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Outer Banks Baker Mystery #1
A Pinch of Sea Salt and a Dash of Murder
Book 1 of the Outer Banks Baker Mystery Series
Recipes Included!
Attempting to rebuild her life after the tragic death of her beloved husband, middle-aged widow Melissa Maples moved back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Part of her starting over meant opening her own bakery – Kill Devil Delicacies - that specialized in artisan breads. Already successful after a few short years, she looked forward to a number of things namely: her nephew, Logan, visiting for the summer and competing in the Outer Banks Regional Bake-Off for the chance to appear on a nationally televised cooking show.
Although still mourning her husband, Melissa finally felt like life was getting back to some sense of normalcy. Her life in Kill Devil Hills was satisfying and peaceful…at least until she opened the bakery door on an early summer morning to discover a mystery that would rock the quaint seaside town to its core!
Also available in Spanish under the title: "Una Pizca de Sal de Mar Y un Poco De Masacre!"
Recipes Included!
Attempting to rebuild her life after the tragic death of her beloved husband, middle-aged widow Melissa Maples moved back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Part of her starting over meant opening her own bakery – Kill Devil Delicacies - that specialized in artisan breads. Already successful after a few short years, she looked forward to a number of things namely: her nephew, Logan, visiting for the summer and competing in the Outer Banks Regional Bake-Off for the chance to appear on a nationally televised cooking show.
Although still mourning her husband, Melissa finally felt like life was getting back to some sense of normalcy. Her life in Kill Devil Hills was satisfying and peaceful…at least until she opened the bakery door on an early summer morning to discover a mystery that would rock the quaint seaside town to its core!
Also available in Spanish under the title: "Una Pizca de Sal de Mar Y un Poco De Masacre!"
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2015
205 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 10, 2015
Great book. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to start the next one
May 24, 2015
I don't think it's fair that reviewers must give books at least 1 star. There should be a negative rating. This book screams for it.
The author apparently has little knowledge of police work (and didn't bother to research it.) That much is obvious because the police don't "take people into custody" for reporting a dead body. There's a little something called "reasonable cause" that means, unless the police catch you in the act of killing someone, they have to at least determine that the death was, in fact, a homicide, and that there's a reasonable assumption that you've done it. Therefore, calling 911 to report a dead body might get you escorted to the police department to give a statement but that is not the same thing as being taken into custody. Second, no news reporter who wanted to keep their job would report that someone was taken into custody when they weren't, and also wouldn't report that the whole town thinks you did it.
I'm not even a cop and I know these things. FFS, do some bloody research before you write.
The dialogue was wooden and relied on entirely irrelevant descriptions of things. Couldn't just say they were going to go watch TV, no, it had to be explained that it was a 32 inch television bought within the last year or some such. What?
I made it through about a quarter of the book and gave up. It wasn't going to get any better. DNF
The author apparently has little knowledge of police work (and didn't bother to research it.) That much is obvious because the police don't "take people into custody" for reporting a dead body. There's a little something called "reasonable cause" that means, unless the police catch you in the act of killing someone, they have to at least determine that the death was, in fact, a homicide, and that there's a reasonable assumption that you've done it. Therefore, calling 911 to report a dead body might get you escorted to the police department to give a statement but that is not the same thing as being taken into custody. Second, no news reporter who wanted to keep their job would report that someone was taken into custody when they weren't, and also wouldn't report that the whole town thinks you did it.
I'm not even a cop and I know these things. FFS, do some bloody research before you write.
The dialogue was wooden and relied on entirely irrelevant descriptions of things. Couldn't just say they were going to go watch TV, no, it had to be explained that it was a 32 inch television bought within the last year or some such. What?
I made it through about a quarter of the book and gave up. It wasn't going to get any better. DNF
July 18, 2017
Reads like a book for teenagers
I was hoping to find a series I could really sink my teeth into but the characters in this book are the epitome of cliche. The recently widowed "young baker" accursed of murder and the handsome "surfing cop" who proves her innocence, end up a couple. Shocking. Quick read but if you are looking for a bit more depth and characters who are flawed and believable this is not the book for you.
I was hoping to find a series I could really sink my teeth into but the characters in this book are the epitome of cliche. The recently widowed "young baker" accursed of murder and the handsome "surfing cop" who proves her innocence, end up a couple. Shocking. Quick read but if you are looking for a bit more depth and characters who are flawed and believable this is not the book for you.
December 21, 2017
Flaky, but there's promise
Not bad for a first try. Nothing particularly special, and a little too much "he's a teenager" focus, but the story was good and characters could develop nicely.
Not bad for a first try. Nothing particularly special, and a little too much "he's a teenager" focus, but the story was good and characters could develop nicely.
June 5, 2019
Good mystery!
Melissa and her nephew Logan go to her bakery one morning and find the back door broken open. Upon entering, they are greeted with a gruesome scene, her nemesis and somewhat rival is dead on the floor. Soon both she and Logan must fight to prove their innocence.
Melissa and her nephew Logan go to her bakery one morning and find the back door broken open. Upon entering, they are greeted with a gruesome scene, her nemesis and somewhat rival is dead on the floor. Soon both she and Logan must fight to prove their innocence.
January 22, 2017
Had no idea it was a YA book until I read it. Makes no use of the Outer Banks setting. A bit simplistic for me.
March 15, 2018
Outer Baker Mystery
Another great story about a small town murder, this book had romance, murder, great storyline and characters. A cute mystery story to read.
Another great story about a small town murder, this book had romance, murder, great storyline and characters. A cute mystery story to read.
October 21, 2019
Decent read. Not fantastic but not bad. I enjoyed it enough to continue the series in the future.
February 5, 2023
Nice easy read that was engaging till the end
November 2, 2023
The ending was just a little too far fetched.
April 29, 2015
Melissa Males owns a bakery and her nephew Logan stays there in the summer and helps her out. As a widow, Melissa is happy for the help and the company. Melissa's competition in town is a bakery run by Linda, an enemy from school days. Imagine Melissa's horror when she finds that enemy dead and in her own bakery! The mystery continues from here as readers get to follow along with the investigation in this murder, mystery thriller. The author has a great writing style which lets the reader follow along through this well told tale.
December 24, 2016
Melissa Maples and her summer visiting nephew Logan find a dead rival baker in her bake shop when they go to open the shop. The good cop/bad cop team who come to investigate look hard at Melissa and the bad cop half of the team will not let up. Seeing little but finger pointing at her and getting vocally accused by her rival's husband, Melissa tries to piece things together herself with the assistance of Logan and her shop assistant. This was a very simple plot with little real action.
July 11, 2015
This was really good! I really enjoyed the story and the way the protagonist and her nephew dealt with all the crap thrown at them as she was accused of the murder. The ending was a surprise, and I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to the mext book in the series...
August 20, 2015
Good escape
Murder in Kill Devil Hill. I was looking forward to a story set in the Outer Banks. I love mysteries with a fully developed depiction of the place. I enjoyed the mystery but it could have taken place anywher. There was no sense of the Outer Banks.
Murder in Kill Devil Hill. I was looking forward to a story set in the Outer Banks. I love mysteries with a fully developed depiction of the place. I enjoyed the mystery but it could have taken place anywher. There was no sense of the Outer Banks.
February 5, 2016
3.5 ★
Widow, Melissa Maples,moved back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, opening a bakery called Kill Devil Delicacies.
Her specialty is artisan breads.
She an nephew Logan become amateur sleuths, as this series begins and murder descends on the quaint town.
Peasant cozy
Widow, Melissa Maples,moved back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, opening a bakery called Kill Devil Delicacies.
Her specialty is artisan breads.
She an nephew Logan become amateur sleuths, as this series begins and murder descends on the quaint town.
Peasant cozy
September 19, 2016
I really enjoyed this start of a new series. Interesting storyline, good characters and an enjoyable conclusion. I look forward to reading more from this author and have already downloaded book 2 in the series.
July 5, 2015
The author obviously doesn't know anything about murder investigation. And she didn't bother to do any research. Policemen were acting like sad incompetent clowns. It was annoying. 1.5 stars
July 16, 2015
What a refreshing cozy mystery. I loved the characters and the story kept me reading. I recommend this book to all cozy readers.
February 27, 2016
Easy
This is an easy read. Something to take your mind off lift for a while. I enjoyed meeting Melissa and her nephew. I look toward to their other escapades.
This is an easy read. Something to take your mind off lift for a while. I enjoyed meeting Melissa and her nephew. I look toward to their other escapades.
October 7, 2016
A very enjoyable cozy mystery series in the making! Totally enjoyed this story and looking forward to reading more of this intrepid baker and her nephew!
June 27, 2021
really enjoyed the first book in the series, looking forward to reading the next...
July 14, 2015
This is a good book.
April 17, 2017
Delightful cozy mystery
All the elements for a cozy mystery are present. The accused is just implicated enough to need to try to save herself with help from her teenage nephew, a few friends, and a cute police detective with an obstinate ready-to-be retired partner. The likeable characters make this a quick to read novel.
All the elements for a cozy mystery are present. The accused is just implicated enough to need to try to save herself with help from her teenage nephew, a few friends, and a cute police detective with an obstinate ready-to-be retired partner. The likeable characters make this a quick to read novel.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews