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Bookstore Cafe Mystery #16
Death by Red Velvet Latte
As bookstore café owner Krissy Hancock worries over her wedding plans, the double murder of rival bakers really takes the cake . . .
At Krissy’s Death by Coffee bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio, she’s trying out a new red velvet latte, which she also plans to serve at her wedding along with the red velvet cake a local baker is making. But with the wedding only weeks away, the baker has to cancel due to health reasons. What should have been a cakewalk turns into a last-minute scramble. Krissy and her fiancé Paul meet with two competing cake decorators at the same time, who seem more interested in going at each other than baking her cake.
The next day, when Krissy walks into the bakery to make her choice, she finds both bakers dead with a red velvet cake splattered on the floor. Did they kill each other? she wonders. Over a cake? But soon it’s revealed this mystery has many layers, and any way you slice it, Krissy has to do two more things before she walks down the solve the murder—and find another baker. Piece of cake, right?
At Krissy’s Death by Coffee bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio, she’s trying out a new red velvet latte, which she also plans to serve at her wedding along with the red velvet cake a local baker is making. But with the wedding only weeks away, the baker has to cancel due to health reasons. What should have been a cakewalk turns into a last-minute scramble. Krissy and her fiancé Paul meet with two competing cake decorators at the same time, who seem more interested in going at each other than baking her cake.
The next day, when Krissy walks into the bakery to make her choice, she finds both bakers dead with a red velvet cake splattered on the floor. Did they kill each other? she wonders. Over a cake? But soon it’s revealed this mystery has many layers, and any way you slice it, Krissy has to do two more things before she walks down the solve the murder—and find another baker. Piece of cake, right?
320 pages, ebook
First published October 27, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Krissy Hancock, bookstore and cafe owner is preparing for her upcoming wedding. Everything seems to be going wrong starting with the planned baker for her wedding cake falling ill so another baker has to be found in a very short time. Then two possible cake makers die suddenly and panic sets in. Who will bake her cake and maybe more importantly who killed the bakers and why?
A slightly odd story line but it serves its purpose and there are plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader reading. I did keep thinking "But it's just a cake!" Krissy does rather overreact. And I was not comfortable with the idea of serving red velvet lattes with a red velvet wedding cake, but that's just me.
Still an easy, entertaining read. Three stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
A slightly odd story line but it serves its purpose and there are plenty of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader reading. I did keep thinking "But it's just a cake!" Krissy does rather overreact. And I was not comfortable with the idea of serving red velvet lattes with a red velvet wedding cake, but that's just me.
Still an easy, entertaining read. Three stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two rival bakers died beside a demolished red velvet cake while Krissy was trying to hire one of them for her wedding, and I feel like at that point the universe has officially voted against cake. She is WEEKS away from marrying Paul when her original baker has to cancel for health reasons, which is already the kind of wedding-planning inconvenience that makes a person briefly consider eloping at the courthouse and serving everyone Doritos afterward. Instead, Krissy meets with two replacement bakers at the same time, only to discover these women hate each other with the intensity of ex-wives dividing up a lake house. They're supposed to be discussing tiers and frosting. Instead Krissy is trapped watching the Buttercream Feud of Ohio unfold in real time, and the next day she walks into the bakery and finds both women dead with a red velvet cake splattered across the floor. Now we have two corpses, one cake, and Krissy genuinely having to consider whether these women murdered each other over baked goods. Girl. Your wedding cake consultation has produced a double homicide. Costco exists.
Meanwhile, I wandered into Death by Red Velvet Latte at book SIXTEEN of A Bookstore Cafe Mystery. Le sigh. I do this to myself. Everyone in Pine Hills already has relationships, history, opinions, pets, routines, and presumably fifteen books' worth of reasons why Krissy should not be allowed within fifty feet of an unsolved crime. I showed up knowing none of it. Thankfully, I caught on pretty quickly. Krissy owns Death by Coffee, she's marrying Paul, she's solved enough murders that people apparently just start telling her things now, and her current life has the organizational structure of a junk drawer someone keeps cramming just one more thing into.
The part that got me is Krissy does not even WANT another murder. This woman is tired. She has a wedding coming. Her espresso machine breaks because apparently even the appliances have chosen violence. She still needs a cake because, again, both replacement bakers are DEAD. And people keep wandering up to her with suspicious information like she's the customer service desk for homicide. Krissy spends half the book giving off the energy of a woman saying, “I am absolutely not getting involved,” while already mentally arranging the suspects into categories. Relatable. She also actually tells the police what she learns instead of stuffing evidence into her purse and sneaking into somebody's basement alone at midnight, which means Pine Hills has somehow produced an amateur sleuth with survival instincts.
I do, however, need to have a small margarita-fueled intervention about all the wedding food guilt. Krissy keeps worrying about what she's eating, whether her dress will fit, exercising off food, all while running a café, planning a wedding, dealing with a broken espresso machine, and being repeatedly dragged into a DOUBLE MURDER. Ma'am. Your caloric intake has lost jurisdiction here. There are two dead bakers. Eat whatever you want. If the wedding dress develops an attitude, unzip it and remind it who's paying for alterations.
The actual baker situation keeps getting more tangled because these two women did not simply dislike each other and then spontaneously perish beside a cake. They had histories. They had people around them with motives. Everybody in Pine Hills seems to know one more thing than they originally bothered to mention, which is my favorite cozy-mystery town disease. Krissy keeps trying to focus on getting married while information basically walks into Death by Coffee, orders something, and says, “By the way, have you heard this extremely suspicious fact about one of the murder victims?” At some point you cannot blame the woman for investigating. The town will apparently bring the case to her if she stays still long enough.
And can we discuss Death by Coffee itself because I have now become distracted from the murders by fictional beverages. The red velvet latte sounds ridiculous in exactly the way I want a seasonal coffee drink to be ridiculous. Apparently this series also has a chocolate-chip-cookie-soaked coffee situation, and I arrived sixteen books late only to discover everyone has been committing crimes AND putting cookies in coffee without me. Frankly, I don't know which betrayal is worse. I would absolutely order the red velvet latte, complain that it was too sweet, and then drink every drop while eavesdropping on Krissy discussing suspects two tables over.
Where things got a little wobbly for me was the final stretch. I had suspects. I changed suspects. I went back to an earlier suspect. The answer eventually arrived and my reaction was less grabbing-the-person-next-to-me and more slowly nodding over my drink like, “Yeah, I can live with that.” Then some things get wrapped up in a way that feels surprisingly loose for a cozy, with a little more spiritual shrugging than I expected. After spending all that time sorting through these people's nonsense, I wanted every receipt stapled to the murder board.
There's also this weird little feeling hanging around the end that made me wonder if the series might be heading toward some kind of goodbye, and EXCUSE ME? I just got here. I cannot participate appropriately in an emotional farewell after meeting these people in book sixteen. Everyone else can cry about the journey while I'm in the corner whispering, “Which one is the cat again?” Although I will say Krissy and Paul's wedding stress made them feel very human together. Underneath the corpses and caffeine, there's something sweet about watching two people try to reach their wedding day while life keeps throwing increasingly absurd obstacles directly into the aisle.
Death by Red Velvet Latte landed at 3 stars for me. I had a perfectly nice time hanging around Pine Hills, I liked Krissy most when she was visibly exhausted by everybody else's nonsense, and I would absolutely drink that latte. The murders didn't have me climbing the walls, but two dead wedding bakers, a busted espresso machine, fifteen books of backstory I voluntarily skipped, and a bride trying desperately to get through one week without discovering another body? That's enough chaos to keep my margarita occupied.
Whodunity Award: For Making “Both of My Potential Wedding Bakers Are Dead” Just Another Item on Krissy Hancock’s Bridal To-Do List
Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You dropped me into book sixteen with no adult supervision, murdered both cake options, broke the espresso machine, and spent an entire book putting the phrase “red velvet latte” into my head without providing me one. I don't know what kind of hospitality this is, but I will be filing my complaint immediately after I find a café willing to make that drink.
Meanwhile, I wandered into Death by Red Velvet Latte at book SIXTEEN of A Bookstore Cafe Mystery. Le sigh. I do this to myself. Everyone in Pine Hills already has relationships, history, opinions, pets, routines, and presumably fifteen books' worth of reasons why Krissy should not be allowed within fifty feet of an unsolved crime. I showed up knowing none of it. Thankfully, I caught on pretty quickly. Krissy owns Death by Coffee, she's marrying Paul, she's solved enough murders that people apparently just start telling her things now, and her current life has the organizational structure of a junk drawer someone keeps cramming just one more thing into.
The part that got me is Krissy does not even WANT another murder. This woman is tired. She has a wedding coming. Her espresso machine breaks because apparently even the appliances have chosen violence. She still needs a cake because, again, both replacement bakers are DEAD. And people keep wandering up to her with suspicious information like she's the customer service desk for homicide. Krissy spends half the book giving off the energy of a woman saying, “I am absolutely not getting involved,” while already mentally arranging the suspects into categories. Relatable. She also actually tells the police what she learns instead of stuffing evidence into her purse and sneaking into somebody's basement alone at midnight, which means Pine Hills has somehow produced an amateur sleuth with survival instincts.
I do, however, need to have a small margarita-fueled intervention about all the wedding food guilt. Krissy keeps worrying about what she's eating, whether her dress will fit, exercising off food, all while running a café, planning a wedding, dealing with a broken espresso machine, and being repeatedly dragged into a DOUBLE MURDER. Ma'am. Your caloric intake has lost jurisdiction here. There are two dead bakers. Eat whatever you want. If the wedding dress develops an attitude, unzip it and remind it who's paying for alterations.
The actual baker situation keeps getting more tangled because these two women did not simply dislike each other and then spontaneously perish beside a cake. They had histories. They had people around them with motives. Everybody in Pine Hills seems to know one more thing than they originally bothered to mention, which is my favorite cozy-mystery town disease. Krissy keeps trying to focus on getting married while information basically walks into Death by Coffee, orders something, and says, “By the way, have you heard this extremely suspicious fact about one of the murder victims?” At some point you cannot blame the woman for investigating. The town will apparently bring the case to her if she stays still long enough.
And can we discuss Death by Coffee itself because I have now become distracted from the murders by fictional beverages. The red velvet latte sounds ridiculous in exactly the way I want a seasonal coffee drink to be ridiculous. Apparently this series also has a chocolate-chip-cookie-soaked coffee situation, and I arrived sixteen books late only to discover everyone has been committing crimes AND putting cookies in coffee without me. Frankly, I don't know which betrayal is worse. I would absolutely order the red velvet latte, complain that it was too sweet, and then drink every drop while eavesdropping on Krissy discussing suspects two tables over.
Where things got a little wobbly for me was the final stretch. I had suspects. I changed suspects. I went back to an earlier suspect. The answer eventually arrived and my reaction was less grabbing-the-person-next-to-me and more slowly nodding over my drink like, “Yeah, I can live with that.” Then some things get wrapped up in a way that feels surprisingly loose for a cozy, with a little more spiritual shrugging than I expected. After spending all that time sorting through these people's nonsense, I wanted every receipt stapled to the murder board.
There's also this weird little feeling hanging around the end that made me wonder if the series might be heading toward some kind of goodbye, and EXCUSE ME? I just got here. I cannot participate appropriately in an emotional farewell after meeting these people in book sixteen. Everyone else can cry about the journey while I'm in the corner whispering, “Which one is the cat again?” Although I will say Krissy and Paul's wedding stress made them feel very human together. Underneath the corpses and caffeine, there's something sweet about watching two people try to reach their wedding day while life keeps throwing increasingly absurd obstacles directly into the aisle.
Death by Red Velvet Latte landed at 3 stars for me. I had a perfectly nice time hanging around Pine Hills, I liked Krissy most when she was visibly exhausted by everybody else's nonsense, and I would absolutely drink that latte. The murders didn't have me climbing the walls, but two dead wedding bakers, a busted espresso machine, fifteen books of backstory I voluntarily skipped, and a bride trying desperately to get through one week without discovering another body? That's enough chaos to keep my margarita occupied.
Whodunity Award: For Making “Both of My Potential Wedding Bakers Are Dead” Just Another Item on Krissy Hancock’s Bridal To-Do List
Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. You dropped me into book sixteen with no adult supervision, murdered both cake options, broke the espresso machine, and spent an entire book putting the phrase “red velvet latte” into my head without providing me one. I don't know what kind of hospitality this is, but I will be filing my complaint immediately after I find a café willing to make that drink.
July 28, 2026
I like most books, so it pains me to say this wasn’t very good. The author can set a scene well - details written about a setting were vivid and provided a 360-degree experience. The plot was fine-ish. Twist was not a twist - any season mystery or thriller reader isn’t going to bat an eye at this one. The narrative and dialogue was much less sophisticated than I would expect from someone who has written so very many books. Robotic dialogue and excessive explanations/unnecessary clarifications took me out of this story often.
My original plan was to be disappointed in the author for the hacky use of stereotypical diet culture leading up to a wedding - my dress won’t fit, I have to exercise extra hard to burn this off, I shouldn’t eat this. In a book where this drives the narrative in some way, it’s acceptable, but it had no place here.
Then I found out the author is a man. It made so much sense that the author had no firsthand knowledge of a woman’s experience.
Such lazy writing to have a FMC have these thoughts about herself. What’s more, it didn’t drive the story in any way. Stop peddling this viewpoint particularly if it serves no greater purpose in the story.
Dialogue was forced. Narrative was repetitive and elementary. Perspective of the FMC wreaked of being written by a man.
My original plan was to be disappointed in the author for the hacky use of stereotypical diet culture leading up to a wedding - my dress won’t fit, I have to exercise extra hard to burn this off, I shouldn’t eat this. In a book where this drives the narrative in some way, it’s acceptable, but it had no place here.
Then I found out the author is a man. It made so much sense that the author had no firsthand knowledge of a woman’s experience.
Such lazy writing to have a FMC have these thoughts about herself. What’s more, it didn’t drive the story in any way. Stop peddling this viewpoint particularly if it serves no greater purpose in the story.
Dialogue was forced. Narrative was repetitive and elementary. Perspective of the FMC wreaked of being written by a man.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Krissy has a wedding to plan for. She didn't need the espresso machine to conk out at Death by Coffee, her bookstore cafe. Nor did she need Ruby to get sick. Now, who is going to fix her cake? When the two rival bakers, that she was choosing between, end up dead. And she found the bodies. What are Krissy and Paul to do? Why is Kennedy pushing to be the cake decorator? Will Paul and Krissy find a baker? And can Krissy keep her Dad out of the investigation? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Krissy was just shy of a bridezilla in this book. And she was just catastrophizing about the wedding. There was no reason to freak out the way that she was.
Likes: Paul, his mother, Rita, and the writer's group tried to keep Krissy under control.
James, Krissy's Dad, didn't let her focus solely on what might go wrong with the wedding. He was skills. And I'm not so sure that he ought to be using those skills as frequently as he does.
Conclusion: This story was okay. If you like cozy mysteries, or Krissy and her Death by Coffee Cafe in general, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Krissy has a wedding to plan for. She didn't need the espresso machine to conk out at Death by Coffee, her bookstore cafe. Nor did she need Ruby to get sick. Now, who is going to fix her cake? When the two rival bakers, that she was choosing between, end up dead. And she found the bodies. What are Krissy and Paul to do? Why is Kennedy pushing to be the cake decorator? Will Paul and Krissy find a baker? And can Krissy keep her Dad out of the investigation? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Krissy was just shy of a bridezilla in this book. And she was just catastrophizing about the wedding. There was no reason to freak out the way that she was.
Likes: Paul, his mother, Rita, and the writer's group tried to keep Krissy under control.
James, Krissy's Dad, didn't let her focus solely on what might go wrong with the wedding. He was skills. And I'm not so sure that he ought to be using those skills as frequently as he does.
Conclusion: This story was okay. If you like cozy mysteries, or Krissy and her Death by Coffee Cafe in general, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
November 1, 2026
Krissy at her Death by Coffee bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio, is trying out a new red velvet latte, which she plans to serve at her wedding along with the red velvet cake a local baker is making. But with the wedding only weeks away, the baker cancels due to health reasons. Then, Krissy and her fiancé Paul meet with two other cake decorators. The next day, when Krissy walks into the bakery to make her choice, she finds both bakers dead with a red velvet cake splattered on the floor. Did they kill each other? Over a cake? Now Krissy has to solve the murders and find another baker. Piece of cake, right?
This is one of my personal favorite cozy mystery series. The main character Krissy is very likable and works to solve mysteries with her fiancé who works in law enforcement. Even though Krissy solves the mysteries, the detectives are not ignorant. I like how they are portrayed. The side characters are also fun to read about, and the setting descriptions make it easy to visualize the story. I hope this isn't the last of this wonderful series, more please! Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
This is one of my personal favorite cozy mystery series. The main character Krissy is very likable and works to solve mysteries with her fiancé who works in law enforcement. Even though Krissy solves the mysteries, the detectives are not ignorant. I like how they are portrayed. The side characters are also fun to read about, and the setting descriptions make it easy to visualize the story. I hope this isn't the last of this wonderful series, more please! Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always enjoy these books. But this one almost feels like a finale. The last few books have had little signals about the wedding between Chrissy and Paul. This story was completely surrounded by wedding prep, especially who was baking the cake. The deaths in this one were two cake decorators/bakers who were vying to create Christ's wedding cake. So the main thrust of the story is who killed the bakers and who is going to bake Chrissy's cake now?
