Murder by the Slice

Fresh-Baked Mystery #2

by Livia J. Washburn

At this year's school carnival fund-raiser, the obnoxious president of the Parent Teacher Organization is found stabbed through the heart with Phyllis Newsom's own knife, with traces of incriminating frosting. Clearing her name will be no piece of cake...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Food, Cooking, Halloween

252 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Under the names Livia J. Washburn and L.J. Washburn, Livia Reasoner has been writing award-winning, critically acclaimed mystery, western, romance, and historical novels for more than thirty years. She began to write in collaboration with her husband, author James Reasoner, and soon branched out into telling her own stories. She received the Private Eye Writers of America award and the American Mystery award for her first mystery, WILD NIGHT, and was nominated for a Spur by the Western Writers of America for a novel she wrote with her husband, James Reasoner. Livia won the Peacemaker Award from Western Fictioneers for her story “Charlie’s Pie”.

Reviews

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cozy mystery. Cute because it wasn't gruesome and didn't overtly curse. Phyllis is a retired school teacher that happens to solve murders on pure intuition. Her age helps because people seem to trust her and just talk too much in her presence. I didn't catch the killer which was a good thing. Too many suspects in this one.

Overall a good in between for, perhaps, a more serious read afterwards.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every now and then I don't look closely enough at a book before I buy it; this time, I ran out of reading material in NJ two weeks ago and needed a quick fix. I can't recall whether I noticed that the protagonist was a retired schoolteacher, rather than a current teacher, but even if I had I doubt that I would have expected the moral high horse she rode in on. Apparently there's a market for these books (yes, she's written more than one in the series) -- probably elderly women who despair of today's use of profanity and how quickly relationships progress -- but I can't even imagine that it would have appealed to my own mother. Maybe it's different in Texas (where the books are set). It would take a high level of boredom for me to buy another book in this series.

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful cozy mystery with excellent characters. Also, I smell the start of a romance. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired schoolteacher Phyllis Newsom is drafted to be a part of the PTO's upcoming elementary school carnival and finds the PTO president to be close to despotic. Shannon Dunston had plenty of people who didn't like her, and after she is stabbed Phyllis is found with the murder weapon. I really like the "Fresh-Baked Mystery" cozy series. Good stories, yummy food, plus I am enjoying the beginnings of a romance between her and one of her roommates, Sam.

[Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many books in this series and I am doing it out of order. Gasp! I did this on purpose because I have been scared off so many times from reading books in a series when I couldn't get them in the proper order. In this series it really didn't ruin it for me. I actually love this series. I have read about 5 of them so far. I think the latter ones are better than these first ones. I really enjoy reading about the lives of the older retired teachers all living together. I enjoy all the detail in what they are doing in the kitchen. Every last detail. I have seen in other people's review that this drives some of them bonkers but hey, this is cozy fiction and that is just part of it. I think Livia J. Washburn is doing a fine job. Now on to the next one in the series that I can lay my hands on.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder By The Slice, the second book in the Fresh-Baked Mystery series, was a delightful read. Back in Weatherford TX, Phyllis Newsom and her friends are enjoying a warm autumn day when they are enlisted to take part in the local elementary school fund-raising carnival. Their assigned job will be to run a bake sale which rapidly turns into a cake auction and healthy snack contest. As the competition between Phyllis and her long-time rival Carolyn heats up, the controversy begins too. The quick-tempered, harsh-tongued president of the PTO is found murdered in one of the school hallways during the event. Shannon Dunston had no lack of enemies and her murder leaves a laundry list of suspects including a friend of Phyllis' boarder Sam. Curious by nature, Phyllis simply can't resist following the facts until she finds herself face to face with a killer.
Washburn's return trip to Weatherford is charming and fun. Phyllis and her friends continue to have the chemistry that makes them a pleasure to read about. The mild romantic vibe between Phyllis and Sam is still present but remains at a perfect level of comfort for the reader. The setting remains the same but gives a cozy small-town feeling. The only weakness can be found in the plot. The killer was far more predictable in this book and while the suspect list was long, it seems obvious from the beginning depite Washburn's best efforts to lead us astray. Overall, I would recommend this to cozy mystery fans who are looking for a book to bring a smile to their face.

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is it that standard, unremarkable, and average murder mysteries partly do remain a mystery for me? I'll never know, except that I may be a little dim. But the classics of the genre don't beget that complaint. This particular book had a dedicated narration, with quite a chunk of it dedicated to ironing out the constraints of amateur investigation by the heroine, Phyllis. The murder took some time in coming, but every reader knew who would be killed. I really liked the way people of different ages talked differently. Joanne Fluke, the way Bobby talked, that's how young kids talk in real life. Everything quickening happened late and somehow the appetite that I've worked over the solution fizzled out. If this story's ending was surprising in any way shape or form, I'd rate it higher easily. But it was not, so pardon me if I won't.

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, Phyllis and her friends have to solve the murder of the obnoxious, unpopular president of the PTA, which seems to have occurred using a knife that they had brought to cut their cakes in a baking contest. There are several suspects and lots of complications, but eventually, they figure out the culprit.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series. The main character spent a lot of judging others and deciding whether to share secrets or not almost to a fault in this particular book. Still; I love the characters and the homey feeling added to each story

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bake sale and harvest festival is needed so the PTO at the local school can help purchase needed items. But alas the PTO president is murdered as the festival is drawing to a close. She wasn't a well liked person and the suspicion falls upon a janitor with a past record, a PTO member as well as a few others. Phyllis uncovers personal issues about friends and family if the deceased. Eventually she finds the culprit. Not sure the title of the book is the right one for this story plot but overall an interesting read.

[Roxanne Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book 0 stars I would. I accidentally started with the candy cane cupcake killer. It was great. I just didn’t realize it was a part of a series. I read the first after that. The writing was choppy and the characters were judgmental assholes. It wasn’t really like that in the candy cane cupcake killer so I figured she had gotten better over the series. Not in the second one. Phyllis is an asshole. She’s so far up on her high horse she better hope she doesn’t fall down and have to walk around down here with everyone else. Not only that, everyone is sexist as shit. One remark was “some people forget men and women were created very differently for a reason. I think that’s exactly how the good lord intended it.” Seriously?
Then her son mike says there are no Halloween decorations in the school because of political correctness. What? There isn’t any “political correctness” associated with Halloween. That just sounds like the author wanting to pick on political correctness in general.
In the candy cane cupcake killer Phyllis described cheerleaders in elf costumes as “Santa’s slutty helpers”. They’re TEENAGERS. So she hates political correctness because she wants to call teenagers sluts and judge everyone else?
I really wish I had enjoyed this one, but unfortunately I will not be reading anymore of these books. For an author to write something this way shows that she most likely feels that way, so I won’t be reading any of her other books either.
Furthermore, her writing is still extremely choppy and redundant. Eve is still overusing dear. Literally, every time she asks a question she addresses the person as dear at the end of it. In one paragraph she said it three times. It’s such a cliché for an elderly southern woman to call everyone dear. It could have been so well done. A badass crime solving old lady who loves to bake shares a house with her two best friends and a new potential love interest? Fantastic idea. Horrible execution.
Basically, don’t waste your time unless you want to read about a bunch of judgmental old ladies who think they’re better and smarter than everyone else.

[Tabby Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

October in Texas means Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) fundraising carnivals at many of the elementary schools. Retired teacher Phyllis Newsom always takes an interest in school happenings, but helping to organize the carnival for Oliver Loving Elementary School wasn't part of her plan. However, when a friend of Carolyn Wilbarger comes to her with a desperate plea for help with the bake sale, Carolyn and Phyllis reluctantly agree to assist.

Carolyn suggests a "healthy snack" contest in addition to the traditional cake auction - an idea quickly approved by the PTO board. In a moment of harmony, Phyllis decides to participate in the auction, leaving Carolyn the baking contest. Peace seems ensured, that is, until the obnoxious head of the PTO sticks her oar in their plans, insisting Phyllis enter the baking contest. Competition is again flowing between Phyllis and Carolyn and disaster seems inevitable, until the PTO chairperson is killed at the carnival and the retirees band together to solve the crime.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if it is a case of 'overkill' on my part (no pun intended) but "Murder by the Slice" seems to be nothing but a knock off of the Laura Childs tea house mysteries.

It has the same format even down to the recipes in the back of the book. But, somehow, I feel that a 'recipe' for a Giant Hostess Cupcake that calls for 2 cake mixes and a jar of marshmallow creme really doesn't qualify as a recipe.

While Livia Washburn's writing is pleasant enough, it tends to rely on 'page filling'. By that I mean she took two pages describing her baking cookies (right down to her putting the parchement paper on the baking sheet) and another three pages describing her baking and decorating a cake. This would have been fine in a cooking column, but aside from the fact that she was taking the cake and cookies to a school carnival it had very little to do with the developing the story line.

All in all, I would say this book was good enough for a quick snack, but hardly satisfactory for someone looking for a literary meal with substance.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. You get to know Phyllis better and her personality felt even more real to me like any other person with strengths and flaws. I liked the little glimpses of the chemistry between her and Sam. I also enjoyed the whole seasonal theme involved in the book. That made it even more fun. I enjoyed meeting new characters as well as getting to know the previously introduced ones even more. The killer was also hard to guess since there were just so many suspects to choose from. The author did a good job of misdirection. All in all it was a very enjoyable read I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Linda Klinedinst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this Series - A Fresh-Baked Mystery Series. This is Book #2 in the Series. I have read Books 2 and 3 now. I am planning on finishing this Series by the end of this year. There are a total of 15 Books in this Series. I am getting my Books through Evergreen Library System and the books arrive at my local library on Tuesdays.

I give this Book and the Series 5/5 Stars. I highly recommend this Series. It is a Cozy Mystery Series and it is so so so good.

Take care & Happy Reading

[A.K. Frailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a lot of honest realism in this romantic mystery that really caught my attention. I could relate to the school setting and to the recipes I might actually be able to follow. But I also related to the main characters interactions with the people in her home...both male and female. Noting that no relationship is perfect, it helps to see a character take the good with the bad, keep her balance, and solve a mystery all at the same time. Enjoyable read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite kind of book - good solid mystery, interesting characters, no offending language or situations, just easy and fun to read - with some recipes at the end. I eagerly look forward to reading the rest of this series. (These "Fresh Baked Mystery" books, borrowed from the Library, are several years old but look brand new - is no one else reading these?)

[Cyndee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could maybe rate a 3.5. It was better than I had anticipated perhaps because of the setting: an elementary school, with all the memories that provides.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new series of cozies for me. I enjoyed it. Plus they are set in Texas.

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is clean, but charming.

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder by the Slice by Livia J Washburn is the second part of her "Fresh-Baked" mystery series. Narrative is in third person, but it primarily follows retired school teacher Phyllis Newsom.

Phyllis gets roped in to helping a local PTO with a fund-raising carnival when her friend and housemate, fellow retired teacher Carolyn, convinces Phyllis to join her. One of the first things Phyllis realizes is that the president of the PTO, Shannon Dunstan, is a witch with a capital B. Nevertheless, she and Carolyn agreed to help, and they stick to their guns. They are tasked with the bake sale portion of the fund raiser. While Phyllis and Carolyn are manning the booth, Shannon is murdered in a school hallway. It's determined the murder weapon was one the women had been using to slice cakes and other baked goods. When the police, including Phyllis' son Mike, seem to focus on the wrong person, Phyllis can't help but do some sleuthing on her own.

I picked this book up at a second-hand store, and I'm glad I didn't pay more than $2.00 for it. First of all, Phyllis owns a large house, and she rents rooms to three other retired teachers: Carolyn, Eve, and Sam. It's kinda-sorta like the Golden Girls, except Sam is a guy. Throughout the book, however, I found myself wondering if this was a household of mature adults or a junior high cheer camp. Eve has the hots for Sam (who does nothing to encourage her behavior), and she became an outright shrew whenever she discovered that Phyllis and Sam had the audacity to be alone somewhere, even in the kitchen. Good grief. On top of that, Carolyn and Phyllis were uber-competitive when it came to their baked goods, to the point that I felt like knocking their heads together and sending them to their rooms. Second, when Phyllis was baking, the author felt it necessary to provide in-depth play by play of every step of the process. All I need to know is that she mixed the batter and put the cake in the oven; I don't need to read about how she measured out each ingredient and mixed them together and prepared her pans and blah blah blah. Third, when Phyllis suspected that Shannon was having an affair with the husband of one of the other PTO moms, she took it upon herself to question him about it. OMG, it is not your job! Tell the police and butt out. Fourth, even when writing in third person pov, the narrative should follow one character. In this book, however, a few chapters (just a few, mind you!) were from Mike's pov. Just no. Finally, the blurb on the back of the book strongly indicated that Phyllis would need to clear her name, since she'd touched the murder weapon, but she was never once under suspicion. Way to be misleading about the plot!

I won't be reading any other books in this series. The writing was fine, but I did not find Phyllis a likable character, and I won't waste any more time reading about her brand of sleuthing.

Three stars

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder by the Slice by Livia J. Washburn is the second book of the Fresh-Baked cozy mystery series set in contemporary Weatherford, Texas. Widowed Phyllis Newsom is a retired junior high history teacher. She shares her home with 3 other retired teachers: Eve Turner, Carolyn Wilbarger and Sam Fletcher. They're all members of the Retired Teacher Association (RTA), supporting the fall bake sale. It's officially fall but still hot in Texas. Young mother Marie Tyler is on the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) of Loving Elementary School. She begs them to help her with a bake sale for the fall carnival. The forceful RTA chairwoman shows up just then, and the women are "volunteered".

When Phyllis and Carolyn attend a PTO planning meeting for the carnival, they meet another forceful woman, PTO chairwoman Shannon Dunston. She's also hostile and abrasive, chiding and bullying committee members into tasks (while not doing any herself). Marie later explains to Phyllis and Carolyn that Shannon is divorced from Joel, due to spending all her time dedicated to school affairs rather than her family. The PTO members endure Shannon because no one else wants to be chairwoman.

Carolyn and Phyllis suggest a non-traditional bake sale: an auction for best decorated cake, plus a contest for most delicious healthy snack. They compete against one another in baking competitions; each hates to lose. So they agree Carolyn won't compete in the auction, Phyllis won't compete in the healthy snack contest. But of course since Phyllis suggested a healthy snack in the PTO meeting, she gets 'steam-rollered' into the contest. Then of course Carolyn enters the auction.

The competition between them regarding baking, plus Eve's romantic pursuit of Sam, provide realistic friction among friends. Phyllis "covertly" chooses to make a Jack-O'-Lantern Cake for the auction. First, she'll make a practice version. Practical and level-headed, she knows well: Like most things in life, any baking project was a process of trial and error, something that beginning cooks sometimes didn't understand. You couldn't expect everything to turn out right the first time.

All is going well at the carnival - until a murdered body is discovered. The sheriffs pursue a few not-very-believable red herrings. Phyllis' son Mike, a sheriff, warns her repeatedly not to get mixed up in the investigation. He's referring to the first book of the series, where she solved a murder. Phyllis certainly doesn't intend to put herself in harm's way, but sure enough, she solves this murder too.

Recipes: Peanut-Butter-and-Banana Cookies, Carolyn's Low-Fat Pizza Rolls, Jack-O'-Lantern Cake + Orange and Green Frosting + Chocolate Frosting for Face, Carolyn's Giant Hostess Cupcake + Ganache Chocolate Icing + White Icing.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phyllis and her retired schoolteacher friends have been talked into organizing and hosting the bake sale part of a local PTO fundraising festival. Leading up to the festival, the school PTO president flexes muscles she believes she has and has made quite a few frienemies both in and outside of the school community. The day of the festival arrives and the place is hopping with families enjoying the fall fun but ends with one of the PTO members screaming as she comes upon the body of the PTO president. When the knife used to cut into Phyllis' cake is discovered with blood and frosting on it, suddenly Phyllis finds herself as a person of interest. But it's quickly determined Phyllis couldn't have ended the woman's life and the investigation moves beyond her. But it doesn't move on without her. Phyllis can't help but do her own side investigation, sleuthing around for clues much to the chagrin of her roommates and son. What might happen if Phyllis discovers the killer before the police, will she be the next body found?

This was okay but some of the characters Washburn is including as her core cast of characters are kind of annoying and too stereotypical. Sam for instance. Washburn's portrayal of his speech really got on my nerves. I understand she's trying to highlight the ubiquitous Texan accent but I found it quite grating to read in print. I'm unsure if I want to continue with Washburn's cozy mysteries when I'm enjoying other authors/series more but I'll give it another title or two before I make up my mind for good.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little bit better than the last "cozy mystery" I read, but it could have been by the same author following the same outline. This time it's retired teachers and a PTO instead of a Quilting Bee. And the murder takes place in a school instead of in a nursing home. I was able to guess who done it, or close enough well before the end of the book. I did have some problems with the writing. A married man and a divorced woman go into Applebee's together at lunch time and one of the retired teachers immediately jumps to the conclusion they are having an affair. An affair? Come on, really? If they were having an affair, wouldn't they be at a motel for a "nooner" or a "quickie? Why would they be going into a busy chain restaurant during lunch hour? I could think of a dozen reasons they were having lunch together, none of which implied an affair. Then we find out the two couples are friends. Well, that opens up another whole dozen reasons why this is not a romantic tryst, but something much more plausible. Then two retired teachers are meeting a possible suspect at another chain. The male retired teacher greats the suspect with "Howdy!" The suspect immediately says the teacher is a graduate from Texas A&M. Well, maybe in Ft. Worth the only people who say "howdy!" are graduates of A&M, but in all the rest of the West, "Howdy!" is a pretty standard greeting. This book also contains recipes, if you go for that sort of thing.

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in the Fresh-Baked Mystery cozy mystery series

It's been a long time since I read the first book in this series, but judging by my review, I had a similar response. Phyllis is a retired teacher who is basically roped into helping out with a school bake sale fundraiser, bringing her into contact with the overbearing and annoying PTO president. When a burglary and murder eventually occur, Phyllis starts to have some ideas about the investigation, despite being warned off by the sheriff. She takes it upon herself to question a few of the possible suspects (so dangerous!), but she takes Sam along with her "for protection." Eventually, of course, she solves both mysteries, leading the sheriff's office to the criminals. Phyllis, as I mentioned previously, is an old-school type of person, frowning at the language and actions of the younger generation. (I'll admit that I've got to agree with her there.) She seems to have a bit of a romantic interest in Sam, but it didn't develop into anything...yet.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phyllis might not be sure what her feelings for Sam are but she has no such hesitation when it comes to snooping! This determined grandmother will get to the bottom of things whether her Deputy son wants her to or not although ... with his tendency of talking about the case with her, I get the feeling he doesn't mind her helping as long as there isn't any danger involved. This series is a quick read and the culprit can be figured out once certain clues come to light but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment. Getting the recipes at the end doesn't hurt either :)

[Denise Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

252 pages (264 pgs 10 page preview of Christmas Cookie Killer)
Includes 8 recipes

Small town (TX) cozy with cute setting and characters but pretty unbelievable plot. A murder at a PTA Carnival!! Phyllis, a fantastic baker and retired school teacher herself, agrees to help at a fundraising Bake Sale. Phyllis and her housemates, also retired schoolteachers, help investigate a stabbing death along with her son, Mikey, a local cop. Too much details. Cute and colorful cover art, unfortunately uncredited.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired teacher Phyllis gets roped into helping with the school carnival which is run by the PTO. The president of the PTO is an unpleasant woman who yells at her volunteers, she also fights with her ex-husband and her troubled teenage son. She is found dead at the carnival and Phyllis and her friend Sam try to find out who really killed her. An enjoyable story.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this cozy mystery series set in Texas with a retired school teacher protagonist whose son is a sheriff’s deputy.

This offering has Gilmore Girls esque fall vibes as it is all set around a schools autumn carnival. The imagery is detailed and allowed me to picture myself walking around the carnival.

I also like the descriptions of the baked goods and inclusion of recipes in the back.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series with Golden Girls type vibes. I loved the fall setting and the mystery was good. I also appreciate that it was around 250 pages without a ton of unnecessary fluff like a lot of cozy mysteries have