winner! Contest ends July 28, 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!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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