This was so good! This is such a great intro into the series. I was expecting this to be cute and cozy, but it was so much more! I was literally on the edge of my seat not wanting to put it down. The suspense was great, and I honestly was surprised at who the killer was. There ends up being not only a murder but a kidnapping that Maddie, the MC, ends up being somehow wrapped up in. What else could go wrong? 😬 She is relatable, and I felt for her. Life can be so hard and feel like nothing is going right, but Maddie shows you that you should still work hard for what you want and to always do the right thing!
Maddie's cat, Big Red, is the star of the book. I loved him so much. He's such a good boy, and I just love when books add loveable cats to the story. We need more books with cats! I also really liked the detective, but I'm not sure if he will be in the rest of the series since Maddie is going to Maple Falls in the next book, and that kinda makes me sad.
One of my favorite things about this book, and I'm assuming it will be in the rest of the series, is the detailed baking. I loved it every time Maddie got to bake because we get to see what she does and how she does it. She puts so much love and care into what she's making. You can't help but feel like you're right there with her. The book even comes with a couple of recipes at the end, so you can try and bake some things in real life!
I did feel like there were a couple of parts that were a little rushed, but overall, I was pleased with this prequel! I can't wait to read the rest of the series and see what new mysteries await Maddie when she goes back to Maple Falls!