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Maple Lane #8

Honey Cake and Homicide

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Wedding singer blues, one deadly kiss, and a cake fatality!

Excited to finally wed her childhood sweetheart, Maddie’s plans for the day suddenly take a horrible turn when a body is found in the most unlikely place.

This spectacular whodunnit has Maddie, Big Red, Gran and the groom, aka the sheriff, scrambling for answers when one of the Girlz looks guilty of murder.

Will they find the killer in time for the festivities to go ahead, or is Maddie’s perfect day doomed from the start?

If you loved Murder, She Wrote, you’ll enjoy this bakers style because Maddie’s not taking no for an answer either.

The Maple Lane Mysteries are light, cozy mysteries featuring a quirky cat-loving bakery owner who discovers she’s a talented amateur sleuth.

Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2024

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About the author

C.A. Phipps

82 books905 followers

C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl lives in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband of more than four decades.

With a large family to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart!

She enjoys family times, baking, rambling walks, and her quest for the perfect latte.

You can find her at www.caphipps.com

C. A. Phipps also writes romance as Cheryl Phipps at www.cherylphipps.com.

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5 stars
43 (51%)
4 stars
31 (37%)
3 stars
8 (9%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Kim.
1,182 reviews18 followers
October 14, 2024
Maddie is focused on her upcoming wedding plans, when finding a dead body causes Maddie’s focus to shift. Maddie is determined to have this help get this muster solved before her big day so her husband to be the Sheriff and their guest can fully be in the moment of the wedding and celebration.

The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of well placed red herrings. I didn’t really figure out who the culprit was or why until the reveal. The characters have continued to develop over the series. They are interesting, fun, and relatable.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Profile Image for Tanvi.
674 reviews12 followers
October 10, 2024
The eighth book in the series is focused on Maddie's wedding and a murder (of course).

I really like how the author doesn't let one overshadow the other and I liked how simple the wedding arrangements were, and did not take up the whole book.

I would have liked it a bit more if things would have started unravelling a bit earlier because somehow the ending felt a bit rushed.

Despite that I would still recommend this book as the writing and the characters are really great.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
21.2k reviews370 followers
October 12, 2024
Maddie’s Big Day . . .

Finally everything is coming together for Maddie Flynn and Sheriff Ethan Tanner’s perfect long-awaited wedding day. Unfortunately, with the discovery of the dead body of her wedding singer, Buddy Preston, and her bridesmaid Laura being a suspect, Maddie’s big day just might have to be put on hold. And with Ethan’s attempts to keep her out of the investigation, along with lots of suspects who need to be interviewed, will their wedding truly end up canceled as he devotes himself to finding the killer? Or will Maddie, Gran, and Maddie’s clever cat “Big Red” ultimately save the day?

The storyline is well-written and captivates the reader’s attention as the characters interact with each other throughout the investigation. Follow the clues and try to figure it all out before the “professionals” solve the case! Where will the author take us next?
Profile Image for Kayleigh Osborne.
21 reviews
October 8, 2024
Maddie’s wedding is right around the corner and there are a few last-minute things to organize! She still needs to find a caterer and a musician, which is difficult on such short notice. As soon as it seems like things are finally coming together, Maddie finds her wedding singer dead. Everyone is worried that the murderer could put the wedding guests at risk if they aren’t caught before the big day. Maddie wants to help, but Ethan is trying hard to stop her sleuthing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. I was able to piece together the clues before Maddie herself, but I wasn’t sure if my suspicions were correct until the big reveal. Also, I plan to try the honey cake recipe at the end of the book.

Read this exciting installment of the Maple Lane Mysteries to find out if the wedding can still go on after all this drama!
35 reviews
October 1, 2024
Loved the book (not so sure about reading it late into the night with work the next day, all because it was hard to put down)
Maddie, Gran, the Girlz and of course- Big Red, return to solve another homicide.

Maddie is all set to get married when another body is discovered just prior. Is it to keep her from marrying her sweetheart, the sheriff, or something else entirely.

To make it worse, one of the Girlz is a suspect! Maddie's and the rest of her entourage work together to solve this mystery and to make sure Maddie and Ethan have their big day.

A fantastic write-up by an equally fantastic writer. Cheryl has outdone herself!
I look forward to reading more in the series and for the Girlz to all have their happily ever-after...maybe Angel and the Detective? Or Laura and Rob? Not forgetting Luke and Beth either
4,842 reviews40 followers
October 13, 2024
Honey Cake and Homicide is an engaging, suspenseful, cozy mystery. Maddie and Ethan are finally ready for their wedding unless the latest murder derails their plans - especially when one of the Girlz becomes a suspect. I have loved this series since I read the first book. I love the characters, Big Red and Maddie’s extended family. As always there are many suspects, a few red herrings and several twists before the murderer is revealed. I always rush through these in a single sitting. They never disappoint!
1,403 reviews7 followers
October 9, 2024
I’ve really enjoyed all the cozy mysteries in this series. Maddie and Ethan are set to get married, but Maddie seems to attract trouble and just can’t keep from sleuthing. Will they be able to get married finally or will murder spoil their plans. Read and find out!
2,332 reviews30 followers
October 18, 2024
Maddie and Ethan are planning their wedding, and it seems like if it can go wrong, it is going wrong. Another murder to solve but this one is causing lots of stress and friction between the couple. Sleuthing is becoming harder and harder for Maddie especially since her friend might be involved. Loved seeing her mind work and I always try to figure it out along with Maddie. The author did a great job with this one - was anxious for a while.
2,422 reviews49 followers
October 7, 2024
The Maple Lane mystery series is a fun cozy series to read. I especially liked Honey Cake and Homicide. The wedding of Madeline Flynn and her childhood sweetheart Sheriff Ethan Tanner is coming up and Maddie is busy with her to-do list. She is working on the recipe for the honey cake layer of her wedding cake, and while she gets planning help from Gran and her Girlz, she still needs a caterer and a singer. Famous celebrity chef Lyra St. Claire agrees to cater the wedding and Luke's friend Buddy Preston has signed on to do the singing. Everything is on track until Buddy's dead body is found in the chiller at Thomas Calder's butcher shop. Maddie starts her sleuthing which leads to danger which leads to more investigating which leads to more danger. Will Maddie and Ethan ever get their happily-ever-after? This series has such likable characters, the Maple Lane Bakery regulars, and the hint of romances blooming for their friends. I hope that this series has many more installments to come!
3,935 reviews46 followers
October 9, 2024
Hasty wedding prep and murder😲

I think you should disregard the book blurb listed on Goodreads.

The festivities here are all wedding, wedding, wedding. Maddie the baker is hastily putting together her wedding to the police chief and she's doing a great job of organizing things until the entertainment she's lined up ends in the morgue within days of the ceremony. Then her attention is divided between the murderer on the loose and the nuptials.

Plenty going on and the whole Maple Falls crew is here and involved, with the addition of famous chef Lyra St. Claire, a crossover from another Phipps cozy mystery series. Good reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
580 reviews6 followers
October 4, 2024
Maddie and Ethan are busily making wedding plans but of course a killer has other ideas. Not only does Maddie need a musician and a caterer, she's solving a murder to keep her bridesmaid out of jail and save herself. I would have maybe liked a little more setup for the motive- there was a brief mention but it didn't really tie in until the reveal. But it's a good mystery with lots of suspenseful moments. There's also plenty of humor, and I can't forget to mention Big Red. A recipe for honey cake if you want to recreate Maddie's wedding cake.
213 reviews4 followers
October 7, 2024
Ethan and Maddie are getting married Maddie finds their entertainment man dead when she goes to pick up some meat for her bakery. She finds blood on the back step and she and her fiancée the sheriff finds his body in the walk in freezer
This book is one that you absolutely cannot put down. It is very well written and really holds your interest. I highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy, ARC, for free and I am leaving an honest opinion and voluntary review
336 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2024
This story is so intriguing that it captures your attention and doesn't let go. I like the juxtaposition of the police investigation along side the camaraderie of Maddie and her girl "posse". There is so much heart, emotion, dedication and determination that it made this book a most enjoyable and satisfying read!!!!!
Profile Image for Christina.
50 reviews
December 3, 2024
This book was obtained by the Goodreads giveaway.

This was a cute mystery read, I enjoyed the characters and the story. I know this was book 8 out of the series and even though I haven’t read the others I didn’t feel like I would need to read them to enjoy this book.
With that being said I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Profile Image for Nicole Long.
77 reviews7 followers
October 24, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed this cozy mystery, although as it is part of a series, there were a few references that I did not catch on to. I believe I will go back and read the series in order.
67 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2024
Super fun, cozy mystery! I will definitely be reading the rest in the series!
4,842 reviews40 followers
October 13, 2024
Honey Cake and Homicide is an engaging, suspenseful, cozy mystery. Maddie and Ethan are finally ready for their wedding unless the latest murder derails their plans - especially when one of the Girlz becomes a suspect. I have loved this series since I read the first book. I love the characters, Big Red and Maddie’s extended family. As always there are many suspects, a few red herrings and several twists before the murderer is revealed. I always rush through these in a single sitting. They never disappoint!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews