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A Cookie House Mystery #1
And Then There Were Crumbs
She's a talented pastry chef--with a secret recipe for solving crimes...
WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Kate McGuire's life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiancé both. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she's looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop's crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can't tie on her apron on fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam--then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam's cinnamon rolls--all eyes focus on the town's beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar...before someone else gets burned.
WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Kate McGuire's life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiancé both. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she's looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop's crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can't tie on her apron on fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam--then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam's cinnamon rolls--all eyes focus on the town's beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar...before someone else gets burned.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
256 people are currently reading
4297 people want to read
About the author
Eve Calder
8 books393 followersFlorida native Eve Calder writes the Cookie House mysteries, featuring pastry chef Kate McGuire -- including AND THEN THERE WERE CRUMBS, SUGAR AND VICE and A TALE OF TWO COOKIES from St. Martin's Press.
Join her on Bluesky (EveCalderWrites.bsky.social) or email her at: ecalder@protonmail.com
Join her on Bluesky (EveCalderWrites.bsky.social) or email her at: ecalder@protonmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
September 6, 2021
A breathtaking innovation on the cosy mystery genre, And Then There Were Crumbs repudiates one or two staples of the genre and espouses a couple of them.
Without giving away spoilers, the ending and the way the murderer has his just desserts meted to him are very innovative and I applaud the daringness of the author.If this book were to comprise 330-ish pages, it would have got 5 stars from me. It does get 5 stars on a reread!!!
Let's say that this book is aflawed masterpiece. The next book in the series is titled Sugar and Vice. Let's hope this offering too will be a departure from the usual tropes of cosies.
It's a tradition of the cozy writer to dillydally, but this art hasnot been perfectly honed by the author. Otherwise, it's a perfect story.
Without giving away spoilers, the ending and the way the murderer has his just desserts meted to him are very innovative and I applaud the daringness of the author.
Let's say that this book is a
It's a tradition of the cozy writer to dillydally, but this art has
August 12, 2019
Oh, so clever a debut! I loved this cozy mystery from the first page to the last. It features all the elements I love in a cozy. Kate McGuire is a cookie whisperer. She can tell your favorite flavor in a glance! Rolling into beachside Coral Cay, Florida in a broken down car, Kate goes to work at The Cookie House owned by Sam Hepplewhite, who oddly only bakes bread. As the fantastic story begins to roll out, Kate quickly makes some great friends—especially, the perky Maxi who owns the flower shop—and the two women work closely together to find evidence that Sam isn’t a murderer.
At times, emotional, and at other times, full of chuckles; the story is captivating and features just the right number of characters for readers to like, or not like! There’s a lovable dog, Oliver, and coffee fans will enjoy all the flavors the characters are sipping throughout this enticing novel.
At times, emotional, and at other times, full of chuckles; the story is captivating and features just the right number of characters for readers to like, or not like! There’s a lovable dog, Oliver, and coffee fans will enjoy all the flavors the characters are sipping throughout this enticing novel.
April 24, 2020
This was such a great read that grew me in right away with the characters, small town backdrop, and a murder mystery. The atmosphere in south Florida with beautiful flowers, coastal breezes, and warm temperatures is the perfect setting for a new start for New York City pastry chef Kate McGuire. She lost her job, apartment, and fiance' all the same day and headed to the location of the planned honeymoon hoping to find a job and new life. Things didn't go as she planned but she did stumble on a new job, whole host of new friends, especially best new friend/next door neighbor, Maxi and a murder to solve. This is a fun mystery from beginning to end that is a great start to a new series that I look forward to reading.
My husband and I lived in southwest Florida for a year early in our marriage and it is a great area on the coast to live. The the island town of Coral Cay in the story was easy to picture.
My husband and I lived in southwest Florida for a year early in our marriage and it is a great area on the coast to live. The the island town of Coral Cay in the story was easy to picture.
