Olivia Matthews cooks up a delightful second book in herSpice Isle Bakery Mysteries!
Picking up shortly after the first book's events (although this easily works as a stand-alone), Lindsay and her family are trying to grow business at their fledgling bakery. However, when they reluctantly take on a retirement party for Lindsay's mom's former boss, one she did not get along with, and the boss dies on the premises, Lindsay and her family are once again thrust into a murder investigation!
Returning to Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, NY, and Lindsay and her lovely family was fun! I love this tight-knit and supportive family and Lindsay's witty grandmother. The characters are relatable and well-written, and the family and their close relationships are at the heart of the books and the investigations and lend to the cozy atmosphere. There was a nice balance between plot and character development. I enjoyed the Grenadian culture and delicious food incorporated into the story, which made me hungry! The mystery had some twists, kept me guessing, and was well-paced. This was a quick read, and I liked the author's writing style and the warm atmosphere of the world she created. I enjoyed the first book, and I think the series is hitting its stride with this second one. Very much looking forward to seeing where this series goes next, especially with what looks like a potential romance on the horizon. Cozy lovers will want to add this charming series to their tbr!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. I enjoyed it!
My steep was Coconut Cabana Oolong from The Tea Spot. This one is fantastic on ice too!
www.theteaspot.com
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
Someone in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood has an appetite for murder in Olivia Matthews' Hard Dough Homicide.
Spice Isle Bakery owner Lyndsay Murray is always looking for new ways to grow her family’s business. But she already regrets agreeing to host the retirement dinner for local high school principal Emily Smith. The tyrant used to be her mother's boss and they did not get along. Six guests arrive for the celebration, but only five survive. Emily starts convulsing—right after eating the curry chicken—and dies soon after. It’s not long before the police are knocking on Spice Isle’s door, bringing the Murray family back into the heart of another murder investigation—driving away customers in the process. Lyndsay can't help but wonder if this is the end of the bakery, even though it's just begun. She must put aside her reservations about investigating another crime, because the Murrays refuse to go down without a fight.
#cozymystery #cozymysteryseries #harddoughhomicide #oliviamatthews #spiceislebakerymysteries #stmartinspress
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