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Helen & Martha Cozy Mystery #3
Pudding, Poison & Pie
Snow is falling, puddings are rising and hearts are heating up in Marsden-Lacey this Christmas. Helen and Martha enter the village's First Annual Pudding and Pie Bake-Off and quickly find themselves up to their elbows in meringue, marmalade and murder.
But before the baking teams square off, the girls are invited to a lonely, ancient estate to evaluate a manuscript that's been buried in a dusty Jacobean library for hundreds of years. Martha is sure the old house is haunted and Helen wants Mr. Brickstone, their client, to keep his hands to himself.
The girls will have to blend no-nonsense Southern charm with Yorkshire grit to avoid running afoul of a half-baked killer. With a sprinkle of fun and a dash of love, Martha and Helen will tempt hearts and try to taste sweet success at the most treacherous bake-off Yorkshire has ever whipped up.
But before the baking teams square off, the girls are invited to a lonely, ancient estate to evaluate a manuscript that's been buried in a dusty Jacobean library for hundreds of years. Martha is sure the old house is haunted and Helen wants Mr. Brickstone, their client, to keep his hands to himself.
The girls will have to blend no-nonsense Southern charm with Yorkshire grit to avoid running afoul of a half-baked killer. With a sprinkle of fun and a dash of love, Martha and Helen will tempt hearts and try to taste sweet success at the most treacherous bake-off Yorkshire has ever whipped up.
216 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2016
208 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Sigrid Vansandt
11 books27 followersMy fate was happily sealed when I tried my hand at writing for the first time in second grade. Many years later, I picked the bug up again and tried to write about what I know: good friends, art, antiques, and small towns.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 24, 2015
Great story
Really liked the characters in this series. It had an interesting twist with ghosts and the switching back and forth from past to present
Really liked the characters in this series. It had an interesting twist with ghosts and the switching back and forth from past to present
April 30, 2016
Couldn't follow
Just simply could not stay interested. Boring content. Did not like the verbiage. Just not my cup of tea so to speak.
Just simply could not stay interested. Boring content. Did not like the verbiage. Just not my cup of tea so to speak.
January 9, 2025
Not bad, though it took them long enough to guess the real target.
July 7, 2016
Thanks W2 for telling me about this book! I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books in this series! Fun stories, great mysteries, plus humor!!!
September 9, 2018
A nice little murder in a nice British village - sounded like the perfect Sunday read in the sofa with a nice cup of tea.
But even though the story itself was good I found myself stumbling through it. I got lost in all the names. Suddenly Johns was Merriam (a female name to me; thus the confusion) I never really sorted out which ones was the dogs and which ones was the policemen.
The story slowed down with unnecessary details. The language sometimes filled with difficult words and witty sentence structures, and then short and “read easy” like. Almost as if there were two writers.
And how could anyone be upset with a police officer being taken off a case where his wife got murdered and him being one of the suspects? That’s just plain stupid.
Sorry to say, this was not my cup of tea.
But even though the story itself was good I found myself stumbling through it. I got lost in all the names. Suddenly Johns was Merriam (a female name to me; thus the confusion) I never really sorted out which ones was the dogs and which ones was the policemen.
The story slowed down with unnecessary details. The language sometimes filled with difficult words and witty sentence structures, and then short and “read easy” like. Almost as if there were two writers.
And how could anyone be upset with a police officer being taken off a case where his wife got murdered and him being one of the suspects? That’s just plain stupid.
Sorry to say, this was not my cup of tea.
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May 24, 2020An interesting group of story lines, all involving a small village and their people. Add in an outsider police sergent who wants to transfer to Marsden-Lacey, for a new start. And a wealthy but sick man who cant take care of himself. Keeps you guessing and involved.
January 12, 2023
Perfect!
I've read this book three different times, it is a wonderful Christmas book and also a really good myste
ry, I wish this author would write another Christmas mystery, her other books are very good too!
I've read this book three different times, it is a wonderful Christmas book and also a really good myste
ry, I wish this author would write another Christmas mystery, her other books are very good too!
December 17, 2019
although this was the 3rd so I didn't know all the characters, this was well-written - not the usual cozy. Want to read more in the series definitely.
March 14, 2020
Love it!
These books are so much fun to read! Great characters, really well written mysteries, and lots of laughs, too! Read these books!
These books are so much fun to read! Great characters, really well written mysteries, and lots of laughs, too! Read these books!
August 23, 2020
Great read
These relationships are moving right along! The mystery was a real treat, too. It was not hard to figure out who the bad guy was, but it took them a while to do so! 😀
These relationships are moving right along! The mystery was a real treat, too. It was not hard to figure out who the bad guy was, but it took them a while to do so! 😀
January 14, 2017
Missed in editing: when referring to a female it's "fiancee" not "fiancé".
Read
January 1, 2017Okay.
June 28, 2016
Another sweet read about Helen and Martha and the village of Marsden-Lacey. Another murder occurs and this time it is close to home. Chief Johns becomes a suspect and is ousted from his office by a detective from a neighboring town. Turns out the detective wants to move to Marsden-Lacey and tries to get rid of Johns. Not to happen. During the local bake off, someone is stabbed and then Martha is at risk. It is another adventure for the two Americans living there but as always, they get to the end and solve the murder. All ends well. Another great story and one anyone can enjoy.
July 25, 2016
this one was less of a mystery than the others in the series, but I still enjoyed reading. I did think it could stand to be longer (and maybe have more mystery).
I wish there were more in this series! I so enjoy all of the characters and would love to see them develop even further. This one somehow moved much faster than the previous two, which I take to mean the author was trying to neatly wrap things up by the end. a fine ending, but I'm hoping for more books in the future! :)
I wish there were more in this series! I so enjoy all of the characters and would love to see them develop even further. This one somehow moved much faster than the previous two, which I take to mean the author was trying to neatly wrap things up by the end. a fine ending, but I'm hoping for more books in the future! :)
May 14, 2016
Untasty
Nice plot, great characters, but she continues to make egregious errors of fact, style and usage. For instance, she still insists on calling knights and lords incorrectly. It should be Sir Alec, not Sir Barstow. And it just goes on. Pure laziness and sloppy writing.
Nice plot, great characters, but she continues to make egregious errors of fact, style and usage. For instance, she still insists on calling knights and lords incorrectly. It should be Sir Alec, not Sir Barstow. And it just goes on. Pure laziness and sloppy writing.
Read
August 30, 2016I really enjoyed this book. The 2main characters are such great friends, so I wanted to be their friend too. This is a wonderful cozy mystery, and they are hard to find. I can't wait for the next one. If you like cozies, I highly recommend this series of books.
December 16, 2016
Great read.
If you enjoy British stories you'll love this. Martha and Helen are expats who decided to stay in the village. They find themselves caught up in two murders and love at the same time. Can't wait for the next book.
If you enjoy British stories you'll love this. Martha and Helen are expats who decided to stay in the village. They find themselves caught up in two murders and love at the same time. Can't wait for the next book.
April 19, 2016
I absolutely love this series and the characters. I hope she continues with these mysteries. They are fun and exciting!!
May 21, 2016
Great read
Anyone who likes cozy mysteries will enjoy all these books. Best read in order as references are made in later books. I thoroughly enjoyed all three stories.
Anyone who likes cozy mysteries will enjoy all these books. Best read in order as references are made in later books. I thoroughly enjoyed all three stories.
June 8, 2016
I'm afraid this book lost my attention by the 25% mark, there was just too much foreshadowing making the plot obvious. I skipped to the 80% mark and read the end.
June 20, 2016
Charming
Having read the series of three books (so far), I highly recommend them for romance, mystery, and good female friendships.
Having read the series of three books (so far), I highly recommend them for romance, mystery, and good female friendships.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews