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Newlywed Lucy McGuffin thought returning from her honeymoon would mean domestic bliss with police chief husband Travis. She should have known better.
When mysterious food blogger "The Fussy Foodie" arrives to film a star-studded baking competition, Lucy's excitement turns to dread. The elite event was supposed to put Whispering Bay on the map—until the Foodie turns up dead, and Lucy's longtime frenemy Heidi becomes the prime suspect.
With her psychic lie-detector abilities and Paco's ghost-whispering talents, Lucy knows there's more to this recipe for murder. But investigating means dodging Travis's warnings, camera crews, and temperamental chefs hiding deadly secrets.
Can she unmask the real killer before an innocent woman gets whisked away, or will Lucy discover that some people really would kill for the perfect recipe?
Perfect for fans of humorous cozy mysteries who love:
Psychic bakers who can't stay out of trouble
Food bloggers who finally get their just desserts
Baking competitions deadlier than Kitchen Nightmares
Husbands who just want to watch Netflix together
Whodunits that make you laugh harder than they make you think
When mysterious food blogger "The Fussy Foodie" arrives to film a star-studded baking competition, Lucy's excitement turns to dread. The elite event was supposed to put Whispering Bay on the map—until the Foodie turns up dead, and Lucy's longtime frenemy Heidi becomes the prime suspect.
With her psychic lie-detector abilities and Paco's ghost-whispering talents, Lucy knows there's more to this recipe for murder. But investigating means dodging Travis's warnings, camera crews, and temperamental chefs hiding deadly secrets.
Can she unmask the real killer before an innocent woman gets whisked away, or will Lucy discover that some people really would kill for the perfect recipe?
Perfect for fans of humorous cozy mysteries who love:
Psychic bakers who can't stay out of trouble
Food bloggers who finally get their just desserts
Baking competitions deadlier than Kitchen Nightmares
Husbands who just want to watch Netflix together
Whodunits that make you laugh harder than they make you think
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2025
26 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Maggie March
23 books104 followersLooking for your next addictive cozy mystery series? Maggie March delivers heartwarming whodunits that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Her stories blend clever mysteries with humor and just enough romance to make your heart flutter.
She brings the same warmth and humor from her close-knit family life – complete with a very patient husband, three grown children, two granddaughters, and one grumpy old pup – into her engaging mysteries that readers describe as "impossible to put down."
When she's not plotting her next murder mystery, you'll find Maggie at her favorite beachside café in Central Florida, testing yet another key lime pie in her quest for the perfect recipe.
Maggie loves hearing from her readers. You can write to her at maggie@maggiemarch.com
Maggie also writes heart-warming small-town contemporary romance as her alter ego Maria Geraci.
She brings the same warmth and humor from her close-knit family life – complete with a very patient husband, three grown children, two granddaughters, and one grumpy old pup – into her engaging mysteries that readers describe as "impossible to put down."
When she's not plotting her next murder mystery, you'll find Maggie at her favorite beachside café in Central Florida, testing yet another key lime pie in her quest for the perfect recipe.
Maggie loves hearing from her readers. You can write to her at maggie@maggiemarch.com
Maggie also writes heart-warming small-town contemporary romance as her alter ego Maria Geraci.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 5, 2026
Loved this from the first few pages.
Maggie has a unique way of describing things that make you feel a part of the story.
Lucy was one of eight you made the cut from 200 entries for a bake off in her home town.
The event is hosted by well known professionals from chefs, reality tv star, and a food critic.
Lucy can’t close the bakery for a week so her partner can’t be her assistant.
Her best friend Brittany offers to help out.
She has no baking skills whatsoever, so Lucy gives her a crash course in two weeks.
That’s enough, right?
Teaspoon and tablespoons look alike, they are both silver!!
From day one things go wrong with measurements, poor planning, and the murder of the fussy foodie.
Paco finds a body after the food baking tent has been closed and locked up on day one.
Travis is consoling his wife when Paco goes missing.
They both know what’s happening when they discover Paco next to the body.
He has a skill for finding bodies, and Lucy is a human lie detector.
The show is canceled, but called back on within a day, and the bakers gather again to continue the competition.
Lucy is too busy hunting down clues and a killer to pay attention to the baking competition even though she had hoped to recoup points from the disaster muffins.
Brittany is in full amateur detective mode complete with a murder board.
The friends work together to gather clues to solve the case quickly.
Lucy’s mom has a speed detector clocking drivers who are speeding through their neighborhood retirement community.
Lucy gets a text that’s supposed to help reveal reasons for the murder.
Slowly but surely small clues add up to reveal the killer.
Characters, cousins, coincidences have you hungry for more episodes of Lucy and Paco, and Anna and the grumpy ghost.
Maggie has a unique way of describing things that make you feel a part of the story.
Lucy was one of eight you made the cut from 200 entries for a bake off in her home town.
The event is hosted by well known professionals from chefs, reality tv star, and a food critic.
Lucy can’t close the bakery for a week so her partner can’t be her assistant.
Her best friend Brittany offers to help out.
She has no baking skills whatsoever, so Lucy gives her a crash course in two weeks.
That’s enough, right?
Teaspoon and tablespoons look alike, they are both silver!!
From day one things go wrong with measurements, poor planning, and the murder of the fussy foodie.
Paco finds a body after the food baking tent has been closed and locked up on day one.
Travis is consoling his wife when Paco goes missing.
They both know what’s happening when they discover Paco next to the body.
He has a skill for finding bodies, and Lucy is a human lie detector.
The show is canceled, but called back on within a day, and the bakers gather again to continue the competition.
Lucy is too busy hunting down clues and a killer to pay attention to the baking competition even though she had hoped to recoup points from the disaster muffins.
Brittany is in full amateur detective mode complete with a murder board.
The friends work together to gather clues to solve the case quickly.
Lucy’s mom has a speed detector clocking drivers who are speeding through their neighborhood retirement community.
Lucy gets a text that’s supposed to help reveal reasons for the murder.
Slowly but surely small clues add up to reveal the killer.
Characters, cousins, coincidences have you hungry for more episodes of Lucy and Paco, and Anna and the grumpy ghost.
January 1, 2026
FATAL FARE is the eleventh book in the Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective series by Maggie March and I can’t wait for more. There’s always another dead body for Lucy and her dog, Paco to find. And the adventures leading up to the murder being solved are always filled with clues and red herrings and abundance of ruling out whodunnit.
There are multiple stories being told but most of them revolve around the baking competition that Lucy is a contestant in. As she often focuses on gathering clues and information instead of her baking, it’s no wonder she isn’t doing well. There’s a connection to her cousin Anna and the storylines she’s been involved in and that was a nice parallel. There are vivid descriptions of the baking and I could smell and taste the items.
The story has a good flow and I love that the connection between Lucy and Paco continues to be strong. Other characters we’ve met before are part of the story and gives great continuity and depth. When Lucy unknowingly gives the reason for the murder it fills in a lot of gaps. The whodunnit had been hinted at but I loved the reveal. A satisfying read with lots of sunshine, family and friends.
There are multiple stories being told but most of them revolve around the baking competition that Lucy is a contestant in. As she often focuses on gathering clues and information instead of her baking, it’s no wonder she isn’t doing well. There’s a connection to her cousin Anna and the storylines she’s been involved in and that was a nice parallel. There are vivid descriptions of the baking and I could smell and taste the items.
The story has a good flow and I love that the connection between Lucy and Paco continues to be strong. Other characters we’ve met before are part of the story and gives great continuity and depth. When Lucy unknowingly gives the reason for the murder it fills in a lot of gaps. The whodunnit had been hinted at but I loved the reveal. A satisfying read with lots of sunshine, family and friends.
December 31, 2025
A Great Adventure that keeps you turning pages!
Lucy McGuffin co-owner of The Bistro by the Beach a café had just married the love of her life Travis Fontaine and had returned to Whispering Bay from their honeymoon with Paco of course.
Lucy was told by everyone that she made the best muffins in North Florida, and loved baking.
Brittany Kelly and Will Cunningham who was the top librarian and had been keeping his pen name secret. J.W. Quicksilver - best-selling spy novelist. They were Lucy’s best friends along with Paco and did just about everything together.
Lucy had just be excepted to be one of 8 bakers to compete on Florida Bake Masters, it’s The Cooking Channel’s newest reality cooking TV show. True to form shortly after the first competition is finished Lucy and Paco discover a body.
This book is really good and with all of the twists and turns you most likely won’t guess who the murderer is. Read along and join the adventures with Lucy in trying to figure it out.
I think you will really enjoy this book, I know I did!!
Lucy McGuffin co-owner of The Bistro by the Beach a café had just married the love of her life Travis Fontaine and had returned to Whispering Bay from their honeymoon with Paco of course.
Lucy was told by everyone that she made the best muffins in North Florida, and loved baking.
Brittany Kelly and Will Cunningham who was the top librarian and had been keeping his pen name secret. J.W. Quicksilver - best-selling spy novelist. They were Lucy’s best friends along with Paco and did just about everything together.
Lucy had just be excepted to be one of 8 bakers to compete on Florida Bake Masters, it’s The Cooking Channel’s newest reality cooking TV show. True to form shortly after the first competition is finished Lucy and Paco discover a body.
This book is really good and with all of the twists and turns you most likely won’t guess who the murderer is. Read along and join the adventures with Lucy in trying to figure it out.
I think you will really enjoy this book, I know I did!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another fun book in the world of Lucy, her dog Paco (who finds dead people) and the people of Whispering Bay, Florida, I have been reading these books about Lucy, her bakery specializing in muffins, and the antics of Whispering Bay since the very beginning and I feel as if I am a shadow right along side Lucy as I read these stories. Lucy has a special power and that is she can tell when someone is lying, all except for her husband, Travis who is Chief of Police in their small town. In this episode ( I am treating these books as episodes from a long running tv show), a British Baking Show type contest is taking place in Whispering Bay and Lucy is a contestant. Of course, everything can’t go smoothly and away we go on another fun filled adventure with Lucy and the gang. Come along for the ride. You will love this book if you like light, entertaining, mystery reads.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The author writes in a light, breezy, humorous voice, making these books quick, fun, reads. Lucy is invited to be a final contestant in Florida Bake Masters, being filmed on the beach of Whispering Bay, Florida. But as usual, things go awry. Marcus Adams, the mysterious Fussy Foodie, food critic, is scheduled to be one of the judges, but poor Paco finds him dead after the first day of filming. Lucy promises her husband, Travis, to stay out of the investigation, but with her human lie detecting ability, that will be impossible to do. I can't help it, but when every I read Travis saying "Lucy", I hear Ricky Ricardo's voice. Dax Montgomery, who was in cousin Anna's last adventure, turns up as the MC. Anna warned her, that he is trouble and Anna was right.
I was gifted an ARC from the author as part of her review team. This is my unbiased, honest, and voluntary review.
I was gifted an ARC from the author as part of her review team. This is my unbiased, honest, and voluntary review.
January 1, 2026
The latest Lucy McGuffin mystery brings the drama with a high-stakes baking competition that goes from friendly to deadly when one of the judges is taken out with a rolling pin. All the competitors are suspects, and the obnoxious host and aggressive producer aren’t off the hook either. Can Lucy solve the murder and keep herself from finishing last in the baking competition? This is a great cozy hitting all the right points—a strong main character, a cute canine sidekick, beautiful Whispering Bay, a logical mystery, lots of delicious food, and plenty of humor and heart. The writing reads effortlessly, propelling the story in a fast and efficient manner while keeping all the right ingredients to make it a truly satisfying read. I always know when I pick up a Lucy McGuffin or Grumpy Ghost mystery that I am consistently going to have a great time with the characters.
December 30, 2025
A baking contest has come to town and Lucy has qualified as a TV contestant. Her assistant is Brittany, who is not really good at baking and cooking. But as Lucy will find out, Brittany has another talent that may come in handy.
On the first day of the bake-off, a judge is killed. His body is found by Paco, of course, and Paco the dog is involved in the investigation that Lucy kicks off, despite a request by her husband, Travis, the chief of police.
There is a whole cast of characters involved in the show, and everyone believes there must be a tie-in to the program.
This is a fun cozy mystery and is a perfect fit with the rest of the series, but you don't need to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one.
On the first day of the bake-off, a judge is killed. His body is found by Paco, of course, and Paco the dog is involved in the investigation that Lucy kicks off, despite a request by her husband, Travis, the chief of police.
There is a whole cast of characters involved in the show, and everyone believes there must be a tie-in to the program.
This is a fun cozy mystery and is a perfect fit with the rest of the series, but you don't need to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one.
January 5, 2026
Let me start by saying i had so much fun reading this book! Lucy & Paco are back for another whodunnit & the antics are aplenty! This one takes place during a reality TV cooking show, bringing Dax Montgomery from Maggie's other series in to host. Lucy & her best friend Brittany are competing against 7 other teams & the chaos for them is real. When Paco finds another body, Police Chief Travis, Lucy's hubby, needs to find the murderer fast before they strike again! We know that Lucy can't stay away from a murder & her ability to detect a lie, helps her figure things out, just doesn't help her prove someone didn't do it! This book had some laugh out loud moments, some heartfelt sadness & a whole lot of mystery solving collaboration! Such a fun book to read! Enjoy!
December 30, 2025
Time with Paco is just the perfect way to spend a relaxed day after the busy hectic holidays. Maggie March delivers with Fatal Fare in which Lucy and Paco shine brightly. It is hard to believe that this is the eleventh book in the Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective Series. I was glad to see her real career as a baker continuing to expand. What I wouldn’t do for one of her muffins while reading. The psychic talents of Lucy and Paco are put to the test in this story as the major baking contest taking place in Whispering Bay has a killer. Lucy is on the side of truth no matter if it is a friend or frenemy. Wonderful, relaxing read from beginning to end.
December 30, 2025
The latest adventures of Lucy and Paco take place at home in Whispering Bay with some old acquaintances showing up from prior stories and a really nice tie in with Lucy's Cousin Ana from a character who started out A Tomb with a View (The Grumpy Ghost Book 3). As Lucy is staring on a Food show what could go wrong - probably anything from using the wrong measurements in the muffin challenge to a murder behind the scenes of one of the judges - and Paco of course finding the body to the group coming together and solving the mystery. As with her other books, its a good clean mystery with great character development and growth. Can't wait to see what zany adventures await.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First I love this series and I’m so glad to see more. You don’t want to miss a single book. Lucy McGuffin Fontaine is now married to Travis the police chief in Whispering Bay.
Lucy notifies everyone she will be in the Florida Bake Masters competition. She must have an assistant. It’s funny when Betty Jean offers. But ends up Brittany being her assistant.
A murder that no one saw coming.
Lots of interesting things and loved Brittany’s dedication to helping Lucy on the competition.
Must read.
Lucy notifies everyone she will be in the Florida Bake Masters competition. She must have an assistant. It’s funny when Betty Jean offers. But ends up Brittany being her assistant.
A murder that no one saw coming.
Lots of interesting things and loved Brittany’s dedication to helping Lucy on the competition.
Must read.
December 31, 2025
This was a fun book with a touch of competitive baking and murder mixed together. Lucy and Travis worked together with their band of regulars to solve the latest crime. It was such a surprise when the murderer was revealed--I had only just begun to suspect that person in the last few chapters! There was also a crossover from cousin Anna's series that added to the plot, even though he was not a nice person in either series. As always, Lucy is her normal intrepid self and came through when it mattered. Highly recommended.
January 9, 2026
Delicious Mystery
Once again Lucy and Paco have cooked up a murder to solve. On the very first day of the baking competition they find one of the judges dead. Lucy, Paco, and Brittany work to find the killer while continuing on with the competition. I enjoy the banter between Lucy and Paco, and the friendship between the two couples. The ending had a surprising twist. This is a great book that will be enjoyed by anyone that likes fun cozy mysteries with little twists and turns all along the way. I’m looking forward to their next adventure.
Once again Lucy and Paco have cooked up a murder to solve. On the very first day of the baking competition they find one of the judges dead. Lucy, Paco, and Brittany work to find the killer while continuing on with the competition. I enjoy the banter between Lucy and Paco, and the friendship between the two couples. The ending had a surprising twist. This is a great book that will be enjoyed by anyone that likes fun cozy mysteries with little twists and turns all along the way. I’m looking forward to their next adventure.
December 30, 2025
Lucy & Paco are back
Lucy and Paco are my favorite murder solving duo and this latest book in the series doesn’t disappoint! I couldn’t put it down! Lucy competes in a baking competition and Maggie March makes you feel like you’re behind the scenes of a Food Network show! I loved everything about this book!
Lucy and Paco are my favorite murder solving duo and this latest book in the series doesn’t disappoint! I couldn’t put it down! Lucy competes in a baking competition and Maggie March makes you feel like you’re behind the scenes of a Food Network show! I loved everything about this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love this series. It is light, enjoyable reading. Lucy and Paco find another dead body and the antics of solving the murder ensue. I love all the characters and their personalities. I just really enjoy the fact that these books are clean and fun and let you unwind from life.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another adventure with Lucy and Paco. Selected as a chef on the Florida Bake Masters live TV broadcast, Lucy is excited and scared. The cast of the chefs is quite interesting especially when she learns that the Fussy Foodie will be a judge. This week keep you entertained and surprised.
January 1, 2026
I have missed Lucy and Paco🐾
I loved Lucy and Brittany getting to bake/compete together. It showed a different side of their friendship.
I am so happy Travis and Lucy got to work together to solve this murder. They really do love each and accept each other. 💜
I loved Lucy and Brittany getting to bake/compete together. It showed a different side of their friendship.
I am so happy Travis and Lucy got to work together to solve this murder. They really do love each and accept each other. 💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2026
Believe it or not!
I absolutely love your books. I get a little agitated waiting for the next one to come out checking do often to see if out yet but knowing you will let me know, THANK YOU!!!!!
GWEN KLAPAL
I absolutely love your books. I get a little agitated waiting for the next one to come out checking do often to see if out yet but knowing you will let me know, THANK YOU!!!!!
GWEN KLAPAL
January 4, 2026
Lucy returns from her honeymoon ready for a great life until a food blogger is found dead. Can she & Paco, her pet sidekick, find the murderer. Great characters & plot that will keep you turning pages!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love Lucy! Never a dull moment in Lucy's life. Humor, whit and mystery are a recipe for a great read. I highly recommend it!
January 9, 2026
I love this series. I could read about Lucy and Paco all day!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lucy is back with her gang of quirky characters and baking up a storm. I swear I gain 10 pounds just reading about all the yummy baked good in her stories and this episode is about a baking competition so it is carb overload time. And of course there is a murder in the competition and Lucy's ability to detect lies and her dog Paco's ghost whispering puts them dead center (sorry) in the case. Lucy's husband, Chief of Police Travis, is as usual powerless to keep her out of the investigation. So there are interesting baking challenges, lots of suspects and an ending that I certainly did not see coming. I also love Maggie's Grumpy Ghost series with Lucy's cousin Anna and they have a cameo in this book. Enjoy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lucy and Paco strike again. Lucy entered a cooking show and will be competing against eight other contestants. Unfortunately one of the judges is murdered. It is another who did it mystery that Lucy promised not to investigate. As always she can’t help herself and she and Paco are in the middle of danger and finding the murderer.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews