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Murder in the Mix #57
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe
The circus is coming to Honey Hollow! Big top thrills, death-defying acts, and a murder that’s anything but an illusion. A laugh out loud standalone cozy mystery by New York Times, USA TODAY, & Wall Street Journal bestseller Addison Moore.
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison’s books, “...easy, frothy fun!” Humor with a side of homicide. All books in the series can be read individually, so dive on in! Includes RECIPES!
My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety, who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner’s impending doom.
When Sterling and Sons Circus rolls into Honey Hollow for a week of performances and a charity benefit, I’m thrilled to showcase my animal cracker cookies at the fairgrounds. But the circus isn’t the only excitement in town, Everett’s thirteen-year-old twin daughters are staying with us for the week.
Entertaining teenagers for seven whole days? I’ve got this. With twin babies in a stroller, a sugar-crazed two-year-old, and two eye-rolling teens in tow, what could possibly go wrong at a wholesome family circus?Of course, when someone ends up dead backstage with a knife in their chest and one of my cookies in their hand, I realize the greatest show on earth just became the deadliest. Between jilted lovers, blackmail victims, and enough secrets to fill a circus tent, half the performers had motive to commit murder. And what in the world does Suze Fox have to do with this? Well, it turns out everything.
But when the investigation reveals this case has more twists than an acrobat’s routine, I know I’m dealing with a killer who’s been hiding behind sequins and spotlights. With my rolling pin in one hand and my detective skills in the other, plus a pint-sized pachyderm with a serious peanut addiction and enough suspects in spandex to staff a Vegas show, I’ll need to solve this case before the killer decides I’m the next act to disappear.
Living in Honey Hollow can be deadly.
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison’s books, “...easy, frothy fun!” Humor with a side of homicide. All books in the series can be read individually, so dive on in! Includes RECIPES!
My name is Lottie Lemon, and I see dead people. Okay, so I rarely see dead people, mostly I see furry creatures of the dearly departed variety, who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owner’s impending doom.
When Sterling and Sons Circus rolls into Honey Hollow for a week of performances and a charity benefit, I’m thrilled to showcase my animal cracker cookies at the fairgrounds. But the circus isn’t the only excitement in town, Everett’s thirteen-year-old twin daughters are staying with us for the week.
Entertaining teenagers for seven whole days? I’ve got this. With twin babies in a stroller, a sugar-crazed two-year-old, and two eye-rolling teens in tow, what could possibly go wrong at a wholesome family circus?Of course, when someone ends up dead backstage with a knife in their chest and one of my cookies in their hand, I realize the greatest show on earth just became the deadliest. Between jilted lovers, blackmail victims, and enough secrets to fill a circus tent, half the performers had motive to commit murder. And what in the world does Suze Fox have to do with this? Well, it turns out everything.
But when the investigation reveals this case has more twists than an acrobat’s routine, I know I’m dealing with a killer who’s been hiding behind sequins and spotlights. With my rolling pin in one hand and my detective skills in the other, plus a pint-sized pachyderm with a serious peanut addiction and enough suspects in spandex to staff a Vegas show, I’ll need to solve this case before the killer decides I’m the next act to disappear.
Living in Honey Hollow can be deadly.
- GenresMystery
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2026
About the author
Addison Moore
1,636 books5,760 followersSubscribe to Addison's newsletter! http://www.addisonmoore.com/subscribe/
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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.
FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF
Follow for deals and steals on Bookbub-> https://www.bookbub.com/authors/addis...
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.
FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 21, 2026
Lottie sees furry critters when their closest human is killed. The circus is in town, and now there's a little pink elephant (a ghost one of course)! What's a girl to do but investigate! That's not easy feat when you're juggling a very successful bakery, a husband and an ex, a set of infant twins, a precocious 2 yr old, a college student, a set of 13 yr old twin stepdaughters and a multitude of hilariously dysfunctional family members! Putting herself in danger is just another perk in her day! Put on your seat belt for another wild ride, and don't forget the box of Kleenex for when you laugh so hard you cry!
August 31, 2026
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe: Murder in the Mix book 57
This is such a fun and light hearted series. Can be read alone and Lottie is so good at finding a body. Ad in twin 13 year olds that are top notch manipulate the adults.
This is such a fun and light hearted series. Can be read alone and Lottie is so good at finding a body. Ad in twin 13 year olds that are top notch manipulate the adults.
Review of advance copy
The circus has arrived in Honey Hollow and Lottie gets to display her adorable animal cracker cookies for everyone to see. And what could possibly go wrong when everyone is looking forward to the excitement of the circus?! Well, when Lottie is near…everything can go wrong starting with a dead body and Noah’s mom, Suze Fox nearby when Lottie discovers said body. Did Suze finally have enough and just snap or is there someone else Lottie should be investigating? And we can’t forget the baby elephant that has returned to help solve the murder – so adorable! Turns out there are a lot of suspects especially when you are dealing with a circus, but Noah is hoping Lottie will be too busy to investigate, especially with Everett’s twin thirteen-year-old daughters staying with them for the week…..did I mention they aren’t as innocent as they look. I couldn’t get over the things they tried to pull over on Lottie during their stay. And you can’t have a murder investigation take place without Carlotta, Lottie’s biological mom bringing the Cray-Cray as her nickname suggests. Not sure she’s a good influence on the Everett’s twins, but by the end even she was afraid of the daring duo.
There is so much action and twists and turns throughout the whole book. You will be on the edge of your seat waiting for what comes next! I absolutely enjoyed the story and all the chaos that came while reading it. Lottie took care of 6 kids, two cats (the twin girls insisted they go everywhere with them), ran her bakery along with making the animal cracker cookies, investigated a murder, and she didn’t commit a murder herself in the process nor did she get murdered in the process of all her investigating! I don’t know how Lottie does it all, but she is truly a superwoman! Do yourself a favor and pick up “Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe” to read. You won’t regret it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is so much action and twists and turns throughout the whole book. You will be on the edge of your seat waiting for what comes next! I absolutely enjoyed the story and all the chaos that came while reading it. Lottie took care of 6 kids, two cats (the twin girls insisted they go everywhere with them), ran her bakery along with making the animal cracker cookies, investigated a murder, and she didn’t commit a murder herself in the process nor did she get murdered in the process of all her investigating! I don’t know how Lottie does it all, but she is truly a superwoman! Do yourself a favor and pick up “Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe” to read. You won’t regret it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2026
Title: Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe (Murder in the Mix #57) by Addison Moore
Rating: ★★★★☆
“Sweet Suspense: Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe Delivers Cozy Mystery Fun”
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe is another delightful entry in Addison Moore’s Murder in the Mix series. Book 57 delivers all the sweet, quirky charm fans have come to expect, featuring Lottie Lemon and her ever-entertaining bakery crew. The mystery starts off with a bang, keeping readers guessing as Lottie navigates her way through cookie chaos and a new murder to solve.
The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and a colorful cast of suspects that kept me engaged from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the whimsical baking-themed clues and the vibrant descriptions of Lottie’s confections—Addison Moore’s trademark humor shines through every page.
While the story is enjoyable and the characters as lovable as ever, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit rushed and some side plots could have used a little more development. However, these minor issues didn’t take away from the overall fun and cozy mystery experience.
If you love culinary mysteries with a dash of romance, friendship, and a sprinkle of magic, Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe will satisfy your cravings. Addison Moore proves once again she knows how to mix up a sweet and suspenseful treat. Highly recommended for fans of the series!
Rating: ★★★★☆
“Sweet Suspense: Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe Delivers Cozy Mystery Fun”
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe is another delightful entry in Addison Moore’s Murder in the Mix series. Book 57 delivers all the sweet, quirky charm fans have come to expect, featuring Lottie Lemon and her ever-entertaining bakery crew. The mystery starts off with a bang, keeping readers guessing as Lottie navigates her way through cookie chaos and a new murder to solve.
The plot is fast-paced, with plenty of twists and a colorful cast of suspects that kept me engaged from start to finish. I especially enjoyed the whimsical baking-themed clues and the vibrant descriptions of Lottie’s confections—Addison Moore’s trademark humor shines through every page.
While the story is enjoyable and the characters as lovable as ever, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit rushed and some side plots could have used a little more development. However, these minor issues didn’t take away from the overall fun and cozy mystery experience.
If you love culinary mysteries with a dash of romance, friendship, and a sprinkle of magic, Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe will satisfy your cravings. Addison Moore proves once again she knows how to mix up a sweet and suspenseful treat. Highly recommended for fans of the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Lottie and company are in for a week of thrills and hijinks when the circus comes to town and Everett’s teenage twins come to stay. The house is bursting at the seams with babies, toddlers, teens, coeds, and Cray Cray all in the mix. What’s one ghostly elephant more? While the teens are wreaking havoc with their comparison of Everett vs Noah and manipulative shopping sprees, Lottie is trying to figure out who killed the ringmaster. With Noah’s mom, Suze, found on the scene, the stakes are high. Can Lottie clear her former mother-in-law before the final act?
Another solid cozy caper in Addison Moore’s long running Murder In The Mix series. Ava and Olivia certainly spiced up Lottie, Everett, and Noah’s week with their shenanigans. They even had Carlotta running for cover. The circus atmosphere was well established and I enjoyed seeing all the locals try their hands at circus acts. As always, the food descriptions had me wishing for a corn dog and a funnel cake. It’s always a good idea to have snacks handy when reading Ms. Moore’s books. I love how inventive the ghostly helpers are. I could just picture Peanuts floating alongside Lyla Nell. The included animal cracker recipe looks delicious and there’s a hint towards the next book as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another solid cozy caper in Addison Moore’s long running Murder In The Mix series. Ava and Olivia certainly spiced up Lottie, Everett, and Noah’s week with their shenanigans. They even had Carlotta running for cover. The circus atmosphere was well established and I enjoyed seeing all the locals try their hands at circus acts. As always, the food descriptions had me wishing for a corn dog and a funnel cake. It’s always a good idea to have snacks handy when reading Ms. Moore’s books. I love how inventive the ghostly helpers are. I could just picture Peanuts floating alongside Lyla Nell. The included animal cracker recipe looks delicious and there’s a hint towards the next book as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2026
This is another fun read in the Murder in the Mix series that I read straight through since I couldn’t put it down. I smiled & laughed as I read what Lottie Lemon & the other characters got into since her kids, hubby Everett, Everett’s 3 daughters, her mom Carlotta, Carlotta’s fiancée Mayor Nash, Noah, Noah’s mom Suze, Effie, Lyla and Lottie’s cats Waffles & Pancake all add so much to the story. In this one, Lottie is excited to have her Animal Cracker cookies at the fairgrounds when the circus is in town. When Lottie ‘sees’ the ghost of an elephant, she knows someone at the circus will die & sure enough, when she goes to check on her inventory, Lottie finds the dead body, then works to solve the whodunit. The Circus Animal Cracker Cookie recipe the author shared at the end of the book was easy to make & everyone liked them. The author also kindly shared a link so readers can get “Christmas Fudge Fatality” for free. I’ve read 2 books in this series & like that they are standalone books. I look forward to reading more in this series & already got a few from Amazon. I got this book as an ARC from Book Sprout.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Pigs don't fly, but elephants do in Harmony Hollow. The circus is in town and Lottie re really does not want to see any ghost critters. What she sees is a flying baby elephant blowing pink sparkles out of his trunk. The ringmaster Jump introduces them so several of the circus actors. Noah's mom sees Jump and and reminds Jump, she did not think he would show his face in town again. She storms off, there is a story there. There is an intermission, so Lottie heads out to check on her cookie booth. Too crowded, so she cuts thru the maze of employee dressing room. She stumbles across Jump, knife sticking out of his chest. There is movement in the shadows and out steps Suzie. Now she not only has a murder to solve, she has Evie, Lyla Nell, the twin boys and Everett's twin teenage daughters will be with them the whole week. Noah thinks she will be too busy, giving him a chance to solve a murder first. What do you thing? Well, you are just going to read this delightful trip to Harmony Hollow.
August 20, 2026
Lottie Lemon does it again! Her extremely complicated family is always so much fun to read about and this book increased the amount of nutty family members by a lot. Ava and Olivia, the teenagers, definitely got under my skin. But even though I haven’t read many of these books, I never feel lost—the author is very good at making sure the characters are reintroduced quickly and the relationships between them are understood without taking away from the pacing of the story.
Peanut the Elephant is a real cutie, and I always love the addition of the ghostly animal in this series. However, I didn’t feel like it was as present as it has been in previous books. So I definitely missed that. Otherwise, it was a fun mystery that held my interest all the way through and I can’t get enough of this fun family dynamic.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Peanut the Elephant is a real cutie, and I always love the addition of the ghostly animal in this series. However, I didn’t feel like it was as present as it has been in previous books. So I definitely missed that. Otherwise, it was a fun mystery that held my interest all the way through and I can’t get enough of this fun family dynamic.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 21, 2026
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe is the fifty-seventh book in Murder in the Mix series. Although this book is deep into the series it is written so it can be a standalone book. Reading them in order does build on character and the plot but alone there is enough to read along and enjoy with out feeling lost.
Not only is the circus coming to town for the week. But Everett teenage twin girls end up staying with them for the week and boy do they keep Lottie and Everett busy with their shenanigans. And in Lottie fashion she has her bakery suppling the sweet treats and the event. And where her treats go murder follows, which means no matter how busy she is Lottie who’ll be on the case and hunting down the murderer. I don’t know which one will be the bigger challenge this week Lottie finding the murder or surviving 3 under 3 , twin 13 year old girls Evie and Carlotta. Read to find out how this unfolds and how they adjust to having the twin girls added to the mix.
Not only is the circus coming to town for the week. But Everett teenage twin girls end up staying with them for the week and boy do they keep Lottie and Everett busy with their shenanigans. And in Lottie fashion she has her bakery suppling the sweet treats and the event. And where her treats go murder follows, which means no matter how busy she is Lottie who’ll be on the case and hunting down the murderer. I don’t know which one will be the bigger challenge this week Lottie finding the murder or surviving 3 under 3 , twin 13 year old girls Evie and Carlotta. Read to find out how this unfolds and how they adjust to having the twin girls added to the mix.
Review of advance copy
Three-ring circus of death!
The circus is in Honey Hollow, and so are Everett's twin thirteen-year-old daughters. It's hard to say which will cause the most laughter and achieve the most daring feats. The circus has knife-throwers, aerialists, a dead ringmaster, and a ghost elephant, but bored teenage girls feature their own brand of entertainment that threatens Lottie's peace of mind and her bank balance!
Those twins are a disaster of chaos. Even Cray-Cray is afraid of them! Loved the ghost elephant and the kitty bubbles. I received an advance copy, but my review is honest and voluntary.
The circus is in Honey Hollow, and so are Everett's twin thirteen-year-old daughters. It's hard to say which will cause the most laughter and achieve the most daring feats. The circus has knife-throwers, aerialists, a dead ringmaster, and a ghost elephant, but bored teenage girls feature their own brand of entertainment that threatens Lottie's peace of mind and her bank balance!
Those twins are a disaster of chaos. Even Cray-Cray is afraid of them! Loved the ghost elephant and the kitty bubbles. I received an advance copy, but my review is honest and voluntary.
August 23, 2026
Circus Animal Cookie Catastrophe Book 57 of Murder in the Mix by Addison Moore is another wonderful return to Honey Hollow. Babies, toddlers and teens what could go wrong at the circus?! Murder. This is such a fun read and Peanut the Elephant is a cutie with a peanut addiction; I always love the addition of ghostly animals. Love this book! Highly recommend!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 23, 2026
This was another enjoyable book by Addison Moore. I enjoyed the engaging plot and character development. I really enjoyed the details of the twins daughters that came to stay with them, and the one was a vegetarian who didn’t eat vegetables, If you enjoy cozy mysteries I would highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2026
Good and humorous mystery.
The circus comes to town, and Lottie has a murder to solve. Lots of suspects, including Noah's mother. I disliked two teenage girls who caused a lot of trouble for Lottie. Those girls got off lightly for what they did. I recommend this book to thosr who like this series.
The circus comes to town, and Lottie has a murder to solve. Lots of suspects, including Noah's mother. I disliked two teenage girls who caused a lot of trouble for Lottie. Those girls got off lightly for what they did. I recommend this book to thosr who like this series.
August 26, 2026
Their lives are chaotic at best. And then the twins come to stay for a week. There's a murder at the circus. There is no downtime to enjoy the circus, the twins, solve the murder. I would have run away at the beginning of the week. Getting through the week with them, was tiring, funny, mind-boggling at the antics the twins got up to. An education to read through.
September 1, 2026
Connorpam7
I still think Noah needs someone in his life that he can love and have children with!! Its just wrong and dumb for him to be following after Lottie!!! COME ON ADDISON!!!!!
I still think Noah needs someone in his life that he can love and have children with!! Its just wrong and dumb for him to be following after Lottie!!! COME ON ADDISON!!!!!
August 21, 2026
Splendid mystery under the big top? The animal cookie whodunnit but was it really the cookie what done it? Well let’s open the book and find ourselves immerse in. Yes you’ll read with a big top grin , as witness what’s happening.
Back in Honey Hollow where all is mellow….until it ain’t . She’s sees dead people ,is she a saint ? Well it’s not strictly true in the true sense of the phrase. It’s not the people but the pets she sees does it put Lottie Lemon at ease? Not likely ,as she’s got to be sprightly ,quick as a flash to save some unsuspecting soul from the cosh or worse …
Back in Honey Hollow where all is mellow….until it ain’t . She’s sees dead people ,is she a saint ? Well it’s not strictly true in the true sense of the phrase. It’s not the people but the pets she sees does it put Lottie Lemon at ease? Not likely ,as she’s got to be sprightly ,quick as a flash to save some unsuspecting soul from the cosh or worse …
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews