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Wedding Cake Mysteries #1.5
The Bracelet
Piper Donovan adores her brother. Her sister-in-law is another matter. Self-centered, greedy, and completely annoying, Zara is, inexplicably, the love of Roberts life. Piper puts up with her to maintain peace within the family.
When an exquisite gold bracelet goes missing, all the evidence points to Zara as the thief. Piper knows she should go to the police, but shes torn. Is finding justice worth risking the happiness of her entire family?
When an exquisite gold bracelet goes missing, all the evidence points to Zara as the thief. Piper knows she should go to the police, but shes torn. Is finding justice worth risking the happiness of her entire family?
73 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 3, 2012
243 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Clark
36 books468 followersMary Jane Elizabeth Behrends Clark (1954-) is the author of thirteen novels, including 12 in the KEY News media thriller series, and one in her new Wedding Cake mystery series. A veteran writer and producer for CBS News, Clark worked for almost three decades at the network’s New York City headquarters. Her books are published in twenty-three languages. She lives in New Jersey and Florida.
Clark's former mother-in-law and sister-in-law are the authors Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, respectively.
Clark's former mother-in-law and sister-in-law are the authors Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, respectively.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 5, 2022
Short story.... nice.
June 10, 2023
Interesting, quick read
A very short story with some of the same characters introduced in To Have and To Kill. As expected, things work out in the end. Good to read when in a waiting room.
A very short story with some of the same characters introduced in To Have and To Kill. As expected, things work out in the end. Good to read when in a waiting room.
July 14, 2017
This was a very quick read. I didn't realize it would be that short, but with all the extra stuff after the story, it was only around 20 pages long. That's why they call it a short story.
February 26, 2018
Love the series!
Just started reading MJC and have loved everything so far! Thus book is a great quick read! You won't regret it!
Just started reading MJC and have loved everything so far! Thus book is a great quick read! You won't regret it!
July 15, 2018
3.5 Stars
April 25, 2020
Very good lesson to learn. Love MJC's books
August 18, 2020
A great very suspicious short story...author did a amazing job creating lots lots of suspense in this book...highly recommend!
October 2, 2020
Good story.
I've read a lot of her books and haven't been disappointed yet.
I've read a lot of her books and haven't been disappointed yet.
March 9, 2017
Short story where we learn a bit more about Piper's sister in law. 4.5 stars
February 27, 2017
I didn't realize this cozy mystery was a short story. I think it would have been much better as a novel with more development. Good initial character development and set up but then the story wrapped up quickly with a fizzle.
August 20, 2013
The Bracelet
Mary Jane Clark
I've never read a work by Mary Jane Clark before, so I chose this short story to start. I now know this is book 1.5 in a popular series she has written and, as I liked this one, I will have to hunt down book 1 to start at the beginning! This book (as is, I'm assuming, the series) is based around a close-knit family: mom, who owns her dream bakery/cake making business; dad, a retired police officer; son, married to daughter-in-law whose career of choice is spending his money; daughter's friend, who would like to be more than; the family dog; and the very likeable tenants who live upstairs from the shop. Throw in a little family drama, a little mystery solving and you've got yourself some nice, kick-back-and-relax reading.
Mary Jane Clark
I've never read a work by Mary Jane Clark before, so I chose this short story to start. I now know this is book 1.5 in a popular series she has written and, as I liked this one, I will have to hunt down book 1 to start at the beginning! This book (as is, I'm assuming, the series) is based around a close-knit family: mom, who owns her dream bakery/cake making business; dad, a retired police officer; son, married to daughter-in-law whose career of choice is spending his money; daughter's friend, who would like to be more than; the family dog; and the very likeable tenants who live upstairs from the shop. Throw in a little family drama, a little mystery solving and you've got yourself some nice, kick-back-and-relax reading.
December 18, 2011
From Goodreads: Piper Donovan adores her brother. Her sister-in-law is another matter. Self-centered, greedy, and completely annoying, Zara is, inexplicably, the love of Robert’s life. Piper puts up with her to maintain peace within the family.
When an exquisite gold bracelet goes missing, all the evidence points to Zara as the thief. Piper knows she should go to the police, but she’s torn. Is finding justice worth risking the happiness of her entire family?
My Thoughts: I have to say, calling this a short story might be a bit of a stretch. It took me all of about 10-15 minutes, start to finish. Essentially a chance for Piper to learn a quick lessor about not making snap judgments, there wasn't a lot to the story overall. Perhaps there's a set up to the next Piper book here, but on its face, it wasn't obvious.
When an exquisite gold bracelet goes missing, all the evidence points to Zara as the thief. Piper knows she should go to the police, but she’s torn. Is finding justice worth risking the happiness of her entire family?
My Thoughts: I have to say, calling this a short story might be a bit of a stretch. It took me all of about 10-15 minutes, start to finish. Essentially a chance for Piper to learn a quick lessor about not making snap judgments, there wasn't a lot to the story overall. Perhaps there's a set up to the next Piper book here, but on its face, it wasn't obvious.
January 4, 2012
This is a very short story which ties into the author's newest release To Have and to Kill, the first in the Wedding Cake Mystery series.
The story itself introduces the main protagonist of To Have and To Kill, Piper Donovan, but takes place after the books events. It is a short, neat mystery encapsulated in just a few pages that can be read in less than fifteen minutes. It was a little too short for me but serves its purpose as an enticement to read the series and get a feel for the author's style, bundled as it is with the introductory chapters to To Have and to Kill.
If you are a fan of culinary cozy mysteries then The Bracelet is the perfect read for your next coffee break.
The story itself introduces the main protagonist of To Have and To Kill, Piper Donovan, but takes place after the books events. It is a short, neat mystery encapsulated in just a few pages that can be read in less than fifteen minutes. It was a little too short for me but serves its purpose as an enticement to read the series and get a feel for the author's style, bundled as it is with the introductory chapters to To Have and to Kill.
If you are a fan of culinary cozy mysteries then The Bracelet is the perfect read for your next coffee break.
July 10, 2017
More like 2.5
I'm guessing this was an introduction for Piper's brother, Robert, and his wife, Zara for book 2. In this inbetweener, Piper thinks that her sister-in-law attacks an old man named Poppy, who is a regular at her mother's bakery, for a bracelet she admires.
I'm guessing this was an introduction for Piper's brother, Robert, and his wife, Zara for book 2. In this inbetweener, Piper thinks that her sister-in-law attacks an old man named Poppy, who is a regular at her mother's bakery, for a bracelet she admires.
January 12, 2012
I realize it said "The Bracelet" was a short story, but it really failed as a mystery. Very little character development and everything was an assumption on the part of the "sleuth". Glad it was a free Kindle book.
January 11, 2012
I read this e-book the day that it came out. Great preview to the new Mary Jane book coming out, The Look of Love. Mary Jane is one of my all-time favorites. You can never go wrong picking up one of her books.
April 13, 2012
I think I am going to enjoy this new series and Piper. It is a nice introduction of her and the start of something different. I can relate to starting over & moving back home & then helping out. I want to read the first one & see where it leads. Thanks for the new character.
October 2, 2013
This was a short story that introduces a character who appears in the authors next book. In the book, Piper, the main character, returns to her roots to help her mother and discovers something that shocks her and leads her to draw conclusions that lead in the wrong direction.
August 15, 2014
Don't bother with this one. It's too short to have better plot development and it's over before it really gets started. I would have liked it better had it been another 20 or so pages and more fleshed out.
May 17, 2016
Ok short story
I knew it was just a short and having read the other Piper books I was interested in this. It didn't really add much other than to get a glimpse into her sister-in-law. And seeing as how it was only a dollar, it was ok.
I knew it was just a short and having read the other Piper books I was interested in this. It didn't really add much other than to get a glimpse into her sister-in-law. And seeing as how it was only a dollar, it was ok.
December 29, 2011
2.5 out of 5
January 8, 2012
Quick read - 12 page short story.
January 13, 2012
This is such a short story, I wonder why they charged 99 cents to get it on Kindle. It did have parts from two of her books to entice you to buy them, but that didn't justify charging anything.
February 6, 2012
It was a nice little story...it took me less than 10 minutes to read and isn't worth paying $0.99 for. I love Mary Jane Clark's books though...
July 31, 2012
It could have been A LOT longer. I understand that it was a short story, however, it should have been more than the maybe 40 pages that it was. Nice story though.
January 2, 2013
Not exactly sure what purpose this served. Be prepared - it is a very short story.
January 2, 2013
A very quick read. The story was giving you insight on Piper sister-in-law
March 7, 2013
Mary Jane Clark is one of my favorite authors but this was just too short to fully enjoy.
July 14, 2014
This is a pleasant little short story or novella. It occurs between books one and two, which is why it is assigned number 1.5 If you have started reading this series, you should read this.
June 21, 2013
Really enjoyed just wish it was longer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews