Battered

Whipped and Sipped #1

by G.P. Gottlieb

Welcome to Whipped & Sipped—where the pastries are guilt-free, the coffee is strong, and the gossip might just get you killed.
Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes.

Alene Baron has built more than a café—she’s built a community. At Whipped & Sipped, customers linger over Ruthie’s decadent-but-healthy desserts, children flock to Saturday story hour, and knitting groups craft blankets for refugee families. Alene prides herself on knowing her patrons so well she can often place “a wholegrain blueberry muffin on the counter before the customer themselves knew” they wanted it.

But when her neighbor and close friend is murdered, Alene’s cozy world begins to unravel. Suddenly, everyone she knows could be a suspect, and she starts noticing the smallest inconsistencies, furtive glances, and unexplained comings and goings around the café. With each clue and misstep, Alene pieces together a tangled web of secrets, realizing that danger may be closer than she ever imagined—and that her own family could be in the killer’s sights.

With her sharp eye for detail, wry sense of humor, and fierce devotion to her children, Alene steps into the role of amateur sleuth. But in a community where tempers flare over hot chocolate, grudges linger for years, and secrets hide beneath friendly smiles, finding the killer may prove harder than whipping up the perfect soufflé.

Battered, the first in G.P. Gottlieb’s Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series, is a delectable blend of mouthwatering recipes, quirky neighborhood drama, and page-turning suspense. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies, it’s a tale where friendship, food, and murder are always on the menu.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Fiction

327 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2025

About the author

G.P. Gottlieb (https://gpgottlieb.com) is the author of Battered, Smothered, and Charred, the first three Whipped & Sipped Mysteries now being reissued by Anam Cara Press (with sexy new covers)! Please don't buy the old versions - the evil successor of my first publisher has stolen every penny since 2023! Hm. An idea for a new mystery....

Follow gpgottlieb.com to see her essays, over 250 podcast author interviews, book reviews, book updates, and recipes. When not reading or writing, she enjoys feeding her kids and grandbabies, walking, baking, attending concerts and plays, and traveling with her partner of 32 years.

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alene Baron runs Whipped and Sipped with her best friend, Ruthie Rosin. Together, the two have turned the café and coffee shop into a healthy choice with a loyal clientele. They serve only the best coffee, and most of their items are vegan, even the sweet treats, that is popular in their neighborhood in Chicago. Alene lives a few blocks away from the café in a condo she shares with her father and her three children. Her world is a little chaotic, but it gets more so when she finds one of her neighbors dead one afternoon. It is clear that he was murdered, and soon Alene is casting everyone in the role of killer. Since she knows everyone who might be a suspect, can she figure out what really happened?

This book has a couple of twists on culinary cozies that I enjoyed, the healthy food that is served and the large city setting. Author G. P. Gottlieb still manages to keep this book feeling cozy despite that setting, and I enjoyed spending time in a bigger city. There are a lot of characters, and their relationships are complicated. There is a list of characters before the book starts, but it didn’t take too long for the character’s personalities to come through and it became easy to keep them straight. There are some prickly characters in the book, and it was actually easy to root for one of them to be the killer. We get a bit of a backstory dump early on, which makes it a little slow to get going. We do need some of this information as the plot unfolds. Once the murder happens, we’ve got several good clues and red herrings. I thought I figured things out early, but I was surprised by the climax. There are a total of thiry recipes in this book, with them leaning toward the healthier side of things thanks to the vegan theme of the café. This book features a slightly different take on the culinary cozy mystery, one I ultimately enjoyed.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An assured debut and delicious culinary cozy mystery set in the "Whipped and Sipped Cafe" in Chicago. Will keep you happily gripped by the compelling story and drooling over the 30 amazing recipes that are included. Can't wait 'til Book 2!

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An involving, fast-paced mystery with compelling characters, twists, turns, and food—oh, the food! I want to be a regular at the Whipped and Sipped Cafe and hang out with the locals.

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy a good cozy especially if there is food involved and this book does not disappoint on the food aspect! Battered is set in a coffeehouse/cafe that servers vegetarian/vegan items and don't worry, all of the recipes (or many of them) are at the end of the book and I'm sure you will want to whip up some of these dishes for yourself.

When you first start the book there is a list of characters with a brief bio on each of them (age, relationship, etc) and trust me when I saw that you will need this information because there are a lot of characters to keep straight in your head and how they are related to each other. But as you move through the book it will become easier to keep everyone straight. Despite the numerous characters, each plays a significant part in the storyline. They might be related to the deceased, or to Alene, or involved with the cafe. The personalities and traits of the characters are also varied and add some dimension to the story, even if it is a minor character. Alene tends to throw herself into the middle of the situation, which isn't uncommon for a cozy. However, she tends to blurt out things that are supposition on her part and not fact. Not too uncommon when you have an amateur intent on solving the mystery.

There is a lot of information packed into this book. We learn the dynamics of Alene's family, her friendship with Ruthie, the relationship with the neighbors and their dysfunctional families, and the story behind the employees at the cafe. You will find a lot of memories from Alene about events from the past that have an impact on where she is now in her life. I think some of the information would have been better doled out in future books to add to Alene's background and further reveal how she ended up where she is today.

The mystery has some interesting twists that I did not expect before the killer was revealed. It all made sense when the details were laid out and there are a few clues that might get you to that point but probably not enough to point you in the right direction of the killer.

There is even a potential love interest for Alene, Detective Frank Shaw. The funny thing is that he was the police officer that took her to the hospital in the past when she gave birth to her youngest child since her (now ex) husband couldn't seem to make it there.

I think there was only one thing that I didn't quite understand. Ruthie is a vegetarian/vegan which would make sense since she is the chef at Alene's cafe which is vegetarian/vegan. However, when Alene had a dinner for the family and friends of the neighbor that was murdered, she wouldn't let anyone bring any meat products in so that Ruthie wouldn't have to smell them. While that was a kind gesture, I would expect Ruthie to understand that some people do eat meat and wouldn't have a problem with it being in the same room. She would obviously not eat that item.

Overall we enjoyed this mystery and look forward to the next in the series.  We give it 3 1/2 paws.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

#Battered #NetGalley is an interesting cozy mystery that I had the pleasure to read.
Alene owns a unique cafe called Whipped and Sipped, which features mouthwatering treats and top notch drinks.
When Alene's friend and neighbor is killed, her tight knit community starts to fall apart as everyone looks at each other wondering if they are the killer.

There are parts of the book that seem a little slow moving, but I did enjoy the mystery and how it all came together in the end.

[Elizabeth McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read mysteries, because I’m always mystified by the clues and don’t understand the solution even when it’s explained. But if you like mysteries, if you like lots of vivid, varied characters including a sometimes maddening protagonist, if you like a bit of romance and a LOT of food (including recipes at the end), this book may be for you!

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this cozy, warm, murder mystery whodunit story. It was such an easy quick read. My favorite part was how much baking/cooking was involved throughout the entire story. Before the story begins, the author provides a list of all the characters - I took my time to read it, and a few times had to refer back to it because this is a fully loaded cast. I did not mind this at all. I felt that all the characters completed a piece of the story and it also gave for more speculation on who murdered the victim. Just as the FMC is speculating the majority of the book, I was right there with her doubting everyone. With the amount of characters in this story, it sure provided a good representation of how family and friends can come together and be united but also how there's always drama involved. In this case, juicy drama spanning years. Overall, the story takes place in the Whipped and Sipped Cafe and the apartment building where the majority of the characters live. The reason the murder occurred is tied to events that occurred over 8 years ago so we get to learn about the past and present versions of our characters. The only reason I did not rate this book 5 stars is because when we find out whodunit, it was very anticlimactic, very vanilla (when the whole book has been a delicious thought-out curated feast).

