A puzzling murder. A suspicious suicide. A nervous mother. A town on the brink. And cake. Lots of cake. Amateur sleuth Sabrina Carlson has solved every case that she has ever investigated. Only this time, things are different. She's fresh out of leads. And the clock is ticking. It has been over a week since Mark Wilcox was murdered. Not only is the killer still at large, but a panic has taken hold of the idyllic small town of Treasure Cove. Will Sabrina find a way to catch Mark's killer, or will this case go cold? This is the first book in the Mysteries of Treasure Cove series. If you like page-turning cozy mysteries featuring a picturesque coastal setting, plenty of twists and turns, and a witty sleuth, then this is the book for you. Buy your copy of Murder and Layer Cake right now!
Books in the Mysteries of Treasure Cove Series: 1. Murder and Layer Cake 2. Murder and Chocolate Cake 3. Murder and Citrum Cream Cake 4. Murder and Cherry Cake
Books in the Daley Buzz Series (Also featuring Sabrina and her friends): 1. Chocolate with a Side of Murder 2. Caramels with a Side of Murder 3. Apple Pie with a Side of Murder 4. Lemon Bars with a Side of Murder 5. Cookies with a Side of Murder 6. Halloween Candy with a Side of Murder 7. Christmas Cookies with a Side of Murder 8. Gelato with a Side of Murder 9. Chocolate Cake with a Side of Murder 10. Cupcakes with a Side of Murder
Murder and Layer Cake Mysteries of Treasure Cove, Volume 1 By: Meredith Potts Narrated by: Carrie Burgess This is an Audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. I like this author's clever mysteries full of lots of clues, interesting characters, and all packed in a short novel. Just right for reading or listening to on the go, before bed, or cleaning house. The narrator is a good performer and is great with voices and emotions.
I think this has the potential to be a good series. I like the different characters, the setting, and the fast paced read; however, the story doesn’t have enough meat. Way too much dialogue, especially David trying to act tough with suspects. I felt like all the conversations in this book and the first book consisted of suspects with no alibis, no clues or leads as a result, and David just threatening every suspect and then letting them go. While I gave the first book 4 stars, this one fell short of that as the final outcome kinda came out of nowhere. And I feel like there are a lot of filler conversations with random characters...maybe some of these plot points will come out in later books but for now, they didn’t do much for the plot. I also feel bad for the daughter being sent away every time there is a case her parents are working on. Not sure if I will continue with this series...definitely not anytime soon.
Another case for investigator Sabrina and her detective husband, David.
Mark Wilcox has been murdered and his sister is wanting answers. As Sabrina's sister was also murdered she is even more determined to find the killer but they are all out of leads. When another friend is found dead leaving a suicide text confessing to Mark's murder it is case closed - or is it? Sabrina is convinced she has missed something and she is like a dog with a bone when she is on a case.
This is the second Treasure Cove book I have listened to and with the first book I found the narration a tad annoying but I must be getting used to it because this one seemed much better and I love the american accent.
Another easy read and I love the short stories that are perfect for my dog walk.
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
It's quite difficult for me to decide on the rating of this book... On the one hand, it is a fast fun listen, on the other, there are some things that I can't really overlook and just ignore, even in a cozy mystery (for which I have a soft spot in my heart:)) - so I think 3-3.5 stars sound about right.
What did I like about the book? The fast pace of the main plotline, the personal details we get to know about Sabrina and David, some funny comments on food, some of the banter between some of the characters... There are many elements of the book that I really did like. I also liked the narration, I think Ms Burgess is a very decent interpreter. She does read quite fast, as one of the other reviewers mentioned, but it didin't bother me at all, it added some tension to the plot. She doesn't do much of the voice characterization, either, but again, it's not a fault as we still have no problem recognizing particular characters.
So what is it that bothered me when listening? Well, there's much talking about the danger lurking around (that's the reason for sending the daughter away, I suppose) - but I just don't feel it; Sabrina and David talk about how frightened everyone is (them included) but they do not behave as if they were in any danger, really. It sounds at times as if the main thing concerning them was the food they crave:) Also, there are a lot of conversations with the suspects, but again no real clues are revealed through them as to what happened (although we get to know what motivations individual suspects could have for committing the murder...) Generally, I kind of had a feeling that the investigation itself is not the central thing in Sabrina and David's life at that particular moment... There's one more thing that eventually started to irritate me a lot - the monotony of the "he said/she said" phrase in dialogues... There are other verbs in English, too, like "replied, answered, stated" and so on; in an exchange of very short sentences the repetitiveness of the verb "said" is really tiresome... It may not look so bad on a page but when you listen, it soon is the only thing you remember from any conversation between the characters in the book...
But if you can overlook that particular language mannerism and if you are ready to turn a blind eye to the faults mentioned above, then the book will give you three hours of fun; it's a quite decent cozy mystery (with emphasis on cozy:)).
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Amateur sleuth Sabrina and her detective husband David are on the case when a friend’s brother is murdered. They have interviewed all of the suspects, but are drawing a blank as to who could have murdered Mark. Will this end up being a cold case or will they be able to catch the murderer?
This is the first book in a new series by Meredith Potts. The basics of the book are good, but I would have liked a little more character development. Already in chapter one, the murder has taken place a week prior and Sabrina and Mark are stumped. It takes a while for you to find out who Sabrina and David are, how Mark was murdered, and who the suspects are. This has the potential for a good series if the characters can be better developed.
A few years have passed since Sabrina Daley and David Carlson married. They now have a daughter, Jessica, who is 10 years old. Having a child has changed the way Sabrina and David view the world. Sabrina no longer manages her family’s business, The Daley Buzz, but she helps David with his murder investigations.
Their current case is slightly different. The victim was struck from behind with an iron wrench, which was wiped clean. At least it appears that way, or perhaps the murderer was wearing gloves. In addition, the wrench was lying on the floor next to the victim. They have a number of suspects, none of which have verifiable alibis.
Will Sabrina and David be able to separate the facts from the lies in the statements to uncover the real clues? Will the killer get away with murder and continue to live in their beautiful city? Or will David and Sabrina ensure that justice is served?
Meredith Potts has become one of our favorite authors and we have not been disappointed in anything she has written. Her characters are very realistic and the situations are very intriguing and believable.
Murder and Layer Cake - Written by Meredith Potts Murder, suicide, and Sabrina is on the case!
A puzzling murder. A suspicious suicide. A nervous mother. A town on the brink. And cake. Lots of cake. Amateur sleuth Sabrina Carlson has solved every case that she has ever investigated. Only this time, things are different. She's fresh out of leads. And the clock is ticking. It has been over a week since Mark Wilcox was murdered. Not only is the killer still at large, but a panic has taken hold of the idyllic small town of Treasure Cove. Will Sabrina find a way to catch Mark's killer, or will this case go cold? This is the first book in the Mysteries of Treasure Cove series. If you like page-turning cozy mysteries featuring a picturesque coastal setting, plenty of twists and turns, and a witty sleuth, then this is the book for you.
What did I like? Meredith Potts has numerous books out and I have read most of them with the utmost respect for her writing abilities. Every book has captured my interest from page one and kept it till the final page turns.
What will you like? Believable characters that will capture your heart, extraordinary action with murders, suicides, and an amazing small-town adventure. I recently visited a small town in New York state and they are incredible! Everyone knows what is going on and almost where they are at any given time of the day. If something does happen the vocal pipeline announces before the papers ever have a chance to print it. Ms Potts books are the epitome of what goes on in a small town from the gossip to the police force and restaurants. Great clean cozies to curl up to and enjoy! Highly recommend this read for everyone. I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
Murder and Layer Cake: Mysteries of Treasure Cove, Volume 1 by Meredith Potts, narrated by Carrie Burgess was pretty good. I have listened to some of the Daley Buzz series by Meredith Potts; when I began the Treasure Cove series, I was unaware that the main character, Sabrina, was going to be the same Sabrina from Daley Buzz. Yup! She's still solving cases! :-) Some of the details sounded a bit too familiar, so after reading a few reviews on Amazon, I realized that the Treasure Cove series follows Sabrina from case to case 15 years later. How clever! I think if I had known this beforehand, I would have enjoyed it more because I listened for awhile wondering why each series was so similar. Now, it makes sense! :-) While it was an enjoyable listen, I was hoping that a new series would bring new adventures with different characters.
The narration was good. Carrie Burgess does a nice job playing the characters. Her voice is calm and inviting. However, the reason I took a star off was because I felt that some of the chapters sounded like they were recorded in a bathroom...they had that hollow sound. Either way, I'm still glad I chose to listen to the audiobook rather than just reading it.
Overall, I rate Murder and Layer Cake: Mysteries of Treasure Cove, Volume 1 by Meredith Potts, narrated by Carrie Burgess around 3.5 stars. Because we cannot give half stars, I chose to round up to 4/5 stars, as I do not feel it deserved to be brought down to 3. I recommend this audiobook to fans of cozy mysteries and followers of the Daley Buzz series!
Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)
This review is for the audio book. This is another good book by Meredith Potts featuring are breach husband and wife duo. If you like simple, short, clean, cozy mysteries then this is for you. With the number of murderers the couple catch I wonder why they need to keep sending there daughter away but other than that I enjoyed it and the nice thing is even though it is a series each book is a stand alone and you don't need to read them in order. Sabrina and David are looking into another murder this time the victim is a friends brother and with a number of suspects to narrow down things are tuff which just calls for cake. I like the narrator as she is easy to follow with her easy laid back style
David and Sabrina have their hands full in this story. Melissa Maxwell wants to know who killed her brother, Mark. Mark's wife, Felicia, doesn't want to talk to David and Sabrina. The more they look into this case, the more strings they pull and leave more left. Then there is a sudden suicide. The note said he killed Mark. But Sabrina doesn't believe it. David, being a Detective, has no choice but to close the case. After doing so, the case catches up with Dave and Sabrina. What happens and who is the killer? You will have to read to book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
What a pleasure this is to listen to! Spinning off of the Daley Buzz series, we get to see David and Sabrina 10 years later still investigating murders. For being a small town, Treasure Cove has seen it's share of tragedy, and when Mark is found dead, David and Sabrina set out to find the killer. The problem this time, is there are no leads! This is a humorous, fun, and mysterious case with all of our favorite characters from the Daley Buzz including Gavin and Shannon, giving us a comfortable familiarity. The narration by Carrie Burgess gives the story a consistent pace and an abundance of lighthearted voices.
I was expecting a fun cozy mystery where layer cake played a pivotal role, but that was now what I got. Instead I got a mystery with lots of weird irrelevant details where the investigators ate layer cake once.
The characters are a bit weak, I didn't connect with them, the world building was OK but it didn't come alive for me.
The book was OK, but only OK.
The narration did not help, the character voices are not well done, I had a really hard time working out who was speaking a lot of the time. The delivery was decent, good pacing and good phrasing.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
A good friend’s brother has been murdered and Sabrina and her husband, Detective David Carlson have absolutely no clues or leads in the case. The suicide confession of one of the suspects would seem to solve the murder, but Sabrina’s gut tells her there is more to investigate. Maybe some pizza and cake will clear their heads and lead them to some answers.
The story does a good job of interleaving Sabrina’s desire to solve the case with her concern about how her sleuthing is affecting her daughter. Balancing family and work is a real-life concern many people have and it makes the book very relatable. This series just keeps getting better!
Sabrina and David are once again pulled into solving a murder. Treasure Cove is a quiet coastal town. Only one problem another murder has occurred and Sabrina and David must separate facts from fiction to reveal the killer. Having a daughter has changed life for them. Their first priority is to protect their daughter. Really enjoy the daily buzz series and cannot wait for the next book in the series. Meredith Potts is one of my favorite authors and I love her books. Looking forward to reading more and more of them in the coming years.
Another great book from Meredith Potts! Even though this book is several years forward for the characters it's still a great mystery. I love all of her books. They grab me from the very beginning and keep me guessing until the very end. The characters are believable and likable. I think if I ever met someone like them I would be friends with them. Of the many reasons I like these books they are cozy mysteries meaning no foul language and no gore and the stories always pull me in. I highly recommend this book and all of her books.
I was disappointed with this book as I love a good cozy mystery. The characters were flat, they never developed. Worse yet the constant description of what they looked like and their ages was beyond annoying. Maybe it's just me, but I felt lost from the start.
The narration was so so. Carrie Burgess has a clear voice, but I didn't feel any emotion from the characters.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The hallmarks of this series are a storyline that keeps you wondering and characters that are so well described that you can close your eyes and see them in your mind. This book is no exception.
Sabrina and David are once again on the trail of a murderer in their hometown. There are many suspects and none of them are cooperating.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
Once again Sabrina and David is baffle by a murder case with no real suspects. Then when all seems hopeless another body is found. It appears that the latest body committed suicide after he text message and confesses to his sister beforehand. Sabrina has a feeling that there is more to the case as the two figures who really killed both bodies. This is another fun cozy mystery story in the Daley Buzz series.
I did skim to finish this, but found it stilted, forced and lacking in character development. The story line feels fabricated starting with my having no clue why a police detective carts his wife around him him in a murder investigation to being just as clueless how having one piece of cake promotes that event to bring title worthy. The murders and solution seem artificial. Nope, this author's dabbling is not for me.
Nice cozy mystery in a really pleasant small town. Except for the murder. Forty something detective David Carlson does his best work with his gifted wife, Sabrina. A friend's brother is murdered and while there is an abundance of suspects, evidence is notably absent. Together they question all of the lying suspects and work their way through some messy twists. The audio is narrated by Carrie Burgess.
When a man turns up dead in her small town, amateur sleuth Sabrina and her hubby set out to find the murderer, interviewing suspects and following up leads ... and then the mystery seems to solve itself ... or does it? The first book in a new series, the perky, determined Sabrina and her hubby make an interesting team and the mystery is an interesting one. A short read that would lend itself to a crisp, fall afternoon.
I was blessed with a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have chosen of my own volition to share them with you.
This book starts a new series with some old, familiar characters. It was nice to see how relationships have evolved, but I miss the in-between times.
Another murder has taken place, and there seems to be no concrete leads in any direction. Revisiting prior suspects leads to some interesting conundrums.
Murder and Layer Cake was a great read by Meredith Potts. This is book one in the Treasure Cove series. Sabrina is an amateur sleuth who has solved each murder that she was a part of investigating. There have been many strange crimes that has happened in Treasure Cove. I enjoyed reading Sabrina investigating Mark Wilcox's death.
I love that this series picks up 15 years after the first. I began reading this one and quickly realized I hadn’t finished the first series so went back and read those to fill in the missing pieces. I was very intrigued by this one. I just couldn’t quite figure out who the muderer was. I love a challenge. I am excited to read book 2 in this series.
Loving this series! Clean, easy read with Sabrina and Dave. A quick read that is great for young adults. Sabrina is still considered an amatuer even after 15 years of assisting her detective husband. She always gets gut feelings. My mom always says trust your gut. She continues to assist her husband. The narration is good. The characters are believable. I enjoyed this book.
Audible:This is a great start to a new series. Sabrina is solving crimes again in Treasure Cove.Everyone in town is in a tither while a killer is on the loose in this one. Carrie Burgess was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
Murder and Layer Cake is like a delicious surgery sweet dessert- tasty to eat, but short on substance. The story is a pleasant if simple, clean cozy mystery.
The narrator of the audiobook does a decent job, but she isn’t good at doing voices for different characters. I think the book would be much better to listen to if the dialogue did not include “he said” and “she said” so often.
Sabrina and David with a child now ten, Sabrina helps David with private investigations. The town of Treasure Cove is in a panic because of the killing of Mark. Even Sabrina has no clues to go own. This was a fast paced and enjoyable cozy mystery as was the narration. Given ARC. for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
I have been reading this series for a while now and I am never disappointed in the outcome of each book. They are all filled with twists and turns and of course food is always included. Sabrina always keeps her family safe while she and David look for the murderer. Never get bored reading these so if you are hooked on these mysteries dive in and have fun.
The author has started a great new series of stories with some of her old favorite characters. I look forward to joining her on the voyage though her mysteries and the adventures of Samantha..