Tres Leches Cupcakes

A Culinary Mystery #8

by Josi S. Kilpack

Sadie Hoffmiller has relocated from Colorado to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is starting a new job as an informant for the Bureau of Land Management on an archeological site. The sun and dirt blocks her initial excitement about the job, but she makes the best of it, using her baking prowess to help her gather background information on her fellow dirt geeks. Being in the middle of nowhere and digging up artifacts from hundreds of years ago is supposed to keep Sadie out of trouble until recent burials are found on the ancient site. Before Sadie knows it, she s arrested for starting a bar fight, a new friend is missing, and she s worn out her welcome in Santa Fe in more ways than one. But when a trip to the annual hot air balloon fiesta in Albuquerque leads to even more danger, she begins to wonder if she ll ever be safe . . . from herself.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Lds Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2012

About the author

I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.

I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.

Reviews

[Tristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadie Hoffmiller is still running from danger. A threat was made against her life a year ago, and it’s not safe for her to return home. Moving from place to place, hoping to keep her enemies from picking up her trail, Sadie moves in with Caro, her boyfriend Pete’s cousin, in Santa Fe. The Bureau of Land Management has asked her to follow up on some employees on an archaeological dig, so she has something to do to keep her mind off her troubles.

Digging in the dirt sounded like fun at first, but now she’s starting to wonder. She dislikes feeling grimy and sweaty all the time, but she does take satisfaction in finding remnants of past civilizations hidden in the dry New Mexican ground.

One day on the dig, two fresh bodies are discovered—well, fresher than the others they’ve found. And then Margot, one of the workers on the team, turns up missing. Sadie has to investigate—that’s what she does, after all—and before long, she’s in danger herself as those behind the murders realize she’s not who she says she is. What follows is a tale of danger, hot chocolate, red herrings, and hot air balloon rides at the world-famous Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Tres Leches Cupcakes is the eighth volume in the Sadie Hoffmiller series, and it doesn’t appear that our intrepid little detective is losing steam. Her no-nonsense approach, her guts and determination, and her amazing recipes keep readers coming back for more.

Perhaps what’s best of all is that these books take everything we love about mysteries and deliver us a story without gruesome details. We get dead bodies but without overt detail, we get romance but without bed scenes, and we get danger but without foul language. Readers know when they pick up a Sadie Hoffmiller mystery that they can trust the contents to entertain without offending.

My favorite part of this book is found in the last pages. Picture Sadie crawling along beneath a trailer home and popping up through a trapdoor into a closet, and then escaping the same way—that made me giggle. Leave it to Sadie to do things her own way each and every time.

There are other books yet to come in the series, so stay tuned for more as they are released. You will not be disappointed.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous installment of the Sadie Hoffmiller series. I've read all of them, in order, and was excited to pick this up as soon as it hit the shelves.

Sadie is supposedly undercover in New Mexico, gathering information for an ancient artifact preservation group. This means she has to work at a dig and spend hours each day in the heat, digging in the dirt. You can only imagine what Sadie thinks about this.

Many times I laughed out loud--she couldn't quite keep her undercover name straight--and I loved the setting and the unique secondary characters, such as Caro, Rex, and Margo.

Classic Sadie-style, there are plenty of delicious sounding recipes (I just wish I was brave enough to try them . . . I'll be visiting a bakery soon!)

TRES LECHES packs plenty of suspense, a tad of sweet romance, and a roller coaster intricate mystery that kept me guessing until the last couple of chapters.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tres Leches cupcakes stars my favorite Josi Kilpack heroine, Sadie Hofmiller and her latest adventure in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sadie is still in hiding from a threat in Boston (I missed a book, so I'm not sure what that is! I need to go back and read that one.) She takes a job on an archaeological dig as a BLM informant. Everything is going along fine, no bumps in the road at all, until two "fresh" bodies show up at the dig and one of the best people they have goes missing. And she goes missing after a bar fight that Sadie is accused of starting. Haha!

*ahem*

Seriously, the bar fight was one of my favorite scenes because it's so Sadie! She's whacking people around, and taking a few hits herself, as she's trying to get to the exit and then, of course is arrested. Her reaction to being in the cell with Bald Lily had me feeling so sorry for her and laughing all at the same time.

The thing that I like about Sadie, though, is how much she's grown and changed from the first book. She seems so real in her reactions, her mannerisms, and how she just wants a normal life now. I like her moxie, her romance, and her mad investigative skillz, and I also like how well the mysteries are written. It was one of those books that I took with me everywhere I went today, so that even if I was stopped at a red light for a few moments, I could read another page or two. It was that good! Cannot wait for the next one!

Originally reviewed on http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com

[Amaree Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this one. I'm always curious how the author will be able to keep the mysteries up with the main character and this one fit so well.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a good, enjoyable, fluffy reading and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I started this book right after finishing “Banana Split” because I really wanted to know how Sadie was doing. It seems she’s doing better, but poor Sadie really has some insecurities to work out. Pete is trying to help, but she just needs to believe that he’ll be there for her. I do like Pete. He gets better and better all the time.

I love Sadie’s relationship with Caro and wish Rex weren’t so domineering over Caro so she could develop her talents and her self a bit more. Honestly, I didn’t like Rex. Not even at the end. He’s just too aggressive and self-centered (I kept thinking, “you need some anger management, man!). I don’t know what Caro sees in him but I sure hope she can talk some sense into him.

Something I think interesting about these mysteries is the information into different “bad,” or illegal, or mysterious entities. Reading a small bit about the antiquities black market was fascinating. Reading a bit about archeology was interesting as well. It’s an interesting mystery that had a lot of available avenues for solving and I admit I was a little surprised how it turned out. However, there are also a lot of loose ends I really hope get tied up in other books.
I really liked that Sadie got kind of drug into this particular mystery instead of pushing herself in where she isn’t wanted or has been asked to leave it be. I like that she tried. But I also like that, despite her best efforts, she got pulled in and still solved the mystery. I like her more and more as she matures into her PI abilities and that she’s in agreement about the importance of letting the police do their jobs without being in their way.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like the main character, Sadie, was so much stronger mentally and physically in this book. I enjoyed reading her more, and it was really nice to see how supportive Pete was to her. Sadie can be very misunderstood and I feel like Pete ::finally:: "gets" her now. :)

I loved the place where the story took place! Made me totally want to go to the balloon festival in NM and track down some delish tres leches cupcakes (I've never had them and I want to try them so bad!).

The plot was very cool and not predictable and had many layers. I loved this.

This was one of my very favorites of the entire series! :)

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie is in New Mexico recovering from her last adventure. She is a magnet for mysteries--especially those involving murders--and finds herself once again involved. Things get out of hand and she ends up arrested. Pete, her cop boyfriend, is trying to help from a distance, but things get stranger by the minute.

Sadie made me kind of sad in this one. She's been through so much and seems to be just a shell of herself.

I enjoyed the storyline and the recipes look delicious. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Sadie in her next mystery.

[Melissa]

Okay, the recipes look AMAZING. I want to try them all. Maybe I should have started with the first book, but jumping into the 8th volume, I'm having a hard time getting into it. The biggest problem is that I find the main character to be a little annoying. We get little comments along the lines of "modesty is always best" peppered throughout the story. Hey, I'm not saying modesty isn't a good thing, but the narrative is coming across as rude.

Will probably end up on my DNF list. But I'll write down all of the recipes before returning to the library.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series of books and this one was a good story. Sadie is hiding out in New Mexico trying to avoid some bad guys who want her dead. She gets involved helping the BLM with a band of people who are taking relics and selling them on the black market. She even helps at an dig where they are uncovering pottery and burial sites that have to be moved to make way for a new road. She seems to be "growing up" a little and not being such a wimp in this story.

[Deborah Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another good book in the series. I was hoping for some more places mentioned of my old stomping grounds in New Mexico. The mystery has a lot of little pieces to put together. Sadie is still away from home due to a death threat. She is on assignment and the mystery unfolds at a site where they are digging for artifacts. I'm liking Sadie's character a little more with each book.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I LOVE how she never gives away the secrets from other books. I absolutely hate it when the author feels the need to insert old stuff all the time. I read the previous book, I know what happened. Thank you Josi for NOT making me suffer. Great author!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Adventurous and exciting. Sadie is one of my all time favorite characters.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See cozy mysteries bookshelf bingo- Armchair Sleuths
Reread Nov 2023 Love this series

[Helynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of southwestern historical and cultural color as well as tasty Mexican –American recipes are woven into Volume 8 of Josi Kipack’s culinary mystery series. This time Sadie Hoffmiller ventures to Santa Fe to do some basic background checks of people on an archeological dig. The job was set up by her police officer boyfriend Pete back in Garrison, Colorado, who wanted Sadie involved in some fairly benign busywork since she is still traumatized by some unpleasant business that happened in volume 6 (Pumpkin Roll ). But Sadie still manages to bluster into some sinister criminal activity involved in the extraction of ancient artifacts. A local police offer tells her, “The antiquities market can be as bloodthirsty as drug cartels. There are very deep feelings involved from very different sectors, and when they cross one another, it’s like lighting a stick of dynamite” (202). Yikes. And if that weren’t enough, some bodies are discovered buried near the artifacts, but not bones of ancient Native Americans; at least two of the bodies are dressed in jeans and are recently dead. Sadie’s deftness during an argument in a local bar starts a brawl that lands her in a Santa Fe jail for the night. But even after Sadie is ordered out of Santa Fe and takes off for Albuquerque to work a booth at the annual hot air balloon fiesta, the mystery and danger are not over. Fortunately, some descriptions of the amazing sight of the myriads of air borne balloons as well as some particularly yummy recipes are included with the intrigue. As title suggests, the culinary mystery revolves partly around the preparation and enjoyment of a regional specialty: cupcakes oozing with an infusion of three different kinds of sweet milks. (There is also a variation: Dulce de Leche Cupcakes plus Dulce de Leche Bars). Other recipes include Sopapillas, Tostadas Compuestas, Breakfast Burritos, Crock Pot Posole, Mexican Hot Chocolate, Green Chile Stew, and Biscochitos (the official cookie of New Mexico, anise flavored). My only negative comment is that the story concludes without sufficient attention some of the loose ends.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the eighth book Sadie Hoffmiller happens to come across another murder while on vacation. She goes down to New Mexico to see the balloon fiesta and spend time with her boyfriend, Pete's, cousin. She's really there for another reason, to work with the archaeologists in an old grave site. She befriends Margo, a poor woman who lost her daughter to a kidnapper (just like most of Sadie's friends) and is meticulous about the care of the ancient bodies they dig up. The bodies are old skeletons buried with a few of their belongings, except for a strangely shaped mound. They dig it up to find the recent bodies of unknown people. Sadie once again goes out of her way to find out which of the suspects killed them; getting in a lot of trouble along the way.

Pete Cunningham sends Sadie to his cousin, Caro, and her husband, Rex. While Rex is stubborn and likes to get his way, Caro can't wait to have another opinion in the house. She loves having Sadie around to help make cream filled cupcakes for the fiesta. Caro is very playful and likes to have a good laugh, while her husband is serious and would rather get something done. They live together, with Sadie in the guest room. Caro and Sadie are best pals, but Rex isn't as welcoming to the murder mystery solver. They both have different opinions throughout the book, and are very different people, but it's Rex that finally shows his other side and does what he can to help when Caro is in trouble.

I like this book, but it is a lot like the ones before it. In this one there were multiple victims, differing it from the others, but the plot line is still very similar. It is a good book, but would be better if the 7 books before it weren't all the same. I should be able to predict who the murderer is; I like that I couldn't decide. One thing to like about all of the culinary mysteries is that the murderer(s) aren't accidentally revealed too soon.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadie is working as an agent for the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico while hiding out from somebody who wants to kill her. Soon her job leads her to something far more sinister.

There was something about the writing that just didn't work for me. A setting in New Mexico involving archaeology sounded like a mystery I would like. The writing felt a bit naive, almost like a first in the series even though it is isn't. Part of the problem was Sadie. I found her character to be rather judgmental and even preachy at times. Her behavior was erratic - she couldn't make simple decisions without her boyfriend and then made more complicated and dangerous decisions on her own. She physically attacked another person with a bottle to the face when she wasn't in danger and then spent ages whining about how it hadn't been her fault. She seems to totally ignore that her close friend is in an emotionally abusive relationship. I understand people are complex and not always consistent, but Sadie was all over the place. For someone who was so clearly a mess she had a very strong "holier than thou" attitude towards pretty much everyone. The other characters were rather one dimensional.

The recipes are pretty basic and would be easy enough for a beginning cook to follow.

As a mystery it felt predictable. There were clues and red herrings, but it lacked subtlety.

However, I do think it deserves credit for highlighting the trade in illegal antiquities, and showed sensitivity to the issues surrounding the excavation of ancient burial sites.

This just wasn't a good match for me.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 8th book in the Culinary Mystery series. I rate these books, in general, between 3 and 4 stars. They are light, fluffy, "beach reads" in my opinion. This was one of the better ones. They are quick, intriguing mysteries with a main character that I really enjoy. I also appreciate the change in setting in each one -- this one is in New Mexico, the last one was in Hawaii. And I ADORE the recipes. There were a lot in this book that I would really like to try, from posole to dulce de leche bars.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much better than the last one. I also appreciate the growth and changes in Sadie. Sometimes her devil-may-care-I'm-going-in attitude was frustrating. Why do characters do stupid things by choice? This book toned that down so much, and I enjoyed that more.

I also really enjoyed the setting in New Mexico. The archaeological dig information was interesting, and the balloon festival fun.

I haven't read any books in this series for a long time, and I enjoyed this one enough that I'm ready to get back into the series.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am having entirely too much fun with this series and I'm sad that I'm almost finished. But this was a great installment. Very different from any other mystery that Sadie's tackled, but it's still her. And it's great to see the character grow from her ordeals in the last few books - that she's not letting the anxiety get the best of her. It's awesome!

And now I want some cupcakes :) I'm not sure if I'm skilled enough to do tres leches cupcakes, but I could try something.

[Lyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What stood out for me in this one was the personal relationships. I felt for Sadie in difficult and awkward situations. I appreciated that she encouraged Caro in her marriage; I only wish she had been more forceful. I really felt for Rex. I could see his jealousy and hurt feelings repeatedly. I get that he wasn't perfect, but it breaks my heart when people aren't willing to fight for their marriage, not even being willing to have an uncomfortable (or repeated) conversation.

[Samantha Zollinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. So the whole reason I am re-reading this series is because of THIS BOOK. I went to Albuquerque last month and got to ride in a hot air balloon. I love when Sadie visits a place I have been. It makes the book come alive.

I also love that Pete is really opening up to Sadie's investigative side getting her an under-cover gig. Sadie also builds a relationship with Pete's cousin Caro. I love how well they get along for most of the book and I love that they are able to reconcile by the end.

[Spook Sulek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some movies go direct to video; this book should go straight to large print. That's where Kilpack's most appreciative audience will be, and I mean the author no disrespect. While everyone appreciates a well told tale and less-compressed story, the main character's attitudes, preferences and thoughts will be most appreciated by the retirement-home set.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book. It's amazing how much action she was able to fit in such a short amount of time. There is a loose end I'm hoping will get tied up in one of remaining books, but all in all I loved it. The relationship that is growing between Sadie and Pete makes me smile. It just goes to show you're never to old to fall in love.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another light, fun, read. I liked it more than the last book in the series. I especially liked the Balloon Fiesta part. My family went down for that a few years ago and loved it. Even though it wasn't a major part of the story, it brought back a lot of fun memories. I thought the reasons behind the murders were a little weak, but all in all, I enjoyed it.

[Kay Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book turned out better than I thought it would! Even though Pete wasn’t in this book very much, but I loved how Sadie used her fighting skills to help her get out of very dangerous situations. There was a lot of surprises in this book with undercover spies, and an unlikely hero who would do anything for wife! Very romantic towards the end!

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a gift from a family member. one that does not know me that well, so my expectations were low as to whether or not I would enjoy it.
I did! more than expected! managed to finish it over the duration of a flight. kept my attention, I didn’t ever get bored.
no specifics because I’m trying not to be spoilery but it is a fun time. I’ve recommended it to a few friends already.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second or third book since the threat has been made against Saidie’s life, and that issue still hasn’t been resolved. Plus this book left another mystery hanging, that of what became of Margo - was she killed or is she still alive? I can hardly wait to read the next in the series!

[Marguerite Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit I picked this book out because of the title. Anything that says Tres Leches has to be good. And it was. An entertaining, action-packed mystery. I will be sure to read some of the other ones in the series.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Leches Cupcakes

I choose 4 Star rating because it was very good book. At first I thought it was a little slow, but it got more interesting as I read. I would recommend it to all the ladies that enjoy a little mystery and romance

[Pattisue · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this exciting installment, Sadie must use every skill in her arsenal to survive this mystery. Interesting details and unique settings make this a must read. Enjoy the history and the rugged, wild beauty of New Mexico.