Paul's mother recently retired from being police chief and many assumed Paul might take her slot. And Chrissy is really thinking about rebranding Death by Java, a coffee shop in her hometown, to become Death by Coffee. And her dad, the famous mystery writer had recently fallen and she was dreaming of spending more time with him. So a lot of the book was back and forth. This series is usually only from Chrissy's perspective but I think getting to see Paul's world would have been quite eye opening, I think. So if this is a finale, it is a good one. But I would hope a new book series might be created in her hometown. Crossing my fingers.
Paul's mother recently retired from being police chief and many assumed Paul might take her slot. And Chrissy is really thinking about rebranding Death by Java, a coffee shop in her hometown, to become Death by Coffee. And her dad, the famous mystery writer had recently fallen and she was dreaming of spending more time with him. So a lot of the book was back and forth. This series is usually only from Chrissy's perspective but I think getting to see Paul's world would have been quite eye opening, I think. So if this is a finale, it is a good one. But I would hope a new book series might be created in her hometown. Crossing my fingers.
November 7, 2026
Another cute entry in this series. Maybe the final entry? I like the coziness of the books even though the entire "my wedding is ruined" stuff got old. I would also love to try a red velvet latte.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle 📃 320 pages ⏱ Duration: 5 hours Genre: Cozy Mystery 🏷️ Publisher name: Kensington Cozies ARC provided by NetGalley | Expected publication: October 27, 2026
I cannot get over Krissy Hancock's chocolate chip cookie soaked coffee. Every time I read Alex Erickson's Bookstore Cafe mystery stories, I need a cup of coffee with a chocolate chip cookie at the bottom of the cup to enjoy the book. It just is a mandate. Unfortunately, this time, I couldn't do it, because Red Velvet Latte sounded so amazing, and none of my local cafes served it. So I had to imagine myself with this drink to read this book.
16 books in and Alex Erickson has not lost the touch of coffee magic. The thrill is still there, and so is the realism, more so this time. Krissy is busy planning her wedding with Paul. So, it definitely is not a good time for a broken espresso machine or double murder, but that is what ends up happening.
The best part of this particular book though, wasn't the crime solving itself. The best part was how Krissy handled it all. There are some books where the amateur sleuth does a million and a half things and it is just noon, which is so unrealistic. But this one does not do that. Krissy is overwhelmed because there is just so much to do for her wedding, so she does not want to solve this crime. Yes, she is involved because everyone wants her to be involved and everyone keeps telling her things. But she does the smart thing and informs the detectives about everything. I liked that Krissy did not attempt to add things to her plate when things were already overflowing for her.
One thing that pauses me from giving it 5 stars is that I felt the pacing was slow. The ending felt like it was wrapped up pretty quickly because the word count was already exceeded. The ending felt a lot like a cop-out because quite a few things were left unexplained with a very spiritual answer provided as closure. Yes, that works in real life, but that's why we read fiction, especially cozies, because we know that there will always be a bow-wrapped ending. I missed that in this book. Also, the way it ended, I got a weird vibe that Alex Erickson is planning to wrap up the series. I hope not. Although this is not my favourite, I want to very much continue with Krissy's journey.
Would I recommend it?
Sixteen books into the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series, and I'm still showing up for Krissy Hancock every time, even when this one wasn't my favorite installment. What sold me wasn't the murder mystery itself but watching Krissy actually behave like a real, exhausted bride-to-be instead of a superhero sleuth. The pacing dragged and the ending leaned a little too hard on a spiritual hand-wave instead of a proper wrap-up, so it's not a perfect entry. Still, Alex Erickson knows this world too well for me to give up on it now. Mark your calendar for October 27, because this one's worth adding to your TBR.
I cannot get over Krissy Hancock's chocolate chip cookie soaked coffee. Every time I read Alex Erickson's Bookstore Cafe mystery stories, I need a cup of coffee with a chocolate chip cookie at the bottom of the cup to enjoy the book. It just is a mandate. Unfortunately, this time, I couldn't do it, because Red Velvet Latte sounded so amazing, and none of my local cafes served it. So I had to imagine myself with this drink to read this book.
16 books in and Alex Erickson has not lost the touch of coffee magic. The thrill is still there, and so is the realism, more so this time. Krissy is busy planning her wedding with Paul. So, it definitely is not a good time for a broken espresso machine or double murder, but that is what ends up happening.
