Cookie Crumble and Murder: An English Village Whodunit

Holly Holmes #0.5

by K.E. O'Connor

Sprinkle in murder and add a dash of danger.Life at my cafe in the stunning Audley St. Mary is as sweet as my cinnamon rolls. Between whipping up treats and geeking out over local history, things are perfect. Especially with Meatball, my adorable dog, by my side.

Unfortunately, murder has a habit of curdling the cream, and I become a suspect in the investigation when I find the village undertaker dead in an open grave!

There’s no way I’m letting anyone turn my dream life into a nightmare. It’s time to ditch the piping bag for a magnifying glass and unearth the culprit before they crumble my world. Can I clear my name, dish out justice, and keep the village safe?

***

One bite of Cookie Crumble and Murder and you’ll be hooked on the Holly Holmes mysteries! A cozy series where the suspense is richer than the desserts and friendships as satisfying as a triple-baked apple pie.

This book is a prequel novella in a complete baking mystery series, which reveals how Holly and Meatball found themselves living at Audley Castle and solving crime (while baking delicious treats.)

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Ebooks, Amazon, Cozy, Novella

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2024

About the author

K.E. O’Connor is the author of the Witch Haven mystery series, the Crypt Witch cozy mysteries, the Lorna Shadow ghost mysteries, the Holly Holmes baking mysteries, the Zee Town paranormal cozy series, and the Old Sarum mystery series, along with other titles available if you cast the right spell. She can imagine dragons, taste cookies when they aren’t even there, and hear the crack of a witch’s broom at a hundred paces.

K.E. (the K stands for Karen) lives in the United Kingdom (it isn’t very united, but that’s a mystery for another time) among the mystical stones and fairy creatures of Somerset. She graduated from the Universities of Southampton and Reading, where she received degrees in Archaeology and Cognitive Evolution (both highly entertaining to take part in, but with the career options of a ground witch’s toe bone.)

If you’re of the curious persuasion and want to know more, visit her website at www.keoconnor.com for enlightening knowledge on all things cozy mystery, book news, and a peek into the magical world of a writer who believes animals talk and magic is just a finger click away.

To contact her, visit her Facebook page – www.facebook/keoconnorauthor, join her email list, or dust off that haunted mirror in your cellar and speak the ancient magical words to transport yourself into her lounge. There may be tea and cookies waiting, or there may be giants – it depends on her mood.

Reviews

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

i got this from a stuff your kindle event & i thought it was good! i’m not sure i’ll keep reading the rest of the series but i always enjoy a mystery

[AmBerGUR · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cozy!! I loved it. I wish I could meet Meatball.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

If you like English hamlets with thatched-roof houses, a cafe rivalry, a cute pup, spunky MCs, and — gasp! — MURDER, then you may enjoy this cosy mystery. It’s a quick read, easy breezy, and would make a great vacation read!

[Chili Diane Evance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Holly Holmes. A brave lady trying to keep her Cafe open, but competition was taking most of her customers.
She learned that a cooking job was open at Audley Castle and it included a place to live. Perhaps she should submit an application.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the series and a good murder mystery. As if Holly doesn't have enough trouble with a rival coffee shop across the street and trying to keep her own shop open, she has the undertaker cheating her and is the only alibi for the ex-wife when the undertaker is found dead in an open grave in the churchyard. And while she is trying to find out who the murderer is, debt collectors come to repossess her appliances. Luckily for her, when she kind of accidentally discovers who the guilty party is, he admits it and doesn't hurt her. Despite knowing she is going to lose her shop, she has paid the rent on the apartment through the end of the month. And gets a good tip on a job opening.
Interesting characters and good descriptions.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cookie Crumble and Murder - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

A Holly Holmes Cozy Culinary Mystery Series by K.E. O'Connor, Cookie Crumble and Murder is an entertaining romp with amateur sleuth and local bakery owner, Holly.
While investigating the murder of an unpopular local businessman and battling the twin troubles of a rival bakery nearby plus her own financial woes, Holly and her adorable corgi Meatball follow a trail of clues through twists and turns to the solution you won't have seen coming.
Read Cookie Crumble and Murder now and prepare for a feast of fun...and cakes!

[Talia Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cozy Cup of Murder

What a lovely cozy book. I love how Holly talks to Meatball, her loyal companion. Is it just me or could there maybe be something between Audley St. Mary’s top baker and top secret agent/bodyguard? Maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

The characters were fun, a lot was left to the imagination. I am excited to read the next installment.

If you are a cozy mystery fan, then you will enjoy this one.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly is a character who would probably be a good friend of mine. I would have LOVED to work at her shop, help her have better boundaries with Brittany, and solve the mystery. I want to visit this imaginary town. I like that the identity of the killer isn't obvious, yet I had a good idea of who it might be, but there were still some extra twists I hadn't figured out. I would like to read more of this series. I appreciate good, clean stories.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delicious Mystery by K.E. O'Connor

I've really enjoyed reading this mystery and trying to solve the case along with Holly. I didn't even come close to finding the culprit. What a great job this author has done in stumping me. I love when this happens! I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Don't miss it.

[Merilee Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written Mystery with recipes

Though I didn’t like this story much, but Holly is an interesting mc and the story does move, plus there are recipes. The second book might pick up for me. Holly is trying to run her own café when a rival café owner comes under suspicion of murdering her husband. Holly decides she needs to get involved.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 3 out of 5]

All very familiar fare. Food. Dog. A sudden death. Nothing about the need for the security surrounding the Audley family felt genuine. The police were anonymous, and the killer was evident early doors. The author is from England, and yet villages haven't had a resident vicar for a generation. The words 'benefice' or group 'ministry' never appeared.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humorous and sometimes heart breaking

I enjoyed this book, that I couldn't put it down. Holly is a lovely, sweet character who gets herself and meatball her
puppy into deep.trouble.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. So cute and love a story with a corgi :)

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for Book one of a series. Think I'll binge read the series and hope that the characters hold up as I go along. This book had an interesting murder to solve! Great read!

[Jen Dodrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun cozy! Great characters and I love the setting. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

[Krysti Hoinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cozy quick mystery. Definitely had me guessing

[Laure Estep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful romo through a small village in England that gets rocked by a murder. Baker and cafe owner Holly and Meatball are great characters and I rooted for her.

[Princesspint · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice, cozy little read. I enjoyed this story. New to me author, and I will continue with the series.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in this series. I enjoyed it and plan on reading more!

[Marie Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

Great story. Very enjoyable. Couldn't put it down. Some not so good , sad parts but it kept you reading on. Love the characters.

[Hazel Leu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice and relaxing cozy mystery. I think I'll continue this series in the next book.

[James Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice read

The author has created an interesting and exciting plot to go with an imaginative group of characters making this hard to put down

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

quelle revelation!

[Amber Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely easy feel good read. The village sounds idyllic and the cake even better! I read the book quite quickly and enjoyed it.

[Sush Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad

This book wasn’t too bad but lacked something. It had some American style words that I found irritating. I usually like so-called ‘cosy mysteries’.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Donald Barclay and why??? He wasn't a nice man??? His cheating caught up with him??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.