November 22, 2019
Looking for a fresh start, Kate McGuire packs up and moves from New York City to Coral Cay, Florida, where she lands a job working at The Cookie House. On her first day on the job, Stewart Lord stalks into the bakery. He is a real estate developer who has decided to buy up Coral Cay and turn the entire island into a resort for the rich and famous, and he has The Cookie House in his sites as his first purchase. He makes the owner, Sam, a rock bottom offer, but only leaves with some cinnamon rolls he demanded from Sam. A few hours later, Stewart is dead, and Sam’s cinnamon rolls are the culprit. The police arrest Sam, but Kate doesn’t think her new boss is a killer. Can she prove he didn’t poison Stewart?
Between the fact that this is a culinary cozy and it is set in the Florida Keys, I was ready to sit back and enjoy. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I was captivated at first. The setting is very real and fun and comes to life. Kate quickly makes a lot of fantastic friends, and I enjoyed hanging out with all of them. The further I went into the book, the more frustrated I became with the pacing of the mystery. We spend significantly more time watching Kate work to save and transform the bakery while Sam is in jail than we do getting clues to who might have killed Stewart. It’s a shame because there is a good mystery here; we just needed more of it. All the baking certainly made me hungry for bread and cookies, but there aren’t any recipes at the end of this book. Plenty of people seem to love this book, so if the premise interests you, I recommend you pick it up and judge the results for yourself.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Between the fact that this is a culinary cozy and it is set in the Florida Keys, I was ready to sit back and enjoy. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I was captivated at first. The setting is very real and fun and comes to life. Kate quickly makes a lot of fantastic friends, and I enjoyed hanging out with all of them. The further I went into the book, the more frustrated I became with the pacing of the mystery. We spend significantly more time watching Kate work to save and transform the bakery while Sam is in jail than we do getting clues to who might have killed Stewart. It’s a shame because there is a good mystery here; we just needed more of it. All the baking certainly made me hungry for bread and cookies, but there aren’t any recipes at the end of this book. Plenty of people seem to love this book, so if the premise interests you, I recommend you pick it up and judge the results for yourself.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
June 29, 2019
And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder is the first book in a new cozy mystery and I was captivated from the first page.
I really liked Kate because she's fiercely independent after surviving the loss of her job, apartment and fiance all on the same day. She is soon swept up in a murder mystery after landing a job as counter help at The Cookie House in downtown Coral Cay. The secondary characters are all integral to the investigation especially Maxi who I want to meet. A complex plot with red herrings and twists that kept me guessing until the reveal. The twist at the reveal was perfect! I'm looking forward to many more in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
I really liked Kate because she's fiercely independent after surviving the loss of her job, apartment and fiance all on the same day. She is soon swept up in a murder mystery after landing a job as counter help at The Cookie House in downtown Coral Cay. The secondary characters are all integral to the investigation especially Maxi who I want to meet. A complex plot with red herrings and twists that kept me guessing until the reveal. The twist at the reveal was perfect! I'm looking forward to many more in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
July 23, 2019
And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder is the first novel in A Cookie House Mystery series. I like the authors casual writing style which made the book easy to read. Kate McGuire has a bad day when the restaurant where she works goes out of business, her apartment building is sold and going condo, and she broke off her engagement to a cheating louse. Kate relocates to Coral Cay and gets a non-baking position at The Cookie House. When her new boss is accused of murder, Kate works to prove his innocence. I like that Kate is a strong, independent character. Her new best friend, Maxi Mas-Buchanan is a delight along with her large family. She is a florist who works magic with blooms. There is a cast of secondary characters that enliven the story and help in solving the case. Oliver is a large, friendly puppy that belongs to the town. The mystery was clever. It was a unique whodunit which I just loved. It can be solved before the reveal thanks to the clues sprinkled throughout the story. I like how Maxi and Kate work together and get help from the other townspeople. I hope the author keeps providing unique mysteries in future installments of A Cookie House Mystery series. I did feel, though, that the book was too long (352 pages). Fifty pages could have easily been edited which would have enhanced the book (tightened it up) and improved the sluggish pace in the middle of And Then There Were Crumbs. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful new cozy mystery. There were humorous situations, tasty cookies, tempting sourdough bread (yum) and jovial moments. I was tickled pink that there was not a hint of a romance for Kate. One of my favorite lines from the book is “I can’t believe I have my very own kitchen elf. Look out Harry Potter.” And Then There Were Crumbs is a tempting cozy mystery with appetizing pastries, a cozy southern Florida town, Francine the sourdough starter, a clever canine, and two nosey busybodies.
November 17, 2020
And then there were Crumbs by Eve Calder is the first book in the Cookie House Mystery series. Pastry chef Kate McGuire moves to Coral Cay Florida after losing her job and fiance and starts a job at The Cookie House, only to have her boss arrested for murder after real estate developer Stewart Lord is poisoned after eating cinnamon rolls from the shop. An enjoyable and captivating mystery. I loved the town and its characters and especially the book club members who band together to help solve the crime. I enjoyed how the townspeople came together to help each other and restore The Cookie House. The town dog Olver is adorable and Kates talents with knowing which cookie is your favourite is amazing. A delightful and clever cozy mystery.
October 2, 2019
Release Date: July 30, 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
FIRST BOOK IN THE COOKIE HOUSE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
I absolutely LOVED this book! And Then There Were Crumbs is a clever who-dun-it with an EPIC TWIST in the end. I wasn't expecting the killer to be who it actually was and I praise the author for using originality. I haven't seen this in any other cozies (and I have read quite a few) and was stunned.
In this one, readers will meet a brand new sleuth named Kate who moves to the small town of Coral Cay, Florida after a devastating breakup with her fiance. Following the move, Kate finds work in a small Cookie Shop (that doesn't technically sell cookies) with a slightly grumpy owner. Feeling like she finally fits in she is happy to work alongside Same even though her culinary talents are wasted behind a counter. But then, Sam is accused or murder! What will happen to Kate's new life in Coral Cay? Will she ever be able to use her culinary talents to make ends meet? Well, you'll find out when reading And Then There Were Crumbs!
Friendship, small town morals and values, delicious recipes, and so much more are RICH in this book! Eve Calder is an excellent mystery writer and her talent is shown through these pages. I am so excited to get my hands on the second book in the series Sugar and Vice which releases on April 28th, 2020. I have a strong feeling that this Culinary, Cozy Mystery series is going to be a TOP FAVORITE of mine in the years to come!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Genre: Cozy Mystery
FIRST BOOK IN THE COOKIE HOUSE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
I absolutely LOVED this book! And Then There Were Crumbs is a clever who-dun-it with an EPIC TWIST in the end. I wasn't expecting the killer to be who it actually was and I praise the author for using originality. I haven't seen this in any other cozies (and I have read quite a few) and was stunned.
In this one, readers will meet a brand new sleuth named Kate who moves to the small town of Coral Cay, Florida after a devastating breakup with her fiance. Following the move, Kate finds work in a small Cookie Shop (that doesn't technically sell cookies) with a slightly grumpy owner. Feeling like she finally fits in she is happy to work alongside Same even though her culinary talents are wasted behind a counter. But then, Sam is accused or murder! What will happen to Kate's new life in Coral Cay? Will she ever be able to use her culinary talents to make ends meet? Well, you'll find out when reading And Then There Were Crumbs!
Friendship, small town morals and values, delicious recipes, and so much more are RICH in this book! Eve Calder is an excellent mystery writer and her talent is shown through these pages. I am so excited to get my hands on the second book in the series Sugar and Vice which releases on April 28th, 2020. I have a strong feeling that this Culinary, Cozy Mystery series is going to be a TOP FAVORITE of mine in the years to come!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
June 14, 2020
Great new series! I loved the characters and setting. I figured out the mystery early, but still enjoyed the story. I did feel the story was a little long, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. I’m looking forward to the next one in the series.
May 27, 2020
Things are not looking good for Kate McGuire. The pastry chief used to have a great job in Manhattan and a fiance. Now, she has nothing - no job, no fiance, no place to live and even her car breaks down. She ends up in the beautiful tourist town of Coral Cay, Florida. Lucky for her, there happens to be a job opening at the local bakery shop, The Cookie House. Unlucky for her is the man who owns the shop, Sam Hepplewhite, is a grump who doesn’t want any sweets, least of all cookies, in his bakery. All he sells is bread. He wants Kate to stand behind the counter, help customers, and nothing more. Not exactly the career move she is looking for, but it will suffice for now.
When real estate developer Stewart Lord stops by the shop, he tries to strong arm Sam into selling his bakery. Sam refuses, but Stewart is not taking no for an answer. The two argue. Later, Stewart turns up dead and Sam is the prime suspect in the murder.
Suddenly Kate is left keeping The Cookie House open while her new boss is in jail. She vows to prove his innocence. With the help of her new friend, Maxi, they try to find the real killer.
This is a sweet (no pun intended) cozy mystery with delightful characters. They are quirky and jump right off the page. I’d love to spend time in this cute town.
The storyline kept me guessing. There were so many possible culprits. The author took it in a direction I wasn’t expecting, so I was totally surprised at the end. It is very cleverly written.
I started this as an audio book, but due to a lack of listening time, I ended up reading the e-book. I gobbled this right up. I already have the second book on my wishlist and looking forward to catching up with Kate and her crew. I suddenly have a craving for cookies - all kinds of cookies :)
When real estate developer Stewart Lord stops by the shop, he tries to strong arm Sam into selling his bakery. Sam refuses, but Stewart is not taking no for an answer. The two argue. Later, Stewart turns up dead and Sam is the prime suspect in the murder.
Suddenly Kate is left keeping The Cookie House open while her new boss is in jail. She vows to prove his innocence. With the help of her new friend, Maxi, they try to find the real killer.
This is a sweet (no pun intended) cozy mystery with delightful characters. They are quirky and jump right off the page. I’d love to spend time in this cute town.
The storyline kept me guessing. There were so many possible culprits. The author took it in a direction I wasn’t expecting, so I was totally surprised at the end. It is very cleverly written.
I started this as an audio book, but due to a lack of listening time, I ended up reading the e-book. I gobbled this right up. I already have the second book on my wishlist and looking forward to catching up with Kate and her crew. I suddenly have a craving for cookies - all kinds of cookies :)
August 23, 2019
It isn't too often that a cozy mystery will have my eyeballs leaking happy tears at the end, but this one sure did! I loved everything about this book! To me, it was the perfect cozy mystery. Instead of one person having a dog, the adorable poodle mix Oliver had adopted the whole town. He really did belong to everyone, and they all pitched in for his care. The mystery was a stumper and had an awesome twist toward the end which resulted in sweet justice.
I enjoyed all the human characters a lot (well, except for one obvious one), and even though some of them weren't mentioned a lot, I still felt like I knew them. I just loved the curmudgeonly Sam who owned the bakery. He was a little short with people and set in his ways, but it all built up and made for the most amazing ending. I enjoyed this so much that I preordered the second book and I can't wait for it to come out. This was another book that made readers care about the characters. It told about other things that they were doing in addition to investigating, which is more realistic too. I really got a kick out of Kate staying with her new friend Maxi and family, and her three kids going nuts over Kate's baking. It's great how the people of Coral Cay took care of their own and opened their arms to adopt Kate into their town family. I'd love to visit a place like that! (who knows, I might stay!)
I enjoyed all the human characters a lot (well, except for one obvious one), and even though some of them weren't mentioned a lot, I still felt like I knew them. I just loved the curmudgeonly Sam who owned the bakery. He was a little short with people and set in his ways, but it all built up and made for the most amazing ending. I enjoyed this so much that I preordered the second book and I can't wait for it to come out. This was another book that made readers care about the characters. It told about other things that they were doing in addition to investigating, which is more realistic too. I really got a kick out of Kate staying with her new friend Maxi and family, and her three kids going nuts over Kate's baking. It's great how the people of Coral Cay took care of their own and opened their arms to adopt Kate into their town family. I'd love to visit a place like that! (who knows, I might stay!)
May 20, 2020
I'm already in love with the Cookie House and I have only read, well listened, to one book! I so want to visit and check out all the shops in the downtown area. The characters are extremely well developed and so very realistic that they instantly feel like new friends. The plot line was very well developed and intriguing so you just have to keep reading, or listening as in my case. The narrator of the audio version is fabulous with giving each character a unique voice so that they feel even more real. I can't wait to read/listen to the next book in the series!
November 1, 2020
I really enjoyed the book. Just a nice escape, a very nice read and a pretty good "whodunnit"
The narration was very well done.
Looking forward to the next one.
The narration was very well done.
Looking forward to the next one.
August 23, 2019
There are so many awesome characters in this book! Kate is a very likeable character and I will definitely read more by this author!
May 14, 2022
This is really not normally my type of book but I really enjoyed it!
January 21, 2022
Very much enjoyed this first book in the Cookie House Mystery series.
November 3, 2020
I thought this was an excellent book and now have my library getting number 2 and 3 and more for me. Light mystery that doesn't keep me awake at night thinking bad thoughts .
June 14, 2021
I totally enjoyed this delightful book! Great characters and great narration.
February 22, 2022
Cozy Mystery Book Club Read for January 2022
YouTube livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3sxN...
I really enjoyed this book!
YouTube livestream link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3sxN...
I really enjoyed this book!
January 30, 2020
After Kate McGuire loses her job, her home and her fiance in Manhattan all in one day, she's ready for a fresh start. Cashing in her honeymoon fund and her retirement package, she heads to the island town of Coral Cay, Florida and a fresh start. With no luck finding a real job as a pastry chef, Kate is prepared to accept a job as a fish restaurant as a prep cook when her car breaks down. A friendly local mechanic directs her to the Cookie House where owner Sam Hepplewhite needs help running his bakery. Sam is a tough nut and won't even let Kate anywhere near the kitchen or pay her state minimum wage but she soon realizes there's more to her boss than meets the eye. When the shop is broken into Kate's first night, Kate is concerned but the local patrol cop thinks it was just a prank. The next day, wealthy real estate developer bursts into the bakery demanding Sam sell to him - or else! Sam refuses to sell and refuses to fight. He sends Stewart Lord off with a box of homemade cinnamon rolls. Only a short time later, Officer Kyle Hardy comes to grill Kate and Sam about the cinnamon bun and leads Sam away in handcuffs for murdering Stewart Lord! Kate is aghast. She's certain her boss did not kill that man and has the backing of the entire community. With help from her new friends, Kate is determined to figure out the truth and clear Sam's name. She's also determined to keep his bakery open no matter what even if she has to defy his orders not to sell pastry!
I really love the community of Coral Key. I was wary at first because I hate the beach and try to stay away from tropical locations even in novels but this story is about the downtown community and not the tourist resort town the locals avoid. The downtown area is a thriving community of people who live and work there and love their town. They are the very essence of Coral Key and no amount of money or bullying is going to let them give up their community. I was very touched by how they accepted Kate and rallied around Sam. I also loved the baking! I need recipes for s'mores cookies and Kate's almond anise cookies. The others are fairly standard, including Tollhouse cookies and gingersnaps. Sam's sourdough recipe is a secret so I suppose that's out too.
The mystery is tight. I only figured it out just before Kate did. The solution was very clever. I was happy Kate went to the detective with her story once she had the facts in place. I did not like how incompetent Kyle is. He dismissed the break in without even filing a report or taking finger prints. Even if it was a prank by local kids, wouldn't he want to know so he could tell their parents? Plus given the nature of the community, I doubt any locals would do that. I found it implausible that Sam could be arrested and held in jail without proof. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Also, the speed in which forensics works in this novel is lightening fast when in all the other cozies they say "real life" doesn't work as fast as TV. It would be impossible to know how Stewart died and the murder weapon THAT fast. That was my only real problem with the novel.
