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Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery #4
One Dead Cookie
Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House--a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie--and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their cookie-themed parties. But a dead body on their front porch might put their bake shop in a truly sticky situation...
Olivia is busy baking up special cookies for Maddie's upcoming engagement party when soap star Trevor Lane shows up unexpectedly in town. It soon becomes clear that Trevor, who grew up in the neighboring town of Twiterton, left behind a number of enemies with long memories. Even Trevor's assistant and childhood friend, Dougie, seems to harbor a grudge against him.
Soon after his arrival, Trevor is found dead on The Gingerbread House porch, his handsome face branded with the image of a cookie cutter. When their friend Stacey is implicated in the murder, Olivia and Maddie rush to find the killer. Because it seems someone in Chatterley Heights has a sweet tooth for revenge...
Olivia is busy baking up special cookies for Maddie's upcoming engagement party when soap star Trevor Lane shows up unexpectedly in town. It soon becomes clear that Trevor, who grew up in the neighboring town of Twiterton, left behind a number of enemies with long memories. Even Trevor's assistant and childhood friend, Dougie, seems to harbor a grudge against him.
Soon after his arrival, Trevor is found dead on The Gingerbread House porch, his handsome face branded with the image of a cookie cutter. When their friend Stacey is implicated in the murder, Olivia and Maddie rush to find the killer. Because it seems someone in Chatterley Heights has a sweet tooth for revenge...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 2, 2013
16 people are currently reading
751 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
March 18, 2025
One Dead Cookie
By Virginia Lowell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series is so fun! I love the cookie cutter theme and the friendship between Livie & Maddie. In this one, a lot is leading up to Maddie's engagement party. Maddie cracks me up and has way more energy than I could imagine. As always, Spunky is adorable. I also felt like Livie didn't do stupid things when trying to solve the mystery. There was a current murder and a past murder that were connected, and I loved trying to fit the pieces together. I think there are only a few left in the series, but I am looking forward to reading them.
By Virginia Lowell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This series is so fun! I love the cookie cutter theme and the friendship between Livie & Maddie. In this one, a lot is leading up to Maddie's engagement party. Maddie cracks me up and has way more energy than I could imagine. As always, Spunky is adorable. I also felt like Livie didn't do stupid things when trying to solve the mystery. There was a current murder and a past murder that were connected, and I loved trying to fit the pieces together. I think there are only a few left in the series, but I am looking forward to reading them.
March 26, 2025
Another good cookie themed mystery. I enjoy these characters. The mystery was interesting and I enjoyed solving it along with Olivia. I get exhausted just thinking about all of the cookies she baked and decorated with Maddie in this book. #readforkimberly
March 12, 2018
Olivia and Maddie are busy making cookies for Maddie's engagement party when a soap opera star appears dead in the store's front porch with one of their cookies stuffed into his mouth. He was just visiting the town, so who could have wanted him dead? Suspects begin to appear easily enough. I found the mystery was pretty good, but a lot of small details were left without a good reason (IMHO.) Like why the murderer did other non-murder related things? They did say in the end that s/he was not cooperating with the police, so maybe they didn't find out?
April 16, 2021
I like cozy mysteries but this one just doesn't quite hang together well. The characters and setting are good, but there seem to be places in the plot where the action just jumps from one place to another, sort of an a suspend-your-disbelief way.
January 20, 2023
A fun cozy read. I liked the wedding antics in this one and the mystery was really good. Enjoyed this one!
August 30, 2015
3.5 stars
Maddie and Lucas are finally getting married and Livie has volunteered to make Maddie's cookie cake. She's pressed for time and worried about a series of local break-ins and neighboring shops. Livie had her hands full with a business to run so has hired a new clerk, a woman named Jennifer Elsworth, who excels at sales but is remarkably terse when it comes to her past. Livie feels uneasy hiring someone so unknown and tries to delve into Jennifer's background. Only Livie's brother Jason can provide the fact Jennie grew up in the next community, Twiterton and had a tough childhood. When the local vet's aunt Len, a former actress, invites a Hollywood celebrity to visit her in Chatterley Heights, the whole town is in a tizzy. Livie is less than impressed with soap star Trevor Lane and only slightly more so with Trevor's handler, Dougie Adair. It seems the pair grew up in Twiterton. Is there a connection to Jennifer, despite a big difference in their ages? When Trevor ends up dead and Livie and Maddie's childhood friend Stacey's ex-husband Wade is accused, Livie and Maddie feel honor bound to solve the mystery and keep the paparazzi from hounding Stacey and her kids.
This mystery was a little complicated. I figured out who the murderer was going to be before it happened but I wasn't positive. I had 3 major suspects and one seemed the most likely candidate. I stayed up late finishing the book and wasn't surprised. The "why" turned out to be more complicated than I expected. I thought I knew why Jennifer kept disappearing, especially when Trevor and Dougie showed up, but I guessed wrong. The background to this mystery is rather dark for this light mystery series.
The characters in this series are so vivid and seem like the types that live in small towns like Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls). In fact, Lucas is Luke and Lenora Tucker is Miss Patty. The characters you will love to hate are Binnie, the gossip newspaper/blog writer and her niece Ned. Binnie is so rude and obnoxious that I can't believe she isn't in jail. I love how Del is one step ahead of her at times. Del is starting to emerge as a full-fleshed person. He has a wry sense of humor and isn't a romantic but he loves Livie. Their relationship is similar to Ellie and Allan, Livie's mom and stepdad. Allan also appears in this novel instead of being just a mention. He and Ellie are such opposites, it's hard to believe they're married. Ellie sure loves to gossip but it's always well-meant. She seems like she would be flaky because she's a hippie, but she's sharp and perceptive. Maddie's ADHD brain drove me crazy again. She's continually being insensitive and rude but yet Livie loves her. Maddie is not a "hacker" for guessing her best friend's password. I know my best friend's password because she gave it to me but unlike Maddie, I respect her privacy and have only used it sparingly. Maddie is good at searching the Internet but next time, Livie should ask Heather, the librarian to teach her how to search effectively.
The new characters are Trevor, Dougie, Howie and Livie and Maddie's friend Stacey. I don't remember Stacey being in the series at all. I know Maddie is usually jealous of Livie's other friends but this time she's friendly with Stacey still. Stacey is a caring and protective woman but seems very different from Maddie and Livie. Like Livie, I wasn't impressed with Trevor and Dougie. I found Trevor sleazy and Dougie not much better for keeping Trevor out of trouble. Their backstory is horrifying and I can't believe they would have gotten away with what they did. Howie is instantly a character I hated. He holds a grudge against his childhood tormentors yet wants to be pals with them. He seems like a nasty, bitter man - Livie's dad refers to Howie as a brilliant sociopath who would do well in the corporate world. That's creepy!
Finally, there are recipes in this book! However, one of them is for Ellie's lemon chicken. Why is there a chicken recipe in a book about cookies? Where are Maddie's special lavender/lemon and rose/lemon wedding cookies? Only the rose cookie recipe is included.
Maddie and Lucas are finally getting married and Livie has volunteered to make Maddie's cookie cake. She's pressed for time and worried about a series of local break-ins and neighboring shops. Livie had her hands full with a business to run so has hired a new clerk, a woman named Jennifer Elsworth, who excels at sales but is remarkably terse when it comes to her past. Livie feels uneasy hiring someone so unknown and tries to delve into Jennifer's background. Only Livie's brother Jason can provide the fact Jennie grew up in the next community, Twiterton and had a tough childhood. When the local vet's aunt Len, a former actress, invites a Hollywood celebrity to visit her in Chatterley Heights, the whole town is in a tizzy. Livie is less than impressed with soap star Trevor Lane and only slightly more so with Trevor's handler, Dougie Adair. It seems the pair grew up in Twiterton. Is there a connection to Jennifer, despite a big difference in their ages? When Trevor ends up dead and Livie and Maddie's childhood friend Stacey's ex-husband Wade is accused, Livie and Maddie feel honor bound to solve the mystery and keep the paparazzi from hounding Stacey and her kids.
This mystery was a little complicated. I figured out who the murderer was going to be before it happened but I wasn't positive. I had 3 major suspects and one seemed the most likely candidate. I stayed up late finishing the book and wasn't surprised. The "why" turned out to be more complicated than I expected. I thought I knew why Jennifer kept disappearing, especially when Trevor and Dougie showed up, but I guessed wrong. The background to this mystery is rather dark for this light mystery series.
The characters in this series are so vivid and seem like the types that live in small towns like Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls). In fact, Lucas is Luke and Lenora Tucker is Miss Patty. The characters you will love to hate are Binnie, the gossip newspaper/blog writer and her niece Ned. Binnie is so rude and obnoxious that I can't believe she isn't in jail. I love how Del is one step ahead of her at times. Del is starting to emerge as a full-fleshed person. He has a wry sense of humor and isn't a romantic but he loves Livie. Their relationship is similar to Ellie and Allan, Livie's mom and stepdad. Allan also appears in this novel instead of being just a mention. He and Ellie are such opposites, it's hard to believe they're married. Ellie sure loves to gossip but it's always well-meant. She seems like she would be flaky because she's a hippie, but she's sharp and perceptive. Maddie's ADHD brain drove me crazy again. She's continually being insensitive and rude but yet Livie loves her. Maddie is not a "hacker" for guessing her best friend's password. I know my best friend's password because she gave it to me but unlike Maddie, I respect her privacy and have only used it sparingly. Maddie is good at searching the Internet but next time, Livie should ask Heather, the librarian to teach her how to search effectively.
The new characters are Trevor, Dougie, Howie and Livie and Maddie's friend Stacey. I don't remember Stacey being in the series at all. I know Maddie is usually jealous of Livie's other friends but this time she's friendly with Stacey still. Stacey is a caring and protective woman but seems very different from Maddie and Livie. Like Livie, I wasn't impressed with Trevor and Dougie. I found Trevor sleazy and Dougie not much better for keeping Trevor out of trouble. Their backstory is horrifying and I can't believe they would have gotten away with what they did. Howie is instantly a character I hated. He holds a grudge against his childhood tormentors yet wants to be pals with them. He seems like a nasty, bitter man - Livie's dad refers to Howie as a brilliant sociopath who would do well in the corporate world. That's creepy!
Finally, there are recipes in this book! However, one of them is for Ellie's lemon chicken. Why is there a chicken recipe in a book about cookies? Where are Maddie's special lavender/lemon and rose/lemon wedding cookies? Only the rose cookie recipe is included.
January 16, 2016
Maddie’s engagement party is just a few days away and finding the dead body of a soap star on the front porch has put quite a crimp into the plans. It seems Trevor Lane grew up just up the road in Twiterton and he left a few enemies behind and time has only let their anger fester. Even Livie and Maddie’s friend Stacy has become a suspect. They have no choice but to use their baking and sleuthing know how to mix up the perfect recipe to catch the real killer.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I absolutely love this series. Livie is trying so hard to make her friend Maddie’s party super special but soon realizes she is in over her head and that’s even before the branded victim is found on the front porch.
These characters are so wonderfully written. Their dialogue always rings true. The friendship is the foundation each and every story is built on. People with friendships like Livie’s and Maddie’s are truly blessed.
The mystery sure doesn’t crumble, it is plotted perfectly. There are plenty of suspects and I found myself thinking I knew the killer more than once and was wrong every time.
Another fantastic story from Virginia Lowell. Can’t wait to see what this smart cookie has up her sleeve for readers next!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I absolutely love this series. Livie is trying so hard to make her friend Maddie’s party super special but soon realizes she is in over her head and that’s even before the branded victim is found on the front porch.
These characters are so wonderfully written. Their dialogue always rings true. The friendship is the foundation each and every story is built on. People with friendships like Livie’s and Maddie’s are truly blessed.
The mystery sure doesn’t crumble, it is plotted perfectly. There are plenty of suspects and I found myself thinking I knew the killer more than once and was wrong every time.
Another fantastic story from Virginia Lowell. Can’t wait to see what this smart cookie has up her sleeve for readers next!
June 7, 2015
This is the first one in the Cookie Cutter Mystery series that I've read. I enjoyed it very much. Very much like many cozy stories, it still had a great plot and very zany characters. We have the main character, her law enforcement love interest and her silly but sweet best friend who,against the law enforcement wishes, delves into solving the murder. The victim, left on Olivia's (main character) front porch of her business, The Gingerbread House is a soap opera hunk who is visiting. Because he had a cookie cutter brand on his face, Olivia feels she must find out who is responsible. I have read so many cozies that I notice little errors in proof reading. At dinner at Olivia's mother's house they start out having cabernet sauvignon and all of a sudden it becomes merlot. There were a few others so maybe the author's proof readers need to do a better job. No big deal though as the story was well paced and kept my interest. I plan to read more of this series.
October 7, 2014
One Dead Cookie is the fourth book in a Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery. I really enjoy this series. The main character, Olivia owns the shop and lives above it with her dog. She is busy dealing with baking for her best friend Maddie’s engagement party. The party gets wilder when a B list celebrity arrives and the murder occurs. The murder is connected to people who stayed in the area and to an old unsolved crime. On top of the murder, there are other smaller crimes occurring muddying the waters. I really do enjoy this series, but I will say this was not my favorite it it so far. I am looking forward to reading the next one nonetheless.
November 8, 2013
e final (for now) book in the series has Maddie and Lucas preparing for their wedding. It's non stop baking in the shop for Livie and Maddie. When a dead soap star ends up with one of their cookies stuffed in his mouth and a cookie cutter brand on his cheek, questions begin to surface. Did one of the bakers or their new hire kill him or was it whoever is breaking in to various stores? If you want to find out, you'll have to read the book.
June 13, 2015
2.5 stars
Just a so so read. Really didn't like any of the characters and the plot was pretty weak.
Just a so so read. Really didn't like any of the characters and the plot was pretty weak.
March 28, 2019
A cute little dog on the cover and a food title mystery. I didn't need to know much more then that picking up this book to add it to my shelf. I am pretty good at buying used books from the library just because the money goes back to the kids here. So I love finding titles and covers that pop out at me and for the price, how could I go wrong?
Well this book at first started a bit slow. Olivia is sitting on her couch sorting cutting cutters and planning a cookie themed event. When her dog starts barking out the window. Well it doesn't stay slow for long. You soon end up with a lot of questions. Questions that even Olivia has herself. Of course, you start trying to figure out answers and soon find yourself in weird places that are not the case, or that was my experience.
But anyways, a famous person from a Soap comes to town. It brings havoc to Olivia's live mostly because right now she is busy trying to plan this Engagement party blowout for her friend and partner using some brand new recipes that are made by her but she just can't seem to get them right. There are some random crimes going on in town. Plus to add to everything, Trevor Lane big time Soap star ends up dead on her own from Porch while her and her friend are working in the kitchen making cookies for the big party.
Now to make matters worse, her friend Stacy's ex-husband is in jail for the crime and now someone is trying to pin it on her as well. What is Olivia to do? It seems too many people would have a reason to want him dead. Even his own personal assistant has a reason to want him dead. But who would want him dead enough to kill him?
I laughed, I cried and I laughed some more in this book. I really love the scene where you finally discover who the person behind the mask so to speak comes out. It is just an amazing read. It went so fast in the end, I could hardly put it down.
Well this book at first started a bit slow. Olivia is sitting on her couch sorting cutting cutters and planning a cookie themed event. When her dog starts barking out the window. Well it doesn't stay slow for long. You soon end up with a lot of questions. Questions that even Olivia has herself. Of course, you start trying to figure out answers and soon find yourself in weird places that are not the case, or that was my experience.
But anyways, a famous person from a Soap comes to town. It brings havoc to Olivia's live mostly because right now she is busy trying to plan this Engagement party blowout for her friend and partner using some brand new recipes that are made by her but she just can't seem to get them right. There are some random crimes going on in town. Plus to add to everything, Trevor Lane big time Soap star ends up dead on her own from Porch while her and her friend are working in the kitchen making cookies for the big party.
Now to make matters worse, her friend Stacy's ex-husband is in jail for the crime and now someone is trying to pin it on her as well. What is Olivia to do? It seems too many people would have a reason to want him dead. Even his own personal assistant has a reason to want him dead. But who would want him dead enough to kill him?
I laughed, I cried and I laughed some more in this book. I really love the scene where you finally discover who the person behind the mask so to speak comes out. It is just an amazing read. It went so fast in the end, I could hardly put it down.
July 2, 2020
I had a great time reading 'One Dead Cookie', book 4 of the Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery Series by Virginia Lowell. Maddie's going to have a huge reception for her marriage to Lucas, followed by a much quieter and cozier wedding ceremony among friend. Olivia is working hard to think of the perfect wedding cookie cake for the event. And on the backdrop of this special event arrives a few new characters in town including visiting TV soap opera star Trevor Lane. When he's found dead on Olivia's porch, branded by a cookie cutter, and with a cookie stuck in his mouth - well, it becomes Maddie and Olivia on the case.
I really enjoyed the 4th book. I love the main sleuths and their friendship and so reading one of these books feels warm and comfortable. There is a lot of cookies! I personally don't think I could eat that may cookies that often, but who am I to judge? Business is booming for these two sleuths and the feel of the small town they're in always seems spot on. I live in a town like this so I continue to feel it's a totally plausible story line. And we definitely had plenty of suspects. The key to this mystery was buried in a decades-past mystery. There was only one thing just jumped out at me as being a little ham-handed and it was right at the end when one of the new characters pops in, gives an awkward good bye statement and exits the book. It felt like it was thrown in as necessary wrap-up and was done a little less tactfully than I would have preferred, but it was so minor compared to rest of how good the book was. I'm definitely going to move onto book 5.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Olivia Greyson (age 31)
Business: Cookie Shop owner
Pet: Spunky, a yorkie dog
Best-Friend: Maddie (age 31)
Love Interest: Del, a male cop (age 34?)
Family: Mother, Step-Father, younger brother
Location: Maryland
I really enjoyed the 4th book. I love the main sleuths and their friendship and so reading one of these books feels warm and comfortable. There is a lot of cookies! I personally don't think I could eat that may cookies that often, but who am I to judge? Business is booming for these two sleuths and the feel of the small town they're in always seems spot on. I live in a town like this so I continue to feel it's a totally plausible story line. And we definitely had plenty of suspects. The key to this mystery was buried in a decades-past mystery. There was only one thing just jumped out at me as being a little ham-handed and it was right at the end when one of the new characters pops in, gives an awkward good bye statement and exits the book. It felt like it was thrown in as necessary wrap-up and was done a little less tactfully than I would have preferred, but it was so minor compared to rest of how good the book was. I'm definitely going to move onto book 5.
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Olivia Greyson (age 31)
Business: Cookie Shop owner
Pet: Spunky, a yorkie dog
Best-Friend: Maddie (age 31)
Love Interest: Del, a male cop (age 34?)
Family: Mother, Step-Father, younger brother
Location: Maryland
May 30, 2022
This is the 4th book in the series. Olivia is busy preparing for Maddie’s engagement party, trying to come up with a unique idea for the main dessert with a cookie based theme.. Things in town are disrupted by the arrival of Trevor Lane, a soap opera star that grew up in a nearby town. His arrival stirs up some trouble, and when Trevor ends up dead on the porch of the store, branded by what looks like a cookie cutter, Olivia knows that they have to help solve the case. Actions from the past may be key in figuring out who had a motive and who had the opportunity. The book includes recipes at the back.
June 6, 2021
It's not often you find a nice blend of quirky characters, including a cute rescue Yorkie, movie stars, strong minded women, and all the variants one might find in a small town, but this cozy managed it. Don't think I'll ever forget my mind's image of Maddie at her wedding or a tap dancing Mom, or ...
Did I mention there's just enough coverage of the baking process from the ground up so you not only appreciate what's involved but tend to feel a need to find delicious cookies to go with the read?
Did I mention there's just enough coverage of the baking process from the ground up so you not only appreciate what's involved but tend to feel a need to find delicious cookies to go with the read?
December 15, 2017
normally I really like the antics that Olivia and Maddie get up to but all I can say about this book is it was dreadfully boring. the murder was boring and didn't happen until halfway through the book and then the rest of the book was endless baking for Maddie ' s engagement party like wholly hell how many cookies do you need for one event. also if you stopped feeding them to people you wouldn't have to be staying up until 3am baking more. this was not an enjoyable read for me at all
July 31, 2022
4th book in this series and Olivia co owner of The Gingerbread House is busy baking cookies and preparing for her partner Maggie's wedding and engagement party. One night a body is found of the doorstop of the shop and it seems to be that of a celebrity who is visiting the town. Olivia and Maggie find that their good friend Stacey is implicated in the murder and need to find answers quick but many obstacles and people in the way.
October 26, 2018
Fun installment of this cozy series. The characters are likable and small town setting is enjoyable.
February 23, 2022
She is such a good author! This book really hit the mark as well. There was a very nice flow to it that had you keep turning pages. I can’t wait to to read the rest of the series.
July 15, 2022
Another great book in a fantastic series.
December 7, 2023
Cute series!
January 9, 2024
If you like the series, you'll enjoy this book. I was glad the author shook up the ending!
February 20, 2024
Enjoyable read. I find some cozy mysteries boring. This one was good. BUT have cookies around when you read the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 8, 2025
A little less readable than the previous installations.
October 1, 2016
A little slow at first and it did seem to be slow as well and then it turn out better but not till the middle of the book. I am hoping the next one in this series moves at a faster pace.
August 26, 2013
This fourth novel in the series of 'A Cookie Cutter Store Mystery,' finds Olivia Greyson, her dog, Spunky, and best friend, Maddie preparing and testing cookies for Maddie's up-coming engagement party. With only one week to prepare, Olivia was trying to create the a new and special cookie to make the Wedding Cookie Cake from. Maddie? Well, she is trying to convince Olivia to let her assist, after all, it is her party!
The two ladies are best friends, having been in each other's lives since the age of ten. Olivia had wanted to make this project her 'gift' to the couple but quickly realizes that Maddie's talent is needed. Spunky is around to protect and sample!
This novel is a cozy and it is truly written as one. There are recipes and romance and humor with quirky characters, however that is not the only plot going on...there are crimes, murder of soap opera stars, and suspense...
Maddie hired a young woman, Jennifer Ellsworth, without references other than she 'knows' cookie cutters. What is her story?
Who and why are Lady Chatterly's and the local bank attacked? Nothing seems to be missing or stolen?
Really? Resting actress Lenora Dove has two Hollywood names coming to visit the elder star? Both having been football players in the next town of Twiterton? Really?
Then a body is found on the porch of the Gingerbread House? What on earth is going on and why pick Olivia's store and home?
It takes the combined efforts of Olivia, Maddie, Spunky, Olivia's family, and Del Jenkins, Sheriff to solve the questions and snare the culprit. You will not only enjoy the journey but yell 'Go ...' well you really didn't expect me to tell you the ending did you? Believe me that this is a comfy cozy murder mystery and I am looking forward to the next volume.
The two ladies are best friends, having been in each other's lives since the age of ten. Olivia had wanted to make this project her 'gift' to the couple but quickly realizes that Maddie's talent is needed. Spunky is around to protect and sample!
This novel is a cozy and it is truly written as one. There are recipes and romance and humor with quirky characters, however that is not the only plot going on...there are crimes, murder of soap opera stars, and suspense...
Maddie hired a young woman, Jennifer Ellsworth, without references other than she 'knows' cookie cutters. What is her story?
Who and why are Lady Chatterly's and the local bank attacked? Nothing seems to be missing or stolen?
Really? Resting actress Lenora Dove has two Hollywood names coming to visit the elder star? Both having been football players in the next town of Twiterton? Really?
Then a body is found on the porch of the Gingerbread House? What on earth is going on and why pick Olivia's store and home?
It takes the combined efforts of Olivia, Maddie, Spunky, Olivia's family, and Del Jenkins, Sheriff to solve the questions and snare the culprit. You will not only enjoy the journey but yell 'Go ...' well you really didn't expect me to tell you the ending did you? Believe me that this is a comfy cozy murder mystery and I am looking forward to the next volume.
October 2, 2014
Olivia Greyson is busy running The Gingerbread House but she has even more things on her plate these days - her best friend and coworker Maddie is getting married and Olivia is trying to find the perfect cookie recipe for the engagement party. She is working night and day on arrangements for the party and the last thing she needs is to be interrupted but when soap star Trevor Lane is murdered and his body left on the porch of The Gingerbread House Olivia finds herself involved in the case. Can Olivia, with the help of Maddie, solve this case in time for Maddie to enjoy her engagement party?
"One Dead Cookie" is the tasty fourth book in Virginia Lowell's A Cookie Cutter Shop cozy mystery series. I had not read any of the other books in the series but I never felt lost regarding the characters or setting while reading this book. The cookie cutter shop setting is an interesting one (I'm not sure if a business like that would survive in real life but it works perfectly as a setting for a cozy mystery). The setting made me hungry - I'm not a huge cookie fan but my mouth was watering as Olivia and Maddie were constantly eating cookies (they apparently survive on cookies and very little sleep!). Olivia and Maddie are nicely done characters but, although the book is from Olivia's viewpoint, Maddie seemed a bit stronger as a character. Lowell does a great job of portraying life in a small town where everybody knows everybody else's business or so they think. The mystery itself is well plotted with a few surprises - I just wish Lowell had had a different ending for one of the most interesting characters in the book.
"One Dead Cookie" is a delicious cozy mystery.
"One Dead Cookie" is the tasty fourth book in Virginia Lowell's A Cookie Cutter Shop cozy mystery series. I had not read any of the other books in the series but I never felt lost regarding the characters or setting while reading this book. The cookie cutter shop setting is an interesting one (I'm not sure if a business like that would survive in real life but it works perfectly as a setting for a cozy mystery). The setting made me hungry - I'm not a huge cookie fan but my mouth was watering as Olivia and Maddie were constantly eating cookies (they apparently survive on cookies and very little sleep!). Olivia and Maddie are nicely done characters but, although the book is from Olivia's viewpoint, Maddie seemed a bit stronger as a character. Lowell does a great job of portraying life in a small town where everybody knows everybody else's business or so they think. The mystery itself is well plotted with a few surprises - I just wish Lowell had had a different ending for one of the most interesting characters in the book.
"One Dead Cookie" is a delicious cozy mystery.
December 15, 2016
One Dead Cookie is book four in Virginia Lowell's Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery series. Olivia (Livie) and her best friend and Business Partner, Maddie are crazy busy preparing for Maddie's fabulous engagement bash to handsome hunk Lucas with a gorgeous garden themed cookie extravaganza!! But they get sidetracked when a celebrity if found murdered and branded by a cookie cutter on their front porch and one of their close friends is suspected of murder. As the stories surface, the girls find out that Movie Star Trevor had made numerous enemies and the number of potential suspects begins to add up quickly!! Add to all of this, the mysterious activities of their newest employee and the vicious rumors of the unprofessional Binnie and her gossip blog and you have a lot of different rabbit holes to fall down! I really enjoyed reuniting with the Chatterly Heights cozy community!! I still think Livie and Maddie eat enough cookies to weigh about 300 pounds and they never ever sleep, but it keeps things interesting, LOL!! Overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next one!!
April 3, 2024
Now I want to see what a wedding cake made of cookies would look like.
Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House--a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie--and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their cookie-themed parties. But a dead body on their front porch might put their bake shop in a truly sticky situation...
Olivia is busy baking up special cookies for Maddie's upcoming engagement party when soap star Trevor Lane shows up unexpectedly in town. It soon becomes clear that Trevor, who grew up in the neighboring town of Twiterton, left behind a number of enemies with long memories. Even Trevor's assistant and childhood friend, Dougie, seems to harbor a grudge against him.
Soon after his arrival, Trevor is found dead on The Gingerbread House porch, his handsome face branded with the image of a cookie cutter. When their friend Stacey is implicated in the murder, Olivia and Maddie rush to find the killer. Because it seems someone in Chatterley Heights has a sweet tooth for revenge...
Olivia Greyson is the proud owner of The Gingerbread House--a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie--and her best friend, Maddie, is her sidekick, baking up scrumptious treats for their cookie-themed parties. But a dead body on their front porch might put their bake shop in a truly sticky situation...
Olivia is busy baking up special cookies for Maddie's upcoming engagement party when soap star Trevor Lane shows up unexpectedly in town. It soon becomes clear that Trevor, who grew up in the neighboring town of Twiterton, left behind a number of enemies with long memories. Even Trevor's assistant and childhood friend, Dougie, seems to harbor a grudge against him.
Soon after his arrival, Trevor is found dead on The Gingerbread House porch, his handsome face branded with the image of a cookie cutter. When their friend Stacey is implicated in the murder, Olivia and Maddie rush to find the killer. Because it seems someone in Chatterley Heights has a sweet tooth for revenge...
July 21, 2013
Just so-so.
I really like to the two main characters, Olivia and Maddie. And Olivia's mother is a joy. The dialogue between these three is really well written and there are more than a few good one-liners. Del is sweet and I think he could be a great character if he was around more.
The plot of the mystery, at it's bones, was well done. Old clues, new clues, lots of suspects and an ending that wasn't the total cliched "cozy ending number 2". I liked the ending.
So what was the problem? The story just didn't flow well at all. It felt disjointed and clunky; disorganised. And while I'm an animal lover to an extreme, if I had to hear one more time about Spunky's days on the "mean streets of Baltimore" or his begging eyes I was gonna scream. It was too much.
If the next book came out right now, I wouldn't pick it up. We'll see how I feel X months from now when it does come out.
I really like to the two main characters, Olivia and Maddie. And Olivia's mother is a joy. The dialogue between these three is really well written and there are more than a few good one-liners. Del is sweet and I think he could be a great character if he was around more.
The plot of the mystery, at it's bones, was well done. Old clues, new clues, lots of suspects and an ending that wasn't the total cliched "cozy ending number 2". I liked the ending.
So what was the problem? The story just didn't flow well at all. It felt disjointed and clunky; disorganised. And while I'm an animal lover to an extreme, if I had to hear one more time about Spunky's days on the "mean streets of Baltimore" or his begging eyes I was gonna scream. It was too much.
If the next book came out right now, I wouldn't pick it up. We'll see how I feel X months from now when it does come out.
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