Pastries and Puzzles

Mad Batter #3

by Constance Barker

Who Killed the Life Coach?

Life coach Gilbert is offering seminars on how to better your life and Coco has the honor of catering the event. She's excited until Gilbert gives her a dressing down on her presentation and food. What a jerk. Then the jerk ends up dead clutching a half eaten Coco specialty...a cupcake.

While her friends and handsome police officer Logan don't think she had anything to do with the crime, it doesn't matter. Most of the town does. Coco is determined to clear her good name, but will it come at a cost?

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 6, 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

[Jill Anna Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

” Pastries and Puzzles- (Mad Batter Cozy Mystery Series Book 3)” by Constance Barker is a tale of one Coco ....a baker who brings her wares to a motivational speaker’s seminar at the local hotel...only to discover the speaker ...Life coach Gilbert is dead...and Coco is to blame ...all because he is found clutching one of her famous cupcakes in a death grip. Naturally her friends and Logan KNOW Coco is innocent...but the rest of the town is quick to condemn her and her Mad Batter Bakery and reputation suffer as a result. Officer Logan is on the case...BUT moving far too slowly for Coco’s taste...so she gets involved to clear her own name...Can she do it ?!?
Read and See! Much enjoyed and Highly Recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book.

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

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read about Coco and her bakery. I really like the characters of both the staff and the customers at the 'Mad Batter' bakery, they are a colourful and entertaining bunch, covering a wide range of ages and outlooks, but they all pull together when the chips are down.
In this book there is the main story of one of Coco's cupcakes apparently poisoning a rather obnoxious life coach but there is also a side story of the staff at the bakery competing to create a cake suitable for entry into a baking competition.
The main mystery is very well handled and the culprit was a bit of a surprise, which is always nice. This series is coming on very nicely and I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

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

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

Cupcakes to die for. Coco gets the opportunity to bring baked goods to a seminar at the local hotel. The motivational speaker is obviously a con artist and during the break he makes disparaging remarks about Coco’s cupcakes, takes one into his office and later when he asked that Coco bring him a drink of water she finds him dead. And the number one suspect is her because her cupcake that he ate had poison in it. Now even though Logan know she wouldn’t kill anyone, many of the town residents thinks she’s a killer and her bakery suffers, along with some people harassing her. She has to find the killer fast or she won’t have a business left. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco is catering a seminar event for Life coach Gilbert about bettering your life. But he loudly complains about her food presentation so that everyone can hear. When he is later found dead holding one of her cupcakes, half-eaten, in his hand, she becomes the prime suspect! Her friends and police officer Logan are certain of her innocence, but the rest of the town stop coming to her Mad Batter Bakery for fear of a similar fate! This is ruining her business.

Although Logan (again) tells her to let him handle this and to stay away from the investigation, Coco feels the pressure of her lost revenue and is compelled to clear her name as quickly as possible. Grab your copy and see how things work out once Coco is on the case!

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder keeps finding Coco, the owner of the Mad Batter Bakery. This time Cocoa is the prime suspect! After all, it is her poisoned cupcake that is at fault, never-mind a lack of motive or premeditated planning that would be necessary to actually murder someone! Fortunately Logan believes her, and Coco reluctantly agrees not to get involved in the detecting...

The regular characters in the series are delightful and supportive. It seems like the author has gotten them corralled and if not for the murder, things would be good. As usual there is levity amidst the serious parts, making this a fun read. An enjoyable series, and I am wondering what is in store for them next???

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco caters to a 'life coach' seminar. Gilbert, the life coach really reads her the riot act in front of the other people which causes Coco to maintain her cool but is seething underneath. Later Gilbert is found dead with one of her cupcakes in his hand! She is now the prime suspect in his death! This really causes problems for the Mad Batter Bakery! No one wants to eat where you could die from one of her sweets! Logan tells her to stay out of the investigation, but Coco just can't help herself! Read the book to see how things turn out. Can she clear her name and the Mad Batter Bakery? Hmmm. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.

[Tracie Crane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Mad Batter series featuring Coco, her Mad Batter Bakery and her wide circle of eccentric, but extremely loyal, friends and customers.
I adore cozy mysteries, and look forward to a new twist on a familiar theme, and "Pastries and Puzzles" delivers! I enjoyed every morsel.
The mystery over a poisoned cupcake is action packed and full of horrible decisions that will make you laugh (and cringe) until the end.
I will be home baking and awaiting the next book.

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

[Angela Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ordinary

I like these characters for the most part and the hometown feel. Luke could be less ineffectual and a finer example of law enforcement, but he is likable. The lead, Coco, consistently finding dead bodies is overworked, and her arrogant disregard for the law as well as her superior attitude toward law enforcement is beginning to grate. The mystery, while not particularly complex, yields surprising moments. I've enjoyed a couple of this author's series which makes me hopeful for this one.

[Janet Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and Cozy Baking Mystery
This series centers around a small bakery. This cozy mystery series is a lot of fun and each book could be read alone. The mystery is pretty good and the culprit surprised me. There is just enough baking, but it isn't overwhelming. There is a good array of characters that fill the town. And, of course, there is a bit of romantic tension between our heroine and the police detective. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.

[Dorothy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco provides catering for Gilbert Lane’s seminar, however, he is not satisfied with her color choices. After a heated argument, Coco finds his body, still holding a half eaten cupcake. Coco faces a ruined reputation, a failed business, and possible murder charges. I enjoyed the characters in this series and recommend Pastries and Puzzles.

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

[Lucrecia Tolbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another wonderful addition to the series for Constance Barker. The heat is on for Logan to help Coco and the Mad Batter Bakery. This book is filled with suspense, humor, and the continued growth and development of skills and interpersonal relationships. Every book in this series is a temporary escape from reality into the world of baking.

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

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coco has had a bad habit of finding bodies of late - not good for the new expansion of her bakery and catering. Catering seems to be especially deadly

This time the deceased appears to be holding one of her cupcakes

It’s a wild ride for the gang at the Mad Batter

Funky and funny murder cozy!

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

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coco finds herself in the hot seat this time when one of her cupcakes ends up being the murder weapon. As she finds herself lacking customers and her reputation on the line, she and her Mad Batter friends cannot help but get involved in hunting down the real killer before she closes up for good.

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

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would use a cupcake, something so wonderful and happy, to kill someone?! Well, someone did, and they’re framing Coco for the murder!
Another great book by Constance Barker! This is a fun cozy with fantastic characters and a great mystery to be solved.

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

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pastries and Puzzles by Constance Barker is a great story to read. This book number three out of five in this great series that I enjoyed reading very much and can not wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about cozy mysteries.

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

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 of the series. This is a great series and book 3 did not disappoint. I love the storyline and it grabs your interest and keeps it throughout. The characters are great and well developed. I recommend reading.

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

[Alta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun Read

When the home grown famous self help guru comes to town to do a seminar there are many opposed to him coming to town. When he is murdered at the seminar everything points to Coco as the guilty party. Will Logan and his fellow officers be able to solve the murder before Coco loses everything? This is a fun read.

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coco once again finds herself up to her elbows in another murder! I kept laughing out loud at the antics of her friends. The rivalry between Scooter and Maisie is quite hilarious. They are seriously crazy! This was an absolute blast to read. I loved it!

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. A wonderful cozy mystery with a great story line and fantastic characters. You can't help loving the book, the characters and the story line. Highly recommend!

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

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has a way of always delivers great characters that are well developed and engaging with plenty of twists and turns that draw us from the start. The even flow of the storyline kept me entertained.

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

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely cake on the cover. But,and you knew there would be a but, I just don't enjoy mysteries about food (recipes included), witches, cats, dogs, dead private detectives, although there have been one or two I enjoyed. I just want a good old fashioned mystery.

[JANE VAN HORN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I love the relationships between all of the characters. Coco and gang are at it again and this time to save the Mad Batter.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needs to be a Hallmark series.

[Velma Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read.