P.S. There are recipes included at the end of the book for each chapter. Such a cute fun idea.

Thank you to the author G.P Gottlieb, her publisher Anamcara-Press, and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many people can say that they are doing what they love....but Alene Baron can say exactly that. Alene is the main character in Battered : A Whipped and Sipped Mystery by G.P. Gottlieb. She grew up working in Whipped and Sipped, a cafe owned by a dear friend of the family Gary. And when Gary was ready to retire he sold it to Alene for a very good price. Now she runs it with her best friend from college Ruthie.

Now don't go thinking Alene has a great life....because she does and she doesn't. After her marriage broke up, Alene and her three kids moved back in with her father in the condo she grew up in. Her father is not 100% healthy so moving back helps all of them. Unfortunately Alene still has to deal with her ex-husband but some things you have to overlook.

When one of the neighbors finds Gary dead in her dining room, Alene jumps in with both feet to try to solve his murder. Unfortunately she becomes suspicious of everyone and finds it hard to fiqure out....lucky for her the attractive detective assigned to the case is someone she met years ago. He was extremely helpful back then so she knows he will be focused on Gary's murder but when he takes one of Gary's kids into custody, Alene begins to question his ability's to see right and wrong......

While Alene tries to keep some kind of normalcy in the cafe and her house, she cannot help but try to solve Gary's murder by finding the actual murderer.......not even knowing just how close this person actual is to everything......

Gottlieb has a winner with Battered : A Whipped and Sipped Mystery. I could not put it down. You cannot help but love Alene and the loving character that she is. And the employees at the cafe and friends in her fathers building are a great bunch of people as well....even her ex-husband will grow on you, and not in a fungus kind of way. I highly encourage readers to read this book.....you will enjoy hanging out with everyone !!!

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The huge character dump at the beginning was a bit overwhelming. I taught HS, and it made me flashback to the first days of a new school year and having to learn the names and faces of several hundred new kids. As with a new school year, I eventually got them sorted out. I had a hard time liking the main character. Maybe it's because I knew an Alene who was a really terrible person, so every time I saw the name, it reminded me of her. Again, not important to the plot. It's a me problem, not an author problem. I did think she was too quick to expect people, often without good reason, and she seemed rude in her approach to those "suspects."

I'm also a bit confused about her foods of choice. Is Alene supposed to be vegan? Vegetarian? Or is it just her restaurant. At home she cooks both fish and chicken. I wish the author had explained how they make vegan French toast. I'm not vegan, but I am curious, especially since there was an explanation for other vegan substitutions. Oh well, guess that's not important to the plot. For those who are vegan, this book offers more than the usual number of recipes found in a cozy foodie mystery.

As someone who has dealt with myasthenia gravis for the past 26 years, I'm glad to see this less well known autoimmune disease get some recognition. My biggest problems are double vision, occasional slurred speech, and swallowing difficulties. Chopping food into smaller pieces doesn't really help with my swallowing difficulties. Drinking a glass of water is more problematic for me because it's the kind of thing where I tend to gulp it down without taking breaks between sips that tires out the muscles until it's as if I've forgotten how to swallow.

Still, the mystery and setting were good and made the book worth the time it took to read. I'll probably give the second book a read. Maybe I need to train myself to think of a different name than Alene for the main character. Maybe I can nickname her Allie.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the c0-owner of Whipped and Sipped (that name, oh dear), Alene spends her days running a vegan cafe in Chicago. She purchased her business from Gary, a close family friend, at a good price with a couple of conditions attached - his sister and his daughter would continue to work there. Later, he requests that his son join the team. Before this newest member can interview, Gary is brutally murdered in a neighbour's apartment and Alene feels a responsibility to solve his murder.

Terse is the word I would use to describe the relationships in this book. Everyone seemed to be irritated with one another. They have good reason to be vexed with Alene; she wanders around accusing one person after another with no logical reason. Furthermore, she crossed people off her suspect list on the strength of their word. There's no investigating (on her part), just mindless accusations.

The provocation for the murder (and subsequent attacks) was not foreshadowed. The days of Ellery Queen, who would give you everything needed to solve the mystery, are long gone. I felt a little cheated and almost dubious with respect to the identity of the perpetrator and the motive for the crime. I also lost a fair chunk of respect for the victim.

Now, we get to my flip-flop: I enjoyed this book more than my review indicates. It's a "first book" and as such has a few teething problems which need to be addressed. The characters themselves are unique and all speak with their own voices. Despite the fact that there was a huge cast for Battered, I could easily tell them apart and the scorecard at the beginning of the book was convenient and appreciated but almost unnecessary. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, Smothered.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alene Baron's vegetarian bakery/cafe Whipped and Sipped is a hub of community activity--not always the kind Alene wants to see. Friends and neighbors wander in, a friend wants her to hire his son. There is some much going on, and so many characters it's hard to keep track. Home isn't much different. Her busy apartment in Chicago is home to Alene, her three children, and her father Cal. There are neighbors across the hall and down the hall, some have married and divorced each other and taken up with new people. Folks wander into her apartment and out. Again, it's hard to keep track.

And then there is a murder. Right in the apartment building, as fate would have it. And everything and everyone suddenly come into focus. The reader realizes there are probably 20 red herrings running around, and one of them is the murderer.

Alene has been divorced for a while, and would love to meet someone interesting. Enter detective Frank Shaw. He gets her attention, but will she get his? What about the memorial for the deceased? And who's doing what? Alene finds herself babbling every time she sees Frank. Her mouth moves way faster than her brain sometimes, but she's no idiot and she's going to find a killer. Just wait and see.

In this fun and fast-paced debut novel, Galit Gottlieb breathes new life into the traditional cozy mystery. Plus there's the food--mouthwatering morsels coming at the reader from every direction. You'll want to read Battered, and look forward to more from this new author! Thanks to the author for an ARC

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alene and Ruthie have always dreamt of working together in the same café, ever since they became friends at college and it was a dream come true when Gary decided that he was going to retire and offered to sell the café to Alene. Now Alene is the owner and manager, dealing with all the admin and nitty gritty and Ruth, the pastry chef, creating mouth watering vegan and vegetarian food to tempt their patrons. Alene knew that Gary had sold the café to her at a lower price with a proviso that she employed his daughter Kacey and sister Edith but it was still very generous of Gary to do so, but then that was Gary - kind helpful, cheery and much loved by everyone. Even by each of his 3 wives and their children. And the neighbours. And Alene's Dad and kids. And Gary's golfing buddies. And the people in the whole block that he lived in. So who would murder him?

A clever cozy mystery that I enjoyed reading. The characters are well rounded and very relatable to. I like the closeness of the relationship between the 2 friends, and I also like the fact that Gottlieb includes the cheek that the 12-going-on-to-52 year old Sierra gives to her mother and how despairing it can feel when Neal undermines the good work that Alene tries to do in bringing their children up.

I received and ARC and this is my honest opinion

[Devi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cracked open Battered craving that classic cozy mystery escape, steaming lattes, quirky regulars, and a murder solved over gluten-free scones. This cozy mystery had all the right ingredients on paper, small-town flavor, café banter, and an amateur sleuth with a knack for baking and detecting. But once mixed together, something didn’t quite rise. I found myself side-eyeing almost every character like I’d walked into a room full of people arguing over who stole the last gluten-free muffin. The vibe wasn’t cozy so much as collectively miserable. Even the friendships felt more like trauma-bonding than genuine connection. Everyone was either snappish, self-pitying, or just… exhausting.

The mystery itself? Cozy to the core. Red herrings floated like foam art. The killer’s motive actually made sense, and the final reveal was satisfying in a straightforward, good-old-fashioned whodunit way. Once the clues began landing, the path to the killer made sense, and the motive was realistic in a grounded, “oh yeah, humans can be messy like that” way.

And okay, a small rant: if I pick up a culinary cozy, I want indulgence with frosted, gooey, blissful treats I can read about at midnight without consequence. But here, every dessert came with a health lecture. Nobody was allowed to just enjoy a cookie without commentary. Sometimes I want my fictional sugar with the calories left in, thanks.

Would I recommend it?
Only if you’re already hooked on hyper-healthy culinary cozies and don’t mind characters who’d rather complain than connect. The mystery wraps up neatly, but the sour vibe left me cold.

When the muffin doesn’t rise...
Ever read a cozy mystery that looked irresistible but left you craving something sweeter? Let me know your “cozy letdown” reads in the comments!

[Larry F. Sommers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battered is the first of G.P. Gottlieb’s Whipped and Sipped mysteries, starring stressed sleuth-by-necessity Alene Baron, proprietor of a popular café in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Alene manages to keep the place going with the help of childhood friend Ruthie, but sometimes it’s a near thing, with café staff members often less helpful than needy.
When Alene’s benefactor, the café’s founder, is murdered in a nearby neighbor’s apartment, Alene is drawn into the intrigue. Her unavoidable suspicions of nearly everyone rise to the surface. When handsome police detective Frank arrives on the scene, she is torn between flirting with him, giving him the cold shoulder, and fingering most of her friends and acquaintances as suspects. So she does all three.
Throw in an invalid father, a ne’er-do-well ex-husband, and three demanding young children, and Alene winds up feeling a bit battered herself. The plot is elusive, as a mystery’s should be; the prose is dense with complex past and present relationships; and the story is capped by an appendix with thirty (30!) delicious-looking recipes lifted from the narrative.
A worthy and cozy start for a new mystery series.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just discovered this deliciously delightful mystery series set in Chicago, one of my favorite cities. Battered is the first of three by G.P. where Alene Baron, owner of Whipped and Sipped, just wants to design new recipes and raise her three children. But when a murderer strikes too close to home, Alene has no choice but to find the killer before he /she strikes again. The problem for Alene is that too many people have motives, people she cares about. Great characters and a compelling plot that kept me guessing to the end.
G.P. has also included all thirty recipes mentioned in Battered. I made Overnight Oatmeal—Yum! Next on my list is Chocolate Cashew Pie!
So whip up a batch of Orange Poppy Seed Muffins, sit back, and enjoy a superb culinary mystery!

[Jeannée Sacken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop by Whipped and Sipped café in GP Gottlieb’s enthralling cozy mystery, Battered, for a latte and a scrumptious vegan muffin, then stay to read the story. Like me, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll marvel at the cast of quirky characters who are dealing with some serious problems: Alene’s divorce from her cheating husband, the mysterious death of her friend Brianne’s husband, and most recently, the murder of her good-guy neighbor Gary. The plotting is spot on with loads of red herrings as Alene points her finger at first one, then another suspect, with Detective Frank Shaw doing his best to rein her in. While you read, try out some of the delectable café recipes—mouth watering!—and then, look forward to Smothered, Alene’s next attempt at crime solving.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid debut in a new culinary cozy mystery series. I absolutely adore that the recipes are included in each chapter rather than just mentioned, and then included at the end. It enticed me to actually read this one a little slower than I normally do. Because I was so interested in the storyline and the recipe that I would look at the recipe and determine whether or not it was something I was going to make Sooner rather than later.

While I enjoyed the recipes, I really enjoyed the whodunit. The author has done a great job at developing the characters and that change in how the recipes are included really captured me. I will definitely be back for seconds, and thirds, and…in this series.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Battered is the first book in A Whipped and Sipped Mystery series written by G.P. Gottlieb. I really enjoy cozy mystery books and to get the chance to read a new first book in a series is so fun.
This one was not one I enjoyed very much. The characters were not easy to like. I wanted to see a mystery that had twists and turns. The mystery in this one was flat. I must admit it was hard to finish but was saved by the recipes in the book.
The guilty person was one I did not guess.
I know that there are readers who are going to gobble up this series.
Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Gottlieb for the arc of Battered. This is my personal review.

[Cayce Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mouth-watering cozy mystery with a cast of characters you'll want to root for—and spend time with. In perfect cozy tradition, these characters gather at the Whipped and Sipped cafe. I love a book that celebrates small businesses, and everything that makes them special: conversation, belonging, and a personal touch. The generous collection of recipes at the end was a nice surprise. Good thing, too, because reading this book made me hungry. If you like reading about food, family, friendships, and the occasional dead body, this book is for you!

[Joslin Harmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mystery where the main character literally suspects everyone all of the time and tells it to their face at times. Doesn't solve the crime and spends most of the book just stumbling from one incredibly awkward conversation to the next. Does get points for including like the recipe for every food mentioned in the book and for making me nostalgic for chicago. Going to continue with the series as I was gifted the series and I genuinely want to see if the main character gets any better at this. 2.5

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, a delicious confection of interesting characters and a murder mystery that surrounds and involves the protagonist, Alene Baron, owner of Whipped and Sipped Cafe. It was a quick and delightful read that held my attention, and I look forward to reading the next in the series. As an added bonus the reader is left with many recipes that are referenced in the book and sound really delicious!

[Joy Ribar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battered: A Whipped and Sipped #1 by G.P. Gottlieb
Alene’s dream business, the Whipped and Sipped Cafe, becomes a nexus of trouble after its former owner is found dead in the apartment next door to Alene. The once close-knit Chicago neighborhood becomes a den of suspicion as victims rack up like pastries, and a past that was meant to stay buried, rises again like a yeasty loaf of bread. Gottlieb serves up a delicious recipes amid the mystery and friendship in this cozy series.

[Marjorie McCown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Battered is an irresistible mix of comfort and danger — the kind of cozy mystery that makes you wish you could drop by Whipped & Sipped for a latte and a slice of Ruthie’s guilt-free cake (preferably without the murder, of course!). G.P. Gottlieb serves up a smart, funny, and big-hearted story about friendship, family, and the secrets simmering beneath even the warmest community. A delicious start to the Whipped & Sipped series!

[Sharon Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the Whipped & Sipped series, Battered introduces us to this Chicago-based cozy. Gottlieb deftly pulls us into the tight-knit community of condo neighbors and cafe employees. I would read this book just to spend time with the characters in the cafe and learn about vegan pastries, but the compelling mystery had me glued to the page. Jump in on this series!

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this story was entertaining, it was filled with errors. It was obvious the author never hired an editor. There were very long passages in italics, which may have been used to indicate a character thinking to themself. If that was the case, it should have been set up better to eliminate the italics.

[Joni · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book but in the end I stopped reading at about 25% into the book. The conversations felt stiff and unnatural. I like to feel as if I'm a part of what's going on, right there with the characters and I wasn't getting that with this book. Others may enjoy the writing style but it wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man...baking and a murder mystery, my two favorite things! What an excellent read. I'm excited to read the rest of the series. Extra points for including the recipes for all the delicious sounding foods!

I found myself trying to piece things together along with Alene, the main character. I must say - the true "whodunnit" took me by a huge surprise!

[Anne Louise Bannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-thought-out and delightfully delivered little cozy. The characters are wonderful and I love that the main character is far from perfect. The biggest problem I had was getting hungry reading about all the delicious-sounding goodies described in the text.

[lynn Hulsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to dnf this book at around 50% complete (121 pages) I just really didn’t feel like it fit the thriller genre and I kept reading trying to get into the book but I just couldn’t, it felt more like a normal storyline then a suspenseful one.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the unique concept in this book! Cozy mystery, paired with real recipes for you to try? Sign me up! So immersive, a new way to truly dive into a story!

I loved how the recipes were organized by chapter and very easy to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!