The Case of the Waffling Warrants

A Gossip Cozy Mystery #1

by Rosie A. Point, Senn Annis (Narrator)

What’s more satisfying than waffles and maple syrup? Murder… For ex-spy Charlotte Mission, life in the cozy town of Gossip, Texas, is anything but boring. With a retired spy grandmother for company, an inn to clean, kittens around every corner, and guests to keep happy, she’s living a perfectly normal life. But Charlotte has a secret. She’s Gossip’s first and only ‘fixer.’ With her particular set of skills and a secret armory at her disposal, Charlie’s the person folks around town come to when they’re in deep, seemingly irreversible trouble. And after the owner of the local bakery is slapped in cuffs on trumped-up charges, she’s on the job. Everything’s going to plan until Charlie’s client is found murdered in her cell. And with a new detective in town who’s not afraid to make arrests on a whim, she’s got her work cut out for her. Can she solve the Case of the Waffling Warrants before she winds up in jail? Find out in the first in a brand-new cozy mystery series by bestselling author, Rosie A. Point. Grab your copy now!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Cozy, Audiobook, Amazon

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2021

About the author

Rosie A. Point is a USA Today Bestselling cozy mystery author who loves writing about food, small towns, and cats. Her favorite books are ones you can snuggle up with under a cozy blanket on a winter's day. Born and raised in South Africa, her books are all set in small towns in the United States. She dreams of visiting the places she writes about in her books.

Rosie wants to hear from you. Whether it’s about a recipe or one of her books, you can contact her on her website. Join her reader club today!

https://www.rosiepointbooks.com/

Reviews

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endlich habe ich mich mal wieder an ein englisches Buch getraut :)
Das Lesen hat etwas länger gedauert, aber es hat Spaß gemacht.
Es war ein schöner gemütlicher Krimi, durchaus spannend, aber noch eher unterhaltsam.
Interessante Charaktere, ein bisschen schrullig irgendwie, aber auf eine gute Art!

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was happy to see that my library carried the Kindle version of this book now via Overdrive and was glad to be able to borrow it. This was a great start for the new spin-off from the Mission Inn-possible series. I do miss Brian Smulder, but I think Charlie had already convinced herself she wasn't ready to date anyhow. The detective in this series will make for a good verbal sparring partner though! I think the sparks of like one minute/can't stand the next have already started between them.

I hadn't guessed the killer, and the showdown was really a good one, very reminiscent of how Charlie and Gamma took down the baddies in the other series and left them for the police to find. I love the way Charlie took care of this one! Gamma and Charlie still ran some recon using Gamma's super-cool spy equipment from the armory.

I'm moving along to the second book so I'll be caught up when the fourth comes out. (I finished book 3 yesterday after finding it on BookSprout and wanting to do my commitment to them first). I'm already loving this series, and oh my goodness, Chef Lauren is having another kiddo which makes Charlie's life even more challenging to not upset her while doing kitchen chores for her, lol.

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series that follows The Mission Inn-possible cozy mystery series and continues with Charlie’s story. The characters are such real people (except for all the spy stuff!). The setting in a small Texas town is perfect for a good mystery. There were several red herrings and a surprise ending. If you enjoy escaping into a good mystery about family, friends, small Southern towns, a little romance and a murder, then you need to read this great cozy book! 📚

[Davey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m usually really lenient about my cozy mysteries, but this one was hard to finish. I made myself finish it, but there are series with more adept writing and better characters out there. This one had neither and was a pure slog.

[Stacey E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded to 3. A very quick and fast-paced read. The writing wasn't the best but an entertaining palate cleanser between books. A very cute cover.

[Aparna J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.

Wow. This is an amazing book and a delightful read. This book had me captivated right from the moment I opened a page and started reading it. It's a wonderful cozy mystery full of unexpected twists and turns, humor, intrigue and a close relationship between a granddaughter and her grandma. Author Rosie A. Point has done a marvelous job.

Charlotte aka Charlie Smith is a former spy working for National Security Investigation Bureau just like her grandma Georgina Franklin. After her retirement, Georgina has settled in a small town called Gossip and owns an Inn called The Gossip Inn. Charlie works for her grandma as a maid, assistant, and a server.

The story begins with Charlie interacting with her grandma over the microphone ( a spy gadget) as the latter is visiting the opening of a new guesthouse owned by her arch rival and competitor, Jessie Belle-Blue. Lauren Harris, the chef of the Inn is complaining about the shortage of flour and sugar for her cupcakes. She witnesses a disagreement between Mandy Gilmore, a town gossip, and a guest at the Inn and Opal whose house is being fumigated for cockroaches while on her way to serve coffee.

Suddenly, she receives a call from Tina Rogers, the owner of The Bread Factory, asking for help to prove her innocence as she has been falsely accused of breaking and entering and vandalism at Josie Carlson's bakery, The Little Cake Shop. Josie is also the sister of Chef Lauren at the Gossip Inn who's having a ghost haunting her basement. Charlie decides to help Tina and visits the Gossip Police Station where she has been held in a cell. Officer Miller takes her around to Tina's cell but she is found dead. There's a brownie on the floor. Charlie is stumped. Who killed Tina and why? Detective Aaron Goode interrogates her for the purpose of her visit.

One of Tina's gloves was found in Josie's bakery because of which she got arrested. Before her death, Tina claimed that she had been framed for a crime she never committed. Charlie's investigations reveal that three people visited her before her death, Josie Carlson, Mandy Gilmore, and Bridget Willows. Charlie questions Josie who is pretty secretive and tight-lipped.

Charlie is frustrated because of the lack of evidence. Who among these three suspects killed her? There are startling revelations and plenty of twists and turns. Be prepared for a shocker. Just when you believe you have nailed the killer, there is a surprise in store for you. To make it even more interesting, there is another small mystery within this cozy mystery .

I highly recommend it for all the cozy mystery lovers.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What fun this first book in the series is! I laugh out loud cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns that keeps you laughing and guessing at the same time. Charli is working in Gamma's Inn as both are retired spies. When Charlotte gets a call from the jail asking for help because the prisoner is innocent she decides to go to the jail to find out more. When she gets there she finds the girl dead. Now she has to investigate! Lying on the jail cot, she has a cupcake next to her that she seems to have eaten. Was she poisoned. How did she die? Who visited her while in jail and why is she dead, who wanted her dead? With lots of red-herrings and twists and turns, Charlotte with some help by Gamma set out to solve the murder being told by Detective Goode to stay out of it. Then we have Lauren, Gamma's chef at the Inn who is pregnant with her second child and in an hormonal tizzy - Especially since she is missing her flour order and her supplier seems to not know why. Lauren on the four warpath! And then there are the kittens who keep showing up downstairs covered in flour. Where did they get it from? And Lauren is sure there are ghosts living in her basement. With lots of laughs and page turning I couldn't put this down until the end. I really like this series so far and can't wait to read more. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, Charlie's Back !! . . .

I am so delighted to have my favorite characters back! Charlie is now retired from the agency and is working at Gamma’s inn. The dust hasn’t even settled and Charlie and Gamma are back in the game! Charlie is summoned to the jail when Tina Rogers, the owner of the local bakery is arrested on trumped-up charges, allegedly for breaking into and vandalizing Josie Carlson’s bakery, The Little Cake Shop. The police said they found Tina’s glove there, but it wasn’t hers. Before Charlie can meet with her, Tina is discovered dead in her cell with a partially eaten brownie dropped on the floor. Who would have framed her and then killed her, and why? And with pregnant Chef Lauren missing the flour she ordered, something else is going on. Why are the kittens at the inn constantly covered in flour? Where are they getting into it?

We also meet Detective Aaron Goode, replacement for Detective Crowley. He’s not so easy-going, but we’ll see how he deals with retired-spies Charlie and Gamma’s amazing skills as they work the case from their end. Grab your copy and get caught up in one of the best series (based on the last one) that will draw you in and keep you laughing! I love having them back!!

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series, but it is also a continuation of The Mission Inn-Possible series. I have not read the previous series, and in no way did I feel lost or confused. There are no spoilers for the previous series, but rather just enough info to pique your interest.

Charlie and her grandmother are both ex-spies and I wasn't sure how well this would mesh with the light-hearted, cozy feel that Rosie A. Point is known for. The spy elements are minimal, sprinkled in enough to add some fun scenes and humorous interactions. Any type of comparison to Jana DeLeon or Janet Evanovich isn't really accurate here. This story falls firmly in the cozy and light category, whereas those authors tend to be more of a hybrid of mystery and other genres. Overall, the spy elements were fun and didn't take away from the cozy tropes readers love.

This is a fun start to a new series and the perfect place to jump in for fans wanting to discover a new cozy author worth following.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new cozy mystery series, although I understand it has its origins in another of the author's series (Mission Inn). This did not detract from loving the main characters, Charlie and her grandmother, both ex-spies, setting up a "normal" life in the town of Gossip. Except Charlie has been getting quite a reputation as a fixer, and in this first book, is asked to help get the owner of the Bread Factory out of jail, and clear her name. The case turns even more serious when the owner is found dead in her jail cell. I enjoyed the semi-professionalism of both Charlie and her Gramma (loved the hidden room of weapons!)...a change from the normal housewife/nonprofessional mystery sleuth of most cozies. And of course, it is always fun when the story involves animal (cat) characters who help move the story along. I can't wait to see what new trouble Charlie gets into in the next book, especially with the new, cute detective in town. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book and all opinions are strictly my own.

[Debra Clewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of the Gossip Cozy Mysteries I have read. Charlotte (Charlie) and her grandmother Georgina are retired spies in a small country town. The pace of life has slowed for them as they run the Mission Inn in Texas. Charlie has proven herself to be adept at solving mysteries and local murders (she calls it helping people). She seems to manage to get to the truth before the local constabulary does, with whom she has some run-ins. In this case, a young woman, Tina, is suddenly despatched whilst being held in the police cells on a charge she refutes. Tina contacts Charlie for help moments before the line goes dead, and so does she. Things seem baffling. Just how was she killed, and why? The storyline weaves around a bakery,a cafe, a flour mill, some flour-coated cats and an entrepreneur who is ripping people off. Is she to blame? Rather Midsomerish in style, but a murder mystery set in the U.S. A light enough read, with little twists and turns, and not a graphically violent scene or foul language.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new series and picks up where Charlie is now retired from the agency and is working at Gamma’s inn. Everything is going well; Lauren is expecting baby number 2 and we are introduced to Detective Goode who has replaced the prior detective. Unfortunately, the peace and quiet don’t last long as there is another murder in town.
Charlie is asked to investigate the murder to find out who the murderer is and the motive for the killing.

Charlie and Gamma are a hoot together. Nothing stands in their way when they are determined to solve a case. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I love the scenario, the interaction between the characters and the mystery of whodunit. I think the story and characters were very well developed and it felt like you were living Gossip.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wannee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Fun Start to the new series!!!

Charlotte "Charlie" Mission is an Ex-Spy living at Gossip Inn, Texas, with her Super Spunky Smarty Retired Spy Grandmother, Gamma. Charlie get a call from a new client who is in jail, before Charlie arrive to see her client, her client get killed in her cell. Charlie is asked from her client’s mother to investigate to find out who the murderer is.

This book is a fun, light heart cozy mystery with interesting characters full of humor, mystery, action, a fast-paced mystery that flows well with lots of twists and turns that keeps you entertained as you try to figure out the mystery. I really like this book and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to any cozy mystery fans.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I'd known this picks up where another series leaves off. The author states this new series can be read without reading the Mission-Inn Possible series, but you can't. The back story and character development must be in that series because it's definitely missing in this first book of this series. Too many references are made that assume the reader knows what is going on. Relationships and connections between people are lacking as they were established in the other series. I kept waiting for those few paragraphs that would pull things together for me, but they never came.

Now, the supposed spy... . She's just bumbling. Perhaps this is also information that was introduced in the prior series, but her character didn't fit the spy moniker she kept alluding to. The grandmother was also a mystery.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Waffling Warrants is Book 1 in A Gossip Cozy Mystery by Rosie A Point. I was so excited to begin Charlie and Georgia’ new adventures. I was not sure how Rosie was going to move forward after six outstanding books in the Mission Inn-possible Series; but, I loved book 1. All of my favorite characters are back, Charlie, Georgia, Lauren, as well as Jessie Belle-Blue. We have a new hunky Detective, Aaron Goode. When Tina Rogers is killed in the Gossip Jailhouse, her mother hires Charlie to solve the crime. Although I have read all 6 books in the Mission Inn-possible Series, Rosie does a great job of giving the back story so you will not be lost. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with humor, this is an enjoyable book. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte worked at the Gossip Inn .It was a place ladies came to eat a meal and usually end up gossiping to one another. One morning they didnt get there regular delivery of flour and had to change the morning meals. Turns out lots of businesses didnt get their flour. The towns Bread Factory and others. Talk was that Tina was at fault according to the gossip. But she claims she didnt do anything. After all she owned the Bread Factory. Charlotte used to be a spy (shh...) Tinas mom ask her to help get Tina out of jail. But till Charlotte got there Tina was dead. As most stories go - the lady gets involved in the who done it and the cop tells her to mind her own business and let the law handle it. Like the other stories - Charlotte ignored the cop.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. First in a new series featuring Charlie and Gamma. Charlie gets a call from the jail. Before she can get there to discuss the case with the prisoner, the prisoner is found dead in her cell. How was she murdered? Who wanted her dead and why? Join Charlie and her Gamma as they delve into the case. Enjoy the antics of the rest of the group too. Why are the cats covered in flour repeatedly? Why is the chef Lauren unable to get her supplies of flour? And what is going on in her basement Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights? Is it supernatural or can it be explained? This is a great fun story and can't wait to read the next one in the series.

[J Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gossip, Texas is the perfect place for an ex-spy to hide, especially if your ex-spy grandmother lives there to keep you company. Charlotte’s skills make her the perfect “fixer” for any problems that crop up in town and provide relief from what might otherwise be a boring existence for someone used to more excitement. She will need her skills, plus help from her grandmother, to solve a murder that occurred in the town jail.

This is a good opener for a new series. With two ex-spies equipped with plenty of spy gear, I can envision plenty of future scenarios and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of the Waffling Warrants is the first book in the Gossip Cozy Mystery series by Rosie A. Point.

This is the first book in the series but it is a spin-off/sequel of the Mission Inn-Possible series. I haven’t read that series and it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book.

Charlotte (Charlie) is a “fixer” and she’s called to go to the jail where she finds her client is dead. While solving that, there are other distractions for her to deal with as well. This is a fun, entertaining read.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
✅ great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional

PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
✅ gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown

WORLDBUILDING
✅ takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
🔲 nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story

ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
✅ immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book

PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down

So over-the-top, but also entertaining I guess?

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad that Point decided to offer us a new chapter to the conclusion of the Mission Inn Possible series. With that part of her life behind her, Charlotte gets to concentrate on building a life in Gossip with her Gamma. Without having to look over her shoulder for her ex-husband or need the protective detail, she can do what she does best, investigate on behalf of her friends to make her new home a safer place.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte retired and moved to the small town of Gossip, Tx thinking that it would be a slower pace and a quiet place to retire. She loves her life at the inn but she has a secret. Her secret however is that she is still a fixer. The owner of the local bakery is arrested and she's got a job to do. Unfortunately her client is murdered while in jail and the new detective is all about arresting anyone and everyone. She has to work fast to find the killer.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gamma and Charlie are retired spies that get pulled into a mystery of a prisoner that dies in jail. The new Detective Goode is not making things easy at all. The mystery is great and the inn is hilarious. The pregnant chef is hormonal, with missing flour and kittens that have found some to play in. Laughed a lot at situations and banter. Loved the ending and the beginning of the new series is wonderful. Can not wait to read more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked Ms. Point's books, but I particularly enjoyed this one. I can't wait for the rest of the series. I didn't read the series that this spun off of but that certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of this first book in the current series. I had no problem keeping up with the characters or the snips of background information it contained. It looks like Ms. Point has another hit series on her hands.

I received a free copy of this book through BookFunnel in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery was different than most I read. Rather than being a kind of bumbling amateur as they find their way, these two are far more professional. Being ex-spies gives them an arsenal of tools in their tool belt to work with. I enjoyed the story, though I had a little trouble keeping track of all the characters. It is a very quick read so that is perfect for just an afternoon or something. I'd be happy to try the next one in this series too.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes

[Sue Ruhl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Really Good Start to This New Series

Fortunately, I had already read the Mission InnPossible books before I found that this series is a continuation of the Mission Inn series. Having read the other books, I knew about the main characters and was able to pick up where the first books had left off. I would suggest that anyone who is going to read this series, to read the other first to gain insight into the main characters. Of course all the books are stand alone and can be read without reading any of the others. Happy Reading Rosie Point fans!!

[Cheryl]

This is the first book in the series. Charlotte and her Gamma live in Gossip and Gamma owns a inn and a cat rescue hostel. When a woman calls Charlotte and asks for help after she is arrested and then ends up dead, Charlotte starts looking into it. Charlotte decides she has to figure out who killed her client and how and why. She has a heck of a time but then it starts to come together. Can she figure this out before they figure out who she is ? Can she figure it out before the killer comes after her ?

[DimplesChlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this series. Book one was amazing! The whole story of flowed really well in every chapter. I felt like I was in the book as I pictured each characters emotion and what they were doing. This book had me up till two in the morning. That’s how awesome it truly was. All the characters were spectacular. Not going to lie, sometimes I’m like Charlotte and Grandma always looking to be detectives and solve cases.

Keep writing! Your books are awesome! You are an amazing writer! I’ve never read a book where I fell in love.

Here’s to book 2-6.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

any man who comments on your facial features deserves assault with his own weapon

Can Gamma and Charlie keep Gossip mostly crime free?

What about the great flour shortage? The kitties just might have a clue or two

As Lauren anticipates a second bundle of joy, we wonder whether Lauren or the Missions might make him disappear if pushed again

Humor and drama in a small town

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery series. You're swept up in the story from the first page and can't get out until you reach the last page. The plot is well written, captivating and has plenty of mystery, suspense, intrigue and a bit of humor woven throughout. The characters are fun, easy to get to know and add so much element to the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.