A Taste for Murder

Sammy Brooks Cozy Mystery #1

by Daisy Belle

I’ve only baked a dozen cream puffs at my Granny B’s bakery and I’m suspected for murder In this hillbilly town.

I never thought I’d move back to Bar Harbor, the smallest town ever.

But, inheriting my Granny B’s Bakery has given me a chance to do what I love, bake again.

How was I to know I’d be accused of murder?

The victim, a local food critic known for her harsh reviews, drops dead with my half eaten, maple cream puff in her hand.

I knew my cream puffs were to die for.

With a fluffy personality like hers, almost everyone in town was happy to see her go.

With my golden retriever, Cinnamon and the gossipy-est best friend ever, I follow crumbs, but all I find are deeper town secrets.

When my bestie is threatened, I can’t sugarcoat it.

I need to catch a killer before she ends up in the morgue and I end up in cuffs for my puffs.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2024

Reviews

[Jjean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery - short story but well written and covers humor - intrigue - with lots of small-town drama - fast but enjoyable read...... New author for me..

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

. Small town , cozy mystery - murder
Add a dog named cinnamon- a sweet Golden retriever.
This was a short story. I truly enjoyed.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Taste for Murder is the first book in Daisy Belle’s A Sammy Brook’s Cozy Mystery Series. A Taste for Murder kept me glued to my seat as I tried to help Sammy discover the real killer.

After getting my first glimpse into Sammy’s world, I couldn’t wait to dive right into the story. Oh, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint in the least. The mystery and suspense kept the pages turning, and by the time I reached the end, I was still wanting more. I can’t wait to see what Sammy and her dog Cinnamon have in store for us in the next book, Muffins and Murder.

When Sammy inherits her grandmother’s bakery, she decides to move back home to do the one thing she loves most: bake. Things don’t go as well as planned. Her first customer dies with one of Sammy’s cream puffs in her hands. The lady was poisoned and now Sammy is the number one suspect in her murder. Did Sammy kill the lady? Or was it someone else? Who killed this lady and why?

A Taste for Murder is a short story that is sure to keep you hanging on for more with each turn of the page. A Taste for Murder may be a short read but it draws deep you into its story as if it were a full-length novel.

I would recommend A Taste for Murder to any murder mystery fan! If you are a murder mystery fan then I highly suggest you grab a copy of A Taste for Murder today!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Sammy Brook's Cozy Mystery Series, more akin to a short story that I finished in about an hour.

Sammy has returned to take over her grandmother's bakery. When a local food critic collapses and dies right after tasting her cream puff, all evidence suggests that Sammy poisoned her. With the help of her friends and her trusty Golden Retriever, Cinnamon, Sammy races to prove her innocence and catch the real killer.

This is a short book, making it a quick read that is both entertaining and enjoyable. Although it's a murder mystery, it is infused with humor. Sammy's witty remarks had me laughing out loud at times. I found the book highly engaging, featuring a compelling mystery with a twist, as well as themes of friendship, community, and humor. And let's not forget the dog; I always enjoy a good story that includes dog.

[Tehteh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'mobviously late, but I am very thankful to have gotten an ARC for this book. I vow not to do a repeat performance on the next one.

This is a very short cozy mystery set in a village duribg the annual city fest. Samantha, who just returned to the village to take over her late grandmother bakery, sees herself as the main suspect of the murder of a famous local food critic after she eats a poisoned cream puff of all things.
The rest of the story is Samantha and her friends trying to clear her name, find the ctual killer and estblish her reputation as town baker.

It's a bit ridiculous, definitely the kind of book you need to suspend your desbelief for, but it's a fun time, so it does the job.7

[Andrea Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book, then came back to it at a later date.
I enjoyed reading this book after I sat down and actually read it. I first started it really late at night and while I was interested, I started doing other things the next day and was unable to come back to it
That being said, after coming back to it, I restarted it and really enjoyed it. I only wish it was longer and was able to get to know the characters more.
I would really like some back story of the characters, how she was able to get the bakery back up and running and settling back in after returning home.
I know there are other books in this series and I will more than likely continue to read them to see what other mishaps occur and what comes of her and Jax.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Taste for Murder: A fun afternoon Cozy Mystery that you can't put down. (A Sammy Brooks Cozy Mystery Series), my fifth enjoyable read from author Daisy Belle. “I received a complementary Kindle copy and am voluntarily leaving a review." There are so many cozy mysteries out there and so many authors writing them, but they're popular and I read my share of them. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with The Jail Cell Murder: Suspense and mysterious suspects to keep the pages turning. It's a guessing game at each twist and turn of this Cozy Mystery. (A Chloe Lane Cozy Mystery Series) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book when I signed up for the author’s newsletter. I wanted to read it as I received the third book in this series as an ARC. This is a cozy mystery book. The main character is Sammy. She moved back to town to take over her grandmother’s bakery. Unfortunately, they find a body with one of Sammy’s pastries in her hand. Can Sammy prove her innocence with the help of her ex boyfriend Jax and her best friend Emily. I was shocked when we found out who was behind the murder and everything else that happened. I would say more but this is a short book. I don’t have the second book so the next review will be the third book in this series. Stay tuned!

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is a cozy mystery brimming with charm, suspense, and heart.

A woven plot offers readers an interesting mix of humour, intrigue, and small-town drama.

The characters are the story’s heart and soul.

While the resolution is satisfying, some readers may find the antagonist’s motives predictable.

Also, a few subplots, such as the rekindled romance, could benefit from more development.

Overall, A Taste for Murder is a treat for fans of cozy mysteries, offering a picturesque setting, lovable characters, and a captivating mystery.

[Paul Goble · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short, cute small town murder mystery. It was just what I wanted: a light "palate cleanser" between heavier books.

What I liked: I love Cinnamon, a lovable and sometimes heroic Golden Retriever. There was a nice resolution not only to the mystery but also to each of the characters' situations. The writing is packed full of similes and puns, which I happened to be in the mood to enjoy.

What I didn't like: There were enough grammatical errors to be distracting at times (especially incorrectly punctuated compound sentences), as well as a few very minor continuity errors.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Daisy Belle book and it won't be my last. It's a short cozy mystery. It has everything that makes a cozy mystery fun - good characters, small town setting, and a storyline that keeps you guessing from start to finish.

I will definitely be looking for more books by this author. I received this book as a freebie from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bakery woes!

A great short story as Sammy clears her name of a murder charge. Sammy dives into investigating the murder to clear her name and finds some surprising information about her town along the way. I enjoyed this story and can easily recommend this book.

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha has returned to reopen her Granny’s bakery. At the start of the book, a local food critic is found dead with one of Samantha’s cream puffs in her hand. She was poisoned & most people seem to think Samantha is guilty. But, with help from her dog Cinnamon finding things, she manages to prove who the guilty party was.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sammy moves back to reopen her grandmother's bakery. On the first day of the Harvest Festival- the food critic that believes her job is to critize falls over dead after eating one of Sammy's cream puffs. Now she has to prove that she didn't do it while trying to keep the bakery afloat. Short, fun whodunit.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun premise, light-hearted storytelling, a little bit of romance. I wish it had actually been expanded into a full-length novel to allow for better development of the characters and clues and to let the tension build so the ending has better payoff when it all is revealed and then resolves. As is, it's a really quick read and overall is pleasant.

[Linda Whitenight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sammy moves back to Bar Harbor Maine with her Golden Retriever, Cinnamon to restart her Grandmother's bakery. But she soon finds the food critic dead with her half eaten cream puff and everyone accusing her of murder. Can she figure out the clues? A great start for the Sammy Brooks Cozy Mystery by Daisy Belle.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun book and I recommend it. Sammy is trying to make her Grandmother's bakery a success. Then a food critic drops dead after eating a Cream Puff from her shop. Suspects are many and the woman was not nice.

[Doreen Farrar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short, no more than a half-hour read, but it was extremely well-written and set up the new Sammy Brooks Cozy Mystery Series nicely. The second book in the series, Muffins and Murder, is being released very soon, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

[Juanita E. Arp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, it is well written storyline and will keep you guessing until the end. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short story but a very well written mystery. You get to meet Sammy's friends and her dog as well. Even i the short story there was lots of twist and turns to try and figure out who the killer was. I would recommend this author to all my friends who enjoy a good murder mystery.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read setting up a cozy mystery series. Cream puffs can be dangerous as a food critic found out the hard way. Sammy has to clear her name and does so with the help of her friends and trusty canine. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jane Austen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sammy Brooks came back to town and reopened her Grandmother’s bakery.
She finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery as the suspect! Her beautiful dog,
Best friend and ex-boyfriend help to clear her name. A cute story, I love the dog!
But for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cozy murder mystery set in a small town, with a sweet Golden Retriever named Cinnamon. Good characters and descriptions and a storyline that keeps you guessing. I received an ARC copy of the book and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Xiaoqing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love the small town setting and a well crafted murder mystery only adds my enjoyment. The writing is smooth and the characters vivid and relatable, a great way to spend my Sunday afternoon lost in the story!

[Cyndi Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that proves it doesn't have to be long to be good. The characters were engaging and the mystery was well done. It was a nice break from super long books. A needed palate cleanser.

[Rick Farlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So… it’s a bakery murder and to dog (Cinnamon) is the hero. It’s kinda what you expect from this novella, but it does have some humor and perhaps a little mystery. Only 10 short chapters, it’s a fun story and a good change of pace.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable cozy mystery. The MC's were interesting and likeable. The mystery was well written and even though the story was short, it didn't hurry the ending. Recommend reading.

[BeBop19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definite cute short story. It is a twisty little treat with an ending just as twisty. It was a combination romance/mystery, it was so fun to read, thankyou Daisy for such a nice read.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short read. The food critic is poisoned with a cream puff.

Which of the local bakers is guilty.

[Jennifer Rosenberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting