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Cupcake Bakery Mystery #12
Pumpkin Spice Peril
In the twelfth Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay, the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew follows the clever crumb trail of a killer who's anything but cookie-cutter.
Life is all sugar and spice for the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers--Melanie Cooper is engaged to the delectable Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband Tate are savoring married life, and the bakery is bustling with happy customers. Until one of their most valued cupcake connoisseurs ends up dead.
Local glass artist and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has always suffered from a wide variety of health issues. In an effort to cheer her up, her doting husband, Peter, brings her a four-pack of her favorite cupcakes every week. But when the police discover that Rene has been poisoned, there's no sugarcoating the fact that the last things she ate were the bakery's signature pumpkin spice cupcakes! With their lives and bakery at stake, it's up to Mel and Angie to find out who poisoned their artist friend and why, before their future is frosted for good.
Life is all sugar and spice for the Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers--Melanie Cooper is engaged to the delectable Joe DeLaura, Angie Harper and her husband Tate are savoring married life, and the bakery is bustling with happy customers. Until one of their most valued cupcake connoisseurs ends up dead.
Local glass artist and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has always suffered from a wide variety of health issues. In an effort to cheer her up, her doting husband, Peter, brings her a four-pack of her favorite cupcakes every week. But when the police discover that Rene has been poisoned, there's no sugarcoating the fact that the last things she ate were the bakery's signature pumpkin spice cupcakes! With their lives and bakery at stake, it's up to Mel and Angie to find out who poisoned their artist friend and why, before their future is frosted for good.
259 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 28, 2020
472 people are currently reading
4292 people want to read
About the author
Jenn McKinlay
70 books5,249 followersJenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
March 10, 2025
When an artist begins to act crazier than usual, everyone's worried. Mel and Angie usually provide cupcakes to the woman's husband each week, but this time, they deliver... and when they find out what's happening, things get intense. That's the plot of Pumpkin Spice Peril, the 12th Cupcake Bakery Mystery written by Jenn McKinlay. I read the first book in this series years ago and didn't pick the rest up right away. I'd been on a quest to read 100 different cozies and then pick the series I was most interested in. McKinlay's other series ended up on my final list of 20,which I finished last year... and now I'm checking out her others. I only have 2 left before I'm current in her 3 mystery series... she writes some romance and others but they're not on my list - yet! Enjoyed this one, good murder plot, fantastic side stories.
April 27, 2020
What a lovely series of cozies! It is bound to take your mind off the stress of your daily life and get totally immersed in solving the mystery.
March 8, 2020
The 12th Cupcake Bakery Mystery
The Fairy Tale Cupcake Crew is back!
Melanie is riding high. Planning her wedding to the hunky Joe Delaura, things are going well with the bakery, Angie and Tate are finally married and even Uncle Stan seems to be finding love. So you know something bad is going to happen. Poor Mel is always in the thick of things.
At the moment they are busily baking cupcakes for their dear friend Renee. An incredibly gifted artist working on a huge glass project installation in a few days. To keep her energy up her husband, Peter stops by every day for four of her favorite cupcakes. To Mel and Angie, this is a #relationshipgoal type of couple.
But lately, Renee has been acting odd. Is she really stressed over this art installation? Or is she ill? When she is found dead at the gallery the day before her biggest triumph, the suspects are coming out of the woodwork. And a certain police chief is wondering why Melanie seems to be always stumbling over bodies.
In order to clear her reputation, she will once again have to poke her nose where others wish she would not. But this time she'll be on her own. You will understand why after the first few pages of the book, so I'm not saying a word. Those DeLaura men thrill me and terrify me at the same time.
These characters are so real that I have a theory that they are and maybe if I'm really good, I'll stumble upon Fairy Tale Cupcakes and sample some of those scrumptious cupcakes.
Also, recipes are included. God Bless you, Jenn McKinlay!
NetGalley/ April 28th, 2020 by Berkley Books
The Fairy Tale Cupcake Crew is back!
Melanie is riding high. Planning her wedding to the hunky Joe Delaura, things are going well with the bakery, Angie and Tate are finally married and even Uncle Stan seems to be finding love. So you know something bad is going to happen. Poor Mel is always in the thick of things.
At the moment they are busily baking cupcakes for their dear friend Renee. An incredibly gifted artist working on a huge glass project installation in a few days. To keep her energy up her husband, Peter stops by every day for four of her favorite cupcakes. To Mel and Angie, this is a #relationshipgoal type of couple.
But lately, Renee has been acting odd. Is she really stressed over this art installation? Or is she ill? When she is found dead at the gallery the day before her biggest triumph, the suspects are coming out of the woodwork. And a certain police chief is wondering why Melanie seems to be always stumbling over bodies.
In order to clear her reputation, she will once again have to poke her nose where others wish she would not. But this time she'll be on her own. You will understand why after the first few pages of the book, so I'm not saying a word. Those DeLaura men thrill me and terrify me at the same time.
These characters are so real that I have a theory that they are and maybe if I'm really good, I'll stumble upon Fairy Tale Cupcakes and sample some of those scrumptious cupcakes.
Also, recipes are included. God Bless you, Jenn McKinlay!
NetGalley/ April 28th, 2020 by Berkley Books
April 29, 2020
Over the years that best friends Mel Cooper and Angie Harper have run Fairytale Cupcakes, they have made friends with some of their customers. Near the top of that list are husband and wife artists Peter and Rene. Every Friday, Peter comes in to pick up cupcakes for Rene, who is currently putting the finishing touches on a major art installation to be unveiled in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mel and Angie are providing the cupcakes for the opening night party. However, the night before the big event, someone dies under suspicious circumstances. Has Mel been pulled into another murder?
While the murder happens a little late in the book, the time is well used to introduce us to characters and provide plenty of conflict. I was never bored, and that only increased once the murdered happened and Mel started uncovering secrets. The series regulars all sparkle as always, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The new characters are just as strong. The book has a more somber tone than some of the others in the series, but it fits the events of the plot. Don’t worry, there are still some good laughs along the way. We get four new cupcake recipes at the end that sound delicious. I raced through this book like always. This is another fun entry in one of my favorite series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While the murder happens a little late in the book, the time is well used to introduce us to characters and provide plenty of conflict. I was never bored, and that only increased once the murdered happened and Mel started uncovering secrets. The series regulars all sparkle as always, and I enjoyed getting to spend time with them. The new characters are just as strong. The book has a more somber tone than some of the others in the series, but it fits the events of the plot. Don’t worry, there are still some good laughs along the way. We get four new cupcake recipes at the end that sound delicious. I raced through this book like always. This is another fun entry in one of my favorite series.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 12, 2020
Rene dies just before a catered event in which her artistic creation will debut. Mel becomes a suspect when the police chief questions how she keeps finding bodies and threatens her with an independent counsel investigation into her involvement in past homicides. Meanwhile Angie battles morning sickness but her brothers provide support for her and Mel. I found this to be a pleasant diversion. Even though I missed several installments, my familiarity with the characters was adequate to appreciate this. Even though I rarely read more than 50 pages at a time, I enjoyed this one. These COVID-19 days filled with other distractions account for the length of time it took to read it. I suspect under normal circumstances this would have been read in a few hours. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.
October 15, 2020
This was supposed to be a really fun and lighthearted Halloween-time read, and it had all the right ingredients (pun intended) for success. Fall theme? Check. Yummy cupcakes? Check. Set in Arizona's Valley (I've never read a mystery set in the Phoenix area!)? Check! Unfortunately, I just didn't feel this book rose (get it?) to meet my standards (yes, I know cupcakes aren't bread and don't rise that much, shut up).
Anyways.
First, the good stuff. I thought the mystery itself was interesting. I didn't see the culprit coming but it made sense, as far as cozies go. The food sounded delicious. I really liked Oz's character, as well as Angie's. The banter between Angie's brothers was funny. There are a lot of characters from the previous books who pop in as minor characters. I haven't read any of the previous books, so it was a little dizzying trying to keep track of them all, but that's my fault, not the book's, and I imagine if you're a big fan of the series it would be really fun to see your favorites make cameos.
I should also probably preface my criticisms by reiterating that I haven't read the rest of the series. So I'm likely missing some context here, and it could be that my issues with this book are a one-off thing and not a recurring thing throughout.
But, bruh.
This book is heavy on the girl hate. Man!
With the exception of Angie, the main character's best friend, (I guess you can throw Susan in there, but I also didn't love her characterization) pretty much all of the female characters suck. There's Olivia, the rival bakery owner, who shows up at the beginning for apparently no other reason than just to bitch at Mel and her employees. (Honestly, her trying to poach Mel's customers was kinda valid, seeing as she walked into the bakery to find Mel and Angie yelling at each other as well as their customer, who it appears did not get served for several minutes. I don't doubt her bakery has less drama!) I'm sure Olivia's a recurring character, and I know most cozies have a small business rivalry thing going on, so this isn't a huge deal, but I'm really not a fan of female characters who are nasty just for the sake of being nasty.
Then a couple chapters later we get to Bernadette, a Latina woman, and holy hell, could we get a little more stereotypical and judgmental? I would like to petition for authors, especially white authors, to never, EVER describe women of color as "exotic" again. News flash: women of color are (gasp) WOMEN, not orchids or zebras or some shit. Barf. Furthermore, the main character is intimidated by Bernadette because she is so sexually attractive, with long, curly hair, big breasts, and lots of makeup. Bernadette is extremely sassy and flirts ruthlessly with anything with a pulse, antagonizing both the main character and her friend. I was prepared to dislike but tolerate this characterization, expecting the main character to have some kind of heart-to-heart with Bernadette that made her more sympathetic (as generally happens in these stories), but nope, Bernadette's a villain because she's an aggressive, pretty flirt. She basically embodies the "sexy aggressive Latina woman who's going to steal your man" trope, and it's done in such a cringey and stereotypical way, it's just yuck. Not to mention, the main character is super judgmental of Bernadette and never gets called out on it! When Rene accuses Bernadette of having an affair with Rene's husband, Mel thinks "Bernadette looked unfazed, as if being accused of being the other woman was an everyday occurrence for her. It probably was." Seriously? Judgey much? She also describes Bernadette as "cackling" and looks down on Bernadette's friends for their vaping and colorful hair. And yeah, you can say that Mel's dislike of Bernadette isn't her being racist or judgmental, it's a reaction to Bernadette's admittedly unkind behavior, but the fact that the author made Bernadette's behavior so clichéd in the first place is incredibly frustrating.
The other Latina women in the book don't fare much better. First there's Tara Martinez, the police detective, who like Olivia is a recurring character I'm sure I'm missing some context for. Still, I really cringed at her characterization. She's not as sexualized as Bernadette (although the other characters make a lot of inappropriate comments about her outfit), but again, she is portrayed as the stereotypically aggressive Latina woman who hates Mel not because she's always interfering in her investigations, or even because she broke her brother's heart, but because she's jealous of Mel's man. I just love unnecessary girl hate, don't you?
And then we have Susan, who is the most sexualized female character I have ever read in my entire life (and I've read my fair share of male-written detective stories). She's so gorgeous and sexy she literally renders all the men hanging out in the bakery completely senseless. Susan is at least a nice person, and she's a very good reporter, so on the one hand, I do appreciate her being a character who is both feminine and smart. Still, the author goes into a lot more detail about Susan's physical beauty than her curiosity, kindness, or intelligence, and she's introduced with her heart-stopping sexiness, not her accomplishments. I'm really uncomfortable with how the author sexualized and almost fetishized Latina women in such a stereotypical way, particularly because other female characters, whether they're minor villains like Olivia or the police chief or somewhat sane like Angie and Emersyn, are not sexualized or described in this way. Add to this the fact that Scottsdale is super bougie, affluent, and predominantly white. That's not to say that the entire city is white, rich, and racist, but there's a reason other Valley-dwellers call it Snobsdale or Snottsdale, just saying. To portray all the women of color in a stereotypical way, especially when the author makes absolutely no acknowledgement of the racism these women would most definitely face (I'm guessing the author isn't aware of it or wouldn't admit it, but trust me—it exists) just feels really gross. Particularly because the main character is white, affluent enough to live in Scottsdale, and clearly very priviledged.
Emersyn is pretty much the only female character who acts in an even remotely sane or reasonable way, even by cozy-mystery-with-colorful-characters standards. Willa, a rival artist, turns up in a bright red dress at a memorial and acts completely irreverent. The female police chief acts completely ridiculously (the cartoonish police chief works a lot better when the setting is a small town, not a major city). Frankly, I'd be suspicious of Mel, too! This isn't NYC or even Phoenix. Scottsdale is one of Arizona's safest cities (tax evasion and exploitation don't count as violent crimes even though they have violent effects for minorities and less affluent people, but that's a whole other thing) and it's very strange that Mel has come across so many dead bodies. That Mel is worried about being investigated is understandable, but that everyone else freaks out and is like "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE HOW DARE SHE" is pretty weird (ostensibly, Mel *solved* the cases of the bodies she found, yes? so the investigation should be pretty simple, especially because she's white and has multiple relatives in some kind of law enforcement and is 100% not the kind of person who becomes a scapegoat). And the resolution to this conflict was honestly laughable. Really? It got dropped, just like that? Whatever, I guess.
Anyways. I'm overly grumpy and irritable this week so this review might be unfair and I'm sorry. Just...stop treating women of color like objects! Treat them like normal characters! It's not that hard!
Anyways.
First, the good stuff. I thought the mystery itself was interesting. I didn't see the culprit coming but it made sense, as far as cozies go. The food sounded delicious. I really liked Oz's character, as well as Angie's. The banter between Angie's brothers was funny. There are a lot of characters from the previous books who pop in as minor characters. I haven't read any of the previous books, so it was a little dizzying trying to keep track of them all, but that's my fault, not the book's, and I imagine if you're a big fan of the series it would be really fun to see your favorites make cameos.
I should also probably preface my criticisms by reiterating that I haven't read the rest of the series. So I'm likely missing some context here, and it could be that my issues with this book are a one-off thing and not a recurring thing throughout.
But, bruh.
This book is heavy on the girl hate. Man!
With the exception of Angie, the main character's best friend, (I guess you can throw Susan in there, but I also didn't love her characterization) pretty much all of the female characters suck. There's Olivia, the rival bakery owner, who shows up at the beginning for apparently no other reason than just to bitch at Mel and her employees. (Honestly, her trying to poach Mel's customers was kinda valid, seeing as she walked into the bakery to find Mel and Angie yelling at each other as well as their customer, who it appears did not get served for several minutes. I don't doubt her bakery has less drama!) I'm sure Olivia's a recurring character, and I know most cozies have a small business rivalry thing going on, so this isn't a huge deal, but I'm really not a fan of female characters who are nasty just for the sake of being nasty.
Then a couple chapters later we get to Bernadette, a Latina woman, and holy hell, could we get a little more stereotypical and judgmental? I would like to petition for authors, especially white authors, to never, EVER describe women of color as "exotic" again. News flash: women of color are (gasp) WOMEN, not orchids or zebras or some shit. Barf. Furthermore, the main character is intimidated by Bernadette because she is so sexually attractive, with long, curly hair, big breasts, and lots of makeup. Bernadette is extremely sassy and flirts ruthlessly with anything with a pulse, antagonizing both the main character and her friend. I was prepared to dislike but tolerate this characterization, expecting the main character to have some kind of heart-to-heart with Bernadette that made her more sympathetic (as generally happens in these stories), but nope, Bernadette's a villain because she's an aggressive, pretty flirt. She basically embodies the "sexy aggressive Latina woman who's going to steal your man" trope, and it's done in such a cringey and stereotypical way, it's just yuck. Not to mention, the main character is super judgmental of Bernadette and never gets called out on it! When Rene accuses Bernadette of having an affair with Rene's husband, Mel thinks "Bernadette looked unfazed, as if being accused of being the other woman was an everyday occurrence for her. It probably was." Seriously? Judgey much? She also describes Bernadette as "cackling" and looks down on Bernadette's friends for their vaping and colorful hair. And yeah, you can say that Mel's dislike of Bernadette isn't her being racist or judgmental, it's a reaction to Bernadette's admittedly unkind behavior, but the fact that the author made Bernadette's behavior so clichéd in the first place is incredibly frustrating.
The other Latina women in the book don't fare much better. First there's Tara Martinez, the police detective, who like Olivia is a recurring character I'm sure I'm missing some context for. Still, I really cringed at her characterization. She's not as sexualized as Bernadette (although the other characters make a lot of inappropriate comments about her outfit), but again, she is portrayed as the stereotypically aggressive Latina woman who hates Mel not because she's always interfering in her investigations, or even because she broke her brother's heart, but because she's jealous of Mel's man. I just love unnecessary girl hate, don't you?
And then we have Susan, who is the most sexualized female character I have ever read in my entire life (and I've read my fair share of male-written detective stories). She's so gorgeous and sexy she literally renders all the men hanging out in the bakery completely senseless. Susan is at least a nice person, and she's a very good reporter, so on the one hand, I do appreciate her being a character who is both feminine and smart. Still, the author goes into a lot more detail about Susan's physical beauty than her curiosity, kindness, or intelligence, and she's introduced with her heart-stopping sexiness, not her accomplishments. I'm really uncomfortable with how the author sexualized and almost fetishized Latina women in such a stereotypical way, particularly because other female characters, whether they're minor villains like Olivia or the police chief or somewhat sane like Angie and Emersyn, are not sexualized or described in this way. Add to this the fact that Scottsdale is super bougie, affluent, and predominantly white. That's not to say that the entire city is white, rich, and racist, but there's a reason other Valley-dwellers call it Snobsdale or Snottsdale, just saying. To portray all the women of color in a stereotypical way, especially when the author makes absolutely no acknowledgement of the racism these women would most definitely face (I'm guessing the author isn't aware of it or wouldn't admit it, but trust me—it exists) just feels really gross. Particularly because the main character is white, affluent enough to live in Scottsdale, and clearly very priviledged.
Emersyn is pretty much the only female character who acts in an even remotely sane or reasonable way, even by cozy-mystery-with-colorful-characters standards. Willa, a rival artist, turns up in a bright red dress at a memorial and acts completely irreverent. The female police chief acts completely ridiculously (the cartoonish police chief works a lot better when the setting is a small town, not a major city). Frankly, I'd be suspicious of Mel, too! This isn't NYC or even Phoenix. Scottsdale is one of Arizona's safest cities (tax evasion and exploitation don't count as violent crimes even though they have violent effects for minorities and less affluent people, but that's a whole other thing) and it's very strange that Mel has come across so many dead bodies. That Mel is worried about being investigated is understandable, but that everyone else freaks out and is like "THIS IS AN OUTRAGE HOW DARE SHE" is pretty weird (ostensibly, Mel *solved* the cases of the bodies she found, yes? so the investigation should be pretty simple, especially because she's white and has multiple relatives in some kind of law enforcement and is 100% not the kind of person who becomes a scapegoat). And the resolution to this conflict was honestly laughable. Really? It got dropped, just like that? Whatever, I guess.
Anyways. I'm overly grumpy and irritable this week so this review might be unfair and I'm sorry. Just...stop treating women of color like objects! Treat them like normal characters! It's not that hard!
June 18, 2020
Another excellent book in the series! This one has what everyone always wants to talk about after reading so many in one series....an investigation as to why the main character always finds bodies!! Admit it, you know you always think that while reading these :-)
Mel, Angie, Tate, Joe and the rest of the crew all return for this one! You meet some more characters who may or may not be added to the next book. They were likable and I think would be a good fit for the series. I hope it goes on for many more books!!
Mel, Angie, Tate, Joe and the rest of the crew all return for this one! You meet some more characters who may or may not be added to the next book. They were likable and I think would be a good fit for the series. I hope it goes on for many more books!!
July 30, 2020
Melanie Cooper owns the Fairy Tale Cupcake Shop.
Things are going well at the shop. Melanie is engaged to Joe DeLaura. Her best friend Angie is doing well with her husband Tate.
Unfortunately, one of their best customers ends up dead.
The the local glass artist Rene-Fischer Klein is on the verge of her biggest show ever, but found dead the night before.
Of course, the last thing she ate were the cupcakes from Melanie and Angie's bakery.
Were the cupcakes poisoned?
I found that this kept my interest and moved along. Kept me guessing. Fun cozy mystery.
Things are going well at the shop. Melanie is engaged to Joe DeLaura. Her best friend Angie is doing well with her husband Tate.
Unfortunately, one of their best customers ends up dead.
The the local glass artist Rene-Fischer Klein is on the verge of her biggest show ever, but found dead the night before.
Of course, the last thing she ate were the cupcakes from Melanie and Angie's bakery.
Were the cupcakes poisoned?
I found that this kept my interest and moved along. Kept me guessing. Fun cozy mystery.
October 18, 2024
3.5 🌟
What can I say other than this was the cutest, cozy, fall mystery.
What can I say other than this was the cutest, cozy, fall mystery.
April 17, 2020
I am a big fan of this series (and author) and devour each new book. This is the 12th book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series and it is a delightful addition to a series that just hits all the right notes for me when looking for a cozy mystery series. These characters are well rounded, developed with depth and personality, and there is still room for them to continue to grow and relationships to change along with that growth. Mel and Angie have the kind of friendship that just makes me smile. Their lives are changing but the two of them are learning to roll with those changes. The one thing that doesn't change is Mel's penchant for discovering dead bodies or being in the wrong place when one is discovered. Unfortunately, this time the death is Mel's friend and a renowned glass artist. The last time Mel sees her friend alive the visit is fraught with an argument. As a result, she feels like she has to see that justice is done. She does this with the help of Angie, Joe and the rest of the secondary cast of characters. There are some changes with the Cupcake Fairy family, one that made me happy and one tinged with a bit of sadness.
The mystery was well done. While the identity of the killer was not a complete surprise, Ms. McKinlay does a good job of laying out clues that could fit a number of suspects and then leaving it to her readers to piece them together to see if they can determine the killer's identity.
This is a highly entertaining series and I will always be back for more. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Edelweiss Books.
The mystery was well done. While the identity of the killer was not a complete surprise, Ms. McKinlay does a good job of laying out clues that could fit a number of suspects and then leaving it to her readers to piece them together to see if they can determine the killer's identity.
This is a highly entertaining series and I will always be back for more. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Edelweiss Books.
May 5, 2020
Jenn McKinlay is back with book twelve in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series. You would think that with twelve books already out and a happily ever after for one of the main characters that McKinlay would have nothing else to write about, but she proves people wrong with this book.
Not only do we get amazing news for our favorite couple right off the bat, but the same fun banter is still present. Now if you’re used to more fast-paced mysteries then this series may not be for you. But I definitely feel like this is my favorite style of writing that McKinlay does in her Mystery series. I prefer her more playful style with that touch of romance. It offers a more balance storyline in my opinion.
McKinlay’s writing in this book does have quite a bit of repetition. This might be for the newbies to the Cozy Mystery genre to help guide them through the clues. However, it can sometimes slow the book down a touch, especially when it’s being repetitive more than once. But you just need to keep in mind that this is a lighter read in general.
PUMPKIN SPICE PERIL was definitely a fun read and after reading this, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 9, 2022
I read this seasonally, because it has pumpkin spice in the title. this is misleading - there is absolutely nothing autumnal at all about this book. I have no idea how they picked the title. I had more gripes about the reading - unrealistic dialogue, the first 50ish pages in my digital version being about a pregnancy (it's a cold open with no introduction to the characters), little to no description of setting, what read like casual misogyny, etc. etc. I did like the brief discussion about decriminalizing drug offenses. I realize many people reading this book have probably been fans of the series for the last 11 books, so maybe I'd feel differently if I were already familiar with the characters and the relationships (more cozy). as it is, I was just really disappointed that it wasn't even nominally about Fall or Halloween.
August 29, 2021
I feel like I notice these things in the series more now, but I don't like the way that the author describes female characters, especially ones you're not supposed to like. On the whole, though, this installment was FAR superior to the last one and I'm not mad that I read it. I'm definitely out after the next one, whether or not it is actually the end of the series. All I have ever wanted is for Joe and Mel to get married, goddammit.
May 26, 2024
I always look forward to finding out what is happening with Mel and Angie and the gang at the cupcake bakery. I was able to solve the mystery early on but the mysteries are only a small part of why I love this series. It is mainly the family that Mel and Angie have created. I can't wait until the next book!
October 14, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
So many good things are happening for Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers Melanie Cooper and Angie Harper both personally and professionally. Then they learn one of their friends and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has died. Rene was a local glass artist and has had several health issues over the years. She had been working on a huge project for the city which made her stressed out and not sleeping but Rene did not pass from natural causes or health issues. No, she was poisoned and the police suspect the cupcakes Rene loved could have carried the poison.
Melanie and Angie know they had nothing to do with Rene's death and they are going to prove it before they lose their business or are sharing a jail cell.
_____
I have gotten behind on this series for a variety of reasons and I am so happy to reconnect with Mel, Angie, Joe, Tate, Oz, Marty, and the fabulous and funny DeLaura brothers. Mel and "Dear Joe" are planning their wedding while Angie and Tate are settling into married life and all that brings. Marty is always a lot of fun and is still dating rival baker Olivia. Oz has been taking time off and made a huge change to his appearance leaving Mel and Angie nervous that are going to lose him. The DeLaura brothers are up in arms when they receive some news and have some crazy ideas. It was so easy to catch right up with these wonderful characters. The banter between them always makes me smile. The movie quotes are just plain fun.
The death of a friend hits Mel especially hard. Feeling she should have been able to help in some way, she is now on a crusade to find her killer. She trusts her Uncle Stan, but the Chief is "concerned" about all the bodies she has found or investigations she has played a part in, so she is opening an investigation and reviewing all those cases. Mel doesn't have time to worry about the past, she needs to live in the present and find out who killed Rene. She is nervous that it was Rene's husband Peter but he seemed to dote on his wife. She has other suspects though. I did too, but one event blew my theory up nicely. I did really enjoy all the twists and found the showdown extremely satisfying.
A lot happens within these pages. These characters have always been some of my favorites. I laughed out loud and giggled more than a time or two. I was intrigued by the mystery and was delighted by the author's descriptive talents. Every scene was so well described but Rene created a fantastic and unique piece of art for the town and those descriptions enabled me to envision it so clearly. I can't forget the cupcakes, they had me drooling. The recipes for Pumpkin Spice, of course, Coffee Mocha, Root Beer Float, and Passion Fruit Cupcakes are all included at the end of the story.
Pumpkin Spice Peril was a totally entertaining read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. The first book in this series, Sprinkle with Murder was one of the first reviews I wrote when I started blogging so I really need to get caught up on this series. Jenn McKinlay never disappoints.
So many good things are happening for Fairy Tale Cupcake bakers Melanie Cooper and Angie Harper both personally and professionally. Then they learn one of their friends and cupcake lover Rene Fischer-Klein has died. Rene was a local glass artist and has had several health issues over the years. She had been working on a huge project for the city which made her stressed out and not sleeping but Rene did not pass from natural causes or health issues. No, she was poisoned and the police suspect the cupcakes Rene loved could have carried the poison.
Melanie and Angie know they had nothing to do with Rene's death and they are going to prove it before they lose their business or are sharing a jail cell.
_____
I have gotten behind on this series for a variety of reasons and I am so happy to reconnect with Mel, Angie, Joe, Tate, Oz, Marty, and the fabulous and funny DeLaura brothers. Mel and "Dear Joe" are planning their wedding while Angie and Tate are settling into married life and all that brings. Marty is always a lot of fun and is still dating rival baker Olivia. Oz has been taking time off and made a huge change to his appearance leaving Mel and Angie nervous that are going to lose him. The DeLaura brothers are up in arms when they receive some news and have some crazy ideas. It was so easy to catch right up with these wonderful characters. The banter between them always makes me smile. The movie quotes are just plain fun.
The death of a friend hits Mel especially hard. Feeling she should have been able to help in some way, she is now on a crusade to find her killer. She trusts her Uncle Stan, but the Chief is "concerned" about all the bodies she has found or investigations she has played a part in, so she is opening an investigation and reviewing all those cases. Mel doesn't have time to worry about the past, she needs to live in the present and find out who killed Rene. She is nervous that it was Rene's husband Peter but he seemed to dote on his wife. She has other suspects though. I did too, but one event blew my theory up nicely. I did really enjoy all the twists and found the showdown extremely satisfying.
A lot happens within these pages. These characters have always been some of my favorites. I laughed out loud and giggled more than a time or two. I was intrigued by the mystery and was delighted by the author's descriptive talents. Every scene was so well described but Rene created a fantastic and unique piece of art for the town and those descriptions enabled me to envision it so clearly. I can't forget the cupcakes, they had me drooling. The recipes for Pumpkin Spice, of course, Coffee Mocha, Root Beer Float, and Passion Fruit Cupcakes are all included at the end of the story.
Pumpkin Spice Peril was a totally entertaining read that I enjoyed from beginning to end. The first book in this series, Sprinkle with Murder was one of the first reviews I wrote when I started blogging so I really need to get caught up on this series. Jenn McKinlay never disappoints.
September 17, 2022
Another great addition to the series! The murder of Mel and Angie's friend was really difficult to read. The solution to the murder, sleuthing, and slice-of-life scenes along the way was well written and an enjoyable read.
November 13, 2020
And we’ve got another DNF. I read over half the book, so I feel comfortable leaving a starred review. This is the twelfth book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series, and I’m calling it. I can no longer read this series. I loved the first seven books. They introduced me to cozy mysteries, and for a time, I couldn’t get enough. The last five books, however, have taken a sharp decline. Book ten was okay, but the others have been so disappointing.
The main character Mel has become a giant pushover, except when it comes to murders. Which is a bizarre thing to feel comfortable pushing back on, but it’s a cozy mystery. Her fiancé and almost any male in her life do whatever they want when it comes to her. I’m supposed to think it’s sweet that they’re so protective, but they treat her like a child. It’s infuriating. I swear it didn’t use to be like this, but maybe I’m mistaken.
The side characters, whom I used to love, have also taken a bit of a hit. Mel’s best friend Angie used to be a fiery woman who didn’t put up with most things. She was able to control her brothers as no one else could, and now they walk all over her. Sure they’ve got a reason to be protective, but they bothered me. Of course, she’s barely in the story, so it’s not like I had much to go off of there.
Looking back, I think one of the things that I dislike about the newer books is that the side characters are barely in the series anymore. It’s sad. They were a large part of why I loved the series.
After reading Pumpkin Spice Peril, I’m not sure if I’m going to even bother catching up with McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery series. I seem to be one of the few people who disliked this book, so if you’re a fan of the series, I would probably ignore my review.
2/5
The main character Mel has become a giant pushover, except when it comes to murders. Which is a bizarre thing to feel comfortable pushing back on, but it’s a cozy mystery. Her fiancé and almost any male in her life do whatever they want when it comes to her. I’m supposed to think it’s sweet that they’re so protective, but they treat her like a child. It’s infuriating. I swear it didn’t use to be like this, but maybe I’m mistaken.
The side characters, whom I used to love, have also taken a bit of a hit. Mel’s best friend Angie used to be a fiery woman who didn’t put up with most things. She was able to control her brothers as no one else could, and now they walk all over her. Sure they’ve got a reason to be protective, but they bothered me. Of course, she’s barely in the story, so it’s not like I had much to go off of there.
Looking back, I think one of the things that I dislike about the newer books is that the side characters are barely in the series anymore. It’s sad. They were a large part of why I loved the series.
After reading Pumpkin Spice Peril, I’m not sure if I’m going to even bother catching up with McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mystery series. I seem to be one of the few people who disliked this book, so if you’re a fan of the series, I would probably ignore my review.
2/5
October 4, 2022
So I picked this this gem up after watching Intentionally Bookish’s YouTube video about cozy books for the fall with pumpkin spice in the title. This story did not disappoint at all, I really loved it.
Melanie Cooper is a cupcake shop owner who’s dear friend, a glass artist named Rene, is murdered just before her showcase. Melanie begins to search for whom would do something so terrible just as Rene was on the verge of the biggest showcase of her career.
There were all of the normal tropes of cozy murder mysteries - amateur sleuthing, protective sidekick and many likely suspects. But, none of them were overdone, in my opinion. I loved the characters also; all were smart, professional and most seemed like anyone you would run into as a resident of a small but well-to-do town.
If you love warm and cozy mysteries, this one is worth checking out. 5 stars!
Melanie Cooper is a cupcake shop owner who’s dear friend, a glass artist named Rene, is murdered just before her showcase. Melanie begins to search for whom would do something so terrible just as Rene was on the verge of the biggest showcase of her career.
There were all of the normal tropes of cozy murder mysteries - amateur sleuthing, protective sidekick and many likely suspects. But, none of them were overdone, in my opinion. I loved the characters also; all were smart, professional and most seemed like anyone you would run into as a resident of a small but well-to-do town.
If you love warm and cozy mysteries, this one is worth checking out. 5 stars!
May 3, 2020
Visiting Fairy Tale Cupcakes is like visiting an old friend. Mel and Angie are providing the cupcakes for their friend, Rene's, art gallery. Right before the gallery Rene turns up dead. The chief of police seem to think Mel had something to do with it as someone told the chief she was arguing with Rene, and because she has been involved with a number of murders in the past. Not by her own fault of course. Mel, along with Angie and Joe, start asking questions. This book made me so happy. From the developments with Angie and Tate, to the wonderfully loud and hilarious DeLaura brothers, and of course Mel and Dear Joe, as Mel's mother refers to him. This book had everything that I love in a cozy mystery. They mystery itself was great. I need more in this series.
September 25, 2020
Painfully slow pacing especially in the first couple of chapters where nothing relevant to the mystery happens, a slew of characters (including way too many controlling and domineering men), and an awkward subplot of the police chief investigating the sleuth for her involvement in so many murders. The first rule of cozy mystery series is to never acknowledge the small town’s murder rate or call too much attention to how many corpses pile up around the sleuth. The story gets bogged down in this subplot and the mystery itself is thin. Cupcake recipes at the end seem promising, but I’ll skip the rest of the series.
June 14, 2020
I love these books ... I could easily gain weight just by looking at the gorgeous book covers and the luscious descriptions of cupcake flavors in the book!
August 6, 2020
Better than average cozy, not too cheesy. The writing wasn't bad. As always I wish the book was more about the cute cover and less about another local murder, but this was still fun.
April 30, 2021
5 stars for sure! I loved it.
