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Auntie Clem's Bakery #1
Gluten-Free Murder
Murder by muffin
Erin Price moves to Bald Eagle Falls, a place where everyone knows everyone as well as everyone else’s business, taking over the store left to her by her aunt to start up a gluten-free bakery. The grand opening is marred by just one thing, the death of her business rival, Angela Plaint. It appears that Angela was poisoned by one of Erin’s cupcakes, making her a prime suspect.
Equipped with cupcakes, her desire for the truth, and new bakery assistant Vicky’s help, Erin goes head-to-head against Detective Terry Piper to solve the murder. Rumors of treasure hunting, drug dealing, and a missing boy swirl around Bald Eagle Falls as Erin tries to sort the clues from the red herrings and find the killer before the killer can take care of her.
Erin Price moves to Bald Eagle Falls, a place where everyone knows everyone as well as everyone else’s business, taking over the store left to her by her aunt to start up a gluten-free bakery. The grand opening is marred by just one thing, the death of her business rival, Angela Plaint. It appears that Angela was poisoned by one of Erin’s cupcakes, making her a prime suspect.
Equipped with cupcakes, her desire for the truth, and new bakery assistant Vicky’s help, Erin goes head-to-head against Detective Terry Piper to solve the murder. Rumors of treasure hunting, drug dealing, and a missing boy swirl around Bald Eagle Falls as Erin tries to sort the clues from the red herrings and find the killer before the killer can take care of her.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2017
935 people are currently reading
1372 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Workman
231 books501 followersAward-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.
Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.
Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.
Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
March 18, 2021
Erin in Tennesse is fixing to open up a Gluten Free shop that her Aunt Clemintine who had died had a Tea Shop 10 years ago in Tennesse. Erin parents died a long time ago and she was in and out of foster families. She re!embers her Aunt and her Tea Shop helping her. Clementine have Erin her abandoned shop and her house. A lawyer tracked Erin down. Bald Eagle Falls, Tennesse towners were kinda of weary that Erin was opening a another bakery which they said that there was one already. And Erin says it will be gluten bakery shop. They stuck by their own in the town. Every Sunday they go to church and Erin want to open her business on Sundays. It frowned upon. The rivalry Angela of the other bakeshop comes in there she says she can only eat gluten free. It puzzles Erin. The book is not very good they keep on with same topic a little to long. But some of the story is good. But I'm not really interested in reading any others
May 21, 2018
This is book 1 in the Auntie Clem's Bakery series. It's a wonderful start and the cast of characters bodes well for future books. Erin has moved to Eagle Falls to open a bakery in her Aunt's old shop. The first person she meets is the police detective who thinks she's breaking into the closed building. He is also the one to make her suspect # 1 in the murder of a neighbor. Enjoyed this one since it also taught me a lot about gluten free eating and cooking. I've never read P.D. Workman's books and from the looks of it, there are several to choose from. Will be checking them out. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 26, 2020
May I just say how incredibly refreshing it was to read about gluten free realities in this book instead of the BS spouted by armchair gastroenterologists on social media?
This was a very enjoyable light read. I don't generally read cozy mysteries but since I have CD, I picked this up and I'm glad I did.
This was a very enjoyable light read. I don't generally read cozy mysteries but since I have CD, I picked this up and I'm glad I did.
December 17, 2020
Looks can be deceiving
Enjoyed the variety of characters. Good little mystery, quite twisty. Looking forward to more of K9 and Terry. Some tasty gluten free recipes would add to the appeal. =)
Enjoyed the variety of characters. Good little mystery, quite twisty. Looking forward to more of K9 and Terry. Some tasty gluten free recipes would add to the appeal. =)
July 24, 2018
What started out as a great novel about an outsider coming home to a small town, turned into a great little mystery! Written with a languidness that matches the small town setting, this is a lovely beginning to what promises to be a great series.
