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Beacon Bakeshop #3
Murder at the Blueberry Festival
After a career on Wall Street, Lindsey is making a different kind of dough in a pretty lakeside village, and the upcoming blueberry festival—including the pie-eating contest her bakery is hosting—is the highlight of the summer. But soon Beacon Harbor runs into a patch of trouble.
A local real estate agent gets pranked. A parade float gets pelted with water balloons. It’s all laughed off until the stunts start escalating—and looking more like sabotage. As the event turns into a debacle complete with rampaging goats, Lindsey’s sweetheart, a former SEAL, starts investigating. But the juicy mystery takes a bitter turn when a man—dressed up as a Viking—is found dead in a boat, and it’s no longer mischief but murder . . .
A local real estate agent gets pranked. A parade float gets pelted with water balloons. It’s all laughed off until the stunts start escalating—and looking more like sabotage. As the event turns into a debacle complete with rampaging goats, Lindsey’s sweetheart, a former SEAL, starts investigating. But the juicy mystery takes a bitter turn when a man—dressed up as a Viking—is found dead in a boat, and it’s no longer mischief but murder . . .
319 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2022
302 people are currently reading
1462 people want to read
About the author
Darci Hannah
15 books765 followersCozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn't baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should.
In addition to cozy mysteries, Darci's other passion is writing historical fiction. She is the author of The Exile of Sara Stevenson
(Ballantine Books, 2010, 2nd edition by Piffle & Bombast 2016) and The Angel of Blythe Hall (Ballantine Books, 2011)
In addition to cozy mysteries, Darci's other passion is writing historical fiction. She is the author of The Exile of Sara Stevenson
(Ballantine Books, 2010, 2nd edition by Piffle & Bombast 2016) and The Angel of Blythe Hall (Ballantine Books, 2011)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
July 19, 2022
This turned out to be a very enjoyable cosy set in and around a bakery in an old lighthouse. Even better the lighthouse is haunted though we never see the ghost, just smell his tobacco smoke.
Lindsey Bakewell (what a great surname) is the owner and chief baker although she has staff and her dad to help her. The scene is set at the annual Blueberry Festival and there are heaps of delicious blueberry recipes throughout the book. Unfortunately the festival this year is ruined by a succession of pranks and ultimately a murder.
Lindsey and her partner Rory investigate and after a heap of red herrings she finally picks the murderer. I was not surprised by who it was ( I read far too many of this kind of books!) but the why was a total surprise!
An excellent and well written story with delightful characters most of whom I have not managed to mention here. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Lindsey Bakewell (what a great surname) is the owner and chief baker although she has staff and her dad to help her. The scene is set at the annual Blueberry Festival and there are heaps of delicious blueberry recipes throughout the book. Unfortunately the festival this year is ruined by a succession of pranks and ultimately a murder.
Lindsey and her partner Rory investigate and after a heap of red herrings she finally picks the murderer. I was not surprised by who it was ( I read far too many of this kind of books!) but the why was a total surprise!
An excellent and well written story with delightful characters most of whom I have not managed to mention here. Well worth reading.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 11, 2024
Murder at the Blueberry Festival by Darci Hannah is the third book in the cozy Beacon Bakeshop mystery series. As with most cozy series each book in the Beacon Bakeshop series will have it’s own fully solved mystery so readers can read each as a standalone or in any order. However, there is some character development that will carry over from book to book for those that read the series from the beginning.
Lindsey Bakeswell had that “safe” career that she thought she should have and a boyfriend that she thought may have been the one. When Lindsey’s relationship crumbled when she caught her celebrity chef boyfriend with another woman she decided to ditch the safe career and follow her dreams of owning her own bakeshop. Lindsey packed up and moved to her childhood vacation destination of Beacon Harbor, Michigan where she bought the old lighthouse intending to convert it into a bakery and home for herself and her dog, Wellington.
Now Lindsey is settled in Beacon Harbor and her lighthouse turned bakery and is preparing for the upcoming blueberry festival where she will be hosting a pie eating contest at her bakery. However, just as the town prepares for the festival a series of pranks begin to take place around town and seem to be never ending. Just as Lindsey and her friend, a former Navy Seal, begin to investigate the pranks things turn deadly when a body of a man dressed as a Viking is found murdered.
The cozy Beacon Bakeshop mystery series is one that I have been following from the beginning after reading a couple of other cozy mysteries from author Darci Hannah. The series has all of my wants and needs in a cozy series with some quirkiness and a lot of laughs along the way wrapped up in a fun mystery to follow. As always there were plenty of twists and turns along the way with this current mystery and I enjoyed every turn of the page.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Lindsey Bakeswell had that “safe” career that she thought she should have and a boyfriend that she thought may have been the one. When Lindsey’s relationship crumbled when she caught her celebrity chef boyfriend with another woman she decided to ditch the safe career and follow her dreams of owning her own bakeshop. Lindsey packed up and moved to her childhood vacation destination of Beacon Harbor, Michigan where she bought the old lighthouse intending to convert it into a bakery and home for herself and her dog, Wellington.
Now Lindsey is settled in Beacon Harbor and her lighthouse turned bakery and is preparing for the upcoming blueberry festival where she will be hosting a pie eating contest at her bakery. However, just as the town prepares for the festival a series of pranks begin to take place around town and seem to be never ending. Just as Lindsey and her friend, a former Navy Seal, begin to investigate the pranks things turn deadly when a body of a man dressed as a Viking is found murdered.
The cozy Beacon Bakeshop mystery series is one that I have been following from the beginning after reading a couple of other cozy mysteries from author Darci Hannah. The series has all of my wants and needs in a cozy series with some quirkiness and a lot of laughs along the way wrapped up in a fun mystery to follow. As always there were plenty of twists and turns along the way with this current mystery and I enjoyed every turn of the page.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 18, 2022
This is a fun series, set in an old lighthouse on the lake in Beacon Harbor, Michigan. Lindsey Bakewell left the hustle and bustle of NYC working on Wall Street to open a bakery in the lighthouse. She lives upstairs and even has a light room on the top with a great view and the ghost of a sea captain. It is blueberry season and that means the annual festival time. Her life is full with her Beacon Bakeshop, her hunky, former Navy SEAL boyfriend, Rory, large pup, Welly, her parents living in town part of the year, her best friend, Kennedy staying with her and working with Lindsey''s mom. Life is good. But someone wants to spoil the festival, pulling pranks to spoil the different events. No one is hurt, just humiliated and aggravated after working hard. Then the murdered body of a local older man is found floating in his boat, a cool Viking boat he built. His goat was on it with his body. Now to find the killer with help from Rory, Kennedy, and others. Kennedy's boyfriend and deputy Tuck listens in and contributes with what he is able. This is one complicated mystery to unravel and many suspects to check out. I went from suspecting one person to another. This is a story with humor and fun but one that took on a different and sad turn. The author was able to end on a somewhat uplifting and compassionate note. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers and those who enjoy blueberry recipes. Expect to want to do some baking with the delicious berry.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
September 23, 2022
Fun reading! It’s Blueberry festival time, and pranksters are ruining the events! Who’s behind that is one mystery that must be solved, plus who murders one of the town’s citizens? Filled with delicious desserts, family and friends, cute animals, the lighthouse ghost, and a very good mystery, this cozy checks all the boxes for an entertaining read! I highly recommend this story, and the previous two stories in the Beacon Bakeshop series.
October 23, 2025
Lindsey is enjoying her life living by Lake Michigan and running her lighthouse bakery. It’s blueberry season and she’s been baking all the blueberry treats! As the town’s festival begins, they discover a prankster pulling tricks on different events. They start mild but escalates with the final event being a murder. Lindsey and her friends are hot on the trail to solve these crimes.
This is a fun cozy mystery. It was perfect and light while having a family member in the hospital and not able to focus on anything too serious.
This is a fun cozy mystery. It was perfect and light while having a family member in the hospital and not able to focus on anything too serious.
May 2, 2022
Brilliant. "Murder at the Blueberry Festival" elevates the cozy mystery genre to a new level.
I went into this book expecting a light, fun read. It was that, true, but so much more. Kudos to author Darci Hannah for her deft, sensitive handling of a serious issue that has touched many families, including my own. That she managed to do so while doling out not just funny, clever dialogue but making me hungry with all the talk of delicious blueberry dishes and recipes is all the more impressive.
Quite frankly, for the longest time, I expected my opening review line to be "a goat afloat on a boat, with a body". On the surface, that oft' repeated line rather nicely summed up the plot. True, it leaves out a few bewildering points, like said body on said boat was dressed as a Viking. The boat resembled a Viking ship. Beside the body were several items, including a sword and charred arrow? Charred? And, let's not forget the hay, slightly charred but being munched on by the goat. This entire sight is discovered by main character Lindsey, who lives in a, no lie, haunted lighthouse, and boyfriend Rory, an ex-SEAL.
All this after a series of pranks had disrupted the annual blueberry festival, not to mention the small-town parade held in its honor. The author does an excellent job of drawing you into the atmosphere. You feel the excitement in the air as children dart about, laughing and grabbing for the candy thrown from the floats. You sense the flavor of the various goodies being sold and consumed as spectators waved and applauded passing floats while chowing down. You see in your mind's eye the young musicians in the parade trying to march in step while struggling to play music. And, hey, is that choir on the float in tune? Doesn't matter. It's all in fun.
Until it isn't. Suddenly water balloon rain down on parade participants and spectators alike. The next day a herd of rustled goats stampedes through a fashion show made up of local models showcasing designs by Lindsey's ex-model mother, who utilized pets in costumes, too. Let's just say, Lindsey's big boy Wellie must have thought he was a herding dog, one with a raucous assist from the rest. Then there were the, yuck, mice in a pie at the pie baking contest. All these are disruptive but deemed harmless....until the goat in a boat with a body turns up.
Who killed Lars and set him afloat in a boat with a goat? Why? Lars was a member of Rory's unofficial veteran group and his death hits Rory hard. This is the third in the Beacon Bakeshop series and Lindsey and her family and friends come together to help solve the mystery. That is when things go from predictable to bewildering. I won't detail the plot more than I have since I'd like to let your approach it as blindly as I did other than to say you'll probably find yourself liking everyone involved, including the suspects and even the guilty party. They are revealed as real people, people we would enjoy knowing, with depth and quirks of their own. I mean, who else but Kennedy would outfit the goat from the boat as a unicorn? Girlie-girl or not, Kennedy, as well as the rest, have Lindsey's back and genuinely care about each other. Friendship is important. Your heart will ache for Lars' family and closest friends as the ending is revealed. There's nothing simply about this cozy mystery otherwise full of witty dialogue and set in a gorgeous place.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to attend this blueberry festival with Lindsey and the rest. Kudos to the author for her deft hand with the unexpected ending.
I went into this book expecting a light, fun read. It was that, true, but so much more. Kudos to author Darci Hannah for her deft, sensitive handling of a serious issue that has touched many families, including my own. That she managed to do so while doling out not just funny, clever dialogue but making me hungry with all the talk of delicious blueberry dishes and recipes is all the more impressive.
Quite frankly, for the longest time, I expected my opening review line to be "a goat afloat on a boat, with a body". On the surface, that oft' repeated line rather nicely summed up the plot. True, it leaves out a few bewildering points, like said body on said boat was dressed as a Viking. The boat resembled a Viking ship. Beside the body were several items, including a sword and charred arrow? Charred? And, let's not forget the hay, slightly charred but being munched on by the goat. This entire sight is discovered by main character Lindsey, who lives in a, no lie, haunted lighthouse, and boyfriend Rory, an ex-SEAL.
All this after a series of pranks had disrupted the annual blueberry festival, not to mention the small-town parade held in its honor. The author does an excellent job of drawing you into the atmosphere. You feel the excitement in the air as children dart about, laughing and grabbing for the candy thrown from the floats. You sense the flavor of the various goodies being sold and consumed as spectators waved and applauded passing floats while chowing down. You see in your mind's eye the young musicians in the parade trying to march in step while struggling to play music. And, hey, is that choir on the float in tune? Doesn't matter. It's all in fun.
Until it isn't. Suddenly water balloon rain down on parade participants and spectators alike. The next day a herd of rustled goats stampedes through a fashion show made up of local models showcasing designs by Lindsey's ex-model mother, who utilized pets in costumes, too. Let's just say, Lindsey's big boy Wellie must have thought he was a herding dog, one with a raucous assist from the rest. Then there were the, yuck, mice in a pie at the pie baking contest. All these are disruptive but deemed harmless....until the goat in a boat with a body turns up.
Who killed Lars and set him afloat in a boat with a goat? Why? Lars was a member of Rory's unofficial veteran group and his death hits Rory hard. This is the third in the Beacon Bakeshop series and Lindsey and her family and friends come together to help solve the mystery. That is when things go from predictable to bewildering. I won't detail the plot more than I have since I'd like to let your approach it as blindly as I did other than to say you'll probably find yourself liking everyone involved, including the suspects and even the guilty party. They are revealed as real people, people we would enjoy knowing, with depth and quirks of their own. I mean, who else but Kennedy would outfit the goat from the boat as a unicorn? Girlie-girl or not, Kennedy, as well as the rest, have Lindsey's back and genuinely care about each other. Friendship is important. Your heart will ache for Lars' family and closest friends as the ending is revealed. There's nothing simply about this cozy mystery otherwise full of witty dialogue and set in a gorgeous place.
Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to attend this blueberry festival with Lindsey and the rest. Kudos to the author for her deft hand with the unexpected ending.
June 3, 2023
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is book three in the Beacon Bakeshop mystery series by Darci Hannah. The Beacon's Blueberry Festival committee was looking forward to the festival's opening event when one of the floats realised someone was throwing water bombs at them. However, there were other pranks during the festival, and when Lindsay Bakewell found the body of Lars Jorgenson, she started to investigate his death. The readers of Murder at the Blueberry Festival will continue to follow Lindsay Bakewell to discover what happens.
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is the first book I have read by Darci Hannah, and an excellent book to read. I had a problem putting this book down from the opening page, and I love how Darci Hannah describes each recipe. I love Darci Hannah's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Murder at the Blueberry Festival is well-written and researched by Darci Hannah. I like Darci Hannah's description of the setting of Murder at the Blueberry Festival, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Blueberry Festival will learn about the devastation that Alzheimer's has for the sufferers and their families. Also, the readers of Murder at the Blueberry Festival will understand the importance of seaside communities having access to search and rescue teams.
I recommend this book.
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is the first book I have read by Darci Hannah, and an excellent book to read. I had a problem putting this book down from the opening page, and I love how Darci Hannah describes each recipe. I love Darci Hannah's portrayal of her characters and how they intertwine throughout this book. Murder at the Blueberry Festival is well-written and researched by Darci Hannah. I like Darci Hannah's description of the setting of Murder at the Blueberry Festival, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.
The readers of Murder at the Blueberry Festival will learn about the devastation that Alzheimer's has for the sufferers and their families. Also, the readers of Murder at the Blueberry Festival will understand the importance of seaside communities having access to search and rescue teams.
I recommend this book.
June 29, 2024
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lindsey’s life has found a rhythm in Beacon Harbor. She is up early to make all the goodies for her bakery and goes to bed listening to the waves of Lake Michigan. She is also on the committee for the upcoming Blueberry Festival which takes up more time than she thought. In addition to the pie-eating contest her bakery is hosting, there will be a blueberry pie bake-off, a parade, a 5k race that Lindsey’s significant other Rory is in charge of, a fashion show with clothes from Lindsey’s mother and her BFF Kennedy’s shop, Ellie & Co., and more.
But there appears to be a “prankster” in town. First, local real estate agent, Betty Vanhoosen finds her yard filled with FOR SALE signs belonging to other realtors, then water balloons fly at one float during the parade, but then the pranks aren’t so funny when they are played at the race, bake-off, and fashion show. But things turn tragic when a man dressed as a Viking is found in a boat near Lindsey’s lighthouse. That is no prank!
It is all hands on deck as Lindsey, Rory, and more try to uncover if the prankster is now a murderer or if someone else has taken advantage of the chaos and used it to muddy the waters of a murder.
I love the characters Ms. Hannah has created for this series. Lindsey is a fantastic protagonist with a curious nature. She loves living and having her bakery in a lighthouse. Her parents have made Beacon Harbor their home for part of the year. Her dad helps her at the bakery every day and her ex-supermodel mom has opened a clothing boutique with Lindsey’s best friend Kennedy. Having Kennedy around is great for Lindsey. She is a partner in crime or someone to sleuth with when needed. Plus she is a lot of fun. Lindsey’s relationship with former Navy SEAL boyfriend, Rory is evolving realistically. Her giant Newfoundland, Wellington is just so darn lovable and in this story, he makes a new friend. We also have Captain Willy Riggs who died at the lighthouse in the 1800s but is still making it his home which makes for some interesting happenings.
Something I really loved about this story is the meeting place the bakery has become. Rory has coffee every morning with a friend, then meets a group of military veterans there every Friday morning. Many bring their dogs who enjoy some free Beacon Bites while their owners have some coffee and something delicious from the bakery while swapping stories. Others gather daily with friends. It’s also the place to come if there has been a murder but you never know if Lindsey’s is going to stay mum or share any info she may have learned. My parents ran a tavern for many years and later a little cafe and like Lindsey’s bakery they were community meeting places. I think even once there was a murder to discuss.
The murder mystery Ms. Hannah has written is very complicated with several suspects. Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, and others tried to pull the clues together to make sense. It wasn’t until Lindsey found a certain item that things started to fall into place. It was then that the story took an emotional turn and my heart ached. There was an unexpected plot twist that rocked the community of Beacon Harbor. The author did a great job writing about a hard topic that affects so many people and families these days.
While Murder at the Blueberry Festival included a heavy subject it was also filled with an abundance of humor and one really creepy thing that still eventually made me laugh. It is also filled with entertaining characters and blueberries, lots and lots of blueberries. There are seven blueberry recipes too!
With each book in this series, I become more invested in these characters. I am excited to jump into Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant soon. I am bound and determined to get caught up on this series before Murder at the Lemonberry Tea is released on November 26.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Darci Hannah, Kensington, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Lindsey’s life has found a rhythm in Beacon Harbor. She is up early to make all the goodies for her bakery and goes to bed listening to the waves of Lake Michigan. She is also on the committee for the upcoming Blueberry Festival which takes up more time than she thought. In addition to the pie-eating contest her bakery is hosting, there will be a blueberry pie bake-off, a parade, a 5k race that Lindsey’s significant other Rory is in charge of, a fashion show with clothes from Lindsey’s mother and her BFF Kennedy’s shop, Ellie & Co., and more.
But there appears to be a “prankster” in town. First, local real estate agent, Betty Vanhoosen finds her yard filled with FOR SALE signs belonging to other realtors, then water balloons fly at one float during the parade, but then the pranks aren’t so funny when they are played at the race, bake-off, and fashion show. But things turn tragic when a man dressed as a Viking is found in a boat near Lindsey’s lighthouse. That is no prank!
It is all hands on deck as Lindsey, Rory, and more try to uncover if the prankster is now a murderer or if someone else has taken advantage of the chaos and used it to muddy the waters of a murder.
I love the characters Ms. Hannah has created for this series. Lindsey is a fantastic protagonist with a curious nature. She loves living and having her bakery in a lighthouse. Her parents have made Beacon Harbor their home for part of the year. Her dad helps her at the bakery every day and her ex-supermodel mom has opened a clothing boutique with Lindsey’s best friend Kennedy. Having Kennedy around is great for Lindsey. She is a partner in crime or someone to sleuth with when needed. Plus she is a lot of fun. Lindsey’s relationship with former Navy SEAL boyfriend, Rory is evolving realistically. Her giant Newfoundland, Wellington is just so darn lovable and in this story, he makes a new friend. We also have Captain Willy Riggs who died at the lighthouse in the 1800s but is still making it his home which makes for some interesting happenings.
Something I really loved about this story is the meeting place the bakery has become. Rory has coffee every morning with a friend, then meets a group of military veterans there every Friday morning. Many bring their dogs who enjoy some free Beacon Bites while their owners have some coffee and something delicious from the bakery while swapping stories. Others gather daily with friends. It’s also the place to come if there has been a murder but you never know if Lindsey’s is going to stay mum or share any info she may have learned. My parents ran a tavern for many years and later a little cafe and like Lindsey’s bakery they were community meeting places. I think even once there was a murder to discuss.
The murder mystery Ms. Hannah has written is very complicated with several suspects. Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, and others tried to pull the clues together to make sense. It wasn’t until Lindsey found a certain item that things started to fall into place. It was then that the story took an emotional turn and my heart ached. There was an unexpected plot twist that rocked the community of Beacon Harbor. The author did a great job writing about a hard topic that affects so many people and families these days.
While Murder at the Blueberry Festival included a heavy subject it was also filled with an abundance of humor and one really creepy thing that still eventually made me laugh. It is also filled with entertaining characters and blueberries, lots and lots of blueberries. There are seven blueberry recipes too!
With each book in this series, I become more invested in these characters. I am excited to jump into Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant soon. I am bound and determined to get caught up on this series before Murder at the Lemonberry Tea is released on November 26.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Darci Hannah, Kensington, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
July 18, 2022
There was a prankster loose at the Blueberry Festival. However, when someone ends up dead, Lindsey and crew are left wondering if it was purely a prank gone too far or murder.
The story is set in a charming lighthouse on Lake Michigan with a cast of interesting characters that make it an enjoyable cozy. The best part, though, was the thought-provoking and touching ending.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
The story is set in a charming lighthouse on Lake Michigan with a cast of interesting characters that make it an enjoyable cozy. The best part, though, was the thought-provoking and touching ending.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
March 16, 2022
What's more exciting than living and working in a lighthouse? For Lindsay Bakewell, it's a dream come true. After spending time working on Wall Street, Lindsay finds herself creating delicious treats in her lighthouse bakery, and enjoying life with her gorgeous Newfie dog, Wellie.
She has a relationship with her neighbor Rory, and things are going well in her world.
Preparations are underway for the Blueberry Festival and everyone is looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a prankster in town who is determined to make a ruckus of the festival.
Even though the pranks appear to be harmless, everyone is on edge, wondering what will happen next.
Early one morning, Lindsay is woken up by Wellie barking, and a look out her window leads to a devastating shock, she finds a goat afloat on a boat.
What she finds next is horrible and she won't stop until she finds the answers.
While this is a cozy mystery, it touches on real life issues and the author did a good job creating awareness.
I loved this book and would be happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#MurderattheBlueberryFestival #NetGalley
She has a relationship with her neighbor Rory, and things are going well in her world.
Preparations are underway for the Blueberry Festival and everyone is looking forward to it.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a prankster in town who is determined to make a ruckus of the festival.
Even though the pranks appear to be harmless, everyone is on edge, wondering what will happen next.
Early one morning, Lindsay is woken up by Wellie barking, and a look out her window leads to a devastating shock, she finds a goat afloat on a boat.
What she finds next is horrible and she won't stop until she finds the answers.
While this is a cozy mystery, it touches on real life issues and the author did a good job creating awareness.
I loved this book and would be happy to recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#MurderattheBlueberryFestival #NetGalley
July 11, 2022
Another great cozy in the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah! As I mentioned for the first two books in this cozy mystery series, what makes this series so good is the detailed descriptions of the food, town, and the well developed characters who quickly feel like friends.
The location is in Michigan with a haunted lighthouse on the shores that now houses a bakery with renovated living quarters, so the reader gets a touch of the paranormal with a lighthouse ghost that warns Lindsey of danger. There’s also a fiesty, BFF influencer, a hunky neighbor that loves animals, and parents that are there to help out.
Not only does the reader get all that but adorable dogs, Welly, Brinkley, and Ireland, along with soooo many great food and baking scenes. With some cooking cozies the food seems to be an afterthought or a marketing ploy, but not in this series. The story is infused with the cooking and baking, along with recipes at the end.
I really thought the killer in this book was unique, and could make for some interesting discussion if you read this one for a book club. I knew who the killer was early on, but the clues and reasoning I had thought I found was not even close to the real reason.
I highly recommend the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries and can’t wait to see what Hannah comes up with in book four.
The location is in Michigan with a haunted lighthouse on the shores that now houses a bakery with renovated living quarters, so the reader gets a touch of the paranormal with a lighthouse ghost that warns Lindsey of danger. There’s also a fiesty, BFF influencer, a hunky neighbor that loves animals, and parents that are there to help out.
Not only does the reader get all that but adorable dogs, Welly, Brinkley, and Ireland, along with soooo many great food and baking scenes. With some cooking cozies the food seems to be an afterthought or a marketing ploy, but not in this series. The story is infused with the cooking and baking, along with recipes at the end.
I really thought the killer in this book was unique, and could make for some interesting discussion if you read this one for a book club. I knew who the killer was early on, but the clues and reasoning I had thought I found was not even close to the real reason.
I highly recommend the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries and can’t wait to see what Hannah comes up with in book four.
June 28, 2022
“Murder at the Blueberry Festival ” by Darci Hannah the 3rd instalment in the "A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery" series. I loved visiting Beacon Harbor, Michigan again and really want to visit the area now!
Living in a lighthouse with her dog, Lindsey Bakewell is lulled to sleep at night by the sound of Lake Michigan’s waves—and gets up at the crack of dawn to start the day at her bakery café. But someone in Beacon Harbor is about to rock the boat with murder…
I love this series, Lindsey and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with. Enter Rory the ex Navy Seal and the rest of the small town and you have the makings of a community you want to belong to. I enjoyed seeing how the characters of Lindsey, her parents and Kennedy lives have progressed since the last book and look forward to learning more about the townsfolk etc.
I love furbabies in my cozies, so when you throw in a goat named Clara into the mix along with a Newfie named Wellington and the “Models” two Westies … (awww) I hope we see Clara in other books
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did. Plus all the descriptions of the blueberry baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
Living in a lighthouse with her dog, Lindsey Bakewell is lulled to sleep at night by the sound of Lake Michigan’s waves—and gets up at the crack of dawn to start the day at her bakery café. But someone in Beacon Harbor is about to rock the boat with murder…
I love this series, Lindsey and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with. Enter Rory the ex Navy Seal and the rest of the small town and you have the makings of a community you want to belong to. I enjoyed seeing how the characters of Lindsey, her parents and Kennedy lives have progressed since the last book and look forward to learning more about the townsfolk etc.
I love furbabies in my cozies, so when you throw in a goat named Clara into the mix along with a Newfie named Wellington and the “Models” two Westies … (awww) I hope we see Clara in other books
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did. Plus all the descriptions of the blueberry baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
July 5, 2022
MURDER AT THE BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL is the third book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah. I think this series just gets better and better with each book and this newest release captivated me. Throw in a lighthouse bakery, a blueberry festival being derailed by pranksters, a mysterious Viking boat containing a dead Viking, and a bedazzled “unicorn” goat, named Clara... stir it up, and you’re left with an entertaining, laugh-out-loud escapade that has protagonist Lindsey Bakewell up to her eyeballs in shenanigans. With witty dialog, the humor highlights the characters’ personalities, both human and animal alike. I especially enjoyed Clara, along with Lindsey’s Newfoundland dog, Wellington. They both stole each scene they were featured in. Another bonus is the close, caring relationships the core characters have with each other. And now that Lindsey’s parents are living in town, there’s another avenue to getting to know her and her family even better.
Of course, this is a murder mystery, although it takes place much later in the book than typical cozy mystery fashion. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story since there was so much going on to keep me entertained. Once the body is found and Lindsey begins investigating (after law enforcement states they’re not sure it’s murder or not), the plot kicks into high gear. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing and several twists that touched on an all too familiar heart wrenching reality for so many families. Ms. Hannah uses a sensitive touch with the inclusion in the story and with an ending I didn’t see coming, leaves the reader with thoughtful reflections.
Running a bakeshop plus being involved in the blueberry festival means there are SO many scrumptious mentions of food throughout the story. Luckily for the blueberry-loving reader, there are several recipes at the back of the book to try at home.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Of course, this is a murder mystery, although it takes place much later in the book than typical cozy mystery fashion. However, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story since there was so much going on to keep me entertained. Once the body is found and Lindsey begins investigating (after law enforcement states they’re not sure it’s murder or not), the plot kicks into high gear. There were enough suspects to keep me guessing and several twists that touched on an all too familiar heart wrenching reality for so many families. Ms. Hannah uses a sensitive touch with the inclusion in the story and with an ending I didn’t see coming, leaves the reader with thoughtful reflections.
Running a bakeshop plus being involved in the blueberry festival means there are SO many scrumptious mentions of food throughout the story. Luckily for the blueberry-loving reader, there are several recipes at the back of the book to try at home.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 2, 2022
Blueberries are everywhere! And a blueberry festival sounds tasty. Until someone decides what this festival needs are pranks and a dead Viking. Murder at the Blueberry Festival is a fun-filled mystery with a great plot and the latest addition to the “ Beacon Bakeshop Mystery” series.
When Lindsey volunteers to run the pie eating contest and volunteers her boyfriend to run an event at this year's blueberry festival, she never suspected that it would turn into crazy pranks and murder. But before the festival even gets underway, the prankster hits, and everyone starts looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be next. There are water balloons, stolen real estate signs plastered all over a lawn, goats ruining Lindsey’s mom's fashion show and a vendors food tent and rerouting the event Rory is in charge of so that the runners end up in the lake. The fun stops when a man shows up in a Viking ship dead, and people fear what will happen next. Lindsey and Rory investigate and what they find shocks them beyond belief.
Characters in this series are delightfully normal. Lindsey’s dog Welly is by far the star of the show. The location works on every level, and having spent some time in Michigan; I have fond memories brought back by the author's descriptions. The pranks are at first light-hearted, a bit mean but still on the funny side. The murder is a head-scratcher and will take the reader's sleuthing abilities to the max. Once the killer is revealed, there will be moments when readers will feel as though they have been kicked in the gut. The death of an old man, dressed like a Viking and found in his own handmade Viking ship, is original; I can honestly say I haven’t read anything like it before in a cozy.
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is a charming who-dun-it with moments of inspiration. Readers will enjoy imagining the pranks and all of the blueberry desserts. The recipes are sumptuous, but then I love blueberry anything! The death of the Viking will give readers pause for reflection. Is there a good way to die, honestly? Who is to say that being put afloat on a Viking ship and sent out to sea in a flaming finale isn’t the best way to reach Valhalla? I believe readers will enjoy this book immensely, and turn the last page craving a blueberry muffin.
When Lindsey volunteers to run the pie eating contest and volunteers her boyfriend to run an event at this year's blueberry festival, she never suspected that it would turn into crazy pranks and murder. But before the festival even gets underway, the prankster hits, and everyone starts looking over their shoulders, wondering who will be next. There are water balloons, stolen real estate signs plastered all over a lawn, goats ruining Lindsey’s mom's fashion show and a vendors food tent and rerouting the event Rory is in charge of so that the runners end up in the lake. The fun stops when a man shows up in a Viking ship dead, and people fear what will happen next. Lindsey and Rory investigate and what they find shocks them beyond belief.
Characters in this series are delightfully normal. Lindsey’s dog Welly is by far the star of the show. The location works on every level, and having spent some time in Michigan; I have fond memories brought back by the author's descriptions. The pranks are at first light-hearted, a bit mean but still on the funny side. The murder is a head-scratcher and will take the reader's sleuthing abilities to the max. Once the killer is revealed, there will be moments when readers will feel as though they have been kicked in the gut. The death of an old man, dressed like a Viking and found in his own handmade Viking ship, is original; I can honestly say I haven’t read anything like it before in a cozy.
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is a charming who-dun-it with moments of inspiration. Readers will enjoy imagining the pranks and all of the blueberry desserts. The recipes are sumptuous, but then I love blueberry anything! The death of the Viking will give readers pause for reflection. Is there a good way to die, honestly? Who is to say that being put afloat on a Viking ship and sent out to sea in a flaming finale isn’t the best way to reach Valhalla? I believe readers will enjoy this book immensely, and turn the last page craving a blueberry muffin.
July 21, 2022
Clever cozy mystery. I am especially fond of the lighthouse location. The dog and goat added humor to the tale. A smidgeon of romance. Interesting pranks. A nice variety of characters. The ghost references could be eliminated as far as I am concerned. Not a fan. Grateful they are few. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
July 23, 2022
Book 3 in the series, and easy to read as a stand alone story.
I really liked this book. Enough that I went back and found the first two in the series to read. What's not to love about living and running a business out of your very own lighthouse?! And it's haunted by a friendly, protective ghost too. I like that Lindsey runs a bakery, and actually seems to spend a lot of her time baking and actually running the business, rather than haring off constantly to snoop, like so many cozy characters.
The story was fast paced and entertaining (I love blueberries too, so it made me hungry, haha). For those that aren't a fan of paranormal mysteries, the ghost is a very small part of the book, and mostly just adds a bit of character. This is absolutely a series I will continue to follow.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
I really liked this book. Enough that I went back and found the first two in the series to read. What's not to love about living and running a business out of your very own lighthouse?! And it's haunted by a friendly, protective ghost too. I like that Lindsey runs a bakery, and actually seems to spend a lot of her time baking and actually running the business, rather than haring off constantly to snoop, like so many cozy characters.
The story was fast paced and entertaining (I love blueberries too, so it made me hungry, haha). For those that aren't a fan of paranormal mysteries, the ghost is a very small part of the book, and mostly just adds a bit of character. This is absolutely a series I will continue to follow.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
August 29, 2022
If you loved the first two books in the Beacon Bakeshop series you will definitely enjoy this one! The author has created endearing characters, a memorable setting, and a well-planned mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I also enjoyed the recipes included at the end!
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
January 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook 🎧
Book #3 in the Beacon Bakeshop Series
A prankster is causing chaos at the annual Blueberry Festival, and Lindsey and her friends are trying to catch the culprit. However, when their main suspect is found dead, they're forced to start their investigation again and also investigate a murder. I had some inkling of what happened, but I couldn't pinpoint the murderer. The ending was both sad and moving, and it really resonated with me. I'm really enjoying this series.
Trigger Warning: Parent with Alzheimer's.
Book #3 in the Beacon Bakeshop Series
A prankster is causing chaos at the annual Blueberry Festival, and Lindsey and her friends are trying to catch the culprit. However, when their main suspect is found dead, they're forced to start their investigation again and also investigate a murder. I had some inkling of what happened, but I couldn't pinpoint the murderer. The ending was both sad and moving, and it really resonated with me. I'm really enjoying this series.
Trigger Warning: Parent with Alzheimer's.
April 22, 2024
2.5 stars ⭐️
My run with this series was amazing but has come to an end for now. I absolutely loved the first quarter with the ongoing blueberry festival—I loved seeing all the characters participate in the running and the brats tent and the eating contest etc—and even the pranks kept me on my toes. I might’ve loved it all the way if the blueberry festival had extended throughout the book, so that beyond the mystery, something else would be happening to keep the story active and coherent. But after the festival ended, Lindsay and co began ping-ponging about town and it felt aimless and too slow for me. For the first time with the series, I wasn’t embroiled in the mystery, and I also didn’t appreciate the reveal.
Rest of thoughts on updates.
My run with this series was amazing but has come to an end for now. I absolutely loved the first quarter with the ongoing blueberry festival—I loved seeing all the characters participate in the running and the brats tent and the eating contest etc—and even the pranks kept me on my toes. I might’ve loved it all the way if the blueberry festival had extended throughout the book, so that beyond the mystery, something else would be happening to keep the story active and coherent. But after the festival ended, Lindsay and co began ping-ponging about town and it felt aimless and too slow for me. For the first time with the series, I wasn’t embroiled in the mystery, and I also didn’t appreciate the reveal.
Rest of thoughts on updates.
March 27, 2023
Four and a half stars....rounding up
Delightful and delicious series featuring Lindsey Bakewell, an ex-Wall Streeter, moved to Michigan to open a bakery in an historic haunted lighthouse. In this third book in the series, someone is pranking the annual Blueberry Festival. The pranks are basically amusing, until one turns deadly. With engaging characters, including a bedazzled goat, the story immediately takes off drawing you in while the pages fly by. Can be read as a standalone. But why miss the joys of the series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Delightful and delicious series featuring Lindsey Bakewell, an ex-Wall Streeter, moved to Michigan to open a bakery in an historic haunted lighthouse. In this third book in the series, someone is pranking the annual Blueberry Festival. The pranks are basically amusing, until one turns deadly. With engaging characters, including a bedazzled goat, the story immediately takes off drawing you in while the pages fly by. Can be read as a standalone. But why miss the joys of the series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2025
3.5 stars
Summer has come to Beacon Harbor and the bakeshop is bustling with customers eager for blueberry pies, muffins and other blueberry treats. Lindsey has been tapped to provide pies for the Beacon Harbor Blueberry Festival pie eating contest and her mother and Kennedy are planning a fashion show as a new event for the festival. Everyone is eager for the festival to begin but before it does, Betty Vanhoosen is upset by a prank played on her at home. Then as the festival gets underway, more pranks threaten the festival and ruin the events. Betty wants to get to the bottom of this ASAP! When Lindsey is awakened very early in the morning to the sound of a goat bleating, the noise takes her and Rory to the shore where Wellie jumps in the water in an attempt to rescue the goat in a boat on the lake. Rory fires up his own boat to rescue Wellie and discovers the goat is not alone in the boat. The goat is in the boat with the dead body of Lars Jorgenson, one of Rory's new veterans' club buddies. It appears as if someone tried to stage a faux Viking funeral with Lars. Rory is terribly upset by the death of his friend and Lindsey wants to see justice done. Betty is convinced the pranks and Lars's death are connected and she urges Lindsey, Rory and Kennedy to investigate! Lindsey also has her hands full taking care of the little goat who Wellie thinks is his new playmate! Can they save the festival and solve Lars's murder?
Well this one was better than the last two for the most part. I was interested in the plot and felt sure I knew right away who and why but I turned out to be wrong. I wish I wasn't though because once again the story involves stereotypes. A little clarification maybe That would have made it more palatable. ALSO... as usual I loved all the blueberry and this story had be craving my grandmother's blueberry pie. It's not complex. She bought pie crusts, froze them; bought berries on sale, froze them and made a crumb topping. After supper she'd whip them out of the freezer and bake up some pies for dessert. I do have to ding the author on being clueless about Westies. No self-respecting Westie dresses up in clothes - not without bribes and if you have a cookout and leave the food where they can get it, they'll use the Newfie to knock the food over and eat it all! They can and will intimidate the Newfie!
Lindsey is learning to relax and enjoy life more. She stopped thinking about her inner New Yorker every 5 minutes and now it's "Lindsey-tude!" but she stopped with that too after several chapters, thankfully. She still doesn't feed Wellie properly and now everyone else is feeding him too. You truly can't serve dogs leftover doughnut holes at your pup patio cafe. You need dog friendly treats without wheat and sugar. I use peanut butter, oats, banana or pumpkin or applesauce and sometimes honey and cinnamon. Dogs love them. Lindsey loves animals and she's very empathetic and kind to her pets, even temporary ones. She also loves Rory and their relationship has progressed to sleepovers and love. She truly cares about him and wants him to be happy. We get to know Rory better in this story. He's having a tough time settling down to civilian life after an action packed, dangerous career in the military. Lindsey supports him and encourages him. At her urging, he forms a support group for veterans in Beacon Harbor where they can just gather and talk, share stories or not -whatever they choose. Rory takes comfort in knowing there are others like him nearby who understand what he's going through. He's turning out to be a decent guy - if only he'd give up killing defenseless wild animals. Rory is terribly upset by the death of his friend and wants to see justice done.
Kennedy is an obnoxious as ever. She has her thoughts on fashion and influencing and can't see reality. Once again she references this mysterious podcast and dons her alter ego. She's super weird and I'd sooner see her return to New York and never return than stay and meddle. Betty is nearly as bad as Kennedy. She loves Beacon Harbor but she's tough and doesn't have a sense of humor. She loves gossip and sharing juice details so she seems to fancy herself as part of an investigative team with the three younger adults and Lindsey's parents. Lindsey's mom is a little annoying with her fashion obsession but her dad is nice and mostly stays out of things. He helps out at the bakeshop and that's it.
Lars has to be lying about growing up in Norway. -son is Swedish, not Norwegian (-sen) and Jorgensen is Danish. There's no such thing as a Norwegian god- try old Norse god. Otherwise I'm going to have to ding the author major points for not doing her homework. Oh and cheese? Goat cheese, gjetost, that IS Norwegian so maybe he did grow up in Scandinavia but it sounds like such a stereotype. Lars was ... likable but not? If he was the prankster he was not so likable. He sounds like the type who thinks he's funny and laughs at his own jokes. He's probably pulling everyone's leg, having a laugh at their expense. Did someone figure it out and then murder him? Why the Viking funeral? That's so weird and random.
Mayor Jeffers seems like a logical suspect. He was very upset someone threw water balloons at him while he and the church choir were performing a blueberry song during the festival parade. That was rude but funny. The song was horrid. He has a motive and he had means. Did he have opportunity? We don't know when and how Lars was killed. This investigation is a little too hasty! The mayor doesn't have a pleasant personality though so I do think he should be at the top of the list. He took his choir a little too seriously.
Another one who takes herself seriously is Winifred Peters. Like the mayor and Lindsey, she's on the Blueberry Festival Committee and is reigning champion of the pie baking contest. She's proud of her baking and super competitive. What happened to her was beyond prank. It was mean spirited and cruel. (Where are the Westies when you need them?) She's snippy and reveals a mean side of Lars no one else ever really saw. Yet another too serious local is Daphne Rivers. She raises goats for milk and NOT meat. She has every right to be serious about the welfare of her animals and someone stole her goats and used them to pull off a prank. That could upset the herd and cause problems with milking and her business. Plus she loves her goats and they're not just property- they're her children! Sgt. Murdock needs to get on this one ASAP! That wasn't a harmless prank. That was stealing AND the goats ruined a local business pop-up. I'd be furious if I were Daphne! She is and she had no love lost for Lars either. Everyone seems to think Lars was behind the pranks except for the mayor. Daphne did sell Lars his little white goat, the goat in the boat. Clara is my favorite character. Lars named his little goat Clara after his late wife so he'd never forget her name. Clara is sweet and charming. She and Wellie seem to be fast friends. I feel sad for her and mad. Who would put a sweet, innocent animal in a boat and then shoot a flaming arrow right at the boat? No that is NOT anywhere near OK!
Grayson Smythe, an eccentric glass artist, has his sculpture sabotaged. He's devastated but I don't see him as a murderer. He's eager to have Lindsey's mom come look at his studio in hopes she'll like what she sees and promote his works. He can recycle the broken parts of the sculpture and doesn't seem too mad about it. Rory doesn't want to believe Anders killed his father for whatever reason. Anders is his friend and they're a good family. They recently moved back to Beacon Harbor and Anders brings Lars to the veterans' group at the bakeshop. What about Anders' wife? She's a last minute addition to the suspect list with news she's a great baker in her own right. Did she bake a poisoned blueberry pie and give it to her father-in-law? Another last minute suspect is Lars's housekeeper, Fran Lightfoot. It wouldn't be the first time a housekeeper murdered her client for money, I'm sure. Sure she seems nice and acts innocent but she has to be the murderer!
Who whodunit? The reveal was a big surprise!
I guess I like this series well enough to continue but it's not a favorite.
Summer has come to Beacon Harbor and the bakeshop is bustling with customers eager for blueberry pies, muffins and other blueberry treats. Lindsey has been tapped to provide pies for the Beacon Harbor Blueberry Festival pie eating contest and her mother and Kennedy are planning a fashion show as a new event for the festival. Everyone is eager for the festival to begin but before it does, Betty Vanhoosen is upset by a prank played on her at home. Then as the festival gets underway, more pranks threaten the festival and ruin the events. Betty wants to get to the bottom of this ASAP! When Lindsey is awakened very early in the morning to the sound of a goat bleating, the noise takes her and Rory to the shore where Wellie jumps in the water in an attempt to rescue the goat in a boat on the lake. Rory fires up his own boat to rescue Wellie and discovers the goat is not alone in the boat. The goat is in the boat with the dead body of Lars Jorgenson, one of Rory's new veterans' club buddies. It appears as if someone tried to stage a faux Viking funeral with Lars. Rory is terribly upset by the death of his friend and Lindsey wants to see justice done. Betty is convinced the pranks and Lars's death are connected and she urges Lindsey, Rory and Kennedy to investigate! Lindsey also has her hands full taking care of the little goat who Wellie thinks is his new playmate! Can they save the festival and solve Lars's murder?
Well this one was better than the last two for the most part. I was interested in the plot and felt sure I knew right away who and why but I turned out to be wrong. I wish I wasn't though because once again the story involves stereotypes. A little clarification maybe That would have made it more palatable. ALSO... as usual I loved all the blueberry and this story had be craving my grandmother's blueberry pie. It's not complex. She bought pie crusts, froze them; bought berries on sale, froze them and made a crumb topping. After supper she'd whip them out of the freezer and bake up some pies for dessert. I do have to ding the author on being clueless about Westies. No self-respecting Westie dresses up in clothes - not without bribes and if you have a cookout and leave the food where they can get it, they'll use the Newfie to knock the food over and eat it all! They can and will intimidate the Newfie!
Lindsey is learning to relax and enjoy life more. She stopped thinking about her inner New Yorker every 5 minutes and now it's "Lindsey-tude!" but she stopped with that too after several chapters, thankfully. She still doesn't feed Wellie properly and now everyone else is feeding him too. You truly can't serve dogs leftover doughnut holes at your pup patio cafe. You need dog friendly treats without wheat and sugar. I use peanut butter, oats, banana or pumpkin or applesauce and sometimes honey and cinnamon. Dogs love them. Lindsey loves animals and she's very empathetic and kind to her pets, even temporary ones. She also loves Rory and their relationship has progressed to sleepovers and love. She truly cares about him and wants him to be happy. We get to know Rory better in this story. He's having a tough time settling down to civilian life after an action packed, dangerous career in the military. Lindsey supports him and encourages him. At her urging, he forms a support group for veterans in Beacon Harbor where they can just gather and talk, share stories or not -whatever they choose. Rory takes comfort in knowing there are others like him nearby who understand what he's going through. He's turning out to be a decent guy - if only he'd give up killing defenseless wild animals. Rory is terribly upset by the death of his friend and wants to see justice done.
Kennedy is an obnoxious as ever. She has her thoughts on fashion and influencing and can't see reality. Once again she references this mysterious podcast and dons her alter ego. She's super weird and I'd sooner see her return to New York and never return than stay and meddle. Betty is nearly as bad as Kennedy. She loves Beacon Harbor but she's tough and doesn't have a sense of humor. She loves gossip and sharing juice details so she seems to fancy herself as part of an investigative team with the three younger adults and Lindsey's parents. Lindsey's mom is a little annoying with her fashion obsession but her dad is nice and mostly stays out of things. He helps out at the bakeshop and that's it.
Lars has to be lying about growing up in Norway. -son is Swedish, not Norwegian (-sen) and Jorgensen is Danish. There's no such thing as a Norwegian god- try old Norse god. Otherwise I'm going to have to ding the author major points for not doing her homework. Oh and cheese? Goat cheese, gjetost, that IS Norwegian so maybe he did grow up in Scandinavia but it sounds like such a stereotype. Lars was ... likable but not? If he was the prankster he was not so likable. He sounds like the type who thinks he's funny and laughs at his own jokes. He's probably pulling everyone's leg, having a laugh at their expense. Did someone figure it out and then murder him? Why the Viking funeral? That's so weird and random.
Mayor Jeffers seems like a logical suspect. He was very upset someone threw water balloons at him while he and the church choir were performing a blueberry song during the festival parade. That was rude but funny. The song was horrid. He has a motive and he had means. Did he have opportunity? We don't know when and how Lars was killed. This investigation is a little too hasty! The mayor doesn't have a pleasant personality though so I do think he should be at the top of the list. He took his choir a little too seriously.
Another one who takes herself seriously is Winifred Peters. Like the mayor and Lindsey, she's on the Blueberry Festival Committee and is reigning champion of the pie baking contest. She's proud of her baking and super competitive. What happened to her was beyond prank. It was mean spirited and cruel. (Where are the Westies when you need them?) She's snippy and reveals a mean side of Lars no one else ever really saw. Yet another too serious local is Daphne Rivers. She raises goats for milk and NOT meat. She has every right to be serious about the welfare of her animals and someone stole her goats and used them to pull off a prank. That could upset the herd and cause problems with milking and her business. Plus she loves her goats and they're not just property- they're her children! Sgt. Murdock needs to get on this one ASAP! That wasn't a harmless prank. That was stealing AND the goats ruined a local business pop-up. I'd be furious if I were Daphne! She is and she had no love lost for Lars either. Everyone seems to think Lars was behind the pranks except for the mayor. Daphne did sell Lars his little white goat, the goat in the boat. Clara is my favorite character. Lars named his little goat Clara after his late wife so he'd never forget her name. Clara is sweet and charming. She and Wellie seem to be fast friends. I feel sad for her and mad. Who would put a sweet, innocent animal in a boat and then shoot a flaming arrow right at the boat? No that is NOT anywhere near OK!
Grayson Smythe, an eccentric glass artist, has his sculpture sabotaged. He's devastated but I don't see him as a murderer. He's eager to have Lindsey's mom come look at his studio in hopes she'll like what she sees and promote his works. He can recycle the broken parts of the sculpture and doesn't seem too mad about it. Rory doesn't want to believe Anders killed his father for whatever reason. Anders is his friend and they're a good family. They recently moved back to Beacon Harbor and Anders brings Lars to the veterans' group at the bakeshop. What about Anders' wife? She's a last minute addition to the suspect list with news she's a great baker in her own right. Did she bake a poisoned blueberry pie and give it to her father-in-law? Another last minute suspect is Lars's housekeeper, Fran Lightfoot. It wouldn't be the first time a housekeeper murdered her client for money, I'm sure. Sure she seems nice and acts innocent but she has to be the murderer!
Who whodunit? The reveal was a big surprise!
I guess I like this series well enough to continue but it's not a favorite.
September 2, 2024
Murder at the Blueberry Festival is the 3rd book in Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. Lindsey, Rory, and the people of Beacon Harbor, Michigan are back when the town has their annual blueberry festival. Someone is playing harmless and funny pranks on the organizers of the festival, but then Lindsey is woken up by a goat screaming in a boat on the lake. With Rory’s help, they rescue the goat only to find a dead body dressed up as a viking warrior, complete with a sword and his earthly possessions in the boat.
This death was interesting and the explanation was sad. I liked how Darci Hannah handled the plot around the death, and the sensitivity she took when describing Alzheimer’s. The story itself was a lot of fun and it drew me in from the beginning. The mystery around who are the pranksters was a lot of fun, and the mystery behind Lars’ death was sad, but done well. I would absolutely recommend this one!
This death was interesting and the explanation was sad. I liked how Darci Hannah handled the plot around the death, and the sensitivity she took when describing Alzheimer’s. The story itself was a lot of fun and it drew me in from the beginning. The mystery around who are the pranksters was a lot of fun, and the mystery behind Lars’ death was sad, but done well. I would absolutely recommend this one!
July 29, 2022
I found so much to love about this mystery! This super series has a fabulous, engaging main character. Darci Hannah's sleuth, Lindsey Bakewell, who lives in a lighthouse and runs a bakery café, is smart, caring and determined. With a compelling plot, drama aplenty, a great bunch of characters, and oodles of mayhem added to the mix, this was a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. The super small tourist town setting in Lake Michigan is good, as is the festival vibe. I loved the touches of paranormal also and I'm really excited for book four.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 5, 2022
This is such a fun stories, a small lakeside town in Michigan, a lighthouse bakery and help from a ghost in solving mysteries? Sign me up! This was more than I could have hoped for and I loved this story. This is the third book in the Beacon Bakeshop series, but I had no problems jumping right in!
The captain who haunts the lighthouse is just right- exactly the right amount of help/ warning. If I lived in a haunted lighthouse, I’d appreciate that kind of ghost. Ha ha! Seriously, I really enjoyed this story and I thought the ending was satisfying. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery. Now, I’m off to find the first two books in the series.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Kensington publishing for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The captain who haunts the lighthouse is just right- exactly the right amount of help/ warning. If I lived in a haunted lighthouse, I’d appreciate that kind of ghost. Ha ha! Seriously, I really enjoyed this story and I thought the ending was satisfying. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery. Now, I’m off to find the first two books in the series.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Kensington publishing for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 3, 2022
A great addition to the series! I loved getting to know more of the community in this one, and more of who Rory's friends are. The mystery was interesting and the pranks sounded like fun (since I didn't have to deal with any of the aftermath). The mystery definitely kept me guessing and the conclusion was a surprise. The writing flows well and kept me reading into the night. And I enjoyed the introduction of Clara and hope that she's a permanent fixture.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
July 27, 2022
This is probably my favorite book in this series so far. I really have a feel for the town and especially the characters and their dynamics at this point. I loved the idea of the Blueberry festival and all the fun events they had planned. Even the pranks that were played were pretty funny and clever. Plus, all the yummy blueberry treats had me hungry the whole time. I liked the way Lindsey went snooping and for the most part brought people along with her, which seemed safer. I had an inkling about what had happened, and the ending still brought me a lot of feels. I can't wait to see what else is in store for this cute town and Linsey's bakery.
October 24, 2024
My fourth (out of order) in this series and my favorite. A series of pranks at the summer festival ends with a body found in a boat afloat with a goat (yep, lots of tongue twisters with that part). I enjoyed the creative suspects and the resolution that made sense while still surprising me.
March 29, 2022
It is August and the annual Beacon Harbor Blueberry Festival is starting. Lindsey Bakewell, owner of the Beacon Bakeshop, and other townspeople are tasked with hosting events and Lindsey is hosting the pie eating contest since she cannot compete. Unfortunately, there is a prankster causing all kinds of chaos and Lindsey is awakened one night by her dog and then hears a goat bleating. The poor goat is in a boat floating out into Lake Michigan. When she and her friend Rory get out to the boat, they discover a body inside. This is the third book in the series and although a cozy mystery, this one features a character facing the memory loss of Alzheimer's and the effect the disease has on him and all who love him, so there is more depth to this story than the earlier two. But there are also delicious blueberry references and recipes that brought back good memories to this native Michigan reader. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2023
This is one of my favorite series and author. Darci is an amazing at writing a compelling story that keeps you interested, smiling, and guessing along with the characters. Book is my favorite so far. This one will definitely tug at your heartstrings.
May 21, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CONTENT WARNING: murder, death of a parent, grief
It’s no secret that I love this series, and I look forward to each new book release, not just because it gives me an excuse to read through all the previous books. Each time I read these, I fall in love with the characters and the town of Beacon Harbor a little more.
Darci Hannah has built an adorable little small town with Beacon Harbor, Michigan, complete with historical lore, quirky characters, and bustling little shops that have plenty of charm. Not to mention the festivals. This type of town wouldn’t be out of place in a small-town romance, but it’s also the perfect setting for a cozy mystery series like this one.
The characters are what makes this story. Yeah, I adore the main character, Lindsey Bakewell and her crew: her ex-Navy SEAL boyfriend Rory Campbell, her influencer best friend Kennedy Kapoor, her former model mother Ellie Montague Bakewell, and of course her adorably goofy Newfoundland dog Wellington (also known as Welly). But the rest of the characters are pretty awesome as well. In this story, her parents have moved to the town to be close to Lindsey, although they live in Florida during the winters.
I especially enjoyed that we learn more about Rory in depth a bit more. He’s struggling to adjust to civilian life after his time in the military, and it offered his character more depth, which was refreshing.
While cozy mysteries are known for being light, fun, and relatively fluffy, this one talks about a more sensitive issue that is increasingly prevalent. Hannah handles it in a sensitive way, and I thought she managed it very well. I can’t talk too much about it, because it’s somewhat of a spoiler, and you know I don’t do those, but just know that it’s handled beautifully.
As for the central mystery, I honestly tried my best to figure out who it was behind the pranks and the murder, and couldn’t figure it out. The story is fast paced and has a lot of red herrings throughout, but all of my guesses were wrong until everything was spelled out for me. Although there weren’t a lot of gasp-worthy moments in the story, I was absolutely hooked, and read this book in a single sitting. I flew through the read, and enjoyed every single moment of it. There’s a lot of cute, funny moments, but prepare yourself and have some baked goods on hand, because you’re definitely going to get hungry while reading.
CONTENT WARNING: murder, death of a parent, grief
It’s no secret that I love this series, and I look forward to each new book release, not just because it gives me an excuse to read through all the previous books. Each time I read these, I fall in love with the characters and the town of Beacon Harbor a little more.
Darci Hannah has built an adorable little small town with Beacon Harbor, Michigan, complete with historical lore, quirky characters, and bustling little shops that have plenty of charm. Not to mention the festivals. This type of town wouldn’t be out of place in a small-town romance, but it’s also the perfect setting for a cozy mystery series like this one.
The characters are what makes this story. Yeah, I adore the main character, Lindsey Bakewell and her crew: her ex-Navy SEAL boyfriend Rory Campbell, her influencer best friend Kennedy Kapoor, her former model mother Ellie Montague Bakewell, and of course her adorably goofy Newfoundland dog Wellington (also known as Welly). But the rest of the characters are pretty awesome as well. In this story, her parents have moved to the town to be close to Lindsey, although they live in Florida during the winters.
I especially enjoyed that we learn more about Rory in depth a bit more. He’s struggling to adjust to civilian life after his time in the military, and it offered his character more depth, which was refreshing.
While cozy mysteries are known for being light, fun, and relatively fluffy, this one talks about a more sensitive issue that is increasingly prevalent. Hannah handles it in a sensitive way, and I thought she managed it very well. I can’t talk too much about it, because it’s somewhat of a spoiler, and you know I don’t do those, but just know that it’s handled beautifully.
As for the central mystery, I honestly tried my best to figure out who it was behind the pranks and the murder, and couldn’t figure it out. The story is fast paced and has a lot of red herrings throughout, but all of my guesses were wrong until everything was spelled out for me. Although there weren’t a lot of gasp-worthy moments in the story, I was absolutely hooked, and read this book in a single sitting. I flew through the read, and enjoyed every single moment of it. There’s a lot of cute, funny moments, but prepare yourself and have some baked goods on hand, because you’re definitely going to get hungry while reading.
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