April 25, 2020
Pumpkin Spice Peril is the 12th A Cupcake Bakery Mystery. Each book can be read on its own, but you will be missing out on some delightful stories. I thought Pumpkin Spice Peril was well-written with developed characters. Angie Harper and Melanie Cooper have come a long way since Sprinkle with Murder. Angie is married to Tate and they are trying to conceive. Joe DeLaura and Melanie are engaged, and they are looking forward to their nuptials. Marty enjoys his job at the bakery and is dating the bakeries rival, Olivia. Oz has perfected his baking prowess and is a valuable member of their team. I enjoy the descriptions of Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona and the creative people who work in the area. The book is filled with activity. Angie learns some surprising news which has her protective brothers (seven of them) rushing to the bakery. It also has Melanie on her own in this investigation. The local police chief wonders how Melanie keeps stumbling over dead bodies. He intends to have a formal investigation launched into all the past cases that Melanie was involved in. Uncle Stan can only do so much to protect Melanie. One of the DeLaura brother’s is dating and he is keeping the ladies name to himself. You know the family is going to find out. We also get to learn more about the most secretive DeLaura brother. Oz gets a new haircut, has mysterious appointments and is wearing a suit. Melanie gives Oz his privacy, but she has an idea what is behind the sudden changes. The mystery of who poisoned Rene has several suspects including her husband and a rival glass artist. One clue will give you the answer if you pay close attention to the details. I love the movie quotes that the group use. I like the quirkiness it adds to the story. I enjoyed the word imagery of the beautiful glass sculpture. It sounded amazing. Plenty of cupcakes are consumed in this tale. Melanie needs to keep up her strength and deal with all the drama. One situation calls for a cupcake in each hand. There are recipes at the end for the yummy creations. Pumpkin Spice Peril is an engaging cozy mystery with tempting treats, a glorious glass creation, a perilous poison, a remarkable remake, busy brothers, and an amazing announcement.
November 21, 2023
12 books into this series and it’s still continues to be new and fresh making it one of my very favorite cozy mystery series!! The sleuthing is always captivating and well written. Since the victim in this case was a good friend of Mel’s, it had an added element of emotion and heartache that you felt through the characters. I was honestly quite stumped picking out the correct culprit too! I really enjoyed the artistic setting of the story as well as the lovely metaphor surrounding changing seasons.
What really draws me to this series is the amount of character development the author has put into the entire cast. Two chapters in and I already knew this was going to be a great story. Angie and the DeLaura brothers are some of the most entertaining side characters that I have ever come across. The banter, competitiveness and protection of their only sister was funny, endearing and just a super joyful way to kick off this story. I’m curious to see how this new transition goes with Oz! It opens up the door for a new employee, yet I hope he is not gone for long. Dear, sweet Marty shared some great words of wisdom with Mel.
It was the perfect time of year to read about pumpkin spice treats as well as all of the other creative flavors the crew baked at Fairytale Cupcakes. As always, the book included several recipes mentioned throughout the story.
What really draws me to this series is the amount of character development the author has put into the entire cast. Two chapters in and I already knew this was going to be a great story. Angie and the DeLaura brothers are some of the most entertaining side characters that I have ever come across. The banter, competitiveness and protection of their only sister was funny, endearing and just a super joyful way to kick off this story. I’m curious to see how this new transition goes with Oz! It opens up the door for a new employee, yet I hope he is not gone for long. Dear, sweet Marty shared some great words of wisdom with Mel.
It was the perfect time of year to read about pumpkin spice treats as well as all of the other creative flavors the crew baked at Fairytale Cupcakes. As always, the book included several recipes mentioned throughout the story.
July 3, 2020
Things are not looking good for Mel and gang when once again Mel finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation of a friend. This time the Chief of Police is wanting to know exactly how it is that Mel ends up in the middle of so many murder investigations and it looks like she is trying to find a way to pin it on Mel. Meanwhile Angie is sick and Oz is up to something that doesn't appear to be good news! So many storylines entwined to make one fantastically entertaining plot to delight and amuse! I love these characters and look forward to reading even more, especially with all that is looming for them in the future!
March 16, 2021
I love this series! It just keeps getting better. I laughed, I cried and then I got mad that I have to wait for the next book to come out. I love the characters, they are my friends now. The story was good and the mystery kept me guessing. These books always make me want to bake and I really might try the pumpkin spice cupcakes, they are totally for spring, right?
**Disclaimer** while this is not an official #readforkimberly book she and I were at a similar place in the series and this series will forever be a #readforkimberly series for me.
**Disclaimer** while this is not an official #readforkimberly book she and I were at a similar place in the series and this series will forever be a #readforkimberly series for me.
March 27, 2020
Melanie Cooper’s Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in Scottsdale, AZ, is famous for its delicious and quirky creations. (Root Beer Float cupcakes, anyone?) As this episode of Cupcake Bakery Mysteries begins, the first mystery that presents itself is newlywed Angie Harper’s sudden irritability and tendency to bolt for the nearest bathroom.
Melanie and partner Angie are preparing a huge order for an art-glass installation over the canal, being crafted by longtime friend and customer, Rene Fischer-Klein. She and husband Peter have long been Mel’s exemplar of a perfect, supportive, loving marriage, one that she hopes to emulate when she weds Joe DeLuca, Angie’s older brother.
But when Peter stops in that day to pick up his usual order of 4 cupcakes for Rene, he confides that his wife has been sick lately, claiming stress from the upcoming exhibition. She also has been uncharacteristically moody, paranoid, and unpredictable, and will not see a doctor.
Mel, concerned for her friend, decides to visit Desert Winds Gallery, where Rene is working on the last pieces for the installation. Before she can get to Rene’s door, she learns that others have noticed - and been targeted by - Rene’s accusations, including Peter, who has been banned altogether. Rene’s gaunt and unkempt appearance is shocking, but not as shocking as her bitter, jealous rage - at Mel, who has to duck to avoid being hit by a piece of glass. What is happening to her lovely friend?
The day before the exhibition, Peter has not shown up for his usual cupcakes, and Rene has not called. Worried, Mel is about to check in on Rene when Angie arrives, wide-eyed with horror: a death has been reported at Desert Wind. At the scene, their worst fear is confirmed. Rene is dead.
The investigation begins with the pumpkin spice cupcakes that were in Rene’s studio. Although they are found to not have been poisoned, the police chief opens an investigation into Mel herself, since she has been “homicide adjacent” in so many murders already (a malady shared by many a cozy sleuth!). Of course, there are other suspects, beginning with Peter himself, and other artists from the gallery, including sultry Bernadette, hunky Byron,and others, who might - in a different context, be labelled “red herrings.” (Not even adventurous Mel would make Red Herring Cupcakes.)
There are also delightful subplots. One of Joe’s brothers buys his girlfriend a fish and names it after himself, Mel’s mother has begun to date (and wait until you learn who her new boyfriend is!), and Mel’s chef, Oz, who suddenly transforms himself from Goth-punk to well-groomed grownup. Mel’s uncle Stan, a detective himself, has an insightful discussion with Joe about Arizona’s laws that incarcerate low-level drug users in prisons that are, increasingly, being privatized - an interesting side-note indeed. And I’ll add my own, personal puzzlement: do people really eat 4 cupcakes at one sitting?
All is resolved, relationships are changed for better or worse, Angie’s new characteristics are most-delightfully explained, and many cupcakes are eaten. Many many cupcakes.
Confession: this was my first Cupcake Bakery Mystery, but it won’t be my last. 5 stars and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Melanie and partner Angie are preparing a huge order for an art-glass installation over the canal, being crafted by longtime friend and customer, Rene Fischer-Klein. She and husband Peter have long been Mel’s exemplar of a perfect, supportive, loving marriage, one that she hopes to emulate when she weds Joe DeLuca, Angie’s older brother.
But when Peter stops in that day to pick up his usual order of 4 cupcakes for Rene, he confides that his wife has been sick lately, claiming stress from the upcoming exhibition. She also has been uncharacteristically moody, paranoid, and unpredictable, and will not see a doctor.
Mel, concerned for her friend, decides to visit Desert Winds Gallery, where Rene is working on the last pieces for the installation. Before she can get to Rene’s door, she learns that others have noticed - and been targeted by - Rene’s accusations, including Peter, who has been banned altogether. Rene’s gaunt and unkempt appearance is shocking, but not as shocking as her bitter, jealous rage - at Mel, who has to duck to avoid being hit by a piece of glass. What is happening to her lovely friend?
The day before the exhibition, Peter has not shown up for his usual cupcakes, and Rene has not called. Worried, Mel is about to check in on Rene when Angie arrives, wide-eyed with horror: a death has been reported at Desert Wind. At the scene, their worst fear is confirmed. Rene is dead.
The investigation begins with the pumpkin spice cupcakes that were in Rene’s studio. Although they are found to not have been poisoned, the police chief opens an investigation into Mel herself, since she has been “homicide adjacent” in so many murders already (a malady shared by many a cozy sleuth!). Of course, there are other suspects, beginning with Peter himself, and other artists from the gallery, including sultry Bernadette, hunky Byron,and others, who might - in a different context, be labelled “red herrings.” (Not even adventurous Mel would make Red Herring Cupcakes.)
There are also delightful subplots. One of Joe’s brothers buys his girlfriend a fish and names it after himself, Mel’s mother has begun to date (and wait until you learn who her new boyfriend is!), and Mel’s chef, Oz, who suddenly transforms himself from Goth-punk to well-groomed grownup. Mel’s uncle Stan, a detective himself, has an insightful discussion with Joe about Arizona’s laws that incarcerate low-level drug users in prisons that are, increasingly, being privatized - an interesting side-note indeed. And I’ll add my own, personal puzzlement: do people really eat 4 cupcakes at one sitting?
All is resolved, relationships are changed for better or worse, Angie’s new characteristics are most-delightfully explained, and many cupcakes are eaten. Many many cupcakes.
Confession: this was my first Cupcake Bakery Mystery, but it won’t be my last. 5 stars and thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
April 9, 2021
This was not my favorite of the series. In a time where we all seem to be fighting each other, reading a book where women are catty and fighting each other and not supporting each other or their craft [and I am not just talking about the obnoxious Olivia Puckett either - I do wish she'd move out of town. I DESPISE that character, though she is barely present in this book and for that, with all the other stuff that is happening, I am very grateful], was just off-putting. It got three stars because I didn't know who the killer was and for something that happens early on that I cannot talk about . It almost got stars taken away because of how the police chief acts [talk about a freaking chip on one's shoulder], but what saved that was Uncle Stan defending Mel. He is a good one. There was just so much tearing down and also and with all that is going on in the world today, it felt very unnecessary and overwhelming.
September 5, 2024
Audiobook 4 Stars!
This was a fun cozy mystery. However this had nothing to do with pumpkin spice! One cupcake flavor out of many was pumpkin spice, but there was nothing particularly fall or pumpkin themed about this book so I was slightly disappointed.
This follows a bakery owner whose friend dies a mysterious death and she is trying to figure out who the culprit was. This book made me crave cupcakes, and I dont even like cupcakes that much!
I feel like this book would have been more enjoyable if I read it from book 1 in the series so I could learn all the backstories of the secondary characters.
This was a fun cozy mystery. However this had nothing to do with pumpkin spice! One cupcake flavor out of many was pumpkin spice, but there was nothing particularly fall or pumpkin themed about this book so I was slightly disappointed.
This follows a bakery owner whose friend dies a mysterious death and she is trying to figure out who the culprit was. This book made me crave cupcakes, and I dont even like cupcakes that much!
I feel like this book would have been more enjoyable if I read it from book 1 in the series so I could learn all the backstories of the secondary characters.
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