November 2, 2018
Couldn't put it down !! From a cute kitten to a police dog to a bakery for people with allergies ! Highly recommend!
November 27, 2020
Quite good! The characters were good hearted & open minded. It was refreshing.
August 18, 2022
I absolutely hated this. I don’t think a book has ever made my blood boil so bad. First of all, why is everyone in this small town so freaking hostile? Why is everyone so damn snarky and angry walking all the time?!?
First thing to set me off was Piper, being rude as hell to Erin. I get it, they were trying to make him a brooding tortured character but he ended up coming off as condescending and a genuine dick, but of course he’s a police office, and OF COURSE the main characters love interest. Second, we have a community member acting appalled when she finds out that Erin isn’t a Christian, how shameful. She was so dramatic through the entire scene. Now, on the what really got me. Willie. The sweet man who helped Erin with her groceries when she was trying to get into her store. He asks her if he could help her, grabs the flour from her so she can open her shop door, she laughs and is grateful but the second this bitch takes in his appearance she literally says, “oh, no, let me take it back.” And through this whole ordeal when he is trying to help her with her groceries she is threatening to call the cops and telling him that he is making her nervous. But once he hears that he backs off and apologizes. Later in the book Erin says to Piper, “I know what it’s like to be discriminated against for being homeless, alone, and destitute.” No ma’am, you don’t, she is so incredibly judgmental it made me sick.
To top off this train wreck of a book, Erin calls the murder victim inconsiderate for dying in her bakery shop.
I hated this book, I hated every character except K9, Orange Blossom, Vic, and Willie. I will definitely not be finishing this series nor will I pick up another book by Workman, I wanted a cute and cozy small town murder mystery and this definitely was none of those.
The fact that this book has such a high rating makes me sick, and then to say there was such a variety of characters??? The group of the four older women were all nosey and snarky, I literally considered them to be one person.
First thing to set me off was Piper, being rude as hell to Erin. I get it, they were trying to make him a brooding tortured character but he ended up coming off as condescending and a genuine dick, but of course he’s a police office, and OF COURSE the main characters love interest. Second, we have a community member acting appalled when she finds out that Erin isn’t a Christian, how shameful. She was so dramatic through the entire scene. Now, on the what really got me. Willie. The sweet man who helped Erin with her groceries when she was trying to get into her store. He asks her if he could help her, grabs the flour from her so she can open her shop door, she laughs and is grateful but the second this bitch takes in his appearance she literally says, “oh, no, let me take it back.” And through this whole ordeal when he is trying to help her with her groceries she is threatening to call the cops and telling him that he is making her nervous. But once he hears that he backs off and apologizes. Later in the book Erin says to Piper, “I know what it’s like to be discriminated against for being homeless, alone, and destitute.” No ma’am, you don’t, she is so incredibly judgmental it made me sick.
To top off this train wreck of a book, Erin calls the murder victim inconsiderate for dying in her bakery shop.
I hated this book, I hated every character except K9, Orange Blossom, Vic, and Willie. I will definitely not be finishing this series nor will I pick up another book by Workman, I wanted a cute and cozy small town murder mystery and this definitely was none of those.
The fact that this book has such a high rating makes me sick, and then to say there was such a variety of characters??? The group of the four older women were all nosey and snarky, I literally considered them to be one person.
June 21, 2021
P.D. Workman has done it again! This introduction to a new series involves a fresh start, sympathetic characters, and a murder. I spent the last ten minutes of the book standing up to read because I was off to do something else but just couldn't put it down until I got to the end. I haven't been that invested in a book in a while.
Were there flaws? No, not really. The foreshadowing didn't give away the villain. The characters were easily identifiable (both in that I knew who they were within the context of the story and that I could readily pick people out as friends and neighbours who share similar traits.) The setting was a world away from the usual coastal town and that made a great difference, too. (Not that I don't love a good beachside murder (because I do), but this was a refreshing change.)
I'd recommend this cosy to those who enjoy a light-hearted read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Were there flaws? No, not really. The foreshadowing didn't give away the villain. The characters were easily identifiable (both in that I knew who they were within the context of the story and that I could readily pick people out as friends and neighbours who share similar traits.) The setting was a world away from the usual coastal town and that made a great difference, too. (Not that I don't love a good beachside murder (because I do), but this was a refreshing change.)
I'd recommend this cosy to those who enjoy a light-hearted read. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
February 19, 2021
Wonderful story. Could not put it down
December 21, 2020
A fun bakery murder with a twist.
A fun bakery murder with a twist. A couple of new girls in town and a murder in a close knit community, so, who are the suspects and who is the real murderer.
A fun bakery murder with a twist. A couple of new girls in town and a murder in a close knit community, so, who are the suspects and who is the real murderer.
October 25, 2025
3.75 stars if you’re gluten free
3.25 stars if you’re not
3.25 stars if you’re not
August 20, 2020
Gluten-Free Murder was a Kindle book I found as I scrolled through unread titles on my Kindle. I really have no idea why I picked it up, whether it was a freebie or not. In this first in a new series, Erin comes to town to claim her inheritance. Her aunt has died and left her a tea shop and house. Erin has grown up in foster care and has really latched on to this as the opportunity of a lifetime. She is re-imagining the tea shop as a gluten free bakery. At her launch party, the town’s only other baker dies in her shop, which of course makes her the prime suspect. There are some fun characters, her assistant Vic, Officer Piper and K9, and William Andrews adding to the local color. I didn’t go into this with a lot of expectations, but it was a well done mystery and the tension really ratcheted up in the latter half of the book. Overall, a very good cozy mystery!
March 12, 2020
A well-written mystery, with mostly sympathetic characters.
Would have given another star if not for the gratuitous ableist remark by the protagonist partway through. This was particularly disappointing given the supportive portrayal of a trans character in the book, which was hugely encouraging. To then describe another character out of the blue as being "tied down to a disabled husband" was like a smack in the face.
I know that a character's thoughts are not necessarily those of the author, but there was no indication before this that the protagonist was ableist, and no necessity for this remark in terms of the plot, so why include it?
Until I reached that line, I was seriously intending to buy the next book in the series, but I have reconsidered.
Would have given another star if not for the gratuitous ableist remark by the protagonist partway through. This was particularly disappointing given the supportive portrayal of a trans character in the book, which was hugely encouraging. To then describe another character out of the blue as being "tied down to a disabled husband" was like a smack in the face.
I know that a character's thoughts are not necessarily those of the author, but there was no indication before this that the protagonist was ableist, and no necessity for this remark in terms of the plot, so why include it?
Until I reached that line, I was seriously intending to buy the next book in the series, but I have reconsidered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2021
Since I enjoyed P.D. Workman’s crime writing, I tried one of her cozy mysteries, called Gluten Free Murder (Auntie Clem’s Bakery Book 1).
Erin moves back to the small town of Eagle Falls to start up a gluten-free bakery in her aunt’s store after she passed away. Everything is going great until the grand opening when Angela Plaint, the owner of the rival bakery down the street, dies after eating one of Erin’s cupcakes.
Erin becomes the prime suspect in Angela’s death. To make matters worse, even Detective Terry Piper thinks she’s guilty until a series of break-ins at the bakery steer them in another direction.
Small towns are filled with gossip, and Eagle Falls is no different. Soon the rumors about treasure hunting, drug dealing, and a missing boy propel Erin into a mystery she must solve before the actual killer finds her!
If you find your life in turmoil, grab a cozy mystery to pass the time and to forget your woes. This book is FREE, and I found the mystery to be a good read as it remained true to its genre.
To be honest, I preferred the crime drama to the cozy mystery, but you be the judge.
Erin moves back to the small town of Eagle Falls to start up a gluten-free bakery in her aunt’s store after she passed away. Everything is going great until the grand opening when Angela Plaint, the owner of the rival bakery down the street, dies after eating one of Erin’s cupcakes.
Erin becomes the prime suspect in Angela’s death. To make matters worse, even Detective Terry Piper thinks she’s guilty until a series of break-ins at the bakery steer them in another direction.
Small towns are filled with gossip, and Eagle Falls is no different. Soon the rumors about treasure hunting, drug dealing, and a missing boy propel Erin into a mystery she must solve before the actual killer finds her!
If you find your life in turmoil, grab a cozy mystery to pass the time and to forget your woes. This book is FREE, and I found the mystery to be a good read as it remained true to its genre.
To be honest, I preferred the crime drama to the cozy mystery, but you be the judge.
March 28, 2021
Great cozy mystery, good character development and intrigues. Suspenseful near the end was tops!
November 23, 2020
Erin Price has moved to Bald Eagle Falls, Tennessee to take over the store she inherited from her Aunt Clementine. It used to be Clementine Tea Room but now Erin plans to start up her own gluten-free bakery.
But some of the locals are opposed to her idea citing that their town already has a bakery 🥯 —called The Bake Shoppe and owned by Angela Plaint—and don’t another one. Besides they think Erin wants to take Angela’s business
On the opening of her store, Erin’s business rival Angela Plaint is found dead in the basement of Erin’s shop. Apparently, Angela sampled one of Erin’s chocolate muffins 🧁 which may have been poisoned, making her a prime suspect.
With the help of her new assistant, Vicky, Erin sets out to find out who the real killer is.
Erin first found Vicky lurking inside her shop one morning. She introduced herself as Victoria Webster, Angela’s niece. According to Vicky, she went to see Angela hoping she’d help her out but her aunt wouldn’t have anything to do with her. So at night she used the spare key to Erin’s bakery—which Angela had—to camp out there. Erin’s considers handing Vicky to the police but finally relents and hires her as her assistant.
But some of the locals are opposed to her idea citing that their town already has a bakery 🥯 —called The Bake Shoppe and owned by Angela Plaint—and don’t another one. Besides they think Erin wants to take Angela’s business
On the opening of her store, Erin’s business rival Angela Plaint is found dead in the basement of Erin’s shop. Apparently, Angela sampled one of Erin’s chocolate muffins 🧁 which may have been poisoned, making her a prime suspect.
With the help of her new assistant, Vicky, Erin sets out to find out who the real killer is.
Erin first found Vicky lurking inside her shop one morning. She introduced herself as Victoria Webster, Angela’s niece. According to Vicky, she went to see Angela hoping she’d help her out but her aunt wouldn’t have anything to do with her. So at night she used the spare key to Erin’s bakery—which Angela had—to camp out there. Erin’s considers handing Vicky to the police but finally relents and hires her as her assistant.
December 2, 2020
Great mystery
This book was very well written and the author did a wonderful job of having the main characters work thru some tough real life issues while living in a small town full of busy body women and dealing with a murder also.
This book was very well written and the author did a wonderful job of having the main characters work thru some tough real life issues while living in a small town full of busy body women and dealing with a murder also.
January 4, 2021
This is the first of PD Workman's books I've read, and it certainly won't be the last. The author has the ability to pull you into her story and keep you firmly rooted there until the end. Her characters are interest and have depth. She isn't afraid to explore the areas of our society that many would rather sweep under the rug. Instead she uses them in the story to create tension and believable characters. The author built the tension at the ending that had me holding my breath. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more in this series.
November 25, 2020
A cliff hanger till the end
A great story and a good explanation of what food allergies are like. Having a gluten free member in the family it made me realize how dangerous food allergies are.
A great story and a good explanation of what food allergies are like. Having a gluten free member in the family it made me realize how dangerous food allergies are.
November 19, 2020
You never know!
Erin inherits a tea shop from her Aunt Clementine in a small town. Erin didn't want to run a tea shop but had always wanted to have a specialty bakery. One that made foods for people with allergies or needed sugar and flour free foods. Within days of opening her bakery, one of her customers is killed in her basement, making her suspect one. This story has a few surprises and one great adventure . Enjoy this one.
Erin inherits a tea shop from her Aunt Clementine in a small town. Erin didn't want to run a tea shop but had always wanted to have a specialty bakery. One that made foods for people with allergies or needed sugar and flour free foods. Within days of opening her bakery, one of her customers is killed in her basement, making her suspect one. This story has a few surprises and one great adventure . Enjoy this one.
May 5, 2018
Great cozy myster and more. Wished I had read it sooner since I have had it for awhile now.
Does a really really wonderful job of explaining gluten free and allergy in a simple way that all can understand. Even explains the types of flours used. Tells how food is not cardboard or tasteless. May be in future could include tips and recipes? Nice job with the time to simplify and explain the issue to us ordinary people.
Now you probably could care less if gluten is not a problem for you and you want the mystery. So here it goes:
The mystery is very well written. At the beginning I thought the main character was a little snippy but realize she is like me just says it like it is for her. Cannot wait to learn more about her in future books. Besides opening a gluten free bakery she brushes off an identity issue as of no importance. Bravo Bravo Bravo.
There is wonderfully written cave scene that can be intense for some. ( aside want an intense book by author read Endless Changes)
I admit that I did not figure out who the bad person was. I was even routing for that character to around in the next book since I had someone else for it. Nicely done. Did not see it coming.
If you like mystery books this is one for you to read.
Does a really really wonderful job of explaining gluten free and allergy in a simple way that all can understand. Even explains the types of flours used. Tells how food is not cardboard or tasteless. May be in future could include tips and recipes? Nice job with the time to simplify and explain the issue to us ordinary people.
Now you probably could care less if gluten is not a problem for you and you want the mystery. So here it goes:
The mystery is very well written. At the beginning I thought the main character was a little snippy but realize she is like me just says it like it is for her. Cannot wait to learn more about her in future books. Besides opening a gluten free bakery she brushes off an identity issue as of no importance. Bravo Bravo Bravo.
There is wonderfully written cave scene that can be intense for some. ( aside want an intense book by author read Endless Changes)
I admit that I did not figure out who the bad person was. I was even routing for that character to around in the next book since I had someone else for it. Nicely done. Did not see it coming.
If you like mystery books this is one for you to read.
December 13, 2020
The story wasn't bad, but the heroine was ridiculous. Why didn't she just walk around wearing a sign that she was a frustrated detective. The conversations she had with her neighbors were so very blatant and obvious interrogations.
Why oh why must all authors make their female heroines idiotic, stupid and brain dead. No subtlety at all, just outright, innocuous delving into things that openly scream "I'm interrogating you because you just might be the murderer". Guaranteed to put your life on the line so you will need to have the cavalry come and save you from something you should never have gotten yourself into in the first place - if you had bothered to use half a brain, that is.
As this first book has clearly set the stage for all future books in this series, I am afraid I'm going to have to pass. I like to read books, not be frustrated by them.
Why oh why must all authors make their female heroines idiotic, stupid and brain dead. No subtlety at all, just outright, innocuous delving into things that openly scream "I'm interrogating you because you just might be the murderer". Guaranteed to put your life on the line so you will need to have the cavalry come and save you from something you should never have gotten yourself into in the first place - if you had bothered to use half a brain, that is.
As this first book has clearly set the stage for all future books in this series, I am afraid I'm going to have to pass. I like to read books, not be frustrated by them.
November 26, 2019
Secrets
This cozy mystery is a great start to a new series and my introduction to this author. Erin has graduated from the foster care system and is barely getting by when she learns she has inherited her aunt's small town home and tea room. But when she announces she will be reopening the tea room as a gluten free bakery, she's met with resistance from the town's women. Then her competition, the owner of the town's bakery, dies in her shop's basement and Erin is a prime suspect. Can she find the real culprit before the killer sets their sights on her?
This cozy mystery is a great start to a new series and my introduction to this author. Erin has graduated from the foster care system and is barely getting by when she learns she has inherited her aunt's small town home and tea room. But when she announces she will be reopening the tea room as a gluten free bakery, she's met with resistance from the town's women. Then her competition, the owner of the town's bakery, dies in her shop's basement and Erin is a prime suspect. Can she find the real culprit before the killer sets their sights on her?
September 30, 2017
Fun read!
Some typos early in the book but what a nice read for a dreary afternoon. Also, thanks for the freebies!
Some typos early in the book but what a nice read for a dreary afternoon. Also, thanks for the freebies!
October 4, 2017
Twist at end!!!!
Never saw the killer or figured out who it was. Great characters. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series
Never saw the killer or figured out who it was. Great characters. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series
May 16, 2018
I wanted recipes. LOL
A good solid mystery, likeable characters, a bit of sexual tension. What more could you ask for?
A good solid mystery, likeable characters, a bit of sexual tension. What more could you ask for?
November 25, 2020
Good writing and she nails the struggles of celiac. Engaging read but two references to heroine being white and therefore not a criminal were racist AF and unacceptable.
November 18, 2024
DNF. Horrible, mean and snarky. I was so hopeful and this went down hill so fast, I gave up.
February 13, 2021
This cozy mystery was very well written. It's about a young woman, Erin, who inherits her Aunt Clementine's Tea Shop. She turns it into a gluten-free bakery though, which doesn't make the townsfolks of Bald Eagle Falls very happy. Mainly because it's a very small town and there is already a bakery. On opening day, Erin has gives a free muffin or cookie to all customers. One of the customers is Angela, who is the owner of the other bakery in town and also very allergic to anything with gluten. When Angela goes down to the bathroom after selecting a muffin, she doesn't return. When Erin goes down to check on her, she finds Angela dead from an apparent anaphylaxis shock, supposedly from a tainted muffin from Erin's bakery.
At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like this cozy mystery. All the ladies that Erin met seemed cruel and not very welcoming, and Erin felt a bit cold as well. As the story unfolded though, I really enjoyed the writing and how P.D. Workman was taking her characters. Officer Piper is the main cop in charge of investigating Angela's murder, and has a sweet dog named K9. Another character that comes into play is Vic. She was Angela's niece and was hiding out in Erin's bakery because her aunt wouldn't let her stay with her, so Vic stole the key to Erin's bakery from her aunt. Erin's Aunt Clementine had given out lots of keys to her tea shop, and Angela was one of those recipients. When Erin discovers Vic, she offers Vic a job and a place to stay instead of turning her into the authorities. Vic is also transgender, which is why Angela wouldn't let her stay with her in the first place. But Erin is very accepting of Vic. Erin also discovers an adorable male kitten, that she and Vic name Orange Blossom.
At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like this cozy mystery. All the ladies that Erin met seemed cruel and not very welcoming, and Erin felt a bit cold as well. As the story unfolded though, I really enjoyed the writing and how P.D. Workman was taking her characters. Officer Piper is the main cop in charge of investigating Angela's murder, and has a sweet dog named K9. Another character that comes into play is Vic. She was Angela's niece and was hiding out in Erin's bakery because her aunt wouldn't let her stay with her, so Vic stole the key to Erin's bakery from her aunt. Erin's Aunt Clementine had given out lots of keys to her tea shop, and Angela was one of those recipients. When Erin discovers Vic, she offers Vic a job and a place to stay instead of turning her into the authorities. Vic is also transgender, which is why Angela wouldn't let her stay with her in the first place. But Erin is very accepting of Vic. Erin also discovers an adorable male kitten, that she and Vic name Orange Blossom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews