Sieve and Let Die: A Vintage Kitchen Mystery

Vintage Kitchen Mystery #11

by Victoria Hamilton

In the new Vintage Kitchen Mystery from the author of A Calculated Whisk, Jaymie’s not sure who to believe when every suspect’s alibi has as many holes as a sieve . . .

Vintage cookware collector Jaymie Müller is stunned when an irate woman accuses her pharmacist friend Val of tampering with her prescription. When more unfounded accusations follow, it seems clear the woman has a personal grudge against Val. But before they can figure out why, Jaymie and Val stumble upon the woman’s dead body on the steps of Val’s pharmacy. Given her altercations with the woman and the location of the body, the police naturally suspect Val.

Jaymie has heard rumors that the victim had become forgetful and erratic, but could that explain her death? And why was Val being framed as her murderer? Determined to find the clues that connect the woman’s strange behavior to her death, Jaymie begins questioning the people in her life—and soon suspects that the culprit is among them. But she’ll have to be careful about who she confronts, because while solving murders is hard work, there’s a killer on the loose who finds committing them all too easy . . .

Includes a vintage recipe!

Praise for the Vintage Kitchen

“All the right ingredients . . . Small-town setting, kitchen antiques . . . and a bowlful of mystery. A perfect recipe.” —New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert

“[A] charming series.” —New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly

“I have loved this series from the first book . . . it’s like returning to a favorite nook for a cup of tea. It will delight, entice, and drive a reader to want to solve the murder.” —Goodreads on No Grater Danger

“A chilling whodunit.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Well-plotted with several unexpected twists and more developed characters.” —The Mystery Reader

“Jaymie is a great character . . . She is inquisitive and full of surprises!” —Debbie’s Book Bag


About the

Victoria Hamilton is the pseudonym of nationally bestselling romance author Donna Lea Simpson. Victoria is the bestselling author of four mystery the Lady Anne Addison Mysteries, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries, the Merry Muffin Mysteries, and A Gentlewoman’s Guide to Murder Mysteries. Visit her website at victoriahamiltonmysteries.com.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy, Dogs

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2023

About the author

Victoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.

She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.

In fact her latest writing adventure is the new Regency-set historical mystery series - to be published by Midnight Ink - beginning in February 2019 with A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder, featuring Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady who dares to defy society. She will fight for her right to live her own life, despite the dangers that presents. She has a dagger, and she's not afraid to use it.

If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.

No, really, it’s not!

You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at:
Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!)
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictor...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is the latest cozy installment in Victoria Hamilton's Vintage Kitchen Mysteries. Set in Michigan, the stories follow Jaymie, a ~30ish vintage kitchen writer who's married with a daughter. On the side, she solves crimes and tries not to get knocked out by the killer. In this case, a friend of Valetta's (Jaymie's bestie) begins having dizziness and accidents, then accusing people including Val who is a pharmacist) of attempting to poison her. We get to know the woman's sister, ex-boyfriend, business partner, daughter, and some clients who are angry about their homes falling apart. Lots of potential killers, red herrings, and side stories. Overall, I enjoyed the book... had a strong thread of character development throughout the chapters. Felt a bit like Jaymie was too risky, especially with her daughter's life. Looking forward to the next one.

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is the 11th book in the Vintage Kitchen Series. It takes place in Queenville, Michigan. Jaymie Muller is the main character. Mandy de Boer came into Jaymie's sister, Becca's antique shop bringing a vase that she wanted to sell but found out it was a fake. Mandy is the co-owner of Manor Homes who builds houses for developments. Jaymie's best friend, Val. who owns a pharmacy has a run-in with Mandy about a prescription which she accused Val of trying to kill her by giving her the wrong one. People have been saying that Mandy has been acting strange, etc. Mandy and Val had another run-in at an auction that they both were at. Later when Jaymie and Val were going to her pharmacy they found Mandy dead on the steps the pharmacy steps.

This is where the story takes off and there is too much to put on paper happening. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy to the end with a surprising ending.

Jaymie tries to investigate as Val is the number one suspect. There are so many twists and turns that the reader doesn't find out until the end who killed Mandy and why. I have read this series from the beginning and have enjoyed all the books. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and BeyondthePage Publishing for this ARC.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#SieveandLetDie #NetGalley Jaymie Muller is back in this newest addition to the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series.
Victoria Hamilton has combined all the right ingredients to create my favorite cast of fictional characters.
Each book draws me in from the beginning, from the vibrant, colorful covers, to the written words in between, Jaymie is my number one favorite character.
There's something unique about Jaymie, an endearing quality of love and loyalty that shines through in this book.
Her best friend Val is the prime suspect in a murder investigation, and there is nothing she won't due to prove her innocence.
When Jaymie asks too many questions, people she loves dearly are put in harm's way, and Jaymie refuses to stop until the perpetrator is behind bars.
I'm honored to recommend this series to other readers, I've read each book at least twice, and during the New England winters, it's my go to comfort series.
Thank you to the author for keeping all the characters real, and to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of Sieve And Let Die.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is the 11th book in the Vintage Kitchen Series, but it can be read as a standalone . It takes place in Queenville, Michigan. Jaymie Muller is the protaganist, a collector of vintage cookware, a newlywed, and stepmom. Mandy de Boer came into Jaymie's sister, excited about the new subdivision her company, Manor Homes, was going to be developing. Mandy is the co-owner since her husband died and she offered a partnership to Randy Kallis under some duress. Lately, Manor Homes hs been accused of shoddy homes with major problems and there is a class action suit pending. Jaymie's best friend Val owns the local pharmacy. Mandy suddenly switches to Val's pharmacy, but then accueses her of tryin to poison her of Manor Homes who builds houses for developments. Jaymie's best friend, Val. who owns a pharmacy has a run-in with Mandy about a prescription which she accused Val of trying to kill her by giving her the wrong medication. Many people have been saying that Mandy has been acting strange, something is wrong with her. When Mandy is found dead on the stopes to Val's pharmacy, the investigation begins.

I enjoyed this story and mystery. Jaymie is a great investigator. She seems to know just what to ask and gets a lot of answers. The one thing I like is that she shares e verything she learns with the p olice. They don't work together, but they also know what Jayme is doing. There are so many great chracters in this series. Val is a great friend and sidekick. Becca, Jaymie's sister plays an important role as well. I love Jocie, Jakob's daughter and Jaymie's stepdaughter. She is a delight and it such a great family. I also love Mrs. Stubbs, she is an older woman who is Jaymie's friend but also her sounding board, often helping her sort things out. There are a lot of supects and twists that kept me guessing. Of course, a lot of the information Jaymie collects points to one particular suspect, so I figured it couldn't be him, but I didn't guess who it was. The culprit was one who I had suspected at one point so I wasn't surprised, but the motive was surprising. Overall, this was a well written and plotted mystery with great characters, an interesting mystery and great stories about the characters. I look forward to the next book in the series, as well as catching up on those I missed along the way.

[Becka · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I hadn’t read any other books in this series, I had no trouble jumping into Sieve and Let Die as a standalone. I enjoyed the talk of vintage items and found myself googling several to learn more. In fact, I would have loved having even more of the vintage products content.

As for the mystery itself, I found it a bit lacking. The murderer and method seemed obvious from early on, so the only answer I needed to read for was the “why”. Regardless, I will definitely be picking up another book from this author to try.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought about it. All of my walking life has been spent visiting a pharmacy. The pharmacy is like an old and necessary friend. There whenever my family and friends needed one. That is why I had to read this cozy. I can still see the book stand, the ice cream and smell the medicines in the store. In Victoria Hamilton's Sieve and Let Die, there is the beloved pharmacy. Only this time one of the customers might have a motive for committing a crime. My mother had a sieve and she put it to use constantly. Especially when baking cake and wanting finer flour.I have baked from scratch: pies, cakes and biscuits. I am ashamed to write it. I used a modern, flat sieve one time and never used one again. I have already collected cooking trivia. There are sieves named chinois and zaru. The definition of those is found in the cozy. In the front of the book, there is a list of names. These are the names of the characters and what they primarily do in their lives. Oh, I must mention Queensville Fine Antiques. It is fun reading about all the small businesses around town.

Mandy de Boer is in a dither. She believes something went wrong with her prescription. This happened either at the doctor's office or at Emporium Pharmacy. Whatever happened Mandy is a character who is very interesting. She is on the attack like a bull dog. I have no idea how this cozy is going to turn out. I do know my curiosity is all eyes and ears.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Vintage cookware collector Jaymie Müller is stunned when an irate woman accuses her pharmacist friend Val of tampering with her prescription. When more unfounded accusations follow, it seems clear the woman has a personal grudge against Val. But before they can figure out why, Jaymie and Val stumble upon the woman’s dead body on the steps of Val’s pharmacy. Given her altercations with the woman and the location of the body, the police naturally suspect Val." Mandy was acting like she was crazy. What was wrong with her? Then they found her dead on the steps of Val's pharmacy. Was Val responsible? Or was it someone else?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good and entertaining mystery in this series. I was glad to catch up with the characters and the solid mystery kept guessing.
Love the cover
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Karen Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of the cute Vintage Kitchen Series cozies by Victoria Hamilton will welcome the eleventh installment of the series, Sieve and Let Die, where the newlywed protagonist, Jaymie Leighton Müller, along with her best friend Val discover the body of an old classmate, Mandy de Boer, on the back steps of Val’s pharmacy. Although the cause of death is unknown, Val is the most viable suspect, since Mandy had been acting very strange and combative recently and had had a run-in with Val accusing her of making a mistake on her recent prescription and trying to poison her. Val had actually taken the day off and wasn’t the one who filled the prescription. Mandy’s erratic behavior of late included Lately, getting in fender benders and leaving the scene, ridiculous confrontations with several people, and accusing them of trying to harm her. Mandy was the co-partner in a huge construction company that had recent lawsuits for shoddy work, and her partner, Randall Kallis had been suspected by Mandy to be behind the problems since he was a dishonest creep who had forced his way into the company when Mandy’s husband died and she had had no knowledge of how to run a construction company. Jaymie, with her pushy personality, investigates so she can find the true murderer and vindicate her best-friend, Val.

Fans of this series are very familiar with Jaymie, the protagonist, as well as the supporting characters since they have been well-developed throughout. Of course, the new characters are well-developed as well and help move the story along. Hamilton does a good job of telling the story and incorporating Jaymie’s interest in vintage cooking utensils into the plot. Jaymie’s family and friends play significant parts in this novel, especially her new husband, Jakob and his adorable daughter, Jocie, takes her new motherhood role seriously. Some of the scenarios are a bit cutesy and don’t ring true.

While this is a cozy and is a light and fun novel to read, Hamilton includes suspense building scenarios to move the story along. There are many suspects and unsavory characters, and readers definitely won’t be sure who the murderer is until the dénouement which turns out to be a surprise.

This series is for every age, and as a bonus, includes recipes at the end. Some of the scenarios are a bit juvenile cozy lovers will enjoy it.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Sieve and Let Die by Victoria Hamilton

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 stars

First off, let me start by saying that the cover of "Sieve Let Die" is fantastic! It immediately caught attention and drew me into the book. Now, let dive into the review.

Overall, I enjoyed this latest installment the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton. The writing was solid, and the pace of the story kept me engaged throughout. One of the highlights the book was undoubtedly the charming setting. The author effortlessly brings to the autumn aesthetic, creating a delightful atmosphere that adds the overall appeal of the story.

In terms of the mystery itself, it was adequately plotted. While it wasn't the most intricate mystery I've come across, it still held my interest. I will admit that I figured out the identity of the killer fairly early on, but that didn't detract too much from my enjoyment the book.

One aspect that lowered my overall rating a bit was the large number of characters in this story. There were fifteen characters that I can recall off the top of my head, and it did become a bit challenging to keep track of who was who and how they were related. However, despite this minor issue, the characters were likable, well-developed, and added depth to the story.

With that said, "Sieve and Let Die" can be read as a standalone novel. As someone who hasn't read the previous books in the series, I didn't feel lost while reading this one. Of course, returning readers will likely have a deeper understanding of the characters and their dynamics, but it doesn't hinder one's ability to enjoy the book as a standalone.

In conclusion, "Sieve and Let Die" is an enjoyable cozy mystery with a charming setting and likable characters. While the mystery itself may not be the most complex, it still manages to entertain and keep readers engaged. Whether you're a fan of the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series or new to it, this book is definitely worth picking up for a cozy autumn read.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Lady Galaxy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this book just dragged on and on and on and on until I got to the point where I didn’t even care if they figured out the killer. She kept asking different people the same questions and getting the same answers. Then she kept mulling it over and over in her mind, even stopping in the middle of shopping for groceries to check her notebook. I had figured out who was going to be killed and who was going to be the killer before the murder happened. I don't understand what took her so long to figure it out. Because I have liked the series, I stuck it out, but by the halfway point, I just wanted it to be over with!

In a cozy mystery, for me the development of the long term story of the main characters is more important than the mystery of the month. In this book, there is absolutely no development in Jayme’s character or story. Once she married Jakob, her life started to stagnate. She takes the kid to school. She picks the kid up from school. She helps the kid with her homework. She lets the dog out to do his business. She rests blissfully in the arms of her boring husband. I hate it when authors marry their characters off and then don’t know what to do with them next! Meanwhile, the “vintage kitchen” has become an afterthought. I miss the auctions and estate sales and background about the featured item of each book. Yes, there is a sieve in the title, and sieves are mentioned occasionally, but they play no real part in the plot.

I follow the series because I like vintage kitchens. I don’t like the reading all the quotidian details of life with a husband and kid. I don’t like when the murder mystery is the only thing that happens in the book.

Since Jaymie loves the kid so much and thinks of herself as the mother, why doesn't she ask Jakob if she can adopt her? I keep waiting for it to happen.

The best part of the book is the recipe at the end. I definitely plan to try it. I just hope the next book doesn’t let the mystery overcome Jayme’s story the way it did in this one.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die by Victoria Hamilton is a charming cozy with the best family ever! It takes place in Michigan, basically out in the woods. And features, Jaymie Leighton Muller, her first generation husband, Jakob Muller, and her adorable step-daughter, Jocie Muller who is beyond happy with her parents and doesn’t consider the fact she is a little person hamper her in any way. These people are beyond characters in a book: they are paragons. Val Nibley is Jaymie’s best friend and owns her own pharmacy nearby. Life is good for these folks, until one day, a previously perfectly pleasant woman comes into the pharmacy and swears Val has poisoned her. Val wasn’t the one working that day, had not filled her prescription, and had no idea what the woman was on about. It continued around town and people started questioning Val’s competence. It didn’t stop until Mandy de Boer was dead. And, she had been poisoned. But, by whom? And why?

This was an intriguing small town mystery which ended in the saddest of ways. There was plenty going on: lawsuits against Mandy’ construction company, houses falling down around people’s ears, including Mandy’s own father’s house, fraud, greed, jealousy, and plenty of surprises. Jaymie, of course, was in the middle of it. Val was beginning the question herself and that was so unfair. There was plenty of unrelated activity which kept the story active and interesting. But, the best part is the Muller family.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Sieve and Let Die by Beyond the Page Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BeyondThePagePublishing #VictoriaHamilton #SieveAndLetDie

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is the 11th book in A Vintage Kitchen Mystery series and is a great addition to the series. The characters are likeable and the cozy mystery kept me guessing. Jaymie Leighton Muller is married to Jakob and Jakob has a 10 year old daughter Jocie who is a small, small person. Jaymie thinks of Jocie as her own daughter. Jaymie collects vintage kitchen items and writes articles for the local newspaper. Jaymie's friend Val is a pharmacist. A local accuses Val of giving her the wrong prescription but Val wasn't even working that day. The woman is acting odd and then dies behind the pharmacy. Val and Jaymie begin sleuthing to clear Val's name. There are a few suspects and the mystery kept me guessing but the story was a little repetitive at times helping the reader with the details. I have read all of the books in the series and they continue to be enjoyable.I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley and Beyond The Page and I voluntarily leave this review. #SieveAndLetDie #AVintageKitchenMystery #NetGalley #BeyondThePage.

[boogleloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars: Hamilton's eleventh entry in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series is a Culinary Cozy Mystery set in Michigan. Hamilton's has written incredibly likable characters; It's nice to catch up with Jaymie, a vintage cookware collector and food writer, and her family and friend. And of course, there's the ever adorable Hoppy, the three-legged Yorkie-Poo, who is a consummate scene stealer. The mystery Hamilton's written has plenty of twists and turns while balancing the clues, red herrings and suspects. Some sensitive topics are touched in, take care and check the CWs. Additionally, you'll find a “Vintage Eats” recipe included. To get in at the beginning of this series, pick up A Deadly Grind.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Laverne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Vintage Kitchen Mystery not only was I confused by the suspects and who dun it but so was Jaymie. I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed in the story, that's good writing in my opinion.

Jaymie and Val have no idea what is wrong with Mandy lately, her hair is disheveled, her behavior is erratic and her accusations against Val are so mean and personal. Then the unthinkable happens Val and Jaymie find Mandy’s dead body on the back steps of Val’s pharmacy.

Jaymie determined to find out what happened to Mandy and who is framing her friend Val and trying to ruin her reputation starts questioning the town folks while tracing Mandy’s whereabouts. Meetings, visits with her sibling, conversations, restaurants visits and business partners they all seem like they could’ve done it but what’s the motive?
It’s not until she begins to look at the case differently that she can see. This was such a good read I think it took me longer to write this review than finish the book.

This is my first book by the author and I enjoyed it. At times it felt a bit wordy but as you continue to read you understand why. If you enjoy mysterious I believe you will enjoy this one Hamilton doesn’t disappoint

In exchange for my honest and thoughtful review I received a Galley copy from NetGalley

[Ams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first of the Vintage Kitchen mysteries I read and overall I was able to jump in without any issues. There were some things I wasn't 100% sure about (like why Jaymie was so protective of her step-daughter), but as the book went on most of them cleared up.

I did find it a bit jarring that the first part of the book focused so much on a new walking path in the community that then had no bearing on the rest of the story in any way, and was actually only mentioned once (I believe) afterwards. I wasn't a huge fan of the "fade to black" style scenes between Jaymie and her husband. It came off as a little juvenile, tbh.

I'd guessed who the murderer was and the way victim died pretty early on, though Hamilton did a pretty decent job of making other characters suspicious.

I wasn't really gripped by the book, but it was enjoyable and very much a modern cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Jaymie discovers a body with her best friend Val. That is bad enough but the deceased had been acting very erratically and had accused Val of doing things that she did not do. It makes Val a suspect in the woman’s death although initially no one is certain how she died. Jaymie is a bit like a bull in a china shop when it comes to investigating. She questions all those who knew the victim best but she gets too close. One of them decides Jaymie should be removed…and does not care whom else is harmed. This only makes Jaymie more determined to reveal the killer. And she is willing to go to extremes to get it done.

Jaymie is a kind hearted and intelligent character but she is without guile or finesse when it comes to sleuthing. She seems to be oblivious to the fact that she might be provoking a murderer, at least until the villain makes a move against her. It jars a bit but does not wander into Darwin territory.

Four purrs and one paw up.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is the eleventh mystery in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series. Set in Queensville, Michigan, vintage cookware collector and writer, Jaymie Muller is our lead amateur sleuth. When Jaymie finds a woman murdered and her best friend Val is fingered as the prime suspect, she is on the case.

This is the first book I have read in this series, but I was able to read this as a standalone. I found this mystery series to have an entertaining cast of characters that made the story fun yet dynamic. I am new to this series, but have read other cozies by Victoria Hamilton and I always enjoy them, this mystery was no different. I liked getting to know these characters and this town and will definitely be starting this series from the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

[Sue Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven books and this series is still "cooking with gas." Collecting antique culinary utensils is Jaymie Müller's passion, that is, next to investigating suspicious deaths.. particularly those that initially implicate one of her friends or family. So when she and her friend,Val, stumble over the dead body of the very woman who has been accusing Val of stalking her online and misfilling her prescription, Jaymie charges in to clear Val's name. The plotting and pacing of the mystery will keep you engaged, but the ambiance and friends will entertain you. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sieve and Let Die is book #11 in the Vintage Kitchen Mystery series by Victoria Hamilton.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I really enjoyed it. I really like the characters and the town. The characters are well-developed which isn’t surprising since this is the 11th book. Jaymie is a good investigator. It was an interesting mystery that took me a while and a few guesses to identify the guilty party. The recipe at the end looks tasty. I’m hooked and plan to catch up on the earlier books.

Thank you to the author, Beyond the Page Publishing, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read several books in this series, so I know the main cast of characters and like them. Jaymie as a wife and mom is definitely different from single Jaymie of the early books.
Sieve and Let Die has several good suspects for the death of Mandy. I did not figure out who was responsible. I did feel like Jaymie took some unwise risks.
The pacing is different with a drawn out period of life and investigation making the book feel long to me. This wasn’t a story that I couldn’t easily put down. It’s a good mystery just not one I would call above average.
Thanks to Netgalley and Beyond the Page for the opportunity to read the book.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sieve and Let Die" is the 11th book in Victoria Hamilton's "Vintage Kitchen Mystery" series. It felt a bit forced in places. I honestly had a hard time following along with the first 11 chapters until the mystery started kicking off. Even then if felt a little too bouncy between scenes/events. Maybe if I'd read the other books it wouldn't have come off as disjointed. Also, totally called it for who the murderer was from the moment they were introduced.

[Cherry London · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Jaymie vintage kitchen cozy, and it didn’t disappoint. It was the most captivating and intriguing one so far. Jaymie refuses to believe her best friend is a murderer. It looked like an elaborate frame job with gaps that puzzled her. As she began her investigation, the killer turned their eyes on her, almost killing her daughter and sister. Jaymie went rogue to flush the killer out, not knowing what to expect. It was exciting, captivating, and intriguingly engaging.

[Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific little murder mystery set in a village somewhere in America. I read this as I love mysteries that have recipes and food featured, but this is lacking somewhat. One recipe! Anyway the
death of a business women leads to many suspects and much danger and as the police seem to be missing, Jaymie investigates herself. She is a persistant and thorough investigator and is a generous warm character so I could be convinced to read another.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many suspects. I loved how Jaymie was working through the clues. I also love the relationship of Val and Jaymie. Best friends are the best. Great story line and wonderful characters. How would you react to someone hurting your family? I would get my Jaymie on for sure. I’m sure you would too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this fun cozy mystery. I loved Jaymie and her family. I liked the mystery that had a lot of twists and turns. I liked how Jaymie could get information from people. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that i gave of my own free will.

[Amy Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest instalment was very interesting as I haven't read one of these series in a while and I was able to pick up what was going on Jaymie and Val are good friends and help each other out. This vintage series has gotten better and better. I enjoyed reading how they solved the mystery. I had a felling i who it could be but dismissed it and they found the killer amazing.

[Cheryl Stiebler · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's as good as the other ones in the series.
I like that they keep the same characters but have special one's from time to time.
My suggestion is that you not read this one first but start at the beginning of the series, it's still a very good read because she gives you the list of characters, which is nice.

[Karen Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice meandering mystery with plenty of character side stories. It was good to revisit and see how everyone is. The mystery was good, but I was able to guess the murderer and the how & why pretty quickly.

[Linda Kleback · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Mystery and Wonderful Characters

I've read all the books in this series, and this one is outstanding. The mystery is well plotted. I wish the characters were real and could be my friends. This is a very satisfying book.