Murder, secrets, and an unexpected bond—can this grandmother-granddaughter duo catch a killer before it’s too late?
Running a charming bed-and-breakfast on the shores of Lake Erie is already a full-time job for Emma, especially with her moody teenage granddaughter, Chloe, visiting for the summer. But when her best friend’s husband is found dead—an apparent suicide—Emma isn’t convinced. She knows it was murder, and she’s determined to prove it.
Chloe arrives at the lake after a heated fight with her mother, intending to keep to herself. But when she stumbles into her grandmother’s investigation, curiosity gets the best of her. As the two dig deeper, Chloe finds herself not only caught up in the mystery but also forming an unexpected bond with Emma.
But as they dig deeper, the case takes a dangerous turn. The clues lead closer to home than either of them imagined, and soon, Emma and Chloe must face the chilling what if the killer is someone they trust?
I’ve gotta say that this was a very satisfactory mystery read for me. The twists, the plot, the characters, EVERYTHING was done so well!
Originally I had known that this was a “grandmother- granddaughter” story, but for some reason I had thought it was going to be more about the granddaughter. I was wrong lol… it was more focused on Emma (the grandmother). Which for some reason, I was okay with! I actually loved that about the story. I don’t usually read books when the main character is an older woman or man, so it was very interesting to read!
Ok, let’s talk about the characters now. Emma was just how you would imagine a stubborn and spunky grandma would be. She was exactly that, and on top of that she was the sweetest friend you could ever ask for! Tim was like the dearest husband to Emma. So protective and yet so lenient and soft toward her stubborn ways. It was soo funny reading how they would behave around each other! Their love was so obvious.. and the blushing and shyness that Emma would show was so sweet. They are in as much love as they were when they got married, probably more in love; and that was so adorable to read! And Chloe. Hmm I feel like there’s not much to say about her than, “Ohhh she should deserve better from her mother, or I feel soo bad for her.. I just want to give her a big hug.” It really was sad. It got better as the book continued, but we still didn’t really get to see whether her relationship with her mom got better or not. Though she does have Emma now.. and maybe even have a romantic relationship with Mike haha!
Last but not least, we have the mystery… I was not expecting how suspenseful this book was, or how much twists there were that I did not see coming! The whole murder mystery kept me reading till the end. When something would happen and Emma and Chloe would reveal something about their suspects.. I would totally switch who I thought murdered the person and then another thing would happen and I would change my suspect again lol! That’s how twisty it was!
This was my first ever ARC I have read, and it did not disappoint! Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a twisty murder mystery. 😁
Thank you to Eliza Floretta (cough, cough* pen name for Cara Ruegg) and the publisher for offering and giving me the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!
⚠️ Age recommendation: 15+ ⚠️
My rating: 4.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
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Ages 10-12 rating: ⭐️
Ages 13-14 rating: ⭐️⭐️
Ages 15-16+ rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexual Content: A couple chaste kisses from a married couple. A couple hand, forehead, embraces, and cheek kisses from a married couple. Some blushing. Many, many mentions of an affair (no details of it.. only that an older married man had an affair with a younger married lady). Mentions of a lady leaving her husband so she could *possibly be with another man. Mentions of dating and going on a date. Love and the emotions. (Very little)
Profanity: No cussing. Stupid and dumb is said.
Violence: All about a murder mystery. Threatening, someone being held at gun-point, blood, harsh dealings with a person, and a mention of throwing up. (All this is semi-detailed) A mention of a person possibly committing suicide.
Trigger Warnings: ‼️ Divorced parents, a kind of neglected girl, and an affair that’s a pretty big part of the story are all in this book.
Thank you Eliza for this advanced copy of this sweet cozy mystery!
Mysteries aren’t my go-to genre but I loved that this one was a bit lighter and easier to read. The author keeps you engaged & interested without making you totally unable to sleep at night (which is a positive for this easily spooked reader haha!)
I loved reading the grandmother-granddaughter mystery solving duo. It was sweet to see their relationship grow with a mutual interest to bring them together, even if the interest was as morbid as a potential murder. With the authorities trying to minimize the event, these two put their sleuthing skills to the test and maybe bite off a bit more than they were prepared for.
I loved the characters. I think Chloe is just a misunderstood teenager trying to find her place. Her relationship with her mother is strained, much like the relationship between mother and grandmother. The apple doesn’t seem to fall far from the tree. While Granny Em is trying to make up for the sins of her past, she might not approach mending that relationship in the most tactful of ways. I would have loved to see more development in this part and maybe a redemption for Chloe’s mom. Her interactions with Chloe were sad for me.
"Whisking Up Whodunits" is written by Eliza Floretta. The story is told from two points of view - Emma and her teenage granddaughter Chloe. Emma and her husband Tim own a B&B in a small town on the shore of Lake Erie.
A few days after Chloe arrives for the summer, the husband of Emma's best friend is found dead on the beach. Police rule it a suicide but Emma and Chloe don't believe it. It takes them a bit to start working together but once they do, they slowly start to gather some disturbing info on the victim. As they get closer to the truth, they also find themselves in some danger from the killer.
Telling the story from both Emma and Chloe's point of view was unique as you rarely see such an age difference in the perspectives. It actually worked quite well to see how both thought things out, gathered the clues and bonded over working together.
A few suspects were obvious but Ms. Floretta added some well placed misdirection and tantalizing tidbits to keep readers turning the pages to see how it all played out.
As backstory was revealed for the two, you couldn't help but feel for both of them. Emma looking back at how her daughter had turned out and Chloe feeling invisible to her mother.
Overall, this was an entertaining cozy mystery with core characters that I hope we will get to know better in future books!
This was a quaint little read! An enjoyable duo between grandmother and granddaughter solving a murder mystery. It reminded me of the murder mystery episodes I used to watch with my parents- except it felt more cosy than those!
Emma is a beautifully written main character, and honestly at first, I was surprised to have a more elderly lady as the main character. It set a good tone I think for the novel and it was done well! Emma was certainly memorable and I found I couldn’t put the book down.
I enjoyed the plot itself too and the different routes it took me down. I found myself reasoning why each character might have been the murderer and I have to say- the murderer wasn’t the one I expected! So I guess it did a good job of being a mystery!
I’d love to see more short novels of this grandmother, granddaughter duo solving more mysteries. Perhaps it’ll become more popular with time- I think it’ll be a hit!
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this book. This is a cozy mystery book with a grandmother and granddaughter out to find who did it. The main characters are Emma and her granddaughter Chloe. Emma and her husband own and run a bed-and-breakfast together. Chloe is sent to stay with them for the summer. While there her grandmother’s best friend’s husband ends up dead. Was it murder? If so, who did it? Why did they do it? I really enjoyed this book. I felt bad for Chloe and how her mother treated her. I loved seeing Emma and her husband Tim’s relationship and how in love they still were after all the years. I will be honest I didn’t know who was behind the murder until the end. I am hoping the author turns this into a series as I would love to see more of Emma and Chloe.
This cozy mystery blends small-town charm, family dynamics, and an intriguing murder plot that kept me turning the pages. I finished it in record time! Emma is the kind of sleuth you can’t help but root for - smart, determined, and full of warmth. Her unexpected team-up with her teenage granddaughter Chloe brings heart and humour to the story. I especially enjoyed watching their relationship evolve from strained to something much deeper as they navigate secrets, suspects, and second chances. The mystery itself is well-paced with just the right number of twists to keep things interesting, and I loved the lakeside bed-and-breakfast setting. I'd be interested in reading more books in this series.
I throughly enjoyed this read, it is a clean cozy mystery. I loved the main characters; Emma, a busy grandmother who followed her dreams of owning a B&B and a knack for problem solving. Chloe, Emma's granddaughter who was sent to stay for the summer after getting into some trouble. Tim, Emma's doting and supportive husband. Along with all the side characters who you will get to know. After not bonding at first due to how busy Emma is, once a close friend ends up dead it springs Emma and Chloe into detective mode to figure out what happened since it doesn't look like the local small town police will. Eliza had me guessing every time I thought I figured it out. I can't wait for more books in these series to learn more about the characters and where life takes them.
Whisking up Whodunits is a lighthearted(if one can say that) murder mystery. It takes place in a a small Canadian town. Nothing ever happens. Until a man who was committing adultery is found dead. The friend doesn’t believe it’s suicide but the police quickly close the case. It’s up to granny Em and her strong willed granddaughter to solve the case.
I enjoyed the calm scenery, cozy b&b, and the interesting characters. Granny Em learns to show her love and her granddaughter finds a place in the world where she is loved and needed. It’s a fast read…and no I didn’t guess who the criminal was. The book is light and ends on a sweet note. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy the sweet story
If you enjoyed Nancy Drew as a kid, you’re sure to love this book!
This is cozy little mystery which follows a grandmother x granddaughter duo. There is such a sweet love between the grandmother who is the FMC and her hubby who is a secondary character. I don’t normally read books with an older main character so this was a nice change. And I love when there are two generations because it creates great moments when written correctly. This was a cute mystery with lots of plot twists. Anytime I thought I knew something was coming, something else would happen. I enjoyed reading this mystery it had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of the story.
This book was so stinking cute! I absolutely adored the cozy atmosphere, the bed-and-breakfast setting made me feel like I was right there. Emma and Chloe’s dynamic was such a neat surprise, and watching their relationship grow was one of my favorite parts. Tim was an absolute gem, and the suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end. I truly didn’t know whodunit, and the ending completely shocked me. The whole story was so warm and comforting, like being wrapped in a hug. Cozy mystery perfection!
I had a hard time putting this book down, it was such an enjoyable read. I just had to find out who did it - and I changed my mind several times during the book, so it kept me guessing. It was the perfect combination of murder mystery and quaint, showcasing love between spouses, friends, and grandmother/granddaughter. I hope to be able to read more mysteries with this grandmother/granddaughter duo in the future!
Whisking Up Whodunits is a great whodunit with a duo POV!
This was a fun and cozy read that takes place on Lake Erie. I enjoyed Emma and Chloe. The grandma/granddaughter tag teaming to solve a homicide was different- but in a good way! Both women are determined with their own strengths and weaknesses. I loved the theme the most. Without giving too much away, it’s about love, and not just romantic love either.
Quick, easy, relatively light read! A murder mystery that isn't overly heavy or gorey. Some adult topics but this is written in a way that you aren't left feeling beat down. Clean, cute, romantic moments between a married couple, which was refreshing to see! The character development and plot twists kept me super interested, engaged, and guessing until the end!
Gosh I loved that book !! This book has every thing an amazing cozy mystery should have : characters who we love, a murder, and a lot of fun !! The story is very well written and so much enjoyable!! It reminds me of my grandmother even if I didn’t cook with her ! I was so down to find the culprit that I didn’t even find who did it 😅 I was wild on my thoughts !!
I loved this book, it was very well-written. I stayed up too late reading it. I loved the grandmother/ granddaughter duo. I loved the romance between the main character and her husband: romance after being married for a long time, not new romance. And of course, I loved the mystery!
🗓️ FORMAT & AVAILABILITY: * available now * Kindle * Kindle unlimited * Paperback
♥️ TROPES: * grandmother + granddaughter duo * Healing family * Beautiful marriage
📝 REVIEW: This book was the perfect mix of cozy and suspense! I loved the grandmother + granddaughter duo because if anyone can solve a mystery it would be those two. I enjoyed watching them bond through their shared purpose. The mix of nosiness, love, and danger was great. There was the perfect amount each mixed throughout to create a story that perfect for reading on a warm summer’s night.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this new book that came out May 12. I loved the relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter that develops as they work to solve a murder in a small town. Perfect quick read with a great ending! Had me between a few suspects the whole book.
I so enjoyed this cozy mystery. The grandmother and granddaughter duo is a winning combination, and I loved that Emma is shown in a happy marriage. The cozy B&B scenes were lovely.
Absolutely amazing! Such a fun cozy mystery. Kept me up way too late to find out what happened next. Had me guessing right up to the end! And while I strongly suspected the killer, I wasn’t 100% positive until the end. Can’t wait to read the next cozy mystery by this author!
Kindle unlimited ebook. Nice cozy, a tad darker than other cozies but still not graphic. I like the characters and the relationship between Emma and Chloe. I annoy a book with an older main character. I’ll continue the series
Really enjoyed the plot and flow of the story. And it is always the last person you would think that is the culprit. Will recommend to all my cozy-reading friends.
I really enjoyed this cozy murder mystery! It was so different from my typical reads, but I was immediately hooked from the first page. I loved Emma and Chloe’s relationship, and how the mystery of who the killer was brought them closer together. I also liked a lot of the secondary characters- they added to the story perfectly. I truly didn’t know who was going to end up being the killer for a long time, too. I liked that I couldn’t figure it out right away. In the best way possible, it was a quick read but didn’t feel like one. If you are looking for a cozy mystery with interesting characters and a unique grandmother/granddaughter dynamic, this one’s for you!
Whisking Up Whodunits delights with its charming world of feline detectives and cozy village life. The story’s cat-filled world feels vivid and full of personality, with Hettie and Tilly living above a bakery, sharing meals, and diving into small-town gossip as they take on their latest case. Their partnership is warm, funny, and believable, giving the mystery both heart and humor. The pacing moves along nicely, balancing moments of suspense with lighter, comforting scenes. Between the murders, secrets, and clever clues, there are also touches of food, friendship, and community that make the setting feel alive. Eliza Floretta creates a story that’s both playful and intriguing, perfect for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with charm, wit, and a dash of feline flair.