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Cupcake Bakery Mystery #3
Death by the Dozen
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 2011
358 people are currently reading
2469 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
70 books5,247 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 468 reviews
September 5, 2021
I've been quite slow in trying this series. That was an understatement. The climate has changed a lot since I read book 2. The vegetation has crept more upwards on the planet since I read the last book.
This time around, I appreciated the humor, which was a weakness in other books that Jenn Mckinlay wrote. Here she is funny. I thought that she put in a lot of work in making book 3 in the series a hit.
I thought the murders in the book kept the momentum in Death by The Dozen going. There's something old fashioned in this concept. I respect the author for an entertaining book. It's not easy to write one.
Please, if you like thrillers or Agatha Christie books, go out of your comfort zone and read this book.
This time around, I appreciated the humor, which was a weakness in other books that Jenn Mckinlay wrote. Here she is funny. I thought that she put in a lot of work in making book 3 in the series a hit.
I thought the murders in the book kept the momentum in Death by The Dozen going. There's something old fashioned in this concept. I respect the author for an entertaining book. It's not easy to write one.
Please, if you like thrillers or Agatha Christie books, go out of your comfort zone and read this book.
June 28, 2025
Death by the Dozen is the 3rd book in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries written by Jenn McKinlay. I've read a few of the author's other series plus the first two in this one. Light, easy-to-read, reachable setting and characters, and fun dialog are the primary reasons to give them a chance. The writing style is perfect for the cozy sub-genre and all the recipes will make your mouth water. In this installment, bakery owners Mel and Angie, plus their financial backer and bestie Tate, enter a Food Channel cooking competition where an arch rival shows up as well as several former friends and classmates from cooking school. Someone ends up dead. Who wanted to win so badly (s)he killed to get the prize?
I love the sibling drama with Angie's family - 7 brothers, oh my! Mel is dating one of them, but he seems pretty normal compared to the rest. Angie's got her own boyfriend issues, tho she's destined to be with Tate. Oz, a new intern for their shop, steals the show in this book. I love how he's described and fits into the overall mold in the series. Olivia is a wonderful foil for the trio, and the antics sometimes remind me a bit of the Stephanie Plum series. I gained a few literal pounds while reading this one, and honestly, it's just an enjoyable read filled with some great moments. All made sense in the mystery with a few clues possibly too subtle to lead us to the truth. But sometimes vagueness is helpful. Looking forward to the next one.
I love the sibling drama with Angie's family - 7 brothers, oh my! Mel is dating one of them, but he seems pretty normal compared to the rest. Angie's got her own boyfriend issues, tho she's destined to be with Tate. Oz, a new intern for their shop, steals the show in this book. I love how he's described and fits into the overall mold in the series. Olivia is a wonderful foil for the trio, and the antics sometimes remind me a bit of the Stephanie Plum series. I gained a few literal pounds while reading this one, and honestly, it's just an enjoyable read filled with some great moments. All made sense in the mystery with a few clues possibly too subtle to lead us to the truth. But sometimes vagueness is helpful. Looking forward to the next one.
August 10, 2020
Yippee!! A visit to Fairy Tale Cupcakes, and a chance to see Mel and Ang. Ok I will only admit this once, and then deny it forever. Angie scares me...I mean I love her, but her temper...gees. Look out! I was going to cheer them on at the Scottsdale Food Festivals Challenge to the chef. Mel’s favorite instructor Vic Mazzotta from culinary school is going to be a judge...maybe this will give them a leg up. The competition begins, and Vic is still nowhere to be found. Later his body is discovered in a walk-in freezer. His death is labeled a suicide, and Mel is convinced this is a mistake. She is adamant that Vic would not commit suicide, and ropes us in to investigating what really happened…
My thoughts:
Another sweet treat! This series continues to satisfy. I enjoy all the characters...what an interesting bunch Mel is smart and clearheaded, Angie is the dynamo...just like a stick of dynamite ready to explode, the brothers and their meddlesome overprotective ways, Olivia the nemesis brought so much drama. When she was carted off by security at the end, I was pumping my fists in victory...just like Rocky. This book added Oz, a new member of the bakery team, and one I hope gets more cameos in future books. The cooking competition was such a fun setting. There was so much mayhem going on judges backstabbing each other, crazy competitors, poison, and dead bodies. The mystery was entwined with lots of twists and turns, and when so many people hate the victim...everyone is a suspect. I was guessing until the end. What a fun read!!
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
My thoughts:
Another sweet treat! This series continues to satisfy. I enjoy all the characters...what an interesting bunch Mel is smart and clearheaded, Angie is the dynamo...just like a stick of dynamite ready to explode, the brothers and their meddlesome overprotective ways, Olivia the nemesis brought so much drama. When she was carted off by security at the end, I was pumping my fists in victory...just like Rocky. This book added Oz, a new member of the bakery team, and one I hope gets more cameos in future books. The cooking competition was such a fun setting. There was so much mayhem going on judges backstabbing each other, crazy competitors, poison, and dead bodies. The mystery was entwined with lots of twists and turns, and when so many people hate the victim...everyone is a suspect. I was guessing until the end. What a fun read!!
For more book fun subscribe to my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/
May 20, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a good time with this cozy. I listened to the first two books in the series last year and I was really excited to spend a little more time in the cupcake bakery. I was entertained from the very start and ended up listening to the book for hours at a time. I was completely entertained and I worked to solve the mystery along with Mel and Angie.
I love a good mystery but I also love a good cupcake. I am not really sure which one I like more but it might be the cupcakes. One thing that I loved about this book was the cooking contest. Mel and Angie participate in a contest where they had to use a mystery ingredient. I loved the description on what kind of desserts these two would make using some rather strange ingredients both in the contest and as practice. I loved that baking was really a part of this story.
The mystery was able to keep me guessing and I wasn't quite sure who the murderer was until the big reveal. Vic and Mel had a special relationship but not everyone was such a big fan of the man so there were quite a few suspects. When things started happening that brought the danger closer to Mel and Angie, everything became a little more serious. I thought that the mystery aspect of the story was very well done.
The characters in this book were great. It was really nice to be back with both Mel and Angie as well as their friends and family. This book does introduce a new character, Oz, who starts working at the bakery as an intern from the local high school. I wasn't sure how Oz would fit in at first but it quickly became apparent that he was meant to be a part of their group. I was also thrilled to have a kitten added to the mix of characters. The kitten, Jack, didn't have a whole lot of time in the story but I did enjoy the scenes he was in quite a lot.
Susan Boyce does a fantastic job with this series. I love all of the voices that she uses in the book. I thought that she was able to add just a bit more excitement to the story through her narration. I thought that she read the book at the perfect pace and her voice was very pleasant to listen to throughout the story. I had no problems listening to this book for hours at a time and look forward to more of her narration in the future.
I do recommend this series to others. This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series but it could easily be read as a stand alone. Readers of the series will enjoy seeing things move forward in the lives of the characters. I can't wait to read more of this entertaining series!
Initial Thoughts
This was a nice little mystery. I wasn't quite sure who the murderer was until the big reveal even though I had a few guesses. It was nice to see all of the characters from the previous books and I liked the addition of the new bakery intern as well as the kitten. I actually really enjoyed it when they were working on interesting recipes for the competition. I wouldn't have a clue about making anything with the mystery ingredients that they had to use. The narrator did a fantastic job with the book. This was a pretty enjoyable read overall.
Book source: Library via Hoopla
I had a good time with this cozy. I listened to the first two books in the series last year and I was really excited to spend a little more time in the cupcake bakery. I was entertained from the very start and ended up listening to the book for hours at a time. I was completely entertained and I worked to solve the mystery along with Mel and Angie.
I love a good mystery but I also love a good cupcake. I am not really sure which one I like more but it might be the cupcakes. One thing that I loved about this book was the cooking contest. Mel and Angie participate in a contest where they had to use a mystery ingredient. I loved the description on what kind of desserts these two would make using some rather strange ingredients both in the contest and as practice. I loved that baking was really a part of this story.
The mystery was able to keep me guessing and I wasn't quite sure who the murderer was until the big reveal. Vic and Mel had a special relationship but not everyone was such a big fan of the man so there were quite a few suspects. When things started happening that brought the danger closer to Mel and Angie, everything became a little more serious. I thought that the mystery aspect of the story was very well done.
The characters in this book were great. It was really nice to be back with both Mel and Angie as well as their friends and family. This book does introduce a new character, Oz, who starts working at the bakery as an intern from the local high school. I wasn't sure how Oz would fit in at first but it quickly became apparent that he was meant to be a part of their group. I was also thrilled to have a kitten added to the mix of characters. The kitten, Jack, didn't have a whole lot of time in the story but I did enjoy the scenes he was in quite a lot.
Susan Boyce does a fantastic job with this series. I love all of the voices that she uses in the book. I thought that she was able to add just a bit more excitement to the story through her narration. I thought that she read the book at the perfect pace and her voice was very pleasant to listen to throughout the story. I had no problems listening to this book for hours at a time and look forward to more of her narration in the future.
I do recommend this series to others. This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series but it could easily be read as a stand alone. Readers of the series will enjoy seeing things move forward in the lives of the characters. I can't wait to read more of this entertaining series!
Initial Thoughts
This was a nice little mystery. I wasn't quite sure who the murderer was until the big reveal even though I had a few guesses. It was nice to see all of the characters from the previous books and I liked the addition of the new bakery intern as well as the kitten. I actually really enjoyed it when they were working on interesting recipes for the competition. I wouldn't have a clue about making anything with the mystery ingredients that they had to use. The narrator did a fantastic job with the book. This was a pretty enjoyable read overall.
Book source: Library via Hoopla
April 18, 2023
A little ridiculous at times and easy to guess the murderer but still fun read
January 23, 2020
3 ½ stars
It’s been almost eight years since I’d read the 2nd book in this series and reading this book felt like coming back to old friends. Mel and Angie are maybe even better bakers and the introduction of Oz as a new edition to the bakery, spiced up this book and promises more in books to come. As
2020 is my year to come back to series that I loved but haven’t read in a while, so it won’t be another eight years before I read the next book in the series.
Cozies Reading Challenge
It’s been almost eight years since I’d read the 2nd book in this series and reading this book felt like coming back to old friends. Mel and Angie are maybe even better bakers and the introduction of Oz as a new edition to the bakery, spiced up this book and promises more in books to come. As
2020 is my year to come back to series that I loved but haven’t read in a while, so it won’t be another eight years before I read the next book in the series.
Cozies Reading Challenge
March 5, 2023
This is just a very cozy, comfortable mystery series. It isn’t too cheesy and the food descriptions are pretty great. I definitely want to try out those Chocolate Chili cupcakes as soon as I get a chance.
August 13, 2016
You know, I was going to put this aside and read something else. But then that adorable cover had to draw me back in.
And thus I read where I left off. This time around, you got Mel and Angie in a tough cooking competition, new character Oz who is just adorable, romance angst happening with two certain characters. Oh and a murder of course.
This sequel was just as good as the last one. I liked that we got to see more of Angie's brothers. Also Mel showed more of a backbone in this one. I mean in the last two she did as well, but she shines here as well.
Anyway, what makes this series works is Mel and Angie and the other characters. Probably said that for the other books, but its worth repeating. Good series so far.
And thus I read where I left off. This time around, you got Mel and Angie in a tough cooking competition, new character Oz who is just adorable, romance angst happening with two certain characters. Oh and a murder of course.
This sequel was just as good as the last one. I liked that we got to see more of Angie's brothers. Also Mel showed more of a backbone in this one. I mean in the last two she did as well, but she shines here as well.
Anyway, what makes this series works is Mel and Angie and the other characters. Probably said that for the other books, but its worth repeating. Good series so far.
November 23, 2011
I was glad to see Mel and Angie veer back into likeable territory after their last outing.
What I enjoyed:
* Mel and Joe's relationship.
* Oz.
* Seeing a character remain affected by a death for more than a few pages.
* Angie's family.
What could have been better:
* It seemed unfair that Mel had a relationship with 3 of the 4 judges since it wasn't a blind tasting.
* Olivia is too over the top and needs to be made more realistic or given a good reason for acting like she does.
* The clues were pretty obvious, I'm surprised it took Mel so long to figure out.
What I enjoyed:
* Mel and Joe's relationship.
* Oz.
* Seeing a character remain affected by a death for more than a few pages.
* Angie's family.
What could have been better:
* It seemed unfair that Mel had a relationship with 3 of the 4 judges since it wasn't a blind tasting.
* Olivia is too over the top and needs to be made more realistic or given a good reason for acting like she does.
* The clues were pretty obvious, I'm surprised it took Mel so long to figure out.
January 10, 2019
It is easy to see why this series is a favorite among cozy mystery fans. I am a late arrival to the series but have found it so charming that I am currently working my way through the entire series. Mel, Angie, and Tate have a great friendship that just draws me in as a reader and keeps me coming back. They are surrounded by a fun and charming secondary cast of characters that add to the appeal. The author set up the mystery very early and established a number of believable suspects. I can't wait to catch up.on the rest of the series.
November 14, 2015
★★★★½ Loving this series. LOL!
November 3, 2016
Nothing like homemade cupcakes, competition and a murder.
August 27, 2024
There's the usual reality show, in this case, a baking competition, and the judge is a mentor for our sleuth. Their chief rival has won the contest for several years in a row, and is outraged at having her reign as champion threatened. Then the chef is found in a freezer trailer, dead from some poison.
Our sleuth has to get to work solving the crime, while trying to win the contest. Incidental characters get surprisingly strong story arcs.
All in all, I would say it's in the upper third of cozies, but by no means a classic.
Our sleuth has to get to work solving the crime, while trying to win the contest. Incidental characters get surprisingly strong story arcs.
All in all, I would say it's in the upper third of cozies, but by no means a classic.
August 12, 2021
Mel and Angie are participating in a baking contest, with Mel's mentor, Vic, acting as one of the judges. When Vic dies, Mel is upset because he held a special place in her heart after her father's passing. The competition was a fun one with so many delicious recipes for cupcakes. Oz was a great addition to the story and he was instrumental in the competition. I must say that I missed Marty in this one. I hope he's back in the next book. The perpetrator was clearly obvious after a point, so it shouldn't have taken Mel long to get there. And there were a few things that I did not like about this book but I could easily cancel them out because this book made me laugh. Mel's thoughts about her relationship with Joe really drove me crazy but I like how things ended in this book.
May 19, 2015
Mel and Angie have entered a pastry baking contest, hoping to beat their rival Olivia for the grand prize. The judges are mostly people Mel knew from culinary school, including her old mentor Vic Mazzotta. Vic can be a hard man to live, but Mel is still surprised when he is found dead inside an ice truck. Had he made a lethal enemy?
The book sets up the suspects and motives early on before Vic’s body is even found. I did feel the pacing sagged a bit in the middle, but for the most part, this was a great mystery with some good twists and a great climax. The characters are fun as always, too. It’s easy to see why the series is so popular.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book sets up the suspects and motives early on before Vic’s body is even found. I did feel the pacing sagged a bit in the middle, but for the most part, this was a great mystery with some good twists and a great climax. The characters are fun as always, too. It’s easy to see why the series is so popular.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
October 26, 2015
I Remember now why I wasn't such a big fan of this series. I really want to like it, it's about cupcakes, but Mel's nemesis is almost a caricature. I don't know actual adults who act like this. If I were Mel, I'd probably start asking myself if there was something I was doing to make these people react to me the way they do - other than what I suppose we're supposed to think it is - pure jealousy. I have trouble buying that, really.
I think I'm done with the series.
I think I'm done with the series.
September 14, 2020
Melanie and Angela own a cupcake bakery in Scottsdale Arizona.
They have entered the challenge of the chefs bakery contest at the Scottsdale Food Festival.
They are up against 40 other contestants. They would like to take home first prize and earn some great publicity for their bakery.
Melanie knows a lot of the people involved and the judges from Culinary school. Her mentor, Vic Mazzotta now a celebrity chef, is one of the judges.
During each of the challenges there will be a mystery ingredient and the chefs are challenged to come up with the best recipe that uses the mystery ingredient in a creative way in their desserts.
Meanwhile, one of the judges is found dead, but is it murder? Melanie and Angie are also in danger.
Lots of side plots and the relationships are well put together. Some great characters with Angie's brothers, and her boyfriend the rock star. Melanie's relationship and all the great friendships. There was so much going on in this episode of Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery! Kept my interest throughout and fun!
They have entered the challenge of the chefs bakery contest at the Scottsdale Food Festival.
They are up against 40 other contestants. They would like to take home first prize and earn some great publicity for their bakery.
Melanie knows a lot of the people involved and the judges from Culinary school. Her mentor, Vic Mazzotta now a celebrity chef, is one of the judges.
During each of the challenges there will be a mystery ingredient and the chefs are challenged to come up with the best recipe that uses the mystery ingredient in a creative way in their desserts.
Meanwhile, one of the judges is found dead, but is it murder? Melanie and Angie are also in danger.
Lots of side plots and the relationships are well put together. Some great characters with Angie's brothers, and her boyfriend the rock star. Melanie's relationship and all the great friendships. There was so much going on in this episode of Fairy Tale Cupcake bakery! Kept my interest throughout and fun!
July 7, 2023
I loved this installment of this series. The cooking contest was fun, though I'd have liked to hear more about the contest. Though I was disappointed that the "means" of murder was obvious to me as soon as it was mentioned, and took our sleuth a bit longer to figure it out, still the actual "who" was a mystery until the end, though I had suspected the perpetrator earlier.
July 22, 2018
Every book in this series is a tasty delight. Author Jenn McKinlay has developed some entertaining and likable characters in the personalities of Mel and Angie and “the brothers” as well as an exquisite antagonist who goes by the name of Olivia. In this third installment, a cooking contest is going on, and Mel and Angie are determined to beat the unsavory Olivia. But when one of the judges is discovered dead in a freezer, things definitely take a turn for the worse, and Mel and Angie are right in the thick of things. Though the mystery is intriguing, what really shines through in this tale are the relationships, good and troubled, between the characters. Wondering how things will be resolved keeps readers wanting that next book, but the excellent story-telling and writing will keep them reading it.
March 11, 2018
THIS one was much better than the previous book in the series and I am so glad. Even though I had guess who did it AND why, the story was still good and it was interesting to see them come up with recipes with all the very weird ingredients they were given. This was a good read!
April 22, 2019
First off I like the book covers to this series. 😊
It’s time for the annual food festival in Scottsdale, and that includes the chef’s challenges. This year, Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura, owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery, have entered in the pastry division. Their competing against an ornery rival, Olivia Puckett, who has won for the past few years. Melanie knows several of the judges from when she was in culinary school and was the favorite pupil of one of them named Vic. Melanie says Vic was her mentor through school. All the judges are beyond competitive and have off the chart egos. The question is….are their egos so big that they’re willing to commit murder to get what they want?
The morning of the first round of the competition, Vic is nowhere to be found. When he does turn up, he’s dead in an ice truck. How did he get in there? Which of his enemies killed him? Or was it even murder?
There are several things I like about this book. The competitors must include a mystery ingredient in their recipe. They’re told what this ingredient is right before it’s time to start baking. I liked the descriptions on what kind of desserts Mel and Angie make using these strange ingredients. I like that baking is really part of the story.
I like that the author set up the mystery early and established a number of believable suspects and that I wasn’t able to guess who the murderer is until very close to the end of the story.
One thing I didn’t like, which is the reason for the 4⭐️ rating, is the ridiculous and unbelievable violence between Melanie, Angie and their rival Oliva. In real life someone would end up badly hurt and someone would end up in jail – maybe all of them.
This story introduces a new character, Oz, who is an intern from the local high school. I like him and hope he hangs around. I’m sorry that Marty, who was in book #2, has gone, but he was only filling in out of the goodness of his heart. I’d like for him to come back from time to time.
This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, and I suppose it could be read as a stand alone. But I like starting from the beginning and seeing things move forward or backward in the lives of the characters.
For light, fun reading, I recommend this series.
It’s time for the annual food festival in Scottsdale, and that includes the chef’s challenges. This year, Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura, owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery, have entered in the pastry division. Their competing against an ornery rival, Olivia Puckett, who has won for the past few years. Melanie knows several of the judges from when she was in culinary school and was the favorite pupil of one of them named Vic. Melanie says Vic was her mentor through school. All the judges are beyond competitive and have off the chart egos. The question is….are their egos so big that they’re willing to commit murder to get what they want?
The morning of the first round of the competition, Vic is nowhere to be found. When he does turn up, he’s dead in an ice truck. How did he get in there? Which of his enemies killed him? Or was it even murder?
There are several things I like about this book. The competitors must include a mystery ingredient in their recipe. They’re told what this ingredient is right before it’s time to start baking. I liked the descriptions on what kind of desserts Mel and Angie make using these strange ingredients. I like that baking is really part of the story.
I like that the author set up the mystery early and established a number of believable suspects and that I wasn’t able to guess who the murderer is until very close to the end of the story.
One thing I didn’t like, which is the reason for the 4⭐️ rating, is the ridiculous and unbelievable violence between Melanie, Angie and their rival Oliva. In real life someone would end up badly hurt and someone would end up in jail – maybe all of them.
This story introduces a new character, Oz, who is an intern from the local high school. I like him and hope he hangs around. I’m sorry that Marty, who was in book #2, has gone, but he was only filling in out of the goodness of his heart. I’d like for him to come back from time to time.
This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, and I suppose it could be read as a stand alone. But I like starting from the beginning and seeing things move forward or backward in the lives of the characters.
For light, fun reading, I recommend this series.
July 7, 2022
Death By The Dozen
Cupcake Bakery Mystery, Book #3
Jenn McKinlay
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives. (Goodreads)
Review:
Mel and Angie have entered a cooking contest called Challenge to the Chef to help promote their business Fairy Tale Cupcakes. Mel’s menter from culinary school, Vic, is one of the judges. But he will does not even get the chance to judge–instead he is murdered. Now Mel and Angie will have to figure out who the culprit is so justice is served for Vic. They will have help from their family (especially Angie’s brothers) and friends as they try to figure out the mystery.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story right from the beginning to end. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mysterious well crafted and there are enough clues to sift through and suspect to consider.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Check out the book, you will be glad you did.
Cupcake Bakery Mystery, Book #3
Jenn McKinlay
5 Stars
Synopsis:
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives. (Goodreads)
Review:
Mel and Angie have entered a cooking contest called Challenge to the Chef to help promote their business Fairy Tale Cupcakes. Mel’s menter from culinary school, Vic, is one of the judges. But he will does not even get the chance to judge–instead he is murdered. Now Mel and Angie will have to figure out who the culprit is so justice is served for Vic. They will have help from their family (especially Angie’s brothers) and friends as they try to figure out the mystery.
The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story right from the beginning to end. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mysterious well crafted and there are enough clues to sift through and suspect to consider.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Check out the book, you will be glad you did.
June 9, 2022
Fairy Tale Cupcakes is busier than ever and Mel and Angie have entered the pastry competition at the Scottsdale Food Festival. They're determined to beat Olivia Pluckett and bring more customers to their shop. First they must practice baking with "mystery" ingredients chosen by Tate and bake within the time limit. While testing cupcakes, Mel's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, barges in with his usual caustic remarks and nails the mystery ingredient. Though he has a reputation for being harsh, Vic was kind to Mel when her father died and encouraged Mel not to drop out of school. She owes her career to him and values his friendship, which is why she's horribly upset and enraged when Vic is found dead in a walk-in freezer at the Food Festival. She's determined to keep going and get to the bottom of the mystery. Meanwhile, her relationship with Joe is heating up and he's thinking future. She's trying not to panic! She also becomes the adoring "mom" of a stray kitten named Captain Jack. Also, they need someone to run the shop while they're away and hire an intern named Oz, a goth youth who proves more than able to handle anything that comes his way.
This book takes a little darker, more sad tone with the murder because it's personal to Mel. Everyone else saw Vic as an arrogant, rude man who always talked up his secret ingredient and never shared. Two of the judges have a history with him and neither of them are likable. The celebrity chefs are completely full of themselves. Vic's girlfriend, Jordan, a wannabe celebrity, irritates Mel and would irritate me too but for no real reason. She isn't in the story much but was on my suspect list. I had a list of 7 suspects and ended up one step ahead of Mel in figuring out the mystery. I wasn't positive but I had a good guess as to who did Vic in. It turned out to be more complicated than I thought. I enjoyed that because it made the story better than average. I also liked the unconventional confrontation. I couldn't put the book down once a crucial plot point occurred after the murder.
I didn't like Angie very much in this story. She's still dating Roach and hasn't decided if she's going to move to LA to be with him, yet she's still obviously in love with Tate. She acts immature and lets her temper get the better of her every time she gets mad. I find it hard to believe she was a teacher! However, I was shocked and upset by what happened to her in this book just as much as Mel and Tate and the DeLauras were.
I was worried I was going to find Mel annoying now she's with Joe. Every time it seems like she's going to fall victim to plot devices, she's pulled back from the abyss by some good insight. I really liked this about her character. I admire her in sticking up for her friend and how she helped Oz.
Oz was an unexpected delight. He dresses goth but he is a big marshmallow inside. His character development is really good.
I love this series and I'm already part way into the next one and have book 5 on old at the library!
*************************RE-READ June 2022******************************
Even better the second time around! I remembered perfectly well who did it and why but not all of the details. That was one complicated plot! I had forgotten some of the cozy elements like how Olivia was the first to label Mel a "Scottsdale princess". Now Nikki and some of the others in the most recent book make sense. Mel stood up for herself with Olivia and needs to do so again with Nikki, etc.
I loved seeing Oz again for the first time! Slight quibble- if he was already a hulking youth at 17 years old and over 6 feet tall, how is he taller than Tate already? How tall is Tate? I missed Marty but Angie is here with her temper and her brothers are on hand for comic relief. Man is Ray missing some brains or what! Tony "knows a guy" is a hoot and they're all so wonderful!
The Food Channel people are not so likeable, including Vic. I can see why Mel adores him and am glad she's aware of his faults but I'm not surprised someone killed him. His wife Grace seems kinder and a positive influence on him. I don't know why Bertie is so nasty but he's truly awful. Dutch is arrogant, egotistical and thinks he's God's gift to women. He's so truly selfish I can not see him succeeding in his career. He's missing Vic's crucial element. Plus he's so stupid! Any real chef would know you can't reproduce another chef's recipe exactly. I can't make my grandmother's recipes come out the same even though I copied down the recipe as I watched her make it. She said "It took me 60 years to learn to do what I do." (and she pointed to the flavored liquor and said "I bless it!" LOL) You have to use the exact brand of ingredients, the same oven, same baking temperature and time and it still will vary so the whole secret ingredient plot was just dumb.
I dislike the use of the word "bimbo" and women shaming other women for their body choices but Jordan really is a phony. She just wants fame and fortune without doing any real work to earn it.
Another question: I forget, how many times has Tate been engaged? There's one mentioned here and one mentioned in another book!
None of the recipes appealed to me so I didn't copy them down but if you're looking for something different and modern, check them out. Now I want to reread the entire series while I wait for the next one, whenever that will be.
This book takes a little darker, more sad tone with the murder because it's personal to Mel. Everyone else saw Vic as an arrogant, rude man who always talked up his secret ingredient and never shared. Two of the judges have a history with him and neither of them are likable. The celebrity chefs are completely full of themselves. Vic's girlfriend, Jordan, a wannabe celebrity, irritates Mel and would irritate me too but for no real reason. She isn't in the story much but was on my suspect list. I had a list of 7 suspects and ended up one step ahead of Mel in figuring out the mystery. I wasn't positive but I had a good guess as to who did Vic in. It turned out to be more complicated than I thought. I enjoyed that because it made the story better than average. I also liked the unconventional confrontation. I couldn't put the book down once a crucial plot point occurred after the murder.
I didn't like Angie very much in this story. She's still dating Roach and hasn't decided if she's going to move to LA to be with him, yet she's still obviously in love with Tate. She acts immature and lets her temper get the better of her every time she gets mad. I find it hard to believe she was a teacher! However, I was shocked and upset by what happened to her in this book just as much as Mel and Tate and the DeLauras were.
I was worried I was going to find Mel annoying now she's with Joe. Every time it seems like she's going to fall victim to plot devices, she's pulled back from the abyss by some good insight. I really liked this about her character. I admire her in sticking up for her friend and how she helped Oz.
Oz was an unexpected delight. He dresses goth but he is a big marshmallow inside. His character development is really good.
I love this series and I'm already part way into the next one and have book 5 on old at the library!
*************************RE-READ June 2022******************************
Even better the second time around! I remembered perfectly well who did it and why but not all of the details. That was one complicated plot! I had forgotten some of the cozy elements like how Olivia was the first to label Mel a "Scottsdale princess". Now Nikki and some of the others in the most recent book make sense. Mel stood up for herself with Olivia and needs to do so again with Nikki, etc.
I loved seeing Oz again for the first time! Slight quibble- if he was already a hulking youth at 17 years old and over 6 feet tall, how is he taller than Tate already? How tall is Tate? I missed Marty but Angie is here with her temper and her brothers are on hand for comic relief. Man is Ray missing some brains or what! Tony "knows a guy" is a hoot and they're all so wonderful!
The Food Channel people are not so likeable, including Vic. I can see why Mel adores him and am glad she's aware of his faults but I'm not surprised someone killed him. His wife Grace seems kinder and a positive influence on him. I don't know why Bertie is so nasty but he's truly awful. Dutch is arrogant, egotistical and thinks he's God's gift to women. He's so truly selfish I can not see him succeeding in his career. He's missing Vic's crucial element. Plus he's so stupid! Any real chef would know you can't reproduce another chef's recipe exactly. I can't make my grandmother's recipes come out the same even though I copied down the recipe as I watched her make it. She said "It took me 60 years to learn to do what I do." (and she pointed to the flavored liquor and said "I bless it!" LOL) You have to use the exact brand of ingredients, the same oven, same baking temperature and time and it still will vary so the whole secret ingredient plot was just dumb.
I dislike the use of the word "bimbo" and women shaming other women for their body choices but Jordan really is a phony. She just wants fame and fortune without doing any real work to earn it.
Another question: I forget, how many times has Tate been engaged? There's one mentioned here and one mentioned in another book!
None of the recipes appealed to me so I didn't copy them down but if you're looking for something different and modern, check them out. Now I want to reread the entire series while I wait for the next one, whenever that will be.
August 20, 2021
this is an example of a cozy that is character driven over the mystery plot.
they are endearing characters so while it moves slowly, I am absorbed in my listening.
This time the investigation is personal for Mel as it deals w/an old friend and trouble for Angie.
lots of humor.
And I hate to say this but like Mel, I've had enough of the issues/misunderstandings with Angie & Tate.
I liked Oz and I hope he becomes a recurring character.
they are endearing characters so while it moves slowly, I am absorbed in my listening.
This time the investigation is personal for Mel as it deals w/an old friend and trouble for Angie.
lots of humor.
And I hate to say this but like Mel, I've had enough of the issues/misunderstandings with Angie & Tate.
I liked Oz and I hope he becomes a recurring character.
February 24, 2023
I am liking the very creative recipes that help the plot in this novel.
February 23, 2012
Dear cozy mystery authors: not every series heroine needs a cat or dog. Although I confess, I did not totally hate Captain Jack.
My favorite parts of this series remain Olivia Puckett, villainess and professional unhinged Scottsdale businesswoman, and the 7 DeLaura brothers, who are like Snow White's 7 dwarfs, but with airhorns.
Didn't think this particular outing came together as well as previous recipes (see what I did there? BOO YAH) because of all the dang shenanigans at the cooking competition, but the romance seems to be bubbling along nicely, with just the right amount of sugar balancing out the lemon juice. (Okay I'll stop).
Also, and I know this is weird but: I love the cover of the book, and how after you read the book, the cover makes much more sense. This is the type of planning that warms the cockles of my devious little heart.
Next up: a recipe for candied heart-cockles in a crispy ginger crust.
My favorite parts of this series remain Olivia Puckett, villainess and professional unhinged Scottsdale businesswoman, and the 7 DeLaura brothers, who are like Snow White's 7 dwarfs, but with airhorns.
Didn't think this particular outing came together as well as previous recipes (see what I did there? BOO YAH) because of all the dang shenanigans at the cooking competition, but the romance seems to be bubbling along nicely, with just the right amount of sugar balancing out the lemon juice. (Okay I'll stop).
Also, and I know this is weird but: I love the cover of the book, and how after you read the book, the cover makes much more sense. This is the type of planning that warms the cockles of my devious little heart.
Next up: a recipe for candied heart-cockles in a crispy ginger crust.
March 1, 2023
3.5 stars
October 21, 2023
this read like an episode of scooby doo, and i mean that in the best way
also out of three books from this series, this one has made me the hungriest thus far
also out of three books from this series, this one has made me the hungriest thus far
October 28, 2016
This is Book 3 of the Cupcake Bakery Series. Fairy Tale Cupcakes is in a food competition, and of course, Mel and Angie find another body. This time, it's a competition judge who happened to also be Mel's mentor in culinary school.
I'm liking the series more as we go further along and get to know the main characters better. It's also fun to learn more about "the brothers" LOL. The weak editing that bothered me in the first book has improved (at least on the kindle). Overall, these books are fun, light reads, and I'd recommend for cozy mystery lovers.
I'm liking the series more as we go further along and get to know the main characters better. It's also fun to learn more about "the brothers" LOL. The weak editing that bothered me in the first book has improved (at least on the kindle). Overall, these books are fun, light reads, and I'd recommend for cozy mystery lovers.
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