Murder in the Mix

Shilpa Solanki Mystery #3

by Marissa De Luna

A baker’s New Year’s Eve catering gig on a private island winds up being a countdown to murder . . .

Devon’s queen of desserts, Shilpa Solanki, has a chance to spend New Year’s on a rich man’s private island. All she has to do is teach a cooking class and bake an exquisite cake befitting the birthday of a spoiled young heiress.

When the birthday girl suddenly collapses like an overdone soufflé, signs point to murder. With family secrets, a looming inheritance, and potential suspects scattered across the island, Shilpa’s got her sleuthing work cut out for her. But will she find the killer, have her cake, and be able to eat it, too?

Genres: Mystery

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2022

About the author

Marissa de Luna started writing in 2007 when she took a career break to travel. She is an up and coming young author with a passion for travel. She is currently working on a cosy crime series set in Devon. Her latest in the series is titled Murder in the Mix and is published by Bloodhound Books.

Reviews

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third of the series and I'd recommend you read the first two before you read this, if only to get better acquainted with Shilpa and her companions.

Shilpa is asked to bake a cake and teach a cookery class on a private island on New Year's Eve. The family who are attending this party are all quite nasty characters, full of self-importance and various secrets. Even the staff seem to be hiding something. It isn't long before a murder is committed and Shilpa once again can't help but look into things.

Like the previous books, this was a terrific read. I enjoy Shilpa's relationship with her nagging mother, and her friends are a decent bunch. All the baking related parts have me drooling. Although the story took a while before the murder happened, I enjoyed the build-up to it and once it was done, things ramped up. I guessed one of the twists towards the end but not the actual full extent of it so it was great to be taken by surprise. There's a good ending too leading nicely to another story. I hope so anyway.

My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of this, and this is my honest review.

[Sandra Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story comes out December 12, 2022. The paperback is available November 28th of 2022. This story of a murder solver Shilpa Solanki. In this story Shilpa is already in the beginning of a griping scene of a body. But her partner play on a drama murder mystery, then Shilpa been invited to Dreamcatcher Island she was being offered a stay at one of its smaller properties on the island, The owner asked for Shilpa Solanki asked for her personally. It came with the condition to make an exquisite passion fruit and chocolate birthday cake & to run a baking lesson for the guests. The pay made Shilpa say, "Yes" to the owner and her friends and partner are allowed to come with her to the Rose Cottage on the island. This story is intriguing, interesting, and compelling to read. Great for New Year to cozy up with this novel.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and although this works as a standalone, the author does seem to assume the reader knows about the repeat characters - as such, I would recommend reading the first two if you can!

Baker Shilpa is invited to provide the cake for an exclusive 30th birthday, to which she and her three friends are invited. The event is taking place on New Year's Eve, on a small island only inhabited by the party guests (all family and partners) and a solitary figure whom Shilpa is advised to stay away from. When one of the island guests dies in mysterious circumstances, can Shilpa help solve the crime?

A fun cosy mystery. I did struggle to get into the book at first, lots of characters introduced very quickly, but I persevered and soon enjoyed the whodunnit.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this sweet mystery story. This is still a newer author for me which I enjoy her writing style as well as her attention to details that bring the story to life. This is one of my favorites by this author yet. This is a well written story about a dead birthday girl. family secrets and a whole pile of suspects. This is a great story that has great growth throughout the story. I found the characters to be relateable and truly made the story for me. They kept the story engaging and hard to put down. The mystery had me questioning on who did it throughout and I couldn't wait to see if I was right. This is such a great story and I highly recommend it.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book is number three on the series it can be read as a standalone.
On this occasion we find Shilpa being hired to give a cooking class on New Years in an Island to an uber rich, dysfunctional family. Of course after New Years Eve party there is a murder and she's trying to find who did it.
Everyone in this family has secrets and all of them could have been the killer, the story keeps you interested with all the little snippets and details given throughout the plot development.
As usual we are drawn to Shilpa and her friends and if you like cakes you'll want to eat her creations with the way that the author describes Shilpa's creations.

[Alli Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Years Eve party turns to murder! This is the third book in the Shilpa Solanki series and I felt a little like I needed to read the first two books first. Shilpa has such an interesting backstory and this book only gave a snippet so I am going to start from the beginning.
I do enjoy a good whodunnit, and there was quite a long lead up to the crime. Lots of unlikeable, entitled characters, with their own interwoven web of lies. If you like a Poirot type book, this is the one for you. It wasn’t too heavy or procedural. A nice, cosy mystery.

[Michelle Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series and although I have read the first two it would work well as a stand alone.

Shilpa is invited to teach a class and bake a cake for a 30th Birthday on an Island and as it is New Years Eve her friends come along. One of the guests dies in mysterious circumstances and Shilpa tries to solve the crime.

A great locked room (island) cosy mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to Shilpa´s next adventure.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for my ARC

[Sian Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book and the second one I’ve read and I couldn’t put it down, you can read it as a stand-alone but highly recommend reading the previous books.

Shilpa queen of baking in Devon is back and not just her baking skills are needed, her amateur sleuthing is also called upon and she’s ready to find out what happened to a rich heiress who dies suddenly on her 30th birthday

With her friends in tow nothing is going to stop her finding the truth

Loved this book

[Rhian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and Marissa de Luna has maintained a high standard. This time Shilpa and her friends are guests on a private island where Shilpa has been asked to bake a specual birthday cake. Shilpa's unease on the island is proved right when a murder is committed. Can Shilpa once again find the truth? A thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery, with likeable lead characters. If you enjoy the Dales detective series you will enjoy this.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shilpa is hired to teach a class of family members for a special birthday on their private island. When a tragedy occurs she gets out her sleuthing skills to track down the guilty parties. A lovely novel with more incites to Shilpa’s private life alongside the mystery, the author really brings the characters to life with a touch of humour too.

[Jane Welchman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cosy murder mystery from this author. I have read the previous novels in this series, and it is just as good as the predecessors. This book can easily be read as a standalone too. A great book for reading by the fire with a glass of wine (or gin).
I was given an ARC of this book, and this is my honest opinion

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder in the Mix' by Marissa de Luna.
The Shilpa Solanki Mysteries Book 3.
Devon’s queen of desserts, Shilpa Solanki, has a chance to spend New Year’s on a rich man’s private island. All she has to do is teach a cooking class and bake an exquisite cake befitting the birthday of a spoiled young heiress.
Really enjoyed this book. Love this series. 5*.

[Emma Bevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does work as a standalone - the author tells you who the characters are - you work out who are regular characters and whats gone before and none of that matters to the story.
Its a good mystery and easy to read.

[Janice Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

First one I have read. It is part of a series but I enjoyed it as a stand alone novel. Good mix of believable characters and a few plot twists made for an enjoyable easy read.

[Gemma P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great instalment in a cracking series. It has an intriguing plot with good twists that kept me hooked until the end and once again some delicious sounding cakes!

[Leila Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not find this as entertaining as her other book. It seemed to lack real character development and although the storyline was okay I wouldn't recommend it to others.

[Kairen Harries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable and the writing style was fluid . I read this book as a standalone book and, although it works in this way, I wish I had read the first two books in the series as I didn't have the backstory to Shilpa.

This is a great whodunnit so great for fans of Agatha Christie and her ilk.

A fabulous winter read.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the book was a quick read, I was left lost and who was who and what was going on. I recommend reading the first two previous in the series before reading this one. Also there spots that the editing could have been better.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the series but can be read as a standalone. I have enjoyed everyone of these books, each with a very different murder mystery to solve.
From the very start I was captured into an intruging storyline and plot, with great characters and descriptive with mouth watering hints and ingredients along the way.
There are clever twists building up to that final unexpected.
A great and most enjoyable read, and I am very much looking forward to the next book.
My thanks to Bloodhound books for the copy this is my honest unbiased review.