Tea Cakes & Trouble: Culinary Cozy Mystery

by Donna Doyle

In this small town, yesterday's news could be tomorrow's deadly headline.

Sammy’s back in Sunny Cove and finally about to achieve her dream of owning Just Like Grandma's restaurant.

Until mysterious letters appear in the local newspaper, threatening to close Sammy down before she even opens the doors.

As her grand reopening approaches, Sammy must discover who's behind the poison pen campaign before it destroys more than just reputations.

Between perfecting her tea cake recipe and dodging romance with the handsome Sheriff Jones, she stumbles upon a deadly secret at The Sunny Cove Star that could cost her everything - including her life.

Join Sammy Baker once again as she solves another cooked up conundrum in Sunny Cove. You won’t be able to stop turning the pages!

148 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 16, 2025

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun cozy mystery to read! At only 86 pages you can read it in one sitting and still have a complete and exciting story in your hands! Sammy is the main character and she's about to inherit Just Like Grandma's restaurant. But in this small town called Sunny Cove, there's someone lurking around sending atrocious letters to the newspaper to print about how awful things are in town. Including Just Like Grandma's restaurant.

When a letter from a suspicious person named Norah Perry shows up in the local paper saying that Helen is selling the restaurant and likely to some big corporation, Sammy is appalled and committed to setting the record straight. She's inheriting the restaurant and plans to keep it just the way it is.

With her natural sleuthing skills, she determines who is behind the letters, but not before a surprise murder takes place at the newspaper and other town business owners are being attacked by these mysterious letters as well. Someone seems to be trying to ruin all the local business with their words.

I loved Sammy, she's a bright and exciting character that wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and her friends as she tries to set the record straight. Filled with plenty of scrumptious baking and sleuthing, I really enjoyed this quick-read cozy mystery!

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a variation on the poison pen letters only sent into the local paper as editorials, instead of to the individuals. The characters are lively and interesting, the plot is straightforward, and the premise is finding the person who is writing such scathing editorials, especially when there isn't a speck of truth to any of them. The answer was frankly shocking and with most evils, acutely unnecessary. I definitely recommend this book.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad it's continuing

I loved reading all thirteen of the Baker's Dozen mysteries so I was thrilled to see this new batch. It did not disappoint. I enjoyed going back to Sunny Cove to see the characters and the new developments with the restaurant. The mystery was fun and kept me guessing until the end. I can't wait to read the next one. 😊

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery was good

I did feel like I was stepping in the middle of a series. It felt like I should already know these characters and situations. At times I did feel I was missing something.

With that being said, the mystery was decent. I liked the angle with the letters. It was pretty fast paced. It was easy to get into. It wasn’t overall complex. It was just a fun, quick read.

[Gwen Hight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tea Cakes&Trouble

Sammy Baker returns to Sunny Cove and takes ownership of the Restaurant Just like Grandma's She also discovers secrets and almost loses her life The characters are entertaining and the story a good treat

[Linda McConnachie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Just enough intrigue and humor to hold interest, as well as being able to picture the setting in bygone years.

[Huggles · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting cozy mystery. Quick reading. Highly recommended.

[Carolee DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Elizabeth F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery story. Fast Fun read. Enjoyable.