The Cookie Mystery

Freddie's Amazing Bakery #2

by Harriet Whitehorn, Alex G. Griffiths (Illustrator)

A much-loved and famous pampered cat is catnapped from the Van de Lune Hotel. Then Bernard’s cat Otto disappears too! It’s up to Freddie to discover what’s going on …

Genres: Mystery, Food, Childrens

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in Freddie's Amazing Bakery series is a children's mystery story with much more 'meat' to the plot than book #1: Someone stole several boxes of Freddie's cakes from his delivery cart; Freddie's dog Flapjack keeps sneaking off; and a TV superstar cat has gone missing from the penthouse suite at Van De Lune's Hotel. A quick read with a fun cast of characters. Includes a recipe for Freddie's Thumbprint Cookies which I have tried and they are delicious with a chocolate filling.

[Sarah Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my 10 & 8 year olds. Super cute, easy to read and easy to come back to. Super adorable drawings and likable characters that had us laughing several times

[Ann-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddie, a young boy, loves baking cakes and caters cakes for the neighborhood shops.

A new young reader series features a child named Freddie who enjoys baking cakes so much he opened a bakery. We meet a cast of characters that shows up in the series. We have Amara who assists Freddie in the bakery and Bernard Freddie nemesis who owns a competitive bakery and is not a very nice man. We also meet Freddie’s dog flapjack who is usually attuned with whatever is happening to his master.

In the amazing cookie mystery some of Freddie’s cake goes missing during his deliveries off his bicycle and the famous cat cookie goes missing.
In the Great Raspberry Mix up Freddie enters a baking contest in order to win the competition so he could replace his old oven. As it seems to be the theme of this series Bernard plots to win the competition dishonestly but everytime he tries something dishonest Freddie still wins the cake competition in the end.

Ms. Whitehorn has created a community of lovable characters especially Freddie and also created a villain that shows the spiteful meanness of how someone can be. Was a bit concerned with some of the language such as when Bernard will lose his temper he would yell at his workers mistreat his dog Otto and use the word blasted. I also did not like the added storyline in which Bernard starts to fall for Freddie’s assistant Amara. This afterall is a book for young readers and should not have any hint of romance storyline within it.

Overall children can see a lovable character like Freddie who works hard and tries to treat others with kindness.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a celebrity cat visiting Belville goes missing everyone is on the hunt. Freddie is also puzzled by some of his baked goods that went missing during his deliveries, and his dog Flapjack keeps running off to an unknown location. Meanwhile, Freddie is looking to hire another baker to help with the workload, and Bernard Macaroon is determined to replicate Freddie’s success and driving his bakery’s staff crazy in the process.

Freddie is such a kind-hearted soul looking out for others, and with a very gracious and forgiving heart. I love how he models this for readers. Readers will know some of the mystery answers, but some will be left for them to puzzle out (there are clues, though to help the armchair sleuths see if they can puzzle it out before the big reveal). This is a cozy contemporary mystery for lower grade readers to curl up with. It is peppered with fun illustrations, and descriptions of lots of delicious treats (so be prepared).

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None. (Bernard develops a crush on a lady, but just gives her flowers.)
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Freddie appears to be white British, his right hand staff person at his bakery is Asian Indian British. Other people are depicted in illustrations with a variety of skin tones.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: A lost pet. Jealousy of one baker of another’s ability. Bernard doesn’t treat his employees very nicely but they find better employment.

[Kelly Pinkerton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Freddie's Amazing Bakery book in the series and my six-year-old agrees. Once again Freddy displays quality characteristics that continue to make him lovable. In this story, Bernard, the villain, is the most Bernard he has ever been, especially when his beloved cat, Otto, goes missing. My daughter and I laughed out loud at Bernard's wild accusations and she insisted on reading any lines that were Bernard's, especially those in shouting capital letters, which he did a lot! In this story, Freddie discovers that a thief has stolen pastries from the back of his delivery bike at the same time that celebrity cat, Cookie, goes missing from the town hotel. As the mystery comes under investigation, the town and its residents prepare for a special picnic which aims to raise funds to repair the broken carousel. The culminating events wrap up the story nicely and cement Freddie's place as a hero! Special shoutout to Freddie's dog, Flapjack, who is also central to this story!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone in town loves Freddie's baked goods. Bernard can't stand all the attention Freddie gets, because all that everyone can say is how good and delicious Freddie's creations are. Bernard resolves to do just about anything to be number one again, even if it means trying to replicate Freddie's desserts. Meanwhile a celebrity cat goes missing and Freddie's dog, Flapjack, keeps disappearing too. What in the world is going on?

Freddie is a really sweet guy while Bernard is the exact opposite. It's interesting watching the two chefs juxtaposed to each other. One thing for sure is, this book can really get you to crave something sweet!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddie is at it again!! Baking cakes and cookies for his friends and customers! In this book, Freddie delivers a cake to a very famous cat named Cookie, who is visiting Belville. Soon after, Cookie goes missing! Then Flapjack and Bernard’s cat, Otto, are on the run as well! Where are these pets going? This book involves the pet mystery and a neighborhood picnic!

I love Freddie, and can’t wait for another Freddie book! I really enjoy reading this series aloud to my 3 year old son!!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute children's chapter book about a baker and his interactions with the community. Freddie is kind, generous and a great baker. Bernard is another baker in town who is jealous of Freddie and his baking talents and is always causing trouble. This book is the second in the series and in both, animals often play a major part. There is a recipe at the end of the book, a map of the city in the front and a glossary of baking terms included as well.

[Lara Giesbers · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a celebrity in town, and she's been catnapped! Freddie's been incredibly busy and needing to find an assistant, and Flapjack has become naughty indeed! How do these things tie together? You'll just have to read and see! This little tale about Belville's young baker shows what a kind heart can bring about, and a bonus cookie recipe at the end!

[John Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great, clean, family-friendly, and well-written children's story in the "Freddie's Amazing Bakery" series. This one had a nice element of mystery, and the main "villain" of the series shows some vulnerability too. My 7-year old liked it and I did too!

[Jessica Bogacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one aloud to my 10 year old after really enjoying the first book in the series. It’s an easy read and each book ends with a baking recipe to bake together. We didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one but we still enjoyed it.

[WhatRachelsReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boys and I really loved this one! Such a great chapter book series to read aloud together! And then bake the recipe in the back of the book!!! 🥰

[Sarah's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids love all of these stories and the recipe that comes with them.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was also cute but not as good as the first. A cat named Cookie goes missing as well as some of Freddie's baked goods. Freddie and his dog Flapjack help find her and all is ok!

[Laura Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I are both enjoying these books! We enjoyed the mystery of this one, wondering who took Cookie! And where was Flapjack disappearing to? Cute story.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Read aloud with R, Jan. 2023

[Nicole Strine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did this as a read aloud and I enjoyed it as much as my kids! We are looking forward to the next 2 books!!

[Pages Bursting Hearts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, Bernard was terrible in this book, but a great antagonist. I hope Freddie's kindness inspires him to be a better character in book #3.

[Katherine Pendleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cooking is my favorite thing. Cookies cakes other."

[Hudson Walter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great series and I am forced to write a five star review

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about a baker, his dog and their community. I read this book with my son. An added bonus is a recipe for thumb print cookies at the end!

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to this series.

[Efox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment of Freddie's Amazing Bakery, was super cute. This one involves a missing cat and a lot of kind actions. Very fun.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the Freddie's Amazing Bakery series.

Love Freddie and his amazing cakes! So fun to read about! And really enjoyed the ending with Cookie and Flapjack.

I didn't love how things went with Bernard in this one. He gets off really easy for a crime and he's a bit ridiculous in his affections for Amira. It didn't work super well for me in a children's book I read aloud with my kids.

Still a fun read aloud. Great pictures! Great chapter length. Lots of characters for fun voices. Lots of yummy treats. And fun with the mystery element in the plot. We enjoy these books!