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Down South Café Mystery #7
Cake and I Scream: A Down South Cafe Mystery
In the snowy retreat of Beech Mountain, the grand opening of a ski lodge becomes the backdrop for a chilling crime when a cast-iron skillet attack shatters the festivities, drawing Amy, Scott, and Aunt Bess into an icy puzzle.
Join Amy, the owner of the Down South Cafe, her quirky Aunt Bess, and talented cake decorator Scott as they embark on a thrilling culinary adventure. Their journey begins with catering the grand opening of a luxurious ski lodge in the breathtaking Beech Mountain, North Carolina. As if the frosty landscape weren't intriguing enough, Scott has delved deep into the local lore to craft a cake masterpiece, featuring a legend of buried Civil War gold hidden amidst the mountain's secrets.
However, before the grand opening festivities can commence, a shocking discovery in the kitchen's icy depths changes everything. A lifeless body is found, its demise brought about by an unlikely weapon—a cast-iron skillet.
Initially, Amy believes that solving this chilling mystery should be left to the Beech Mountain police, allowing them to return to their peaceful Winter Garden haven. Yet, mysteries have a way of following them home, turning their tranquil lives into a battleground of secrets and danger. Will they be able to unravel the truth, uncover buried secrets, and unmask a killer hiding in the snow-covered shadows?
Join Amy, the owner of the Down South Cafe, her quirky Aunt Bess, and talented cake decorator Scott as they embark on a thrilling culinary adventure. Their journey begins with catering the grand opening of a luxurious ski lodge in the breathtaking Beech Mountain, North Carolina. As if the frosty landscape weren't intriguing enough, Scott has delved deep into the local lore to craft a cake masterpiece, featuring a legend of buried Civil War gold hidden amidst the mountain's secrets.
However, before the grand opening festivities can commence, a shocking discovery in the kitchen's icy depths changes everything. A lifeless body is found, its demise brought about by an unlikely weapon—a cast-iron skillet.
Initially, Amy believes that solving this chilling mystery should be left to the Beech Mountain police, allowing them to return to their peaceful Winter Garden haven. Yet, mysteries have a way of following them home, turning their tranquil lives into a battleground of secrets and danger. Will they be able to unravel the truth, uncover buried secrets, and unmask a killer hiding in the snow-covered shadows?
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2023
23 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Gayle Leeson
30 books502 followersGayle Leeson is a pseudonym for Gayle Trent. I also write as Amanda Lee. As Gayle Trent, I write the Daphne Martin Cake Mystery series and the Myrtle Crumb Mystery series. As Amanda Lee, I write the Embroidery Mystery series.
The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The heroine, Daphne, has returned to her hometown of Brea Ridge to open a cake baking and decorating business and is wrestling with the question of whether or not one can go home again. She enjoys spending time with her sister, nephew, and niece, but she and her mother have a complicated relationship that isn’t always pleasant. Daphne has also reconnected with her high school sweetheart and is pursuing a rekindled romance while desperately trying to put her past behind her.
Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show Director, and Television Personality says the series is “a must read for cake bakers and anyone who has ever spent creative time in the kitchen!”
Says Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “One day I found myself happily reading . . . mysteries by Gayle Trent. If she can win me over . . . she’s got a great future.”
The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop. Marcy Singer left her home in San Francisco, along with the humiliation of being left at the altar, in order to move to Tallulah Falls and realize her dream of owning her own shop. She takes along her faithful companion, a one-year-old Irish wolfhound named Angus O’Ruff. She makes many new friends in Tallulah Falls, but she also makes a few enemies. Thankfully, her best friend Sadie MacKenzie and her husband Blake run the coffeehouse right down the street from Marcy’s shop, the Seven-Year Stitch; and Detective Ted Nash always has her back.
Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of the genre will take kindly to Marcy, her Irish wolfhound, Angus O’Ruff, and Tallulah Falls. This is a fast, pleasant read with prose full of pop culture references and, of course, sharp needlework puns.”
Pat Cooper of RT Book Reviews says, “If her debut here is any indication, Lee’s new series is going to be fun, spunky and educational. She smoothly interweaves plot with her character’s personality and charm, while dropping tantalizing hints of stitching projects and their history. Marcy Singer is young, fun, sharp and likable. Readers will be looking forward to her future adventures.” (RT Book Reviews nominated The Quick and the Thread for a 2010 Book Reviewers’ Choice Award in the Amateur Sleuth category)
I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I'm having a blast writing this new series!
The cake decorating series features a heroine who is starting her life over in Southwest Virginia after a nasty divorce. The heroine, Daphne, has returned to her hometown of Brea Ridge to open a cake baking and decorating business and is wrestling with the question of whether or not one can go home again. She enjoys spending time with her sister, nephew, and niece, but she and her mother have a complicated relationship that isn’t always pleasant. Daphne has also reconnected with her high school sweetheart and is pursuing a rekindled romance while desperately trying to put her past behind her.
Kerry Vincent, Hall of Fame Sugar Artist, Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show Director, and Television Personality says the series is “a must read for cake bakers and anyone who has ever spent creative time in the kitchen!”
Says Dean Koontz, #1 New York Times bestselling author, “One day I found myself happily reading . . . mysteries by Gayle Trent. If she can win me over . . . she’s got a great future.”
The Embroidery Mystery series features a heroine who recently moved to the Oregon coast to open an embroidery specialty shop. Marcy Singer left her home in San Francisco, along with the humiliation of being left at the altar, in order to move to Tallulah Falls and realize her dream of owning her own shop. She takes along her faithful companion, a one-year-old Irish wolfhound named Angus O’Ruff. She makes many new friends in Tallulah Falls, but she also makes a few enemies. Thankfully, her best friend Sadie MacKenzie and her husband Blake run the coffeehouse right down the street from Marcy’s shop, the Seven-Year Stitch; and Detective Ted Nash always has her back.
Publishers Weekly says, “Fans of the genre will take kindly to Marcy, her Irish wolfhound, Angus O’Ruff, and Tallulah Falls. This is a fast, pleasant read with prose full of pop culture references and, of course, sharp needlework puns.”
Pat Cooper of RT Book Reviews says, “If her debut here is any indication, Lee’s new series is going to be fun, spunky and educational. She smoothly interweaves plot with her character’s personality and charm, while dropping tantalizing hints of stitching projects and their history. Marcy Singer is young, fun, sharp and likable. Readers will be looking forward to her future adventures.” (RT Book Reviews nominated The Quick and the Thread for a 2010 Book Reviewers’ Choice Award in the Amateur Sleuth category)
I live in Virginia with my family, which includes her own “Angus” who is not an Irish wolfhound but a Great Pyrenees who provides plenty of inspiration for the character of Mr. O’Ruff. I'm having a blast writing this new series!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 14, 2023
This was a nice little visit to the Down South Cafe by way of Beech Mountain where Amy and Scott are catering a grand opening at a ski resort as a favor l, when the chef's wife decides to have her baby. From the beginning, when you know Aunt Bess is along for the ride you know it's going to be an interesting tale. There is an unexpected murder, but out gang is happy to leave it to the police on the mountain and go home. Unfortunately all the people involved follow them home. I have to say I found this strange and really not believable. It was a strange story and turns just a little more bizarre before it's over. While I enjoyed a chance to visit with characters I enjoy, this was my least favorite book in the series. Definitely felt a little off.
December 9, 2024
This was the worst book in this series. The last few books didn’t have very solid storylines. But I kept going back because I enjoyed revisiting the likable characters. I didn’t even enjoy the characters in this book. This story was unbelievable and the ending felt rushed. So disappointing.
December 11, 2023
I love this author and this series.Amy is the amateur sleuth. She has the Down South Cafe. In this story Amy, Scott and Aunt Bess are headed to Beech Mountain , NC to Yona Ski Lodge to Cater its Grand Opening. Scott had made a stellar cake within the legend of a treasure and a black bear ,since that is what Yona means. They run into problems getting to the lodge and have to transfer everything over to another vehicle. Of course, there was a murder(Barbara) . Amy and her crew were allowed to go home but it seems that everyone from law enforcement, the owners of the lodge and Sylve the Uber driver ended up in Winter Gardens. A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY.
December 23, 2023
I liked this one, but the ending was so rushed it was confusing. How on earth did he find the lost gold if he was locked in a bunker? Was it in the bunker? Who knows? The author didn't explain it. Was the author late for her deadine? Was there a page restriction? I would much rather had a fuller explanation of he motives than the proposal. I hate it when authors decide they just have to marry off the main character in a cozy mystery. Marriages always ruin the series for me because the man intrudes into their lives and starts taking over. Leave them dating if you must, but please don't marry them off!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
Delicious Read
The characters/story is so well written that you can actually picture yourself there with them. There is only one character that honestly I cannot appreciate even though I’m sure others will. Aunt Bess. A little too eccentric for me, maybe toned down a bit to mildly eccentric I would have given it 5 stars. Great cozy though and I didn’t put it down. Had to stay up late so finished in a day.
The characters/story is so well written that you can actually picture yourself there with them. There is only one character that honestly I cannot appreciate even though I’m sure others will. Aunt Bess. A little too eccentric for me, maybe toned down a bit to mildly eccentric I would have given it 5 stars. Great cozy though and I didn’t put it down. Had to stay up late so finished in a day.
April 2, 2025
An interesting setting for this 7th book. I have to wonder if people would really drive back and forth for 2hrs to solve a mystery. I brought this book on vacation with me and didn't want to put it down. I had to know how Amy, Scott and Aunt Bess would solve the murder. The whole cast of characters keep you guessing. It was like a game for me. The story ended on a note that might mean the series is ending. I hope that isn't the case!!
January 17, 2024
Nice, quick read and completely in the cozy mystery genre. I enjoy this series and the characters that are included. Everyone in the south has an Aunt Bess in their family. I also enjoy the way her characters are allowed to progress and grow their relationships.
May 25, 2025
Wonderful Series
Follow Amy, Jackie, Ryan, Roger and Aunt Bess, through their adventures at the Down South Cafe. Winter Garden is a small town in Virginia with memorable characters, good food and the occasional murder. Enjoy!
Follow Amy, Jackie, Ryan, Roger and Aunt Bess, through their adventures at the Down South Cafe. Winter Garden is a small town in Virginia with memorable characters, good food and the occasional murder. Enjoy!
December 24, 2023
another good book.
The characters are so funny and likable. Only thing I disliked, I read it too fast. And now have to wait for the next one.
The characters are so funny and likable. Only thing I disliked, I read it too fast. And now have to wait for the next one.
January 19, 2024
Always fun. This one seemed short. It was fast paced and concise. I enjoyed the story.
January 21, 2024
Another hit
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews