Wedding Cake Killer

Fresh-Baked Mystery #7

by Livia J. Washburn

Wedding bells will be ringing in Weatherford, Texas, this Christmas when Phyllis Newsom opens up her home for her best friend’s wedding. And although the bride is wearing white, no one suspects that she’ll soon be wearing black....

After all the planning—and the cake tasting—the big day has finally arrived. Eve Turner, one of Phyllis’s boarders—and her best friend—is moving out and getting married to the affable Roy Porter. While she’s sad to see Eve go, Phyllis is more than happy to host the event in her home and to bake the bride and groom a delicious three-tiered coconut wedding cake. Even though a snowstorm in the forecast seems like a recipe for disaster, the day runs as smoothly as buttercream.

But the marriage doesn’t last long past the honeymoon. When Roy’s found dead at a Weatherford bed-and-breakfast, Eve’s the top suspect. Now Phyllis must find out who iced Roy before her friend finds herself behind bars….

Includes recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Christmas, Mystery Thriller

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2012

About the author

Under the names Livia J. Washburn and L.J. Washburn, Livia Reasoner has been writing award-winning, critically acclaimed mystery, western, romance, and historical novels for more than thirty years. She began to write in collaboration with her husband, author James Reasoner, and soon branched out into telling her own stories. She received the Private Eye Writers of America award and the American Mystery award for her first mystery, WILD NIGHT, and was nominated for a Spur by the Western Writers of America for a novel she wrote with her husband, James Reasoner. Livia won the Peacemaker Award from Western Fictioneers for her story “Charlie’s Pie”.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas based cozy.

The sleuth's friend gets married. Things seem hunky-dory, but then the husband dies, and not by natural causes. Of course, the friend is the main suspect. The sleuth starts poking around, and finds some secrets.

Ambling, but the pages keep turning.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this entry in the series and it had a good surprising ending as well. This one picked up right where the previous book left off and while the other book didn't have a cliff hanger this finished off a story line. Phyllis was at her best in her sleuthing much to the chagrin of the DA. There were a lot of recipes included at then end of this one as well.

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The rating for this fine book is more like 4.5 than 4. The best thing about this book, apart from a spellbinding finale, was the lack of too many suspects. In the last book I half thought Roy Porter, the future groom of Eve, was going to be the victim. Here, instead of cementing his place as a regular of the Newsome household, he keels over. Now I've read the blurb before reading, so I was pretty pumped for the story to reveal itself to me. My expectations were exceeded easily, as the case took on an unusual turn. With books like this, I'm amazed why cozies aren't ever on the New York Times bestselling lists. Shame on you men writers, getting whupped by your female counterparts.

I liked how Sam Fletcher and Phyllis Newsome came to the solution of the murder together...Sam partly, Phyllis wholly. They make a really cute couple. They are quite believable. You get the feeling they are breathing inside these pages, waiting for someone to read them so that they can live. Maybe this book deserved 5 stars. And maybe there are 5 star books that would deserve, on a re read, less. I don't know why I'm holding back. Perhaps it's because I'm trying not to focus on the ending solely. This series is very consistent in its quality. I've struggled to established what I call a franchise. That is, a series of a dozen-ish books that can satiate my reading appetite. I've made forays into thrillers written for men. But such a franchise has failed to establish. The women writers who have female heroes have the men beat. That's an affirming conclusion that grows in strength daily. More power to cozy writers.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventh book in the series .. and it keeps getting better!
I was totally surprised by the murderer in this one.
Poor Eve is really put through the wringer .. but PN comes through for her friend.
I missed number six so will read gingerbread next.
Best to read these in order though.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

dear livia,

maaf ya aku bacanya langsung nomor tujuh. saat menemukan buku ini, aku langsung kepengen baca tanpa mencari tahu dulu apakah buku ini bagian dari serial atau single title.

i read it and i love it! nggak adil rasanya membanding-bandingkan karyamu dengan karya penulis cullinary mystery lainnya yang aku suka (mrs. f), tapi saat membaca bukumu ini, aku langsung terpikir buku-buku beliau yang pernah aku baca.

aku yakin kamu nggak bisa membaca reviu ini karena dalam bahasa indonesia (salahkan hamba yang sedang malas mikir), tapi seandainya kamu dan google translate sedang berteman, aku mau kamu tahu, aku janji akan membaca seri fresh-baked mystery-mu yang lain. seperti comfort food, caramu bercerita menghangatkan perut dan perasaanku. delicious!

x,

-cs (ceritanya nih, penggemar barumu)


:)

[Valerie Tate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any of this series before. It was a light, fast read. There wasn't a lot of suspense or tension but the characters were agreeable and the setting, a town in Texas, different. I would have liked more descriptions of the town and the scenery since I have never been to Texas. The plot had a good twist and there were some engaging moments such as when the main character is arrested by a Deputy Sheriff who is a former student and sent briefly to jail. (This is not a spoiler since she is in jail when the book opens and a good deal of the story is told in flashback.)

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis Newsom is happy to be hosting the wedding of her dear friend and border Eve, but when the groom is found dead, Eve is suspect #1. Despite warnings not to interfere with the investigation, Phyllis can't help herself when one of her friends is in trouble. This is really an enjoyable cozy mystery series. (A Fresh Baked Mystery) Phyllis is in her early 60s and I find this interesting plus I like her romance with Sam. If you love cozy mysteries you can't go wrong with this series!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed this series and this seventh novel in the series was just as great as the other six I've read. Phyllis, Carolyn, Eve and Sam are what every small town in Texas should be!

The novel had all the things a great cozy mystery should have and though I figured out whodunit before Sam stated, "you know who the murderer is, don't you," to Phyllis I still loved it!

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough mystery. I kind of suspected the killer early on but there were enough red herrings along the way to keep my interest.

[Vin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Did not see that ending coming at all.

[Fairlee Corkran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series because the characters are older.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

CW: murder (off-screen), conmen

So this small town Texas cozy mystery is basically if Dororthy Zbornak was a retired schoolteacher in Weatherford, TX solving mysteries and also at the same time getting in trouble with the DA and the law…somehow. Because I felt like I was going to become a senior citizen once I was done with this book. I liked it but I just didn’t like how the DA was acting when the best friend’s partner died and blamed her for it…like she had a really good reason to kill her husband.

On top of that, they didn’t know Roy that well until they found out by a private investigator that he was a conman, falling in love with women and then getting all their money and leaving. It’s like it came out of nowhere, and I was kinda thrown back a bit, because I just thought that Roy was just a good ol’ boy who loved Eve, but it turns out homie was a conman who was murdered at a bed and breakfast…ah. Interesting.

In the middle of all of this is Phyllis, Weatherford’s Sherlock Holmes, who owns a house and shares it with her friends Sam, Eve, and Carolyn. I felt like, throughout the book, I was hanging out with 60-something year old people trying to solve a murder that happens after a wedding…which was out of the blue for me because I thought Roy and Eve was going to be together forever. Looks like that’s not going to be the case, and that she’s a widow after she married about three times I believe.

I liked this book, the recipes sound good and I didn’t like the DA in the book. He just rubbed me the wrong way.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the next in a series after THE GINGERBREAD BUMP-OFF. I read this right away because I had burning questions about Eve and Roy. Would they really get married? Is he a cad? Well, they did get married. But a few weeks after, Roy is killed and Eve is the primary suspect. Of course, Phyllis comes to the rescue by doing everything in her power to prove Eve's innocence. This includes for both Eve and Phyllis spending a night in jail, in different parts of the story. Sam remains as Phyllis' likeable housemate and helper in this book. It gets really interesting when we find out why Roy was killed and who did it. Another good one!

[Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really am enjoying this series. One of my all time favorites and I am an old guy. Lots of books under my belt. I am glad that I don't read the book blurbs that tell you what is going to happen in the book because I hadn't a clue who was going to be the victim and I was blown away when the victim was found dead! I had already put that person on my suspect list, sure they were going to kill someone.

Ready to start on the next book. All I know about it is the title and that it is #8.

[Kailyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got half way through Chapter 4 and had to stop. The writing style was boring and irritating. I had originally picked up the book because the overall story seemed interesting. I just didn't have the patience to try and read the rest. I skipped to the last chapter to see if the writing got any better and it didn't.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was on vacation and finished the book I brought. There were a couple of books in the cabin where I was staying… it was either “In the arms of the sheikh” (insert eye roll) or this one. It gave me something to read when we were stuck inside with severe weather. It was a quick read, mildly entertaining, entirely guessable, and forgettable. No real desire to read any others in the series.

[Ruth Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phyllis helps her friend get married. After the honeymoon, Eve and Roy settle at a B & B. A few weeks later, Roy is murdered and Eve is accused. Phyllis and friends start asking questions and things get complicated. See how it is solved.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

The victim and motive were a surprise. Phyllis getting to the bottom of things wasn't but it's enjoyable watching her figure things out while trying not to get in trouble with the law or the killer by doing so. Poor Eve! I have no idea how she'll recover from this.

[Ashley O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one from the series! Love how it centers around Eve. Anyone else get Blanche Devereaux vibes when they think of Eve? I always picture Blanche in my head when I’m reading one of these beloved fresh baked mystery books!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book

[Giulia M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might not be the crime story of the year, but let's be honest: if you picked it, you were probably in serious need of a real break from anything. So thumbs up for normal, straightforward novels.

[Carol Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about the retired teachers/detectives!

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

After her friend and housemate, Eve, is accused of murdering her new husband, Phyllis and Joe jump in to investigate. Fun read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! I can never guess the killer!

[Courtney Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty fast and easy CHEESY book. It was a fun read and one that didn’t involve much thought.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was slow going at first. But when the mystery started then the pace quickened and I was more interested.

The reveal was a total shock!

[Beverly Holton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not stay focused with this book. It was just ok for me nothing exceptional or anything to make me recommend it.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

culinary murder mysteries vibes are especially strong with this one

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an older cozy mystery, featuring a group of retired friends who share a house in Texas. (Thank goodness, I was beginning to think cozy mysteries were all set in Michigan!) The author did a nice job of building out the characters, and I have a soft spot for the lead character who is a retired history teacher. It felt a little off-balance, though. The author may have spent a little too much time setting the stage for the murder - not leaving as much time for solving the case.

[Aera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here are my thoughts on the book.

Ambling is the right word for it. Reading this is like a slow, steady stroll around the park in a lazy, hazy afternoon where you have nothing to do and nowhere to go. What strikes me is the consistency of the pacing. It never picks up but it never slows down either from the first page to the very last. You feel like you're on the elliptical. It's strangely soothing... but I agree with what others have said about this book. It's just ok. Not terrible just...meh.

The characters are bland but at least not overly irritating or obnoxious (though at times, Carolyn comes close) but you don't have any affection for them either. The mystery was solid. Interesting but not really exciting. There weren't any extraneous filler to muddy things up and slow the story down further but reading this is akin to eating plain white rice. Not terrible but not really tasty either but harmless enough.