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Murder in the Mix #7
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake
My name is Lottie Lemon and I see dead pets. On occasion I see a once-upon a human too but mostly it’s just cute little furry beasts who have come back from the other side to warn me of their previous owners impending doom.
It turns out, everything I thought I knew about my relationship with the man of my dreams was a lie, so when I’m asked to cater sweet treats to a party honoring a very important judge, of course, I dive right in to get my mind off of things. But when I set up the dessert buffet and spot the ghost of a girl I was accused of killing just last month, I realize this night isn’t going to go off without a homicide in its giddy-up. Try as I might to stop it, another murder strikes our community, and not only am I determined to solve this crime, but I’m determined to heal my broken heart, too. In both cases, it seems I’ve bitten off far more cookie than I can chew.
Lottie Lemon has a brand new bakery to tend to, a budding romance with perhaps one too many suitors, and she has the supernatural ability to see dead pets—which are always harbingers for ominous things to come. Throw in the occasional ghost of the human variety, a string of murders, and her insatiable thirst for justice, and you’ll have more chaos than you know what to do with.
Living in the small town of Honey Hollow can be murder.
It turns out, everything I thought I knew about my relationship with the man of my dreams was a lie, so when I’m asked to cater sweet treats to a party honoring a very important judge, of course, I dive right in to get my mind off of things. But when I set up the dessert buffet and spot the ghost of a girl I was accused of killing just last month, I realize this night isn’t going to go off without a homicide in its giddy-up. Try as I might to stop it, another murder strikes our community, and not only am I determined to solve this crime, but I’m determined to heal my broken heart, too. In both cases, it seems I’ve bitten off far more cookie than I can chew.
Lottie Lemon has a brand new bakery to tend to, a budding romance with perhaps one too many suitors, and she has the supernatural ability to see dead pets—which are always harbingers for ominous things to come. Throw in the occasional ghost of the human variety, a string of murders, and her insatiable thirst for justice, and you’ll have more chaos than you know what to do with.
Living in the small town of Honey Hollow can be murder.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2018
783 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Addison Moore
370 books5,702 followersSubscribe to Addison's newsletter! http://www.addisonmoore.com/subscribe/
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Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.
FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF
Follow for deals and steals on Bookbub-> https://www.bookbub.com/authors/addis...
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy mysteries and romance. Her new book MIDLIFE IN GLIMMERSPELL is NOW available! Read today!
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison's books, "...easy, frothy fun!"
Humor with a side of homicide.
FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Amazon-->https://amzn.to/3AnyVhs Hibiscus Homicide Cruise is here! An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
#Cozymystery #Kindleunlimited #mystery #PWF
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
March 7, 2021
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake was my first by Addison Moore and is #7 in the series. I definitely missed out on back story by reading this one first. But it wasn’t like any other cozy I’ve read – way too much romance and the murder seemed to be glossed over. There was also the ghost from a previous death which Lottie Lemon obviously solved the murder of, which muddied the waters somewhat. With two guys involved with Lottie, both vying for her attentions, I did some skimming as well. I won’t bother with any more of this series.
March 27, 2019
The other woman
Awesome. A terrific plot - a baker that sees ghosts and now finds herself as the other woman, a dead judge, his wife and multiple others and Everett as suspect number one. Loved the way it has unfolded and the way the characters are changing - really wish she'd go with Everett.
Shock up shock just keep piling up. Firstly with the appearance of her boyfriend's wife - he never told her he was married. Secondly with the reappearance of Greer's ghost. Thirdly with the death of a judge and with Everett being the top pick for the murder. But was the judge really so innocent? Apparently not as his infidelity proves with not just a wife but several mistresses. But which one killed him? Can she and Everett get to the truth? Find the killer and clear Everett? But what is she going to do about Noah? Especially now that Everett has started to make moves on her. As if all that wasn't bad enough, he ex-fiance is coming into town!
Awesome. A terrific plot - a baker that sees ghosts and now finds herself as the other woman, a dead judge, his wife and multiple others and Everett as suspect number one. Loved the way it has unfolded and the way the characters are changing - really wish she'd go with Everett.
Shock up shock just keep piling up. Firstly with the appearance of her boyfriend's wife - he never told her he was married. Secondly with the reappearance of Greer's ghost. Thirdly with the death of a judge and with Everett being the top pick for the murder. But was the judge really so innocent? Apparently not as his infidelity proves with not just a wife but several mistresses. But which one killed him? Can she and Everett get to the truth? Find the killer and clear Everett? But what is she going to do about Noah? Especially now that Everett has started to make moves on her. As if all that wasn't bad enough, he ex-fiance is coming into town!
January 14, 2020
Not bad.
I’m so glad that the romantic shake-up doesn’t overwhelm the murder mystery. It was fast paced and fun, especially with Greer’s lascivious antics with Everett, however, I’m not terribly keen on Carlotta (ulterior motives there) or Britney.
Not as attention grabbing as other cosy mysteries I’ve read, but not bad if you just want a quick something to read.
3 stars ⭐️
I’m so glad that the romantic shake-up doesn’t overwhelm the murder mystery. It was fast paced and fun, especially with Greer’s lascivious antics with Everett, however, I’m not terribly keen on Carlotta (ulterior motives there) or Britney.
Not as attention grabbing as other cosy mysteries I’ve read, but not bad if you just want a quick something to read.
3 stars ⭐️
November 4, 2024
I just... do I trust Noah or not? Not sure at this moment. I'm also not a fan of how quickly she jumped from Noah to Everett. Which, yes, they were all in a weird love triangle, but she was like all in on Noah—then the wife shows up—and she's all in on Everett now? Didn't even breathe or heal from the betrayal?!?! Let's just see what happens in the next book.
February 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised at the Murder mystery and how it ended. I never guessed who the murderer was! I hope Lottie picks the guy I hope she does! However, I do care about both of them.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Want to read
February 21, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/21/2021)! 🎁
July 2, 2022
still hate Noah
I still hate Noah… he totally love bombed in the beginning. Then boom, a wife. What a joke. I’ll like this series so much better when someone slaps Noah in the face. I’m glad Lottie got her heart broken bc she chose the wrong guy, now maybe she’ll stop being stuck up Noah’s behind.
I still hate Noah… he totally love bombed in the beginning. Then boom, a wife. What a joke. I’ll like this series so much better when someone slaps Noah in the face. I’m glad Lottie got her heart broken bc she chose the wrong guy, now maybe she’ll stop being stuck up Noah’s behind.
February 16, 2025
A fun series.
June 17, 2025
I really enjoyed Greer's scenes in the end and honestly that's what changed it from a 2 star to 3.
December 7, 2018
I so far love or at least really like what this author writes and this book wasn an exception.
This is the 7th book in this series and I really liked the story
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 7th book in this series and I really liked the story
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 22, 2024
Okay, so I've made it to book #14 in this series, and I feel like I need to post a review for all the books I've read up to this point. These books rea all set pretty close together, so it's almost like you're reading one big, long story or watching a TV drama or soap opera. There are some really fun, interesting things in these books, and some other things that are problematic.
Things that I like:
The setting - Honey Hollow is one of those adorable little towns that exist almost exclusively in rom-com books or cozy TV shows. Think Stars Hollow, but in Vermont. It's the kind of town that has absolutely no major corporations in the downtown area. No McDonald's, no Walmart's, nothing. Everything is family owned. Every business decorates for whatever event/holiday/season is coming up or going on and everyone in town is always at every event. I'm here for that. If I could find this kind of town in RL, I would be in heaven. I'm sure that some place, somewhere, is like this, and I haven't found it yet, so that's why I'm saying it's almost exclusively in books or shows. But I do really love this little town.
Most of the side characters - I love Keelie and Meg the most of the side characters, but Lainey, Brittany, and even Cormack are fun and have enough quirks to keep them interesting. I'm not saying they are perfect, but they are a lot of fun and I want a friend group just like them.
The premise - I'm not going to do spoilers for any of the books, but this isn't really a spoiler, since it is literally the first paragraph in every book. Lottie's power is really cool and something different from the normal cozy mystery realm. She sees ghosts of pets and people who are there to help her solve a murder of someone they are close to. Love this idea. It's really what sets this series apart from the other cozy mystery type stories. The fact that her powers do grow and shift, and her reaction to them, is something that seems like normal reactions.
Everett - I really like Everett. He's understanding, has his own demons, is a calming force on Lottie, and really cares about her. He tells her things that he's hidden from others in the past, which just shows how much he cares for her. And he's willing to give her time to figure things out on her own. He also supports her in everything, but mostly in her investigations. He knows she's going to do whatever it is she's going to do, so he tags along to make sure she's as safe as she can be in the situation. He doesn't try to fit her in a box of his own expectations, but lets her be her own person, which is very refreshing.
Things I'm on the fence about:
Lottie - Yes, the FMC herself. First of all, I do like Lottie. She has a lot of good points, and she genuinely cares about people and is fiercely loyal to her friends and family. She is stubborn and keeps going, no matter what obstacles are in her way. I like that part of her. However, the other part of her is a complete mess. The woman cannot make up her mind about her love life and frankly, it's pretty darn annoying. I get that it's easy to be attracted to two different men at once, but if she actually sat down and looked at how each of them treats her, she would be able to make her choice. That part of her makes her seem kind of airheaded and jealous all the time. I really don't like that treatment of her, even though those are normal emotions and behaviors, and she is relatable. But given how focused she is in her business and the other parts of her life, it's almost like the author is afraid to make a choice for Lottie and make someone mad. Which just leaves everything in a long, drawn-out romantic triangle that no one really asked for.
Things I really don't like -
Both of Lottie's mothers - Look, the backstory of Lottie's birth mom having been a teenage who got pregnant and left her to be adopted by her "parents" is good. Love the back story and the support Lottie gets from her adoptive family is great. But both of her moms act like they are mean girls in high school and the only thing they have to do is fight each other over who has which guy as a boyfriend now. After hearing about how much Miranda loved her deceased husband and spent 10 years not dating, to have her having a revolving door of dates now seems a bit of an overkill. I do think that people can and should have meaningful relationships after their SO's pass on, but her relationships seem so superficial and juvenile. Carlotta, on the other hand, has every reason to distrust men (that we know of. We don't get a whole lot of background on where she was and what happened for the 29 years she was gone), but she just jumps back into competing with Miranda for every man in her life. It's very 1980's soap opera-ish. And really, it's somewhat distracting to the main stories.
The constant repetition - There are certain words/phrases/paragraphs that seem as if they are just lifted from one book and dropped right into the next. Do we really need the first paragraph (which is also the blurb for every single book) about Lottie and her ability to see the dead? Couldn't the author think of a different way to work it in somewhere in the first chapter or so? Why don't we get any background as to why Lottie's powers are suddenly escalating? But nope, just the same "I'm Lottie Lemon and I see dead pets." every single story. Also, why does everyone refer to Lottie almost exclusively as Lottie Lemon? It's not like Lainey comes in and someone always says, "Lainey Lemon!" I'm sure there are multiple ways to keep putting her last name in there, if that's what the author is really wanting to do. And the shoulder shimmy and hip bump. It's like those phrases are used 40-50 times per book. The books are not that long at all. There is no reason for someone's shoulders to do a shimmy every other chapter or so.
Noah - I know this will probably cause some hurt feelings, but Noah is not a likeable character. He is controlling and stalkerish. His and Lottie's meet cute was cute. I enjoyed that. But then, Noah got problematic. I enjoyed the beginning of his relationship with Lottie. He was her pick, and Everett was there in the background, but I was fine with Noah. UNTIL Brittany showed up. Do you mean to tell me in SIX MONTHS Noah couldn't find one second to have a serious conversation with the woman he said he was falling in love with to tell her that his divorce was not finalized yet? Oh, his bad. He "forgot" to tell her. Just like he "forgot" to tell her that he put a tracker on her car. Is that even legal? Oh, and cameras pointing at her front door? Really? Hello, stalker. And when Lottie, who did not want to be the other woman, tells him that yes, she has feelings for him, but she is done with him because of his wife, he refuses to accept that. Instead of figuring out his relationship with Brittany (and Cormack -but that's next), he continuously busts in on Lottie and Everett. That really bothered me. Lottie set boundaries and eventually, when things had settled down, she and Noah could have been really good friends, but he refuses to accept the boundaries. He constantly interrupts Lottie and Everett, breaking in whenever they are alone and making snide comments about Everett. You know who doesn't do that later? Everett. When he tells Lottie to figure out who she wants to be with, he even says no to getting physical with Lottie so she can decide for herself between Noah and Everett. But Noah? Nope, Lottie is his toy and he can't stand other people touching his toys. And then, he "accidentally" gets engaged to Cormack and "can't find a way" to tell her that they are actually not engaged. He takes her on dates. Takes her to dinner. Takes her to relationship counseling. Let's Cormack throw them an engagement party. And through all of this, he keeps telling Lottie that "he just can't figure out how to get Cormack to understand." Idk, dude. Maybe stop taking her on dates? Slap her with a restraining order? You're a detective. Figure it out. OH, and that brings me the worst part of Noah (if you can believe that). He doesn't want a relationship with Lottie. He wants to own her and to put her in a box or on a shelf. The whole first part of their relationship is him telling Lottie to stay out of everything and be a good girl and get back in the kitchen. Look, I get she's a baker and he's trying to keep her safe. But there is ALWAYS a point in the books that he realizes she's far ahead of him in the investigation and all of a sudden, it's fine for her to be involved. As long as she follows his rules and does exactly what he says.
So, I read through the first 13 pretty quickly and have started 14. But I think I'm going to take a break, because the things I am annoyed with are slowly starting to outweigh the things that I like about this book series. Hopefully, when I go back and pick it up again, I'll be able to enjoy the stories once again.
Things that I like:
The setting - Honey Hollow is one of those adorable little towns that exist almost exclusively in rom-com books or cozy TV shows. Think Stars Hollow, but in Vermont. It's the kind of town that has absolutely no major corporations in the downtown area. No McDonald's, no Walmart's, nothing. Everything is family owned. Every business decorates for whatever event/holiday/season is coming up or going on and everyone in town is always at every event. I'm here for that. If I could find this kind of town in RL, I would be in heaven. I'm sure that some place, somewhere, is like this, and I haven't found it yet, so that's why I'm saying it's almost exclusively in books or shows. But I do really love this little town.
Most of the side characters - I love Keelie and Meg the most of the side characters, but Lainey, Brittany, and even Cormack are fun and have enough quirks to keep them interesting. I'm not saying they are perfect, but they are a lot of fun and I want a friend group just like them.
The premise - I'm not going to do spoilers for any of the books, but this isn't really a spoiler, since it is literally the first paragraph in every book. Lottie's power is really cool and something different from the normal cozy mystery realm. She sees ghosts of pets and people who are there to help her solve a murder of someone they are close to. Love this idea. It's really what sets this series apart from the other cozy mystery type stories. The fact that her powers do grow and shift, and her reaction to them, is something that seems like normal reactions.
Everett - I really like Everett. He's understanding, has his own demons, is a calming force on Lottie, and really cares about her. He tells her things that he's hidden from others in the past, which just shows how much he cares for her. And he's willing to give her time to figure things out on her own. He also supports her in everything, but mostly in her investigations. He knows she's going to do whatever it is she's going to do, so he tags along to make sure she's as safe as she can be in the situation. He doesn't try to fit her in a box of his own expectations, but lets her be her own person, which is very refreshing.
Things I'm on the fence about:
Lottie - Yes, the FMC herself. First of all, I do like Lottie. She has a lot of good points, and she genuinely cares about people and is fiercely loyal to her friends and family. She is stubborn and keeps going, no matter what obstacles are in her way. I like that part of her. However, the other part of her is a complete mess. The woman cannot make up her mind about her love life and frankly, it's pretty darn annoying. I get that it's easy to be attracted to two different men at once, but if she actually sat down and looked at how each of them treats her, she would be able to make her choice. That part of her makes her seem kind of airheaded and jealous all the time. I really don't like that treatment of her, even though those are normal emotions and behaviors, and she is relatable. But given how focused she is in her business and the other parts of her life, it's almost like the author is afraid to make a choice for Lottie and make someone mad. Which just leaves everything in a long, drawn-out romantic triangle that no one really asked for.
Things I really don't like -
Both of Lottie's mothers - Look, the backstory of Lottie's birth mom having been a teenage who got pregnant and left her to be adopted by her "parents" is good. Love the back story and the support Lottie gets from her adoptive family is great. But both of her moms act like they are mean girls in high school and the only thing they have to do is fight each other over who has which guy as a boyfriend now. After hearing about how much Miranda loved her deceased husband and spent 10 years not dating, to have her having a revolving door of dates now seems a bit of an overkill. I do think that people can and should have meaningful relationships after their SO's pass on, but her relationships seem so superficial and juvenile. Carlotta, on the other hand, has every reason to distrust men (that we know of. We don't get a whole lot of background on where she was and what happened for the 29 years she was gone), but she just jumps back into competing with Miranda for every man in her life. It's very 1980's soap opera-ish. And really, it's somewhat distracting to the main stories.
The constant repetition - There are certain words/phrases/paragraphs that seem as if they are just lifted from one book and dropped right into the next. Do we really need the first paragraph (which is also the blurb for every single book) about Lottie and her ability to see the dead? Couldn't the author think of a different way to work it in somewhere in the first chapter or so? Why don't we get any background as to why Lottie's powers are suddenly escalating? But nope, just the same "I'm Lottie Lemon and I see dead pets." every single story. Also, why does everyone refer to Lottie almost exclusively as Lottie Lemon? It's not like Lainey comes in and someone always says, "Lainey Lemon!" I'm sure there are multiple ways to keep putting her last name in there, if that's what the author is really wanting to do. And the shoulder shimmy and hip bump. It's like those phrases are used 40-50 times per book. The books are not that long at all. There is no reason for someone's shoulders to do a shimmy every other chapter or so.
Noah - I know this will probably cause some hurt feelings, but Noah is not a likeable character. He is controlling and stalkerish. His and Lottie's meet cute was cute. I enjoyed that. But then, Noah got problematic. I enjoyed the beginning of his relationship with Lottie. He was her pick, and Everett was there in the background, but I was fine with Noah. UNTIL Brittany showed up. Do you mean to tell me in SIX MONTHS Noah couldn't find one second to have a serious conversation with the woman he said he was falling in love with to tell her that his divorce was not finalized yet? Oh, his bad. He "forgot" to tell her. Just like he "forgot" to tell her that he put a tracker on her car. Is that even legal? Oh, and cameras pointing at her front door? Really? Hello, stalker. And when Lottie, who did not want to be the other woman, tells him that yes, she has feelings for him, but she is done with him because of his wife, he refuses to accept that. Instead of figuring out his relationship with Brittany (and Cormack -but that's next), he continuously busts in on Lottie and Everett. That really bothered me. Lottie set boundaries and eventually, when things had settled down, she and Noah could have been really good friends, but he refuses to accept the boundaries. He constantly interrupts Lottie and Everett, breaking in whenever they are alone and making snide comments about Everett. You know who doesn't do that later? Everett. When he tells Lottie to figure out who she wants to be with, he even says no to getting physical with Lottie so she can decide for herself between Noah and Everett. But Noah? Nope, Lottie is his toy and he can't stand other people touching his toys. And then, he "accidentally" gets engaged to Cormack and "can't find a way" to tell her that they are actually not engaged. He takes her on dates. Takes her to dinner. Takes her to relationship counseling. Let's Cormack throw them an engagement party. And through all of this, he keeps telling Lottie that "he just can't figure out how to get Cormack to understand." Idk, dude. Maybe stop taking her on dates? Slap her with a restraining order? You're a detective. Figure it out. OH, and that brings me the worst part of Noah (if you can believe that). He doesn't want a relationship with Lottie. He wants to own her and to put her in a box or on a shelf. The whole first part of their relationship is him telling Lottie to stay out of everything and be a good girl and get back in the kitchen. Look, I get she's a baker and he's trying to keep her safe. But there is ALWAYS a point in the books that he realizes she's far ahead of him in the investigation and all of a sudden, it's fine for her to be involved. As long as she follows his rules and does exactly what he says.
So, I read through the first 13 pretty quickly and have started 14. But I think I'm going to take a break, because the things I am annoyed with are slowly starting to outweigh the things that I like about this book series. Hopefully, when I go back and pick it up again, I'll be able to enjoy the stories once again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2024
A Fountain of Suspects and a Ghost Who Won’t Leave
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake, Murder in the Mix book 8, begins with the banana cake (actually cupcakes), closely followed by a bloodbath (literally; the victim is stabbed in a fountain and the water turns red), and runs through the twisted case of a married judge with too many girlfriends before Lottie Lemon solves the murder without the help of her now ex-boyfriend Noah—who happened to be hiding his own wife from Lottie, the involuntary “other woman “.
Noah tells Lottie he’s trying to get a divorce; his wife tells her she’s trying to put their marriage back together. Lottie doesn’t know who to believe, so she does the only logical thing: head to Noah’s ex-stepbrother, judge Essex Everett Baxter, for comfort. Everett is just as hot as Noah and is a confirmed womanizer, and he’s admitted to Noah that he has feelings for Lottie, so it’s a way to pay Noah back and experience the kisses of legendary ladykiller Everett, who arranged the party in honor of the judge’s promotion where his life ended.
The victim was stabbed 9 times in the back, and his favorite deceased “pet” is Greer Giles, a call girl and the victim in book 6, Red Velvet Vengeance. (For a small Vermont town, Honey Hollow has more than its share of adultery and scorned lovers!) When Greer shows up, Lottie is annoyed; when Greer drapes herself over Everett and utters naughty nothings into his ear, Lottie is furious! Everett can’t see her, but when she touches him he feels an itch, and when Lottie holds his hand he can hear her…not a gift he wants.
Lottie’s widowed mother, who leverages her daughter’s ghostly visitors into a Haunted B&B Tour (and recently added a Last Thing They Ate stop at Lottie’s Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery—all the victims ate baked goods before their death, and some were found with crumbs on them), has taken up with a controlling man who makes her check in every 20 minutes and whom Lottie hopes is the killer—but he’s afraid of blood. Mom has been trashed in online reviews by customers claiming her tour is “bogus”, and she’s losing guests fast, so Lottie decides to help her by sending Greer to the B&B as resident ghost. Greer, who’s found a male ghost in the woods, happily moves there with him, and having a purpose lets her leave Lottie alone and restore Mom’s B&B’s reputation.
Meanwhile, Lottie’s birth mother refers her to a PI who has the same gift, being transmundane and supersensual, and Lottie takes Everett with her to meet the woman in Hartford, where she predictably swoons over Everett and recommends Lottie become a PI, since it’s earned her a lot of money. Lottie refuses; she’s a baker who solves mysteries, not a PI who bakes, but it’s good to know she’s not the only one who sees dead pets!
A bit of spying later leads Lottie and Everett to a complex web of a wife and mistress plotting the murder and a hit man who’d have killed the judge for free—for knocking up his teenage sister. The man was not fit for the promotion he was given!
This mystery has more suspects than the others, and the solution is a surprise I didn’t see coming, but Noah’s wife tells Lottie that she’s signed the divorce papers (that wasn’t a lie) and he’s free if Lottie wants him back. Now she has 2 suitors to choose from, and since her cheating NYC fiancé texted that he’s coming to catch up with her while his girlfriend travels with a touring author, she’ll soon have 3 men competing for her heart! Not bad for a baker who was left as a newborn in a fire station and adopted by the fireman who found her, has been cheated on repeatedly (and, with Noah, been unknowingly cheating), and sees ghosts that lead her to dead bodies. She deserves some fun—as do readers! They’ll enjoy Bloodbaths and Banana Cake. Highly recommended.
