The Dough Must Go On

Oxford Tearoom Mysteries #9

by H.Y. Hanna

"They say that showbiz is a cut-throat business and I got a front-row seat to what that means when I was invited onto Britain's hot new talent show." ~ Showbiz comes to Oxford in the form of Britain's hottest new talent show and tearoom owner Gemma Rose gets a peek behind-the-scenes when she's asked to cater for the event. But with the Old Biddies entering the contest as England's first "granny band", and her little tabby, Muesli, taking part in one of the acts, Gemma soon ends up with more than she bargained for... and that's before she comes across a frozen dead body!
Now, she's on the trail of a murderer, with four nosy old ladies giving her a helping hand, while also dealing with her embarrassing mother, her workaholic boyfriend—and even a mouse invader at her tearoom! With things hotting up in the contest and so many suspects in the running, can Gemma catch the killer before the curtain falls?
(* Dark Chocolate & Orange Scones recipe at the end of the story!)

This book follows British English spelling and usage.
Clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language.
Genre: British cozy mystery / culinary cozy mysteries / cat cozy mystery series / women amateur sleuth / British detective mystery / humorous mystery / traditional mystery

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Cats, Contemporary

338 pages, ebook

First published December 20, 2018

About the author

USA Today bestselling author H.Y. Hanna has written over 30 mystery novels, many of which have been translated into several languages. Her mysteries blend humour and clever plotting with vivid settings, featuring quirky characters - and cats with big personalities! After spending years trying to fit in and do a “real” job, Hsin-Yi finally returned to her first love: writing.

Throughout her life, she has called many places home—from Taiwan to Oxford, Dubai to New Zealand. She’s finally unpacked for good in Perth, Western Australia, where she spends most days fighting with her rescue cat Muesli for the use of her office chair.

You can learn more about her and her books at: www.hyhanna.com

And don’t forget to join her newsletter to get updates on new releases, exclusive giveaways and other book news—as well as a free novella and short story! Go to: www.hyhanna.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dough Must Go On (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, #9) by H.Y. Hanna

Synopsis /

"They say that showbiz is a cut-throat business, and I got a front-row seat to what that means when I was invited onto Britain's hot new talent show." ~ Showbiz comes to Oxford in the form of Britain's hottest new talent show and tearoom owner Gemma Rose gets a peek behind-the-scenes when she's asked to cater for the event. But with the Old Biddies entering the contest as England's first "granny band", and her little tabby, Muesli, taking part in one of the acts, Gemma soon ends up with more than she bargained for... and that's before she comes across a frozen dead body!

Now, she's on the trail of a murderer, with four nosy old ladies giving her a helping hand, while also dealing with her embarrassing mother, her workaholic boyfriend—and even a mouse invader at her tearoom! With things hotting up in the contest and so many suspects in the running, can Gemma catch the killer before the curtain falls?


My Thoughts /

📣📣📣 Scone recipe at the end of the story! 📣📣📣

“Who’s Monty Gibbs?” “Gemma!” Cassie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you ever watch TV? Monty Gibbs is the creator of From Pleb to Celeb, that new talent show everyone was talking about last year.”

Question: What does Simon Cowell's "Got Talent" syndicate (ie. Britain's Got Talent, America's Got Talent, etc) have in common with Monty Gibbs' "From Pleb to Celeb"? Well, both are open to anyone of any age and to anyone with any (or no) talent. What makes FPTC different from the rest?

That leaves seven other contestants: Frank Ziegler the Yodelling Plumber, Cheryl the puppeteer, Nicole the pianist, Gaz the comedian, Tim the hip hop dancer, and Trish with her dog. Oh, and the Pussy Puffs.

The Pussy Puffs (aka the Herb Girls, aka Mabel Cooke, Glenda Bailey, Florence Doyle, and Ethel Webb) are affectionately referred to by Gemma Rose as the Old Biddies.

In this, the ninth instalment of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, Gemma Rose and the Little Stables Tearoom has been hired to do the catering for a brand-new talent show which is taking place right in the heart of Oxford. Called, From Pleb to Celeb, the show's creator, wealthy billionaire businessman, Monty Gibbs, had always wanted to be a judge on a talent show but had never had the chance, so he created his own show and made himself a judge.

On the first day of shooting, Gemma is surprised to learn that the Old Biddies are an act on the Show.

“That… er… that sounds… great. Congratulations! So… um… you’re going to perform as this granny band?” “Ooh yes, we even have a special name for ourselves. We’ve given it a lot of thought, you see, and we’ve come up with the perfect name: The Pussy Puffs!”

But the entertainment takes a dark turn when one of the contestants is found dead backstage.

This is book, #9 of the series, and I have to say, that I don't think it's lost any of its charm. Hanna keeps the plots interesting using creative backdrops and quirky dysfunctional characters. These are characters you will come to love, and each has their own unique personality. Hanna has imbibed her characters with values of kinship, kindness, empathy, humour, and wit. Also, the added heaping helping of scones with homemade jam and clotted cream doesn't go astray!! I'm glad that the act of reading about all these baked goodies is calorie free because otherwise, this series would be highly calorific!

The talent shows contestants provide a humorous distraction to the seriousness of the crime. But with DCI Devlin O'Connor, Gemma and the Old Biddies on the trail, you know the case is going to be solved. The clues were vanishing as quickly as the magician's sleight of hand and Gemma knows she has to pay attention as the killer has a few more tricks up their sleeve.

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this ninth book of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Gemma is back from her overseas trip and has managed to get herself a very lucrative contract providing morning tea scones for the cast and crew of a talent show.

Everything is proceeding really well until a murder occurs, Devlin is called in and filming is stopped while an investigation takes place. There are plenty of possible culprits and Gemma does some sleuthing. There are lots of entertaining diversions too. Gemma's mother gets involved in the TV show, Muesli helps out in one of the acts and a lot of fun is had by everyone, especially the Old Biddies.

One very notable fact in the story is the method used to commit the murder. I found it rather disturbing and was not at all surprised that Gemma screamed. I think the author must have been researching ways and means and came up with a very unusual one!

Looking forward to the next book now.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is always a guaranteed delight to read!
This is a true cozy mystery series, with wonderful characters, an enchanting setting and a top notch whodunit.
I am never disappointed with this series, and hope to read further books in the series.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dough Must Go On by H.Y. Hanna
The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries #9

Gemma Rose is on case nine of her cozy mysteries series set in Oxford. She owns the Little Stables Tearoom, has a wonderful can named Muesli, a DCI boyfriend named Devlin and a host of other friends and family that take part in her books.

In this book she is hired to cater tea twice a day for a talent show and as the numbers are whittled down and various things take place while competitors are striving hard to win and she wonders if she will ever have some true alone time with Devlin she stumbles across a corpse and thus begins her sleuthing.

There are plenty of potential suspects but the killer is not easily figured out in this one till near the end. The “old biddies” are true to form and have taken on a newbie to their group as they compete in the talent show…and what a hoot their stage name is!

True to the way these stories go it is pretty much Gemma who figures out who the murderer is but in the process she is nearly killed, too, with a contest stepping in to save her in the end.

And…did Gemma get some alone time with her hottie boyfriend? Yes indeed she did although this book did not give us all the details ;)

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dough Must Go On by H.Y. Hanna is the 9th book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. Little Stables tearoom is asked to cater for a reality talent television show filming in Oxford and comes across the body of one of the contestants frozen with liquid nitrogen. Lots of laughs and lots of fun as the old biddies, also contestants as granny band The Herb Girls, investigate. Very entertaining and an interesting mystery with all the contestants becoming suspects. A very enjoyable cozy mystery.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

I was happy to return to oxford, Gemma and her tearoom in this latest release in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries. There was a good mystery, new side characters we get to meet, a talent show and Gemma getting involved in it all. There are also some funny scenes with the Old Biddies, Gemma's mom, Muesli and Gemma's friends Cassie and Seth.

This book centers around a talent show where Gemma does the catering and then gets involved in a murder mystery when she discovers the dead body of one of the contestants. The talent shows was a different topic again for this series and I liked how we got a glimpse of the show and the colorful characters involved, many of whom were suspects. I had a clear suspect form the start and while I didn't guess right, there was a reveal involving the one I suspected. I liked that I guessed wrong and was thinking in a totally different direction, but at the same time I thought it would've been a bit difficult to guess. I like how with the mysteries in this series you are able to figure out with the clues who the murdered is and I thought in this book there were only a few clues and not very clear or solid ones at that, which would make it hard to guess right.

It is great how many red herrings there were and even tough I was pretty sure I knew who had done it, I was guessing at a few times and thought another character or two did sound as a plausible suspect as well. There are a bunch of reveals, connections and past events that get revealed along the course of the mystery and it's fun how everyone seems to be hiding something, but only one of them is the actual murderer.

There were a few scenes that were a bit too silly for my taste and a few unrealistic ones that I didn't really care for, like the one with the mouse. But mostly I had a fun reading this one. The familiar characters we all see back, Devlin, Cassie, Seth, the Old Biddies and Gemma's mom all play a role again. I also liked the new side characters and how not everyone is what they seem and there were some surprising twists along the way.

Gemma lands in some tricky situations again in this book. I liked how she was still shocked when finding the body even tough she has found her fair share of them already. I did flinch at a situation she gets into and I did actually agree with the person who got a bit upset with her. It wouldn't be as interesting if she had just gone ahead and asked that person, but at the same time it also didn't feel right what she did. I liked how Gemma stood up to the person who ran the show and wasn't afraid to show her opinion.

To summarize: another solid mystery in this series. I had a clear suspect from the start, but it turned out I guessed wrong, although there was something that got revealed about the person I suspected. There are a bunch of red herrings, reveals and secrets that come to light. I did think it would've been hard to guess to culprit, but I did like that I guessed wrong after being so sure about my guess. I liked seeing how Gemma got involved in this mystery and landed in some tricky situation again. And it was fun seeing all the familiar characters again as well as getting to know some new side characters. There were a few scenes I didn't really care for a few unrealistic things, but overall this was a great read. This was a solid mystery and I am looking forward to the next one!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Dough Must Go On” earns 5+/5 Granny Bands…Entertaining, Engaging, Fun!

“You got some I can try?” Wanting a free sample threw Gemma a bit, but the little man’s rave review of her fresh scone, business card, and request for seven hundred eased her mind…sort of. The Little Stables Tearoom has been hired by billionaire Monty Gibbs to cater for the “From Pleb to Celeb” talent show which will definitely improve the bottom line and maybe facilitate some raises and vacations, but the “Four Biddies” as contestants? That is worth seeing up close. But Gemma’s behind-the-scenes perspective leads her to witness squabbles, accusations, hair pulling, and…murder! Once again Gemma and her octogenarian sidekicks are on the case with a plethora of suspects and motives to sift through, but don't forget magic acts, a surprise judge, Muesli on stage, and enough peril for all.

H.Y. Hanna’s Oxford Tearoom Mystery series is my absolute all-time favorite, and her newest ninth book does not disappoint taking her wonderful characters into reality television. Enriching her signature first-person narrative with Gemma’s inner thoughts and descriptions, Hanna pens delightfully entertaining banter. I love the “Four Biddies” and interactions between Gemma and her parents, and her realistic attention to the various personalities creates an almost eavesdropping sense for the reader. It was so entertaining, and well worth a revisit. I am an eager fan of H.Y. Hanna’s audio versions, expecting this book (finger crossed) to be out before the end of the year, and the delightful result of having enjoyed listening to the previous eight is that when I read to myself, I continue to hear in my head Pearl Hewitt’s marvelous voice for Gemma, the “Biddies,” and even Muesli. And your bonus, with an introductory thought on British vs American scones, is an easy-to-follow treat with my two favorite flavors. The Dark Chocolate & Orange Scones recipe is from another Oxford Tearoom Mystery fan Kim McMahon Davis from Cinnamon and Sugar and a little bit of murder blog. The Chocolate Orange Glaze is delicious and easily used drizzled over other baked goods.

"Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments."

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DOUGH MUST GO ON is the ninth book in the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series by H.Y. Hanna and is filled with a jolly good time! Gemma Rose, owner of Little Stables Tearoom in Oxford has been hired to cater morning and afternoon tea for a famous reality talent show: From Pleb to Celeb. The creator and owner of the show is one of the richest and probably most eccentric men in Britain. This gives the author plenty of opportunities to create scenes filled with hilarity, especially when the four octogenarians, known as the Old Biddies, land a spot on the show with their “Granny Band” act. Ms. Hanna provides great descriptions of the various and often crazy talent acts which provides plenty of chuckles. Of course Gemma’s adorable little tabby, Muesli, gets in on the act as well and steals every scene, while Gemma’s mother puts her own mark on the show.

After discovering a murder victim during the competition (killed with an unbelievably unique weapon), Gemma is drawn to helping find the murderer. With so many contestants and show employees in the vicinity of the crime, there are plenty of suspects. As Gemma delves deeper into the victim’s life, she finds lots of people had reasons to truly dislike the murdered woman. Gemma’s boyfriend Devlin, is the inspector in charge of the investigation. While he’s a capable investigator, Gemma has a way of getting people to confide in her, providing clues along the way. The suspenseful conclusion wrapped up the threads of the story and I was greatly surprised at the “how” the murder was executed. It was quite ingenious!

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma Rose loves her Little Stables Tea Shop. A man came into the tea room early one morning and demanded a taste test of her scones. Gemma was surprised, but it resulted in a catering contract for a talent show being filmed in the area.

One afternoon, while walking backstage, Gemma noted the “fog” that the magician uses in his act was thicker than he normally used. Approaching the fog machine, she discovered one of the contestants with her head inside the fog machine. Gemma pulled the woman from the machine, hoping against hope that she might still be alive. One glance told her the sad truth. Gemma recognized the contestant, Lara, but her appearance was so shocking that she dropped the woman. Having died in a vat of liquid nitrogen, the woman's face shattered on impact.

Who could have done such a thing? Sure, the woman was obnoxious and proud of her immoral way of life. But no one deserved to die in such a manner!

There was no shortage of suspects, and the backstage area was like a labyrinth of hallways and rooms. Was Lara's death accidental or intentional? If it was intentional, what would be the motive? Would there be more deaths?

H.Y. Hanna has another winner with this story. Her new characters are very distinctive with their individual personalities and history. The interactions are believable and familiar. The book is well written and keeps the reader entertained from start to finish and well into the night.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Dough Must Go On by H.Y. Hanna, Gemma Rose has been hired to cater the From Pleb to Celeb talent show, which is taking place in Oxford. To her surprise, the four Old Biddies, plus a friend, have entered the contest as a "granny band" named the Pussy Puffs. Backstage, Gemma encounters plenty of personal drama and conflict, especially with one contestant, Laura King, determined to stir up trouble. The night of the semifinals, the puppeteer's cat, who is part of the act, goes missing, so Gemma takes her own cat, Muesli, for the woman to use. But as Gemma looks for the performer, she comes upon the body of Laura King, who must have been murdered in the previous ten minutes. With Gemma's boyfriend, Detective Instructor Devlin O'Connor, in charge of the case, Gemma finds herself mixed up in the investigation.

Read the rest of this review and other fun, geeky articles at Fangirl Nation

[Linniegayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite entry in the series, but still enjoyable. The ending felt a bit off. Once the murder was solved (of course there was a murder) the book continued on for several chapters dealing with Emma's relationships and interactions with various other characters. Overall, I'd give it a C+, so 3 stars here.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stelle e mezza
Più che il giallo vero e proprio, che mi ha coinvolto poco (anche perché la persona assassinata era semplicemente odiosa), mi è piaciuta l'ambientazione. E i due gatti, pardon... gatte, che compaiono nella storia.

[Mary MacBernick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dans la lignée des précédents, cozy mystery British avec des personnages sympas ...

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this a lot. :)

[Maryse Leclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Côté histoire, ce n’est pas mon préféré, mais côté intrigue, je n’ai rien vu venir!

[Nola Arganbright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

I always enjoy the adventures of Genna and her tearoom family. There is a tv program, much like Britain's Got Talent, being held in the Cotswolds and the Little Stables Tearoom is catering morning and afternoon tea.
The Old Biddies are included in the performers. Genna discovers a dead body behind the scenes and the investigation begins.
Fun and exciting, strong plot and excellent writing with our usual cast of great characters out to solve the mystery.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2024/0...

3.75/5

Une nouvelle petite affaire pour notre détective amatrice Gemma. Et cette fois, il est question d'un télé-crochet pour lequel son salon de thé est le traiteur. Et si tout débute très bien, lorsqu'elle découvre l'un des candidats morts, cela tourne au vinaigre. Qui est le coupable ? La dresseuse de chien, froide et sèche ? la douce et réservée pianiste ? Gemma va suivre des pistes qui la mèneront sans aucun doute au coupable.

Cette petite série de cosy mystery c'est l'assurance d'un bon moment. C'est du suspense, de l'humour, une dose de gourmandise et un soupçon de romance. Pour ma part, je me suis faite bernée sur l'identité du coupable cette fois, j'avais ma petite théorie qui s'est révélée à côté de la plaque. Mais quel plaisir d'avoir le dénouement de l'histoire et de suivre les pistes parfois farfelues. Et puis, dans un monde tel que le télé-crochet, où tout est calculé, surjoué, il est difficile de cerner le vrai du faux des gens et encore plus quand on est sous les projecteurs. Mais elle relève le défi, avec l'aide des vieilles chouettes qui, cette fois sont non seulement sur le coup mais, en plus elles font partie des candidats.

J'aime toujours autant suivre Gemma dans ses péripéties. Un meurtre qui va pas mal la secouer et notamment dans son procédé. Et on peut totalement se mettre à sa place. Mais cela permet aussi de voir une autre facette d'elle, plus sensible à ce qui l'entoure car même si c'est drôle d'enquêter, le fond de l'histoire est quand même un meurtre. On apprécie également la petite romance avec son cher et tendre Devlin, l'inspecteur de police, en toile de fond tout comme la relation assez drôle avec sa mère qui prouve une fois encore que le ridicule ne tue pas, et heureusement pour Gemma.

En conclusion, une bonne petite affaire, qui tient toujours le lecteur en haleine. Je me régale à chaque fois.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious must read book 9 in a fun and fantastic cozy mystery series!

H.Y. Hanna has done it again! Our favorite characters are embroiled in a new situation, Gemma, her Mom, the Biddies, Detective Devlin, Gemma's boyfriend and of course Muesli Gemma's lovable cat get involved in a TV Talent Show. Gemma is asked to supply Tea Time and break time catering of her scones etc. Dora, Gemma And Cassie are hard at work to supply the show with the goods and since the pay is so good, they shut down the shop while they cater the show. The biddies with their friend June entered the talent show, much to Gemma's disbelief! Of course we have a murder of one of the most odious talent acts, Lara who was not only nasty to everyone, but so self-centered and arrogant her attitude cause her to have a fight with a very meek piano playing contestant, and of course she did not endear herself to any of the other contestants. Since getting to be the final two who would go onto the next season's show is on the line, there are lots of suspects who could have murdered Lara in such a disagreeable way. There are so many twists and turns and with Gemma looking into the murder and the biddies helping, will she solve it or get into trouble. Will Muesli steal the show? Will the show go one? Will Gemma and Devlin ever be able to get some quality time together? Will Cassie see what their friend Seth really feels about her? So many questions, some get resolved and some are left for book 10 in this fantastic series. I received an ARC from the author but the opinions here are strictly my own.

[Lilmissmolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dough Must Go On by H.Y. Hanna is the 9th book in the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series. For those who have not had the good fortune of listening to this series before, it features Gemma Rose who is a struggling owner of an adorable tearoom in a tiny Cotswolds village near Oxford University.

In this book, Gemma’s little tearoom is asked to cater tea and scones twice a day to an America’s Got Talent-type TV show that is filming nearby. As she has a habit of doing, Gemma discovers the dead body of one of the contestants and then proceeds to solve the mystery of who did it. There were several red herrings, which kept me guessing until the very end (twice I guessed the wrong person as the murderer). As an added bonus, the Old Biddies (four octogenarians who frequent Gemma's tea room) are contestants on the reality show after forming a “granny band” with names for each band member similar to the Spice Girls, but using the names of real spices instead. The Old Biddies truly steal ever scene that they are in, providing an abundance of laugh-out-loud moments.

As always Pearl Hewitt did a fantastic job narrating as she did in the other books in the series. She provided varying voices for all characters, and emoted enthusiasm and excitement in all the right places. This is the second audiobook that my husband and I listened to while traveling out of town a few weeks ago and he enjoyed it immensely. Please tell me this is not the last book in the series!?!

[Maria E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

am in love with this entire series. I've been following Gemma, her mother, and her friends from the beginning, and I've come to miss them whenever I wait for the next book to come out. My favorite character is the adorable Muesli, Gemma's mischievous tabby, followed by the four Old Biddies who in spite of their age, have quite a knack for getting into trouble, and it is always up to Gemma to bail them out. In this, Book 9 of the series, we have another interesting murder. It all starts out fine with Gemma getting a huge order from a celebrity who is taping a TV talent competition show, which attracts a variety of performers. Of course, one of them gets killed. Gemma's boyfriend is the detective in charge, and Gemma, with the help (or hindrance) of the Old Biddies, steps in to help to solve the murder. Each book has a different murder which is wrapped up at the end, but by now I am more interested in the continuing story of the various characters than in the individual murders. That doesn't mean the murders aren't interesting in and of themselves, it's just that Ms. Hanna has made the characters so endearing that you feel like you already know them and you want to know much more about their lives. As I said, I love this series, and am looking forward to Book 10 for more of Gemma (and her relationship with Detective O'Connor), Muesli, Cassie, and the Old Biddies.

[Heather Belleguelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As readers, we never tire of our favourite series and can’t get enough of our favourite characters. What never ceases to amaze me though, is how skilled authors like Ms Hanna manage to keep coming up with new plots and ideas that we haven’t seen before. And that’s certainly the case in The Dough Must Go On.

A TV talent show is a wonderful setting for a bit of a gruesome murder with a ready-made list of suspects naturally provided. As usual, the Old Biddies cause great hilarity throughout the book, and not just as Britain’s first Granny Band. All the other elements that have made readers fall in love with this series are there as well. Gemma’s mother particularly comes into her own more than ever and made me want to hide somewhere, never mind how poor Gemma herself felt! And, of course, Muesli steals the show as always.

The murder storyline is complex enough without being too complicated, and I had no idea who the murderer was until it was revealed. Ms Hanna cleverly leads us along several possible rabbit trails before allowing us to see the truth. So, with a combination of an engrossing storyline, delightful characters, and great writing, how could this book rate anything other than five stars?

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma Rose and Muesli are busy catering for a new talent show in Oxford. Gemma's delicacies have been discovered by the producer of a up and coming revue. To Gemma's surprise and amazement, her favorite four 'The Biddies" are in the talent competition.

This is quite the selection of contestants and as the reality cameras are running, the backstage drama is flaring. Especially with one contestant who loves talking and goading people on with her flagrant tales of stealing husbands. That is until she speaks no more...

Gemma finds herself involved in trying to solve the crime. Muesli finds herself a star, almost and The Four Biddies with a fifth move up the ranks of popularity.

Meanwhile back at the Tearoom, there is a disappearing mouse...who left me laughing aloud.

I do enjoy this series of murder mysteries written in the British style. What fun and a darn good tale as well. If you haven't discovered Ms. Hanna's writing yet...Do so. Her two series are filled with foods, humor, and interesting murders. The characters stay with you as friends. The dialog is snappy and keeps you turning the pages.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

H.Y. Hanna has another hit on her hands with The Dough Must Go On, this time featuring a reality show called "From Pleb to Celeb." Gemma Rose's tearoom, The Little Stables, has scored the very lucrative catering job for the show, which is filming in her wonderful town of Oxford, England. We are provided with behind the scenes looks at the show which I found to be quite fascinating. Everyone in Oxford is excited about the show, and even the Old Biddies are participating with their girl band (or should I say "Granny Band"), and are a surprising hit. Gemma is up to the task until she stumbles upon the body of one of the contestants, and is determined to solve the mystery. She also has help from her best friend Cassie, the Old Biddies and her police detective boyfriend, Devlin.

This book is delightful and features the characters I know and love. The interactions are spot-on, and the setting of a talent reality show is genius. As the show is in its final stages, the competition has become quite cut-throat, and there is no shortage of suspects. Gemma finds herself in some hilarious situations during her investigations, usually instigated by the Old Biddies, or her mother, and I found myself laughing out loud at some of the antics.

If you have not read any of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, you are really missing out on a wonderful series. Each book is delightful and witty, with mysteries that have you guessing until the end. The Dough Must Go On can easily stand on its own, however, and you don't feel like you are missing out if you have not read the earlier books which I highly recommend.

A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

[Krystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Biddies and the sex shop

A good read. Not as good as some of the others in the series, possibly because the antics of the Old Biddies was limited. A good plot, well thought out but just seemed a shade lacklustre as a whole. The characters were great as always but the animals really stole the show from the dancing dog to the afternoon tea loving mouse.
When she is asked to provide catering for the talent show currently being filmed she didn't know what she was getting into. A host of different personalities from the man eating siren like singer to the dancing dog and worse the Old Biddies had formed a group and were also part of it. Clashes, rows and fights seem to be the norm and when the man eater is found dead (by her) with her head frozen in liquid nitrogen. Now the accusations and questions begin. Can she find the killer before the killer finds her as her questions and observations seem to have put everyone's backs up. With her mother now a judge and a forthcoming interview lined up (with her mother's favourite magazine) a mouse in the teashop seems like the last straw. Will things end well?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book; this is the ninth book in the Oxford Tearoom Mystery series written by H.Y. Hanna. Showbiz comes to Oxford in the form of Britain's hottest new talent show, and tearoom owner Gemma Rose gets a peek behind-the-scenes when she's asked to cater for the event. But with the Old Biddies, entering the contest as England's first "granny band", and her little tabby, Muesli, stealing the limelight, Gemma soon ends up with more than she bargained for... and that's before she comes across a frozen dead body! Now, she's on the trail of a murderer, with four nosy old ladies giving her a helping hand, while also dealing with her embarrassing mother, her workaholic boyfriend--and even a mouse invader at her tearoom! This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author.

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gemma finds her world turned upside down when she is hired to cater the set of the talent show From Pleb to Celeb. To make things even more interesting, the Old Biddies have formed a granny band, and believe it or not, they are both terrible and popular. Things get hairy when Gemma discovers one of the front runners murdered backstage, leaving Gemma feeling compelled to help her inspector boyfriend Devlin unmask the killer.

Kudos to Hanna for giving readers an unusual murder weapon and loads of laugh-out-loud moments. The talent television show backdrop provides zany characters and a nice change from the teashop location. Series regulars make appearances, and even Muesli plays a key role. The suspects all have interesting back stories and viable motives.

Time spent in Oxford with Gemma and crew is always time well spent. THE DOUGH MUST GO ON is great fun for any cozy mystery fan.

I received a copy of this title from the author and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemma's tea shoppe is contracted to cater pastries to a new reality show for talent contestants.
The old biddies are one of the groups competing, are of course on hand to help with the investigation.
Gemma is in the thick of another murder when she comes across one of the contestants face down in a vat of liquid nitrogen.

Almost all of the contestants had a reason to dislike Lara King. She not only was one of the favorite's of the people, she enjoyed flaunting herself and bragging about her many conquest over the years.

In the mean time, Gemma's mom has been going around with a society ladies magazine publisher, who wants to do a feature on the The Little Stables Tea Shoppe. Things go from bad to worse when Muesli appears with a mouse he just caught.

This is the last current book in this series. I was sorry to see it end and will now be waiting for the next book in the series.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ninth book in Oxford Tearoom Mysteries offers another delectable read with well known and much loved characters.
This time Gemma gets involved in a talent show by catering it and Old Biddies are involved by participating in it. Also there is a dead body of a much hated malicious singer and it's up to Gemma to prove that Old Biddies had nothing to do with it.
Always a treat to read about new adventures in a little Oxford village. With each new book we get to know the characters better, to find out about their lives and to like them more and more. New individuals are well portrayed. I also appreciate witty dialogue and many laugh out loud moments. The story is interesting without many twists but still able to keep reader's attention. Romantic scenes with sexy inspector Devlin just add to the suspense.
A real treat to mystery lovers.

[Winnie Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oxford Tearoom Mysteries series is one that I look forward to every time a new book in the series releases and The Dough Must Go On definitely did not disappoint. In fact, the series just gets better and better. HY Hanna is able to capture the attention of her readers with the way she weaves the mystery. Gemma may be discovering dead bodies pretty frequently but each story is unique on its own. I absolutely loved that both Gemma's mom and the Old Biddies were featured strongly in this story. They are all such interesting characters and bring so much life to the story. And of course, not forgetting cute Muesli who also has a pretty solid role in this story. As usual, I really can't wait for the next story in this series.

** I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own

[Debbie Elholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

H.Y. Hanna’s newest book “The Dough Must Go On (Oxford Tearoom Mysteries Book 9) is full of laughter. I also refer to it as the parent embarrassing the child. A murder occurs backstage at a TV talent show. Gemma’s mother is one of the judges of the talent show and she has no problem expressing her proper British opinions to the rest of the world, including Gemma’s inability to cook! Poor Gemma! And if learning about B.E.A.S.T, Pussie Puffs, Herb Girls and a certain mouse wasn’t enough, there’s the adventure in the sex shop with the Old Biddies! Gemma certainly has a lot on her plate in this latest adventure, but thankfully, Muesli and Devlin, provide the loving support Gemma needs to get through this murder solving puzzle. Note to Evelyn (Gemma’s mom), a cup of tea isn’t going to solve the problem.

I received an ARC from the author. The above opinions are my own.