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A Piece of Cake Mystery #3
Arsenic and Old Cake
Blind man’s bluff
With business going stale at Zydeco Cakes, Rita Lucero has plenty to worry about. But when the blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg Magee asks for a favor, she can’t say no. His brother Monroe disappeared forty years ago, and now someone has shown up claiming to be him. Old Dog Leg needs Rita to be his eyes—and see if it’s really his brother.
The Twisted Palms Bed and Breakfast is full of unsavory characters, Monroe included. Posing as newlyweds, Rita and her friend Gabriel check in, only to discover that Monroe’s true identity isn’t the only mystery they’ll have to solve. When another guest at the Twisted Palms turns up dead, it seems the mysterious man might also be a murderer...
With business going stale at Zydeco Cakes, Rita Lucero has plenty to worry about. But when the blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg Magee asks for a favor, she can’t say no. His brother Monroe disappeared forty years ago, and now someone has shown up claiming to be him. Old Dog Leg needs Rita to be his eyes—and see if it’s really his brother.
The Twisted Palms Bed and Breakfast is full of unsavory characters, Monroe included. Posing as newlyweds, Rita and her friend Gabriel check in, only to discover that Monroe’s true identity isn’t the only mystery they’ll have to solve. When another guest at the Twisted Palms turns up dead, it seems the mysterious man might also be a murderer...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 6, 2012
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556 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
February 20, 2017
Another great entry in the series, although I may be a bit impartial since it mixes the events of 40 years ago with a current day murder and I'm always a sucker for that. I really like Rita, even if she is involved in the dreaded romantic triangle, she's such a real character. Can't wait to see what happens next with the Zydeco gang.
July 25, 2025
Things are slow at Zydeco Cakes, the downturn of the economy being felt as people cut expenses and cancel or stop ordering exclusive fancy cakes. When the blind elderly trumpet player of the local bar's band asks for help identifying the man who wrote to him claiming to be his brother missing for 40 years, Rita has the time. She and her occasional boyfriend check into the BnB where the brother is staying to check him out. They find an odd collection of seniors living there, all protecting secrets. Then someone is poisoned, the brother disappears again, and Rita is determined to solve all.
The third in a cozy series, I only read this for a reading challenge, as I had been so irritated and disappointed by the 2nd in the series I had vowed to just unload the set of 4 gifted to me by my sister without reading more. This read better, though there are still holes in the plot, Rita and her waffling still make me roll my eyes. The entire plot and the seniors at its center were colorful and engaging, and somehow believable as denizens of New Orleans. Looks like I will read that 4th one I own at this point.
The third in a cozy series, I only read this for a reading challenge, as I had been so irritated and disappointed by the 2nd in the series I had vowed to just unload the set of 4 gifted to me by my sister without reading more. This read better, though there are still holes in the plot, Rita and her waffling still make me roll my eyes. The entire plot and the seniors at its center were colorful and engaging, and somehow believable as denizens of New Orleans. Looks like I will read that 4th one I own at this point.
August 8, 2020
This story was a little confusing, and there were so many suspects that I couldn't even try to figure out the killer. Blind Jazz musician asks Rita and Gabriel to pose as newlyweds at a B&B and check if the man claiming to be his brother---missing for 40 years----is who he says he is and not a con man. They chat with the regulars and uncover the truth about a long-ago murder. Includes recipes.
September 19, 2021
Taking place in New Orleans at a high end cake bakery, this mystery took awhile to get its momentum. I can’t say I fell in love with most of the characters (just her two live interests) but I went along with them on their road trip. Making exotic cakes covered the foodie part of my cozy mystery love affair, and there did end up being a dead body, but it wasn’t a favorite of mine. At least it was all tied up in the first end, even if I could have thought I’d a better murderer with better rationales for killing.
September 6, 2019
A cute, nicely crafted cozy mystery. The characters really make this story though. Gotta love Rita!
January 16, 2016
The bad economy is hurting business at Zydeco Cakes. Rita is trying to come up with ideas to keep her business afloat and her employees working full time. Her attention is drawn away when a friend, Old Dog Leg Magee, a blind trumpet player, asks her to be his eyes and help him solve a mystery. She can't say no. She has juggled a variety of issues before, she can do this.
Old Dog Leg has received a letter from someone claiming to be his long lost brother and needs Rita to find out if the man is really his brother Monroe. He has set Rita up with bartender Gabriel Broussard to pose as newlyweds to check in to the same bed & breakfast where Monroe is staying. Staying in a room with the handsome bartender worries Rita plenty, but the dead body found outside their room's windows means there maybe two mysteries to solve. Could the man they are investigating be a murderer? Rita is determined to find out, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This is my favorite book in this series! The quirky characters, residents of the B & B, are fantastic and funny, and full of secrets, some deadly secrets.
Using the real state of economics right now and how it is hurting luxury type purchases like the pricey custom cakes made at Zydeco gives the story a credible and relevant feel. Businesses are tightening the belts and being innovative to add and keep customers just like Rita and her employees. Some ideas are better than others and having a well off partner makes things a little easier for the New Orleans bakery. Miss Frankie is a peach.
The romantic tension jumped up a notch in the edition as well. I loved it and I don't know who I really want to see Rita with but both Rita and I were quite drawn to the sexy Cajun bartender. It sure makes me anxious waiting for the next installment.
I highly recommend this story and this series. They are full of mystery, mayhem and way too many delectable treats. Recipes included. Yummy!!!!
Old Dog Leg has received a letter from someone claiming to be his long lost brother and needs Rita to find out if the man is really his brother Monroe. He has set Rita up with bartender Gabriel Broussard to pose as newlyweds to check in to the same bed & breakfast where Monroe is staying. Staying in a room with the handsome bartender worries Rita plenty, but the dead body found outside their room's windows means there maybe two mysteries to solve. Could the man they are investigating be a murderer? Rita is determined to find out, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This is my favorite book in this series! The quirky characters, residents of the B & B, are fantastic and funny, and full of secrets, some deadly secrets.
Using the real state of economics right now and how it is hurting luxury type purchases like the pricey custom cakes made at Zydeco gives the story a credible and relevant feel. Businesses are tightening the belts and being innovative to add and keep customers just like Rita and her employees. Some ideas are better than others and having a well off partner makes things a little easier for the New Orleans bakery. Miss Frankie is a peach.
The romantic tension jumped up a notch in the edition as well. I loved it and I don't know who I really want to see Rita with but both Rita and I were quite drawn to the sexy Cajun bartender. It sure makes me anxious waiting for the next installment.
I highly recommend this story and this series. They are full of mystery, mayhem and way too many delectable treats. Recipes included. Yummy!!!!
March 6, 2013
The best of the series so far. Previous books have left me feeling flat, but this one held my attention once I got past the ludicrousness of the initial setup: Old Dog Leg thinks his missing-for-40-years brother is back in town but doesn't know if it's really him. The only solution: Rita MUST go undercover as a newlywed at a honeymoon b&b to find out. Really? Flimsy. Even for a cozy.
BUT once you get past that the story behind the residents of the b&b is interesting, the mystery tied to old secrets. I really enjoyed it, and the ending was unexpected - I never guessed the murderer.
The characters have improved as well, Rita's employees not quite so insolent. Although Rita is still weak as a business owner. She seems to prefer stressing out about problems over actually fixing them or even confronting them.
I was ready to give up this series before reading this book, but I'll definitely check out the next one and hope this is a sign of great books to come.
BUT once you get past that the story behind the residents of the b&b is interesting, the mystery tied to old secrets. I really enjoyed it, and the ending was unexpected - I never guessed the murderer.
The characters have improved as well, Rita's employees not quite so insolent. Although Rita is still weak as a business owner. She seems to prefer stressing out about problems over actually fixing them or even confronting them.
I was ready to give up this series before reading this book, but I'll definitely check out the next one and hope this is a sign of great books to come.
December 29, 2012
A nice book about a widowed woman who owns a bakery in New Orleans. She and her bartender boyfriend whose not really her boyfriend but could be but...well it's more complicated than it should be. A little romantic tension between her the bartender and a cop. Anyway the two of them pose as newly weds at a B&B on the west-bank. They are trying to help out their blind musician friend determine if his long lost brother has truly returned to New Orleans. Author almost gets NOLA right. Aside from Broussard, there aren't many south Louisiana names. I would think Landry (easy to spell!) , Thibodeaux, Bahlinger, or Leblanc would pop up. But I nit-pick. A nice read but frustrating if you have a working knowledge of the area. I think she could have dug a little deeper and really gotten the real flavor of the area. As far as the story-line goes, it is a decent mystery that kept me guessing well into the book. This is #3 in a series.
December 3, 2015
Very good; ready for the next one!
April 1, 2019
Arsenic and Old Cake by Jacklyn Brady is the 3rd book of the Piece of Cake cozy mystery series set in contemporary New Orleans. Rita Lucero owns Zydeco Cakes, a high-end bakery. She's constantly short on time, failing to meet all her commitments; the only facet of her personality to which I can relate. The bakery is in trouble financially, short on orders; one employee wants her to cut staff, another wants her to change their target clientele. Rita's mother-in-law, co-owner of the business, does not want to drop her son's original dream for the bakery; it must continue catering to the elite.
Rita is distracted from running her business by a request from a friend: blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg wants her to pretend to be on her honeymoon, in a motel over the weekend, with bartender Gabriel Broussard. Why? Dog Leg's brother Monroe has been missing for 40 years, now wants to see him; Monroe is staying at the honeymoon motel. Dog Leg cannot see for himself if the man is really his brother; he wants Rita to check for a birthmark on the man's shoulder.
Rita's mother-in-law is seriously upset at Rita spending the weekend in a charade with the bartender (can you tell, Claire is an elitist snob?). This plot premise is actually quite ridiculous. Dog Leg could simply invite his 'seeing' friends Rita and Gabriel to meet with Dog Leg and Monroe, then ask them to check Monroe's shoulder, while Dog Leg asks Monroe questions to see if he really is his brother.
But Rita goes for the charade. She's tempted many times by Gabriel's sexiness, but resists him for the sake of her independence, an over-the-top reaction to formerly working as a menial in Albuquerque. She senses there are secrets among the elderly residents, related to their blatant hostility toward Monroe. When a motel resident is murdered, Monroe leaves, and Rita's sure all events and secrets are related. She's right, but it takes a lot of interviews for her to get the facts from decades ago. And of course she finds herself in mortal danger.
Recipes: Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake, White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, Cilantro-Almond Chicken Salad
Rita is distracted from running her business by a request from a friend: blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg wants her to pretend to be on her honeymoon, in a motel over the weekend, with bartender Gabriel Broussard. Why? Dog Leg's brother Monroe has been missing for 40 years, now wants to see him; Monroe is staying at the honeymoon motel. Dog Leg cannot see for himself if the man is really his brother; he wants Rita to check for a birthmark on the man's shoulder.
Rita's mother-in-law is seriously upset at Rita spending the weekend in a charade with the bartender (can you tell, Claire is an elitist snob?). This plot premise is actually quite ridiculous. Dog Leg could simply invite his 'seeing' friends Rita and Gabriel to meet with Dog Leg and Monroe, then ask them to check Monroe's shoulder, while Dog Leg asks Monroe questions to see if he really is his brother.
But Rita goes for the charade. She's tempted many times by Gabriel's sexiness, but resists him for the sake of her independence, an over-the-top reaction to formerly working as a menial in Albuquerque. She senses there are secrets among the elderly residents, related to their blatant hostility toward Monroe. When a motel resident is murdered, Monroe leaves, and Rita's sure all events and secrets are related. She's right, but it takes a lot of interviews for her to get the facts from decades ago. And of course she finds herself in mortal danger.
Recipes: Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake, White Chocolate Raspberry Cake, Cilantro-Almond Chicken Salad
July 10, 2021
The mystery became a good one about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the book. There's just something offputting about protagonist and baker extraordinnaire Rita Lucero, though. She's a combination of subservience and dashing boldly and blindly ahead without aforethought. Those traits just made her, to me, annoying and/or obnoxious.
In this one, her New Orleans bakery was once again (or still) in trouble because its high-end, exclusive cakes and pastries were in less demand during a downturn in the economy. Rita was faced with cutting employee hours, cutting personnel, or coming up with an alternative to bring in more business when a friend she'd made at the Dizzy Duke bar asked her to do an important favor that included deception. With apprehension, she felt cornered into helping the sightless musician determine whether the person who had contacted him after a forty-year disappearance was actually his brother.
In this one, her New Orleans bakery was once again (or still) in trouble because its high-end, exclusive cakes and pastries were in less demand during a downturn in the economy. Rita was faced with cutting employee hours, cutting personnel, or coming up with an alternative to bring in more business when a friend she'd made at the Dizzy Duke bar asked her to do an important favor that included deception. With apprehension, she felt cornered into helping the sightless musician determine whether the person who had contacted him after a forty-year disappearance was actually his brother.
August 22, 2021
This series is really getting good. I’m enjoying it a lot. The characters are really growing on me and I’m getting to know each of them as individual personalities. I like the the plot as well and found the bed and breakfast to be very interesting. To be honest I wouldn’t have figured out who the killer was because it kind of didn’t make a whole Lotta sense to me until the end. I really enjoyed the book though and I like this author and her writing style. I’ll be finishing up the series I’m sure!
November 27, 2023
This was my first time reading this series and author. OMG I loved it and cannot wait to read more !!
Rita is asked by a friend to determine if his missing brother who has shown up in the area 40 years later is who he claims to be. The catch: she has to pretend to be a newlywed with Gabriel. They have gone out a few times and see each other at times but have never stayed overnight together.
Along the way, someone is murdered at the honeymoon bed and breakfast where they are staying. Rita's "other guy" is called to the scene and is livid to find them "married".
Rita is asked by a friend to determine if his missing brother who has shown up in the area 40 years later is who he claims to be. The catch: she has to pretend to be a newlywed with Gabriel. They have gone out a few times and see each other at times but have never stayed overnight together.
Along the way, someone is murdered at the honeymoon bed and breakfast where they are staying. Rita's "other guy" is called to the scene and is livid to find them "married".
February 29, 2024
In this third novel of the series, Rita pairs up with a potential love interest, Gabriel, to do a favor for a longtime friend when she gets tangled up in a murder. On top of that, Rita has to deal with low business at Zydeco and Phillips’s upcoming death anniversary.
I was expecting this book to also be okay and slow, but surprisingly, it was interesting from the first chapter. It doesn’t take almost half the book to get started like the previous books, and it’s nice to see Rita dealing with multiple areas of her life.
I’ll be looking forward to reading the next book.
I was expecting this book to also be okay and slow, but surprisingly, it was interesting from the first chapter. It doesn’t take almost half the book to get started like the previous books, and it’s nice to see Rita dealing with multiple areas of her life.
I’ll be looking forward to reading the next book.
May 20, 2018
This is my favorite of the series thus far, because it is not the typical mystery for me. So many times I read a cozy and think that I've read it all before (and not because I'm rereading the book). But this one was an original concept as far as the crime and motive. And I like that. I enjoy the characters, and Rita is becoming more endearing with each book. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 11, 2022
Tiresome
The plot was solid but slow moving. Loved the characters. Hate Rita. The problem is she doesn't need to do the things she does but she is always right and everyone else is wrong. Most self centered character I have ever read.
Book was good but I have difficulty getting into it because of the stupid state of things caused by main character.
The plot was solid but slow moving. Loved the characters. Hate Rita. The problem is she doesn't need to do the things she does but she is always right and everyone else is wrong. Most self centered character I have ever read.
Book was good but I have difficulty getting into it because of the stupid state of things caused by main character.
February 23, 2022
what more can you ask for? Senior Citizens that are suspects of one of their friends dying, a love triangle, and a heap of trouble on the job.
Love the descriptions of the Senior's personalities. They were all unique and fun.
Love the descriptions of the Senior's personalities. They were all unique and fun.
May 26, 2017
I have read several books in this series and enjoyed each one.
September 13, 2017
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June 27, 2021Read June 2021
August 17, 2023
The mystery was just okay. The characters didn't pull me in or develop enough.
March 26, 2017
Rita is worried about Zydeco as business is way down. A friend asks for help and she is talked into spying on the friend's brother. See how this all turns out.
January 11, 2021
I have never read anything written by Ms Brady this series was recommended to me by the GoodReads website so I checked it out. I loved it! From the first few pages I was hooked. She didn't take her time and drag things out. She started with the reader caught your attention and didn't let go until the last page and even then you hope the next book is just as good as the first! This book also takes place within one week so you don't have to sit and wonder how much time has passed for the characters as you are reading about them. You are always wondering 'who did it' and as you read you will change your mind on who you think was the murderer; you will LOVE the ending! Never once through the story did it loose me, nor drag on repeating itself. Book 3 is in my opinion the best of the three thus far; (I just don't hand out 5 stars very often) but am now looking forward to reading book 4 to see what is next. They just continue to get better!
Book 3 can be read as a 'stand alone novel' I don't think you would be 'lost' within the story. BUT you would understand all the characters and scenes more if you had read book 1 first. You get to love them all and understand them in book 1 so it just adds to this book. Especially since one of the main characters is a minor character from book one. If you had read the first book this one will make more 'sense' to you but you won't be lost if you haven't read book 1. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down.
If you are prof reading for your advanced reading pre teen-teenager. This book doesn't have any sex in it. It does have language at times but not 'tons all through it' and one of the main places the characters go is to a bar and the charactors drink throughout the story. Two characters have to share a motel room 'unmarried' but they don't 'do anything'... So some 'adult' activities going on through but nothing more that kids probably see on PG13 movies.
This is for certain a must to add to my purchase for my own home library! Hoping other books in the series is just as good
Book 3 can be read as a 'stand alone novel' I don't think you would be 'lost' within the story. BUT you would understand all the characters and scenes more if you had read book 1 first. You get to love them all and understand them in book 1 so it just adds to this book. Especially since one of the main characters is a minor character from book one. If you had read the first book this one will make more 'sense' to you but you won't be lost if you haven't read book 1. Once you pick it up you won't want to put it down.
If you are prof reading for your advanced reading pre teen-teenager. This book doesn't have any sex in it. It does have language at times but not 'tons all through it' and one of the main places the characters go is to a bar and the charactors drink throughout the story. Two characters have to share a motel room 'unmarried' but they don't 'do anything'... So some 'adult' activities going on through but nothing more that kids probably see on PG13 movies.
This is for certain a must to add to my purchase for my own home library! Hoping other books in the series is just as good
July 21, 2016
Rita Lucero is really starting to realize how stressful it is to be responsible and co-own your own business. Zydeco Cakes is in need of more orders, the staff is not getting along, some are harboring secrets and none of them can agree on a solution to their economical problems. To top it off, Gabriel brings Old Dog Leg Magee in who has a serious favor to ask the two of them. His brother, Monroe, has just returned to town after being gone for the past forty years. Old Dog a Leg isn't sure if it's actually him or if he can be trusted. He wants Rita and Gabriel to pose as newlyweds and check into a local B&B to spy on Monroe. What they don't expect to uncover is a new murder victim and an entire inn full of people with a very secretive past.
This book was a miss for me. I really wished there had been more scenes set in the bakery as well as more interactions with the Zydeco crew. The setting for this book was a bit odd. I didn't really connect to any of the suspects so when the culprit was finally revealed at the end I wasn't shocked. I also had a hard time believing that Rita would leave her bakery when they were dealing with financial and personal issues. Then the whole storyline with her and Gabriel frustrated me. He's suppose to be a love interest and there was absolutely no chemistry between the two. The premise was also odd on how they checked on and identified Monroe. I figured out the side story with Edie early on so it was a bit annoying to watch that drag on until the very last chapter too. I also want to slap Sparkle and her bad attitude!! Definitely disappointed and hoping book four can redeem this series for me.
This book was a miss for me. I really wished there had been more scenes set in the bakery as well as more interactions with the Zydeco crew. The setting for this book was a bit odd. I didn't really connect to any of the suspects so when the culprit was finally revealed at the end I wasn't shocked. I also had a hard time believing that Rita would leave her bakery when they were dealing with financial and personal issues. Then the whole storyline with her and Gabriel frustrated me. He's suppose to be a love interest and there was absolutely no chemistry between the two. The premise was also odd on how they checked on and identified Monroe. I figured out the side story with Edie early on so it was a bit annoying to watch that drag on until the very last chapter too. I also want to slap Sparkle and her bad attitude!! Definitely disappointed and hoping book four can redeem this series for me.
December 11, 2012
Oh Rita, Rita, Rita!!! She is back again with her scrumptious cake baking and mystery solving skills! This time she takes the role of Mrs. Broussard... to help Old Dog Leg solve a forty year old mystery! This time her shenanigans take place at "The Love Nest" a local Bed and Breakfast where she takes on the role of playing blushing bride to one sexy Cajun bartender Gabriel Broussard. While trying to unearth the old mystery that surrounds the Love Nest she also gets to know of some of its more eccentric long time residents. This time shes got to solve the mystery, find a killer, attempt to be a blushing bride, annnnnnd keep Zydeco afloat in the beginning stages of an economical hardship. Have no fear, Rita like always, keeps all together with witty thinking and her usual persistent gumshoe tactics. This book is a little slow in the beginning but it really picks up after the first few chapters and it will really have you reeling in the end to find out what or who is actually the mastermind behind whats going on at the Love Nest! I really enjoyed the mystery the usual cast and the new cast of characters of the "Love Nest" introduced in this book. I can't wait to see what trouble... I mean mystery Rita will stumble into next. Hopefully we will get to read more about which sexy hunk she chooses as well... will it be sweet, sexy, smooth Cajun bartender Gabriel or Mr. Tall, Dark, Handsome and Strong Detective Stone? Only time and another great mystery will tell... :)
November 5, 2012
Arsenic And Old Cake is the third book in A Piece Of Cake Mystery series by Jacklyn Brady.
With the economy being in turmoil, Zydeco Cakes is experiencing a downturn in sales for its high end cakes. Rita Lucero and her office manager, Edie, are going over the financials trying to decide on a course of action to keep the bakery afloat when a couple of friends stop by. Gabriel is bartender at the Dizzy Duke and Old Dog Leg is a member of the band that plays there. Old Dog Leg is blind and has just received a letter from someone claiming to be his brother, a brother he hasn't seen in 40 years. Old Dog would like for Rita and Gabriel to be "his eyes" and check him out. The only problem is that the brother is staying at the Love Nest B & B. and Old Dog feels the best way to find out if it is his brother is for them to pretend to be newlyweds. Against her better judgement Rita agrees to take on this undertaking. Then that evening, after the toasting to the "newlyweds", Rita hears a blood curdling scream and sees one of the proprietors standing over what appears to be a dead body. he is dead and the person who is supposedly Old Dog's brother has gone missing.
The "regulars" who live at the Love Nest are a truly hilarious bunch of folks. They all have a connection to the time 40 years ago when the brother disappeared. So Rita and Gabriel set out to find out what that connection is and help the brother prove his innocence.
A very good addition to an appetizing series.
With the economy being in turmoil, Zydeco Cakes is experiencing a downturn in sales for its high end cakes. Rita Lucero and her office manager, Edie, are going over the financials trying to decide on a course of action to keep the bakery afloat when a couple of friends stop by. Gabriel is bartender at the Dizzy Duke and Old Dog Leg is a member of the band that plays there. Old Dog Leg is blind and has just received a letter from someone claiming to be his brother, a brother he hasn't seen in 40 years. Old Dog would like for Rita and Gabriel to be "his eyes" and check him out. The only problem is that the brother is staying at the Love Nest B & B. and Old Dog feels the best way to find out if it is his brother is for them to pretend to be newlyweds. Against her better judgement Rita agrees to take on this undertaking. Then that evening, after the toasting to the "newlyweds", Rita hears a blood curdling scream and sees one of the proprietors standing over what appears to be a dead body. he is dead and the person who is supposedly Old Dog's brother has gone missing.
The "regulars" who live at the Love Nest are a truly hilarious bunch of folks. They all have a connection to the time 40 years ago when the brother disappeared. So Rita and Gabriel set out to find out what that connection is and help the brother prove his innocence.
A very good addition to an appetizing series.
June 6, 2013
#3 in the A Piece of Cake mystery series. I am not usually a follower of cozy mystery series and have, for the most part, avoided series seemingly dedicated to highly specific venues, such as The White House Gardener Mysteries or The Cupcake Bakery Mysteries. This series was recommended by my wife and I have persevered through #3 because I am a completist. #1, A Sheetcake Named Desire (2011), set the premise of a top end cake bakery in New Orleans and had interesting characters and bakery trivia. #2, Cake on a Hot Tin Roof (2012), had some character development and included Mardi Gras trivia, but had little new about the bakery business. The current entry seems to be running out of steam on the bakery front. The business is in a recession and although assistant Ox suggests marketing higher volume downscale cakes, Rita's partner - her ex-MIL Miss Frankie - forbids diluting the very expensive market and wants to sell real estate to provide a cash infusion. This, of course, doesn't allow anything new about the bakery business. The mystery in this entry has to come externally. I'm concerned that the author may be baking herself into a corner.
A Piece of Cake mystery - Cake shop owner Rita Lucero agrees to help blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg Magee solve a family mystery, and, while undercover at a bed-and-breakfast with Cajun bartender Gabriel Broussard, finds more than one mystery to solve.
A Piece of Cake mystery - Cake shop owner Rita Lucero agrees to help blind trumpet player Old Dog Leg Magee solve a family mystery, and, while undercover at a bed-and-breakfast with Cajun bartender Gabriel Broussard, finds more than one mystery to solve.
February 25, 2015
I didn't like the premise of the book. I thought it was stupid to go check for Monroe's identity they way Rita and Gabriel had. And despite people giving her good reasons to not put her nose where it doesn't belong, when she even admits to herself that she really shouldn't be doing it, Rita goes about pissing everyone off like it's her God damn right. I don't like the fact that this mystery had nothing to do with the bakery which, speaking of, is pretty much at a stalemate atm since no action is being taken to permanently solve Zydeco's losing business. I don't like the fact the Rita's 'team' seem to have trouble understanding the chain of command especially when they don't really feel like they're friends with her. They keep asking her to confirm their friendship while keeping secrets from her and doing things behind her back. I also do not particularly like the suffocating gentility that is in the form of Miss Frankie.
I think, the root of all my problems, is Rita. I do not like her as a narrator, as a person. She lets people walk over her many times and is sometimes frustratingly cowardly (or hesitant) about saying no. If she could stop being such a peacemaker all the time, I would be so happy.
The only reason I want to continue reading the series is because of the boys. I like them very much equally.
I think, the root of all my problems, is Rita. I do not like her as a narrator, as a person. She lets people walk over her many times and is sometimes frustratingly cowardly (or hesitant) about saying no. If she could stop being such a peacemaker all the time, I would be so happy.
The only reason I want to continue reading the series is because of the boys. I like them very much equally.
January 1, 2017
"Try to be reasonable, Rita."
Rita Lucero is half owner of Zydeco Cakes in New Orleans. She acquired the bakery after the death of her husband that she was divorcing. His untimely death left the bakery to Rita and her mother-in-law, Miss Frankie Renier. Zydeco has always been known for their high end one of a kind cakes. The bakery is in trouble financially due to the economy. However, this is not the main source of the story.
Talented musician, Old Dog Leg and local bartender, Gabriel Broussard come to Rita for help identifying Old Dog Leg's long lost brother. Monroe walked away 40 years ago without a word anf and has apparently turned up back in New Orleans. A plan is hatched for Rita and Gabriel to go undercover as a newlywed couple to a Honeymoon Hotel where Monroe is staying.
Although an enjoyable read, I missed the bakery. I felt it was pushed in the background. There also was not enough of Liam Sullivan for me. Gabriel and Rita get folks riled up at the Love Nest. The proprietors become suspicious of their motives as do the older gentlemen that live on site. The death of one of these men drags up a four decade old crime that stil has a lingering effect on them all.
Information was given out piece meal so that it took a bit to gather the bundle and realize who the killer was. A good read although I hope the next one focuses on the bakery.
Rita Lucero is half owner of Zydeco Cakes in New Orleans. She acquired the bakery after the death of her husband that she was divorcing. His untimely death left the bakery to Rita and her mother-in-law, Miss Frankie Renier. Zydeco has always been known for their high end one of a kind cakes. The bakery is in trouble financially due to the economy. However, this is not the main source of the story.
Talented musician, Old Dog Leg and local bartender, Gabriel Broussard come to Rita for help identifying Old Dog Leg's long lost brother. Monroe walked away 40 years ago without a word anf and has apparently turned up back in New Orleans. A plan is hatched for Rita and Gabriel to go undercover as a newlywed couple to a Honeymoon Hotel where Monroe is staying.
Although an enjoyable read, I missed the bakery. I felt it was pushed in the background. There also was not enough of Liam Sullivan for me. Gabriel and Rita get folks riled up at the Love Nest. The proprietors become suspicious of their motives as do the older gentlemen that live on site. The death of one of these men drags up a four decade old crime that stil has a lingering effect on them all.
Information was given out piece meal so that it took a bit to gather the bundle and realize who the killer was. A good read although I hope the next one focuses on the bakery.
January 6, 2013
I received this third installment of Brady's New Orleans Zydeco Cakes series for Christmas. I hadn't read the first two in the series, but it made no difference. I was introduced to all the continuing characters. The cake shop is in financial trouble what with the downturn in the economy and Rita Lucero, pastry chef, and part time sleuth, is busy trying to juggle keeping her staff and bills paid, and her ex-mother-in-law happy (Rita inherited the pastry shop from her almost ex-husband--the divorce papers hadn't been signed when he died). Rita has two part time love interests at this point, but neither is serious yet. One is a sexy bartender and the other an New Orleans cop. To help an elderly blind musician friend get to the bottom of his brother's disappearance years ago and that brother's equally mysterious return, Rita agrees to investigate. The situation is much more complicated than Rita first thought, and involves a murder that is tied events that happened long ago.
This is a fun mystery. It is down to earth in that Rita has problems with the business, it isn't just a case of making fabulous cakes while solving crime. And the mystery plot has human interest and depends on Rita's intelligence and wit rather than, say unrealistic chases and far fetched action.
This is a fun mystery. It is down to earth in that Rita has problems with the business, it isn't just a case of making fabulous cakes while solving crime. And the mystery plot has human interest and depends on Rita's intelligence and wit rather than, say unrealistic chases and far fetched action.
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