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Cookie Shop Mystery #1
How the Murder Crumbles
Debra Sennefelder whips up cookies and crime in a delicious new cozy series, perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Peg Cochran.
Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe’s beloved Cookie Shop—a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.
But things aren’t going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she’s seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name—but that’s not the only murder the killer is baking up.
Debra Sennefelder has cooked up a perfect recipe—endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there’s always a murder or two for good measure.
Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe’s beloved Cookie Shop—a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.
But things aren’t going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she’s seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name—but that’s not the only murder the killer is baking up.
Debra Sennefelder has cooked up a perfect recipe—endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there’s always a murder or two for good measure.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 20, 2023
46 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Debra Sennefelder
15 books628 followersDebra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzu, Connie.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companion is her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzu, Connie.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.
She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
March 24, 2023
A very promising start to a new series. We meet Mallory who has just started running a cookie shop in Windgate, Connecticut.
Soon after the story begins life takes a wrong turn for Mallory as her relationship breaks down, she has a public row about the rights to a cookie recipe, and the person she argues with is found murdered. Worried that people feel she must be the murderer Mallory sets out to discover who really did it.
I enjoyed the story and the cookies sounded amazing. There were many possible suspects, and a possible love interest for Mallory in future books turned up in the Detective who is investigating the case. All very interesting and I look forward to more books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Soon after the story begins life takes a wrong turn for Mallory as her relationship breaks down, she has a public row about the rights to a cookie recipe, and the person she argues with is found murdered. Worried that people feel she must be the murderer Mallory sets out to discover who really did it.
I enjoyed the story and the cookies sounded amazing. There were many possible suspects, and a possible love interest for Mallory in future books turned up in the Detective who is investigating the case. All very interesting and I look forward to more books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 14, 2023
Mallory Monroe had purchased her aunt's Cookie Shop and enjoyed the task of baking her cookies and decorating them for gift baskets and individual cookies, all good for sale and great for gifts. Of her two employees, she'd inherited Claudia from her aunt, and Kip was a good friend, and a good worker. Having recently discovered her boyfriend in the arms of another woman, Mallory was sworn off men, but it was when the food blogger, Beatrice Wright, marched into the Cookie Shop in the midst of an interview, and accused Mallory's aunt, and subsequently Mallory, of stealing a particular cookie recipe, that things started going downhill. Mallory decided the following morning to visit Queen Bea at her home to make amends for the argument the day before, but when she discovered Beatrice's body in her own kitchen, the police were immediately on the scene - and Mallory became suspect number one.
Mallory had to investigate the murder to clear her name as she was losing business; the knowledge she was gaining about Beatrice made her shudder. She knew not many people had liked her, but she was worse than Mallory could ever have imagined. There were plenty of people with the motive to kill her - how would she work out who the killer was?
How the Murder Crumbles is the 1st in the Cookie Shop Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder and I quite enjoyed it. Fun and entertaining, the characters were a mix of nice and not so nice! I would love to see the decorated cookies Mallory created, and taste some as well! Looking forward to #2. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Mallory had to investigate the murder to clear her name as she was losing business; the knowledge she was gaining about Beatrice made her shudder. She knew not many people had liked her, but she was worse than Mallory could ever have imagined. There were plenty of people with the motive to kill her - how would she work out who the killer was?
How the Murder Crumbles is the 1st in the Cookie Shop Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder and I quite enjoyed it. Fun and entertaining, the characters were a mix of nice and not so nice! I would love to see the decorated cookies Mallory created, and taste some as well! Looking forward to #2. Recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2023
How the Murder Crumbles (Cookie Shop Mystery, #1) by Debra Sennefelder was an enjoyable first installment in a new cozy mystery series. Mallory Monroe had recently taken ownership of her late aunt’s cookie shop in Wingate, Connecticut. Her dream and goal was to expand the business and increase the profits by creating cookie bouquets with various themes. Mallory inherited two co-workers to help her in her endeavors. Things were going pretty well for Mallory until two things occurred. The first one was personal. Mallory caught her boyfriend cheating on her. The second one involved the food blogger, Beatrice Wright, better known as “Queen Bea”. “Queen Bea” accused Mallory of stealing her recipe for the decadent Almond Melt Away cookies she was selling in her shop. Mallory insisted that it was her aunt’s recipe that she was using. “Queen Bea” left the cookie shop in a huff but not before she threatened Mallory that she better stop selling them. When Mallory went to “Queen Bea’s” house to discuss the matter with her, Mallory discovered that “Queen Bea” had been murdered. Mallory found her on the floor surrounded by flour. A bloody rolling pin was spotted close to her body and the letters “Ma” we’re written in the flour. All evidence pointed to Mallory as the number one suspect. Had Mallory killed Queen Bea? Mallory was determined to prove that she was innocent. Who was the killer?
How the Murder Crumbles was fast paced and kept me guessing to the very end. My only complaint was that there were a lot of characters and suspects and sometimes it was hard to keep track of who was who. Overall, I enjoyed it, though. The book cover was very enticing as well. I listened to the audiobook that was read by Ellen Quay. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries that are set in a small quaint town then I believe that you will enjoy this book. All the talk and descriptions of the cookies will make your mouth water at any rate. I recommend this book highly.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
How the Murder Crumbles was fast paced and kept me guessing to the very end. My only complaint was that there were a lot of characters and suspects and sometimes it was hard to keep track of who was who. Overall, I enjoyed it, though. The book cover was very enticing as well. I listened to the audiobook that was read by Ellen Quay. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries that are set in a small quaint town then I believe that you will enjoy this book. All the talk and descriptions of the cookies will make your mouth water at any rate. I recommend this book highly.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media LLC for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 19, 2023
A delightfully yummy cozy debut with a protagonist, Mallory Monroe, who bakes and makes delicious cookie bouquet baskets for any occasion. She has an adorable sidekick cat named Agatha. When a disagreeable woman, Beatrice accuses Mallory’s deceased Aunt Glenna of copycatting her almond melt away cookie recipe and is murdered hours later, Mallory is the top suspect. Fortunately, Mallory’s right hand employee and good friend, Kip Winslow is the police chief’s son, and his sister, Lauren is a police officer and good friend, also. When hot Detective Will Hannigan steps into the crime scene, Mallory has her hands full of more than just cookies!
Author Debra Sennefelder pens a well-thought-out cozy mystery with plenty of yummy baked goods, humor, and a wily perpetrator who’ll stop at nothing to cover up their crimes. This story has a great cast of main characters who I enjoyed getting to know and appreciate how they supported Mallory until her name was cleared. The mystery keeps your attention on the pages as you sift through the suspects for motive, means, and opportunity. Every ingredient is deftly added in and explained by the final page. The author graciously includes delicious cookie recipes for reader’s enjoyment. I highly recommend this new cozy mystery.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Land Books. All opinions are my own.
Author Debra Sennefelder pens a well-thought-out cozy mystery with plenty of yummy baked goods, humor, and a wily perpetrator who’ll stop at nothing to cover up their crimes. This story has a great cast of main characters who I enjoyed getting to know and appreciate how they supported Mallory until her name was cleared. The mystery keeps your attention on the pages as you sift through the suspects for motive, means, and opportunity. Every ingredient is deftly added in and explained by the final page. The author graciously includes delicious cookie recipes for reader’s enjoyment. I highly recommend this new cozy mystery.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Land Books. All opinions are my own.
June 5, 2023
What a great debut to a new series! A cookie shop that specializes in cookie bouquets...delicious, and was the epitome of cozy to me! I really liked that the character wasn't that gung-ho to jump into solving a crime, but reluctantly did out of self-preservation.
Really loved Kip and his loyalty to Mallory...hope Claudia thaws a little bit in the next book.
This book had me guessing til the end!
I would recommend this to any cozy lover!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Debra Sennefelder, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
Really loved Kip and his loyalty to Mallory...hope Claudia thaws a little bit in the next book.
This book had me guessing til the end!
I would recommend this to any cozy lover!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Debra Sennefelder, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
June 18, 2023
I received an advanced audiobook of “How the Murder Crumbles. A Cookie Shop Mystery” from NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media in exchange for an honest review.
Written by Debra Sennefelder and narrated by Ellen Quay, the first book in the Cookie Shop Mystery focuses on the main character, Mallory Monroe, who leaves her career as a New York advertiser to run her now-deceased Aunt Glenna’s bakery in Connecticut. Mallory is successful, but when Beatrice Wright is murdered and Mallory is the one last seen with her, it threatens to derail her success.
Kip and Claudia, who work for Mallory at the bakery, are interesting characters, along with Mallory’s cousin Darlene. The author made sure that I didn’t like Darlene during the first half of the book, but when Darlene apologized, the author made me like her.
There was very little, if anything, that I didn’t like about the book. The one thing I think that bothered me the most was how the MC Mallory treated Aspen aka Red. I get that Aspen was the ‘other woman’, but the way that MC acted when Aspen was obviously trying to help her made me care a little less about the MC. When the MC acted this way, it felt like she was kind of bullying Aspen and being really unappreciative.
There were several subplots and a ton of suspects. Sennefelder kept me guessing to the end of the book. When the author finally revealed ‘whodunnit’ I wasn’t expecting it. In fact, I kept a written list of the suspects, and the real murderer never even made it on my list! The author tied up all the loose ends (i.e., reader questions), so by the end of the book, I felt satisfied.
The narrator, Ellen Quay, is a voice actor whose many accomplishments can be viewed on her personal website. I’ve never heard Quay narrate for a book before, though she has narrated several books already. I have, however, listened to audiobooks and have to admit that her voice was the best that I’ve heard yet.
Quay’s voice was strong and dramatic. In the past, I’ve listened to audiobooks where the narrators either had a natural accent or a voice over accent and found it hard to understand the text as I was hearing it. I especially appreciate that the narrator used a standardized English pronunciation.
The author included 3 different cookie recipes at the back of the book, including the one cookie that featured prominently in the book: Almond Meltaways. As I listened to the book, I immediately became hungry when the author mentioned several cookies that I had grown up eating: Mexican Wedding Cakes and Snickerdoodles, for example.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and look forward to reading a copy of Sennefelder’s second book in the Cookie Shop Mystery series.
Written by Debra Sennefelder and narrated by Ellen Quay, the first book in the Cookie Shop Mystery focuses on the main character, Mallory Monroe, who leaves her career as a New York advertiser to run her now-deceased Aunt Glenna’s bakery in Connecticut. Mallory is successful, but when Beatrice Wright is murdered and Mallory is the one last seen with her, it threatens to derail her success.
Kip and Claudia, who work for Mallory at the bakery, are interesting characters, along with Mallory’s cousin Darlene. The author made sure that I didn’t like Darlene during the first half of the book, but when Darlene apologized, the author made me like her.
There was very little, if anything, that I didn’t like about the book. The one thing I think that bothered me the most was how the MC Mallory treated Aspen aka Red. I get that Aspen was the ‘other woman’, but the way that MC acted when Aspen was obviously trying to help her made me care a little less about the MC. When the MC acted this way, it felt like she was kind of bullying Aspen and being really unappreciative.
There were several subplots and a ton of suspects. Sennefelder kept me guessing to the end of the book. When the author finally revealed ‘whodunnit’ I wasn’t expecting it. In fact, I kept a written list of the suspects, and the real murderer never even made it on my list! The author tied up all the loose ends (i.e., reader questions), so by the end of the book, I felt satisfied.
The narrator, Ellen Quay, is a voice actor whose many accomplishments can be viewed on her personal website. I’ve never heard Quay narrate for a book before, though she has narrated several books already. I have, however, listened to audiobooks and have to admit that her voice was the best that I’ve heard yet.
Quay’s voice was strong and dramatic. In the past, I’ve listened to audiobooks where the narrators either had a natural accent or a voice over accent and found it hard to understand the text as I was hearing it. I especially appreciate that the narrator used a standardized English pronunciation.
The author included 3 different cookie recipes at the back of the book, including the one cookie that featured prominently in the book: Almond Meltaways. As I listened to the book, I immediately became hungry when the author mentioned several cookies that I had grown up eating: Mexican Wedding Cakes and Snickerdoodles, for example.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and look forward to reading a copy of Sennefelder’s second book in the Cookie Shop Mystery series.
June 20, 2025
4.25 🌟
Mood/Seasonal Reading: perfect for around May, when flowers are starting to sprout and the air is turning warm
This was so cute. It had just enough of a solid mystery to keep my attention with some intriguing side plots and characters. I found there were just a few too many characters to keep track of near the end but overall I was satisfied with the mystery.
Will absolutely pick up the next book in the series once it’s out.
Mood/Seasonal Reading: perfect for around May, when flowers are starting to sprout and the air is turning warm
This was so cute. It had just enough of a solid mystery to keep my attention with some intriguing side plots and characters. I found there were just a few too many characters to keep track of near the end but overall I was satisfied with the mystery.
Will absolutely pick up the next book in the series once it’s out.
July 2, 2023
I was so looking forward to the release of Debra Sennefelder’s first Cookie Shop Mystery, and it absolutely did not disappoint! From the get-go, I was invested in Mallory’s life, her trials and her troubles—not the least of which was finding herself a suspect in a murder. But the victim was the most despised woman in town, giving Mallory a slew of "possibles" to sift through in order to clear her name and flush out the real killer. I enjoyed this mystery so thoroughly that I slowed down my reading so I could absorb every clue, every red herring, every delectable detail, until the shocking reveal of the killer. The cookie bouquets were a delicious idea—an added bonus to an already winning cozy mystery.
June 18, 2023
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this first Cookie Shop Mystery, we meet Mallory Monroe who has taken over and updated her Aunt Glenda’s bakery following her passing. The former ad exec is now featuring cookies and cookie bouquets and offering a variety of classes. She also plans to feature a cookie from her aunt’s cookbook each month as a tribute to her. This month it is the Almond Meltaway. But it isn’t long before food blogger Beatrice Wright puts her on notice that the cookie recipe belongs to her and if she doesn’t stop selling them she will be contacting her lawyer. Later when Mallory goes to visit Beatrice to clear the air she finds the woman dead on her kitchen floor surrounded by flour and a marble rolling pin next to her body.
Now Mallory is the prime suspect in the murder and her business is a risk. Instead of clearing the air, she has to clear her name and fast and Detective Will Hannigan isn’t making it easy.
Ms. Sennefelder has set this series off to a great start. I really enjoyed getting to know Mallory Monroe and the rest of these core characters. Mallory is dealing with a lot. Within the first few pages, she learns he boyfriend was two-timing her and that she is at the top of a suspect list for a murder. Her best friend Kip Winslow works with her at her bakery. He also happens to be the son of the Chief of Police. His sister Lauren is a police officer and a good friend of Mallory’s too. Claudia Allen was an employee of her Aunt Glenda’s who has stayed on even though she is clearly not happy with Mallory’s changes. Mallory’s cousin Darlene is very involved in all the happenings around town. Detective Will Hannigan enters the picture in an amusing way shortly before he has to investigate the murder. And I can’t forget Mallory’s cat, Agatha. All the characters are interesting, but Kip was my absolute fave with his cute little jokes and the way he always had Mallory’s back.
I found the mystery to be quite captivating. Mallory really didn’t want to get involved but she didn’t have much choice with the way the evidence was stacking up. Her investigative style was a little clumsy and pushy at times but this is her first foray as an amateur sleuth so it was understandable. The same is true for her reactions when all the clues fell into place setting up an exciting showdown.
A lot of different things happened within this story. The author found a great balance between the main mystery and the subplots. I love the cookie shop theme and all the descriptions of the cookies and bouquets.
How the Murder Crumbles was a very enjoyable read and a great introduction to some entertaining characters. I absolutely loved the connection revealed on the final page that confirmed an inkling I had. I am excited for this series to continue.
In this first Cookie Shop Mystery, we meet Mallory Monroe who has taken over and updated her Aunt Glenda’s bakery following her passing. The former ad exec is now featuring cookies and cookie bouquets and offering a variety of classes. She also plans to feature a cookie from her aunt’s cookbook each month as a tribute to her. This month it is the Almond Meltaway. But it isn’t long before food blogger Beatrice Wright puts her on notice that the cookie recipe belongs to her and if she doesn’t stop selling them she will be contacting her lawyer. Later when Mallory goes to visit Beatrice to clear the air she finds the woman dead on her kitchen floor surrounded by flour and a marble rolling pin next to her body.
Now Mallory is the prime suspect in the murder and her business is a risk. Instead of clearing the air, she has to clear her name and fast and Detective Will Hannigan isn’t making it easy.
Ms. Sennefelder has set this series off to a great start. I really enjoyed getting to know Mallory Monroe and the rest of these core characters. Mallory is dealing with a lot. Within the first few pages, she learns he boyfriend was two-timing her and that she is at the top of a suspect list for a murder. Her best friend Kip Winslow works with her at her bakery. He also happens to be the son of the Chief of Police. His sister Lauren is a police officer and a good friend of Mallory’s too. Claudia Allen was an employee of her Aunt Glenda’s who has stayed on even though she is clearly not happy with Mallory’s changes. Mallory’s cousin Darlene is very involved in all the happenings around town. Detective Will Hannigan enters the picture in an amusing way shortly before he has to investigate the murder. And I can’t forget Mallory’s cat, Agatha. All the characters are interesting, but Kip was my absolute fave with his cute little jokes and the way he always had Mallory’s back.
I found the mystery to be quite captivating. Mallory really didn’t want to get involved but she didn’t have much choice with the way the evidence was stacking up. Her investigative style was a little clumsy and pushy at times but this is her first foray as an amateur sleuth so it was understandable. The same is true for her reactions when all the clues fell into place setting up an exciting showdown.
A lot of different things happened within this story. The author found a great balance between the main mystery and the subplots. I love the cookie shop theme and all the descriptions of the cookies and bouquets.
How the Murder Crumbles was a very enjoyable read and a great introduction to some entertaining characters. I absolutely loved the connection revealed on the final page that confirmed an inkling I had. I am excited for this series to continue.
June 23, 2023
I loved How the Murder Crumbles the first book in Debra Sennefelder's "A Cookie Shop Mystery" series. There is drama, romance and an absolutely expert mystery offering so many twists and turns that I was completely surprised by the ending. I really did not want this book to end, and can't wait for more!
I highly recommend it and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Mallory in this series and I look forward to reading the next book ...
I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I highly recommend it and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Mallory in this series and I look forward to reading the next book ...
I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
July 14, 2023
A good start to a brand new cozy mystery series and the narration by Ellen Quay makes it all the more fun and enjoyable. I received both an e-ARC and ALC from the publishers but I mainly listened to the audiobook. The book is well paced with a good plotline and nicely developed characters.
For some reason, while listening I kept hearing the female protagonist name as 'Marilyn Monroe' and it was mid-way until I checked the e-ARC and realised her name was Mallory Monroe 🙈😂. Just like Detective Colin Zabel kept popping up in my head whenever Detective Will Hannigan was described or made an appearance in the book 👀🤷♀️. I also learned that cookie bouquets are very much a thing (I want one) and the book ends with a few yummy cookie/biscuits recipes.
I enjoyed this one!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media and the author Debra Sennefelder for the ARC/ALC.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
For some reason, while listening I kept hearing the female protagonist name as 'Marilyn Monroe' and it was mid-way until I checked the e-ARC and realised her name was Mallory Monroe 🙈😂. Just like Detective Colin Zabel kept popping up in my head whenever Detective Will Hannigan was described or made an appearance in the book 👀🤷♀️. I also learned that cookie bouquets are very much a thing (I want one) and the book ends with a few yummy cookie/biscuits recipes.
I enjoyed this one!
My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media and the author Debra Sennefelder for the ARC/ALC.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
July 21, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ read!
I got to listen to this audiobook for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I love these "cozy" mysteries. This was very much in line with the Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden mysteries that I simply LOVE watching, and reading.
Debra Sennefelder did not disappoint with this book at all! It was such an amazing read, and I am sooo thankful I was able to get access tot his book! It was fun, and had me hooked from the first chapter, which doesn't always happen with books such as these. Debra Sennefelder really made characters that were compelling, and complex, and made the story incredibly interesting.
It kept me guessing each moment, and I loved the way the story kept building up and up, and it was honestly really well done. I will be reading more of her books in the future that is a guarantee!
I got to listen to this audiobook for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I love these "cozy" mysteries. This was very much in line with the Murder She Baked, Aurora Teagarden mysteries that I simply LOVE watching, and reading.
Debra Sennefelder did not disappoint with this book at all! It was such an amazing read, and I am sooo thankful I was able to get access tot his book! It was fun, and had me hooked from the first chapter, which doesn't always happen with books such as these. Debra Sennefelder really made characters that were compelling, and complex, and made the story incredibly interesting.
It kept me guessing each moment, and I loved the way the story kept building up and up, and it was honestly really well done. I will be reading more of her books in the future that is a guarantee!
March 4, 2023
Sennefelder is at it again with this start to her new Cookie Shop Mystery series! Mallory has taken over her aunt's cookie shop and has big dreams. But an argument with a good blogger who winds up dead has her in the sights of the hunky local police. And being accused of murder is doing her business no favors! So what's a baker to do? Solve the mystery herself, of course!
Y'all. I'd forgotten that I'd already tried this author before. I'd DNFed that one because the author introduced entirely too many characters right at the start. Well, this one was a bit better with that, but there were still entirely too many to keep track of. But this MC suffers from being TSTL. She's such an idiot. Some authors are good at these cozies where someone entirely unqualified is investigating a case without making them look like a moron. This author is not of of those. Every decision she made was asinine. I won't be reading more of these.
Release Date: 6/20/2023
Y'all. I'd forgotten that I'd already tried this author before. I'd DNFed that one because the author introduced entirely too many characters right at the start. Well, this one was a bit better with that, but there were still entirely too many to keep track of. But this MC suffers from being TSTL. She's such an idiot. Some authors are good at these cozies where someone entirely unqualified is investigating a case without making them look like a moron. This author is not of of those. Every decision she made was asinine. I won't be reading more of these.
Release Date: 6/20/2023
September 12, 2023
After losing out on a corporate promotion and the death of her beloved Aunt Glenna, Mallory Monroe has moved back to her hometown of Wingate, CT to reopen her aunt's bakery, specializing in cookie bouquets. Shortly before she is to deliver a big order to her boyfriend's place of business, she discovers him cheating on her with another woman! To make matters worse, Beatrice Wright, the Queen Bee of the town barges into the bakery to make a scene about Mallory's aunt stealing the recipe for Almond Meltaways! Bea tries to issue a cease and desist but Mallory refuses. The argument is VERY public and in front of a reporter and a hot guy with coffee who she later learns is a detective. If her day couldn't get any worse, Mallory skips out on a night in with her best friend Kip to speak with Bea one-on-one at Bea's home. When Mallory arrives, the lights are on but no one seems to be home. She lets herself in the kitchen in the back through an unlocked door and discovers Bea lying dead on the floor whacked over the head with a marble rolling pin! Of course hot coffee guy, Detective Will Hannigan, considers Mallory the prime suspect! Mallory knows she has to clear her name to save her reputation and business. A little gossip never hurt anyone, right?
This story is pretty much paint by numbers cozy mystery and I felt the writing was a bit bland. I never cared anything for the characters. There were too many people, too many suspects and the killer's motive seemed to come out of thin air. I guessed who and why just before Mallory. The clues were there but with everyone having an equally strong motive, it was impossible to guess. The female friendship subplot was refreshingly different and I actually enjoyed that the most. It came as a surprise. Mostly this one felt too long and slow to be a favorite. The cookie bouquets were unique and a different take on the baking theme but too fussy to recreate at home.
I don't know or care much about Mallory. She worked in HR in corporate advertising, loved baking with her aunt and has suddenly transitioned to being a full-time professional baker without any proper training or skills or even knowledge of how to run a business. She's a little bit whiny and poor me at times but she handles the shock of her cheating ex well. She refuses to even answer his calls or see him. Instead, she is befriended by the other woman, Aspen Leigh. Aspen is described as an "Elle Woods type" as in she presents as a ditzy fashionable young woman but is actually a sharp lawyer. She's a little overly friendly and intrusive at first but I grew to like her. I don't normally like bubbly, perky, fashionable characters but she's too nice not to love. Unless she's a lying murderer who killed Bea just to frame Mallory but that sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for someone she didn't even know existed two days ago! Their growing friendship is sweet. They're such opposites, they balance each other out and they can tag team against that loser Gil. Gil doesn't sound very bright. He thought he could date Aspen while still keeping Mel on hand just in case. I get the impression he's all about appearances, wealth and social status so now Mel isn't corporate and Aspen IS, he's actively pursuing Aspen for what he thinks she can do for him. It was pretty gutsy of him to do that considering he knows Mallory is in the same state and though she has a crazy work schedule, she is the boss and she will be stopping by his work soon so there was always the possibility she'd stop by his house or call while he was with Aspen. Good riddance!
Mallory's best friend is Kip, a neighborhood boy, son of the police chief, who broke from family tradition to become a pastry chef. He's cheerful and likes bad baking puns and romcoms. I get the impression he's supposed to be the stereotypical gay BFF. If he is gay, it should be part of his storyline and when accused of being Mallory's boyfriend, they could have cleared that up. Kip's job is to keep up Malloy's spirits. The only other employee is Claudia who is always grumpy and grumbling. She was friends with Aunt Glenna and Mallory tries to give the older woman the benefit of the doubt because everyone grieves in their own way, but really she's itching to give Claudia the boot. Claudia doesn't like any of the changes made in the bakery AT ALL and she's vocal about it. I actually kind of like her because she tells it like it is! Another naysayer is Mallory's cousin, Darlene Hughes, who is a passive aggressive b****! She doesn't appreciate anything Mallory does to carry on the family tradition and even goes behind Mallory's back to do spiteful things for some reason. I wanted Darlene to be the murderer until I learned she's the mother of a young girl. I don't think she'd murder someone and risk her community reputation and risk ruining her daughter's life. Hazel is very sweet and loves to bake like her grandma. Maybe she'll work at the bakery some day or even be a partner with Mallory. Did these people even discuss any of this or was it just
"Aunt Glenna wanted Mallory to have the bakery so Mallory gets the bakery." Bea's sister Liz is supportive but doesn't like Mallory investigating, especially NOT in her workplace. Like Claudia, she tells is like it is.
Other characters who will probably be recurring include Dugan Porter, a reporter for the local paper who is assigned to do an interview with Mallory. At first the interview goes well but then when Bea comes in, Dugan perks up and seems to relish the drama. His article is inflammatory and unflattering. He tries to blame it on his boss wanting a certain angle but he sure seemed interested in the drama. Dugan tries to make up for it by helping Mallory sleuth but he doesn't seem to know much about anything going on in town so how helpful is he really? Is he even a legit reporter? Ginger Dupont is a fun character. She's the resident romance author and seems to be doing quite well for herself. She loves drama and gossip but seems to be a genuinely nice person, not snobbish at all. She works hard for her treats and her fun.
Detective Will Hannigan is Mallory's new love interest. He's attractive/sexy and Mallory can't stop staring. She's reduced to babbling in front of him. He seems sympathetic to her problems and he's doing his job! His job is to gather the evidence and find a likely suspect. I don't think he personally thinks Mallory did it but he has to consider it. He warns her off sleuthing a number of times but doesn't get angry when she ignores him. I guess that makes him OK. Kip's sister Lauren, a police officer, is also Mallory's friend and is willing to share what she can during the investigation but not go too far to violate any ethics or break laws. She's a good cop.
"Queen Bea" Wright is the typical mean girl of small towns. She's a food blogger determined to thwart Mallory's business with her own cookbook of her own recipes, including Aunt Glenna's Almond Meltaways. Rather than discuss the issue privately with Mallory, she chooses to make a huge stink in the middle of the work day. Bea was involved in numerous charities and events around town and was not at all liked. She's a cheating, gossiping, nosy lady. The police will have a hard time finding out who did NOT want to kill her.
Ernie Hollis works in the admissions department of the local college. His late wife was a champion pie baker and since her death, he's carried on that tradition. Until Queen Bea threw a hissy fit and cancelled the competition. What is she 5? It's sweet that he's carrying on in his wife's memory. He seems a little lonely and lost without the pie baking competition. He has a couple of good reasons to hate Bea and want to see her dead but I don't think he has it in him to even lose his temper enough to lash out at someone. Elana Peterson takes Mallory's cooking decorating class but doesn't seem to be having fun. She's going through marital trouble and something is seriously wrong. She may even be a murderer or know who is! I suspect her husband is having an affair with Queen Bea. Whatever Bea wants, she gets. Natalie Kellogg is a gossipy neighbor quick to share what she knows with Mallory but she may be an unreliable witness and possibly even a murderer!
I do suspect Bea's husband, Daniel! They're estranged and she won't sign the divorce papers. He needs money and she had it all. I can easily see an argument going wrong. Bea suspected her husband of cheating. Luke Collins is a food photographer who did some work for Bea. When Mallory does some digging on Luke and his relationship with Bea, she realizes he's lied to her. Does that alone make him a suspect? Not necessarily but he does have reason to hate Bea and he does have a chip on his shoulder and a temper. I think he did it. Evelyn Brinkley is Bea's reclusive neighbor. The two didn't get along and Evelyn spent most of her time at the far opposite end of her own house from where Bea hung out in her own house. Evelyn claims not to have seen or heard anything but is rattled enough to be ferociously weeding when Mallory comes sleuthing. Caitlyn, of the Mums, Merlot and Mozart board also has a reason to hate Bea but it's really not a good one. Her secret is shameful and shocking but it would have been much worse. Thankfully it wasn't. She seems too timid and nice to argue with Bea and hit someone over the head with a rolling pin.
So which one killed Bea? Does anyone except Will care? Mallory only cares to clear her name. No one is mourning this woman's death! Yes but that's the way I like my plots! I'm not sure I want to read any more about Mallory but this story was free on Hoopla and perfect for a rainy day!
This story is pretty much paint by numbers cozy mystery and I felt the writing was a bit bland. I never cared anything for the characters. There were too many people, too many suspects and the killer's motive seemed to come out of thin air. I guessed who and why just before Mallory. The clues were there but with everyone having an equally strong motive, it was impossible to guess. The female friendship subplot was refreshingly different and I actually enjoyed that the most. It came as a surprise. Mostly this one felt too long and slow to be a favorite. The cookie bouquets were unique and a different take on the baking theme but too fussy to recreate at home.
I don't know or care much about Mallory. She worked in HR in corporate advertising, loved baking with her aunt and has suddenly transitioned to being a full-time professional baker without any proper training or skills or even knowledge of how to run a business. She's a little bit whiny and poor me at times but she handles the shock of her cheating ex well. She refuses to even answer his calls or see him. Instead, she is befriended by the other woman, Aspen Leigh. Aspen is described as an "Elle Woods type" as in she presents as a ditzy fashionable young woman but is actually a sharp lawyer. She's a little overly friendly and intrusive at first but I grew to like her. I don't normally like bubbly, perky, fashionable characters but she's too nice not to love. Unless she's a lying murderer who killed Bea just to frame Mallory but that sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for someone she didn't even know existed two days ago! Their growing friendship is sweet. They're such opposites, they balance each other out and they can tag team against that loser Gil. Gil doesn't sound very bright. He thought he could date Aspen while still keeping Mel on hand just in case. I get the impression he's all about appearances, wealth and social status so now Mel isn't corporate and Aspen IS, he's actively pursuing Aspen for what he thinks she can do for him. It was pretty gutsy of him to do that considering he knows Mallory is in the same state and though she has a crazy work schedule, she is the boss and she will be stopping by his work soon so there was always the possibility she'd stop by his house or call while he was with Aspen. Good riddance!
Mallory's best friend is Kip, a neighborhood boy, son of the police chief, who broke from family tradition to become a pastry chef. He's cheerful and likes bad baking puns and romcoms. I get the impression he's supposed to be the stereotypical gay BFF. If he is gay, it should be part of his storyline and when accused of being Mallory's boyfriend, they could have cleared that up. Kip's job is to keep up Malloy's spirits. The only other employee is Claudia who is always grumpy and grumbling. She was friends with Aunt Glenna and Mallory tries to give the older woman the benefit of the doubt because everyone grieves in their own way, but really she's itching to give Claudia the boot. Claudia doesn't like any of the changes made in the bakery AT ALL and she's vocal about it. I actually kind of like her because she tells it like it is! Another naysayer is Mallory's cousin, Darlene Hughes, who is a passive aggressive b****! She doesn't appreciate anything Mallory does to carry on the family tradition and even goes behind Mallory's back to do spiteful things for some reason. I wanted Darlene to be the murderer until I learned she's the mother of a young girl. I don't think she'd murder someone and risk her community reputation and risk ruining her daughter's life. Hazel is very sweet and loves to bake like her grandma. Maybe she'll work at the bakery some day or even be a partner with Mallory. Did these people even discuss any of this or was it just
"Aunt Glenna wanted Mallory to have the bakery so Mallory gets the bakery." Bea's sister Liz is supportive but doesn't like Mallory investigating, especially NOT in her workplace. Like Claudia, she tells is like it is.
Other characters who will probably be recurring include Dugan Porter, a reporter for the local paper who is assigned to do an interview with Mallory. At first the interview goes well but then when Bea comes in, Dugan perks up and seems to relish the drama. His article is inflammatory and unflattering. He tries to blame it on his boss wanting a certain angle but he sure seemed interested in the drama. Dugan tries to make up for it by helping Mallory sleuth but he doesn't seem to know much about anything going on in town so how helpful is he really? Is he even a legit reporter? Ginger Dupont is a fun character. She's the resident romance author and seems to be doing quite well for herself. She loves drama and gossip but seems to be a genuinely nice person, not snobbish at all. She works hard for her treats and her fun.
Detective Will Hannigan is Mallory's new love interest. He's attractive/sexy and Mallory can't stop staring. She's reduced to babbling in front of him. He seems sympathetic to her problems and he's doing his job! His job is to gather the evidence and find a likely suspect. I don't think he personally thinks Mallory did it but he has to consider it. He warns her off sleuthing a number of times but doesn't get angry when she ignores him. I guess that makes him OK. Kip's sister Lauren, a police officer, is also Mallory's friend and is willing to share what she can during the investigation but not go too far to violate any ethics or break laws. She's a good cop.
"Queen Bea" Wright is the typical mean girl of small towns. She's a food blogger determined to thwart Mallory's business with her own cookbook of her own recipes, including Aunt Glenna's Almond Meltaways. Rather than discuss the issue privately with Mallory, she chooses to make a huge stink in the middle of the work day. Bea was involved in numerous charities and events around town and was not at all liked. She's a cheating, gossiping, nosy lady. The police will have a hard time finding out who did NOT want to kill her.
Ernie Hollis works in the admissions department of the local college. His late wife was a champion pie baker and since her death, he's carried on that tradition. Until Queen Bea threw a hissy fit and cancelled the competition. What is she 5? It's sweet that he's carrying on in his wife's memory. He seems a little lonely and lost without the pie baking competition. He has a couple of good reasons to hate Bea and want to see her dead but I don't think he has it in him to even lose his temper enough to lash out at someone. Elana Peterson takes Mallory's cooking decorating class but doesn't seem to be having fun. She's going through marital trouble and something is seriously wrong. She may even be a murderer or know who is! I suspect her husband is having an affair with Queen Bea. Whatever Bea wants, she gets. Natalie Kellogg is a gossipy neighbor quick to share what she knows with Mallory but she may be an unreliable witness and possibly even a murderer!
I do suspect Bea's husband, Daniel! They're estranged and she won't sign the divorce papers. He needs money and she had it all. I can easily see an argument going wrong. Bea suspected her husband of cheating. Luke Collins is a food photographer who did some work for Bea. When Mallory does some digging on Luke and his relationship with Bea, she realizes he's lied to her. Does that alone make him a suspect? Not necessarily but he does have reason to hate Bea and he does have a chip on his shoulder and a temper. I think he did it. Evelyn Brinkley is Bea's reclusive neighbor. The two didn't get along and Evelyn spent most of her time at the far opposite end of her own house from where Bea hung out in her own house. Evelyn claims not to have seen or heard anything but is rattled enough to be ferociously weeding when Mallory comes sleuthing. Caitlyn, of the Mums, Merlot and Mozart board also has a reason to hate Bea but it's really not a good one. Her secret is shameful and shocking but it would have been much worse. Thankfully it wasn't. She seems too timid and nice to argue with Bea and hit someone over the head with a rolling pin.
So which one killed Bea? Does anyone except Will care? Mallory only cares to clear her name. No one is mourning this woman's death! Yes but that's the way I like my plots! I'm not sure I want to read any more about Mallory but this story was free on Hoopla and perfect for a rainy day!
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September 10, 2023This is a great debut to a new cozy series! The theme is cute, and I loved following our protagonist Mallory as she worked to solve the mystery. The mystery kept me guessing until the end!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-and audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-and audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC.
I absolutely loved the start to this new series. So good! Loved the setting, characters, plot, everything! Definitely looking forward to the next book. The cookies sound delicious with easy recipes included.
I absolutely loved the start to this new series. So good! Loved the setting, characters, plot, everything! Definitely looking forward to the next book. The cookies sound delicious with easy recipes included.
November 6, 2022
It took me a few chapters before I really started to enjoy How the Murder Crumbles.
First books in a new series usually do this to me, but I am happy that I continued on, as it became more interesting as the story progressed.
Mallory designs unique cookie bouquets and I like that this features a fun twist on the traditional sweet.
An argument between Mallory and a resident known as Queen Bea, puts Mallory at the top of the suspect list when Bea is found, dead.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#HowtheMurderCrumbles #NetGalley
First books in a new series usually do this to me, but I am happy that I continued on, as it became more interesting as the story progressed.
Mallory designs unique cookie bouquets and I like that this features a fun twist on the traditional sweet.
An argument between Mallory and a resident known as Queen Bea, puts Mallory at the top of the suspect list when Bea is found, dead.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#HowtheMurderCrumbles #NetGalley
June 7, 2023
Great start to a new series! I like the setting and the characters, particularly Aspen. Mallory is OK but tends to make a lot of TSTL mistakes; hoping those go away as the series progresses. This was a well-paced and intriguing mystery. Looking forward to continuing the series.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @Dreamscape_Media for an honest review.
November 30, 2023
A fun new start to a new series.
Mallory Monroe owns her own little Cookie Shop. When a local food blogger shows up in her shop accusing Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe publicly, things can't seem to get any worse for Malloy - until that said blogger ends up dead and Mallory is the one who discovers her body.
This was such a fun new read. I adored Mallory, especially her passion for cookies was endearing and fun.
The mystery was fun to follow and kept me interested for the most part. I do feel like the pace slowed down from time to time, but during winter wrapped in a cozy blanket, it's perfect.
Adored all the side characters as well which added to the relationships and the story overall. I am looking forward to the next book in this fun new, delicious series.
Mallory Monroe owns her own little Cookie Shop. When a local food blogger shows up in her shop accusing Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe publicly, things can't seem to get any worse for Malloy - until that said blogger ends up dead and Mallory is the one who discovers her body.
This was such a fun new read. I adored Mallory, especially her passion for cookies was endearing and fun.
The mystery was fun to follow and kept me interested for the most part. I do feel like the pace slowed down from time to time, but during winter wrapped in a cozy blanket, it's perfect.
Adored all the side characters as well which added to the relationships and the story overall. I am looking forward to the next book in this fun new, delicious series.
June 11, 2023
Mallory Monroe loves baking and decorating cookies that are like works of art. Her shop is in a town in Connecticut that is known for wonderful shops, but things are not as good as they should be. Her two employees are a disaster, and she has just broken up with her boyfriend. A local blogger, accuses her of stealing her cookie recipe, which Mallory vehemently denies. When said blogger, Beatrice, ends up dead while baking cookies, clobbered by a marble rolling pin, Mallory becomes the number one suspect. It is time to clear her name and save her business, so she begins an investigation of her own.
This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I have been reading two other series by Debra Sennefelder, so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this one and I did. Mallory is a great character and I love that she isn't just a baker, but an artist when it comes to decorating cookies. I also liked that she listened to her customers so she could give them exactly what they wanted. It is that listening skill that helps her with her investigation. I liked when she commented to the detective who was upset with her for investigating, "I can't help it if people tell me things." As the investigation proceeds, it becomes obvious that Beatrice wasn't a very nice person and there was more than one person who might have done her in. As Mallory gets closer to discovering what happened, she is threatened so knows she is on the right track. I love that people confessed other crimes to her and she ended up helping arrest several other people who had broken the law. The final showdown surprised me, as I didn't suspect the killer at all, but it fit well together and I enjoyed the story. This is a well written and plotted story with great characters. The side stories helped us to get to know the characters and I definitely enjoyed this one. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a culinary cozy mystery. Ellen Quay narrated this audiobook and did a nice job. This is the first time I have listened to this voice performer and I enjoyed her voice and the expression she used in the story.
This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I have been reading two other series by Debra Sennefelder, so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this one and I did. Mallory is a great character and I love that she isn't just a baker, but an artist when it comes to decorating cookies. I also liked that she listened to her customers so she could give them exactly what they wanted. It is that listening skill that helps her with her investigation. I liked when she commented to the detective who was upset with her for investigating, "I can't help it if people tell me things." As the investigation proceeds, it becomes obvious that Beatrice wasn't a very nice person and there was more than one person who might have done her in. As Mallory gets closer to discovering what happened, she is threatened so knows she is on the right track. I love that people confessed other crimes to her and she ended up helping arrest several other people who had broken the law. The final showdown surprised me, as I didn't suspect the killer at all, but it fit well together and I enjoyed the story. This is a well written and plotted story with great characters. The side stories helped us to get to know the characters and I definitely enjoyed this one. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a culinary cozy mystery. Ellen Quay narrated this audiobook and did a nice job. This is the first time I have listened to this voice performer and I enjoyed her voice and the expression she used in the story.
August 14, 2023
First and foremost, thank you so much to Dreamscape Media, Debra Sennefelder, and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook!
This book was such a fun read for me on my daily walks. I absolutely love a murder mystery but even more so when I get to own and operate a small business along side my main character. This one follows Mallory who owns a cookie shop in Wingate, Connecticut!
Are you hooked yet? You should be!
Not only is this book filled with silly cookie puns and a recipe at the end, Mallory is happy living her quiet life until she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her the entire time. Then a local food blogger accused her of stealing her cookie recipe! To put a chocolate chip on top, said food blogger turns up dead and Mallory finds the body! Dum dum dummmmm!
THEN the girl her ex was cheating on her with MOVED TO TOWN and rents the flat above the cookie shop!!
Guys, as a gemini, I loved the drama! I don't want to give anything away so I shut my mouth but I will say you'll root for Mallory and her small business. You'll also love her cat, Agatha (named after Christie!).
Anyway, you'll get loads of small town gossip, two potential love interests, great friends and tons of community support. I super enjoyed this book and Ellen Quay was a fantastic narrator! Def a book I recommend to anyone interested in murder mysteries.
Blog Post: https://onthetripside.com/2023/05/boo...
This is a review of the audiobook.
This book was such a fun read for me on my daily walks. I absolutely love a murder mystery but even more so when I get to own and operate a small business along side my main character. This one follows Mallory who owns a cookie shop in Wingate, Connecticut!
Are you hooked yet? You should be!
Not only is this book filled with silly cookie puns and a recipe at the end, Mallory is happy living her quiet life until she discovers her boyfriend has been cheating on her the entire time. Then a local food blogger accused her of stealing her cookie recipe! To put a chocolate chip on top, said food blogger turns up dead and Mallory finds the body! Dum dum dummmmm!
THEN the girl her ex was cheating on her with MOVED TO TOWN and rents the flat above the cookie shop!!
Guys, as a gemini, I loved the drama! I don't want to give anything away so I shut my mouth but I will say you'll root for Mallory and her small business. You'll also love her cat, Agatha (named after Christie!).
Anyway, you'll get loads of small town gossip, two potential love interests, great friends and tons of community support. I super enjoyed this book and Ellen Quay was a fantastic narrator! Def a book I recommend to anyone interested in murder mysteries.
Blog Post: https://onthetripside.com/2023/05/boo...
This is a review of the audiobook.
December 21, 2022
This was new to me author and I really enjoyed this book. This is not my first cozy I have read written with a cookie store as the main characters place of business but this was a fresh take on this theme that I appreciated.
Mallory is strong independent woman who was done wrong by her boyfriend right as she is starting her new cookie shop business. She has a mix of good friends and not so good ‘friends’ who help her get over Gil’s betrayal.
Mallory has an heated argument with the town gossip over one of her Aunt’s recipes. Mallory feels bad about this and decides to go to Beatrice’s house to settle things regarding this recipe. Once she gets there she stumbles upon Beatrice’s dead body and becomes a suspect in the investigation.
The detective is a cute guy that Mallory is attracted to but afraid to consider due to her just getting out of a relationship with her ex.
The third thing Mallory has to deal with is her cousin trying to sell the building her business is in literally out from under her.
So lots of problems snd mysteries for Mallory to figure out in a short amount of time.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
Mallory is strong independent woman who was done wrong by her boyfriend right as she is starting her new cookie shop business. She has a mix of good friends and not so good ‘friends’ who help her get over Gil’s betrayal.
Mallory has an heated argument with the town gossip over one of her Aunt’s recipes. Mallory feels bad about this and decides to go to Beatrice’s house to settle things regarding this recipe. Once she gets there she stumbles upon Beatrice’s dead body and becomes a suspect in the investigation.
The detective is a cute guy that Mallory is attracted to but afraid to consider due to her just getting out of a relationship with her ex.
The third thing Mallory has to deal with is her cousin trying to sell the building her business is in literally out from under her.
So lots of problems snd mysteries for Mallory to figure out in a short amount of time.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
This is an honest review of ARC I received from NetGalley.
October 22, 2023
Ah, cookies. I knew I was going to like this series. I love cookies. Mallory now owns her aunt's cookie shop. Beatrice tends to cause trouble and accuses Mallory of stealing her recipe. After "Queen B" ends up dead, Mallory is trying to find the truth and clear her name. This book had my attention from chapter 1 and I did not want to set the book down until I was done. I am already excited to read book 2!!
November 12, 2023
Mallory Monroe loves to say, "Welcome to The Cookie Shop," as customers enter her shop in Wingate, Connecticut. Purchasing the store from Aunt Glenna, Mallory is excited to continue offering her aunt's recipes as her aunt is the one who instilled her love of baking cookies. Mallory has not only redecorated the shop but is offering her twist on baking by creating cookie bouquets for all occasions. However, there are unplanned and unexpected twists for Mallory when a spontaneous decision to surprise her boyfriend goes awry. During a conversation with Dugan Porter, a reporter with the Connecticut Chronicle, food blogger Beatrice Wright arrives in the shop accusing Mallory of stealing a cookie recipe. Mallory can't listen calmly to the accusations, and that's another tilt of the axis with more challenges to come in Mallory's life.
Cookies are my favorite treat, so it was easy to daydream of visiting Mallory's shop. Mallory loves to read mysteries while relaxing at home after a busy day, which is my favorite genre, too, and I loved that Mallory named her gray and white cat Agatha.
Reading the opening story of a new cozy mystery series also brings the delights of the names of the various businesses. For this series, charming business names are Heavenly Roast Coffee Café, Curls N' Waves (hair salon), Rock, Pop, and Jazz (the shop where Mallory purchased old vinyl), and Just One More Chapter (the bookshop where Mallory buys her mysteries).
The mystery is well written with multiple themes, intensifying the interesting storyline and creating red herrings. I didn't guess the end of the investigation. I'm not sure why I didn't warm up to Mallory right from the start, but as the story continued, I wanted everything to turn in a positive direction for her.
Cookie recipes are included at the end of the novel.
I look forward to reading more of this new series!
Cookies are my favorite treat, so it was easy to daydream of visiting Mallory's shop. Mallory loves to read mysteries while relaxing at home after a busy day, which is my favorite genre, too, and I loved that Mallory named her gray and white cat Agatha.
Reading the opening story of a new cozy mystery series also brings the delights of the names of the various businesses. For this series, charming business names are Heavenly Roast Coffee Café, Curls N' Waves (hair salon), Rock, Pop, and Jazz (the shop where Mallory purchased old vinyl), and Just One More Chapter (the bookshop where Mallory buys her mysteries).
The mystery is well written with multiple themes, intensifying the interesting storyline and creating red herrings. I didn't guess the end of the investigation. I'm not sure why I didn't warm up to Mallory right from the start, but as the story continued, I wanted everything to turn in a positive direction for her.
Cookie recipes are included at the end of the novel.
I look forward to reading more of this new series!
June 19, 2023
Mallory Monroe runs the Cookie Shop. Nothing makes her happier than creating beautiful and delicious cookies. It is especially helpful for her after finding out her boyfriend was cheating on her.
Things don’t seem to be getting any better when a food blogger accuses Mallory of using one of her recipes, which she insists was stolen from her. When the blogger ends up dead, all eyes turn towards Mallory as the number one suspect. Fearful that it will destroy her business, Mallory sets out to clear her name and find the real killer.
This is the first book in the Cookie Shop Mystery series and it’s off to a very good start. It took me some time to warm up to the characters, but as I got to know them, I really liked each one. The best characters to me were Mallory and her BFF Kip. They make a great sleuthing team. Of course, I also loved Mallory’s kitty Agatha. You know I can’t resist a sweet kitty. I just wish she was featured in the book more. Maybe next time.
The storyline moved at a steady pace. There were many potential suspects. I kept changing my mind who the culprit was. The author has a great knack for throwing me off the killer’s trail.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. It has the potential to be a “must read” one for me. It’s filled with intrigue, fun and interesting characters. My one big complaint - this book left me craving for cookies!
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Things don’t seem to be getting any better when a food blogger accuses Mallory of using one of her recipes, which she insists was stolen from her. When the blogger ends up dead, all eyes turn towards Mallory as the number one suspect. Fearful that it will destroy her business, Mallory sets out to clear her name and find the real killer.
This is the first book in the Cookie Shop Mystery series and it’s off to a very good start. It took me some time to warm up to the characters, but as I got to know them, I really liked each one. The best characters to me were Mallory and her BFF Kip. They make a great sleuthing team. Of course, I also loved Mallory’s kitty Agatha. You know I can’t resist a sweet kitty. I just wish she was featured in the book more. Maybe next time.
The storyline moved at a steady pace. There were many potential suspects. I kept changing my mind who the culprit was. The author has a great knack for throwing me off the killer’s trail.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series. It has the potential to be a “must read” one for me. It’s filled with intrigue, fun and interesting characters. My one big complaint - this book left me craving for cookies!
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from Edelweiss and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 30, 2022
I'm giving this book a 4 star rating. It was really cute and I love the idea of the main character owning a cookie shop! My inner Cookie Monster was sold on this book! What really worked for me was the fact that when Mallory had to go follow up on some clues, she brought cookies with her. That's so clever. Who is going to be suspicious of the lady bringing cookies? I also liked the relationship between Aspen and Mallory. Despite the circumstances, they worked well together and I want to see more of them in the future.
The only thing that really didn't work for me was too many suspects. It was difficult to remember who was who.
I eagerly hope that there is more to this series. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to patrons at my library.
I would love to thank Crooked Lane for this ARC.
The only thing that really didn't work for me was too many suspects. It was difficult to remember who was who.
I eagerly hope that there is more to this series. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to patrons at my library.
I would love to thank Crooked Lane for this ARC.
November 21, 2022
Contempoary culinary cozy
Ms. Sennefelder crafts an amusing culinary small town cozy with lots of different types of characters, some with believable reasons to have committed the murder. Fingers pointed to Mallory, enough though her only interaction was the day before when the victim created a scene in her bakery in front of a lot of people, including a reporter. This lead Mallory to snoop all over town to clear herself, finding many other suspects with motive. The characters are well defined and can invoke different reactions, depending on their current interaction.
It moves along quickly and I would recommend to any cozy lover as I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.
Ms. Sennefelder crafts an amusing culinary small town cozy with lots of different types of characters, some with believable reasons to have committed the murder. Fingers pointed to Mallory, enough though her only interaction was the day before when the victim created a scene in her bakery in front of a lot of people, including a reporter. This lead Mallory to snoop all over town to clear herself, finding many other suspects with motive. The characters are well defined and can invoke different reactions, depending on their current interaction.
It moves along quickly and I would recommend to any cozy lover as I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same.
June 24, 2023
Narrator: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main character: ⭐️
How the Murder Crumbles is
Book 1 in the Cookie Shop Mystery series from Debra Sennefelder. This was my first book from the author, and I was glad to be able to start from the beginning of this series. I'm not a regular reader of cozy mysteries, but do enjoy them. The small town baker solving murders has been done, you've probably read them or even watched the Hallmark series. This being an unoriginal idea is something I wasn't going to hold against the book, but truth be told the entire baking thing annoyed me. By the end I was *so* tired of hearing about Mallory's freaking cookie bouquets. Heck, I was so tired of Mallory period. I found her immature, pushy, ungrateful, unappreciative, and so full of herself. She acts as though she invented decorated cookies, and the way people fawn over them was really over the top. She was so downright rude to people when questioning/accusing them (not her job btw) that I can't imagine those neighbors wanting anything to do with her in future books. Her business is supposedly struggling but she's *never* there. I don't know how she found the time to decorate all of those "little works of art" when she had little to do with the baking at all. These are small but some things that bothered me, the author kept describing things as "lyrical" and grown adults were constantly scrunching or wrinkling their noses at things. I found the writing often too descriptive, and the story got bogged down because of it. The detective is endlessly amused by everything Mallory says, no matter how unfunny or not clever it is.
I give cozies a lot of leeway when reading/rating, but I just can't with this series. Not with such an unlikable main character. The way she treated Aspen was really appalling and insta-turned me off the MC. The supporting characters were pretty lovely, I have to say. I won't be picking up another book in this series, but would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, as it was otherwise enjoyable despite the MC and what I felt was a rather rushed conclusion.
The book was narrated by Ellen Quay, who did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. She has a pleasant, and clear reading voice, and the characters were distinguishable enough. Her child's voice is really spot-on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook I received in exchange for an honest review.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Main character: ⭐️
How the Murder Crumbles is
Book 1 in the Cookie Shop Mystery series from Debra Sennefelder. This was my first book from the author, and I was glad to be able to start from the beginning of this series. I'm not a regular reader of cozy mysteries, but do enjoy them. The small town baker solving murders has been done, you've probably read them or even watched the Hallmark series. This being an unoriginal idea is something I wasn't going to hold against the book, but truth be told the entire baking thing annoyed me. By the end I was *so* tired of hearing about Mallory's freaking cookie bouquets. Heck, I was so tired of Mallory period. I found her immature, pushy, ungrateful, unappreciative, and so full of herself. She acts as though she invented decorated cookies, and the way people fawn over them was really over the top. She was so downright rude to people when questioning/accusing them (not her job btw) that I can't imagine those neighbors wanting anything to do with her in future books. Her business is supposedly struggling but she's *never* there. I don't know how she found the time to decorate all of those "little works of art" when she had little to do with the baking at all. These are small but some things that bothered me, the author kept describing things as "lyrical" and grown adults were constantly scrunching or wrinkling their noses at things. I found the writing often too descriptive, and the story got bogged down because of it. The detective is endlessly amused by everything Mallory says, no matter how unfunny or not clever it is.
I give cozies a lot of leeway when reading/rating, but I just can't with this series. Not with such an unlikable main character. The way she treated Aspen was really appalling and insta-turned me off the MC. The supporting characters were pretty lovely, I have to say. I won't be picking up another book in this series, but would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, as it was otherwise enjoyable despite the MC and what I felt was a rather rushed conclusion.
The book was narrated by Ellen Quay, who did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. She has a pleasant, and clear reading voice, and the characters were distinguishable enough. Her child's voice is really spot-on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook I received in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
November 2, 2022I DNF'd this one at 41% as it wasn't gripping me. I didn't really like the main character and how she handled things and interacted with the other characters. And everyone was kinda mean and judgy to her as well. The mystery didn't grab my attention either and felt a bit too typical with the set up where the main character has a public argument with the lady who died and now she's the main suspects.
June 12, 2023
Good start to a new series, but our MC is a bit…not so loveable? However, the mystery and the side characters have me wanting to give the next book a try and see if things firm up for the better.
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