Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for How the Murder Crumbles (A Cookie Shop Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
How the Murder Crumbles (A Cookie Shop Mystery)
by Debra Sennefelder
How the Murder Crumbles (A Cookie Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Crooked Lane Books (June 20, 2023)
Hardcover : 304 pages
Debra Sennefelder whips up cookies and crime in a delicious new cozy series, perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Peg Cochran.
Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe’s beloved Cookie Shop—a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.
But things aren’t going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she’s seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name—but that’s not the only murder the killer is baking up.
Debra Sennefelder has cooked up a perfect recipe—endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there’s always a murder or two for good measure.
My review of How the Murder Crumbles
I absolutely loved How the Murder Crumbles! It’s the first book in the brand new Cookie Shop Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder. Isn’t it wonderful when you start a cozy mystery series with book one? Sure, lots of series have books that can be enjoyed as stand-alone books, and I’m sure this one will too! But still. Reading the first book gives you a chance to get to know the characters and the dynamics of relationships right from the start.
How the Murder Crumbles stars Mallory Monroe who is the new owner of her late aunt’s bakery, Cookie Shop. She sells cookies using her aunt’s recipes as well as her own new cookie recipes. The same customers have been coming for years, and Wingate’s tourists frequent the bakery in season. The cookies aren’t only delicious, they’re beautiful. Mallory’s specialty is decorating cookies which is something I’d love to do well! The only time I decorate cookies is at Christmas, and those just get frosting slathered on and sprinkles sprinkled on! They taste good, but they’re not going to win any contests. (It just so happens that my cookie recipe is from my aunt too!)
In addition to Mallory, there is a wonderful cast of characters that you will love getting to know! Mallory’s best friend, her cousin, her new friend who she meets in the most unpleasant way but I love love love her character, the long time cookie baker at the bakery, a journalist, police officers….I’m excited for you to get to meet them in this book! And, I’m so looking forward to seeing how the characters develop throughout the series. They’re so well-written, and I’m already super attached to them! I’m seriously invested in their lives and can’t wait to read about them again.
Though Wingate isn’t necessarily a small town, it has a small town vibe. The connections that people have give the town that cozy feeling. I definitely connected more with the characters than the setting, but I’m looking forward to “seeing” more of the town and its shops. I think that because a lot of the book takes place in the bakery, the bakery made the biggest visual impression. I can picture it and the cookies sold there very well. Speaking of the cookies….
Mallory’s aunt’s almond cookies are the catalyst for Beatrice’s murder in How the Murder Crumbles. Or are they? Since the big blowup at the bakery happens just before the murder, Mallory is a likely suspect in the case. Mallory has to clear her name. She’s losing cookie business! So, of course, Mallory becomes an amateur sleuth much to the dismay of the detective on the case. Though I was able to figure out whodunit before the culprit was revealed, it was still an enjoyable mystery to solve, and there are many viable suspects with strong motives to get rid of Beatrice.
How the Murder Crumbles gets five huge stars from me! Though I loved everything about the book, the characters totally made the book for me, and I cannot wait for the next book so I can see them again! I highly recommend it!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Debra Sennefelder
Debra Sennefelder, the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series, the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and the Cookie Shop mystery series, is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie, and Billy.
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How the Murder Crumbles TOUR PARTICIPANTS
June 12 – Brooke Blogs – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 12 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
June 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
June 13 – My Reading Journeys – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 13 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 14 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
June 15 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 16 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
June 16 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW
June 16 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT
June 17 – The Book Decoder – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 18 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
June 18 – The Mystery Section – SPOTLIGHT
June 19 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
June 19 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
June 20 – Jane Reads – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 21 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 21 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
June 22 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
June 22 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
June 23 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
June 23 – Nadaness In Motion – SPOTLIGHT
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I entered from here https://christyscozycorners.com/2023/06/how-murder-crumbles-book-review/ thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for sharing!
Looks like a fun read and love the cover art
Sounds like an interesting read.