Crepes and Crimes

Mad Batter #2

by Constance Barker

The Best Man is a Dead Man

Coco is trying to get her Mad Batter Bakery off the ground by catering the engagement party of one of the wealthy families in town. But when the best man ends up dead on the bottom of one of her catering carts, Coco wonders if she'll ever be free of the taint of discovering the dearly departed.

Stella and Vivian are ready to help, but these old girls might be more trouble than Coco bargained for.

And when Coco attempts sleuthing on her own, will she be next on the victim list?

Not if handsome deputy Logan has anything to say about it. Coco can be infuriating with her amateur detective skills, but Logan can't stay mad at her for long. Is a blooming romance in the cards for Coco?

Coco finds herself in a sticky situation when two men in her life are in danger. Can she save the day or make more trouble for them?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Constance Barker lives in the Midwest with her husband and two Akitas where she can look out from her screened porch onto a wooded area brimming with activity. Since she was a young girl she read mysteries, often given to her by her grandmother. She loved figuring out who the culprit was and sometimes she was right and other times startled at who the author picked as the assailant. Now she enjoys writing mysteries herself. When she isn't writing stories, she can be found in her favorite vacation spot, Las Vegas or shopping for bargains.

Reviews

[Tracie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few of Miss Constance's books before and enjoyed them, but Cozy Mystery books are definitely her niche. I loved Crepes & Crimes! There are so many funny sayings throughout you will feel like you are talking to someone's southern granny! "Toss my eyes into a pickle jar and throw away the keys" was funny, but my favorite quote is "what sorta weirdo picks out boring, plain vanilla".
The characters are described so well you feel like they are your neighbors. It even takes a bit to figure out who did it, and makes you want to read until the end just to make sure you are right.
If you enjoy Cozy Mystery type books, this is a must read. I so look forward to reading the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun cozy mystery series and this book is as great as the first. I love the crazy antics of the wonderful characters and the possibility of romance??? Very good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the new Bakery series, and even better than the first book! A body is discovered (by Coco) at an engagement party catered by the Mad Batter. Coco has learned nothing about putting herself in harms way we discover, especially at the stunning conclusion. A great mix of characters, many suspects, and plenty of coffee to wash it all down make this book hard to stop reading. I am anxiously waiting for the third book to see if Logan decides to ask Coco out, instead of just rushing to her side every time something happens. It's obvious there is chemistry there! So many possibilities and here I sit...waiting...

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maribelle and Jordan chose Coco to handling the dessert catering for the engagement party. But her two helpers can’t help with preparations because Masie has a severe cold and Scooter’s mom has the same thing and needs him to stay with her to help. So she is left to cater the entire party herself! Of course, the icing on the cake is not cooperating – but she can handle this. Then a drunk groomsman pushed into the kitchen wanting a bottle of champagne for himself. He told him he could not be back in the kitchen and he got belligerent, yelling that her competitor, Sam, was right and she thought herself better than others. He had left the kitchen door open and all the guests were staring. Pushing him out, she went back to icing the cake when the dining area alarms went off and the sprinklers poured water over the food was set out. She ran to the dining area and closed lids over the food. To save the day, she would serve the cake. But as she returned to the kitchen, the cart wouldn’t move! Raising the covering on the lower part of the cart, Coco found Derrick, the drunk from earlier, a bottle of champagne clutched to his chest!

With her reputation already in jeopardy as the one who finds bodies, it is crucial that she find out who did it before the wedding ends up being cancelled. Once again, there are many suspects, including the bride and groom! Detective Logan Owensby tries to stop Coco from investigating, but she ignores him and puts everyone’s life in danger. The killer may be coming after her next!

This was another good cozy mystery. The story line is well-paced, and all of the various catastrophes made me think of sabotage! Grab your copy and have fun solving the mystery with Coco!

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco is catering an event for an upcoming wedding. She is working in the kitchen when a drunk man comes in and gets out of hand. Once things come down, all of sudden the fire alarm goes off and she goes saves the food. When she comes back, she finds the man dead.
She calls the police and Logan speaks to her, she is free to go. What Coco doesn't know then, is that this murder will effect her and her business.
When people stop coming to her shop due to the murder and she can't let it go. Coco and her friends will start to look into the murder while trying to get ready for the wedding.
Coco will have her put herself and others in danger by poking her nose where it doesn't belong. Will Coco find out who did it or will she lose everything.
Will Coco admit she has feelings for Logan, the police officer that is always there for her.

This was such a nice clean read, you get caught up in the story and is over before you know it. Can't wait to see if Coco and Logan can get a relationship going or not. To see what type of trouble that will find Coco next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very...averagr

I'm enjoying this series a little less; I need to like the main characters, and the mystery should hold my interest to add up to a good cozy for me. Coco is reading as more arrogant ("I'm as good as any old police") and entitled (breaking into places is apparently allowable as long as SHE does it). Although Rose's opinions are rational, she comes across as prissy and self-righteous, and Logan is rather ineffectual as an officer. The mystery is nicely set up with several plausible motives; however, the lack of real clues for the reader to follow combined with the scattershot approach to a solution diminishes the potential of the storyline, and the killer is not particularly surprising with an unsurprisingly venal motivation. Thankfully, the inane geriatric hijinks are dialed down, but the gang's interactions with one another are adolescent. Teens might enjoy this.

[Jill Anna Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

” Crepes and Crimes- (Mad Batter Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)” by Constance Barker is a tale of one Coco whose Mad Batter Bakery is struggling to get on it’s feet ...and catering to the wealthy is a great way to begin...or is it?!? Well NOT when the best man ...Derrick...is found murdered ...and although Stella and Vivian try their best to help...it’s really all up to Coco. And Detective Logan Owensby is not thrilled with Coco’s sleuthing and tries to discourage her...but she ignores his advice...with a business to salvage ...friends to save...a murder to solve...clients to appease ...and food ready to spoil...Can Coco pull it off ?!?!? Read & see!!
Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coco and her friends are back for the second book in the Mad Batter series and stumbles upon another dead body. With an influential client's wedding at stake, Coco must rush to discover who is behind another murder and save her friends and her business before it is lights out. With not just coffee but a romance with Lance brewing at the conclusion of this book it will have you looking forward to a third helping of this sweet mystery series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another murder and Coco is in the thick of it. Coco is in charge of catering for an engagement party along with designing and baking the cake for the wedding. But at the engagement party just minutes after talking to one of the groomsmen, he is murdered in the kitchen, on her bakery cart. Now she has to find out who did it before the wedding is called off. She has a lot of suspects, and even the bride and groom themselves make it to the top of her list! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coco is trying to do more business by catering to a big fancy engagement party. Then the best man is found dead. Oh no, not again. Seems where Coco goes she finds a dead body! Now her business is in jeopardy because people are afraid to eat there. But something isn't sitting right with Coco about what she saw when she saw the body. Can she remember what it is, and will it cost her more than her business? You will need to read the book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.

[Janet Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder Disrupts The Bakery
This cozy mystery is the second of a series. This time, a murder threatens the future of the bakery. The story has a good but simple plot. While it is not predictable, It is also not a brain drainer. I enjoyed it and the series seems to be sweet fun and mystery. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. This is book 2 of the Mad Batter Cozy Mystery Series. This book is well written. I enjoyed the storyline and characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. I also love the covers of the books. I recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco must cater an engagement party for the Mad Batter alone, because Maisie and Scooter called in excuses. After an argument and a sprinkler burst, Coco discovers a dead body (“fug nuggets!”). Crepes and Crimes is enjoyable mystery that had me laughing throughout.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lucrecia Tolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crepes and Crimes is more suspenseful that the first book. Coco always seems to find a way into a murder investigation. The adventure of the investigation is something that I am looking forward to reading with every books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two and I am loving the writing, the characters, the mysteries

I have quickly become a fan of this series. Coco , Masie, Scooter and her regular customers get involved with solving murders. Detective Logan realizes the group and Coco have discovered clues but it always seems to put Coco in danger. He also realized he might care a bit more about Coco's safety than usual .

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a twisted and convoluted series of events! Almost had our intrepid detective/baker stumped! I had a whole lot of fun reading about this mystery and following the process by which Coco solved the crime! Loved it!

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read with characters that are well developed and engaging and have chemistry. The storyline is well written and flows smoothly from page to page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constance Barker has another hit! As usual, great characters and a fun storyline, makes for a truly enjoyable experience!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series

I'm really enjoying this new series. The characters are great, the story is well written. I didn't figure out who committed the crime until the author revealed it. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

[Pamela A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒂𝒖𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒛𝒚 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒏!!! 🤩

𝑪𝒐𝒄𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆!! 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒏!! 𝑳𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 🤗🤗🤗

[JANE VAN HORN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. This was the second book of the series and every action packed. I can not wait for the next book.

[Trudy Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner:

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery I have read this far two of your cozy mystery The Mad Batter series books. I can't wait to read more of them.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as intriguing and adorable as the first one.

[Velma Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barker spins a good story.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coco might be getting better at crime solving, but it could be hurting her bottom line

A local restauranteur gives her a lot of flack. Again being the one to find a body is not helping with a reputation as a death baker

With her friends and some loyal clients, Coco might be in for a rough go, but together they should be able to solve the crimes, survive the bad guys and try to stay in business

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.