Camera, Confections and a Corpse: An Unputable Down Twisty Cozy Mystery

Kat Calloway Cozy Mystery #3

by L.B. Dayton

A killer in costume. A crush in cuffs. And cupcakes to die for...

Head chef Kat Calloway thought co-catering a Halloween gala for the Food Network would be all treats, spooky sweets, a dash of fun with her best friend Doll, and maybe even a stolen dance with dreamy pastry chef Bash Laurent.

But the night turns frightfully grim when the arrogant host, Morris Day, drops dead mid-boogie and a masked man dressed just like Bash vanishes into the crowd.

Now Bash is in handcuffs, Doll’s acting suspiciously sweet, and Kat’s tuxedo cat, Tux, has picked the worst night to vanish like a ghost.

With her haunted holiday unraveling faster than a mummy’s wrap, Kat grabs her metaphorical carving knife and dives into the case.

From creepy costumes to sugar-fueled secrets, Kat must whip up a killer plan before someone else gets carved out of the picture for good.

Because this time, it’s not just her career on the chopping block… it’s her heart.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow this was such a fun read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exciting mystery and couldn't put it down!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great cozy mystery that will keep you entertained throughout. Wonderful characters with lots of personality and a storyline that is easy to follow along, but with enough surprises along the way.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book has that cozy-but-charged tone where comfort and tension sit side by side with warm kitchens, costumes, cupcakes, and then the sudden jolt of a death that cracks the evening open. It feels like the kind of story readers don't just "finish," but replay in the Halloween setting, the shock of suspicion falling on someone you want to trust, the emotional whiplash between sweetness and danger. Those contrasts tend to linger. This is a must read!

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2025

About the author

Graduate 73 and 75 from The Ohio State University with a BFA in Painting, Drawing and Graphics and a BAE in Art Education.

National Exhibition Director and National President of The Colored Pencil Society of America 1997-2004.

Yoga Teacher E-RYT500 2006-present

Competes in Ballroom Dancing

Lives with her husband in The Woodlands

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masked murder

Kat is set to help Bash with a big Halloween ball she even calls in reinforcements aka Doll her bff all the way from France. Everything is going great until a ghost from Bash’s past is announced as host for the gig. Not only is he crude and egotistical but he has the gall (lol) to be murdered at the event. With more people rejoicing than mourning Kat has an almost insurmountable task. But with Bash’s freedom on the line she won’t give up til the right man is behind bars.
Great story. Loved the spooky themed goodies I was drooling in envy. Really liked that this time was a change in scenery and main suspect though Kat is still involved. Clever and eerie for a murder at a masked ball. Though if you think about it it’s good for the murderer hiding in plain sight. Great twist and great ending or beginning should I say? Very excited for more books in the series!

[Jeffrey Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder at a Halloween gala filmed by the Food Network feels fresh and cinematic.

Each twist builds tension while maintaining warmth and wit, true to the best of the cozy genre.

The characters stand out for their humanity.

Kat Calloway is a sharp, layered protagonist—funny, loyal, and capable without losing vulnerability.

Bash Laurent, written with restraint and charm, has a sincerity grounding the story.

Doll Tran’s energy and humour bring balance and texture.

Their relationships feel lived-in and believable.

Dayton’s prose is smooth, sensory, and controlled. Dialogue flows naturally, with tone shifts handled through subtext instead of exposition.

The Dallas setting and culinary details enrich without slowing the pace.

Minor flaws include a brief pacing lull mid-book and a few emotional reflections that could tighten. The writing remains polished despite these.

Perfect for readers who enjoy smart, character-driven mysteries filled with warmth and emotional depth.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat Calloway finds herself caught up in a Halloween Ball with an unexpected corpse. This cozy mystery finds Kat helping Bash with a costume ball organized by the Food Network, with her friend Bash catering the event. L.B. Dayton characters share their insecurities and dreams with the reader, in a playful creative way that draws one into the story. Kat’s determination and racing mind (likely fed by caffeine and sugar) lead to solving this latest installation in the Kat Calloway series. If you are looking for an entertaining story to read for the upcoming Halloween season, join Kat, Doll, Ben, and Bash as they plan and cater the Ball, then unmask the real murderer who puts Ben in the frame for the crime.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danced to death!

Bash and Kat are co-catering the Food Network’s Halloween gala. It will finally put Bash in the spotlight he deserves. Their elation deflates when they discover Bash’s arch-rival, Morris Day, is hosting the event. Despite that, the event is going well. The attendees love the food, Kat has a dream-worthy dance with Bash, and the decorations are spectacularly spooky. Then Morris Day is murdered on the dance floor, and Bash is the prime suspect. Kat won’t let some creepy stalker get away with pinning this murder on Bash.

Mystery, a hint of romance, relatable characters, and a victim that no one will miss anyway. What a fun cozy! I received an advance copy of the book, but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun murder mystery in time for Halloween. Kat and Bash look forward to co-catering the Food Network’s Halloween gala and the costumed ball hosted by Bash's competitor, arrogant host, Morris Day. But when Morris Day is found murdered, Bash is arrested. So of course, Kat and her friend Dolly, are adamant about Bash's innocence and dive into investigating to clear Bash's name and find the real murderer. But where did Kat's Tuxedo cat, Tux go? And what is Ben up to? This is a page turning, twisted mystery that keeps you guessing right to surprise end. Not only do I recommend this book, but I recommend the entire series! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Killed Morris Day ? . . .

Larkspur’s head chef, Kat Calloway, is a friend of Bash Laurent who will be catering a Halloween fundraiser filmed by the Food Network. Kat will be helping him with the food. But the host for the show is going to be Morris Day, a miserable grouchy man who has a history with Bash. So when Morris drops dead at the event and someone in a mask, wearing the same costume as Dash has on, is observed running away from the scene of the crime, Dash becomes the prime suspect. Will Kat, along with her kitty Tux, and her friend Doll be able to track down the real killer and clear Bash's name?

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. I loved the mystery. Kat, Tux, and Bash are excellent characters. This book was exceptionally well-written, and the supporting characters made a significant contribution to the story. I couldn't put this book down, and every time I thought I knew who did it, there was another twist. The mystery in this book is great, and it is perfect for the Halloween season. The recipes in the book add to the book. After reading about the mystery and great food, you can actually prepare and taste the food for yourself.

[Mrs K.Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camera, Confections and a Corpse is a story about Bash a Chef who is catering for televised Halloween Ball. He asks his friend Kat a Chef help him to cater the event and her friend Doll a Chef also comes to help. But while there someone collapses. Kat and her friends look into the mystery and look for the pieces of the puzzle. But the people at the event were in costume which makes it very hard.
Excellent story and series that I highly recommend you read.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Kat Calloway story! Bash is asked to do a Halloween themed party for the Food Network. Kat and her friend Doll end up helping with the food. Bash had been in the running for the number one spot at the Food Network several years ago and a man named Morris Day got the job. He was leading the show for this party also and was being a bully with everyone including Bash. Then he is murdered and Bash is blamed. Kat can't let that happen and she looks into the crime and saves the day.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was such a fun read. This time Kat and the gang are scrambling to prove their friend Bash was not the killer. Even her friend Doll comes from Paris to help out. It was great having her part of the mix. Ben also is on a mission. I hope we learn more about how that plays out in the next book. I was genuinely surprised by who the killer was. Looking forward to the next adventure. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by booksprout.

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It starts at a Halloween masquerade party for the Food Network, a party that ends in murder! What I really enjoyed, though, was the slow simmering romance between Kat and Bash, plus Ben doing his own detective work finding his knight in shining Beetlejuice stripes! The interpersonal relationships are what really made this novel for me!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Paul Crome · Rating 5 out of 5]

i found this latest book in the Cat Callaway series a highly and very enjoyable read. The characters were very well drawn up and the story line was very good too. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series when it comes out and I do fully recommend this book and the others in the series as well to anyone.
I did receive a free ARC copy in exchange for a review and these are my honest opinions and I do think this book is well deserving of 5*

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat and Bash were looking forwards to the Halloween ball and the Food Network. A murder takes place at the event and there is chaos. There is more than meets the eye to this mystery. A captivating read with suspense and humour . An edge of the seat read which is unputdownable. I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and recommend this book to other readers

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat finds herself needing to clear the name of Bash after he is suspected of serving murder at a gala. It is hard to know who could have done the deed when everyone was in costume. There is a funny scene included that had me laughing out loud. This is an enjoyable mystery with a good twist. It can be read as a standalone.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Dash is suspected of killing his competition Kat has to dig deeper. A great cozy mystery that will keep you entertained throughout. Wonderful characters with lots of personality and a storyline that is easy to follow along, but with enough surprises along the way. Fun to read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Kat is determined to clear Bash's name and succeeds. It was ironic how the murderer accidentally revealed himself.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great halloween cozy mystery

I really enjoyed this quickly solved cozy mystery surrounding a Halloween party.
There's lots of twists and turns, plenty of suspects and clues, along with Tux.

[Linda Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kat Galloway yet again caters an event where there’s a murder. Her ‘partner’ is a suspect. Can Kat find the real murderer before it is too late. An entertaining read.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really entertaining unpredictable read! Lots of twists and turns, murder and mayhem, making this a real page turner and a must read

[Skater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kats Back

These quick well written mysteries are wonderful. Their culinary setting has a sense of realism that isn’t found in most books set in the cooking world. Great series.

[Anne Pyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat and crew are at it again! Her vibes with Bash finally heat up, Tux goes missing, and, of course, a murder to solve. Wonderful characters, believable story. I highly recommend this whole series!