Death Gone A-Rye

A Bread Shop Mystery #6

by Winnie Archer

In the Northern California seaside town of Santa Sofia, a killer is trying to get a rise out of baker’s apprentice Ivy Culpepper . . .  Vincent van Dough focaccia is being touted on Instagram as the best thing since sliced bread. By strategically placing chives, olives, and yellow peppers to look like poppies and sunflowers, bakers create a mouthwatering masterpiece in the style of the great postimpressionist painter. At Yeast of Eden, where bread making has always been an art, they’re baking their own version for the school district’s Spring Fling.   But one person won’t be tasting the Mexican bakery’s latest specialty. Ambitious school board president Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Like the rest of this close-knit community, Ivy is shocked. But she’s just as surprised to discover her beau—restaurateur Miguel Baptista—had his own fling with Nessa back in the day and now the police have this half-baked notion he might have killed her. It’s up to Ivy, her boss Olaya Solis, and eighty-six-years-young Penelope Branford to separate the wheat from the chaff to determine who the real culprit is . . .   INCLUDES RECIPES!  

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Friendship, Family, Adult

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2021

About the author

Winnie Archer is the pseudonym of Melissa Bourbon.

Melissa Bourbon Ramirez is the national bestselling author of seventeen mystery books, including the Lola Cruz Mysteries, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series, and the Bread Shop Mysteries, written as Winnie Archer. She is a former middle school English teacher who gave up the classroom in order to live in her imagination full time. Melissa, a California native who has lived in Texas and Colorado, now calls the southeast home. She hikes, practices yoga, cooks, and is slowly but surely discovering all the great restaurants in the Carolinas. Since four of her five amazing kids are living their lives, scattered throughout the country, her dogs, Bean, the pug, Dobby, the chug, and Jasper, a cattle dog/lab keep her company while she writes. Melissa lives in North Carolina with her educator husband, Carlos, and their youngest son. She is beyond fortunate to be living the life of her dreams.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 6st book in A Bread Shop Mystery series. I have read and review the first book in this series. I really love this series. I feel all the characters in this book are developed, and I really love Ivy and Olaya. Ivy always puts in nose into the mysteries around town, so went there was a murder she as to put her nose into. Olaya is the owner of the bread shop, and she is so funny and a great character. I love that this book kept you guessing who did the murder right up to the end. I did guess who did it way better it was revealed, but that did not that anything for the story for me. This was a fun cozy mystery to read, and it was really well written. This story is driven by the characters in the story more then the storyline. If you love cozy mystery with food and great characters then this is the book for you. There is also some bread recipes included in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Winnie Archer) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Archer once again has pulled me back into Santa Sofia in the sixth book of the Bread Shop series, Death Gone A-Rye. From the first page I was excited to spend time with Ivy, Olaya and Mrs. Branford to see what new adventures were waiting for me. Ms. Archer introduced a new character in this book who, for now, I am withholding judgement on. I will just say that he is one of those characters that I could love to hate at this point.

The story started off with Billy and Em's wedding which was beautiful and then a murder was called in. The murder investigation turns personal for Ivy when Miguel becomes a suspect. A quickly paced plot, several suspects that were viable considering the victim was not well liked, red herrings, twists and a reveal that made my heart hurt made this a book that I couldn't put down until I finished it.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

SERIES: A Bread Shop Mystery #6 - it can be read as standalone
GENRE: cozy mystery
RELEASE DATE: April 27th 2021
RATING: 3,5 ⭐

I admit the cover got me. I requested the ARC for this book immediately after seeing the cover because I mean who can blame me?! This is the sixth book in a series but it can be read as a standalone because I didn't read previous books and I wasn't even aware that this is a series.

Our main investigator is Ivy who together with Penelope and her boss Olaya is trying to solve a Vanessa Renchrik murder. It shouldn't be hard but the main suspect is Miguel Baptista, Ivy's boyfriend. Now, Ivy has to find the real killer.

I liked the setting of a small seaside town in California, the close-knit community, and colorful characters. The storyline is done well and I was left guessing until the end who the killer is. Of course, the fact that there is so much food is added bonus.

This is a perfect read for all cozy mystery lovers.

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

0ne of my favorite series where the cozy is enhanced by a little something extra -- a grounding in humanity, the specialness of friendship and an awareness of societal issues -- without diluting all the things we love about cozies. Ivy Culpepper works at the Bread Shop under the tutelage of Olaya while building her photography business. When her best friend, the sheriff, leaves for her honeymoon Ivy is recruited to keep on eye on the new hire York and the death of a school board president. What Ivy learns is that the suspect list is long and the victim was a really unpleasant person. The mystery is solid and the cast of characters are so real and engaging, you will want to read all the books in this series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Moondance · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sky was a periwinkle blue dotted with cotton ball clouds.


Book #6 of the Bread Shop series opens with Billy and Emmaline's wedding. The perfect day is marred by the news that the local school board president has bee murdered. Emmaline's newly hired captain will take the reins of the investigation while she goes on her honeymoon. Of course, Ivy gets involved when the clues get a little too close to home.

This series gets better with each book. For some reason the bread "spoke" to me in this one. I was particularly intrigued by the focaccia. Olaya has such a way with her bread. Everything sounded wonderful and I regret that i can't eat bread.

I am so pleased that Ivy and Miguel have settled into a stable, mature relationship. I am happy that even some distressing news did not shake their foundation.

Penelope Branford is one of my favorite mature characters. She amuses me when she is playing the poor pitiful elderly woman when we all know she could probably do circles around us all.

I think the children in the book hit me pretty hard. I was really invested in their storylines. The incident with immigration was spiteful and hurtful.

The murder victim was so disliked that it was hard to pin down the culprit. I was shocked when the person was revealed. The reasoning was sound and most unexpected.

I enjoy this series and highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bread makes the world a better place except for one unlucky school district member who ends up murdered and the new detective in town has his sights set on Ivy's beau as the perfect guy to pin the murder on! Once again Ivy and her cohorts are on the case creating wonderful bread creations and solving a murder as they try to get life back on track. This series has the most wonderful diverse cast of characters to lure you in and make you want to stay awhile. Wrap those characters in an intriguing and entertaining plot and you once again have a winner! If you haven't started reading the series, you definitely should although I should also warn you that you will be hungry for fresh bread as you read. Fortunately there are recipes for the wonderful creations that are mentioned in the story at the end of the book! A wonderful cozy mystery for your brain and delightful recipes for your stomach!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.55 rounded up

Ivy's best friend Emmaline is FINALLY marrying Ivy's brother Billy and taking a well-deserved honeymoon vacation to Costa Rica leaving her new captain of the criminal investigation unit in charge. Before Emmaline is off on her honeymoon, there's an incident! A local school board member, Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Not quite ready to trust Captain York, Emmaline asks Ivy to look into things. Even though Miguel warns her to stay out of it, Ivy can't leave it alone. Her old schoolmate Candy is also on the school board and could give Ivy insight the police don't have. When Captain York decides Miguel is the primary suspect, Ivy has no choice but to stick her nose in to clear her beloved's name. She has every faith he would never kill someone but the police captain seems hell bent on pinning the crime in Miguel. Can Ivy figure it out before Miguel is arrested?

This story is much better than some of the previous ones. It opens with a wedding and bread. Who doesn't love bread? This one features Vincent Van Dough bread art. Yes you read that right. Think "Sunflowers" and "Starry Starry Night" from foaccia! Look it up on Instagram. The recipes come from https://www.vineyardbaker.com/ wow! I don't even like foaccia and I'm in love! Olaya is seriously talented (LOL)! This is amazing! So right away I was in a good mood while reading this book. I was also pleased to read the murder victim was a nasty person. However, there was an undercurrent of sadness because she was a wife and mother and modern life in the form of ICE raids intrudes. If you don't want politics in your cozies, then I suggest you skip this one. I have a feeling it's controversial. I would prefer an idyllic small town away from reality but the author chose to set her series in California and you can't really write about California and exclude the issue of immigration. I was horrified by what happened and saddened by the reality of the world we live in.

Anyhoo, the mystery was good. I did not guess who or all the things that led up to the murder. It was obvious what happened to Carmen and Sophia but that was all that was obvious. Nessa was truly an evil person. She is not a well-developed character. All we know is she was ambitious, selfish and determined to always have her own way no matter what. We don't know if something made her that way or if there was something wrong with her brain. The hashtag #dingdongthewitchisdead is not incorrect, it's just dumb to put that out there on social media. I only felt sorry for Nessa's children. 17-year-old Rachel seems to have cared about her mother and is upset her mother won't be around to see her graduate high school or watch young Tate grow up. Little Tate is only 10 and he seems most affected by his mother's death. Their reactions are normal yet from what Ivy learns, Nessa didn't care much about her kids and left them in the care of their nanny. Nessa also didn't care about the kids in the school she represented because they are brown and different from her. She championed policies that encouraged inequality and divided the school board along race/class lines and THIS is a person who was running for public office! She wanted to start with school superintendent and move on to bigger and better things. That kind of power and control is scary and completely unAmerican. She should have been fighting for those kids, helping with her money to make the school better and give those kids a stronger chance at success. Her method of helping Latinx people was not a good one.

So who killed Nessa? We can start by eliminating Miguel. What bug crawled up this captain's arse? He's stupid and cruel. There's absolutely NO evidence at all of a motive for murder and his supposed evidence on which he's building his case is flimsy at best. I was wondering if his suspicions were racially motivated because the only real evidence he has that ties Miguel to Nessa makes him look racist like he thinks all brown kids look alike and therefore, Miguel MUST be the one. That makes no sense. Zip.

Miguel is a good guy. He's motivated to help his family and when he can, his community. He's stretched thin and doesn't have time for the spring fling school fundraiser but he supports Ivy and Yeast of Eden's involvement and will be there to help when he can. He stands his ground with the police but doesn't offer to take a lie detector test or anything else. Whatever happened in the past is in the past. What I don't like about Miguel is his hints to Ivy that he wants to have children with her. Yikes! They just reconnected and haven't been official very long and now they're talking children? Auto dump for me no matter how sexy and nice he is. That's pushy and a conversation for later plus by now he should know how Ivy feels about wanting children.

What about Ivy's old friend Candy? She was a member of the school board opposed to Nessa. Candy seemed to have the courage to stand up to the bullying Nessa and do what is right to help her school. Candy admits that it's easier now Nessa is dead and maybe Nessa deserved it. Maybe Candy is innocent or maybe she did it accidentially and is now so nervous she's letting things slip? Ivy doesn't want to believe her friend could be a killer so she rules Candy out. Plus Candy claims to have an alibi as Nessa's daughter was sleeping over with Candy's daughter. Can you trust that alibi? It's kind of flimsy and doesn't account for Candy's actions the time of the murder. Dr. Sharma, the school superintendent is another good suspect. She wants to help the students but without the support of the school board, it has been difficult. With Nessa out of the way, she can probably get more members on board to help the underserved kids. Why now though? What pushed her over the edge to kill Nessa at that moment? MacLaine the reporter seems to think Dr. Sharma had something to do with Nessa's death. This MacLaine person is pushy and rude but I kind of like them. They're pursuing justice legally through investigative reporting.

Nessa's husband, Cliff, is another likely suspect. Rumor has it- confirmed by daughter Rachel- that their marriage is not a happy one. Sure most couples fight but this couple seems beyond fighting into all out war. They're a power couple and seem to have a business arrangement. He's kind of sleazy and seems to have a temper. His business practices are slightly unethical. He probably is too cheap to do things better even if he talks himself into thinking he's helping. There are rumors of infidelity on Nessa's side and I wouldn't be surprised if Craig has had it. Why kill her though? That wouldn't be good for business or the family? He's put up with her for this long.

What does Sylvia Cabrera have to do with Nessa's death? Her story is a real American tragedy and one that should not happen. She deserved a chance at a better life and shouldn't be punished for something her mother did when she was a baby. Her brother, Roberto, feels guilty and needs his sister to help him out. Her husband, Guillermo, seems a little slick to me. I don't get a murderer vibe off HIM but revenge certainly would be a strong motive. I don't think Guillermo would risk leaving his daughter parentless. I think Roberto is more likely to do the deed while Guillermo had knowledge of it and approved.

Joseph Patrick was Nessa's big political donor but he pulled out at the last minute. It seems more like a motive for murder the other way around. He SEEMS like a good guy, one of the honest politicians who is actually fighting for the little guy. However, he is a big mucky muck and perhaps Nessa threatened him in some way and he retaliated. @MarisasMama obviously hated Nessa and is bragging all over social media about Nessa's death. It wasn't hard for Ivy to figure out who she is. Can people be that stupid? (Don't answer that). Wouldn't she be afraid the police would track her down? LuLu Sanchez-Patrick is not a nice woman. She lies and denies things to Ivy's face and seems tense. She admits to having contact with Nessa just before the murder. I totally think she could be the killer.

Jerry Zenmark, another member of the school board, wants money pumped into an after school surfing program. Others feel this is elitist and the money should be put towards better technology in underperforming schools. I agree with Jerry that there are grants available and after school programs are important in keeping kids off the streets. However, there is a huge digital divide. A grant will get you a ChromeBook while other schools have SmartBoards. Some schools have laptops for all the students and other schools the students have to share. Some schools can provide free wifi hotspots for virtual learning and others have HVAC systems and windows that open AND laptops for every student. So I don't know how I would vote on the issue. It's a tough one and gives Jerry a motive NOT to kill Nessa. He sure seems to know something though. Katherine, too, judging from her phone call. They were Nessa toadies. The other Nessa fan was Margaret who couldn't stand up to bullies. She was a swing voter but let Nessa influence her vote. Ivy briefly considers a Murder on the Orient Express scenario and it could very well be.

I really hope the murderer is not Gretchen, Nessa's hairstylist. She's young, perky, friendly and pregnant. Plus she's a wiz with hair. She seems a little bitter towards Nessa for always never liking her hairstyles, for being angry about the up-do for Rachel's first homecoming dance, for being a bad tipper. Gretchen seems protective of Rachel and I wonder if she killed Nessa to protect Rachel? Gretchen was also friends with Rachel's nanny, Carmen. Rachel is excited about her baby so I don't think she would risk getting caught and going to jail. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, feels the opposite about the baby and I wonder if he was worried Nessa would get Gretch fired leaving him on the hook for sole child support? There are too many maybes in this mystery!

I really didn't like the way Ivy conducted her investgation. She does a lot of dumb stuff and crosses the line when questioning some suspects. Her initial dive into the investigation doesn't make sense but the police obviously can't be trusted until Emmaline returns.

The regular characters are largely missing from the story. Mrs. Bradford rides shotgun as usual. Her antics aren't as outrageous as some in previous investigations. She's toned it down because of her position as a former teacher and she figures out how to get what she wants by appearing like a little old lady. In the wake of Betty White's very recent death, I can picture Betty White playing Penelope in a TV adaptation of this series! Mrs. Bradford is THAT kind of character. Olaya is wise and wonderful as always and a true genius with bread. She isn't in the story as much as I would have liked but she does have some surprising news. I was as shocked as Ivy but ultimately feel the same way. Ivy's dad has grown a lot. He's finally living his life again and seems happy. I'm pleased he's stopped grieving so intensely. I don't think Mrs. Culpepper would want him to spend the rest of his life mourning her and acting half dead himself. Agatha is TOTALLY adorable and I want to squeeze her and cuddle her and rub her belly. She doesn't have much to do. She does feel protective of her Mommy is one scene but she's wary of men because of her past so it isn't necessarily an indicator of anything. I think it is though. Mostly adorable Agatha just sleeps.

I'm eager to read about what beautiful bread creations Olaya and Ivy come up with next. Maybe I'll skip the mystery, maybe I will read the whole book.

Content:
modern day politics -immigration/immigration reform, school inequality, mild racism, bad police work
adultery
child abuse

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

I arrived late to the party in Winnie Archer's series set in a bread Shop in Santa Sofia, Northern California, starting with book four, Flour in the Attic, but I still jumped at the opportunity to read this one, Death Gone A-Rye as I enjoy a well written cosy, and this looked like it fitted the bill perfectly.

Known for its mouthwatering traditional breads, the Yeast Of Eden owned by Olaya Solis, has created their version of a Vincent van Dough focaccia for the school district's Spring Fling. Baking assistant Ivy Culpepper is looking forward to the event, as well as attending the wedding of her brother Billy and his fianceé, Ivy's best friend, Em. But her enthusiasm rapidly wanes when she learns that ambitious school board president Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Worse still, her boyfriend, restaurateur Miguel Baptista had a relationship with Nessa years ago, making him the main suspect.

Death Gone A-Rye was a compelling, charming, and fun cosy read. Winnie Archer did a fantastic job providing some backstory, making this a great standalone novel though you'll want to read the other instalments. I was sold from the very beginning, with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues to satisfy even the most painstaking and diligent armchair detective. The cast was quirky, and busy photographer, artist and protagonist Ivy was spirited, peppy, curious and amusing, and she had a lot going on in this story.

There was a large number of characters in Death Gone A-Rye but I think I just about managed to keep track of all of them without being overwhelmed! Ivy's trusty sidekicks, Penelope Branford, an eager, retired English teacher, and Miguel made a welcome return as did Ivy's adorable pug, named Agatha. The mystery itself was well done and there were enough red herrings and twists to keep me guessing the culprit's identity.

Overall, a marvellous cosy and a very worthwhile read. I can't wait to see what Winnie Archer has in store for Ivy next, in book #7, A Murder Yule Regret.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie and Em are getting married and Ivy is front and center with her bestie and brother for their big day. The wedding goes off beautifully on the beach and right before the reception the new Captain makes Em aware that there has been a murder in town. While Em is going on her honeymoon, she does ask Ivy to keep her updated on things while she’s gone.

With the new Captain in charge of the murder case, he decides that Miguel is his prime suspect and works hard to make the facts fit his case so he can arrest Miguel. While Ivy knows Miguel didn’t do it, she needs to get involved to clear her man and find out who murdered the president of the school board. Ivy, Olaya and Mrs. Branford put on their sleuthing hats and work together to ensure Miguel isn’t railroaded and Ivy doesn’t end up in permanent detention.

I adore this series! Each visit to Santa Sofia has me wishing for the surf and baking bread. I can’t wait to try the Van Dough Focaccia Bread! It will be a hit at our next family gathering for sure!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Gone A-Rye is the 6th installment in Winnie Archers A Bread Shop Mystery Series. This is a mystery of the cozy variety. This is the first book in this series that I have read, but that did not in any way hinder my enjoyment of the book, I was able to follow along easily with the backstory given by the author. I found the characters to be charming and well developed, I loved the idyllic setting of Santa Sofia, I thought the story was engaging and well paced with just enough misdirection to keep me on my toes. I am happy to have found a new series to love and looking forward to adding the rest of the series to my TBR list.

I would recommend this book for any reader who enjoys cozy mysteries, particularly those that enjoy culinary cozies.

I was gifted a copy of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another enjoyable book in the bakery series. It moved along at a good pace. I do think there could have been a better connection to Ivy's reasons for investigating. I would have liked to have a bit more description of the town, I had a hard time visualizing it. I could not quite figure out what size it was, at times it was a tiny town, at others it was a larger one. I did see some clues that pointed to the ultimate culprit but it was developed as such that there could have been other possibilities as well.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and likeable. It's a interesting mystery and a good ending. I was surprised by who the killer was. #DeathGoneARye #NetGalley

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read only half and didn't enjoy it.

[Elena Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book I realised that there is one aspect missing in the series. You can't feel the place, the scenery. The setting is Santa Sofia, Northern California, a small friendly seaside town. Usually there is enough about the place to imagine it and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. But in this series it's really hard to picture the place. Bakery and delicious bread - yes, for sure, but not the climate, the place, closeness to the ocean.
Though I've rated the book the same as the previous ones, this one is better, here the mystery finally becomes interesting to follow through the clues. Also there is more food! And to be honest reading made me want to try that focaccia. All the descriptions of making it, placing chives, olives and other ingredients on the dough... just mouthwatering.
The only thing that didn't make sense at all is that romance(?) between Nessa and Miguel. If there was more steam and drama, it would probably work.

[K.A. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I haven’t managed to read all the books in this delightful series (yet), Death Gone A-Rye proved to showcase the strengths of the author with another engrossing tale. Ms. Archer has created memorable central characters, who have grown over the course of the series, and despite not being entirely up to speed, I was able to jump in and read this as a standalone without feeling lost. The protagonist, Ivy Culpepper, is relatable and I adore her sidekick, eighty-something-years-old, Penelope. She adds a verve to each scene she inhabits and I love how she helps get involved in the investigation of the murder of the school board president, Nessa Renchrik. Who knew school boards could be so deadly?! With so many suspects–Nessa was quite the hated woman for good reason–it was hard to guess who the culprit was. The mystery was well-plotted and the fast pace kept me turning pages, anxious to reach the reveal. I also loved the inclusion of Ivy’s boss and good friend, Olaya Solis, who owns the amazing Yeast of Eden bakery. The reader will be drooling over the scrumptious descriptions of the breads offered and will be tempted to try out the recipes at the back of the book.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often choose to start a series with the sixth book, but when the opportunity to review "Death Gone A-Rye" came along, I had to take it. Why? Because I've read other books by author Winnie Archer (under another pen name) and thoroughly enjoyed them! I'm happy to say that this one did NOT disappoint! And as someone who jumped in with Book 6, I can report that it works fine as a stand-alone. I was easily able to figure out who everyone was, and understand the town and relationships.

The characters, especially main sleuth Ivy, were all well-written and detailed. I quickly got to "know" the series regulars, and could sense the depth of past experiences among them that must have been covered in earlier books. The relationships felt real even though I was new to the characters, and I'd love to go back and read earlier books to see how everyone got to this point. Even minor characters were given enough distinguishing features to make it easy to keep everyone straight, and make each person seem like a truly unique individual. I felt like I got to know the murder victim as well, as Ivy learned more about her over the course of the investigation.

And speaking of the murder investigation...it was excellent! Ivy approaches her amateur sleuthing in a methodical, logical way. She does her research, works out her suspect list, then starts interviewing people. I appreciated how she kept reviewing what she'd learned so far, and thinking about her suspects, their possible motives, and how her thoughts about who was the guilty party changed as she gradually learned more facts. A heroine who pro-actively investigates was a nice change of pace from some cozies, in which the characters mostly go about their daily lives and occasionally stumble across clues.

I suspected a couple of people at different times, and was proven wrong in the end. In retrospect, there were plenty of clues pointing to the actual culprit, and everything made perfect sense at the final reveal.

Another note: I appreciated that Ivy is best friends with the main police presence it town, instead of being either a love interest or an enemy. However, the friend was out of town, so the law-enforcement-enemy role was filled by the second-in-command. I look forward to reading Ivy's next case, when Emmeline is back in charge!

All in all, I very much enjoyed this mystery. Five out of five chunks of yummy cheddar!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Culpepper works in the Yeast of Eden’s
bread shop for Olaya Solis, owner, founder
and head baker. The shop is located in
Santa Sofia, California.
The shop is preparing its bake goods for
the school district Spring Fling where the
featured bread item will be the Vincent
van Dough focaccia.
While preparations are taking place the
President of the School Board ends up
dead and Ivy’s significant other becomes
the chief suspect.
Ivy begins her investigation to prove his
innocence.
Mix compelling characters, humor, secrets
from the past with a fast paced mystery plus
mouthwatering breads for a good read.
I enjoyed accompanying Ivy as she looked
into what really happened with her boss,
Olaya and her friend Penelope who happens
to be a youthful eighty-six years old.
I was happy that recipes were included at
the end of the story. Some of the recipes are:
Van Dough Focaccia Bread Art, Miguel’s
Savory Sausage, Kale and Potato Soup,
Olaya’s Hot Cross Buns and Rye Pumpernickel
Rolls.
Enjoy a puzzling mystery with delicious,
mouthwatering treats plus baking tips.
I volunteered to read Death Gone A-Rye.
It can be read as a stand alone as the author
provides enough backstory with the present.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew,
Net Gallery and Kensington Publishing for
the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary and
my own.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Gone A-Rye by Winnie Archer has Ivy Culpepper enjoying the wedding of her best friend and her brother in Santa Sofia, California. She notices Capt. Craig York looking at his phone and then consult with the bride, Sheriff Emmaline Davis. It turns out that Santa Sofia school board president, Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Unfortunately, Capt. York narrows his sights in on Miguel Baptiste, Ivy’s boyfriend. It turns out that Miguel dated Nessa over ten years ago and saw her the week before her death. Ivy knows that Miguel did not harm Nessa. Thankfully, there are plenty of suspects. Ivy with help from Penelope Branford, retired schoolteacher, and Olaya Solia, owner of Yeast of Eden, set out to sift through the clues and uncover the killers’ identity. Death Gone A-Rye is the 6th tale in A Bread Shop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or if you have missed a book or two. The story is well-written with developed, likeable characters. There is a diverse cast of characters. I especially love Mrs. Penelope Branford. I hope I am like Mrs. Branford when I am in my 80s. It is always pleasant to visit Santa Sofia. The pacing is a slow for my taste. A little action would have helped. It was wonderful to see Billy and Emmaline get their happily ever after. I enjoyed the descriptions of the bread offered at the reception. The Vincent Van Dough focaccia sounded beautiful (you should look them up online). The mystery was multifaceted. There are several good suspects in the death of Nessa. I am surprised the list was not longer after learning more about the victim. Ivy questions a number of people in her quest for the truth. There are good clues (if you pay close attention to the details) to help you identify the killer. I like everything tied together and the complete resolution. The ending will leave a smile on your face. I do feel that the story needs more humor. That is the one thing lacking for me. There are recipes at the end for Van Dough Focaccia Bread Art along with helpful bread making tips. Death Gone A-Rye is an appetizing cozy mystery with fancy focaccia, a bothered bride, a surplus of suspects, a framed fella, curious clues, and a cantankerous captain.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEATH GONE A-RYE by Winnie Archer
The Sixth Bread Shop Mystery

As her mentor is creating Vincent van Dough Focaccia, Ivy Culpepper gets involved in another murder investigation. The school board president is murdered just before Santa Sofia's Sheriff, and Ivy's best friend, is about to leave on her honeymoon. Em leaves her new captain in charge of the case with Ivy as her eyes and ears in Santa Sofia. As Ivy begins looking for information about the victim she soon discovers the murdered woman was almost universally despised. Almost everyone who knew her had a motive to kill her, so who actually did it? Will Ivy be able to help find a killer or would she be better off staying in Yeast of Eden's kitchen?

It's always a delight to be in Santa Sofia, and especially in Yeast of Eden where bread becomes, not only tasty food that nourishes the body, but works of art that heal the soul. While looking into the murder Ivy finds herself facing several societal issues as well. Immigration, racism, and educational politics all play a part in this complex mystery. In addition to these broader issues, trust plays a major factor in the sixth Bread Shop Mystery.

One of my favorite aspects to the book, indeed the whole series, is the characters. From the feisty Mrs. Branford to hunky Miguel, and all manner of people in between, the characters add depth, meaning, and heart. Plus they're fun!

DEATH GONE A-RYE is an intricately plotted mystery that's not afraid to touch on societal issues while stressing the importance of family. A charming setting and several feel good moments add even more layers to this heartfelt story.

FTC Disclosure – I received a copy of the book, in the hopes I would review it.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the Bread Shop Mysteries since the beginning, and I honestly think this latest installment may be the best one yet! All of my favorite characters were back, and there have been some wonderful developments in their lives. I've enjoyed watching these people grow throughout the series, and seeing their relationships deepen and grow stronger. I love how the author keeps these personal threads going throughout the series. I think this book would work fine as a standalone, but you'll have a greater appreciation of the characters if you start at the beginning.

The story was great this time around! Ivy is asked to take a role in investigating a murder while Emmeline is on her honeymoon; meanwhile, Miguel becomes the main suspect. It was exciting to see Ivy come even more into her own as an investigator, and to see her added motivation in trying to clear Miguel's name. I also learned a bit more about his past, which was interesting.

There were lots of clues, and Ivy (with help from Mrs. Branford) follows them all. I liked seeing how her mind worked as she talked to people to try to learn more about what had happened. When the "whodunit" was revealed at the end, it made sense based on the clues we'd seen Ivy discover. Still, I was surprised!

A great mystery, with great character development and a lot of heart!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I have loved this author’s other series, this one has been mostly a miss for me. The writing still is easy to follow and flows well but the story itself takes some liberties that are off; in the previous one, Ivy breaks into abuse victims’ rooms to snoop around (really, like they don’t have enough trust issues?!!!) and in this one, Ivy continually questions the victim’s teenage daughter – have you no boundaries? Add in that the detective currently investigating because the sheriff is on her honeymoon seems to be clueless, choosing a suspect with only circumstantial evidence, a ploy by the author to get Ivy to investigate. The mystery did keep me guessing but Ivy’s pushiness in her need to investigate is ruining this series for me.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Gone A-Rye by Winnie Archer is the 6th book in A Bread Shop Mystery series, and is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. This series always makes me hungry, between the bread and the Mexican food. The town is getting ready for the school district's Spring Fling, when the school board president is found dead, and Ivy's boyfriend Miguel is the prime suspect. This book had more twists and turns, and an excellent mystery that kept me reading. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, it can't come soon enough. If you love cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sixth book in the “A Bread Shop Mystery” series, Death Gone A-Rye is the first one that I have read. I found it enjoyable and exciting, with enough variation to make it stand out from the crowded cozy market. A bread shop mixed with Mexican culture and the murder of a school board president keeps readers enthralled and delighted. However, when the sheriff goes on her honeymoon, trouble shows up at the party.

Characters in this book are entertaining, intelligent, and easy to like. Old and young alike are of value and add a little spice to the cast. Suspects are everywhere it seems, and all of them have a good motive for killing Nessa, some better than others. Nessa wasn’t well-liked for a good reason. Em being away on her honeymoon adds a new character, York, the new Captain on the force, to the mix and a bit of disgruntlement from Ivy and others. The bread shop is a wonderful location that brings people together, and the description of the food is divine. Ivy’s hopes and dreams add to the depth of the character, as does her relationships with friends, co-workers, neighbors, and of course, Miguel. The timeliness of the plot has readers asking for more. The killer, once uncovered, may come as a surprise to many, but ultimately, readers will know the moment they realize who the culprit is that it couldn’t be anyone else.

There are plenty of twists and turns in Death Gone A-Rye; red herrings smoothly integrate into the story and may not be noticed. When Em gets back from her honeymoon, the case is solved, and everyone is happy once more, or almost everyone. The bread recipes will thrill readers and their desire to try them out for themselves may be overwhelming, leading to all new delights in the kitchen. Fast-paced, action, suspense, and a cast of spunky, heartfelt, and loyal characters with great personal relationships are the makings of a fantastic read, and this book has that in spades.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

vincent van dough

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw a giveaway of Winnie Archer I really wanted to be one of the winners, and I was. I'm so grateful because the book is excellent. The review has not been requested of me, it is my choice after reading the mystery. In this story the heroine is not relying on her own wits or intelligence (although she has both). She reacts with sheer emotion for her conviction of her boyfriends innocence. She makes the kinds of mistakes an actual amateur sleuth would make with no apologies or justifications but she just keeps at it. The end was not at all what I thought, and suddenly pieces that were nearly missed clues amongst those attempts at truth, became the answer hidden in plain sight. Something else, I could almost smell and taste the relaxing, enjoyable home baked breads of my childhood throughout the read. Recipes included. Looking forward to reading others in this series.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series and liked this installment.
I was happy to catch up with the characters and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this latest addition to the bread shop mystery series! Some series have characters that end up seeming so real, and this is one of those for me. I enjoy Mrs. Bransford so much - I really wish I had someone like her in my life! And Agatha - oh how I love her! I also enjoy Olaya a lot - and I wish I could enjoy some of her bread! As a total carbaholic, this series was made for me - I can read about bread and then try the recipes at the end! I always enjoy Archer’s mysteries as well. They are well written and although I sometimes figure out the culprit before the end, I didn’t in this one. All in all, this is most definitely another solid book in a series I hope continues for a long time!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been working my way through the Bread Shop Mystery series and with the next one coming out this month, I wanted to read this one first. I enjoy this series set in small town Santa Sofia, on the northern California coast. Vincent van Dough focaccia is being touted on Instagram as the best thing since sliced bread, and bakers all over are artistically recreating the painting using bread and other food items. Yeast of Eden is creating their own Vincent van Dough focaccia for the school's spring fling. It is also Billy and Emmaline's wedding so there is a lot going on. While getting ready to leave on their honeymoon, the police captain that will be in charge while Chief Emmaline is away, takes a call to find out that the local school board president has been murdered. Of course Ivy steps in to help, but he doesn't want her help or intrusion.

The victim in this book was not well liked at all. There were so many suspects, but the captain zeroed in on Miguel, Ivy's boyfriend. All the regulars were here including Mrs. Brandford (Penelope/Penny) and Olaya. Once again, Penelope surprises Ivy and the reader with some of her skills and knowledge. This book also deals with issues surrounding immigration and illegal workers, which was actually quite sad. Olaya is the owner of the bread shop, and she is so smart and a great character. I loved the sound of her focaccia in this one. This book kept me guessing throughout most of the book, but I did figure out the killer before the reveal. That did not affect my enjoyment of the story at all. This was a fun cozy mystery with a well written plot. The characters are well developed and really drive this series. If you love cozy mysteries with food and great characters then I recommend you pick up this book or any in the series.

[CaraDico · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to Kensington Books, Winnie Archer and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously posted on https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/de...

What does an investigator do when the school board president is murdered and she has more enemies than amateur Sleuth Ivy Culpepper can count on two hands?

Death Gone A-Rye is the 6th book in the Bread Shop Mystery series by Winnie Archer. It’s unnecessary to read the first five, but it could give the reader more background on the series.

Ivy, a bread baker and amateur photographer, first learns of Nessa Renchrik’s death at her brother Billy’s wedding to her best friend Emmaline. While her chief occupation is assistant bread baker, she is also an amateur sleuth and can’t wait to investigate. When Emmaline, the police chief in Santa Sofia, goes on her honeymoon, Ivy is left to solve the mystery.

Nessa Renchrik is the school board president in the small town of Santa Sofia, on the North coast of California. She is murdered in a conference room on a Saturday morning, when she has no reason to be there. And when Ivy investigates, she soon finds out that everyone is a suspect, as Nessa was not well liked. In fact, no one who knew her liked her. The suspects range from her hairdresser, to her associates on the board, to her husband. No one seems to mourn the loss. When Ivy’s boyfriend, Miguel Bautista, is named the top suspect because of an affair he had with the victim a decade ago, she must move quickly to solve the death and exonerate him.

Winnie Archer has done an outstanding job of moving Death Gone A-Rye along at a great pace. I loved her descriptions of Santa Sofia. She also provided numerous successful red herrings, making the reader think one character is the top suspect until Ivy meets another person who hated Nessa much more than the last. Additionally, there is a wonderful comic element as Ivy moves forward, trying to find someone who mourns her death. If you love cozy mysteries and delicious descriptions of baked bread, this is the book for you.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While getting ready for the spring fling The school board president Nessa is killed. Ivy’s boyfriend is on the suspect list so Ivy sets out to find out who did it. It’s hard to pick the real suspect when Ivy finds out most of the town hated Nessa.