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Beachfront Bakery #4
A Deadly Danish
Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own.
A local Councilman lobbies for new laws to tax and fine all the boardwalk stores, making life for everyone miserable—and he has Allison’s booming business in his crosshairs.
But when the Councilman turns up dead, Allison becomes the natural suspect. Panicked, Allison realizes that if she doesn’t solve the crime quickly, everything she worked so hard for will be swept away.
Will Allison—her beloved dog by her side—be able to crack the case before it’s too late?
A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart.
A local Councilman lobbies for new laws to tax and fine all the boardwalk stores, making life for everyone miserable—and he has Allison’s booming business in his crosshairs.
But when the Councilman turns up dead, Allison becomes the natural suspect. Panicked, Allison realizes that if she doesn’t solve the crime quickly, everything she worked so hard for will be swept away.
Will Allison—her beloved dog by her side—be able to crack the case before it’s too late?
A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2021
104 people are currently reading
481 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Grace
477 books716 followersDebut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 7, 2022
Issues I have with this book:
Saying no one else bakes cookies on the boardwalk, then immediately talks about Kookies the store on the boardwalk specializing in cookies!
Saying Allie wouldn't take anyone thinking she was a murderer, even for a day - what about the other three books where she was the suspected murderer and everyone thought so (even Fat Tony!).
Piper, Allie’s assistant, who in this book never helped create pastries and had never gotten up with Allie so early until this murder YET last book she was baking pastries and gotten up early with Allie nearly every day. Get things straight!
In another book, Allie’s mother had her father declared legally dead. It was a big deal. Now, in this one, her father clearly had been alive and writing to her. So…what is the author thinking? Because she’s contradicting herself!
The book is the same formula as the others - bakery doing well, someone gets murdered, Allie suspected, Allie butts into investigation, Allie love life woes, Allie accuses wrong person of murder, life goes on, Allie discovers mistake and finds real murderer.
Things I liked about the book:
Relationship with her mother and brother progressed. Her love life progressed. Scruff as the cute adorable dog who knows whom he belongs to.
I'm debating - do I want to move on to the next in the series? It's interesting but when is the formula for the writing going to change? When will the reader be surprised? I’m honestly just hanging in there to see if Allie’s father ever shows up.
Saying no one else bakes cookies on the boardwalk, then immediately talks about Kookies the store on the boardwalk specializing in cookies!
Saying Allie wouldn't take anyone thinking she was a murderer, even for a day - what about the other three books where she was the suspected murderer and everyone thought so (even Fat Tony!).
Piper, Allie’s assistant, who in this book never helped create pastries and had never gotten up with Allie so early until this murder YET last book she was baking pastries and gotten up early with Allie nearly every day. Get things straight!
In another book, Allie’s mother had her father declared legally dead. It was a big deal. Now, in this one, her father clearly had been alive and writing to her. So…what is the author thinking? Because she’s contradicting herself!
The book is the same formula as the others - bakery doing well, someone gets murdered, Allie suspected, Allie butts into investigation, Allie love life woes, Allie accuses wrong person of murder, life goes on, Allie discovers mistake and finds real murderer.
Things I liked about the book:
Relationship with her mother and brother progressed. Her love life progressed. Scruff as the cute adorable dog who knows whom he belongs to.
I'm debating - do I want to move on to the next in the series? It's interesting but when is the formula for the writing going to change? When will the reader be surprised? I’m honestly just hanging in there to see if Allie’s father ever shows up.
May 5, 2022
Another good story. I mentioned in the previous book review that the new narrator threw me totally off. When starting this book it was tough but I got used to her. While it is still odd to have the two different accents I do like this series.
May 23, 2022
Quick, fun mystery!
February 10, 2022
3 stars.
I found this one very haphazard. And it's definitely getting old to find Ali again the prime suspect in the latest murder of a councilman who wanted to raise the taxes of the food vendors on the boardwalk. For some inexplicable reason, Ali somehow became the de facto leader in opposing the changes.
Add to that, her love life seems to be going all over the place with yet another prospect coming into play whilst others bow out. I have the impression that these types of entanglements are the norm of the genre but I do find them quite tiresome.
At this stage, I'm continuing with the series only to see what actually happened to her father. Let's hope there's some sort of resolution in the next couple of books.
P.S. Obviously Audible didn't try to maintain consistency with the narrators for the series. The male voices in this one were so over-exaggerated they sound like cartoon characters. :(
I found this one very haphazard. And it's definitely getting old to find Ali again the prime suspect in the latest murder of a councilman who wanted to raise the taxes of the food vendors on the boardwalk. For some inexplicable reason, Ali somehow became the de facto leader in opposing the changes.
Add to that, her love life seems to be going all over the place with yet another prospect coming into play whilst others bow out. I have the impression that these types of entanglements are the norm of the genre but I do find them quite tiresome.
At this stage, I'm continuing with the series only to see what actually happened to her father. Let's hope there's some sort of resolution in the next couple of books.
P.S. Obviously Audible didn't try to maintain consistency with the narrators for the series. The male voices in this one were so over-exaggerated they sound like cartoon characters. :(
October 3, 2024
A Deadly Danish is book four in Fiona Grace's Beachfront Bakery series. Allison Sweet, a sous chef, has always wanted to open her bakery in a small town. She decided it was time to change when her relationship broke down, and she had enough of her demanding boss and customers in Los Angeles, so she moved to Wave Bay to open up her Seaside Sweets bakery. However, her peaceful life was affected when a Councilman wanted to change the laws and taxes of shops on the Boardway that affected Seaside Sweets Bakery was found dead. Allison Sweet began law enforcement as a prime suspect. Allison started to investigate to clear her name. The readers of A Deadly Danish will continue to follow Allison Sweet to discover what happens.
A Deadly Danish is an enjoyable cozy from Fiona Grace. It was her first book, and I engaged with the story and its characters. Reading this book, I learned about running a small business in a small community. I love Fiona Grace's portrayal of her characters and their interaction with each other. A Deadly Danish is well-written and researched. I like Fiona Grace's description of the settings, which complemented the book's plot.
I recommend this book.
December 10, 2021
This is part of one of three series I am reading by the same author. They all have a a woman who is starting over in a new place with a new business. The woman is also trying to find her father who left her family when she was young. And there is usually a pet involved. And then there's a murder and the heroine is under suspicion so she investigates on her own. There are also multiple love interests she is trying to decide between. This one is set in a beachfront community in California. They're all pretty much of a piece, and yet I keep reading them to see what happens to the heroine and if she ever finds her father.
July 9, 2023
A Deadly Danish is book 4 in Fiona Grace’s Beachfront Bakery cosy mystery series.
Once again, Ali is accused of murder after finding the body of a controversial councilman dead in his car with one of her danishes in hand. Plus troublesome her mother has shown up several days early for her visit. Ali has her hands full trying to clear her name, and keep her mother happy.
I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, but there were still issues. Note that there are spoilers ahead of you haven’t read the previous books.
Firstly, at the end of this book, Ali’s mom tells her that she’s been intercepting letters from Ali’s father for years, but in book one she had Ali’s dad declared legally dead, so how does that happen?
At the beginning of the book, Ali declares that she will solve the murder because it’s unacceptable that anyone should think she was a murderer even for a single day…yet this is the fourth time she has been accused, so I think that ship has sailed.
I was happy to see Ali finally kind of stand up for herself with her mom near the end of this book. Honestly I had started wishing someone would kill off the mom because she was so awful. I really hope the better relationship between them continues in the following books.
Ali’s love life is also still a bit of a mess, here’s hoping she gets that straightened out too.
I know I said I was giving this series a rest, but there are only two books left, and now I feel a compulsive need to see this series through.I’m off to read book 5.
Once again, Ali is accused of murder after finding the body of a controversial councilman dead in his car with one of her danishes in hand. Plus troublesome her mother has shown up several days early for her visit. Ali has her hands full trying to clear her name, and keep her mother happy.
I enjoyed this book more than the previous one, but there were still issues. Note that there are spoilers ahead of you haven’t read the previous books.
Firstly, at the end of this book, Ali’s mom tells her that she’s been intercepting letters from Ali’s father for years, but in book one she had Ali’s dad declared legally dead, so how does that happen?
At the beginning of the book, Ali declares that she will solve the murder because it’s unacceptable that anyone should think she was a murderer even for a single day…yet this is the fourth time she has been accused, so I think that ship has sailed.
I was happy to see Ali finally kind of stand up for herself with her mom near the end of this book. Honestly I had started wishing someone would kill off the mom because she was so awful. I really hope the better relationship between them continues in the following books.
Ali’s love life is also still a bit of a mess, here’s hoping she gets that straightened out too.
I know I said I was giving this series a rest, but there are only two books left, and now I feel a compulsive need to see this series through.I’m off to read book 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2024
3.5 Stars
The Beachfront Bakery Series by Fiona Grace is another fun cozy mystery series with crime & investigation, suspense, drama, humour, and a whodunnit element.
Allison Sweet (34) is a pastry chef who is fed up with the LA scene, rude customers, her stressful job that comes with a difficult boss, and her bad luck with love. A shocking incident became the catalyst she needed to change her life, and head in a new direction. So, she changes course, moving to the seaside and opening her own bakery. Things take a dramatic turn when a body is discovered close by. Soon, Allison is implicated in it all, and has no choice but to get to the bottom of things and clear her name. Her whole future is riding on the outcome.
Each instalment sees Allison pulled into various mysteries and we get a front row seat to her ‘investigations’.
The series follows a predictable ‘recipe’- especially after reading the ‘Lacey Doyle’ series- as it follows pretty much that exact recipe, right down to her furry sidekick. I thought things could have been changed up a little more, but the six books still made for an entertaining read.
The Series contains:
-A Killer Cupcake (Book #1)
-A Murderous Macaron (Book #2)
-A Perilous Cake Pop (Book #3)
-A Deadly Danish (Book #4)
-A Treacherous Tart (Book #5)
-A Calamitous Cookie (Book #6)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Fiona Grace!
The Beachfront Bakery Series by Fiona Grace is another fun cozy mystery series with crime & investigation, suspense, drama, humour, and a whodunnit element.
Allison Sweet (34) is a pastry chef who is fed up with the LA scene, rude customers, her stressful job that comes with a difficult boss, and her bad luck with love. A shocking incident became the catalyst she needed to change her life, and head in a new direction. So, she changes course, moving to the seaside and opening her own bakery. Things take a dramatic turn when a body is discovered close by. Soon, Allison is implicated in it all, and has no choice but to get to the bottom of things and clear her name. Her whole future is riding on the outcome.
Each instalment sees Allison pulled into various mysteries and we get a front row seat to her ‘investigations’.
The series follows a predictable ‘recipe’- especially after reading the ‘Lacey Doyle’ series- as it follows pretty much that exact recipe, right down to her furry sidekick. I thought things could have been changed up a little more, but the six books still made for an entertaining read.
The Series contains:
-A Killer Cupcake (Book #1)
-A Murderous Macaron (Book #2)
-A Perilous Cake Pop (Book #3)
-A Deadly Danish (Book #4)
-A Treacherous Tart (Book #5)
-A Calamitous Cookie (Book #6)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Fiona Grace!
November 8, 2021
Honestly, I am going to read the next book. In my previous review I said I wouldn’t, but that was before the last 20% of this book. These reads stress the heck out of me and get my pulse racing and they make me angry with some of the people, but maybe that’s not so bad. Maybe that’s what makes a good story. That and I’ve already purchased them all. Lol.
I hated to see Nate’s Heart get broken, but it’s definitely better now than when he’s even more into Ali. Maybe Piper can be his new lady. They’d make a wonderful couple!
Ali is one step closer to finding her father and Teddy may have a great opportunity with his new role in a movie! Ali and her mother made amends and her mother finally accepted that Ali is staying on the boardwalk.
I really really hope the next book involves a different suspect than Ali, darnit!!! I mean, c’mon!
Next book is A Treacherous Tart
I hated to see Nate’s Heart get broken, but it’s definitely better now than when he’s even more into Ali. Maybe Piper can be his new lady. They’d make a wonderful couple!
Ali is one step closer to finding her father and Teddy may have a great opportunity with his new role in a movie! Ali and her mother made amends and her mother finally accepted that Ali is staying on the boardwalk.
I really really hope the next book involves a different suspect than Ali, darnit!!! I mean, c’mon!
Next book is A Treacherous Tart
February 14, 2023
I never thought I would like this series so much. Beachfront Bakery is definitely predictable when it comes to the whole "who did the murder" spiel, but the characters and overall arc make it worth reading. There's so much humour in these books and even though it's getting kind of predictable who the murderer is, it's still great fun to accompany Ali in trying to find it out.
What I love most about this series is that Ali is still trying to find her father and in this book she gets even closer than ever. This is one of the things that is pulling this series together. Also thank goodness that Ali is finally starting to figure out how to communicate her wants and needs to those around her, because GIRL I can only yell so much at a book without losing my voice.
What I love most about this series is that Ali is still trying to find her father and in this book she gets even closer than ever. This is one of the things that is pulling this series together. Also thank goodness that Ali is finally starting to figure out how to communicate her wants and needs to those around her, because GIRL I can only yell so much at a book without losing my voice.
April 24, 2022
I do enjoy the Beachfront Bakery series by Fiona Grace, but each time Ali Sweet is in the middle of a murder and is accused of being the person doing the nasty deed and somehow she solves the crime each time with the trusty Scruffy by her side but never is she taken to jail bizarre world but definitely in parts has me laughing and I am sure along with every other reader doesn’t have the right person peg until right at the end lol. For that I gave it four stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2021
Bad guy comes to town. He has one of her Danishes when he is found dead. The police blame her, and she needs to clear her name and find the real killer. It seems like I've written this exact same review a couple of times. To be fair, these books are easy reading/listening and sometimes you just need some mind candy to distract from the real things that are going on in our lives.
January 20, 2022
Ms. Grace definitely has a formula for her books. Heroine with missing father and overbearing mother, who is at the scene of many murders. The heroine bubbles along and solves the mystery by accusing everybody. Add in a quaint town and a police force that let's her by with it. It's true in this series as well as her Lacey Doyle series.
November 21, 2022
Ellie just seemed so weak, she keep swallow the hurt her family object to her. I got tired of reading the book just flipped to the end to get the final resolution.
the part where her mother came clean that she always held back the letter Ellie's dad sent her making Ellie think that her dad forgot her.
What's with the missing dad story? why was it always dad missing?
the part where her mother came clean that she always held back the letter Ellie's dad sent her making Ellie think that her dad forgot her.
What's with the missing dad story? why was it always dad missing?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Happy Ever After
If the book didn’t start out so slow this time, I would have given it 5 ⭐️’s. Nevertheless, the characters continue to grow and become even more enduring with sleuthing skills excelling. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
If the book didn’t start out so slow this time, I would have given it 5 ⭐️’s. Nevertheless, the characters continue to grow and become even more enduring with sleuthing skills excelling. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
July 4, 2024
I love this cozy mystery series. A bakery owner seems to always be the prime suspect in a crime wave affecting a small beach town in California. This poor baker is Jessica Fletcher level murder magnet. Rec.
May 19, 2025
This series has been so much fun to read
I have really enjoyed this series and have read the first 4 books rather quickly. It’s a fun and quirky murder mystery that has you from the beginning.
I have really enjoyed this series and have read the first 4 books rather quickly. It’s a fun and quirky murder mystery that has you from the beginning.
September 13, 2025
Like the Series - Recommend
This is the fourth book in the series. I've enjoyed them all. I'd give 5 stars, but this book has quite a few errors that should have been caught. The stories are light and flow smoothly. There's always a twist.
This is the fourth book in the series. I've enjoyed them all. I'd give 5 stars, but this book has quite a few errors that should have been caught. The stories are light and flow smoothly. There's always a twist.
August 28, 2021
Too short!!
November 24, 2021
Happy fun!! Waiting for audiobook for the next in the series
December 9, 2021
2.5 Stars
Story line is getting too predictable.
Story line is getting too predictable.
December 22, 2021
I liked this one more than some of the others. It get like the crime was more elaborate and I liked that they simplified some of her many fledgling relationships.
January 4, 2022
Had to finish this series as I had invested in it, but it certainly is not for me.
July 4, 2022
Another great story. Can't wait till next weekend to listen to the next one. What will Allie Sweet do next
September 18, 2022
“Amava sorprendere le persone e trattarle bene. La vita sapeva essere molto stressante e piccoli gesti di gentilezza potevano fare davvero molto.”
September 21, 2022
Fun. I enjoy listening to this series o my drive for work. The story is relaxing and funny with a little mystery.
August 11, 2023
On a road trip so we are listening to the whole series.
The stories are getting repetitive, and the characters are getting less and less likeable.
The stories are getting repetitive, and the characters are getting less and less likeable.
November 14, 2023
Chalk full with family and township drama, Sweet baking goods, some good old-fashioned murder, and the classic cozy beachfront vibes, this is by far my favorite of the series so far!
December 24, 2023
Fast, fun easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews