It’s a CO2 cook-off! Chef Kirschoff and Vic’s friends from the Alaskan cruise are back for a carbonation contest, with Erin and Vic acting as two of the judges. It’s fizzy, it’s fun, what could possibly go wrong?
Apparently, someone did not get the memo. At first, when Beryl Batcombe is found dead in the restaurant’s cold room, everyone assumes it was a terrible accident. But as Erin and Vic are drawn into the mystery, it becomes obvious that this was not an innocent mistake.
Award-winning Canadian author P.D. Workman has written over a hundred addictive page-turners featuring diverse and divergent sleuths, high-stakes investigations, and stories that linger long after the last page. Her books dive deep into characters’ minds while exploring timely social issues through fast-paced, emotionally charged plots. Readers praise her work for its powerful emotional truth combined with unputdownable suspense.
Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.
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Erin Price and her assistant, Vic, are surprised when Chef Kirschoff contacts Erin and asks her to be a judge in an upcoming cooking contest. She and Vic met the Chef on a cruise to Alaska, and Erin was pleased to have been able to cook with him during the cruise. They meet with the Chef and he tells them about the cooking competition, which is to be held in a nearby town. It’s actually a competition to make ice cream or to create a carbonated beverage. Erin and Vic both agree to be judges and they make arrangements for other employees to staff the bakery while they are gone. The first night, there is a dinner followed by a rather lengthy and long winded explanation of the competition. Feeling sleepy and needing to stretch her legs, Erin slips outside for a breath of fresh air. Instead, she gets a faceful of cigarette smoke and an earful from a rather nasty woman named Beryl Batcombe. After the rude comments began to be directed towards Vic, Erin decided it was time to exit for the night.
The next day, Erin and the rest of the judges were supposed to meet and go on a tour to see the town and see the places that they will be listening for the competition. One of the places, a restaurant in the town. At one of the places, a restaurant in the town. They go inside and there's quite a large group of them So Erin, being one of the first ones inside is standing next to a walk in freezer. She puts her hand on the door, and as she's listening to what's going on. She presses down on the handle. The door opens, and she walks inside and notices that there's someone in there. Then she notices that the person isn't moving. She's dead. Not only that, it's the woman that she met the night before the nasty woman. It's Beryl Batcombe. Things are taking a bad turn. And it looks like this competition is going to be a nasty one.
Back from the Alaskan cruise where Vic made a lot of friends on board. Little did he know he would see them again soon. But when Chef Kirschoff asks him and Erin to be judges for an unusual type culinary contest - a carbonation contest. Ice Cream Sodas anyone? They of course agreed realizing it would be a lot of fun. But when one of the judges, Beryl Batcombe is found dead in the cooler when everyone thinks it is an accident, Vic and Erin find there is much more to her death. With lots of twists and turns, dead ends and secrets, can Vic and Erin actually solve this one before there is even more trouble. Following the clues you are taken for a roller coaster ride until the end. A wonderful addition to the series that you just love to read! I received and ARC but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
Book 13 in the Auntie Clem’s Bakery series is a great addition! Erin and Vic are asked by Chef Kirschoff to be judges in a CO2 cooking contest in a nearby small town. Vic finds out her friends from their recent cruise are coming to visit, some to enter the contest. But before the contest even begins Erin discovers one of the judges dead in the restaurant freezer during their facility tour! These characters are so realistic, you feel like you know them. But secrets seem to be everywhere, making solving the death and other mishaps difficult! A great mystery fir culinary cozy fans! I received an advance copy and write this review voluntarily.
Cold as Ice Cream (Auntie Clem's Bakery, #13), my twenty-fifth read from author P.D. Workman. Extremely well written, the characters well-developed building over the first dozen books in the series and now you're so heavily invested in them. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make a reader get invested in the characters and thereby the book. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it.(RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Erin and Vic are selected as judges for Chef Kirschoff’s new food competition which is being held in a neighboring town. The contest hasn’t even started when Erin discovers the frosty body of one of the other judges. When the “accidental death” is determined to be murder, Erin and Vic begin searching for a killer.
The story is a little dark at times since Erin and Terry are both still dealing with the impact of previous cases. It makes the story more realistic. It’s a good mystery and I enjoyed reading it. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
I love this series! This time Erin and Vic are reunited with friends they made on a recent Alaskan cruise. When Chef Kirschoff asks them to judge a culinary contest, they have no idea it will turn deadly. Many secrets will be unearthed before the killer is found. The plot is as twisty as a country road and the characters are well-developed and believable. Ms. Workman’s considerable skill will keep your eyes glued to the page! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The climax was absolutely brilliant with an unexpected twist. Erin Price does a wonderful job as a judge in a cooking contest conducted by Chef Kirschoff. The contest is plagued by various dangerous situations including the murder of Beryl Batcombe, one of the judges, a deadly explosion involving Chef Kirschoff and Charley, Erin's half-sister. To know more about the identity of the culprit, do grab this book.
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next. Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Erin and Vic are away from the bakery for most of the book, judging a non-traditional cooking contest. Things keep going wrong, including a death. Erin is determined not to get involved, but can't help trying to piece together the clues. Vic and Erin's friends from the cruise are there for the contest, and revelations about them are made.
The author took us on a tour of her friendship with her co-worker. A recap of the Alaska trip came along, then a brief intro to her health problems and her husbands health issues. Maybe these were essential to background the story, but it feels like she got lost in small town Tennessee and never came up for air.
If you follow the series, this book is OK, because it is a well written story with excellent characters. If this is your first book, however, you may be disappointed, as there is very little sleuthing or action.
I got to 15% of the book read and nothing had happened. And as it wasn’t fast paced or grabbing my attention or holding my interest or had interesting characters I quit while I was ahead.
This series of books gets better with each new addition. I can never guess the murderer and there is always a spin at the end that totally takes one by surprise. Totally recommend
This was an interesting story with multiple possible murderers. Lots of circumstantial evidence and a victim that no one liked. Good luck trying to figure it out.
The premise of the story is solid. However, if you are frustrated by someone with over-the-top anxiety, this book will make you crazy. The main character is always questioning herself, worried, etc. Makes me want to scream.
The title caught my attention and the storyline was intriguing but the story didn’t live up to it. The characters, especially Erin, seemed more like whiny high schoolers than adults. And, even though it’s part of a series, the ending felt unfinished.
Another great lighthearted mystery. Erin and Vic are judges in a cookoff. Unfortunately that’s not all they get to do. Investigating a murder seems to be a part of the job. Definitely enjoyable.
COLD AS ICE CREAM is the thirteenth book in the AUNTIE CLEM'S BAKERY series. Once again Erin is front and center as murder and injuries and illness abound. Of course, there is a murder that she helps the local police to solve or at least point them in the right direction. This time she and her friend Vic are judges for a CO2 Cookoff in another small town in Tennessee. They were asked by the chef they met when on an Alaskan cruise when he and other people they met on board just happen to be in town for a visit. There are a lot of fizzy drinks and ice cream to taste and judge and most of the story takes place in the lead up to the competition and during the competition.
Erin's boyfriend, Terry, who is still suffering from a head injury, is almost always by her side with his trusty police dog, K-9. We meet up with some of the characters we've met before but most of this story isn't told in their small town or in the bakery. There are twists and turns to the story but it was a little choppy at times. There are a lot of clues throughout until the culprit is caught. There is closure but the story ended too abruptly for me. There was a preview of the next book in the series, CHANGING FORTUNE COOKIES, and it seems to pick up just where this one leaves off. I can't wait to see where this book will take us next.
Ms. Workman is an author whose books I've been enjoying in a few different series. I look forward to reading more of her books.
For living in a small town, Erin Price and her friends sure find more than their fair share of trouble. In this story, Erin and Vic are invited to be judges in a cooking contest that will showcase ice cream and carbonated drinks. While that may sound like a lot of fun, things quickly go off the rails when another of the judges is found dead in the freezer of a restaurant…and, of course, it was Erin who found the body. Was it a tragic accident? Was it murder? Figuring out what happened and who was responsible becomes a dangerous proposition as other misfortunes begin to befall those in Erin’s inner circle of friends. As always with this series, there is an engrossing mystery at the heart of the story, plenty of suspense, and the ongoing relationships between the major characters continue to evolve. This story is just another treat from Auntie Clem’s bakery and I will definitely be back for more.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book but I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.