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The Spy Who Baked Me: A Senior Sleuth Cozy Mystery with a Retired K9
Betty Fletcher bakes the best scones in the Cotswolds. She also knows six ways to kill a man with a rolling pin.
Retired from a life she can never talk about, sixty-two-year-old Betty has built a quiet existence in the village of Bramblewick. She runs The Flour & Flower bakery, trades gossip with her nosy neighbour Mrs. Higgins, and shares her home with Major — a retired police K9 German Shepherd who takes his guard duties very seriously.
Then her bakery rival turns up dead in her pantry. Murdered with her favourite rolling pin. And every clue points straight at Betty.
To clear her name, she'll need to dust off skills she swore she'd buried — covert surveillance, tactical interrogation, and forensic observation — all while maintaining her cover as the village's favourite harmless granny. But when a coded ledger reveals a connection to a Cold War enemy she thought was long dead, Betty realises this isn't just a village murder.
Someone knows who she really is.
With a bumbling but well-meaning constable on her tail, a poisoned dog in her arms, and a killer who smells suspiciously like her own bakery, Betty must stay hidden and go to prison for a crime she didn't commit, or step back into the shadows and risk everything she's built.
Major votes for the one that involves cheese scones.
The Spy Who Baked Me is the first book in The Baker's Spy Mysteries — a cozy mystery series with a sharp edge. Perfect for anyone who believes retirement is just a cover story.
a dangerously competent grandmother, a very good boy, village gossip weaponised as intelligence, and absolutely no on-page violence (but quite a lot of threatening baked goods).
Retired from a life she can never talk about, sixty-two-year-old Betty has built a quiet existence in the village of Bramblewick. She runs The Flour & Flower bakery, trades gossip with her nosy neighbour Mrs. Higgins, and shares her home with Major — a retired police K9 German Shepherd who takes his guard duties very seriously.
Then her bakery rival turns up dead in her pantry. Murdered with her favourite rolling pin. And every clue points straight at Betty.
To clear her name, she'll need to dust off skills she swore she'd buried — covert surveillance, tactical interrogation, and forensic observation — all while maintaining her cover as the village's favourite harmless granny. But when a coded ledger reveals a connection to a Cold War enemy she thought was long dead, Betty realises this isn't just a village murder.
Someone knows who she really is.
With a bumbling but well-meaning constable on her tail, a poisoned dog in her arms, and a killer who smells suspiciously like her own bakery, Betty must stay hidden and go to prison for a crime she didn't commit, or step back into the shadows and risk everything she's built.
Major votes for the one that involves cheese scones.
The Spy Who Baked Me is the first book in The Baker's Spy Mysteries — a cozy mystery series with a sharp edge. Perfect for anyone who believes retirement is just a cover story.
a dangerously competent grandmother, a very good boy, village gossip weaponised as intelligence, and absolutely no on-page violence (but quite a lot of threatening baked goods).
183 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2026
About the author
Adelaide Mills
14 books8 followersSmall towns. Big secrets. Cozy mysteries with wit, warmth, and a body (or two).
Adelaide Mills writes cozy mysteries that blend clever puzzles, nosy neighbours, and heroines who can’t help stumbling into trouble. Her stories capture the charm and chaos of small-town life—where everyone knows everyone, gossip spreads faster than wildfire, and secrets never stay buried for long.
With a cup of tea in hand (or three), Adelaide creates twisty whodunnits full of humour, heart, and just enough danger to keep readers turning pages past midnight. Her amateur sleuths are everyday women—bakers, booksellers, and teachers—who prove that curiosity might kill the cat, but it also catches the killer.
When she’s not plotting her next fictional murder, Adelaide is devouring true-crime podcasts, alphabetizing her bookshelves, or pretending she’d totally survive in a murder mystery herself.
Adelaide Mills writes cozy mysteries that blend clever puzzles, nosy neighbours, and heroines who can’t help stumbling into trouble. Her stories capture the charm and chaos of small-town life—where everyone knows everyone, gossip spreads faster than wildfire, and secrets never stay buried for long.
With a cup of tea in hand (or three), Adelaide creates twisty whodunnits full of humour, heart, and just enough danger to keep readers turning pages past midnight. Her amateur sleuths are everyday women—bakers, booksellers, and teachers—who prove that curiosity might kill the cat, but it also catches the killer.
When she’s not plotting her next fictional murder, Adelaide is devouring true-crime podcasts, alphabetizing her bookshelves, or pretending she’d totally survive in a murder mystery herself.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 30, 2026
The Spy Who Baked Me by Adelaide Mills is the kind of cosy mystery that makes you want to cancel your plans, put the kettle on, and pretend you live somewhere with suspiciously charming neighbours and an alarming amount of baked goods.
The story follows Betty Fletcher, a retired woman in the Cotswolds who may bake excellent scones, but also has a past that is clearly not all flour, butter, and village gossip. She has skills that hint at a life far more dangerous than her current cosy surroundings suggest, and when mystery comes knocking, Betty proves she is not exactly the type to sit quietly with her tea and let someone else solve it.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the atmosphere. It has that classic cosy mystery feeling: easy to read, warm, lightly suspicious, and filled with enough clues to make you think, “Actually, move over detective, I’ve got this.” Naturally, I was probably wrong several times, but that is part of the fun.
The mystery itself is engaging without becoming too heavy. You can actively search for the culprit alongside the characters, which makes the reading experience feel playful and inviting. It is the perfect book for a quiet afternoon, preferably with a blanket, tea, and honestly, the only thing missing while I read it was rain tapping against the windows for maximum dramatic cosiness.
The writing flows nicely and keeps the pace comfortable. It never feels like hard work, which is exactly what I want from a cosy mystery. Not every book needs to emotionally destroy me and leave me staring at a wall for three business days.
The Spy Who Baked Me is charming, cosy, and very easy to sink into. A delicious little mystery with just enough bite beneath the icing.
The story follows Betty Fletcher, a retired woman in the Cotswolds who may bake excellent scones, but also has a past that is clearly not all flour, butter, and village gossip. She has skills that hint at a life far more dangerous than her current cosy surroundings suggest, and when mystery comes knocking, Betty proves she is not exactly the type to sit quietly with her tea and let someone else solve it.
What I really enjoyed about this book is the atmosphere. It has that classic cosy mystery feeling: easy to read, warm, lightly suspicious, and filled with enough clues to make you think, “Actually, move over detective, I’ve got this.” Naturally, I was probably wrong several times, but that is part of the fun.
The mystery itself is engaging without becoming too heavy. You can actively search for the culprit alongside the characters, which makes the reading experience feel playful and inviting. It is the perfect book for a quiet afternoon, preferably with a blanket, tea, and honestly, the only thing missing while I read it was rain tapping against the windows for maximum dramatic cosiness.
The writing flows nicely and keeps the pace comfortable. It never feels like hard work, which is exactly what I want from a cosy mystery. Not every book needs to emotionally destroy me and leave me staring at a wall for three business days.
The Spy Who Baked Me is charming, cosy, and very easy to sink into. A delicious little mystery with just enough bite beneath the icing.
May 9, 2026
I picked up The Spy Who Baked Me because the title was too fun to pass up, and I was curious how the story would blend mystery, baking, and a bit of espionage. It ended up being a really entertaining read that kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I liked the mix of cozy mystery elements with the spy angle because it made the story feel a little different from the usual cozy reads. The baking parts added charm, while the mystery and suspense kept things moving at a good pace. It was a fun combination that worked really well for me.
The main character was likable and easy to follow, and I enjoyed seeing how everything slowly came together. There were enough twists and surprises to keep me guessing without making the story confusing. I also appreciated the humor and lighter moments mixed into the mystery.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Spy Who Baked Me. It’s a fun and creative cozy mystery with a unique premise, engaging characters, and a storyline that keeps your attention. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little extra adventure and personality, this one is definitely worth picking up.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the mix of cozy mystery elements with the spy angle because it made the story feel a little different from the usual cozy reads. The baking parts added charm, while the mystery and suspense kept things moving at a good pace. It was a fun combination that worked really well for me.
The main character was likable and easy to follow, and I enjoyed seeing how everything slowly came together. There were enough twists and surprises to keep me guessing without making the story confusing. I also appreciated the humor and lighter moments mixed into the mystery.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Spy Who Baked Me. It’s a fun and creative cozy mystery with a unique premise, engaging characters, and a storyline that keeps your attention. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a little extra adventure and personality, this one is definitely worth picking up.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2026
'The Spy Who Baked Me is the first book in The Baker's Spy Mysteries — a cozy mystery series with a sharp edge. Perfect for anyone who believes retirement is just a cover story.'
'Contains: a dangerously competent grandmother, a very good boy, village gossip weaponised as intelligence, and absolutely no on-page violence (but quite a lot of threatening baked goods).'
Gah! What a great read! FANtastic start to the series and I look forward to more from this world.
The characters drove the storyline and they were very appealing and likeable and complicated and compelling. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
'Contains: a dangerously competent grandmother, a very good boy, village gossip weaponised as intelligence, and absolutely no on-page violence (but quite a lot of threatening baked goods).'
Gah! What a great read! FANtastic start to the series and I look forward to more from this world.
The characters drove the storyline and they were very appealing and likeable and complicated and compelling. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 18, 2026
I enjoyed meeting Betty who used to have a very non-cozy occupation although it was pretty awesome and fairly different for a cozy mystery main character. But this was still definitely a cozy mystery, spy or not.
Major was a champ when it came to helping Betty sniff things out, and I really respected the constable for not being the hugely nosy guy he could’ve been. He, Betty and Major made a good team toward the end when she came up with an idea to trap the killer. It was even kinda funny too. It’ll be interesting to see what Betty, Major and their friend Sybil get into next.
Major was a champ when it came to helping Betty sniff things out, and I really respected the constable for not being the hugely nosy guy he could’ve been. He, Betty and Major made a good team toward the end when she came up with an idea to trap the killer. It was even kinda funny too. It’ll be interesting to see what Betty, Major and their friend Sybil get into next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Love it
I love all of this author’s cosy sweet mystery books. This one starts a new series, Betty opened a bakery 5 years ago in a sweet little country town but Betty has secrets,secrets that are slowly unraveling. A competitor is killed in her bakery and someone has set her up to take the fall. Luckily for her, her past will help her to try and clear her name. Someone is trying to get her to stop investigating but Betty won’t stop until she finds the killer, clears her name and hopefully keeps her secrets. Looking forward to the next book in this series, highly recommend this author ❤️🖤
I love all of this author’s cosy sweet mystery books. This one starts a new series, Betty opened a bakery 5 years ago in a sweet little country town but Betty has secrets,secrets that are slowly unraveling. A competitor is killed in her bakery and someone has set her up to take the fall. Luckily for her, her past will help her to try and clear her name. Someone is trying to get her to stop investigating but Betty won’t stop until she finds the killer, clears her name and hopefully keeps her secrets. Looking forward to the next book in this series, highly recommend this author ❤️🖤
May 11, 2026
The Spy Who Baked Me is a great start to “The Bakers Spy Mystery” series & I look forward to the next book!Betty Fletcher is busy with The Flour & Flower bakery & her retired K9 Major. Betty says she’s a retired Admin Assistant with the consulate in Germany, but she was actually Valkyrie, an undercover agent. She works to solve the mystery of who knows that, killed a rival baker in her bakery & framed her. I received this cozy mystery as an ARC from Book Sprout & am leaving an honest review.
May 1, 2026
This was such a cute and cozy murder mystery. I loved the way Betty dusted off her skills and on the hunt to find out who set her up. The details in this story were splendid. I felt like I was right beside her as her sidekick helping her solve the mystery. I enjoyed every moment that this story brought. Such a fun and enchanting read.
July 21, 2026
The Spy Who Baked Me
I didn't pick this book when I first was offered it. Once I decided to get it, I thought it would be just a fluff book. I was wrong. It didn't take long for me to go from a reluctant reader to a just one more chapter one. Alas, as soon as I finished this book I got the next one. So I am off to start on her next adventure.
I didn't pick this book when I first was offered it. Once I decided to get it, I thought it would be just a fluff book. I was wrong. It didn't take long for me to go from a reluctant reader to a just one more chapter one. Alas, as soon as I finished this book I got the next one. So I am off to start on her next adventure.
August 14, 2026
Very well-written prequel introducing us to a retired spy and her retired K9 German shepherd who are shifting into the quiet life as a bake shop owner in a small village. Obviously that isn't going to happen and this sets the scene very nicely for the following books of murder mystery and mayhem.
May 2, 2026
Highly enjoyable mystery with interesting characters, including a badass senior and her equally dangerous dog.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 10, 2026
This was a great book! The Writting was spectacular, I felt like I was there. This book had me guessing just about all the way through. It was a quick read and definitely kept me interested. I can’t wait till the next book comes out!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews