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.
Brenda H. (booksinvt) -
How the Murder Crumbles is the debut of the Cookie Shop Mystery series set in the small town of Wingate, Connecticut and featuring Mallory Monroe, ex-advertising executive now owner of the Cookie Shop. Passed over for a promotion at the Manhattan ad agency, Mallory decides to purchase her Aunt Glenna's beloved bakery and uproots her furry feline Agatha, and moves to Connecticut. Mallory is adjusting to her new life, playing middleman between her two employees Kip and Claudia, who can't seem to get along, and trying to find time to spend with her boyfriend Gil.
Mallory suddenly finds things crumbling around her when a surprise visit to Gil's house unveils that he's been cheating on her instead of working late as he's been claiming. Then, during a much anticipated interview with the local newspaper, food blogger Beatrice Wright bursts in and claims that the Almond Meltaways that Mallory is serving is a recipe that her Aunt Glenna had stolen.
Trying to figure out what is going on, Mallory makes a visit to Queen Bea's home and discovers the woman bludgeoned by a rolling pin and surrounded by a flour outline with the initials MA written. Was Queen Bea trying to identify her killer. It's no surprise when Detective Will Hannigan points a finger at Mal and she's determined to clear her name before she looses everything.
A fun mystery with plenty of suspects and delicious sounding cookies (the recipes in the back are fairly easy even for the baking challenged). With the hint of romance, and a rival turned friend now figuring prominently in Mallory's life, I look forward to another stop at the Cookie Shop.
Mallory suddenly finds things crumbling around her when a surprise visit to Gil's house unveils that he's been cheating on her instead of working late as he's been claiming. Then, during a much anticipated interview with the local newspaper, food blogger Beatrice Wright bursts in and claims that the Almond Meltaways that Mallory is serving is a recipe that her Aunt Glenna had stolen.
Trying to figure out what is going on, Mallory makes a visit to Queen Bea's home and discovers the woman bludgeoned by a rolling pin and surrounded by a flour outline with the initials MA written. Was Queen Bea trying to identify her killer. It's no surprise when Detective Will Hannigan points a finger at Mal and she's determined to clear her name before she looses everything.
A fun mystery with plenty of suspects and delicious sounding cookies (the recipes in the back are fairly easy even for the baking challenged). With the hint of romance, and a rival turned friend now figuring prominently in Mallory's life, I look forward to another stop at the Cookie Shop.
