I picked up the first three Cupcake Bakery Mysteries as a bundle on Audible. The bundles are nice. A credit is not cheap and it’s great when you can use one credit to get multiple books, presuming you enjoy them.
Sprinkle with Murder by Jenn McKinlay Narrator: Susan Boyce
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #1
Published by Dreamscape Media on July 19, 2022
Source: Purchased
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 24 mins
Pages: 223
Format: Audiobook
Purchase at Bookshop.org or Audible
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Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding.
When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.
In Sprinkle with Murder, we’re introduced to Melanie Cooper, Angie De Laura and Tate Harper, partners in the Fairy Tale Cupcakes shop and best friends. Melanie and Angie do the baking and Tate supplied most of the start-up money. When Tate’s fiancée, Christie, is murdered, all three come under suspicion. Christie was an absolutely terrible person, though, and everyone seems to have a reason to hate her, from her assistants to her wedding vendors.
If I hadn’t bought the bundle, I might not have listened to more than this first one. Mel and Angie are nice enough characters, but not especially interesting. Their main quirk, shared with Tate, is constantly quoting classic movies. Mel’s mother’s interference is half the reason she’s a suspect, constantly insisting Tate is the love of Mel’s life – he isn’t. The murderer was a little obvious, in spite of the red herrings.
Buttercream Bump Off by Jenn McKinlay Narrator: Susan Boyce
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #2
Published by Dreamscape Media on July 19, 2022
Source: Purchased
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 6 hrs 35 mins
Pages: 240
Format: Audiobook
Purchase at Bookshop.org or Audible
Add on Goodreads
Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura's Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery is gearing up for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately someone has iced Baxter Malloy on his first date with Mel's mother. Now Mom's a suspect, and Mel and Angie need to find time around frosting to dig into the man's shady past and discover who served him his just desserts.
This time around Mel’s mom, Joyce, is the suspect. A man she was out on a first date with ends up dead in his pool, which puts Joyce in an embarrassing situation and under police scrutiny. And Angie starts dating one of the other suspects, the dead man’s rockstar estranged son, which has Tate upset. Meanwhile, Mel is dating Joe, one of Angie’s brothers and everyone seems to be way too interested in their personal life. I guess one of the strengths in this series is who close the women are to their families, but to me, the families are just overbearing. In this installment, Angie’s brothers literally follow her everywhere she goes with Tate coordinating the schedule. I want to like the characters, but they can be so annoying.
The whodunnit was actually a surprise in this one. There were several clues and red herrings, mostly involving the victim’s financial dealings.
Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay Narrator: Susan Boyce
Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery #3
Published by Dreamscape Media on July 19, 2022
Source: Purchased
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 7 hrs 52 mins
Pages: 304
Format: Audiobook
Purchase at Bookshop.org or Audible
Add on Goodreads
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives.
I have to admit I enjoy watching Food Network competition shows. Right now, we’re watching Halloween Baking Championship. This time around, Mel and Angie are involved in a similar contest, the Challenge to the Chef at the Scottsdale Food Festival, a challenge that Mel’s nemesis Olivia has also entered. We have a couple new characters this time around, an adorable kitten, Captain Jack, and Oz, an intern from the local high school.
When Vic Mazzotta, one of the judges and Mel’s mentor, is found dead in a freezer, Mel is sure it was murder. The mystery was put together well, with several clues and red herrings that distract from the actual killer.
The narrator did a good job. It was easy to distinguish the characters and the pace was perfect. These first three in the series were not fabulous, but they were enjoyable enough. They’re quick listens and perfect for dog walks and car rides.
About Jenn McKinlay
Jenn is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. She is also the winner of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for romantic comedy and the Fresh Fiction award for best cozy mystery. A TEDx speaker, she is always happy to talk books, writing, reading, and the creative process to anyone who cares to listen. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with books, pets, and her husband’s guitars.
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