Desserts and Deception

Margot Durand #2

by Danielle Collins, C.S.E. Cooney (Narrator)

A delicious tale of desserts, deception, and murder.

Margot Durand is running a growing bakery business in a quaint little town near Washington DC. When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, she does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. Can she solve the case, catch the killer, and keep out of harm's way?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Cozy

Audiobook

Published April 24, 2018

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eek. I am always so surprised by the high ratings of these books. I liked the first one better, but this one is clumsy and too convenient. I know there is a certain amount of suspension of disbelief with the amateur sleuthing in cozies, but it just got ludricrous once Detective Adam started taking Margot along for the ride at crime scenes and police interviews. C.S.E. Cooney, the narrator of the audiobook version, is HIGHLY annoying, with her over-enunciation, random inflection and pressured speech. (It's all about the emPHAsis on the wrong sylLAble...)

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a 2.5 read for me. I enjoyed the first book in the series much much better.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

2. Book 2 Desserts and Deception
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Deserts and Deception in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
Fast-paced and action packed with multiple ties to high-profile Mob boss Victor Carow’s case which are blended with Margot’s and Adam’s burgeoning romance, and the addition of the charismatic surprise bakery assistant, Dexter.
Coincidences, inconsistencies, and the request of her good friend, recently married Craft Boutique owner Tamera, has Margot partnering with Adam to prove Tamera’s lawyer husband, George innocence of murder.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.


3. Book 3 Pastries and Pilfering
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Pastries and Pilfering in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Intriguing with multiple clues, small mysteries, and Margot worrying over if she can have a lasting relationship with Adam who has secrets.
41-year-old Margot takes a 2-week vacation from her North Bank, Virginia bakery hoping to relax on a five-day cruise to Mexico with her ex-student Addie and then another week with her sister Renee’s family in Long Beach, California but things become complex when Margot overhears some suspicious conversations, a prominent actor takes interest in her, Adam and his friend Gage show up on the cruise, her friend Addie does not keep her promises, and staff die.

May be read as a standalone but is best if read in the series order as it begins with a series recap.

4. Book 4 Muffins and Murder
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North Bank, Virginia set cozy mystery Muffins and Murder in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
This is a complex mystery with a developing romance where an act from over forty years ago produces negative reactions in the present.
Missing retired trial lawyer Bentley’s daily visits and stories after he injured his back, Margot takes him breakfast hoping for an intriguing story which she gets but, she also finds herself mixed up in a murder mystery where his friends are killed. Another layer of mystery is added in the form of her assistant Dexter’s hacking skills and sudden leave of absence.
The recent death of one of Bentley’s friends prompts him to relay a tale from his twenties when he and his three law school friends provided scuba diving lessons and found a sunken treasure only to have it stolen.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

5. Book 5 Vacations and Violence
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Vacation and Violence in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Suspenseful and complex with a twist, this story contains a fair amount of drama in the form of well-blended odd encounters, multiple murders, and suspicious behavior.
Margot visits her friend Chef CeCe Baxter, who is been working in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains for a year, hoping for a relaxing weekend only to learn CeCe invited her to help stop a stalker, who has located the hiding CeCe and become active again on the anniversary of her marriage to her unfaithful and abusive ex-husband Rick Moody.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

6. Book 6 Boating and Bodies
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North, Bank Virginia set cozy mystery Boating and Bodies in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
While the mystery feels less complex than the previous novels in the series, it is an easy-flowing story with realistic characters and a good bit happening. This is a single murder mystery where the story is divided between Margot and Adam’s relationship progressing with thoughts of an engagement, the growing need to fill Dexter’s position and Margot’s investigation of a suspicious drowning with the help of Adam and Dexter.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

7. Book 7 Murder in Maine
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Murder in Maine in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
Four months after he leaves, Margot receives a sudden 2 AM call from her ex-bakery assistant Dexter aka Hector VanNess asking for her to come to the sleepy small New England town of Bath, Maine to help him find his missing sister Danielle, a former gang member and FBI informant, and to help him, a former FBI cyber-security worker, run Danielle aka Darcy’s bakery.
Margot places her unconventional new assistant baker, single mother Julia Hangeman, in charge for a week and heads to Maine where on her first night a suspicious sound draws her down to the bakery where she finds a dead body and then becomes a target.

8. Book 8 Bakeries and Bodies
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Bakeries and Bodies in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
An easy-flowing Christmas time murder mystery based on greed that contains some poignant moments and has a heartwarming ending.
Love is in the bloom of this sequel where Margot goes home with Adam to meet his family in Sister, Oregon leaving her bakery and her two assistants, Dexter and Julia, who have a hate/love relationship, under the care of Mama Rosie.
The vacation is less than relaxing when on day one, Margot learns she is volunteered to bake for the yearly Christmas bake-off and, her partner Fran is accused of killing the biggest rival.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

9. Book 9 A Deadly Engagement
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North Bank, Virginia set cozy mystery A Deadly Engagement in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
An easy-to-follow, drama-packed, and at times suspenseful story that occurs around Valentine’s Day.
A story based on greed with a profession of love. While love continues to grow for the couples at the Bakery, this is not a carefree Holiday romance.
Shortly after Bentley enlists Margot’s help to unravel the meaning of the cryptic letter, he received from his recently deceased first wife, Margot has an odd encounter with Felix Lynch posing as a staff member, has a car following her, and someone with Bentley’s name is found burning in a car.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

10. Book 10 A Killer Cover Up
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery A Killer Cover Up in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
An easy-flowing story of police corruption and wedding preparation stress.
As Margot approaches the last months before her wedding, a reporter from the past offers to provide Margot with new information regarding Julian’s murder only for him to be found dead at their meeting spot.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

11. Book 11 Catering and Crime
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Catering and Crime in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Margot takes a break from wedding planning stress to solve a murder and capture a jewelry-thieving ring that are connected to her reception caterer. Contains cameos with Bentley and his son Ben.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

12. Book 12 Murder and Matrimony
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Murder and Matrimony in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
A fitting conclusion that is full of drama.
When Adam’s “Secret Life” threatens to change their wedding plans, Margot must rely on her friends for help to clear Adam, finish the wedding planning, and protect herself from the violent stalker who is trying to stop her before she stops him.
Two weeks before the wedding, Margot thinks her main stressor is the lack of a wedding cake until Adam is arrested for murder.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.

[Selah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun characters, but a lousy, confused, muddled mystery with a so-so narrator. Not worth continuing with the series. 2.5 stars

[Lisa Denn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desserts and Deception, the second book in Danielle Collins' Margot Durand cozy mystery series, reunites the owner of The Parisian Patisserie Margot Durand (baker/amateur sleuth) with Detective Adam Eastwood.

The book is enjoyable and moves at a quick pace. Can be read in one sitting and on its own or part of Collins' series.

The characters - Durand and Eastwood - are likeable individuals BUT Detective Eastwood is a bit "too perfect" in my opinion. His flawless personna is distracting at times and not in a good way. Too nice and way too forgiving.

Durand's character could use some tweaking as well. Durand and many of the amateur sleuths depicted in this genre - are played by strong and independent females. These women more often than not come off as being a bit obnoxious at times. It gets old really fast having to read and reread the same dialogue throughout the book - cop says leave the investigating to the police and the sleuth words her response in such a way to give herself permission to proceed to ignore him.

Despite the above mentioned character flaws Desserts and Deception was both entertaining and difficult to put down.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little harder to read than the first book. I still really enjoyed it, as well as the characters in the book. We found out a little more about Adam, and Julian. Adam is actually a really nice character and mirrors Margot really well in many ways.

Adam and Margot work really well together on the case, and though Margot is a little head strong, she is well aware that Adam has her best interest at heart. I will mention, that the chief character in this book, similar to most murder mystery books, was very blase about Adam sharing details with Margot.

Dex was also a nice addition to the series. He fits in perfectly with Margot and Rosie at the bakery. He also provides Adam with more of a back story so we get to see where he came from, and what made him the man he is today.

Overall this was a really fun little book.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the mystery series featuring Margot Durand and her bakery. I like these books: this one resolved some of the editing issues I noticed in the first book. And she handles the mysteries themselves well. It is interesting to see how she gets along with the detective.

If I could change one thing, it would be to make the characters feel more real. I feel like I, as a reader, would prefer to know more about Margot. I feel like I know so little about her after two books. The focus is (as it should be) on the case, but it's the characters and settings that separate one mystery from the next, and… I keep wishing for more.

But, as long as they're on Kindle Unlimited and as long as I'm subscribed, they're a pleasant diversion.

[Loretta TheMoodyRedhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute read. I’m still wondering how old Margot is. I feel she must be in her late 40’s, but I’m not sure. Maybe I didn’t pick up enough of the hints in this book and the last, but I feel the description is missing.

My biggest fear was that George would actually be guilty. Clues were lining up to show that George was the killer. That would break Margot’s best friends heart, of course. With the help of her and her friends, Margot discovered a lot of things about George that his new wife didn’t know.

I like that Margot and Adam are taking their friendship to a new level because I always enjoy a good romance in a Cozy Mystery Book.

The next book in this series is Pastries and Pilfering (Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Book 3).
Review on that coming soon!

[Charlotte Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desserts and Deception is the second book in the Margot Durand mystery series by Danielle Collins. I enjoyed it well enough, but I felt that the resolution of the mystery was very rushed. A number of new characters were introduced in the final few chapters, and it became difficult to keep track of who was who. I also felt that the structure of the mystery itself was unusual - there were no red herrings for the reader to follow, and there were no real plot twists or surprises.

I felt that the first book in the series, Croissants and Corruption, was much better written. I'm not sure if I'll continue reading the series, since this second book was underwhelming.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful cozy mystery as long as you don't get too caught up in how the mystery would happen in real life. This is a cozy, not real life. Margot runs a bakery. Her friend's husband is accused of a murder. So Margot and Adam, the town detective, investigate. The characters are interesting, the mystery is intriguing and it has a budding romance. There isn't a graphic or disturbing murder, and Margot takes chances but has backup. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book.

[Andrea Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Book 3 in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Books 1-12 and this was a fast read in the last few mornings after breakfast.
Margot Durand is running a growing bakery business in a little town near Washington DC. When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, she does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. Margot also is teaming up with Adam who is a police detective that worked with her husband before he died 5 years ago and things are getting interesting for both of them.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

read through KU (my subscription ends in Feb) so i am trying to find the best books in that service to read now before the ends. i do believe DC is new to me. enjoyable read. love the book cover. still not allowed to review on Amazon. losers. any who ...i enjoyed the book. i have been without power for 3 days, so i am trying to plan time for reading ...life gets in the way sometimes and you don't have the time to do what you love most. i would so read more from this series. i enjoy DC's writing style. check this one out.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Cozy Mystery
"Margot Durand is running a growing bakery business in a quaint little town near Washington DC. When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, she does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. Can she solve the case, catch the killer, and keep out of harms way?"
This is a good cozy mystery. I really enjoyed reading this book. I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Celest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margot hires an assistant, Rosie's still a mystery

Margot hires a pastry chef referred by Adam, seems suspicious, right? What about Rosie? Now I'm obsessed. I'm enjoying this series, so many twists and turns and dead guys. Don't miss this series it's so much fun. Now I'm on to the next book, hope to get a little more info about Rosie and to see how the Margot and Adam romance is heating up. Solving another mystery, of course is the highlight of all cozy mysteries.

[Pilucaaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I get that the MC Margot has to be in everyone's business so there is a story, but boy she is fucking neck deep. It's kind of annoying but, still, I understand.

On another note, I feel like she is kinda toxic using hee connection to Adam without answering him on whether or not she wants to go on a date. He's waaaayy too lenient on her.

But in the end the story is nice and the plot twist too. Sadly once again we cannot find out, as readers, who the murderer/s is/are.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamara her best friend and owner of the craft store, had been on a vacation. Wanting to stop by her shop before going home, finding a man dead inside. Who, a Hawaiian shirt, and make up on. Margot had the keys, and been in there three days before. The man had been in protective custody in DC, so why here. Margot reasoned with herself not to get involved, but did she.

[Avalon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bakery detective

Margot owns and runs her own bakery and is good friends with Adam, the local detective who she likes to help with her sleuthing skills. Unfortunately she keeps running into dead bodies and after meeting her friend who had been on holiday and wanted to check on her craft shop before going home so they went in and out the back was a dead body. ........

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

This is the second book in the Margot Durand cozy mystery series that I've read and thoroughly enjoyed! The characters are well developed and the plots are interesting. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwanted pests in the shop

Loved it. The laid back, village feel is still strong and the sleuthing is very much in the style of Christie. Why was he killed in the shop? What was he doing there? The romance is kicked up a notch too. Recommended

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars

Excellent work keeping the reader intrigued with the story. I couldn’t put it down.

No language or sexual references and murder isn’t graphic so I can happily recommend this to my advanced reading preteen friends

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the Margot Durand series is much better than the first. Several plots were happening and the characters continued to develop. Good quick read. I just don’t know when she finds time to bake all the pastries for her shop.

[Andra Fore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Easy to Read

This series is very comfortable. It has good characters and easy reading. These stories are perfect if you don't have a lot of time to read. They can be read in three or four nights. Excellent governorship have busy schedules but want to read when they can.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick read. A baker, Margot Durand, helped Detective Adam Eastwood solve a previous murder in New Bank in which her niece as a suspect. Now a second murder has occurred and George who recently married her friend Tamara is the #1 suspect.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the other books by this author. I have on kindle, so I read a few chapters here and there. Wasn’t getting me to read more. Hope the other in series is better.
Happy Reading 📖

[Charline Romine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Painting

This one has everything‼️ Murder, mayhem, criminals, blackmail and a new kid in the bakery. Very interesting to follow the clues with Margot and Adam as they roust out the killer.

[Kitten Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

A suspicious murder, a close friends husband accused, Adam has a dog named Clint Eastwood, boils over into a great read.

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Nothing terrific. Personally, I didn't find the main character terrifically likeable.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very fun book to read. I enjoyed the tension over who dunnit! There were so many different possible culprits that I was kept guessing throughout the whole book!

[Deb Sharp · Rating 5 out of 5]

In really getting into this series!

I Love The main characters in this series, I feel like I know them personally I wish I was working in the Bakery as the New assistance.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

have to say the second book was even better than the first, looking forward to reading more...