I went in blind with this book. I knew the author wrote cozy mysteries which meant small town, warm characters with some mean ones, descriptions of food/recipe, a murder, some suspects, a busybody, the main character and her team to investigate that murder.
My first book by Lynn Cahoon though 5th in the series, was easy to understand. The backstory was given in a loving way which made me feel a part of Cat Latimer’s life. Cat, an author herself, ran a writer’s retreat once a month, opening her home to a group of writers. This book dealt more with small town relationships and the writers who had come, than the investigation. The day to day happenings of the 7 days retreat were told in detail which can be a good thing for regular cozy readers.
But I wanted more of investigation, something which caused the plot to shine more. Almost everywhere Cat went, everyone warned her about dangers of investigation, at one point, I wanted to sit up and say – she is an adult, let her make her own decisions. Ah well… She did solve the murder purely by chance.
Overall, a good read which follows the formula of cozy mystery and ends with a recipe about scones…
If only someone would make me one, Nina, are you listening?
I have read all of James Cudney’s cozy books, the Braxton Campus series, and let me tell you, the investigations are far better than what was shown here. Maybe after reading his books, I find all the other cozies slow.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Lynn Cahoon is the award-winning author of several New York Times and USA Today bestselling cozy mystery series. The Tourist Trap series is set in central coastal California with six holiday novellas releasing in 2018–2019. She also pens the Cat Latimer series available in mass market paperback. Her newest series, the Farm to Fork mystery series, debuted in 2018. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.
Cat has a full plate at her Aspen Hills Warm Springs Resort, as a group of aspiring cozy mystery authors arrives for a writers retreat. So when baker Dee Dee Meyer stirs up trouble by filing a false complaint with the health inspector against the B&B—all because she insists Cat’s best friend Shauna stole her recipes—Cat marches into the shop to confront her.
But Dee Dee’s about to have her own batch of trouble. Greyson Finn—a celebrity chef and, until today, one of Denver’s most eligible bachelors—has been found dead in her bakery. Cat’s uncle Pete, who happens to be the chief of police, warns her not to engage in any half-baked sleuthing. But as her curiosity rises, Cat’s determined to discover who served the chef his just desserts—before the killer takes a powder . . .
Publication Date: 28th May 2019
Publisher: Kensington
35 Responses
Hahahahaha. You come visit me and I’ll definitely make you scones! And cheesecake and cookies…. and then I’ll go walking with you 😉
Check you out… Jay’s books spoiling you for cozies. That’s fighting talk! 😄
That’s honest talk. I kept telling my kindle – get to the mystery, girl. I don’t want to know how many words you wrote. Everybody kept warning her – I wanted to say – first let her get to investigating 😂😂🤷♀️🤷♀️😂😂 blame Jay
Hahaha. Yeah, there’s lots of attention to her writing and Shauna’s cooking in the series.
Blame Jay…I like that philosophy!
Yp he made wear the sleuth hat
I’m reading this Miss N and Miss S
Hahaha here we thought you wouldn’t read this ever… Miss N and Miss S blame you totally for making cozy mystery so exciting.
LOL… I get around on blogs by weekends… set to email now since I can’t read during the week usually
Hehehe 😂 😂
I think that’s fair about wanting more investigation, but glad it was a good read. Great review!
Thank you so much. It was fun and now I want to taste scones 😂
I love the cosy mysteries where they include recipes in the back but, like you, I’d prefer there to be an actual story line included first. 😉 Great review Shalini!
I know… There was a story but it was too slow
I can never have enough scone recipes, still looking for a foolproof one as my effort often come out rather unappealing and hard enough to cause dental distress 😉
I have no idea what scones are. But I now I crave them with a passion
I just love the title of this book😂. It definitely sounds like something I’d try. Is there seriously a recipe at the end? I haven’t read many cozy books and haven’t found a recipe in the back of a novel yet😃
Yes there is recipe at the end. Most of these food cozy books have lots of recipes.. This has a cranberry scones recipe
Sounds delicious 🙂 🙂
Hi dear, I would love it if you review my book or if you interview?
haha murder investigation and scones recipe…that is an interesting combination. Yet to read any Cozies but will check out James’ books when I get the chance. Fab review.
James is fabulous. This was very very very very slow and dragging
Thank you! 🙂
Great review and totally agree. The cozy must have some mystery and like you, I’m easily bored with recipes. Scones? They can be good or hard as leftover cornbread.
Oooh I need to taste some…. 😂
I agree that it very different from Jay’s approach to the cozy mystery, but I actually like both. You wouldn’t expect Poe’s work to be like Christie’s, but both are exceptional writers. In the same vein, I appreciate both of these authors’ styles. Scones are delicious, rather like a sweet American biscuit (not a British biscuit) and usually served with clotted cream (which sounds horrible but is like a delicious thick whipped cream) and lemon curd (which also sounds bad to me but is a lovely lemon spread).
I understand. But if the book has no investigation written in it then it remains cozy with no mystery. While I like reading that, but I want the book to be what the blurb promises me. I don’t have book 1 in this series, so if I think about buying it (which is very expensive in my country) I need it to be what it promises. Also I heard the first few books have more mystery in them. Hence the comparison.
Scones sound delightful
This book is in my queue to be read so I can’t comment on its lack of investigation. I have read a number of books by Cahoon and there was only one I didn’t like. This series is slower paced than some. I understand about your frustration when the book doesn’t match up with the summary—whether you are purchasing it or committing to review it!🤔
I think I would like her first book in this series. Got to get that
Perhaps, but I don’t know if you would be happy with the pace and investigation in it either. Such a personal thing.
I have to read it to know… If I get it… Can’t afford it at the moment
I understand. I am so thankful for ARCs. I could/would never afford this many books.
❤️ I don’t get many in cozy 🤷♀️
I’ve read one or two of her Tourist Trap mysteries and enjoyed them, though they had similar problems as you’ve described in this series. I haven’t heard of James Cudney. I will definitely have to check out his books.
I haven’t read other books. Food cozy makes me want to eat so now I am into paranormal cozy 💃💃