Ice Cream Murder: Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series, Volume 9

Lexy Baker #9

by Leighann Dobbs

When millionaire Regis Banks drops dead at his own party, everyone assumes it was from natural causes - after all, the man was celebrating his 100th birthday.... Everyone except Lexy Baker’s amateur sleuth grandmother, Nans, and her three friends, that is.

When it turns out Regis’ death might have been caused by more than just old age, Nans refuses to let the trail grow cold - especially after a local reporter trying to get a scoop threatens to write an article blaming the death on Lexy.

It doesn’t take long before Nans and Lexy are up to their eyeballs in suspects, and when those suspects start dropping like flies, Lexy and Nans have to step up their game before the killer claims their next victim.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

First published April 19, 2014

About the author

USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

Reviews

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leighann Dobbs is a prolific writer of cozy mysteries, often hit-and-miss w/ how good they are, but her Lexy Baker series has not disappointed me yet. This is #9 in the series. I haven’t read them all, b/c I wait for Kindle sales, but so far, so good.

In this one, Lexy caters a birthday party for a rich old centenarian, who falls over dead at the head table. It turns out he’s allergic to peanuts and someone switched up the ice cream he was served. Lexy doesn’t want to be blamed for the murder, so starts to investigate herself.

Lexy’s husband-the-cop is displeased, but her Nans and nursing-home pals/fellow sleuths jump in to help. Shenanigans and dangers ensue, as suspects begin dropping dead themselves. The plot follows typical Lexy Baker formulae and all turns out well. A total plus for any cozy mystery is when I can’t pinpoint the murderer until told, and such was the case w/ this one. An enjoyable little read.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexy was catering a birthday party where a wealthy elderly man died. But Lexi and her Nans didn't think it was from natural causes like everyone else did so, along with the rest of The Ladies Detective Agency, they searched for the killer. I liked the way these senior sleuths got information out of people. They often pretended to be senile little old ladies because they found that people would tell them anything.

I was surprised at who the killer was. I never would have guessed. Ohhh, and that ending was just perfect!

If you want a quick, humourous mystery, here you go.

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice Cream Murder is Book 9 in the Lexy Baker Series and I think they just get better and better, if thats even possible

Lexy is in the thick of another murder investigation this time a little too close for comfort. When she is catering a party for a 100 year old man that dies , seemingly after consuming her ice cream, Lexy and her Nans and friends are on the case even though the police think it is an accident.

This is another great Lexy Baker book that I could not put down until the end. The end really surprised me. Sometimes I can guess who the killer is, but this one had quite a few twists and turns and I was shocked at the end!

Another great Leighann Dobbs book, I have come to expect nothing less from this fantastic author.

[ALISA RASMUSSEN · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would’ve been a four-star book for me, if not for some discrepancies that bothered me. In book one Lexy is 5‘1“ and in this book she’s 5‘4“. Also in book one her old boyfriend is listed as an ex-boyfriend in this book he is referred to as an ex fiancé. Just little things but they were bothersome to me. The mystery however was enjoyable.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice Cream Murder by Leaghann Dobbs is the 9th book in the Lexy Baker Mystery series. Lexy Baker is providing the ice cream desserts for millionaire Regis Banks 100th Birthday celebrations when he drops dead just prior to making a major announcement. It is found that he died of anaphylaxis, and it is put down to an accidental death, but Lexy's grandmother and her friends, making up the Ladies Detective Club, who had been attending the party, suspect that he was murdered. When a local reporter Norman starts accusing Lexy of causing the death, they recruit him to help find the real murderer. When other members of the family start dying, the group finds themselves in danger. A great mystery. This series just gets better and better. The ladies always provide a lot of fun and it is interesting to see them at work and how they use their ages as as asset in their investigations. Norman seems to be a great asset to them and he is in awe of their skills and is willing to help them out for the exclusive scoop. Lexy's dog Sprinkles is the hero in this book and I like the close relationship she has with her Nans. A very entertaining and fun cozy mystery and a series which gets better as it goes along.

[Pamela Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the Lexy Baker series and I had forgotten how entertaining they are. Lexy owns a bakery, is recently married to a policeman and seems to be regularly involved in solving murders.

Regis Banks is throwing a party for his 100th birthday and Lexy is providing the dessert –ice cream with homemade sauces. Just as he’s about to make a major announcement, Regis grabs his throat and falls to the floor, dead from anaphylactic shock. There are several suspects and after going though tons of pastries, Lexy and the ladies identify the murder.

One aspect that I really enjoy is Lexy’s grandmother Nans and her friends who are dedicated mystery solvers – and they’re really good at it. True, Nans can be more than a little bossy, running the show and making demands for pastries from Lexy as part of their search, but it’s so good to read about senior citizens that are intelligent and clever and strong and flirty. Too often we seniors are assumed to be on the verge of senility, but these ladies are definitely not with their iPads and whiteboard and suitors.

And as a bonus, the recipes for two delicious sounding desserts are included.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexy Baker has been hired by Anna Burns, a caterer to provide desserts for a birthday party for Regis Banks, a multi-millionaire who’s turned one hundred.

Though ice cream isn’t Lexy’s specialty, she’s made one upon the request of Regis’s family because it’s his favorite.

While Regis is giving a speech, he suddenly slumps and falls face first into his bowl of ice cream 🍨

Lexy’s husband Jack Perillo and his partner John Darling are called in to investigate. Jack suspects foul play. He thinks that the victim may have had a food allergy. Lexy tells Jack that’s she’s aware that Regis was allergic to peanuts and so she made sure Regis’s ice cream didn’t contain any peanut butter sauce.

Which means someone must have switched his ice cream bowl and that he must have died after eating Lexy’s dessert.
Who wants Regis dead? And why?

Lexy knows if this gets out, it would bad for business. So she decides to do some digging of her own to clear her name. She enlists her grandmother’s help, alongside her three friends.

[Josephine Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sprinkles

Enjoyed story about geriatric mystery solvers. The book has a lot about family and how they interact with each other. Liked the relationship of people and their pets. Loved killers reveal at at end as big surprise.

[Heather Preval · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Yet another good book by Leighann Dobbs. I love reading about the ladies detective club and how they work their way through the clues and coming on Lexy's goodies from her bakery shop.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good cozy mystery and I couldn't guess the real murderer

I loved the "old ladies". The didn't act old, unless they needed to be for their under cover disguises to seem realistic. They were fun and funny. And most helpful to the police dept

[Lauren E. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We All Scream For Ice Cream

Another great mystery featuring Lexi and her grandmother, Nan and her Ladies Detective Club friends investigating a murder in a prominent local family. Enough twists and turns to keep you activated until the end!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read the previous books in the Lexy Baker series. "Ice Cream Murder" fit right into the theme of the series - easy cozy reading. I was hoping Joe would have a bigger role in the series since Lexy and he got married, but he still is just waiting in the wings. Each book in the series has been light, cute, and a super quick read. I would call the series "mind candy" - no blood or gore, no heavy thinking, no crazy twists, just silly and fun sleuthing. The story is far fetched, predictable, and a little corny, but that's what makes it fun. Nans and her geriatric pose's always add a bit of shenanigans and fun to each story. This is a great series if you are looking for a quick read while you are on the go, a day at the beach, a rainy weekend, any time you just need a fun light story.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gym reading aka free or cheap on the Kindle.

I like cozies. Usually. Make no mistake, there are some AWFUL ones. But there are some good one too. This one wasn't AWFUL, but it was close. I mean, the beginning! Let's say you live to be 100 years old. And you're allergic to peanuts. If you accidentally have some peanuts, do you not notice and then get up to give a speech at your birthday party? I find that highly unlikely. So, already we're off to an annoying start. The rest of the book was just...boring. It's all these older ladies freeloading off of the baker and eating all her pastries and cookies and such and talking, talking, talking. Blah. No thank you.

[Ginny Yancey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series

I have found this series absolutely delightful! Characters always keep me chuckling. These are good clean fun mysteries, nothing dark and twisty here. I always find the climax thrilling. Keep more coming!

[Sharon Urschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a fun mystery!

I liked this book a lot, the plot took quite a few twists and it keeps you in suspense up till the end. A fun book to read, perfect for a lazy day at the beach or in your back yard.

[Beverley Lombardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of the book is silly. No caterer would serve peanut anything if they knew that someone had a severe allergy.

[Beverley Lombardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am in the minority but I think the premise of the story is silly. No caterer would serve anything with peanuts if they knew a guest had a severe allergy.

[Evelyn Grabas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have read many of the Lexy Baker mysteries and have to say I have always enjoyed the stories, its the characters that leave much to be desired.
First, I can't stand "Little Caesar" Nan. I find her obnoxious, overbearing and not quite as smart as she thinks she is. She rules her little flock with an iron hand. When she says "jump" they all shout "how high?" And, unfortunately, that includes Lexy, who she is going to drive into bankruptcy because she thinks she is entitled to any and all pastries whenever she wants them,
(which seems to be pretty much daily, if not twice a day, morning and evening) without giving a tinker's damn as to cost or the effect it has on Lexy's profits. And, of course, Lexy just lets her do it and does whatever she says, up to and including spending less time at her bakery in order to go "sleuthing". And, tell me, what would you do if a herd of fat old women (I call them fat, because they have to all weigh at least 300 pounds, seeing as they eat pastries all day long, every day - at Lexy's expense, I might add) and assault - oh, I mean approach - you en masse with questions, innuendos and badly hidden accusations. Me - I'd run, not walk the other way, quickly.
So, I wait for the day (if it ever happens) when Lexy sits Nan down and has a little talk with her, stresses the fact that she cannot continue to afford to give her the time and pastries she feels are her due and pulls herself out from under Nan's thumb.
Note to the author - P.I.'s (which I am sure Nan considers herself) do not travel in hordes - at least known that i have ever heard or read about. (Even Police detectives do not travel in groups)
I will continue to read this series so long, because the stories themselves are good, so long as I can stop grinding my teeth every time (which is constant) one of them grabs or asks for another pastry, cookie, scone, etc. to eat or carry in their bag, which seems to be every other paragraph.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the Lexy Baker series. It’s a cozy mystery series about a baker who is constantly involved in murder scenarios. Her grandmother and her three best friends have an amateur detectives group that works together looking for clues. The amateur sleuths always end up solving the mystery. It helps that Lexy’s husband is a police detective, she married him a couple of books ago. I’ve been following the series in order and I enjoy all of the mysteries. In this book, they’re trying to figure out who murdered Regis Banks, a millionaire who died from anaphylactic shock during his 100th birthday party. Lexy was the desserts caterer at the party, so she’s eager to find out who the killer is before she gets a bad reputation, since she served the ice cream that caused Regis’ death. Her husband, detective Jack, says it was an accident and the police won’t be investigating, but The Ladies Detective Agency and Lexy are on the go. They end up interviewing suspects, and because they seem so innocent, people open up to them. They’re all very smart, and I love how they use their skills, and iPads to investigate. I was surprised at the end, I wasn’t expecting the twists and turns, and for some reason I thought things had happened differently. I look forward to their next adventure

[Dalletta Olena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is the 9th book in the Lexy Baker series, it is the first book I’ve read of Leighann Dobbs. I had to smile--Lexy Baker is an ironic choice of name for this sleuth with a bake shop. Lexy is helping a friend cater a birthday for a 100-year-old business man. Unknown to Lexy, the client has a nut allergy. On the menu are ice cream sundaes with sauce. The guest of honour’s dish with chocolate sauce is swapped for a bowl with peanut sauce, so that he dies of anaphylactic shock. Lexy’s grandmother and her three friends, form the Ladies Detective Club. They have finagled invites to the event—and witness the unexpected death. The retired ladies use Lexy’s bakery skills to provide bribes to members of the family—who are the main suspects. But every attempt to find the culprit who swapped the dishes is thwarted by a second questionable death, the oldest son. So Lexy and her grandmother’s entourage traipse around the country, following leads. There is a twist at the end, as an attempt is made on Lexy’s life—which includes the prime suspect—the business man’s daughter. But Sprinkles—Lexy’s fur-baby is key in their rescue. An enjoyable read, well written and as satisfying as a snickerdoodle.

[Chazzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lexy Baker is catering the desert part of a big birthday bash for millionaire Regis Banks’ 110th birthday. After the ice cream was served Regis drops dead. Initially “natural causes” is claimed, but further tests discover poison.

Lexy’s grandmother, Nan, and friends are at the dinner and feel it is murder for the get-go. Known as the Ladies Detective Club, these ladies set to work interviewing to find out who, why and how.

The case gets complicated when Regis’ oldest son suddenly dies. Is it “natural causes” or another murder? And why is it in the same family?

Lexy is kept busy baking the cookies and brownies Nan and the Ladies Detective Club use as bribes to get people to talk (who can resist a grandmother with fresh cookies?. Also, with sleuthing on her own, following leads, Lexy is constantly on the go.

The end gets hot and there is quite an unexpected twist. It moves fast and is still a light, quick read.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the series progresses, you can see how Leighann Dobbs improves upon her writing and on the mystery aspect of the story. At the beginning, the crimes Lexy Baker and her grandmother solve are simple, quite linear and a bit easy to predict, but as the series goes on things get more and more tangled and the clues even more subtle. I started this series simply out of curiosity, but I am staying for the story and for the characters.
There is something very homey about cozy mystery series. The characters feel very real and the plot almost feels like a hug, if you ignore the murder. Lexy Baker quickly became my work buddy and I cannot image my mornings without her.
At the beginning I was a bit reluctant to recommend this series, but now I can surely say that this is a fun, entertaining series about a baker that solves crimes and that I do recommend it with all my heart.

[Beth Birnbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who once had a baking business, I know how hard it is. I have a feeling that Lexy Baker pretty much sells out every day, but the fact that when she doesn't she donates the food is wonderful.
Now, as to the mystery, it was well plotted, surprising, and of course, FUN!
Being in my sixties, I really appreciate how her grandma and friends play the age card, I was thrilled when I realized that I always got a seat on the subway or bus. They use their age to throw their adversaries off the mark when they assume they're just a benign, slightly senile part of the background.
I'm not giving away any of the plot, except to say that it's well worth trying to figure things out for yourself.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lexy Baker is catering an event for a high-end client, who requested homemade ice cream for dessert. Yum!

But then the 100-year old honoree suddenly face-plants into his bowl of ice cream. The Ladies Detective Club, which Lexy’s grandmother is a part of, suspects murder. Cause of death: allergic reaction to something in the ice cream. Death by ice cream. What a way to go.

Since Lexy couldn’t afford to be dubbed the Killer Caterer (it’s bad for business,) she decides to join the investigation with the old ladies.

It turns out that motive behind the old man’s death could be money and any one of this money-grubbing heirs could’ve done it.

A quick, cozy mystery. There were too many suspects and sometimes the ladies were too nosy in the investigation. But this was an ok read.

[Gen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lexy Baker is at it again. She found herself another dead body. Nope she's not a Grimm Reaper. She just find herself embroiled in murders all the time. It's not enough that she has her hands full running a Bakery, she decided to play detective so she can get paid to cover her new kitchen appliances. In the process she almost got herself killed. I'm glad she has her Nan with her Lady Detectives to assist her. I just love these seniors who reinvented themselves. They are independent, smart, full of chutzpah, IPad touting grannies who can whip up their IPad for research and have access to local fuzz database to help solve murders. This was a complete read. Another adventure in the life of Lexi Baker, High Heel Wearing Bakery Owner and Cassie her assistant.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deadly dessert!

Lexi Baker and the Ladies Detective Club are on a new case trying to determine if Regis Banks, a wealthy client, died of natural causes at his birthday party or if he was murdered. There are plenty of suspects because of his business dealings and his relationship with his three adult children.

This is another fun Lexi Baker cozy mystery. I enjoy the antics of Lexi's grandmother Nan and the other elderly women in the Ladies Detective Club. They always have some scheme to ferret out the clues and the murderer.

This is a fun read with death, mystery and plot twists, and a surprise ending! I received a free copy of the book but my opinions are honest and voluntary and I would definitely like to read more books in the series.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ice Cream Murder was a super cute cozy mystery. I’m so glad I picked it up!

I didn’t realize this was book 9 in a series, but it didn’t detract from the story at all. The author was great about giving backstory in an organic way. It didn’t feel like she was forcing info down your throat.

I absolutely loved the four old ladies that investigated murder! They were so adorable. Lexy was a great main character.

I had suspicions about the killer, but I was thrown off track! I was surprised at the ending. I loved it!

I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a quick, easy read.

[linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these easy to read books. They always make me smile even though a crime of some sort is included. A group of mature friends help solve mysteries togethers, they call themselves the Detective Ladies. Nans, one of the group, is Lexy's grandmother who always ask her to make some pastries, which they use to temp unsuspected persons of interest for information. It's a good ploy and usually works. Lexy sometimes thinks all these treats she is giving them is all the profit she makes at her bakery. As a bonus you usually get a couple of recipes at the end of the book.

[Suzanne Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun series and Dobbs does it again. Lexi, Nana and the rest of the group are back at doing their favourite things, solving crimes and eating Lexi’s fabulous desserts.

This is a great cozy mystery filled with humour, surprises, twists and turns that leave guessing to the end. The characters are quirky, fun, interesting and seem to literally pop off the page. It is one of my favourite series and this book makes a great addition. Why not read them all.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 8th in the series. In this one Lexy is involved because she helped cater the birthday party for a 100 year old man. She may have mixed up the ice cream desserts and given him one with peanuts. But then he old man's son is killed and the next son in line is almost killed. It gets very confusing trying to figure out who did what but the ending sure did surprise me. Loved it and can't wait to read more.