This book is a true cozy. Stewart Lord was a nasty man who should have been in jail, not murdered but as far as fiction goes, he's one who deserved to be killed. "Lord" Stewart Lord did not have one redeeming quality. Good riddance. The characters in the community of Coral Key really make this book special. Kate is a saint to put up with making less than minimum wage and wasting her talent minding the counter, taking receipts the old-fashioned way by hand. It's a far cry from the pastry chef job she had at a swanky Manhattan restaurant but she's desperate. It was a great day for Coral Key when she did because Kate is a fighter. Life had not been good to her lately but Sam has. He's like a loaf of his sourdough- crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. It doesn't take Kate long to figure that out just through the little things that Sam does to help his neighbors and even going out of his way to make her comfortable and safe unannounced. Sam is grieving the loss of his beloved wife Cookie and losing her has made him terribly unhappy. She was the joy and light in his life and the pastry chef. He's a baker and while it is his passion, his passion extends only to bread and running the shop he started with his wife. It was their dream and he's determined to keep the dream alive in his own way. He needs Kate as much as she needs him. Sam is the godfather of the local community. He is unselfish and giving. This is why everyone knows he is not a murderer.
Maxi, Kate's first new friend in Coral Key, is a whirlwind. Businesswoman, wife, mother and daughter, Maxi has endless energy to take charge of people and events when needed. She is a natural born leader and a true friend. I found her speech sprinkled with Spanish phrases a little odd. I've never heard anyone refer to their mother as mi Mami, usually it's just Mami but maybe in Miami this is normal? We don't have a large Cuban population here, mostly Dominican and Puerto Rican. Maxi's family is funny and charming. Her husband is a brick but her kids are a little annoying. There are too many characters to fully keep track of but they're all well-rounded and wonderful. My most favorite character is Oliver, a Poodle mix puppy who belongs to the town. Shame on the author for highlighting a "designer dog." Couldn't he have just been a Poodle? Oliver is uncannily well behaved for not having an official home or family. He's perceptive, sweet and makes Kate feel better. Oliver is like a guardian angel dog with the appetite of a real, growing puppy. I question the gingersnaps and cheddar biscuits but he does deserve a treat for alerting Kyle to the break-in.
Who was the killer though if not someone from downtown Coral Key? Could it have been Lord Enterprises Attorney? Someone Lord knew and double crossed? A business deal gone wrong? His family if he has any or perhaps someone from the community snapped and did something they shouldn't have? All Kate knows is that it wasn't Ben, no matter what the evidence looks like?
I give a lot of credit to the author for making this community multi-cultural. All the cultures come together to share their food traditions with each other. No one seriously criticizes the other for even making coffee wrong, except Americano coffee is too weak for Maxi! I love this and we need more of this diversity in cozy mysteries.
I will definitely read more of this series but we need recipes, please!
I really love the community of Coral Key. I was wary at first because I hate the beach and try to stay away from tropical locations even in novels but this story is about the downtown community and not the tourist resort town the locals avoid. The downtown area is a thriving community of people who live and work there and love their town. They are the very essence of Coral Key and no amount of money or bullying is going to let them give up their community. I was very touched by how they accepted Kate and rallied around Sam. I also loved the baking! I need recipes for s'mores cookies and Kate's almond anise cookies. The others are fairly standard, including Tollhouse cookies and gingersnaps. Sam's sourdough recipe is a secret so I suppose that's out too.
The mystery is tight. I only figured it out just before Kate did. The solution was very clever. I was happy Kate went to the detective with her story once she had the facts in place. I did not like how incompetent Kyle is. He dismissed the break in without even filing a report or taking finger prints. Even if it was a prank by local kids, wouldn't he want to know so he could tell their parents? Plus given the nature of the community, I doubt any locals would do that. I found it implausible that Sam could be arrested and held in jail without proof. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Also, the speed in which forensics works in this novel is lightening fast when in all the other cozies they say "real life" doesn't work as fast as TV. It would be impossible to know how Stewart died and the murder weapon THAT fast. That was my only real problem with the novel.
This book is a true cozy. Stewart Lord was a nasty man who should have been in jail, not murdered but as far as fiction goes, he's one who deserved to be killed. "Lord" Stewart Lord did not have one redeeming quality. Good riddance. The characters in the community of Coral Key really make this book special. Kate is a saint to put up with making less than minimum wage and wasting her talent minding the counter, taking receipts the old-fashioned way by hand. It's a far cry from the pastry chef job she had at a swanky Manhattan restaurant but she's desperate. It was a great day for Coral Key when she did because Kate is a fighter. Life had not been good to her lately but Sam has. He's like a loaf of his sourdough- crusty on the outside and soft on the inside. It doesn't take Kate long to figure that out just through the little things that Sam does to help his neighbors and even going out of his way to make her comfortable and safe unannounced. Sam is grieving the loss of his beloved wife Cookie and losing her has made him terribly unhappy. She was the joy and light in his life and the pastry chef. He's a baker and while it is his passion, his passion extends only to bread and running the shop he started with his wife. It was their dream and he's determined to keep the dream alive in his own way. He needs Kate as much as she needs him. Sam is the godfather of the local community. He is unselfish and giving. This is why everyone knows he is not a murderer.
Maxi, Kate's first new friend in Coral Key, is a whirlwind. Businesswoman, wife, mother and daughter, Maxi has endless energy to take charge of people and events when needed. She is a natural born leader and a true friend. I found her speech sprinkled with Spanish phrases a little odd. I've never heard anyone refer to their mother as mi Mami, usually it's just Mami but maybe in Miami this is normal? We don't have a large Cuban population here, mostly Dominican and Puerto Rican. Maxi's family is funny and charming. Her husband is a brick but her kids are a little annoying. There are too many characters to fully keep track of but they're all well-rounded and wonderful. My most favorite character is Oliver, a Poodle mix puppy who belongs to the town. Shame on the author for highlighting a "designer dog." Couldn't he have just been a Poodle? Oliver is uncannily well behaved for not having an official home or family. He's perceptive, sweet and makes Kate feel better. Oliver is like a guardian angel dog with the appetite of a real, growing puppy. I question the gingersnaps and cheddar biscuits but he does deserve a treat for alerting Kyle to the break-in.
Who was the killer though if not someone from downtown Coral Key? Could it have been Lord Enterprises Attorney? Someone Lord knew and double crossed? A business deal gone wrong? His family if he has any or perhaps someone from the community snapped and did something they shouldn't have? All Kate knows is that it wasn't Ben, no matter what the evidence looks like?
I give a lot of credit to the author for making this community multi-cultural. All the cultures come together to share their food traditions with each other. No one seriously criticizes the other for even making coffee wrong, except Americano coffee is too weak for Maxi! I love this and we need more of this diversity in cozy mysteries.
I will definitely read more of this series but we need recipes, please!
November 30, 2020
My first cozy mystery and it was GREAT. I loved all of the characters and the setting soooo much. This book was the perfect combination of cozy and small town living, I wish I could move there. Also was STARVING throughout the whole book, bakery mysteries are the way to go.
July 1, 2021
And Then there were Crumbs is the first in the A Cookie House Mystery series. Kate McGuire, pastry chef, has relocated to Florida after a pretty awful series of events. She takes a job as counter help working under a curmudgeonly bread baker. When an evil developer, is there any other kind in the cozy mystery world, ends up dead, Kate's new boss finds himself in a jail cell. Kate rallies the local community to keep the bakery going and solve the crime. Excellent first in a new series.
April 18, 2020
The first part of this book made me very nervous [it took me awhile to warm up to Sam and that stupid deputy cop Kyle needs to go on a permanent vacay and I was initially not in love with the narrator] and I was afraid that I was going to dislike the book immensely. Thankfully, I warmed up to Sam, Kyle went away and the narrator grew on me. And the book ended up being really lovely. And Kate and Maxi are very much my bestie and I [except that we don't solve crime - OR find dead bodies] and their interactions kept me laughing!!
Excellent read and start to a new series - looking forward to book 2.
Excellent read and start to a new series - looking forward to book 2.
February 10, 2021
I was hooked from the first chapter. What a great start to a new series. I am kind of glad I am behind, now I don't have to wait for book 2. I kept guessing who the killer was and I was wrong & I was surprised at who it was, but it made the story even better.
I loved the small town atmosphere and I especially loved the dog Oliver. I also have a fur baby named Oliver. One of the popular cookies in the book was peanut butter chocolate chip, my favorite!
I am really looking forward to see how The Cookie House is doing.
I loved the small town atmosphere and I especially loved the dog Oliver. I also have a fur baby named Oliver. One of the popular cookies in the book was peanut butter chocolate chip, my favorite!
I am really looking forward to see how The Cookie House is doing.
January 24, 2022
Fantastic start to a new series and author (to me)! I am so impressed. I loved Kate and the story felt authentic and realistic. Her developing relationship with Sam and the other characters in town made my heart melt. Really fun read - highly recommend it.
September 30, 2019
A very good first in a new series. Looking forward to the next.
May 12, 2020
And Then There Were Crumbs
A Cookie House Mystery, Book #1
Eve Calder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
She's a talented pastry chef--with a secret recipe for solving crimes...
WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE
Kate McGuire's life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiance both. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she's looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop's crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can't tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam--then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam's cinnamon rolls--all eyes focus on the town's beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar...before someone else gets burned.
"This delightful cozy has memorable characters...and a satisfying plot twist." - Booklist (Goodreads)
Review:
Sometimes when you read a book, something just clicks and you enjoy it so much. I do not know why it happens, but it does. That is exactly what happened when I read this book. I enjoyed everything about it, from the characters to the setting to the mystery. I would not change a thing about it.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Right from the very beginning, the residents of Coral Cay, Florida, were friendly and caring. Kate could not have picked a better place to settle down. Well, except for the murder, that did not feel very welcoming. I really enjoyed the way that they all banded together to try and solve the mystery. And I really liked the way that Oliver was a community dog, he spread his love around.
The writing style flowed smoothly and the book was a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. There were twists and turns galore and I was shocked at who the killer was. Bravo for the ending, it had me totally fooled.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
A Cookie House Mystery, Book #1
Eve Calder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
She's a talented pastry chef--with a secret recipe for solving crimes...
WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE
Kate McGuire's life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiance both. But sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she's looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop's crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can't tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam--then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam's cinnamon rolls--all eyes focus on the town's beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar...before someone else gets burned.
"This delightful cozy has memorable characters...and a satisfying plot twist." - Booklist (Goodreads)
Review:
Sometimes when you read a book, something just clicks and you enjoy it so much. I do not know why it happens, but it does. That is exactly what happened when I read this book. I enjoyed everything about it, from the characters to the setting to the mystery. I would not change a thing about it.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Right from the very beginning, the residents of Coral Cay, Florida, were friendly and caring. Kate could not have picked a better place to settle down. Well, except for the murder, that did not feel very welcoming. I really enjoyed the way that they all banded together to try and solve the mystery. And I really liked the way that Oliver was a community dog, he spread his love around.
The writing style flowed smoothly and the book was a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. There were twists and turns galore and I was shocked at who the killer was. Bravo for the ending, it had me totally fooled.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
August 1, 2022
Story of a talented pastry chef–with a secret recipe for solving crimes…
Kate McGuire, after losing her restaurant job and fiancé both, lands in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough.
Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
When her new boss is accused of murdering a pushy real estate mogul with But when her new boss is accused of murdering a pushy real estate mogul with poisoned cinnamon rolls, Kate is determined to catch the real killer. cinnamon rolls, Kate is determined to catch the real killer. And the mystery deepens…..
Kate McGuire, after losing her restaurant job and fiancé both, lands in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough.
Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
When her new boss is accused of murdering a pushy real estate mogul with But when her new boss is accused of murdering a pushy real estate mogul with poisoned cinnamon rolls, Kate is determined to catch the real killer. cinnamon rolls, Kate is determined to catch the real killer. And the mystery deepens…..
May 14, 2021
Fabulous debut cozy mystery! Unique and so exciting! I am already getting attached to characters. There was more than one mystery and they were all so exciting and well developed! I bought this on Audible on a sale and bought both books in the series and I am so happy I did....and the narrator Christa Lewis was awesome! I highly recommended this novel! I am starting the second one immediately.
January 22, 2022
Love this book! It was a great start to a series! The idea of the dog belonging to the town was very sweet and, as a dog lover, I appreciated that! Looking forward to reading more in the series!
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