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Peridale Cafe #12
Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune
When Barker's book launch is ruined by the sudden appearance of a decade-old skeleton, Julia finds herself with another cold case on her hands. It quickly becomes evident that the skeleton belongs to Mabel Crump, the former manager of the library, but with Mabel supposedly having fled Peridale for a new life in Spain ten years previously, how did she end up there, and more importantly, why?
With Mabel's family gathered in Peridale for the ninetieth birthday of her husband, Julia soon realises the Crump family are not all they seem. Did one of the Crumps kill Mabel, or did someone in Julia's family murder the former librarian? Between the skeleton, Barker's sudden rise to author fame, and an unexpected love rival, Julia must juggle the different sides of her life to piece together her most challenging case yet. With secrets and lies spanning back ten long years, can Julia crack the case before everything crumbles around her?
Can be read as a standalone but will be enjoyed more as part of the series. A light, cozy mystery read with a cat loving and cafe-owning amateur female sleuth, in a small village setting with quirky characters. Written in British English. No cliffhanger, swearing, gore or graphic scenes!
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2018
1150 people are currently reading
405 people want to read
About the author
Agatha Frost
75 books595 followersAGATHA FROST, an Amazon bestselling author, has written over thirty mystery novels. She lives in the North West English county of Lancashire with her two cuddly beagles and one cat.
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
When Agatha isn’t writing, she loves reading head-scratching mysteries and thrillers, coffee, baking, and exploring her local countryside on long dog walks.
From a young age, Agatha devoured the great British murder mystery books and television shows, ample inspiration for her Peridale Café and Claire’s Candles series. She loves writing about family women who juggle their ordinary village lives with the challenges of amateur sleuthing.
Add in some good food, close friends and family, cute pets, and plenty of twists and turns, and you have a classic Agatha Frost mystery.
Sign up to the newsletter at www.agathafrost.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 14, 2023
4.5 stars
April 19, 2023
Okay this one was so good!!
July 30, 2018
Altra buona storia che si legge velocemente.
May 10, 2018
Wow...things are really amping up for Barker! We start off with Barker celebrating his book launch and as the normal way of Peridale...we get a lot more bang for our buck. I was slightly surprised by the shift in Barker and Julia's relationship and I worry for their future as Barker's career possibly takes off. Back to the mystery...that's what we really came for! I was sort of shocked by how this one unfolded. Incredibly twisted and it hit close to home before it somehow revealed itself. I like how Alfie is being embraced by Julia's family. He's a likeable character and he and Julia seem to have the same adventurous personality. The more I get to know the people of Peridale...the more I really feel like they are members of my family. When there is tension with a member of my family, I feel that deeply just like Julia and she's much more forgiving than I would be. She always appears able to reason things out in the long run as opposed to lashing out with emotion. Well done, Julia.
August 23, 2018
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
It's almost unbelievable that we already have twelve books in the series and that this book helds my attention as much as book 1 did. In fact the books are even getting better and better and I really love how established Julia is in her role as amateur detective. So much she is asked for advice even before her fiancé Barker, who's having the time of the life, living his eagerly awaited dream: being a professional fiction writer.
Barker's new fame is the reason Julia and he aren't spending the most of the time together, his life is currently packed with conferences and meetings, interviews and public apppearances; hers is busy with working in her café and solving the murder case.
That a "rival" is making trouble is something Julia doesn't need and it gave the book a few dramatic events and you really was curious how this ends.
I also liked how the murder case was linked to Dot, Julia's grandmother, as well as Neil, Sue's husband, and again we got another insight of the character's behaviour.
The way how Agatha Frost created the side characters was great and I liked how they were fleshed out; full of problems and heavy shuldering burden over burden.
The book was full of interesting revealings, a few surprising elements and it was spiked with a bit relationship drama between Julia and Barker. :) In the end we have a nice HEA for everyone and I am again eagerly awaiting what we can expect in the next, 13th book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars for this.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
It's almost unbelievable that we already have twelve books in the series and that this book helds my attention as much as book 1 did. In fact the books are even getting better and better and I really love how established Julia is in her role as amateur detective. So much she is asked for advice even before her fiancé Barker, who's having the time of the life, living his eagerly awaited dream: being a professional fiction writer.
Barker's new fame is the reason Julia and he aren't spending the most of the time together, his life is currently packed with conferences and meetings, interviews and public apppearances; hers is busy with working in her café and solving the murder case.
That a "rival" is making trouble is something Julia doesn't need and it gave the book a few dramatic events and you really was curious how this ends.
I also liked how the murder case was linked to Dot, Julia's grandmother, as well as Neil, Sue's husband, and again we got another insight of the character's behaviour.
The way how Agatha Frost created the side characters was great and I liked how they were fleshed out; full of problems and heavy shuldering burden over burden.
The book was full of interesting revealings, a few surprising elements and it was spiked with a bit relationship drama between Julia and Barker. :) In the end we have a nice HEA for everyone and I am again eagerly awaiting what we can expect in the next, 13th book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars for this.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
June 24, 2021
Overall I liked this book. Barker is having his book launch. Everything was going fine until a body falls from the ceiling. Julia then decides to start investigating. This causes some issues with her family members. Luckily the truth comes out and all is well for now.
June 20, 2018
A return to Peridale is always a guaranteed adventure.
This is one of my favourite cozy series, and it continues getting better!
The whodunit was top notch, with plenty of twists to keep me guessing and entertained right up to the end!
I love the characters and their development over the series.
This latest offering does not disappoint and I cannot wait to read the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This is one of my favourite cozy series, and it continues getting better!
The whodunit was top notch, with plenty of twists to keep me guessing and entertained right up to the end!
I love the characters and their development over the series.
This latest offering does not disappoint and I cannot wait to read the next one!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
August 11, 2022
I'm loving the Peridale Cafe series of cosy mysteries. Love the main characters and the storylines. Agatha Frost has done a great job with this series. Onto book #13...
May 9, 2018
I quite enjoyed this latest entry in the Peridale Cafe series, although I would definitely want to avoid going to, or living in, Peridale, as of course, yet another murder has occurred in this tiny English town.
Barker (police detective) and Julia (baker and cafe owner) are recently engaged. As the book opens, Julia is running late to attend the celebration for the publication date of Barker's first mystery (based on a recent case Julia was involved with). Shortly after Julia arrives at the event, a body -- long dead -- crashes through the ceiling tiles. Julia's grandmother recognizes the body as her former friend who left town over 10 years earlier for Spain (abandoning her family) to live with a younger lover she met online.
Of course Julia steps in to investigate and eventually solve the mystery of who killed the woman. It's been clear in the earlier entries that Julia is a much better detective than Barker, and this time Barker does virtually nothing related to the case; he's completely focused on the publicity for his book (being directed by a young, very attractive woman).
We get to see again most of the regulars in the series. They've all changed over the course of the series, and I enjoy revisiting them. Fortunately, my least favorite, Julia's grandmother Dot, didn't play as large a role as she has in some of the earlier entries.
I look forward to reading the next in the series when it comes out and would give this a B, so four stars here.
Barker (police detective) and Julia (baker and cafe owner) are recently engaged. As the book opens, Julia is running late to attend the celebration for the publication date of Barker's first mystery (based on a recent case Julia was involved with). Shortly after Julia arrives at the event, a body -- long dead -- crashes through the ceiling tiles. Julia's grandmother recognizes the body as her former friend who left town over 10 years earlier for Spain (abandoning her family) to live with a younger lover she met online.
Of course Julia steps in to investigate and eventually solve the mystery of who killed the woman. It's been clear in the earlier entries that Julia is a much better detective than Barker, and this time Barker does virtually nothing related to the case; he's completely focused on the publicity for his book (being directed by a young, very attractive woman).
We get to see again most of the regulars in the series. They've all changed over the course of the series, and I enjoy revisiting them. Fortunately, my least favorite, Julia's grandmother Dot, didn't play as large a role as she has in some of the earlier entries.
I look forward to reading the next in the series when it comes out and would give this a B, so four stars here.
May 24, 2018
I don’t know why I start a Peridale Cafe at night because I know I know I usually can’t turn my kindle off until I’ve finished and the pattern definitely continued with book 12 of the series. Can you believe there’s been that many already!? And despite it being the 12th book, I feel there’s still magic in these books and there will be for many books to come. For the first time reading a cozy mystery a small part of me disliked the victim and I had such sympathy for her family and understood their reasons for maybe wanting to kill her off - not that you should kill off your family. I’m not even lying when one of Julia’s suspects shared their experiences with the victim I actually had tears in my eyes and I definitely could understand if they turned out to be the killer (I’m not going to reveal who because no one wants to be spoilered!). To be able to get such an emotion from a reader shows how talented and amazing Frost’s writing really is and I can’t wait for the next mystery in Peridale!
July 9, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the twelfth book in the Peridale Cafe mystery series by Agatha Frost.
Barker is having a book signing at the local library and before Julia can bake her blueberry muffins, her oven goes out. She is over a hour late to the signing and Jessie decides to buy muffins from another shop and pass them off as Julia’s at the event. She is flabbergasted. But there is nothing she can do when he oven won’t work. The town loves the new recipe much to Julia’s chagrin. Then while at the event, a dead body falls from the ceiling and it turns out to be a good friend of Dot’s!
Lots going on in this book. I like how the author has incorporated both Billy and Alphie into the cast very smoothly. It is nice to have more recurring characters around.
The mystery is pretty complex which makes figuring it out a challenge. But the mystery doesn’t over take everything here. You get a real sense of community and you learn a lot about other characters that had barely had walk-on roles in other books.
Definitely a series I am loving right now.
If you love a good cozy mystery, check this one out. What a fun read!
This is the twelfth book in the Peridale Cafe mystery series by Agatha Frost.
Barker is having a book signing at the local library and before Julia can bake her blueberry muffins, her oven goes out. She is over a hour late to the signing and Jessie decides to buy muffins from another shop and pass them off as Julia’s at the event. She is flabbergasted. But there is nothing she can do when he oven won’t work. The town loves the new recipe much to Julia’s chagrin. Then while at the event, a dead body falls from the ceiling and it turns out to be a good friend of Dot’s!
Lots going on in this book. I like how the author has incorporated both Billy and Alphie into the cast very smoothly. It is nice to have more recurring characters around.
The mystery is pretty complex which makes figuring it out a challenge. But the mystery doesn’t over take everything here. You get a real sense of community and you learn a lot about other characters that had barely had walk-on roles in other books.
Definitely a series I am loving right now.
If you love a good cozy mystery, check this one out. What a fun read!
May 11, 2018
I loved this instalment of peridale mystery. I am definitely not wanting to move to this village. Even though it seems like such a beautiful and fun place to be.
This book has so much more intrigue than the early books in the series. The author has learnt how to keep us in suspense and reveal things slowly and lead us down some false paths.
I'm loving the continued back story of Dot, Jessie, Sue, Brian, Katie, the three babies and of course Barker. The way their stories are carried through the series is really good but well-written in a way that a new reader could pick up any book in any order and not feel confused.
I honestly can't wait for the next book i love this series so much.
This book has so much more intrigue than the early books in the series. The author has learnt how to keep us in suspense and reveal things slowly and lead us down some false paths.
I'm loving the continued back story of Dot, Jessie, Sue, Brian, Katie, the three babies and of course Barker. The way their stories are carried through the series is really good but well-written in a way that a new reader could pick up any book in any order and not feel confused.
I honestly can't wait for the next book i love this series so much.
August 18, 2020
5* as usual
It's the perfect story. It could be anyone at anytime in life. The ups, the downs, the secrets and lies. All to protect someone you love. In some cases anyway. I love the characters in this series so much. They bring out such fun and intrigue to this series as well..you never quite know what they're going to do. Except Julia lol. She's going to bake and solve mysteries
It's the perfect story. It could be anyone at anytime in life. The ups, the downs, the secrets and lies. All to protect someone you love. In some cases anyway. I love the characters in this series so much. They bring out such fun and intrigue to this series as well..you never quite know what they're going to do. Except Julia lol. She's going to bake and solve mysteries
May 8, 2018
i was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the book and it is just wonderful! I have been a huge fan of this series from the start and it just keeps going as well as it started. Julia and the other characters have really grown since the beginning so it's not a surprise that the new characters are described well. the story is always fresh and unique, and I especially like how the characters always have other stories going on, giving it a realistic feel. Barker's writing career has certainly brought excitement to Peridale but so have Alfie's new life there including dating and his new business with Billy. Jessie has a lot of spunk and s fiercely loyal. Great book and I am always looking forward to the next adventure.
May 9, 2018
Another excellent adventure in Peridale! Barker's book has been released, and of course a murder is discovered. The story was interesting and not easily figured out. There were some great laughs with Jessie and the muffins, and I loved seeing the insecure side of Julia and clueless side of Barker. It showed their human relationship flaws, and made them a more realistic couple. I do wish Julia had really spoken to Barker about what upset her, but I loved her interaction with Izzy. Julia is such a kind and wonderful woman. I absolutely love her character.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC I received from the author
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC I received from the author
May 7, 2018
I love the Peridale series, and am always eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. I had the opportunity to get an early copy of this book to review, and I read it all in one sitting. I like how the characters are developing throughout the series, and each book makes me feel part of the village community. Normally, I'm able to guess who the murderer is (isn't that the fun of cozy mysteries?), but this book keeping me guessing until late in the story. If you like cozy mysteries, this series is definitely for you, and this book is as good as the rest. I can't wait until book 12 is released...
May 10, 2018
Very good
First I love the main characters. The murderer had me fooled. You describe the town and people well. I d love to visit the cafe and look around and see these people you've created. Thank you for a great story. Take care.
First I love the main characters. The murderer had me fooled. You describe the town and people well. I d love to visit the cafe and look around and see these people you've created. Thank you for a great story. Take care.
May 11, 2018
Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune
This was an exciting book and one I had a hard time putting down. Very well written. I really enjoy the characters and the excellent plots. I can’t wait until the next book. Thanks!
This was an exciting book and one I had a hard time putting down. Very well written. I really enjoy the characters and the excellent plots. I can’t wait until the next book. Thanks!
May 8, 2018
I could not put this book down. Read it in two sittings and absolutely loved being back in Peridale. This time there is a complication to Julia’s love life in the form of a beautiful love rival; a crisis of conscience over blueberry muffins and we meet the Crump family - who are certainly colourful and take dysfunctional to a whole new level. Ms Frost gets better and better.
January 21, 2019
Another Peridale success!
June 20, 2021
This story takes place in spring, April/May. It is about murder, muffins, and a cover-up. The mystery focuses on a dysfunctional family torn apart by lies and secrets. I thought the mystery was interesting. I had the right reason but the wrong person. I didn't like the muffin part of the story. I thought this was useless.
May 8, 2018
I received this book as an ARC copy in return for an honest review. This is the latest book in Julia's saga in the cozy Peridale series. As always Julia comes across a body, despite where the clues lead and the distractions, Julia still manages to do what she does best! These books never fail to disappoint me, give them a read and you will become an avid Agatha Frost reader too. Cannot wait for the next book.
May 11, 2018
Agatha Frost has created another adventure in Peridale. I am always so excited to arrive and sad to leave.. but the in between is so much fun, I especially loved the drama surrounding the muffins.... As usual this book kept me on my toes and I never saw the ending coming.. Thanks Agatha! I have my bags ready for Ice Cream and Incidents....
May 8, 2018
Loved it
Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune was an another amazing read in the Peridale series. Julia works to solve another murder all while worrying about her relationship with Barker. I enjoy these books a lot. And would highly recommend reading them.
Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune was an another amazing read in the Peridale series. Julia works to solve another murder all while worrying about her relationship with Barker. I enjoy these books a lot. And would highly recommend reading them.
May 8, 2018
Peridale is hopping again!! Barker’s book is set to come out, celebrations planned at the library by you know nothing goes as planned!! Julia’s oven breaks down and Jesse thinks she has the perfect coverup for that. During the celebration, a body falls through the ceiling, and questions are being asked!! Who is it? Why were they in the library ceiling? Who done it?
Julia with the help of Jesse, Barker, Dot, Alfie, Sue and Neil, questions will be brought forth, answers will eventually solve the ten year old mystery.
Agatha has the ability to write amazing books, with plenty of mystery, angst, emotions and humor too!! This was a fantastic book to read, you’ll want to read to keep up with all the things going in Peridale!!
Julia with the help of Jesse, Barker, Dot, Alfie, Sue and Neil, questions will be brought forth, answers will eventually solve the ten year old mystery.
Agatha has the ability to write amazing books, with plenty of mystery, angst, emotions and humor too!! This was a fantastic book to read, you’ll want to read to keep up with all the things going in Peridale!!
April 27, 2018
I really do enjoy these books. Julia is fundamentally a truly decent person, and it’s her quest to find the best in everyone that makes this series such an undeniable hit.
And - for once - and probably by luck, I worked out who dunnit! Which is pretty much the first and only time I expect I shall, but I’m enjoying the moment.
And - for once - and probably by luck, I worked out who dunnit! Which is pretty much the first and only time I expect I shall, but I’m enjoying the moment.
May 14, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed the 12th book in Agatha Frost’s “Peridale Cafe” Cozy Mystery Series! It was engrossing and had many surprising twists and turns. I never did figure out who did it so it was a complete surprise when the murderer was revealed. Agatha paints characters that feel like real people. The Crump family was described in such great detail that I could visualize them, hear them and see their facial expressions and actions. I enjoyed the further character development of the main characters, Julia, her fiancé Barker, sister and brother-in-law, Grandmother, foster daughter Jessie, Jessie’s beau and her newfound brother. It was interesting to learn more about Dot’s, Sue’s and Neil’s histories. I greatly enjoyed the deepening of the relationships between the characters in the series, too. I highly recommend this series! I have already pre-ordered Book 13 and cannot WAIT to read it! Kudos to Agatha Frost for bringing the village of Peridale and it’s characters to life!
May 14, 2018
The latest in the cosy mystery series set in Peridale, with Julia, Barker and Jessie along with Dot, Billy and now Alfie.
It's the day of Barker's book launch in the village and everyone has shown up, as usual a body is found which halts proceedings. When the body is identified the mystery deepens and involves people from Julia's past.
Alfie and Billy set up a business together and find premises to run it from. Barker's book is launched and it takes him away from Julia and Peridale, is this a good thing? Throw a young publicist into the mix and it could well be a recipie for disaster. Oh, abd there's the current recipie Julia is working on for Blueberry Muffins, is all as it seems? not in Peridale it isn't!
A standalone mystery but best read in the series order as characters from previous books are involved. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
It's the day of Barker's book launch in the village and everyone has shown up, as usual a body is found which halts proceedings. When the body is identified the mystery deepens and involves people from Julia's past.
Alfie and Billy set up a business together and find premises to run it from. Barker's book is launched and it takes him away from Julia and Peridale, is this a good thing? Throw a young publicist into the mix and it could well be a recipie for disaster. Oh, abd there's the current recipie Julia is working on for Blueberry Muffins, is all as it seems? not in Peridale it isn't!
A standalone mystery but best read in the series order as characters from previous books are involved. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 4, 2023
The book, Birthday Cakes and Bodies, centered around Barker Brown's family. Blueberry Muffins and Misfortune is about the Crump family. During the launch party for Barker's book, a mummified body drops from the ceiling. Turns out it's Mabel Crump, the town librarian and Dot's best friend, who disappeared ten years ago. Julia gets to know the Crumps and gathers information in order to solve this decades-long mystery. I liked seeing Billy and Alfie get their building business set up. For the two of them, for Barker, and for Julia, the theme in this book seems to be: chase what you want and don't look back. With each new installment in the Peridale Cafe cozy mystery series, the characters change and work toward their personal and professional goals and I enjoy reading about them.
May 15, 2018
If you enjoy a well written cozy mystery with decent plots, humour, tempting tasty treats and proper three dimensional characters, then look no further.... Agatha Frost serves it up aplenty with each book in the Peridale series.
Chances are if you’re reading this review, you are already familiar with the series as this the twelfth book. However if this is the first Peridale book you’re looking at, although it can be read as a stand alone, I would advise you to high tail it back to book one & enjoy the series from the start. That way you can get to know the great characters as they develop alongside the great mysteries. If you love cozy mystery you can’t go wrong with Agatha Frost.
Chances are if you’re reading this review, you are already familiar with the series as this the twelfth book. However if this is the first Peridale book you’re looking at, although it can be read as a stand alone, I would advise you to high tail it back to book one & enjoy the series from the start. That way you can get to know the great characters as they develop alongside the great mysteries. If you love cozy mystery you can’t go wrong with Agatha Frost.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews