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A Five-Ingredient Mystery #8
Bake Offed
In the new installment of beloved author Maya Corrigan's Five-Ingredient Mystery series, join Val Deniston and her grandfather at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest in the bake-off of the century that makes "killing competition" take on a whole new meaning...
When the Deadly Desserts bake-off lives up to its name, Val and Granddad turn up the heat on a killer . . .
The Maryland Mystery Fan Fest sounds like exactly the fun getaway cafe manager Val Deniston and her grandfather could use. Granddad will even compete in a dessert competition in which contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Playing Nero Wolfe's gourmet cook Fritz is an exciting challenge for Granddad. A restaurant manager is playing Lord Peter Wimsey's valet and cook Bunter. But Granddad is steamed to learn who will be playing Sherlock Holmes's landlady, Mrs. Hudson--his nemesis Cynthia Sweet, who he believes ripped off his five-ingredient theme from his column "Codger Cook" to use in her own recipe column.
Apparently, he isn't the only one who has beef with his not-so-sweet competitor. When she's found dead in her room with the teakettle whistling, it's up to Val and her grandfather to sort through the festival goers to find out who was most definitely not a fan of Cynthia Sweet . . .
When the Deadly Desserts bake-off lives up to its name, Val and Granddad turn up the heat on a killer . . .
The Maryland Mystery Fan Fest sounds like exactly the fun getaway cafe manager Val Deniston and her grandfather could use. Granddad will even compete in a dessert competition in which contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Playing Nero Wolfe's gourmet cook Fritz is an exciting challenge for Granddad. A restaurant manager is playing Lord Peter Wimsey's valet and cook Bunter. But Granddad is steamed to learn who will be playing Sherlock Holmes's landlady, Mrs. Hudson--his nemesis Cynthia Sweet, who he believes ripped off his five-ingredient theme from his column "Codger Cook" to use in her own recipe column.
Apparently, he isn't the only one who has beef with his not-so-sweet competitor. When she's found dead in her room with the teakettle whistling, it's up to Val and her grandfather to sort through the festival goers to find out who was most definitely not a fan of Cynthia Sweet . . .
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 29, 2022
24 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Maya Corrigan
11 books376 followersMaya Corrigan blends her love of food and detective stories in her Five-Ingredient Mystery series set in a fictional historic town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The series begins with By Cook or by Crook. The latest books include The Tell-Tale Tarte, S'more Murders, Crypt Suzette, and Gingerdead Man, 7th in the series.
Before taking up a life of crime (on the page), she taught university courses in writing, detective fiction, American literature, and drama. She won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Unpublished Mainstream Mystery / Suspense. Her short stories, written under the name of Mary Ann Corrigan, have been published in anthologies.
When not reading and writing, she enjoys theater, travel, trivia, cooking, and crosswords. Her website features trivia about food and mysteries.
Before taking up a life of crime (on the page), she taught university courses in writing, detective fiction, American literature, and drama. She won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Unpublished Mainstream Mystery / Suspense. Her short stories, written under the name of Mary Ann Corrigan, have been published in anthologies.
When not reading and writing, she enjoys theater, travel, trivia, cooking, and crosswords. Her website features trivia about food and mysteries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
November 23, 2022
An entertaining story about Val and her grandfather who both enjoy being sleuths. In Bake Offed they attend the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest where Val is a helper and grandfather takes part in the Deadly Desserts Bake Off.
There is a murder followed by lots of investigative work from both the police and Val and her grandfather. There are many suspects and a very confusing aspect due to the timing of the death. Eventually I left it up to the main characters to sort it out and let my brain have a rest. Nothing wrong with that - I still enjoyed the read.
It was all very pleasant but the characters never grabbed my interest. Not sure if I will follow this series up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There is a murder followed by lots of investigative work from both the police and Val and her grandfather. There are many suspects and a very confusing aspect due to the timing of the death. Eventually I left it up to the main characters to sort it out and let my brain have a rest. Nothing wrong with that - I still enjoyed the read.
It was all very pleasant but the characters never grabbed my interest. Not sure if I will follow this series up.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 30, 2022
Val Deniston and her granddad are going to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest to help her friend Bethany with it. And Granddad, aka the Codger Cook, is participating in the mystery themed baking competition the first night. One of his fellow contestants is Cynthia Sweet, the woman that Granddad feels stole his shot at turning his Codger Cook recipe column into a book. But when Val finds Cynthia dead in the middle of the night, the two of them start to discover that other people didn’t like Cynthia either. Can they figure out who killed her?
Since the fest is out of town, we don’t see much of the other series regulars, but the series usually focuses on Val and Granddad, so it’s not too big of a loss. This also gives us plenty of time to get to know the new characters, who rise to the occasion. And there is a return appearance by a character from early in the series that is fun. The plot is wonderful. It is intricately plotted, yet it holds together at the end. As someone who complains about the timelines in books when they don’t work, I have to praise this one for holding together perfectly. I got a kick out of the mystery fest setting. The recipes at the end are great fun as well, but I’ll leave that for you to explore on your own. Fans of the series will be happy with this book. If you are looking for a fun culinary cozy series, I definitely recommend you check this one out.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Since the fest is out of town, we don’t see much of the other series regulars, but the series usually focuses on Val and Granddad, so it’s not too big of a loss. This also gives us plenty of time to get to know the new characters, who rise to the occasion. And there is a return appearance by a character from early in the series that is fun. The plot is wonderful. It is intricately plotted, yet it holds together at the end. As someone who complains about the timelines in books when they don’t work, I have to praise this one for holding together perfectly. I got a kick out of the mystery fest setting. The recipes at the end are great fun as well, but I’ll leave that for you to explore on your own. Fans of the series will be happy with this book. If you are looking for a fun culinary cozy series, I definitely recommend you check this one out.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
July 10, 2022
Val and her uncle are two of my favorite characters, and I get excited every time a new book arrives.
This book takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fest and Val and her uncle find themselves embroiled in another murder investigation.
There's something about this series that intrigues me, and I enjoy every single book.
I loved the recipes soon looking forward to trying one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#BakeOffed #NetGalley
This book takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fest and Val and her uncle find themselves embroiled in another murder investigation.
There's something about this series that intrigues me, and I enjoy every single book.
I loved the recipes soon looking forward to trying one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#BakeOffed #NetGalley
November 24, 2022
Bake Offed is the 8th book in the 'A Five-Ingredient Mystery' series. I picked up this series with Crypt Suzette (book 6), which I thoroughly enjoyed.
In this fabulous cozy mystery, Val Deniston is looking forward to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest due to take place in Bayport, Maryland. Val and her granddad, Don, are taking part in the event with Val as a volunteer and granddad competing in the Deadly Desserts Bake-off, using a recipe inspired by Nero Wolfe’s chef.. But when Don's rival, Cynthia Sweet is found dead in her hotel room with a whistling teakettle, Val and Don must find the killer before (s)he strikes again...
This cozy was right up my street, with its well-drawn characters, exciting plot and a wonderful setting. I am fond of Val and her granddad and how well they get along together. Maya Corrigan's writing style continues to impress me and the story is amusing and easy to follow. Narrator Val is a great character and I loved her determination and her common-sense approach.
The author delightfully conveyed the tastes on offer and the mystery aspect was great with plenty of opportunities for armchair detectives to play along. Abundant clues were scattered around and I found myself caught out by the clever misdirection a few times. As the reveals unfolded everything started to gel together into a splendid read. This tremendously good novel was a hit for me and I am looking forward to reading book nine, as well as reading some of Maya Corrigan's back catalogue. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery with oodles of scrumptious sounding recipes and foodie references, don't miss out on Bake Offed!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In this fabulous cozy mystery, Val Deniston is looking forward to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest due to take place in Bayport, Maryland. Val and her granddad, Don, are taking part in the event with Val as a volunteer and granddad competing in the Deadly Desserts Bake-off, using a recipe inspired by Nero Wolfe’s chef.. But when Don's rival, Cynthia Sweet is found dead in her hotel room with a whistling teakettle, Val and Don must find the killer before (s)he strikes again...
This cozy was right up my street, with its well-drawn characters, exciting plot and a wonderful setting. I am fond of Val and her granddad and how well they get along together. Maya Corrigan's writing style continues to impress me and the story is amusing and easy to follow. Narrator Val is a great character and I loved her determination and her common-sense approach.
The author delightfully conveyed the tastes on offer and the mystery aspect was great with plenty of opportunities for armchair detectives to play along. Abundant clues were scattered around and I found myself caught out by the clever misdirection a few times. As the reveals unfolded everything started to gel together into a splendid read. This tremendously good novel was a hit for me and I am looking forward to reading book nine, as well as reading some of Maya Corrigan's back catalogue. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery with oodles of scrumptious sounding recipes and foodie references, don't miss out on Bake Offed!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
July 26, 2022
This story was OK, but the murder mystery fan fest wasn't as fun as I thought it would be and I found the mystery elements rather repetitive this time.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 13, 2022
This one had me hooked from the beginning with its nod to Agatha Christy's use of a list of characters at the beginning of the story. Toss in regular references to not just Christie, particularly "Murder on the Orient Express", Sherlock Holmes, and Miss Marple, and it was fun from the start. Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don, are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest and find themselves involved in a real murder: Who killed Cynthia Sweet?
Needless to say, surrounded by mystery buffs, the theories and suspects are many. In fact, many in the crowd seem determined to believe the murder and appearance of the police, not to mention the collapse of another attendee in the bar, are all part of the show. Toss in that the hotel was the site of another unsolved mystery a year ago and it's all just too exciting for many to believe reality has intruded again.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Val and Grandpa Don, both of whom are smart and able to think things through. For Don, however, he is a tad distracted by the disappearance of his Nero Wolfe inspired boxed book of recipes. Is that disappearance somehow connected? Cynthia had been accused of stealing others' ideas before, so why not a genuine, valuable keepsake. And, what does a tea kettle have to do with anything? Why were some attendees going to such extremes to disguise themselves? Poison rings? Inheritances? What would drive someone to murder?
Bottom line, this one grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the surprising end. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to this so to speak, mystery fest gathering. Looking forward to spending more time with Val and her grandfather soon. Maybe he'll share more recipes!
Needless to say, surrounded by mystery buffs, the theories and suspects are many. In fact, many in the crowd seem determined to believe the murder and appearance of the police, not to mention the collapse of another attendee in the bar, are all part of the show. Toss in that the hotel was the site of another unsolved mystery a year ago and it's all just too exciting for many to believe reality has intruded again.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Val and Grandpa Don, both of whom are smart and able to think things through. For Don, however, he is a tad distracted by the disappearance of his Nero Wolfe inspired boxed book of recipes. Is that disappearance somehow connected? Cynthia had been accused of stealing others' ideas before, so why not a genuine, valuable keepsake. And, what does a tea kettle have to do with anything? Why were some attendees going to such extremes to disguise themselves? Poison rings? Inheritances? What would drive someone to murder?
Bottom line, this one grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it until the surprising end. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to this so to speak, mystery fest gathering. Looking forward to spending more time with Val and her grandfather soon. Maybe he'll share more recipes!
November 28, 2022
This was so much fun and Granddad was at the top of his sleuthing game. Somehow I knew from the minute he found that Nero Wolfe recipe box that something was gonna happen to it. And it was so cool to read in the acknowledgement section that there was really such a thing as this publicity item back in the day. I haven't quite had the time to curiosity-check it on eBay, but I'm really interested in seeing what it looked like.
It made perfect sense that at a mystery convention there'd be plenty of people with secrets and things to hide. Val's old friend Roy was on the case. I felt sorry for poor Bethany through all this craziness as she tried to keep her event going as best she could. I was never completely sure whodunit, but everything including the saga of Granddad's recipe box whereabouts were all wrapped up nicely at the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.
It made perfect sense that at a mystery convention there'd be plenty of people with secrets and things to hide. Val's old friend Roy was on the case. I felt sorry for poor Bethany through all this craziness as she tried to keep her event going as best she could. I was never completely sure whodunit, but everything including the saga of Granddad's recipe box whereabouts were all wrapped up nicely at the end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.
July 12, 2022
Val and her uncle are two of my favorite characters, and I get excited every time a new book arrives.
This book takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fest and Val and her uncle find themselves embroiled in another murder investigation.
There's something about this series that intrigues me, and I enjoy every single book.
I loved the recipes soon looking forward to trying one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#BakeOffed #NetGalley
This book takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fest and Val and her uncle find themselves embroiled in another murder investigation.
There's something about this series that intrigues me, and I enjoy every single book.
I loved the recipes soon looking forward to trying one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#BakeOffed #NetGalley
November 20, 2023
Bake Offed is the 8th book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. Val is helping her friend, Bethany, as a volunteer at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Granddad is participating in a cooking contest where the contestants have been given the role of a cook to a famous fictional sleuth. They must prepare a dessert that the cook would have prepared for the sleuth. Granddad is playing Fritz, Nero Wolfe's gourmet cook. The other 2 contestants are playing Lord Peter Wimsey's valet and cook Bunter and Sherlock Holmes's landlady, Mrs. Hudson. Granddad is not happy about the third contestant, Cynthia, as she stole his idea of Five-Ingredient Recipes and some of the recipes, and pitched it to write a recipe book. When Cynthia receives a threatening note, the festival organizers want her to withdraw, but she refuses. Ending up dead later that night, has Val and her granddad on the trail of a killer.
It was nice to see this book set on the road, it a hotel where the festival is being held. There is another crime that interests granddad but not the police, and that is the theft of his Nero Wolfe recipe box. He is sure that Cynthia stole it, but it wasn't in her room when her body was found. This was another interesting, well-plotted mystery in this series. There weren't as many suspects as in other books, but it seemed they all had alibis. It took some fancy thinking, trial and error and granddad pulling a fast one in a room full of festival attendees to find the killer. I wasn't sure who the culprit was, not what happened to the recipe box, but I enjoyed the reveal and the recovery. Overall this was another good addition to this series, but wasn't quite as good as the previous book in the series.
It was nice to see this book set on the road, it a hotel where the festival is being held. There is another crime that interests granddad but not the police, and that is the theft of his Nero Wolfe recipe box. He is sure that Cynthia stole it, but it wasn't in her room when her body was found. This was another interesting, well-plotted mystery in this series. There weren't as many suspects as in other books, but it seemed they all had alibis. It took some fancy thinking, trial and error and granddad pulling a fast one in a room full of festival attendees to find the killer. I wasn't sure who the culprit was, not what happened to the recipe box, but I enjoyed the reveal and the recovery. Overall this was another good addition to this series, but wasn't quite as good as the previous book in the series.
January 14, 2023
Val and her Granddad, Don, are accompanying Val's friend Bethany to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Happy for the getaway, Val is planning on a relaxing weekend helping her friend. Don too is looking forward to the fest where he will be competing in the Deadly Desserts Bake-off. But right away, there is something weird going on. Don's fest packet includes a warning about another of the contestants, Cynthia Sweet. When Cynthia's tea kettle starts whistling around the midnight the first night, Val alerts security who enters the room with her. The pair find Cynthia dead in her bed. She is also missing her rare poison ring, which she'd been wearing at the bar before returning to her room, and a rare box of recipes that she had been "keeping" for Don.
Naturally, Val and Don (who also moonlights as a PI) start looking into her death. Was it murder, or a natural death? And if it was natural, where did the ring get to?
This was pretty good. Lots of illusions to famous mystery stories by Christie, Holmes, and Stout. There was a lot going on too - Cynthia's COD; the missing ring; the missing box of recipes; the man entering Cynthia's room; an attempted poisoning; a missing good Samaritan. But despite all the action, there was no issue keeping all the information straight. Overall, an interesting mystery.
Naturally, Val and Don (who also moonlights as a PI) start looking into her death. Was it murder, or a natural death? And if it was natural, where did the ring get to?
This was pretty good. Lots of illusions to famous mystery stories by Christie, Holmes, and Stout. There was a lot going on too - Cynthia's COD; the missing ring; the missing box of recipes; the man entering Cynthia's room; an attempted poisoning; a missing good Samaritan. But despite all the action, there was no issue keeping all the information straight. Overall, an interesting mystery.
September 26, 2022
Right of the bat I liked the nod to the old mysteries with the cast of characters, and the references throughout the story to Agatha Christie's Marple and Poirot, Doyle's Holmes, etc.
The murder of Val's grandfather's rival has them rushing to uncover the killer before the fest attendees scatter for home. They also uncover theft, threats, sabotage, and a possible link to another mysterious death one year ago in the same hotel. Because there's so much going on, there's a lot of threads to unravel and reveal, but everything was nicely tied together and answered eventually.
The mystery festival sounded like lots of fun and the author really made me feel like I was there. I did figure out one aspect of the puzzle right away but the rest remained a mystery until the end. And what an ending it was!
As always the characters are fun and intelligent, and the recipes delightful. The Clue themed dinner is perfect for a mystery game night. This is another excellent installment in the series, maybe my favorite one yet.
The murder of Val's grandfather's rival has them rushing to uncover the killer before the fest attendees scatter for home. They also uncover theft, threats, sabotage, and a possible link to another mysterious death one year ago in the same hotel. Because there's so much going on, there's a lot of threads to unravel and reveal, but everything was nicely tied together and answered eventually.
The mystery festival sounded like lots of fun and the author really made me feel like I was there. I did figure out one aspect of the puzzle right away but the rest remained a mystery until the end. And what an ending it was!
As always the characters are fun and intelligent, and the recipes delightful. The Clue themed dinner is perfect for a mystery game night. This is another excellent installment in the series, maybe my favorite one yet.
September 10, 2022
Maya Corrigan is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, and I was so excited to see her authoring a new book in the Five Ingredient series! This new installment takes place at a Mystery Fan Fest--swoon--and, despite the murder, I wish I could be there myself! When Val and her granddad attend the festival, they hope for fun and a cooking competition victory for grandad. But instead grandad's rival newspaper cooking columnist ends up dead in her hotel room, tea kettle a-whistling...
With a fun location, loads of suspects, and just enough puzzle pieces to may things fun for those of us who like a good whodunit, Bake Offed delivers another intricate mystery that I easily devoured.
Thanks to Kensington Books for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 8/10
With a fun location, loads of suspects, and just enough puzzle pieces to may things fun for those of us who like a good whodunit, Bake Offed delivers another intricate mystery that I easily devoured.
Thanks to Kensington Books for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 8/10
July 16, 2022
A mystery themed bake-off with contestants as the chefs of famous sleuths, big rivalry, a theft, a murder of a rather poisonous contestant. Enter Val and her grandfather to sleuth once again. I didn't realize that this was book 8 in series, so I think that a devotee of the series would appreciate it more than I did. But there are some very interesting characters, intriguing red herrings, and plot twists to die for (couldn't resist). The publisher's blurb is a good hook! A good read!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 10, 2022
Val Deniston is looking forward to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Her friend Bethany O’Shay, an avid mystery reader, had organized the weekend and coaxed Val and her grandfather into helping her.
Val would run the mystery trivia contest while her grandad, Don Myer would compete in the Deadly Desserts bake-off.
For the contest , each contestant has to assume the role of a famous detective’s cook and make a dessert the sleuth might have eaten.
The contestants will take on the roles of cooks who prepared food for three famous detectives, Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Nero Wolfe.
One of the contestants, Cynthia Sweet, a recipe columnist in Baltimore has had a falling out with Val's granddad in the past and as such he’s mindful around her this time around so she doesn’t sabotage his dessert 🍮
After the contest, Don Myer’s Nero Wolfe recipe box goes missing.
The next day, Cynthia Sweet is found dead in her hotel room. Who killed her and why?
I enjoyed this book. It's an interesting fast-paced story with great characters. Definitely recommend.
Included in the books are recipes are the Codger Cook’s Recipes such as Mrs. Peacocktail, Hot Miss Scarlet Punch, Mr. Green Salad, Professor Plum Cake, Nero Wolfe’s Lemon Sponge Cake and so on.
Thank you to Maya Corrigan, NetGalley, and Kensington for the arc of this book.
Val would run the mystery trivia contest while her grandad, Don Myer would compete in the Deadly Desserts bake-off.
For the contest , each contestant has to assume the role of a famous detective’s cook and make a dessert the sleuth might have eaten.
The contestants will take on the roles of cooks who prepared food for three famous detectives, Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey, and Nero Wolfe.
One of the contestants, Cynthia Sweet, a recipe columnist in Baltimore has had a falling out with Val's granddad in the past and as such he’s mindful around her this time around so she doesn’t sabotage his dessert 🍮
After the contest, Don Myer’s Nero Wolfe recipe box goes missing.
The next day, Cynthia Sweet is found dead in her hotel room. Who killed her and why?
I enjoyed this book. It's an interesting fast-paced story with great characters. Definitely recommend.
Included in the books are recipes are the Codger Cook’s Recipes such as Mrs. Peacocktail, Hot Miss Scarlet Punch, Mr. Green Salad, Professor Plum Cake, Nero Wolfe’s Lemon Sponge Cake and so on.
Thank you to Maya Corrigan, NetGalley, and Kensington for the arc of this book.
November 29, 2022
This is the eighth installment in the Five Ingredient Mystery series. I have read each of them.
In this installment, Val Deniston and her grandfather attend the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. At the fest, there will be a dessert competition. The contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Three cooks, three fictional characters and some unconventional tricks.
So, who killed Cynthia Sweet and why? What happens to the recipe box that Val’s grandfather found in his attic. It was a promotional item from many years ago.
I enjoy Val and her grandfather’s relationship. I find her grandfather, the codger, a hoot.
The twists were great and the reveal was different. I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out.
I’m looking forward to the next installment.
I was given the opportunity to hear this from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.
In this installment, Val Deniston and her grandfather attend the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. At the fest, there will be a dessert competition. The contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Three cooks, three fictional characters and some unconventional tricks.
So, who killed Cynthia Sweet and why? What happens to the recipe box that Val’s grandfather found in his attic. It was a promotional item from many years ago.
I enjoy Val and her grandfather’s relationship. I find her grandfather, the codger, a hoot.
The twists were great and the reveal was different. I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out.
I’m looking forward to the next installment.
I was given the opportunity to hear this from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.
October 5, 2022
I totally enjoyed this unique cozy mystery. Val and her Grandad attended a sort of writers retreat where one of the authors is found murdered. This book had all kinds of mystery references which made this so fun to read. Plus they added a bit of a culinary aspect that was so fun and classically well crafted. I enjoyed the journey of this story. It was fun to see how the characters figured out how-dun-it instead of the normal whodunit. Totally recommend this one if you are a mystery fan. You'll get a real kick out of it!
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
October 29, 2022
Bake Offed by Maya Corrigan is book #8 In A Five-Ingredient Mystery series. I loved the setting - the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Including what normally occurs at a book con (excluding a murder) made this book especially enjoyable for me. Val Dennison and her grandfather, Don Myer are attending the conference, Val as a volunteer and Don as a competitor in the con's dessert competition. The way they both went about collecting clues and brainstorming about what might have happened held my attention throughout the book. Don's ideas to ferret out clues were very creative. I look forward to the next book in the series. What a fun whodunit!
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
December 5, 2022
A good storyline but I had trouble with how the narrative was written - 3rd person interspersed with first-person storytelling.
Not my cup of tea, but this book does have an audience.
What worked - interesting plot, with many suspects to keep you guessing who did it and why.
Con: We had many suspects with side stories, and keeping all the storylines straight was hard
Pro: likeable heroine
Con: grandfather being the "investigator" yet did not solve the crime. lol
Not my cup of tea, but this book does have an audience.
What worked - interesting plot, with many suspects to keep you guessing who did it and why.
Con: We had many suspects with side stories, and keeping all the storylines straight was hard
Pro: likeable heroine
Con: grandfather being the "investigator" yet did not solve the crime. lol
December 30, 2022
Bake Offed takes place at a mystery fan festival; making it already take place in fun and interesting setting. Adhering to the classic Agatha Christie mystery traditions, cafe owner/caterer/amateur sleuth, Val Dennison helps solve the murder that takes place at the festival. I just love her quirky grandfather who assists her and the way the mystery played out was very smart. If you’re looking for a nod to the classics in a contemporary cozy, Bake Offed fits the bill.
July 6, 2022
Val Deniston and her grandfather Don Myers are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest; Don as a contestant in a dessert contest, and Val as a volunteer to go where needed. When they receive their welcome packages, Granddad receives a note that seems ominous, and they both wonder if they need to keep an eye on Cynthia Sweet, who has a history of not being so sweet at all.
At night after a full day, Val hears a teakettle whistling, and gets the security guard to open Cynthia's door, where they find her dead. At first it seems an accident, but then is discovered to be a murder by the police. Now Val feels she needs to do a little research to find out who had a real grudge against the woman -- enough to kill...
This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all. I will admit that at first it started out slower than the previous books, but then reading on, I began to see that it is much different. This book is almost like those old classic movies where someone in a dark house is murdered, and then the rest of the guests staying there are all suspects; finally, the protagonist discovers the murderer. Yes, it is just like that.
The 'guests' in this story are people that are attending the fest. There are several that might have a grudge against the dead woman, and yet all of them seem to have alibis (such as in a movie). Now it is up to Val and Granddad to disprove the alibis -- at least of one of the guests; the murderer.
It's a fun tale that keeps you wrapped up in the story, and working right alongside Val to figure out who the killer might be. With red herrings everywhere, and so many people to talk to, you need to keep an eye on the prize: who the killer might be. And when it's finally discovered, it's strange enough to be true, and sad enough to make you wonder what goes through a killer's mind.
As always, Ms. Corrigan weaves a tidy tale that has has enough action and sifting through peoples' statements to finally come to a completely satisfying end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
At night after a full day, Val hears a teakettle whistling, and gets the security guard to open Cynthia's door, where they find her dead. At first it seems an accident, but then is discovered to be a murder by the police. Now Val feels she needs to do a little research to find out who had a real grudge against the woman -- enough to kill...
This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all. I will admit that at first it started out slower than the previous books, but then reading on, I began to see that it is much different. This book is almost like those old classic movies where someone in a dark house is murdered, and then the rest of the guests staying there are all suspects; finally, the protagonist discovers the murderer. Yes, it is just like that.
The 'guests' in this story are people that are attending the fest. There are several that might have a grudge against the dead woman, and yet all of them seem to have alibis (such as in a movie). Now it is up to Val and Granddad to disprove the alibis -- at least of one of the guests; the murderer.
It's a fun tale that keeps you wrapped up in the story, and working right alongside Val to figure out who the killer might be. With red herrings everywhere, and so many people to talk to, you need to keep an eye on the prize: who the killer might be. And when it's finally discovered, it's strange enough to be true, and sad enough to make you wonder what goes through a killer's mind.
As always, Ms. Corrigan weaves a tidy tale that has has enough action and sifting through peoples' statements to finally come to a completely satisfying end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
September 12, 2023
Awful. This is the last book I am reading in this series.
September 27, 2022
BAKED OFF by Maya Corrigan is the 8th book in the A Five-Ingredient Mystery series. It’s the very well-written cozy mystery centered around Val Deniston, Don Myer – Val’s grandfather, and the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest.
After having to cancel her trip with Bram, Val was just happy to be able to get away at least for a couple days and was happy to help out Bethany, her best friend, who is in charge of the fest running smoothly, any way she can - which seems to be monitoring some discussion panels, running the mystery trivia contest and filling in anywhere else needed. Bram will drive up later, but she’s happy to be escorted by her Grandfather, who had agreed to be in the Deadly Dessert Bake Off and to work the charity auction.
Don, aka the Codger Cook and recipe columnist known for his five ingredient dishes, is searching for the perfect recipe to enter into the contest to go along with his assignment of being Fritz – the chef to Rex Stout’s detective Nero Wolfe. It jogs his memory and after scouring the attic, finds a “Too Many Cooks” recipe box by Nero Wolfe that his wife had saved from years ago. Not only did he find it and found the perfect recipe to use (after adding his own touches), but he hit the jackpot when he also found out that the box was worth quite a bit of money.
Tensions start early in the Fest when they find out one of the other contestants in the cooking contest is none other than Cynthia Sweet. Granddad feels she ripped off his five-ingredient theme and beat him to punch in promoting it in order to rack up a book deal. When his treasured recipe box comes up missing, he can’t help but think Cynthia was behind it.
A loud whistling noise heard through the wall in the motel late at night has Val going to the front desk to report it and to have it investigated. When the security guard got no answer to his knocking, he accessed the room with a pass key to find Cynthia dead in her bed. When things don’t seem to add up and more clues start to add to the confusion, Val and her Granddad are determined to figure out this mystery. When Cynthia’s valuable poison ring comes up missing and they want to point the finger at the young security guard, it just makes Val’s determination to figure things out all the more. When they find out that Sheriff Deputy Roy Chesterfield is assigned to the case, Val know that she can share what they find and maybe get additional information back when he’s able to share. With his hands full, Val doesn’t believe he’s giving this case adequate attention meaning she will step her game even more.
Is Cynthia’s murder connected to an unsolved murder that happened a year ago at the same establishment? Who wrote the notes found in two of the festival packets? Why were some people in disguise at the festival at a time it wasn’t called for? Who was roaming the halls in a kimono and turban? Was it a man or woman? Did someone try to harm Claire, an lady she once had classes with, or was it just a mix-up of drinks? Are all these things connected to one another or isolated unusual events? How does the matter of a will or no will fit into the puzzle? Could there be bad blood between relatives at works? Will Granddad be the one to smoke out the guilty party? Or will it also turn into another blind alley? Can Val and Don figure out this puzzle so that all the pieces fit together nicely in order to come up with a picture of the guilty party?
BAKED OFF is a fabulous cozy that will keep you turning pages, following clues and still being off guard at the reveal. Although part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone book. It’s fresh and while there are some of the main characters that we have come to love, there are many new ones to add color and variety to the story. This story has them going outside their normal location too which adds to the fun and adventure. Love the way that Maya Corrigan incorporates fun and yummy sounding dishes and drinks into the story and then delights our taste buds by putting the recipe for them at the end of the story. Most definitely recommend this FIVE STAR reading to anyone that loves a great whodunit that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Although I received an ARC of the book from the author, I was not requested or required to leave a review. All opinions are entirely my own.
After having to cancel her trip with Bram, Val was just happy to be able to get away at least for a couple days and was happy to help out Bethany, her best friend, who is in charge of the fest running smoothly, any way she can - which seems to be monitoring some discussion panels, running the mystery trivia contest and filling in anywhere else needed. Bram will drive up later, but she’s happy to be escorted by her Grandfather, who had agreed to be in the Deadly Dessert Bake Off and to work the charity auction.
Don, aka the Codger Cook and recipe columnist known for his five ingredient dishes, is searching for the perfect recipe to enter into the contest to go along with his assignment of being Fritz – the chef to Rex Stout’s detective Nero Wolfe. It jogs his memory and after scouring the attic, finds a “Too Many Cooks” recipe box by Nero Wolfe that his wife had saved from years ago. Not only did he find it and found the perfect recipe to use (after adding his own touches), but he hit the jackpot when he also found out that the box was worth quite a bit of money.
Tensions start early in the Fest when they find out one of the other contestants in the cooking contest is none other than Cynthia Sweet. Granddad feels she ripped off his five-ingredient theme and beat him to punch in promoting it in order to rack up a book deal. When his treasured recipe box comes up missing, he can’t help but think Cynthia was behind it.
A loud whistling noise heard through the wall in the motel late at night has Val going to the front desk to report it and to have it investigated. When the security guard got no answer to his knocking, he accessed the room with a pass key to find Cynthia dead in her bed. When things don’t seem to add up and more clues start to add to the confusion, Val and her Granddad are determined to figure out this mystery. When Cynthia’s valuable poison ring comes up missing and they want to point the finger at the young security guard, it just makes Val’s determination to figure things out all the more. When they find out that Sheriff Deputy Roy Chesterfield is assigned to the case, Val know that she can share what they find and maybe get additional information back when he’s able to share. With his hands full, Val doesn’t believe he’s giving this case adequate attention meaning she will step her game even more.
Is Cynthia’s murder connected to an unsolved murder that happened a year ago at the same establishment? Who wrote the notes found in two of the festival packets? Why were some people in disguise at the festival at a time it wasn’t called for? Who was roaming the halls in a kimono and turban? Was it a man or woman? Did someone try to harm Claire, an lady she once had classes with, or was it just a mix-up of drinks? Are all these things connected to one another or isolated unusual events? How does the matter of a will or no will fit into the puzzle? Could there be bad blood between relatives at works? Will Granddad be the one to smoke out the guilty party? Or will it also turn into another blind alley? Can Val and Don figure out this puzzle so that all the pieces fit together nicely in order to come up with a picture of the guilty party?
BAKED OFF is a fabulous cozy that will keep you turning pages, following clues and still being off guard at the reveal. Although part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone book. It’s fresh and while there are some of the main characters that we have come to love, there are many new ones to add color and variety to the story. This story has them going outside their normal location too which adds to the fun and adventure. Love the way that Maya Corrigan incorporates fun and yummy sounding dishes and drinks into the story and then delights our taste buds by putting the recipe for them at the end of the story. Most definitely recommend this FIVE STAR reading to anyone that loves a great whodunit that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Although I received an ARC of the book from the author, I was not requested or required to leave a review. All opinions are entirely my own.
November 7, 2022
BAKE OFFED is the eighth book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series by Maya Corrigan. Protagonist, Val Deniston, and her granddad are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest in support of Val’s best friend, who’s organized the event. On top of participating in all the mystery conference offers, Granddad is competing in the Deadly Desserts Bake-off, with a recipe inspired by Nero Wolfe’s chef. I just love the granddaughter-grandfather duo. They are wonderful characters and each complements the other in their quest to solve cases while showing great respect for the other. There’s a bit of witty humor on the pages and I always get a kick out of Granddad’s newspaper column, “Codger Cook”, which provides five-ingredient recipes. Ms. Corrigan has done an admirable job of character development over the course of the series for this pair. While this can be read as a standalone, it’s been a pleasure watching the two grow and change with each new story.
With a nod to Agatha Christie-style mysteries, this newest release provides the reader with a puzzling murder to solve and plenty of suspects who all seem to have alibis. And the setting of the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest ups the ante for a terrific backdrop for the crime… who would guess that an actual crime would be committed at a conference for amateur sleuth wannabes? Most of the attendees first believe that it’s a staged murder for them to solve. It doesn’t take long for Val and her granddad to begin asking questions and sifting through the lies and secrets the suspects impart. On top of the murder, an attempted murder, an unsolved case, and a missing valuable Nero Wolfe-inspired book box filled with recipes, the suspense mounts. The clues kept me guessing and when all was revealed, I was completely surprised by the clever twists and turns.
Ms. Corrigan always includes five-ingredient recipes at the back of each book, courtesy of the “Codger Cook”. I absolutely adore the theme of the Bake Offed recipes with its tribute to the game of Clue. While I don’t typically list the recipes included, I couldn’t pass up sharing their clever names: Mrs. Peacocktail, Hot Miss Scarlet Punch, Mr. Green Salad, Colonel Mustard Vinaigrette, Mrs. White Bean Chili, Professor Plum Cake, and as two bonus recipes, Nero Wolfe’s Lemon Sponge Cake and Beeramisu.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With a nod to Agatha Christie-style mysteries, this newest release provides the reader with a puzzling murder to solve and plenty of suspects who all seem to have alibis. And the setting of the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest ups the ante for a terrific backdrop for the crime… who would guess that an actual crime would be committed at a conference for amateur sleuth wannabes? Most of the attendees first believe that it’s a staged murder for them to solve. It doesn’t take long for Val and her granddad to begin asking questions and sifting through the lies and secrets the suspects impart. On top of the murder, an attempted murder, an unsolved case, and a missing valuable Nero Wolfe-inspired book box filled with recipes, the suspense mounts. The clues kept me guessing and when all was revealed, I was completely surprised by the clever twists and turns.
Ms. Corrigan always includes five-ingredient recipes at the back of each book, courtesy of the “Codger Cook”. I absolutely adore the theme of the Bake Offed recipes with its tribute to the game of Clue. While I don’t typically list the recipes included, I couldn’t pass up sharing their clever names: Mrs. Peacocktail, Hot Miss Scarlet Punch, Mr. Green Salad, Colonel Mustard Vinaigrette, Mrs. White Bean Chili, Professor Plum Cake, and as two bonus recipes, Nero Wolfe’s Lemon Sponge Cake and Beeramisu.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 16, 2022
Val Deniston runs a café and caters privately in people's homes, she lives with her grandad who turns his hand to most things and also has a five ingredient food blog. This weekend however they are at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest organised by Val's best friend, Bethany, where Grandad is entering the Deadly Desserts bake-off and Val is a volunteer.
One of the other cook-off competitors was Grandad's nemesis, Cynthia Sweet, the woman who claimed his blog idea as her own and got a book deal on the back of it. After the contest is over however, everyone enjoys an entertaining night at the bar, discussing cooking and an unsolved death at the hotel the previous year. By morning one of those present will be dead and, it seems, more than a few of the others won't be sorry to hear the news.
With the success of the Fan Fest and Bethany's reputation at stake Val knows she needs to find out who is responsible before anyone else is put in danger. As no killer wants to be caught Val has her work cut out for her if she's to solve the case before everyone leaves the hotel on the Sunday.
I enjoyed this seventh Five Ingredients Mystery Series addition with its main protagonists out of their comfort zone of Bayport, Maryland. Instead they find themselves, along with the other murder mystery fans, in a very nice hotel ready to indulge in all things criminal. There are an entertaining variety of potential killers to work through and a good selection of red herrings to confuse and misdirect.
The only thing I found strange was at no time did the hotel manager get a mention and, even in a fictional setting, I would have thought they would be involved. This is a fun read however, and Val and Granddad work really well as an original crime-busting duo.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much and hope there will be more adventures from this series soon.
One of the other cook-off competitors was Grandad's nemesis, Cynthia Sweet, the woman who claimed his blog idea as her own and got a book deal on the back of it. After the contest is over however, everyone enjoys an entertaining night at the bar, discussing cooking and an unsolved death at the hotel the previous year. By morning one of those present will be dead and, it seems, more than a few of the others won't be sorry to hear the news.
With the success of the Fan Fest and Bethany's reputation at stake Val knows she needs to find out who is responsible before anyone else is put in danger. As no killer wants to be caught Val has her work cut out for her if she's to solve the case before everyone leaves the hotel on the Sunday.
I enjoyed this seventh Five Ingredients Mystery Series addition with its main protagonists out of their comfort zone of Bayport, Maryland. Instead they find themselves, along with the other murder mystery fans, in a very nice hotel ready to indulge in all things criminal. There are an entertaining variety of potential killers to work through and a good selection of red herrings to confuse and misdirect.
The only thing I found strange was at no time did the hotel manager get a mention and, even in a fictional setting, I would have thought they would be involved. This is a fun read however, and Val and Granddad work really well as an original crime-busting duo.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much and hope there will be more adventures from this series soon.
August 4, 2022
Val Deniston has agreed to help her best friend Bethany O’Shea who is running the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Val’s grandfather is also involved – he is competing in a dessert competition playing Nero Wolfe’s gourmet cook Fritz. Val thinks it will be a nice relaxing weekend but that changes quickly when one of the contestants in the dessert competition is murdered and her granddad’s priced recipe box goes missing. Val and her grandfather have solved mysteries together in the past so they work together to solve this one but they have their work cut out for them if they want to solve the murder before the Fan Fest is over.
“Bake Offed” – the eighth book in Maya Corrigan’s Five-Ingredient Cozy Mystery Series – is a nicely done cozy mystery. I have not read any of the other books in the series, so the characters were new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the relationship between Val and her grandfather. I also liked the Mystery Fan Fest storyline – I’ve always wanted to attend one and I’m happy that at least I got to attend one in a book. I loved the homage to various mysteries – especially the nod to Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”. The Mystery Fan Fest also offers plenty of suspects and Corrigan adds many twists and turns to the mystery – just when I thought I knew whodunit, she threw in another twist – well done! My one complaint about this mystery is that Val spent much time texting clues to the detective in charge of the case making it look like he was useless without her (and her grandfather’s help).
“Bake Offed” is a nicely done cozy mystery.
“Bake Offed” – the eighth book in Maya Corrigan’s Five-Ingredient Cozy Mystery Series – is a nicely done cozy mystery. I have not read any of the other books in the series, so the characters were new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the relationship between Val and her grandfather. I also liked the Mystery Fan Fest storyline – I’ve always wanted to attend one and I’m happy that at least I got to attend one in a book. I loved the homage to various mysteries – especially the nod to Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express”. The Mystery Fan Fest also offers plenty of suspects and Corrigan adds many twists and turns to the mystery – just when I thought I knew whodunit, she threw in another twist – well done! My one complaint about this mystery is that Val spent much time texting clues to the detective in charge of the case making it look like he was useless without her (and her grandfather’s help).
“Bake Offed” is a nicely done cozy mystery.
July 18, 2022
Val and Grandpa are off to a mystery lovers weekend. While Val is volunteering to help her BFF who is running the event, Grandpa is participating in a bake off with his arch rival, Cynthia Sweet. When Cynthia is murdered and Val finds the body, she can’t help but get involved in trying to figure out whodunit
While some attendees think the death is all part of the event, Val and Grandpa know there’s a killer on the loose and build a list of suspects and then try to figure out how and why they committed murder. It won’t be easy with a group of mystery lovers who all can come up with several different ways to get away from murder..but which ones are just using what they’ve read and which one is trying to get away with murder? I adore Grandpa and Val snd knowing they
re from the Eastern shore makes this series near and dear to my heart, as I came of age in Maryland and have many fond memories of times spend on the Eastern shore. Between the setting and the solid mystery in each and every book, I couldn’t ask for a better cozy series on my must read list. Each reads fine as a stand alone, but you’ll enjoy the series so much you’ll want to binge on the previous seven books, making this a series that you can spend some time with if you haven’t yet read it.
While some attendees think the death is all part of the event, Val and Grandpa know there’s a killer on the loose and build a list of suspects and then try to figure out how and why they committed murder. It won’t be easy with a group of mystery lovers who all can come up with several different ways to get away from murder..but which ones are just using what they’ve read and which one is trying to get away with murder? I adore Grandpa and Val snd knowing they
re from the Eastern shore makes this series near and dear to my heart, as I came of age in Maryland and have many fond memories of times spend on the Eastern shore. Between the setting and the solid mystery in each and every book, I couldn’t ask for a better cozy series on my must read list. Each reads fine as a stand alone, but you’ll enjoy the series so much you’ll want to binge on the previous seven books, making this a series that you can spend some time with if you haven’t yet read it.
November 4, 2022
Bake Offed is the 8th book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. This book can be read without reading the previous books in this series. Any references to prior events are explained without overwhelming detail.
Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don Myer, are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Granddad is participating in the cooking competition, where each contestant portrays a cook to famous fictional sleuths. The competition heats up when Granddad finds out that a rival, Cynthia Sweet, is also competing. When Cynthia is found dead in her hotel room with a whistling teakettle, Val and Don start investigating to figure out who killed Cynthia and how were they able to do it. The setting and timing of the murder provide some additional interest as the evidence keeps shifting the identity of the killer between multiple suspects.
I liked the setting of this story and the references to other fictional detectives. The story moved along at a good pace as Val works to uncover the killer before the end of the Fan Fest. I enjoyed this book and plan to continue reading this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don Myer, are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Granddad is participating in the cooking competition, where each contestant portrays a cook to famous fictional sleuths. The competition heats up when Granddad finds out that a rival, Cynthia Sweet, is also competing. When Cynthia is found dead in her hotel room with a whistling teakettle, Val and Don start investigating to figure out who killed Cynthia and how were they able to do it. The setting and timing of the murder provide some additional interest as the evidence keeps shifting the identity of the killer between multiple suspects.
I liked the setting of this story and the references to other fictional detectives. The story moved along at a good pace as Val works to uncover the killer before the end of the Fan Fest. I enjoyed this book and plan to continue reading this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 5, 2023
Princess Fuzzypants here: Val and grandfather are attending a murder/mystery fest with a twist. There will be an award for the best five ingredient dessert that would have been served to a famous fictional detective. Grandfather is one of the three contestants and even though he receives a warning about another contestant even before it starts, he had no idea how deadly the competition would be. By the end of the first night, the contestant, Cynthia, about whom he was warned, is dead. Val thinks she can pinpoint time of death thanks to a whistling tea kettle that woke her up.
Nothing is quite as simple as that and between Val and Grandfather they add and eliminate suspects as more information comes forth. First they must discover who the various attendees of the fest are and how they connect with the deceased. There are some big surprises when they learn a couple of those present had a close connection with her. Was it one of them? Was it both of them? And why was she killed? In the midst of that there is also a special box with recipes that her grandfather owned that went missing during the event. Who stole the box? The answers to all these questions are explained in a very entertaining manner.
Four purrs and two paws up.
Nothing is quite as simple as that and between Val and Grandfather they add and eliminate suspects as more information comes forth. First they must discover who the various attendees of the fest are and how they connect with the deceased. There are some big surprises when they learn a couple of those present had a close connection with her. Was it one of them? Was it both of them? And why was she killed? In the midst of that there is also a special box with recipes that her grandfather owned that went missing during the event. Who stole the box? The answers to all these questions are explained in a very entertaining manner.
Four purrs and two paws up.
August 9, 2022
Bake Offed is the 8th book in the 5 Ingredient Recipe series by Maya Corrigan. This is the first one that I have read and I plan to read the previous ones in the series. Val and her grandpa attend a mystery fest for the weekend as planned by her best friend. Val as a volunteer and grandpa as a bake off competitor. He soon finds out that one of the competitors is his perceived nemesis who he feels stole his 5 Ingredient recipe idea and is capitalizing on it through a published book, Cynthia Sweet. The mystery begins immediately upon their arrival to the fest upon check in. Grandpa receives a warning in his packet to watch out for Cynthia who will sabotage his bake. Shortly after the bake off competition, Cynthia ends up dead and it is unknown if it is due to natural causes or if foul play has occurred. Everyone becomes a suspect and the story had me guessing even to the very end. I thought I had it figured out and was surprised even at the final aha moment. Fun read, reccomend to fellow cozy mystery readers and will definitely be reading more from this author in the near future. Thank you #NetGalley and #Kensington Publising for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
November 25, 2022
Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don Myer are off to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Don will be competing in the Deadly desserts bake-off. Each person will be in the persona of a fictional mystery character's chef/cook. Don will be with Nero Wolf. The fly in the pie turns out to be one of his least favorite people, Cynthia Sweet who is Sherlock's cook, Mrs. Hudson. He has every reason to dislike her intensely as he is sure she ripped off his five ingredient theme from his Codger Cook for her own column. That may be but when she turns up dead, Val knows he is the last person to commit murder. With a conference full of mystery fans eager to solve a murder things get interesting fast. The game is afoot and Val and Don make a great pair of sleuths. The killer's days are numbered.
I have enjoyed each of the eight books in this delightful series not just because the mystery is well crafted but because I love the relationship between Val and her grandfather. I think it would be fun to be able to hang out with them. It wouldn't be dull.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I have enjoyed each of the eight books in this delightful series not just because the mystery is well crafted but because I love the relationship between Val and her grandfather. I think it would be fun to be able to hang out with them. It wouldn't be dull.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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