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Merry Muffin Mystery #5
Muffin to Fear (Merry Muffin Mystery, #5)
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Much Ado About Muffin, newlywed baker Merry Wynter has some unwanted guests looking for ghosts at Wynter Castle
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry's home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it's a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show's psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry's property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who s picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short."
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry's home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it's a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show's psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry's property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who s picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short."
304 pages, Audiobook
First published July 25, 2017
88 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Hamilton
43 books1,043 followersVictoria Hamilton is the bestselling author of several mystery series including the national bestselling Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries. She does, indeed, collect vintage kitchenware and bake muffins. She drinks tea and coffee on writing days, and wine other times. It doesn’t do to confuse days. A solitary being, she can be coaxed out of her writing cave for brownies and cat videos.
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
In fact her latest writing adventure is the new Regency-set historical mystery series - to be published by Midnight Ink - beginning in February 2019 with A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder, featuring Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady who dares to defy society. She will fight for her right to live her own life, despite the dangers that presents. She has a dagger, and she's not afraid to use it.
If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.
No, really, it’s not!
You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at:
Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!)
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictor...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria
She started her writing life as Donna Lea Simpson, bestselling author of Regency Romances, paranormal historicals and historical mysteries, and still has a soft spot for the Regency period.
In fact her latest writing adventure is the new Regency-set historical mystery series - to be published by Midnight Ink - beginning in February 2019 with A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder, featuring Miss Emmeline St. Germaine, a young lady who dares to defy society. She will fight for her right to live her own life, despite the dangers that presents. She has a dagger, and she's not afraid to use it.
If you Google ‘Victoria Hamilton’, you will find listed first a famous actress who starred as the Queen Mother in the Crown and as Charlotte Brontë in ‘In Search of the Brontës’. That’s not the Victoria who writes mysteries.
No, really, it’s not!
You can find her buried in a good book, (entombed in a good tome?) or online at:
Website: http://www.VictoriaHamiltonMysteries.com (Sign up for her annoyingly infrequent newsletter for all the latest!)
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictor...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/MysteryVictoria
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 20, 2019
Muffin to Fear is the 5th book in Victoria Hamilton's 'Merry Muffin Mysteries' series. It takes place in Autumn Vale, New York, an upstate town with its very own Wynter Castle, Merry's home after her great-uncle left it to her in his will. She's been renovating it since moving to the small town, and now she just married the former sheriff. As a ~40ish former stylist from NYC, Merry's enjoying a more relaxed life, except it's not relaxed... bodies keep showing up!
This time, when she returns from her honeymoon, Pish (her late first husband's gay best friend) has rented the castle out to a team of paranormal investigators who have a show on TV. They search for ghosts and hold seances. Two of the crew are killed. Who had it in for them? And was there some sort of other worldly interference? Doubtful, murder's usually achieved (not really a goal I suppose) by someone quite angry or hurt. In this case, both! Merry solves the case with Virgil's help as she earns the favor of the new sheriff. My favorite character is her friend at the library who always arrives at the last minute with all the answers. Then Lizzie... a somewhat troubled teen wise beyond her years. Will she be okay? It's getting scary how close she is with a killer sometimes.
This is a great series. I love the supporting characters, but Merry is a true heroine. Sometimes flawed, occasionally a buddinski (sp?), but always on top of her game. Between the extensive cast of crew and paranormal investigators, she has her work cut out for her here. The best part: complexity in how all the team fit together. The not-so-great part: Too many characters to play detective. It got confusing way more than it needed to, and in the end, it was a 20 page explanation of 'why' the person was killed. Too much for one book.
But I'm a fan and I will be sticking with this series. I'm even more excited now that I've confirmed a 6th book is in the works for late spring. Now my weekend is complete... well okay... it's a lot better!
This time, when she returns from her honeymoon, Pish (her late first husband's gay best friend) has rented the castle out to a team of paranormal investigators who have a show on TV. They search for ghosts and hold seances. Two of the crew are killed. Who had it in for them? And was there some sort of other worldly interference? Doubtful, murder's usually achieved (not really a goal I suppose) by someone quite angry or hurt. In this case, both! Merry solves the case with Virgil's help as she earns the favor of the new sheriff. My favorite character is her friend at the library who always arrives at the last minute with all the answers. Then Lizzie... a somewhat troubled teen wise beyond her years. Will she be okay? It's getting scary how close she is with a killer sometimes.
This is a great series. I love the supporting characters, but Merry is a true heroine. Sometimes flawed, occasionally a buddinski (sp?), but always on top of her game. Between the extensive cast of crew and paranormal investigators, she has her work cut out for her here. The best part: complexity in how all the team fit together. The not-so-great part: Too many characters to play detective. It got confusing way more than it needed to, and in the end, it was a 20 page explanation of 'why' the person was killed. Too much for one book.
But I'm a fan and I will be sticking with this series. I'm even more excited now that I've confirmed a 6th book is in the works for late spring. Now my weekend is complete... well okay... it's a lot better!
August 1, 2017
Anything written by author Victoria Hamilton is a go to, must read book for me. And the Merry Muffin Mysteries may be the yummiest of them all.
I’ve been waiting for, MUFFIN TO FEAR about as patiently as I would for a delightful treat baking away in my oven, which equals not very patient at all! ;-) I was so excited when I read the blub for this book. TV ghost hunters at Wynter Castle? YAY! (Yes, I am one of those people who loves watching all of the ghost hunting shows on TV). However, author Hamilton took the excitement of searching for spirits a step further by killing off two of the cast members of the show. Talk about exciting!
This 5 star mystery started off on a delightful note, and had me running a gambit of emotions until the last page. From the joy of Merry and Virgil’s marriage, to the rowdy upheaval of having the TV crew looking for ghosts, through the shock of two murders and the investigation that followed, and a scene that had me sighing contentedly, I honestly did laugh and cry from the prologue to the last chapter.
Muffin should stand in your way of reading MUFFIN TO FEAR, the best in the Merry Muffin Mysteries so far!
And don’t forget to check out the delicious recipes at the back of the book. Mmm Mmm.
I’ve been waiting for, MUFFIN TO FEAR about as patiently as I would for a delightful treat baking away in my oven, which equals not very patient at all! ;-) I was so excited when I read the blub for this book. TV ghost hunters at Wynter Castle? YAY! (Yes, I am one of those people who loves watching all of the ghost hunting shows on TV). However, author Hamilton took the excitement of searching for spirits a step further by killing off two of the cast members of the show. Talk about exciting!
This 5 star mystery started off on a delightful note, and had me running a gambit of emotions until the last page. From the joy of Merry and Virgil’s marriage, to the rowdy upheaval of having the TV crew looking for ghosts, through the shock of two murders and the investigation that followed, and a scene that had me sighing contentedly, I honestly did laugh and cry from the prologue to the last chapter.
Muffin should stand in your way of reading MUFFIN TO FEAR, the best in the Merry Muffin Mysteries so far!
And don’t forget to check out the delicious recipes at the back of the book. Mmm Mmm.
December 30, 2019
3 stars
This was my least favorite book in the series that I’ve read so far. I have a couple of reasons, number one being that in the third chapter I got quite confused as so many new characters were introduced then subsequently as they were mentioned in later chapters I had to keep going back to recall details about their character. My second reason is personal, I’ve really lost any respect for unverified, untruthful news, conspiracy theories and antiscience. Pish being one of my favorite characters and one were are told time and time again is intelligent turns around and asks for help from an exploitative TV show, when he knows that Merry wants to keep the castle from gaining a reputation for the multiple murders that have occurred there in recent years. Even if a new murder had not occurred you’d expect the TV show to want to capitalize on the murders that occurred since Merry inherited.
Finally there is no “‘science’ of ghost hunting”, it was funny in the 80’s Ghostbusters, but psychics claiming to contact a persons loved one is the lowest form of exploitation. These people should be charged with fraud or sent for help if they are truly deluded enough to believe their own claims.
This was my least favorite book in the series that I’ve read so far. I have a couple of reasons, number one being that in the third chapter I got quite confused as so many new characters were introduced then subsequently as they were mentioned in later chapters I had to keep going back to recall details about their character. My second reason is personal, I’ve really lost any respect for unverified, untruthful news, conspiracy theories and antiscience. Pish being one of my favorite characters and one were are told time and time again is intelligent turns around and asks for help from an exploitative TV show, when he knows that Merry wants to keep the castle from gaining a reputation for the multiple murders that have occurred there in recent years. Even if a new murder had not occurred you’d expect the TV show to want to capitalize on the murders that occurred since Merry inherited.
I think it fits in with the antiscience movement we’re seeing right now: anti-vaccine, climate change as a hoax, conspiracy theories discussed as though they have factual bases. Haunt Hunt is one of a dozen shows that explores the ‘science’ of ghost hunting. These guys are serious about it.”
Finally there is no “‘science’ of ghost hunting”, it was funny in the 80’s Ghostbusters, but psychics claiming to contact a persons loved one is the lowest form of exploitation. These people should be charged with fraud or sent for help if they are truly deluded enough to believe their own claims.
July 26, 2017
Before I begin let me say this about the Merry Muffin Series, by Victoria Hamilton, this is a wonderful series about finding yourself no matter where you are in life and making changes you never thought possible just with curiosity and leaps of faith. Muffin To Fear's Prologue made me so happy! It was such a nice way to start this book and if you have read the series you will know exactly why. When Merry comes home she is up to her eyeballs in chaos, somehow I can not picture her in any other way. No matter what Merry seems to be right in the middle of Chaos which is likely why I find her so appealing as a main character. This one I found riveting. I loved the entire very busy cast of characters that descend upon the castle. I also love how the recurring characters all have a hand in helping out throughout the latest fiasco at Wynter Castle. This book is very well written and I loved the subject in this cozy mystery and the truly cozy feeling in the end.
July 27, 2017
Questo libro è, per così dire, dedicato a controbattere il recente fiorire di opinioni antiscientifiche: questo aspetto mi è piaciuto molto. Posso sottoscrivere un paio di frasi che vi ho letto a questo riguardo.
Per quanto riguarda la storia, parte un po' lenta, per farci conoscere tutti i membri principali della troupe televisiva, all'interno della quale si trovano morto e assassino. Devo dire che non ho capito chi fosse il colpevole, forse perché praticamente tutti i membri della troupe mi sono sembrati, prima o poi, nascondere qualcosa. E nessuno di loro ha attirato la mia simpatia, a dirla tutta. Comunque, una buona lettura.
Per quanto riguarda la storia, parte un po' lenta, per farci conoscere tutti i membri principali della troupe televisiva, all'interno della quale si trovano morto e assassino. Devo dire che non ho capito chi fosse il colpevole, forse perché praticamente tutti i membri della troupe mi sono sembrati, prima o poi, nascondere qualcosa. E nessuno di loro ha attirato la mia simpatia, a dirla tutta. Comunque, una buona lettura.
February 16, 2018
I always love catching up with Merry and her friends and I've been eagerly awaiting cracking this one open. I liked that it took the time to set up and introduce the new characters (the tv crew.) In many cozy mysteries, someone is murdered right at the beginning of the book and there's so little context that I find I don't connect as well to the story. While the dysfunctional TV crew squabbles were tedious at times, it really helped to develop the characters and by the time the murder happened, I was already firmly hooked. Lots of twists and turns kept me guessing and lots of small details that I had to keep track of kept me engaged. Add in Merry's grace and humor, her delightful friends Hannah and Lizzie, a madcap crew of ghost hunters (I love ghost hunters shows!) and a surprise twist at the end and you have one satisfying read. It was every bit as good as I expected from this author, and a great addition to the series.
August 14, 2017
I like my dead bodies early, not after 118 pages of unlikable characters doing uninteresting things. I loved all the previous books in this series, but I was so fed up with the overthinking, bickering, and lack of action in this installment (except for the incessant who was sitting next to whom), that I stopped reading right before the murderer was revealed. One of the biggest problems for me was that the author was using the protagonist to promote her own personal anti-conspiracy agenda. If a person dismisses and denigrates a subject (such as psychic phenomena) they should probably refrain from writing a psychic/ghost hunting story lest it wind up cliched and outdated. The same person might also want to take a primer in quantum physics before preaching about science. The cat was good...there should have been more cat.
August 10, 2017
I'm sorry but this was a bit of a snooze. By the end, I no longer cared who did it, I was just glad it was over. Speaking of being over, the way the whole future of the castle was tied up at the end leads me to think this might be the last book in this series. Not a moment too soon. Becket the cat is the only character I will miss.
She did have one good quote: "That was always the thing I remembered in murder cases; every person is more than his or her worst behavior."
She did have one good quote: "That was always the thing I remembered in murder cases; every person is more than his or her worst behavior."
July 28, 2017
Ever since I read the teaser chapter for MUFFIN TO FEAR by Victoria Hamilton a couple of months ago, I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this fifth book in the Merry Muffin Mystery series to release. The author starts the book with a sweet interlude, drawing the reader in, establishing a connection to the protagonist, newlywed Mrs. Merry Grace Wynter. Merry’s happiness over being married to Virgil epitomizes what honeymooners should be like. Too frequently drama and discord is so often displayed in both books and film. Instead, the author saves the mayhem for Merry’s return home where she finds a reality television show setting up to film an episode for Haunt Hunt.
While there have been a few murders around Merry’s home, Wynter Castle, she never thought her castle was haunted. Pish, one of her dearest friends, isn’t so sure and somehow ends up with the cast and crew of Haunt Hunt on her property. From there the fireworks start. The author provides fun insight into filming the reality show: from setting up equipment to the interaction between cast and crew, to the fake scenes that goes along with putting a show together. She provides great, snarky descriptions of some of the cast members, which lends itself readily to what you would expect of a reality tv show. I loved the quirkiness of the characters, both from the show and townspeople. I especially enjoyed seeing Merry’s caring and mentoring relationship with Lizzie, the teenager from town. It adds another sweet dimension to the story aside from the murder. There were so many viable suspects who would have wanted to see the arrogant, fake tv actor/psychic dead. Just when I thought I was sure I had figured it out the author would dole out a new clue and I would change my mind all over again. There was a satisfying conclusion and the various threads of the story were pulled together for an enjoyable read! The author provides a couple delectable muffin recipes with her book including one gluten-free one, that I’m anxious to try!
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
While there have been a few murders around Merry’s home, Wynter Castle, she never thought her castle was haunted. Pish, one of her dearest friends, isn’t so sure and somehow ends up with the cast and crew of Haunt Hunt on her property. From there the fireworks start. The author provides fun insight into filming the reality show: from setting up equipment to the interaction between cast and crew, to the fake scenes that goes along with putting a show together. She provides great, snarky descriptions of some of the cast members, which lends itself readily to what you would expect of a reality tv show. I loved the quirkiness of the characters, both from the show and townspeople. I especially enjoyed seeing Merry’s caring and mentoring relationship with Lizzie, the teenager from town. It adds another sweet dimension to the story aside from the murder. There were so many viable suspects who would have wanted to see the arrogant, fake tv actor/psychic dead. Just when I thought I was sure I had figured it out the author would dole out a new clue and I would change my mind all over again. There was a satisfying conclusion and the various threads of the story were pulled together for an enjoyable read! The author provides a couple delectable muffin recipes with her book including one gluten-free one, that I’m anxious to try!
I was provided an advance copy with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 25, 2018
Muffin to Fear by Victoria Hamilton first grabbed my attention on the shelf because a) it's a cozy mystery and b) it involved a ghost hunting TV team coming to the protagonist's inherited castle (Also because it was an entry in the series from 2017 and in such great shape for only costing me $1 at the thrift store!). Merry Wynter, newly married baker, returns to her home, Wynter Castle, to discover her best friend Pish hosting the cast and crew of Haunt Hunt, a paranormal investigation television show. They are at the castle to film because they feel the many murders that have occurred there have a strong possibility of having left some residual spirits lurking. But this is a group with a lot of residual drama lurking among themselves, which will out itself in homicide.
The first few pages I wasn't really sure I was going to enjoy this book, namely because Hamilton got so caught up in dropping unsubtle innuendos about the narrator's honeymoon. But once the characters got back to the castle, and the drama with the ghost hunters began, I was hooked. I'm always in it for the mystery (and I'm also fascinated by the paranormal and paranormal investigation teams), and this was a good, gripping mystery. I didn't even notice how long it took to get to the first murder, because the dramatics were building up so fascinatingly.
The reoccurring cast of characters and the strength of the plot means I will definitely be coming back for more of this series!
The first few pages I wasn't really sure I was going to enjoy this book, namely because Hamilton got so caught up in dropping unsubtle innuendos about the narrator's honeymoon. But once the characters got back to the castle, and the drama with the ghost hunters began, I was hooked. I'm always in it for the mystery (and I'm also fascinated by the paranormal and paranormal investigation teams), and this was a good, gripping mystery. I didn't even notice how long it took to get to the first murder, because the dramatics were building up so fascinatingly.
The reoccurring cast of characters and the strength of the plot means I will definitely be coming back for more of this series!
August 29, 2018
I would say more like 3.75 stars. I think I would have liked it a little better if I would have started with the first book instead of jumping in with book 5. There were plenty of twists.
August 22, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/mu...
Muffin to Fear
A Merry Muffin Mystery
By Victoria Hamilton
ISBN 9780425282595
victoriahamiltonmysteries.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Much Ado About Muffin, newlywed baker Merry Wynter has some unwanted guests looking for ghosts at Wynter Castle…
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry’s home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it’s a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show’s psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry’s property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who’s picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short. (from Goodreads)
Review:
Victoria Hamilton has outdone herself again! Number five in the Merry Muffin Mystery Series, Muffin to Fear surpasses the earlier novels and can be read as a standalone. I love a mystery that requires significant attention to details and thought processing from the reader even while being entertained with humor. I also appreciate bits of wisdom stirred into the delicious mixture of fascinating characters and events, such as: “…every person is more than his or her worst behavior” (page 160).
I am so happy for the changes in Merry’s life, one being her marriage to and honeymoon with her adoring bridegroom. When they return from a blissful time in the Big Apple, it is a fast slap of “reality” at Wynter Castle to find the reality TV show, ‘Haunt Hunt’, setting up to film in her home. Pish, her close, dear, and older friend, had contacted the folks at Haunt Hunt to ask questions about things he had seen and heard at Wynter Castle, and the next thing he knew, they were making arrangements to arrive and film. Even though he didn’t ask for it, here they are – and he had hoped they would be finished before the ecstatic bride returned.
Merry begins to do what she does best – being hostess to those staying in the castle during the filming, baking muffins that she sells to local cafes, and being the bride to her new husband. It isn’t long, though, before the challenges with the Haunt Hunt crew begin. She finds out they are asking questions about the castle around town. Not about the history of the structure, but the murders that had taken place on the grounds. Murders solved and not needing to be publicized again. Her young friend, Lizzie, is acting as an “intern” to the crew, even though in high school instead of college. Her knowledge of photography is impressive, and this is an opportunity for her to learn more, as long as she is willing to step and fetch whatever they need.
There are factions separating cast and crew, sniping and griping and even at least one affair – how can so much go on within such a small group of coworkers? The guys are as bad as the gals, but in more subtle ways. Alliances seem to change regularly, people hating each other one day and best of friends the next. While the meters and such remind me of those used by Ghost Busters, one thing was certain – it wasn’t a ghost who killed one of the psychics that last night of taping. Before the haunted crew can leave the castle, the bad guy(s) have to be caught, and Merry and her bridegroom, now a P.I., have incentive to bring peace back to their home.
Merry is my favorite character, and Lizzie and Hannah take a close second. They are the best-defined characters. Merry’s name is the portent of her personality, as she is overall a happy person. She has empathy with even the people she suspects of murder and tries to spend time with everybody. Lizzie is a unique teen, and Hannah is an outstanding research librarian. Each are amazing, intelligent, and loving gals. We learn as much about the cast and crew as is necessary for their roles and for the ongoing investigation.
There is more than one mystery surrounding the cast and crew, but whether there is a common bad guy is yet another mystery. There are twists and turns throughout, including one uncovered by Becket, the orange tabby Merry inherited with the castle. Then comes the abrupt U-turn that changes everything. I confess to being unable to determine who the bad guy(s) might be; there were just so many who seemed suspicious. The resolution was somewhat of a surprise, as one was a solution I had already considered and discarded. The end is more than satisfying and I was happy to see that the story extended past the bad guy(s) being unmasked, leaving no loose ends or spectres. I highly recommend Muffin to Fear to fans of this series and of thoughtful, entertaining, well-written cozy mysteries.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Muffin to Fear
A Merry Muffin Mystery
By Victoria Hamilton
ISBN 9780425282595
victoriahamiltonmysteries.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Much Ado About Muffin, newlywed baker Merry Wynter has some unwanted guests looking for ghosts at Wynter Castle…
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry’s home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it’s a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show’s psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry’s property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who’s picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short. (from Goodreads)
Review:
Victoria Hamilton has outdone herself again! Number five in the Merry Muffin Mystery Series, Muffin to Fear surpasses the earlier novels and can be read as a standalone. I love a mystery that requires significant attention to details and thought processing from the reader even while being entertained with humor. I also appreciate bits of wisdom stirred into the delicious mixture of fascinating characters and events, such as: “…every person is more than his or her worst behavior” (page 160).
I am so happy for the changes in Merry’s life, one being her marriage to and honeymoon with her adoring bridegroom. When they return from a blissful time in the Big Apple, it is a fast slap of “reality” at Wynter Castle to find the reality TV show, ‘Haunt Hunt’, setting up to film in her home. Pish, her close, dear, and older friend, had contacted the folks at Haunt Hunt to ask questions about things he had seen and heard at Wynter Castle, and the next thing he knew, they were making arrangements to arrive and film. Even though he didn’t ask for it, here they are – and he had hoped they would be finished before the ecstatic bride returned.
Merry begins to do what she does best – being hostess to those staying in the castle during the filming, baking muffins that she sells to local cafes, and being the bride to her new husband. It isn’t long, though, before the challenges with the Haunt Hunt crew begin. She finds out they are asking questions about the castle around town. Not about the history of the structure, but the murders that had taken place on the grounds. Murders solved and not needing to be publicized again. Her young friend, Lizzie, is acting as an “intern” to the crew, even though in high school instead of college. Her knowledge of photography is impressive, and this is an opportunity for her to learn more, as long as she is willing to step and fetch whatever they need.
There are factions separating cast and crew, sniping and griping and even at least one affair – how can so much go on within such a small group of coworkers? The guys are as bad as the gals, but in more subtle ways. Alliances seem to change regularly, people hating each other one day and best of friends the next. While the meters and such remind me of those used by Ghost Busters, one thing was certain – it wasn’t a ghost who killed one of the psychics that last night of taping. Before the haunted crew can leave the castle, the bad guy(s) have to be caught, and Merry and her bridegroom, now a P.I., have incentive to bring peace back to their home.
Merry is my favorite character, and Lizzie and Hannah take a close second. They are the best-defined characters. Merry’s name is the portent of her personality, as she is overall a happy person. She has empathy with even the people she suspects of murder and tries to spend time with everybody. Lizzie is a unique teen, and Hannah is an outstanding research librarian. Each are amazing, intelligent, and loving gals. We learn as much about the cast and crew as is necessary for their roles and for the ongoing investigation.
There is more than one mystery surrounding the cast and crew, but whether there is a common bad guy is yet another mystery. There are twists and turns throughout, including one uncovered by Becket, the orange tabby Merry inherited with the castle. Then comes the abrupt U-turn that changes everything. I confess to being unable to determine who the bad guy(s) might be; there were just so many who seemed suspicious. The resolution was somewhat of a surprise, as one was a solution I had already considered and discarded. The end is more than satisfying and I was happy to see that the story extended past the bad guy(s) being unmasked, leaving no loose ends or spectres. I highly recommend Muffin to Fear to fans of this series and of thoughtful, entertaining, well-written cozy mysteries.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
August 19, 2017
This is the very best book in the series so far - Victoria Hamilton outdoes herself every time!
Merry is returning to the Wynter Castle from her honeymoon, very happy to be married to her man. At least, until they pull up to find vehicles parked everywhere. Pish, her oldest and dearest friend, accidentally seemed to have invited cast and crew of Haunted Hunt, a series where serious students of paranormal events and two psychics enter a home or dwelling where there is reported spirit activity. The castle has had no indication of ghostly activity that Merry has noted, but Pish had heard and seen some things when she was away that were questionable.
The group of Haunted Hunt are not a happy crew; they are like a huge dysfunctional family in which the members liked different people on different days and weren't fond of the rest. Merry tries to be a good hostess in spite of the animosity between cast and crew, as the cast are staying in the castle. Somebody found a little more than they were looking for - one of the psychics was found dead in the garage on the morning after the final shoot.
The author has such a great combination of well-defined characters! I like Merry, Hannah and Lizzie best; they are the ones who work and have fun together the best. The Haunt Hunt folks are not people I would want for neighbors. There is good in each of them, but there is too much drama between them. They work for the purposes of this mystery, as without their drama, there probably wouldn't be the murder and mayhem.
This novel is finely designed and perfectly executed; the author has a gift for taking a jumble of people and bringing the very best story out of them. The plot twists will keep readers on their toes, especially when a hairpin takes us be complete surprise. The descriptions of New York in the fall almost make one feel they are there! The story pulled me in from the beginning and held my attention through to the very surprising end. I highly recommend Muffin to Fear! It is the perfect book to grab a steaming cup of java and sit in an easy chair with. It even has a cat in it who participated in his own way - those ginger-colored tabbies are great hunters!
Merry is returning to the Wynter Castle from her honeymoon, very happy to be married to her man. At least, until they pull up to find vehicles parked everywhere. Pish, her oldest and dearest friend, accidentally seemed to have invited cast and crew of Haunted Hunt, a series where serious students of paranormal events and two psychics enter a home or dwelling where there is reported spirit activity. The castle has had no indication of ghostly activity that Merry has noted, but Pish had heard and seen some things when she was away that were questionable.
The group of Haunted Hunt are not a happy crew; they are like a huge dysfunctional family in which the members liked different people on different days and weren't fond of the rest. Merry tries to be a good hostess in spite of the animosity between cast and crew, as the cast are staying in the castle. Somebody found a little more than they were looking for - one of the psychics was found dead in the garage on the morning after the final shoot.
The author has such a great combination of well-defined characters! I like Merry, Hannah and Lizzie best; they are the ones who work and have fun together the best. The Haunt Hunt folks are not people I would want for neighbors. There is good in each of them, but there is too much drama between them. They work for the purposes of this mystery, as without their drama, there probably wouldn't be the murder and mayhem.
This novel is finely designed and perfectly executed; the author has a gift for taking a jumble of people and bringing the very best story out of them. The plot twists will keep readers on their toes, especially when a hairpin takes us be complete surprise. The descriptions of New York in the fall almost make one feel they are there! The story pulled me in from the beginning and held my attention through to the very surprising end. I highly recommend Muffin to Fear! It is the perfect book to grab a steaming cup of java and sit in an easy chair with. It even has a cat in it who participated in his own way - those ginger-colored tabbies are great hunters!
July 25, 2017
Merry Muffin Mystery was my first cozy mystery and I just adore Merry and the group of very interesting characters of Autumn Vale. So, this is my first review of my first cozy mystery series. Merry comes back from her honeymoon with loving husband Virgil to a castle of chaos. Ghost hunters are prowling the premises. Pish is peaking with anxiety because of Merry's and Virgil's early return. Beckett is feeling prickly. There is so much drama with the crew and cast of Haunt House. This was really an intense whodunnit. I was kept guessing to the last pages. I don't want to give anything away, but this was so thoughtfully written with such twists and turns and angles. I can't wait to see what comes next.
July 25, 2017
Muffin to Fear is the fifth book in the Merry Muffin Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Strong characters and a well written mystery that will keep you guessing to the last minute. A perfect cozy mystery...it has everything. Friends, family, a slight touch of romance, mystery. Definitely a hard to put down book! Highly recommend!
September 28, 2017
Merry comes home from her honeymoon to find a paranormal hunters tv series filming at her castle. A great installment to the Merry Muffin series!
June 30, 2018
Great story with well-developed characters. I'm amazed at how distinctly different each of these Muffin Murder stories has turned out to be. I never figure it out, but the ending is always reasonable. An "I-should've-seen-it," sort of thing. Well done.
December 5, 2018
Back from her honeymoon, Merry finds that her old friend Pish has given permission for a ghost-hunting tv show to use Wynter Castle as their location. She and husband Virgil, former sheriff turned private investigator, have other plans, but the tv crew will be gone in a few days, so she can wait them out. Then one of the psychics who appear on the show dies, in what appears to be a freak accident. No, wait--it's a prank gone wrong. Or could it be murder? As the new sheriff investigates, Merry thinks hard about the people who are living in her castle, and which one might really be behind the death. Sadly, I'm enjoying the more recent in this series a lot less than the first few.
March 19, 2024
A definitive downslide to this series. The whole plot was absurd and I really did not appreciate the carefully-camouflaged Ouija board on the front.
August 18, 2017
MUFFIN TO FEAR by Victoria Hamilton
The Fifth Merry Muffin Mystery
Merry and Virgil return from their honeymoon only to discover their castle being overrun by a television crew. It seems that Pish had experienced some inexplicable events while alone in the house and talked to the producers of GHOST HUNT. Now the crew has descended on Wynter Castle to look for spirits. The cast and crew, however, engage in more squabbling, backbiting, and infighting than any paranormal research. Merry calls foul when one of the show's psychics tries to highlight the recent murders that occurred in the castle. Everyone's nerves are on edge, even more so when the psychic is found dead. Was it a prank gone wrong? Or did someone want the grandstanding ratings rock star gone for good!
This fifth book in the Merry Muffin Mystery series is a more mature mystery. Merry has truly grown as a person since first arriving in Autumn Vale. She's overcome the loss of her first husband and is ready to love again. She takes responsibility as a role model for the still somewhat sullen teen in her life, not only telling, but showing her it's right and just to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.
MUFFIN TO FEAR has it all from sly banter from the newlyweds, intricate character dynamics, a well plotted mystery, and the possibility of ghosts! Plus recipes!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
The Fifth Merry Muffin Mystery
Merry and Virgil return from their honeymoon only to discover their castle being overrun by a television crew. It seems that Pish had experienced some inexplicable events while alone in the house and talked to the producers of GHOST HUNT. Now the crew has descended on Wynter Castle to look for spirits. The cast and crew, however, engage in more squabbling, backbiting, and infighting than any paranormal research. Merry calls foul when one of the show's psychics tries to highlight the recent murders that occurred in the castle. Everyone's nerves are on edge, even more so when the psychic is found dead. Was it a prank gone wrong? Or did someone want the grandstanding ratings rock star gone for good!
This fifth book in the Merry Muffin Mystery series is a more mature mystery. Merry has truly grown as a person since first arriving in Autumn Vale. She's overcome the loss of her first husband and is ready to love again. She takes responsibility as a role model for the still somewhat sullen teen in her life, not only telling, but showing her it's right and just to stand up for yourself and your beliefs.
MUFFIN TO FEAR has it all from sly banter from the newlyweds, intricate character dynamics, a well plotted mystery, and the possibility of ghosts! Plus recipes!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
December 12, 2018
Although Victoria Hamilton is one of my favorite authors, and the first two books in this series are so original and enjoyable, the plot of this book is predictable and similar to the plots of previous books. In addition, the visitors of the castle bicker with each other throughout the book, most of the book obsesses over the murder scenes and motivations instead of story unfolding naturally, and the main characters that make the book enjoyable are barely mentioned. Spoiler alert: at the very end, there are major changes in this small-town-cozy’s storyline, and not for the better. The author is so talented and this series has so much potential with a close-knit community, cozy small town, spectacular castle surrounded by a breathtaking forest, and mostly delightful and quirky characters who should be the focus of the book.
September 2, 2017
I like this series a lot. One thing I dislike about it is that Merry is always getting stuck with impossible guests at her castle. She puts up with much more than I ever would. I would throw them out rather than allow them to stay. I guess if she didn't allow the groups to stay, she wouldn't have anyone to be murdered so she could investigate. Other than that characteristic to the books, I always enjoy a visit with Merry and her friends at Wynter Castle.
August 19, 2017
As always, great character interaction. But this one felt like it had too many suspects, too many red herrings; it seemed chaotic. The future of Wynter Castle was a bit of a surprise; did I miss something?
This book read as though it could be the end of the series. While I've enjoyed it, I'm okay with that. And perhaps that sums up the problem with this book.
This book read as though it could be the end of the series. While I've enjoyed it, I'm okay with that. And perhaps that sums up the problem with this book.
January 8, 2018
I think I'm done with this series. The protagonist is preachy and patronizing, the mystery just isn't that gripping.
November 15, 2017
The weakest book in this series. Too many characters, none of them pleasant. I missed the spark and interplay between Merry and the Autumn Vale villagers.
August 12, 2017
Muffin to Fear book 5 in the Merry Muffin Mystery Series by Victoria Hamilton. Merry and Virgil return from their Honeymoon to unexpected chaos. Pish has agreed to let Haunt Hunt television show come to Wynter Castle to do a paranormal investigation. He hopes they will gone before Merry and Virgil arrive home but no such luck. Virgil is called away on a job almost immediately leaving Merry to deal with another surprise invasion of her home. With cast and crew every where she turns Merry tries to keep herself and her cat Becket in the kitchen where she feels is her safe haven. From almost the beginning you can see there are secrets among the Haunt Hunt crew and more than once tempers flare and have to be put out by the show’s producer. Will the show strengthen Wynter Castle’s reputation for murders? Can the cast and crew finish this investigation without killing one another? Will Merry forgive Pish for once again surprising her with unannounced chaos? Is Wynter Castle really hunted?
Another great book! I was surprised by Merry and Virgil’s short engagement and marriage, but unlike the surprise Merry has, this was a happy surprise. Merry and Virgil make a great couple. I love Merry’s cat Becket, Mrs. Hamilton really paints a true picture of a cat. He is a stubborn but lovable feline and I laughed out loud and grimace at the same time when he presented Merry with her welcome home gift. This book was a little different than the other books in the series with all the paranormal hunters, psychics, mediums, and ghost talk. Even will all the new characters we still manage to see most of our beloved series characters. I can only imagine that this would be how things might been when you have a lot of big personalities and egos working on one television show. I really did dislike several of the characters but the characters were written to be disliked.
I would recommend this book to cozy lovers, and Victoria Hamilton fans. There are some delicious sounding recipes included in the book. True to cozy nature no bad language, no graphic violence or no graphic sex. Well written storyline that keeps you guessing until the end.
Another great book! I was surprised by Merry and Virgil’s short engagement and marriage, but unlike the surprise Merry has, this was a happy surprise. Merry and Virgil make a great couple. I love Merry’s cat Becket, Mrs. Hamilton really paints a true picture of a cat. He is a stubborn but lovable feline and I laughed out loud and grimace at the same time when he presented Merry with her welcome home gift. This book was a little different than the other books in the series with all the paranormal hunters, psychics, mediums, and ghost talk. Even will all the new characters we still manage to see most of our beloved series characters. I can only imagine that this would be how things might been when you have a lot of big personalities and egos working on one television show. I really did dislike several of the characters but the characters were written to be disliked.
I would recommend this book to cozy lovers, and Victoria Hamilton fans. There are some delicious sounding recipes included in the book. True to cozy nature no bad language, no graphic violence or no graphic sex. Well written storyline that keeps you guessing until the end.
June 28, 2018
Disappointed in the way this series ended. It makes me feel like I wasted my time reading it in the first place.
Following is a spoiler but it has the complete ending so don't read if you've planned on reading this book:
I also felt that if the author was even going to hint at the castle being haunted, it would have made the series so much more interesting if it was done from the first book. (The series might have lasted longer if it had).
Following is a spoiler but it has the complete ending so don't read if you've planned on reading this book:
I also felt that if the author was even going to hint at the castle being haunted, it would have made the series so much more interesting if it was done from the first book. (The series might have lasted longer if it had).
April 14, 2018
In the latest from the national bestselling author of Much Ado About Muffin, newlywed baker Merry Wynter has some unwanted guests looking for ghosts at Wynter Castle...
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry's home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it's a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show's psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry's property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who's picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short.
Never a dull moment in Wynter Castle. Hard to keep everyone straight, but an interesting read. 5 stars
While Merry is distracted by her quickly planned marriage to Virgil Grace and a blissful honeymoon in New York, her friend Pish invites the ghost-hunting crew from the TV show Haunt Hunt to investigate Merry's home, Wynter Castle. Merry soon discovers that not only is the crew out of sync, there are so many feuds and squabbles, it's a miracle they get a show produced at all.
It all goes from bad to worse when the show's psychics claim to have contact with people murdered on Merry's property. When two cast members are found dead, Merry and Virgil must figure out who's picking off the Haunt Hunt team before their hard-earned happily ever after is cut short.
Never a dull moment in Wynter Castle. Hard to keep everyone straight, but an interesting read. 5 stars
April 11, 2018
I'm a big fan of Victoria Hamilton's writing and I swear, the books just get better with each subsequent one.
In Muffin to Fear there's a whole cast (literally!) of potential murderers as a ghost hunting team invades Wynter Castle. I quite like the concept of this story, but am a bit upset with the way Hamilton portrayed the cast/crew of the show, Haunt Hunt. My personal feelings about paranormal investigating aside, I enjoyed the twists and turns involved in finding out who was responsible for the murders. Yes, there's more than one.
Once again, Hamilton proved that she's great at the genre of cozy mystery as I was left trying to figure out who committed the crime before it was revealed on page. I was wrong! Needless to say, I'm excited for the next installment in the Merry Muffin Mystery series.
In Muffin to Fear there's a whole cast (literally!) of potential murderers as a ghost hunting team invades Wynter Castle. I quite like the concept of this story, but am a bit upset with the way Hamilton portrayed the cast/crew of the show, Haunt Hunt. My personal feelings about paranormal investigating aside, I enjoyed the twists and turns involved in finding out who was responsible for the murders. Yes, there's more than one.
Once again, Hamilton proved that she's great at the genre of cozy mystery as I was left trying to figure out who committed the crime before it was revealed on page. I was wrong! Needless to say, I'm excited for the next installment in the Merry Muffin Mystery series.
August 10, 2017
This was an interesting, fun, and lighthearted cozy mystery. It’s the type of story you can just relax and get lost in for a while. This is a perfect lazy or rainy weekend book. There wasn’t anything real deep in this book, it wasn’t freighting or creepy. In classic cozy mystery fashion, the murders weren’t gory or real dark.
The characters were interesting and had differing personalities making it more complex and fun. Figuring out who was the murderer was amusing and not as simple as I would have thought. Each character had a different motive, but yet had reasons not to do it also. I didn’t figure out for sure who the murderer was until it was revealed.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
The characters were interesting and had differing personalities making it more complex and fun. Figuring out who was the murderer was amusing and not as simple as I would have thought. Each character had a different motive, but yet had reasons not to do it also. I didn’t figure out for sure who the murderer was until it was revealed.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
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