Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Dying for Devil's Food - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Dying for Devil's Food (A Cupcake Mystery #11) by Jenn McKinlay

Rating:  Good
Source: Publisher

Description: It's going to take every recipe the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew has to whip up a quick defense for Mel Cooper when her high school reunion goes from a cakewalk to a car wreck...
Melanie Cooper has zero interest in catering her fifteen-year high school reunion, but Angie insists it's only right that they bask in the success of Fairy Tale Cupcakes--and Mel's engagement to the delicious Joe DeLaura is the cherry on top!

Everything is going better than expected until Cassidy Havers, resident mean girl and Mel's high school nemesis, picks a fight. No longer willing to put up with Cassidy's bullying, Mel is ready to tell the former homecoming queen to shut her piehole and call it a night. But as Mel and Joe prepare to depart, Cassidy is found dead in the girl's bathroom, next to a note written in lipstick that points right to Mel -- making her the prime suspect.

Now, Mel must follow the clues to find the real killer and keep her reputation from being frosted for a crime she didn't commit.

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I've been reading this series since the beginning and always enjoy it though it does make me have some serious cupcake cravings!

My Impression:  This was a fun read and I really enjoyed seeing just how far Angie and Mel have come from the very beginning when their then friend (and now Angie's husband) Tate was being investigated for the murder of his fiance.  Now their cupcake store has multiple franchises and they're both in happy relationships.  They're still stumbling over dead bodies though - and this time at their high school reunion.  I just want to say that I'm firmly on Mel's side with the not wanting to go to her high school reunion.  I don't think I'd go even with the order of 500 cupcakes. 

I felt for Mel and cheered for as she navigated through all the pain that high school had dished out but as an adult.  I've always liked Joe but I'm completely over the moon for him now!  The mystery was intriguing and one of those where who didn't want to kill the victim was the major question.  Really what brought this down a bit for me is one of my pet peeves - the arch nemesis in law enforcement.  And in case there's a doozy - Detective Tara Martinez.   Now I'm perfectly fine with a detective disliking an amateur sleuth but Tara is so incredibly unprofessional and flat out petty that it really got on my nerves. 

My one complaint aside this was a fun light cozy mystery with cupcakes that'll make your mouth water and characters you can't help but like (well most of them anyway).

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Absolutely!  I've enjoyed everything I've read from this author and will always look for her books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  Definitely!  If you enjoy cozies than this series (or really any series by McKinlay is a great choice!

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *

3 comments:

  1. It feels like I haven't had cupcakes for a long time. I like cozy mysteries with food in it.

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  2. I read the first books in this series, but haven't caught up with it. I need to do that! This one sounds fun!

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  3. I love this!! I need to read more from this series!

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