The best part of this particular book though, wasn't the crime solving itself. The best part was how Krissy handled it all. There are some books where the amateur sleuth does a million and a half things and it is just noon, which is so unrealistic. But this one does not do that. Krissy is overwhelmed because there is just so much to do for her wedding, so she does not want to solve this crime. Yes, she is involved because everyone wants her to be involved and everyone keeps telling her things. But she does the smart thing and informs the detectives about everything. I liked that Krissy did not attempt to add things to her plate when things were already overflowing for her.
One thing that pauses me from giving it 5 stars is that I felt the pacing was slow. The ending felt like it was wrapped up pretty quickly because the word count was already exceeded. The ending felt a lot like a cop-out because quite a few things were left unexplained with a very spiritual answer provided as closure. Yes, that works in real life, but that's why we read fiction, especially cozies, because we know that there will always be a bow-wrapped ending. I missed that in this book. Also, the way it ended, I got a weird vibe that Alex Erickson is planning to wrap up the series. I hope not. Although this is not my favourite, I want to very much continue with Krissy's journey.
Would I recommend it?
Sixteen books into the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series, and I'm still showing up for Krissy Hancock every time, even when this one wasn't my favorite installment. What sold me wasn't the murder mystery itself but watching Krissy actually behave like a real, exhausted bride-to-be instead of a superhero sleuth. The pacing dragged and the ending leaned a little too hard on a spiritual hand-wave instead of a proper wrap-up, so it's not a perfect entry. Still, Alex Erickson knows this world too well for me to give up on it now. Mark your calendar for October 27, because this one's worth adding to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this sixteenth book in the Bookstore Cafe Mystery series, two rival bakers are murdered, and Krissy Hancock finds herself in the middle of the investigation just weeks before her own wedding. This book can be read as a standalone.
‹›‹›‹›‹›
Krissy Hancock is the owner of Death by Coffee, a bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio, where she's currently testing out a new red velvet latte to serve at her upcoming wedding.
She plans to pair the latte with a red velvet cake from a local baker, but when that baker has to cancel due to health reasons, Krissy and her fiancé Paul are left scrambling to find a replacement with the wedding only weeks away.
They meet with two competing cake decorators, who spend more time arguing with each other than discussing Krissy's cake.
The next day, when Krissy stops by the bakery to make her final decision, she finds both bakers dead, with a smashed red velvet cake on the floor between them.
At first, it looks like the two might have killed each other in the heat of their rivalry. But as Krissy starts digging, she realizes the truth is far more complicated than a simple feud over cake.
With her wedding day fast approaching,
Krissy has two things to check off her list: solve the murders and find a new baker.
A fun, fast-paced read with an entertaining cast of characters. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries.
Thank you to Alex Erickson, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the arc of this book
‹›‹›‹›‹›
Krissy Hancock is the owner of Death by Coffee, a bookstore café in Pine Hills, Ohio, where she's currently testing out a new red velvet latte to serve at her upcoming wedding.
She plans to pair the latte with a red velvet cake from a local baker, but when that baker has to cancel due to health reasons, Krissy and her fiancé Paul are left scrambling to find a replacement with the wedding only weeks away.
They meet with two competing cake decorators, who spend more time arguing with each other than discussing Krissy's cake.
The next day, when Krissy stops by the bakery to make her final decision, she finds both bakers dead, with a smashed red velvet cake on the floor between them.
At first, it looks like the two might have killed each other in the heat of their rivalry. But as Krissy starts digging, she realizes the truth is far more complicated than a simple feud over cake.
With her wedding day fast approaching,
Krissy has two things to check off her list: solve the murders and find a new baker.
A fun, fast-paced read with an entertaining cast of characters. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries.
Thank you to Alex Erickson, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the arc of this book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Krissy and Paul are thisclose to getting married. She’s perfected the red velvet latte she plans to serve at their wedding to complement their wedding cake. Unfortunately the baker has to cancel for health reasons and the search for a new baker is on.
With two bakers in the running it’s hard for Krissy to make a decision since all they seem to want to do is argue with each other. Then Krissy finds both bakers dead with a red velvet cake smashed between them. Did they do this themselves or did someone else finally have enough?
So much for just waking down the aisle. First comes love, then comes solving a murder, then comes marriage…which is not how the saying is supposed to go. But can Krissy solve the murders before she and Paul say I do, or will the killer say OH NO YOU DON’T!?
Another great entry in this cozy mystery series. I’ve been reading it for many years and absolutely adore each and every entry. Each book is like a visit with friends and I love how their lives have progressed over the years along with the books. If you haven’t read one yet, don’t worry each one rein standalone, but you’ve got yourself a nice selection of work to go back and binge on when you’re done. You’re gonna love!
With two bakers in the running it’s hard for Krissy to make a decision since all they seem to want to do is argue with each other. Then Krissy finds both bakers dead with a red velvet cake smashed between them. Did they do this themselves or did someone else finally have enough?
So much for just waking down the aisle. First comes love, then comes solving a murder, then comes marriage…which is not how the saying is supposed to go. But can Krissy solve the murders before she and Paul say I do, or will the killer say OH NO YOU DON’T!?
Another great entry in this cozy mystery series. I’ve been reading it for many years and absolutely adore each and every entry. Each book is like a visit with friends and I love how their lives have progressed over the years along with the books. If you haven’t read one yet, don’t worry each one rein standalone, but you’ve got yourself a nice selection of work to go back and binge on when you’re done. You’re gonna love!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own.
When you're planning your wedding things need to go smoothly so finding a dead body definitely isn't in anyone's plans. Unfortunately for bookstore cafe owner and nervous bride-to-be Krissy Hancock there are two of them to deal with alongside everything else she's worrying over. As she gets more involved the clues become a little confusing and even when the police are sure they have their killer Krissy still has her doubts. As the big day finally arrives she pushes everything to the back of her mind but that's never worked before so why should this day be any different?
Book 16 of this fun series could either be the final outing or the start of a whole new direction for Krissy. Either way this was fun and with all its twists, turns, and wedding planning nerves, was a very enjoyable read. I loved the original ideas Krissy had about her wedding breakfast and the chaos which ensued and I really hope the series will continue.
When you're planning your wedding things need to go smoothly so finding a dead body definitely isn't in anyone's plans. Unfortunately for bookstore cafe owner and nervous bride-to-be Krissy Hancock there are two of them to deal with alongside everything else she's worrying over. As she gets more involved the clues become a little confusing and even when the police are sure they have their killer Krissy still has her doubts. As the big day finally arrives she pushes everything to the back of her mind but that's never worked before so why should this day be any different?
Book 16 of this fun series could either be the final outing or the start of a whole new direction for Krissy. Either way this was fun and with all its twists, turns, and wedding planning nerves, was a very enjoyable read. I loved the original ideas Krissy had about her wedding breakfast and the chaos which ensued and I really hope the series will continue.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank-you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my ARC copy!
5⭐️
This was easily the best book of the entire series!
The writing in this book was the best writing it has been in the whole series. Things flowed nicely and the dots connected in a way that made sense. The way the author described things was great, as was the word choice.
The overall plot was non stop action. I loved it! There was always something happening that kept you on your toes. There was not a boring moment in the entire book!
The romance was sweet. I loved how Paul cares for Krissy.
The characters were incredible. I loved how we got to know the characters even deeper in this book. I also loved how involved Krissy’s dad was.
I loved the way the book ended. I am not sure if this is going to be the last book in the series or not; then ending almost seemed like an ending to the entire series. If it is the last one, I will be a bit sad.
Overall, I loved this book. It was an absolutely epic read and I loved the original, nonstop action!
5⭐️
This was easily the best book of the entire series!
The writing in this book was the best writing it has been in the whole series. Things flowed nicely and the dots connected in a way that made sense. The way the author described things was great, as was the word choice.
The overall plot was non stop action. I loved it! There was always something happening that kept you on your toes. There was not a boring moment in the entire book!
The romance was sweet. I loved how Paul cares for Krissy.
The characters were incredible. I loved how we got to know the characters even deeper in this book. I also loved how involved Krissy’s dad was.
I loved the way the book ended. I am not sure if this is going to be the last book in the series or not; then ending almost seemed like an ending to the entire series. If it is the last one, I will be a bit sad.
Overall, I loved this book. It was an absolutely epic read and I loved the original, nonstop action!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
I always enjoy reading about Krissy Hancock and her cozy mystery adventures, and this one was no exception. While not the strongest in the series, it is a book that is wrapping up chapters in Krissy’s life and perhaps setting the stage for how the next book may go, and as far as a bridging book is concerned, it does that well. I felt like the mystery could have been stronger and was a little distracted by the other events though.
Getting to sixteen books in a series is no mean feat, and the strength of each book supports that. Alex Erickson has created a memorable cast of characters and support network that remains fresh, while also introducing new characters. There is the formulaic setup that most cozies go for, but this is something I’ve always liked or I wouldn’t read so many of them.
Where to from here? I suppose only the author knows, but I’ll be here for the next book for sure. Four stars.
I always enjoy reading about Krissy Hancock and her cozy mystery adventures, and this one was no exception. While not the strongest in the series, it is a book that is wrapping up chapters in Krissy’s life and perhaps setting the stage for how the next book may go, and as far as a bridging book is concerned, it does that well. I felt like the mystery could have been stronger and was a little distracted by the other events though.
Getting to sixteen books in a series is no mean feat, and the strength of each book supports that. Alex Erickson has created a memorable cast of characters and support network that remains fresh, while also introducing new characters. There is the formulaic setup that most cozies go for, but this is something I’ve always liked or I wouldn’t read so many of them.
Where to from here? I suppose only the author knows, but I’ll be here for the next book for sure. Four stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Krissy Hancock is two weeks away from her wedding, concerned that something will go wrong. When her wedding cake baker has to withdraw for health reasons, two bakers are asked to submit cakes for a taste test. When Krissy finds both bakers dead, it turns out to be murder. Now Krissy must find another baker and find a house that will be large enough for the couple and three pets after the wedding. As she has to find another baker, Krissy investigates the two bakers' backgrounds, the people around them and who had reason to kill them . Hopefully, everything will be settled by the
time the wedding occurs.
#DeathbyRedVelvetLatte #KensingtonPublishing # KensingtonCozies #NetGalley
time the wedding occurs.
#DeathbyRedVelvetLatte #KensingtonPublishing # KensingtonCozies #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in this series that I've read - now I have to go back and read the previous books! I enjoyed the twists and turns the author threw in, and the characters were well-developed and interesting. The author ended the book with somewhat of a cliffhanger, and now I'm eager to see where the next book takes Krissy and Paul! I absolutely recommend this book to my fellow cozy mystery fans.
This is the first book in this series that I've read - now I have to go back and read the previous books! I enjoyed the twists and turns the author threw in, and the characters were well-developed and interesting. The author ended the book with somewhat of a cliffhanger, and now I'm eager to see where the next book takes Krissy and Paul! I absolutely recommend this book to my fellow cozy mystery fans.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With her wedding swiftly approaching, Krissy finds herself in the midst of a mystery involving her cake bakers who appear to have killed each other, but what unravels pulls into question a slew of suspects.
The storyline was good, but the ending felt really rushed. Although this can be read as a one-off, the background on some of the characters is nice to have. I will say that this felt like an ending to the series.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for an ARC
The storyline was good, but the ending felt really rushed. Although this can be read as a one-off, the background on some of the characters is nice to have. I will say that this felt like an ending to the series.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for an ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The mystery is realistic, which is always a good thing. The main character, Krissy, is trying to balance a lot over a two week period, including solving a double homicide. I've read all the books in this series and have enjoyed them. I'm not sure if the series is ending or not, hopefully not.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books/Cozies for this ARC. I'm submitting my honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books/Cozies for this ARC. I'm submitting my honest review.
November 7, 2026
I’ve read every single other one of the books in this series and loved them all. It makes me sad that I didn’t enjoy this one as much. Krissy was very negative and winey in this one and it ruined the vibe of the story for me. I enjoyed the ending and I’m excited to read the books in the future and hope they are not like this one.
November 2, 2026
A good place to end if that's what it is. Or a good place to transition to something different. Anyway, good book!
October 9, 2026
3 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book starts with Kristy losing her wedding cake baker resulting in a back off between 2 rival bakers who she finds dead. The mystery unfolds from there.
This was a slow moving book with not a whole lot of suspects making it predictable and somewhat boring at times. I did enjoy how the story wrapped up and I’m not sure if this is a finale to the series but it did feel like it could have been.
Overall it was a fine book and if you have been invested in the series then I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book starts with Kristy losing her wedding cake baker resulting in a back off between 2 rival bakers who she finds dead. The mystery unfolds from there.
This was a slow moving book with not a whole lot of suspects making it predictable and somewhat boring at times. I did enjoy how the story wrapped up and I’m not sure if this is a finale to the series but it did feel like it could have been.
Overall it was a fine book and if you have been invested in the series then I would definitely recommend.
August 20, 2026
I really struggled with this book. I think part of it was because I wasn't able to connect with the FMC and her stress about her wedding. My wedding was an elopement during a family vacation. I just have different priorities than her which made it hard to understand most of her stress throughout the book.
I did enjoy how Alex writes.
I did enjoy how Alex writes.
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