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake, Murder in the Mix book 8, begins with the banana cake (actually cupcakes), closely followed by a bloodbath (literally; the victim is stabbed in a fountain and the water turns red), and runs through the twisted case of a married judge with too many girlfriends before Lottie Lemon solves the murder without the help of her now ex-boyfriend Noah—who happened to be hiding his own wife from Lottie, the involuntary “other woman “.
Noah tells Lottie he’s trying to get a divorce; his wife tells her she’s trying to put their marriage back together. Lottie doesn’t know who to believe, so she does the only logical thing: head to Noah’s ex-stepbrother, judge Essex Everett Baxter, for comfort. Everett is just as hot as Noah and is a confirmed womanizer, and he’s admitted to Noah that he has feelings for Lottie, so it’s a way to pay Noah back and experience the kisses of legendary ladykiller Everett, who arranged the party in honor of the judge’s promotion where his life ended.
The victim was stabbed 9 times in the back, and his favorite deceased “pet” is Greer Giles, a call girl and the victim in book 6, Red Velvet Vengeance. (For a small Vermont town, Honey Hollow has more than its share of adultery and scorned lovers!) When Greer shows up, Lottie is annoyed; when Greer drapes herself over Everett and utters naughty nothings into his ear, Lottie is furious! Everett can’t see her, but when she touches him he feels an itch, and when Lottie holds his hand he can hear her…not a gift he wants.
Lottie’s widowed mother, who leverages her daughter’s ghostly visitors into a Haunted B&B Tour (and recently added a Last Thing They Ate stop at Lottie’s Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery—all the victims ate baked goods before their death, and some were found with crumbs on them), has taken up with a controlling man who makes her check in every 20 minutes and whom Lottie hopes is the killer—but he’s afraid of blood. Mom has been trashed in online reviews by customers claiming her tour is “bogus”, and she’s losing guests fast, so Lottie decides to help her by sending Greer to the B&B as resident ghost. Greer, who’s found a male ghost in the woods, happily moves there with him, and having a purpose lets her leave Lottie alone and restore Mom’s B&B’s reputation.
Meanwhile, Lottie’s birth mother refers her to a PI who has the same gift, being transmundane and supersensual, and Lottie takes Everett with her to meet the woman in Hartford, where she predictably swoons over Everett and recommends Lottie become a PI, since it’s earned her a lot of money. Lottie refuses; she’s a baker who solves mysteries, not a PI who bakes, but it’s good to know she’s not the only one who sees dead pets!
A bit of spying later leads Lottie and Everett to a complex web of a wife and mistress plotting the murder and a hit man who’d have killed the judge for free—for knocking up his teenage sister. The man was not fit for the promotion he was given!
This mystery has more suspects than the others, and the solution is a surprise I didn’t see coming, but Noah’s wife tells Lottie that she’s signed the divorce papers (that wasn’t a lie) and he’s free if Lottie wants him back. Now she has 2 suitors to choose from, and since her cheating NYC fiancé texted that he’s coming to catch up with her while his girlfriend travels with a touring author, she’ll soon have 3 men competing for her heart! Not bad for a baker who was left as a newborn in a fire station and adopted by the fireman who found her, has been cheated on repeatedly (and, with Noah, been unknowingly cheating), and sees ghosts that lead her to dead bodies. She deserves some fun—as do readers! They’ll enjoy Bloodbaths and Banana Cake. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2018
This story is just getting better and better with each book, Addison Moore is seriously a genius and I have no idea how she comes up with each of these storylines. I can’t help but want more and more and then once I’m at the end of the book, I just want to pick up the next one. I have been hooked from the very first page of book one…. If you’ve not started this exciting series yet, you need to rectify that because once you start you’re not going to want to stop reading. As always, there was nothing to fault and I just kept falling for the characters. Lottie is such an exciting character and she has such a lot going for her, I can’t actually wait to see where Addison takes her next.
Lottie was dropped a huge shock when Noah’s wife walked into her bakery, the guy who she thought she could trust doesn’t seem to be the guy she thought he was. Lottie has a lot going on and the last thing she needed was to find out that her boyfriend has a wife, she thought that they were happy and were settled with how life was. Needing to focus on a big event that she puts everything to the side and does what she does best by baking up a storm and boy the desserts that she bakes are amazing… However, the small little bit of happiness that she does have, doesn’t last for long as an unexpected visitor makes a surprise visit from the other side… Clearly, something is about to happen, but Lottie has no clue, but will do what she can to stop it… But whilst trying to stop what’s about to happen Lottie ends up with the biggest shock of all when Everett ends up landing himself as the prime suspect in yet another investigation… Will Lottie be able to help save her friend?
Lottie was dropped a huge shock when Noah’s wife walked into her bakery, the guy who she thought she could trust doesn’t seem to be the guy she thought he was. Lottie has a lot going on and the last thing she needed was to find out that her boyfriend has a wife, she thought that they were happy and were settled with how life was. Needing to focus on a big event that she puts everything to the side and does what she does best by baking up a storm and boy the desserts that she bakes are amazing… However, the small little bit of happiness that she does have, doesn’t last for long as an unexpected visitor makes a surprise visit from the other side… Clearly, something is about to happen, but Lottie has no clue, but will do what she can to stop it… But whilst trying to stop what’s about to happen Lottie ends up with the biggest shock of all when Everett ends up landing himself as the prime suspect in yet another investigation… Will Lottie be able to help save her friend?
December 8, 2018
Another incredible installment in this series!
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake is the 7th book in the Murder in the Mix series by Addison Moore and each installment is better than that last. I simply can't get enough of this series. Town baker by trade and reluctant spectral furry friend channeller by cruel fate, Lottie Lemon once again finds herself on the hunt for a killer in Honey Hollow. Now fully aware of her spectral abilities also known as a supersensual gift passed down from her maternal side, Lottie discovers that there are indeed others like her even if she is cursed with being overly-supersensual. While she usually gets visits from ghostly pets, this time she's haunted by a recently deceased acquaintance that she can also hear and speak to! Her gifts are certainly growing. With the ghost's added ability to move objects in the natural world, Lottie discovers that this visitor is way more trouble than her usual ghostly encounters, but could the they possibly help her get to a killer faster than her previous furry friends did? Now that her soon-to-be-former boy-toy Detective Noah Fox has revealed the dark truth of his not-quite-ex wife, Lottie has some serious decisions to make when it comes to her already complicated love life. Will she accept being the other woman or is the sexy judge who revealed his feelings for her worth a shot? Can Lottie solve the latest murder in the midst of this romantic turmoil and keep up her perfect crime-solving streak? I highly suggest you find out. I can't wait to find out what kind of trouble Lottie gets into next!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake is the 7th book in the Murder in the Mix series by Addison Moore and each installment is better than that last. I simply can't get enough of this series. Town baker by trade and reluctant spectral furry friend channeller by cruel fate, Lottie Lemon once again finds herself on the hunt for a killer in Honey Hollow. Now fully aware of her spectral abilities also known as a supersensual gift passed down from her maternal side, Lottie discovers that there are indeed others like her even if she is cursed with being overly-supersensual. While she usually gets visits from ghostly pets, this time she's haunted by a recently deceased acquaintance that she can also hear and speak to! Her gifts are certainly growing. With the ghost's added ability to move objects in the natural world, Lottie discovers that this visitor is way more trouble than her usual ghostly encounters, but could the they possibly help her get to a killer faster than her previous furry friends did? Now that her soon-to-be-former boy-toy Detective Noah Fox has revealed the dark truth of his not-quite-ex wife, Lottie has some serious decisions to make when it comes to her already complicated love life. Will she accept being the other woman or is the sexy judge who revealed his feelings for her worth a shot? Can Lottie solve the latest murder in the midst of this romantic turmoil and keep up her perfect crime-solving streak? I highly suggest you find out. I can't wait to find out what kind of trouble Lottie gets into next!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2024
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake is the 7th book in the Murder in the Mix mysteries. This review contains mild spoilers to previous books for the sub-plots only, but no spoilers for the actual mystery.
Lottie gets herself caught up in the middle of another murder investigation when one of Everett's fellow judges is found dead at his going away party! The local police are determined to pin the crime on Everett. So with a mischievous ghost at her side, Lottie must find a killer before Everett ends up with life behind bars.
I'm so addicted to this series! It is like a soap opera meets cozy mystery. There is always something going on in Lottie's life, besides the dead bodies. This time the drama comes in the form of Lottie's boyfriend, Noah's wife turning up unexpectedly. Especially since Lottie didn't know Noah was married. Will this finally give Lottie and Everett a chance to form a romantic attachment? I sure hope so, as I'm #TeamEverett!
I really enjoyed the mystery, as it involved some new characters, but also a past victim coming back as a ghost to help Lottie. I found the mystery fairly easy to solve, but as readers might know by now I'm totally here for the drama! Especially with the big reveal at the end... someone from Lottie's past is going to visit Honey Hollow very soon!
The Murder in the Mix mysteries are my favourite new series this year. It's a long series and each one is better than the last. I can't wait for the next book, New York Cheesecake Chaos, which is already waiting for me on my Kindle. If you enjoy mysteries with a lot of drama, you need to read this series!
Lottie gets herself caught up in the middle of another murder investigation when one of Everett's fellow judges is found dead at his going away party! The local police are determined to pin the crime on Everett. So with a mischievous ghost at her side, Lottie must find a killer before Everett ends up with life behind bars.
I'm so addicted to this series! It is like a soap opera meets cozy mystery. There is always something going on in Lottie's life, besides the dead bodies. This time the drama comes in the form of Lottie's boyfriend, Noah's wife turning up unexpectedly. Especially since Lottie didn't know Noah was married. Will this finally give Lottie and Everett a chance to form a romantic attachment? I sure hope so, as I'm #TeamEverett!
I really enjoyed the mystery, as it involved some new characters, but also a past victim coming back as a ghost to help Lottie. I found the mystery fairly easy to solve, but as readers might know by now I'm totally here for the drama! Especially with the big reveal at the end... someone from Lottie's past is going to visit Honey Hollow very soon!
The Murder in the Mix mysteries are my favourite new series this year. It's a long series and each one is better than the last. I can't wait for the next book, New York Cheesecake Chaos, which is already waiting for me on my Kindle. If you enjoy mysteries with a lot of drama, you need to read this series!
May 22, 2022
Ugh…Getting too Dramatic Soap Opera-like
Lottie, don’t flatter yourself that you can choose whichever guy you want. Maybe Everett is just using you to get back at his ex-stepbrother. Then again, I think he actually does love her, but that doesn’t mean he can commit.
I’m irritated at Lottie because she’s so mad at Noah that she’s willing to shove Everett’s kisses in his face. That’s just mean! And so what if Noah is married. It’s obvious he’s going through a divorce. And ok maybe he lied by withholding that information, but how much it must hurt Noah that Lottie holds her OWN MAJOR secret from Noah! And on top of that, she told his nemeses Everett her secret! Noah should be furious with Lottie. Noah should have kicked her to the curb long ago like after all the times he caught her kissing Everett while they were still together. But, no Noah didn’t dump Lottie because he trusts her and knows it wasn’t what it looked like, just like Lottie should know it isn’t what it looks like between Noah and his soon to be ex wife.
This is all getting a bit too intense and annoying for me. My hope is that the next book will bite Lottie in her arse and make her end up with NO ONE. Then she can eat crow…ALONE. Dang i hate her right now.
Lottie, don’t flatter yourself that you can choose whichever guy you want. Maybe Everett is just using you to get back at his ex-stepbrother. Then again, I think he actually does love her, but that doesn’t mean he can commit.
I’m irritated at Lottie because she’s so mad at Noah that she’s willing to shove Everett’s kisses in his face. That’s just mean! And so what if Noah is married. It’s obvious he’s going through a divorce. And ok maybe he lied by withholding that information, but how much it must hurt Noah that Lottie holds her OWN MAJOR secret from Noah! And on top of that, she told his nemeses Everett her secret! Noah should be furious with Lottie. Noah should have kicked her to the curb long ago like after all the times he caught her kissing Everett while they were still together. But, no Noah didn’t dump Lottie because he trusts her and knows it wasn’t what it looked like, just like Lottie should know it isn’t what it looks like between Noah and his soon to be ex wife.
This is all getting a bit too intense and annoying for me. My hope is that the next book will bite Lottie in her arse and make her end up with NO ONE. Then she can eat crow…ALONE. Dang i hate her right now.
December 10, 2018
***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
OMG... I am so mad at Noah Fox! How could he forget that little detail to tell Lottie!?!?!?? That is not a little detail that you just forget to mention. That is a very big detail that he should have been open from Lottie with from the beginning.
Then there is Everett! I love him, but do I like him more than Noah... I am not so sure. They are both sexy as hell and want Lottie all to themselves. We know how Everett feels as he voiced his lust for Lottie in the last book, but wow... I was not expecting this to actually happen. There was always this chemistry between the two of them, but I didnt expect Lottie to act on it. However, she had every right to when Noah's wife waltzed into town.A part of me hopes all 3 of them end up together. Yes you read that correctly.... I want Lottie, Noah and Everett to end up together! Maybe I have been reading too many reverse harems lately, but Lottie clearly likes the both of them!
Of course Lottie finds another body and the shenanigans are the same throughout this book as well. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
OMG... I am so mad at Noah Fox! How could he forget that little detail to tell Lottie!?!?!?? That is not a little detail that you just forget to mention. That is a very big detail that he should have been open from Lottie with from the beginning.
Then there is Everett! I love him, but do I like him more than Noah... I am not so sure. They are both sexy as hell and want Lottie all to themselves. We know how Everett feels as he voiced his lust for Lottie in the last book, but wow... I was not expecting this to actually happen. There was always this chemistry between the two of them, but I didnt expect Lottie to act on it. However, she had every right to when Noah's wife waltzed into town.A part of me hopes all 3 of them end up together. Yes you read that correctly.... I want Lottie, Noah and Everett to end up together! Maybe I have been reading too many reverse harems lately, but Lottie clearly likes the both of them!
Of course Lottie finds another body and the shenanigans are the same throughout this book as well. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
December 6, 2018
Addison leaves me wanting the next book and hoping that it is not far off. I mean after reading this one and seeing how this ends, how could a person not want the next book in this series to be out like yesterday. There is so much action and so many ups and downs in this one that leave you breathless and crying and saying what is going on??? How could this be happening and could this really be the way it all ends up??? OF course, we will have to keep reading the books to know if that is how things end up.
Lottie, of course, discovers another murder and in typical Lottie fashion she is determined to solve the murder and make things right in the world again, but can she do that? She does solve the murder but does she make things right with the world as they say? You will have to read the book to find out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Lottie, of course, discovers another murder and in typical Lottie fashion she is determined to solve the murder and make things right in the world again, but can she do that? She does solve the murder but does she make things right with the world as they say? You will have to read the book to find out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2019
Everything about this book is awesome. Yet again Lottie Lemon has found herself between a rock and a hard place with her boyfriend who has failed to reveal all the details of his past before Honey Hollow. We see Lottie’s heart hurting but we also see her becoming strong again from the hurt Detective Noah has inflictedz I would say all is well in Honey Hollow besides that but we know it’s going to be MURDER. A bloodbath indeed has fallen upon this town, and once again it’s up to Lottie to solve this case. With a little help from Noah and Everett, Lottie is set. The mystery can be solved but can the healing in her heart? Banana Cake and Bloodbaths is another cozy mystery from a fabulous author! The series gets better book by book whether you’re #TeamNoah or #TeamEverett. Take a big bite of this banana cake and step into the complicated supernatural world of Carlotta, Lottie, Lemon, baker and pseudo-detective. ;)
July 21, 2020
Bloodbaths and Banana Cake (MURDER IN THE MIX Book 7) [Kindle Unlimited] — Addison Moore (18 chapters) July 19-21, 2020
Seventh in the series and it hasn’t slowed down. In this one. Lottie has broken up with Noah and Everett is there waiting, along with a spooky ghost that is hanging on to the latter. Lottie discovers her powers are growing and Meg comes home for a visit.
And say—did I mention another murder is afoot?
The story doesn’t have as much meat until over halfway through the plot, which I missed. At the same time, this book felt like a filler to the next …. whatever.
Still, fun (and funny) to read. Same characters, great action, with humor equally sprinkled in. I literally laughed out loud several times.
Editing error: There was one part in the story where a section was missed by an editor. A section of a paragraph was repeated twice. Otherwise, I didn’t see any other issues.
Can’t wait to read number eight!
Three stars.
Seventh in the series and it hasn’t slowed down. In this one. Lottie has broken up with Noah and Everett is there waiting, along with a spooky ghost that is hanging on to the latter. Lottie discovers her powers are growing and Meg comes home for a visit.
And say—did I mention another murder is afoot?
The story doesn’t have as much meat until over halfway through the plot, which I missed. At the same time, this book felt like a filler to the next …. whatever.
Still, fun (and funny) to read. Same characters, great action, with humor equally sprinkled in. I literally laughed out loud several times.
Editing error: There was one part in the story where a section was missed by an editor. A section of a paragraph was repeated twice. Otherwise, I didn’t see any other issues.
Can’t wait to read number eight!
Three stars.
December 31, 2024
This is another series I’m not sold on just yet, although I suspect part of that is due to the Virtual Voice narration. As hard as it might be to believe, I’m also skipping around in this series – not reading the books in order.
I don’t know as much about the primary characters as I would if I’d read six books before this one, but I like Lottie and her friends, although I’m not so sure about her family yet. Lottie seems to give away a lot of food from her café, so I wonder how she earns enough money to keep the business open.
Once again, the murder victim is a character we don’t know much about, so the suspect list was short at first. As the investigation proceeded, more names were added, with their motives all being variations on a theme. I had it partially figured out, but was surprised at the other part of the solution.
I’ll read more from this series eventually, but am not a fan of the Virtual Voice narration, so it will probably be a while.
I don’t know as much about the primary characters as I would if I’d read six books before this one, but I like Lottie and her friends, although I’m not so sure about her family yet. Lottie seems to give away a lot of food from her café, so I wonder how she earns enough money to keep the business open.
Once again, the murder victim is a character we don’t know much about, so the suspect list was short at first. As the investigation proceeded, more names were added, with their motives all being variations on a theme. I had it partially figured out, but was surprised at the other part of the solution.
I’ll read more from this series eventually, but am not a fan of the Virtual Voice narration, so it will probably be a while.
November 20, 2018
When Noah's wife pops back into his life out of nowhere, Lottie is left broken hearted. Picking herself back up to to do some baking for a very lawful going away party, she finds herself face to face with a the ghost of a recently departed Greer Giles. When the guest of honor goes lights out, someone very important to Lottie becomes the number 1 suspect, and is found with the murder weapon.
Sexy dance shenanigans in Fallbrook lead to a sultry kiss. Which then lead to naughty pole dancing lessons in Leeds!
Then a steamy stakeout with Noah. When Lottie solves this murder, she puts herself in the most dangerous position yet! This who-dunnit will leave you reeling! And the romantic twist will leave you squealing!!
You'll be dying for the next book!
Sexy dance shenanigans in Fallbrook lead to a sultry kiss. Which then lead to naughty pole dancing lessons in Leeds!
Then a steamy stakeout with Noah. When Lottie solves this murder, she puts herself in the most dangerous position yet! This who-dunnit will leave you reeling! And the romantic twist will leave you squealing!!
You'll be dying for the next book!
December 16, 2018
Lottie finds herself in the midst of another murder mystery. This time Everett is also put on the suspect list right away so she has even more reasons to try and solve this case. Her ghostly partner is none other than the last person murdered in her hometown. Lottie also is trying to deal with the devastating news that has caused her to reevaluate her whole relationship with Noah. Everett steps right up and offers to be there for her in any way that she wishes. The story was interesting, the plot flowed well and we see Lottie coming to terms with another setback in her life. I love how Everett doesn't push her. Am waiting patiently for the next book in this series to come out. With the potential of 3 men vying for her attention, I can't wait to see what Lottie does next.
November 27, 2018
Addison delivers again in the Murder In The Mix series! We get to see Lottie stumble through each new investigation she inserts herself into all while learning more about her gift. Lottie's love triangle between herself, Noah, & Everett leaves me torn as to which man would be the best fit for her. The twists and turns along the way have really stirred up pros & cons for both men. The characters that continue to build throughout the series have such depth you can't help but become invested. I anxiously look forward to the next book to see how things play out!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 5, 2018
A prominent judge is murdered and Everrett finds himself at the top of the suspect list again, this time even the murder weapon is found in his car. Lottie is determined to clear his name as things start heating up between her and Everrett. With her ex Noah Fox trying to make her doubt Everrett, Lottie is determined to see justice served so the ghostly Greer can go back. Lottie`s powers are growing and her birth mother introduces her to others like her. Lottie wants to shut off her powers to get some peace. With her powers growing, a new murder to solve, and being torn between Noah and Everrett, Lottie is in for a wild ride!
November 23, 2018
Back to Honey Hollow... after Noah’s not so ex-wife comes to town, Lottie finds herself stumbling upon yet another body. When the suspect list leads to someone close to Lottie, she does what Lottie does best... she sets out to find the real killer!
I enjoy my trips to Honey Hollow and getting a closer glimpse at the dynamic relationship between Lottie and her two hotties, Everett and Noah. Can’t wait for the next one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoy my trips to Honey Hollow and getting a closer glimpse at the dynamic relationship between Lottie and her two hotties, Everett and Noah. Can’t wait for the next one!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 22, 2021
I love these characters. I love the predicaments Lottie always manages to get herself into. I love the twisty mysteries she has to solve. But this time, I kind of felt like her personal life overshadowed the mystery in this book. I'm fascinated that her powers are increasing and I'm curious to see where else they'll lead. It's just that the Honey Hollow love triangles seemed to dominate this story. In any case, I'm nowhere done with this series, so I'm already looking forward to diving into the next book.
January 13, 2022
Surprise Surprise
Lottie has really had her hands fully with these spontaneous murders and anomaly. But the real test has always been her true feelings that she has had for Judge Essex “Everet” Baxter. Then come his ex-stepbrother Noah who she thought she was truly in love with and has gone to the next level with during the relationship. To find out he is still legally married. What a heart break to the relationship. To now have Everette accused of murder yet again. Where will this all lead them to next?
Lottie has really had her hands fully with these spontaneous murders and anomaly. But the real test has always been her true feelings that she has had for Judge Essex “Everet” Baxter. Then come his ex-stepbrother Noah who she thought she was truly in love with and has gone to the next level with during the relationship. To find out he is still legally married. What a heart break to the relationship. To now have Everette accused of murder yet again. Where will this all lead them to next?
September 15, 2025
I enjoy everything about this series. It's so nice to be able to escape this hectic immoral world that we all share for a bit of light hearted humor, suspense & clean romance. I've grown to really like the Al narrator sure there are a couple of mispronounced words but it kind of adds to the charm of the story and as soon as I hear that familiar "voice" I know it's time to get comfortable & settle in for a bit. The stories in the series are a perfect length.
Just long enough to keep you wanting to continue on with the next book in the series.
Just long enough to keep you wanting to continue on with the next book in the series.
November 27, 2018
This series is one that I can’t get enough of, Addison Moore did it again! Once I started book seven next thing I knew I was at the end, and once again sadness that I had to wait for more kicked in. Lottie Lemon is faces with another body and the return of a dearly departed. As she realizes her powers are growing and her ghostly friends are evolving with her. This book will make you work to solve the mystery of who done it, make your heart ache, laugh out loud, and swoon multiple times. I highly suggest this book and it’s other counterparts to the series hands down to anybody who loves cozy mysteries with a little romcom.
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