When I first requested this from Netgalley, the description said it was the first in a series so I was VERY confused when I started reading it. Luckily I was able to get the first book from my local library and power through it before I jumped into this one. Maddy is left her great aunt's bakery, house, and dog IF she lives there and operates it for a year. These books are SUPER social media heavy, and the hashtags drove me NUTS. And I say that as a communications professional.. Valerie Burns has a lot of experience as a writer, but I wouldn't necessarily say the work is super polished. Then again, I'm not sure what resources she has for polishing, and I'm certainly not going to hold that against her. These are just fast, a lot of fun, and food related!! Win win win!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for a free ecopy of this novel in return for an honest review.

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns is the second instalment in the Baker Street Mystery series. This novel continues on three months after the first book. We follow Maddy, the daughter of a Navy Admiral. After the death of her great aunt Octavia and the end of her relationship she decides to move to New Bison, a small quaint town in Michigan that gives serious Stars Hollows vibes. There she has to live for 1 year in her great aunts old house and run the bakery before she has access to her inheritance, But nothing is quite as it seems. Who can Maddy trust? Are there more nefarious things going on in this town?

Beware of mild spoilers ahead :

The first book in this series ended up on my favorites of 2022, so I was so excited when I received a copy for review. I loved to be back with all the characters. I loved the found family aspect that these books have. I love me a bit of amateur sleuthing. Unfortunately I didn't like this book as much as the first. There were some problems the first book had that I really hoped this one wouldn't but alas. The pacing of both the first book and this book had some issues. It takes ages before we get the final reveal (at the 90% mark), and when we do finally get our answers, we are left with so many questions because the bad guy gets killed within 0.1 seconds. It leaves me with a feeling of whiplash.

The quick endings I can overlook. I still have a good enough time with these characters that I will be coming back for more, regardless of how rushed the endings are. There was unfortunately a really big problem at around 30%. This is when I will be getting into spoilers.

Maddy is called from her house by the police to come to the crime scene. Someone has been murdered at her bakery, so naturally the cops have questions. She arrives together with her English Mastiff, Baby. The lead investigator asks her to please keep the dog in her car, he doesn't want the dog to come inside and contaminate the crime scene. Personally I find this a very reasonable request. Maddy's friend April, who also happens to be the sheriff of the town, says something along the lines that Trooper Bob cannot make this request of Maddy because Baby is a trained service animal, and under the Americans with Disabilities Act he cannot refuse the dog entrance and he is also not requered to wear a vest. The facts are correct, except that Baby isn't a service dog at all.....

I'm very disapointed that the author would include something like this in the book. It is a fact that a lot of people put a vest purchased from Amazon on their dog and pretend that they are service dogs, simply because they want to be able to take their dogs everywhere. The amount of fully trained service animals that have been hurt, bitten and traumatized by pets is alarming. Service dogs can help people with a number of different disabilities. You have dogs that are trained to lead the blind, but also dogs that are trained to detect problematic heart rythms, fainting spells, high blood sugar etc. Distracting or even causing hurt to a service dog can lead to them missing a cue and their owner getting hurt. When they are traumatized by events like this, the dog is usually unable to do his job and has to retire. A service dog costs between 15.000 and 30.ooo dollars. It is a huge investment the disabled person has to make, and they can lose it all in the blink of an eye if their dog gets attacked by a pet. I simply don't understand why anyone would include this in a novel and pretend like this is an OK thing to do. It is not okay. The people who actually bring their pets with them and pretend that they are service dogs are despicable to me. I would greatly appreciate if people would just leave their dog at home, or with someone who can look after them if you're going to be gone for a while.

So what next? Will I continue to read on with the series? Probably. I just hope that someone will actually read this review and will learn from this. Dog owners, aspiring writers and the team behind this book alike.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Maddy Montgomery is working hard to continue her late great-aunt Octavia’s legacy and that means getting the Baby Cakes bakery reopened and participating in the baking competition at the New Bison’s Spring Festival and winning a top prize. Thankfully she has a wonderful team helping her because her own baking skills still need work. When she learns another bakery is opening across the street and it is owned by CJ Davenport, a man who just happens to have a huge connection to Sheriff April Johnson she is apoplectic and she isn't the only one. But when the man is found dead with one of Maddy's knives in his back her ire is replaced by fear that she could go to jail for a murder she didn't commit. Pushing her fear to the side she works with her wonderful boyfriend and the Baker Street Irregulars to catch the killer before #newbisonbakerdead is trending all over social media.

______

All our favorite characters are back from Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder. Maddy is finding her place in New Bison and slowly learning to bake her great aunt's delicious baked goods but Leroy Danielson and Miss Hannah are still doing the majority of the baking. I love the way the relationship between Hannah's grandson, the local vet Micheal Portman and Maddy is evolving. He is a great guy with a huge heart. Leroy has been crushing hard on Sheriff April Johnson so CJ Davenport's arrival in town adds an interesting twist. All the characters continue to develop nicely as we get to know them even better in this story when backstories emerge.

Baby, the two-hundred-fifty-pound English mastiff Maddy inherited from Octavia again found his way into my heart. In this story, he is feeling out of sorts and not acting like himself. His vet Michael runs a bunch of tests. It was a heartwarming moment when he and Maddy figured out what was wrong as was the solution to the problem. Ms. Burns always catches the dogs in her story's personalities so well and she did it again here. I loved it. He also protects his new person, Maddy. I wouldn't take any malicious actions against her when he is near. He went to great lengths to come to her rescue in this story.

The mystery had good old-boy Trooper Bob on the case because April had to recuse herself. That didn't mean she wasn't investigating though. As was Maddy who got some help from an interesting person. There were a nice number of suspects other than Maddy but Trooper Bob sure didn't appreciate her help. I really enjoyed following along with the clues. The case was more complicated than I first thought and had tentacles that were far-reaching. While the current mysteries are solved I have a feeling there are still things to uncover in New Bison.

Murder is a Piece of Cake is a terrific follow-up to Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder. A multi-layered mystery, with captivating characters set in the unique small town of New Bison, Michigan. A great big dose of humor and just the right amount of romance add to this very entertaining read. With Baby's Cakes now open I can't wait to see what Valerie Burns has in store for her characters next. #5starread #5recipes #perfectescape #letemeatcake #cozymystery #babycakes #englishmastiff #somuchfun

This is such a fun series! I love the characters, particularly Maddie and her dog, Baby. The mystery was intriguing, well-paced, and kept me guessing the whole time. I enjoyed getting to know more about April’s and Leroy’s pasts and the added dimension of Maddie’s relationship with Michael. The hashtags still aren’t my favorite but I just skip over them. Looking forward to the next.

This is such a cute series and I love all the relationships between the characters. The way that Valarie Burns writes it makes you feel like you are a part of their world and I love that! I can't wait for the next in this series to come out!

#MurderisaPieceofCake
#NetGalley

Didn't know this was the second in the series. Perhaps if I had read the first I would be more invested. AND I'm not the target audience. The multiple hashtags and influencer references really annoy me. The story is stock for this genre. Didn't hate it but not sure I'd run out and buy the third book.

Thanks for the chance to read it.

Great 2nd in a new cozy mystery series, recommend you read book 1 first to get all the details.

Read if you like:

Culinary cozies
Baking
Sleuth starting over
Great friend group/side characters
Cozies with a side of romance
Doggos
Small town setting
Social media

If you are looking to diversify your shelves

If there’s one thing I’m going to eat up every single time, it’s a cozy little mystery that also involves food. The perfect follow up to what was already a fun and flushed world!

This second installment of the series gave me what I was looking for. I enjoyed getting to know more about the cast of characters and watching them come together. The storyline and the additional characters, as well as the setting, made for an entertaining read.

The mystery reveal was a little off for me, but I think it was supposed to be. I found it left some unanswered questions and may not be completely solved, then ended a little abruptly. Maybe it was a more subtle cliff hanger. Not sure if I trust a few supporting characters. I am definitely interested to see where book 3 picks up. I need some answers and to meet the Admiral.

And of course, Baby steals the show!!

Great follow-up to the first Baker Street Mystery. The character development continued to be excellent and the story was charming.

This is such a cozy and great murder mystery read. I was unaware this is the second title to Baker Street series. Now I want to go back to read the first in the series, "Two parts sugar, One part Murder" just to know how this journey began.

Murder is a Piece of Cake: A Baker Street Mystery
By VM Burns
Kensington
July 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

After inheriting her great-aunt Octavia’s house, bakery, and 250-pount English mastiff Baby, Maddy Montgomery has been using her social media skills to promote Baby Cakes Bakery to the Southwest, Michigan town of New Bison. Live-streaming her filled-with-mishaps attempts to cook have gained her a growing following, but she’s really looking forward to the New Bison Spring Festival where she and her employees can not only showcase their creations but also compete in the baking competition. It’s also a chance to celebrate Baby Cakes’ reopening after post-arson renovations, but casting a cloud on Maddy’s plans is wealthy businessman Clayton Jefferson Davenport. Announcing that he plans to open a bakery nearby to compete against Baby Cakes, he offers to buy Maddy out as the tiny town can’t support two bakeries. Reacting with the same impulsiveness that led her to New Bison in the first place (getting engaged to a Doctor and unfortunately live-streaming her being left at the altar), Maddy bets that her cakes will beat out his professional chef’s in a competition, with the loser leaving town for good. While it’s a bit of luck that CJ gets himself murdered before the actual contest, it’s less than ideal that he’s stabbed to death by a Baby Cakes knife.

While Maddy would seem to be the obvious suspect, it’s Sheriff April Johnson who takes center stage as the possible culprit when she reveals that CJ is her estranged husband. April kept this a secret from her friends out of shame, having left her toxic spouse when he attempted to use his former beauty queen wife as currency in a business deal. With April suspended from the case and confined to desk duty, narrow-minded Michigan State Trooper Bob Roberts takes over and focuses his investigation entirely on April and Maddy. Trooper Bob believes that the women either committed the murder independently or conspired together, so Maddy decides to begin her own investigation along with the help of her late great-aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars. CJ had incensed more than just a few before he fatally departed the tiny town of 2000, including threatening a widow’s inheritance by bringing in a woman claiming to be the more recent wife. Maddy definitely has her hands full as she juggles the murder investigation with her mastiff’s lovelorn-induced depression, not to mention preparing for the arrival of her father, U.S. Navy admiral Jefferson Augustus Montgomery.

This second in the series continues to charm with its blend of comfort-food cooking, enthusiastic canines, and quirky Michigan residents. Maddy continues to hashtag her life on social media, and her relationship with Army veteran and veterinarian Michael Portman has only grown stronger. Readers’ heartstrings will be pulled by his caregiving relationship with his grandmother Hannah, a Baby Cakes baker who has been showing more signs of dementia. Maddy herself is as empathetic as she is impulsive, and it’s the latter that often leads her into trouble when she feels the former. Delicious recipes that combine her peanut butter twist on Aunt Octavia’s Chocolate Soul Cake will delight foodies, while the engaging characters and witty dialogue entertains cozy mystery fans. The prolific Valerie “VM” Burns is a skilled writer who reliably delivers laughs, twisty plots, and extremely compelling mysteries.

3.5 ⭐️

This was fun! Didn’t end how I thought it would though. I’m definitely going to read the next book in the series.

Social media influencer Maddy Montgomery thinks she’s finally getting into the #SwingOfThings right as renovations on the Baby Cakes bakery she’s inherited are coming to a close. She’s still not the world’s best baker, but she’s determined to continue learning in order to keep her late great aunt Octavia’s legacy alive. Plus, her experience in modern marketing means that she’s already started to put her own and other businesses in her new home of New Bison, Michigan on the map.

As the weather warms and New Bison gears up for its annual Spring Festival, Maddy is focused on reopening her downtown location with the help of her friends and co-workers. Unfortunately, the arrival of multimillionaire CJ Davenport quickly throws a wrench in the works. Bad enough that he’s come to town to announce that he’ll be opening a rival bakery, featuring an expert pastry chef flown in specially from Belgium. He’s also busy antagonizing some of Maddy’s nearest and dearest, as well as other important people in New Bison.

After Maddy impulsively accepts his challenge to a Bake Off that will determine which of their bakeries will remain open past the Spring Festival and which will be forced to close, her friends quickly put their heads together to help her figure out how to win. But could any of them have decided that the only sure way to succeed is by eliminating the competition? That’s certainly what State Trooper Bob Roberts thinks when he’s called in to investigate why Davenport is found dead the very next night, stabbed in the back in Baby Cakes’ downtown bakery.

Maddy and her friends might have their flaws, but the capacity to kill in cold blood certainly isn’t one of them. As the cloud of suspicion falls over each of the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy will have to race to figure out who of Davenport’s many enemies wanted him dead, before one of her own friends is unjustly convicted of murder.

I love Maddy and her fashionista, social-media lifestyle, and how she continues to integrate that into small town life with her beloved English mastiff, Baby. The subplot regarding Baby’s depression was also entirely charming, and surprisingly integral to the murder mystery. I so enjoy how this series continues to make it abundantly clear that while each book ends with the capture of A Villain, we’re still waiting to bring The Villain to justice. While I figured out in the last book who that latter is, I’m on tenterhooks to see who else might be involved in The Villain’s surprisingly complex criminal conspiracy.

There were five recipes for delicious sweets included here, and I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Michael’s Easy Sugar Cookies

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
⅔ cup + 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Rainbow sprinkles (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Beat together butter and ⅔ cup sugar until combined.

Add in flour and blend well. Then blend in the vanilla.

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.

Press down on the balls of dough with the bottom of a glass to flatten, and place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 14-16 minutes or until just slightly golden around the edges and on the bottom.

Sprinkle with the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar and add the sprinkles (if using).

Cool on the baking sheet for at least 10-15 minutes.
END QUOTE

In all honesty, I was a little skeptical about this recipe because it seems almost too easy. The dough comes out very crumbly, and I was concerned about the end product’s integrity once baked. I needn’t have worried though because the cookies firm up quite nicely upon cooling. My only regret is that my husband forgot to buy rainbow sprinkles, so while these cookies came out tasting delicious, they lacked a little of the visual pizazz sprinkles would have given them (Maddy would have been very disappointed in me.) Not that it mattered to anyone else in my family, who gobbled them all up quickly!

Next week, we travel to New England to whip up a sweet treat while investigating the suspicious death of a socialite with a mean streak. Do join me!

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns is set during the springtime in Michigan.

Will Maddy find out why someone would want CJ Davenport dead?

Maddy Montgomery
Madison "Maddy" Montgomery loves her life in New Bison, Michigan, and is excited about the Spring Festival. She is also getting things ready at Baby Cakes Bakery for the Grand Reopening during the Spring Festival. Well, that is until CJ Davenport steps into the limelight and says he is opening a rival bakery. Maddy being the way she is, makes a bad bet with him. Now, Maddy has to clear her name and two of her friends' names.
Maddy is a fantastic character who has grown since the first book. She feels more confident in herself in New Bison and tries to live like an average person. Maddy also has great friends and a supportive boyfriend who all want to see Maddy become the person that her aunt Octavia thought that Maddy could be. Well, that is, if she didn't have access to so much money.

The Victim
Clayton "CJ" Davenport was murdered in Baby Cakes Bakery with one of their knives. Of course, before that happens, we find out that Clayton and our own Sheriff, April Johnson, are married and that he isn't happy that she isn't on his arm anymore. Davenport pissed off many people within the short time he was in New Bison alive. I honestly had no clue who could have killed the man or why since a bunch of people had a motive to kill him. When the killer was found I couldn't believe it. No one seems to be mourning the loss of one, Clayton Davenport.

Five Stars
Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns has Maddy trying to keep herself out of jail and two of her closest friends. One of them is married to the dead guy, even if they are separated. Ms. Burns has the perfect way of telling a story that sprinkles these clues all over the place that point to many different people, but only one is correct. I am giving Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns five stars and a recommendation to anyone that likes a phenomenal cozy culinary mystery.

There are recipes in the back of the book, so don't forget to look at them. They are Great-Aunt Octavia's Chocolate Soul Cake, Maddy's Peanut Butter Dream, Leroy's Easy Peanut Butter Cookies, Michael's Easy Sugar Cookies, and Quick and Easy Lemon Meringue Pie. All of these sound so yummy, especially the chocolate cake. Most of these recipes are mentioned throughout the book as well.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

Oh baby! Murder is A Piece of Cake is just the coziest of cozies with lots of heart, humor, excitement, murder and oh, deliciousness!

In book two of this adorable series, we find social media influencer, Maddy, now the owner of a bakery called Baby Cakes named after her late Aunt Octavia’s very large Mastiff named Baby. They both are still recuperating from their first adventure and the bakery is closed due to renovations. What could possibly go wrong? The will stipulates Maddy must keep the bakery afloat for a certain amount of time in order to receive her inheritance, so that’s what she must do. But with a closed store, no money is coming in.

As she and the “real” baker, Leroy begin to figure out what to bake for the upcoming New Bison Spring Festival, two things suddenly go wrong. First, there is something wrong with Baby and no one can figure out what. She’s not sick, it sees she’s depressed. And oh, there is a murder!

When multi-millionaire and not the nicest guy in the world CJ Davenport comes into town, he does more than just seek revenge on Maddy’s best friend, but not only does he open up a bakery directly across from Baby Cakes, but they discover he owns deeds to a couple of other stores. And he’s after Baby Cakes. So, with most of the town not happy with him, he ends up dead. In Maddy’s bakery with a knife in his back…Karma, I guess.

So as Maddy and her new friends who like to solve mysteries and are known as the Baker Street Irregulars try to find out who the killer is and with the police not very happy with Maddy and even suspecting her, they must figure this out quickly who the murderer really is because the bakery needs to open.

No one believes the killer is Maddy, but when one of their own confesses to the murder they are all thrown into chaos. They know the person is not guilty, so why would they take the fall?

In the meantime, they discover Baby is in love. Not with Maddy, but ANOTHER mastiff named Daisy. How on earth does Maddy deal with this? She wants to keep Baby happy…but. Her own love life is going pretty well in New Bison as she has been seeing the veterinarian, Michael.

What they soon discover is that this murder is somehow related to all the trouble they had just a few months ago. Will it never end? Well, I hope not! In this plot we begin to learn much more about the backstories of some of the characters we as readers have all fallen in love with all the juicy soap opera details of life in a small town.

Maddy and Baby’s adventures are comically enjoyable and continue to entertain with solid mysteries, yummy recipes included at the end of the books all of which continue to be completely satisfying. #loveforBaby #waitingforthenextinstallment.

Thank you #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns #MurderisAPieceofCake for the advanced copy.

Maddy Montgomery and her Baker Street Irregulars are back for another mystery in Murder is a Piece of Cake.

Maddy is adjusting to life in New Bison. With her bakery about to re-open and the Spring Festival just around the corner, everything is go-go-go! She's determined to follow in her Great Aunt Octavia's footsteps and win the baking contest at the Spring Festival. However, not all goes to plan when April's husband turns up and starts threatening everyone.... even Maddy! When he turns up dead [in Maddy's bakery!], Trooper Bob starts pointing his finger at Maddy and her friends.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder, and this second instalment is even better. I just flew through this book! Valerie Burns writes a fast paced mystery that had me wanting to read faster and faster. I couldn't put it down!!

Maddy and her friends really turn it up for this mystery, as they leave no clue behind, and hit the pavement hard trying to find out who the killer is.

The ending? Well I really don't want to give it away, but it is one that you don't want to miss! If you haven't read this series go grab both Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder and Murder is a Piece of Cake now. You don't want to miss this series. It is completely unputdownable and an absolute must read!

Really enjoyed this second book in the series! We are back in the small town of New Bison and the Spring Baking Festival is almost here! Maddy is hoping to get the top prize in the contest to put Baby Cakes Bakery on the map as a must-visit bakery. When a second bakery comes into town from CJ Davenport, an investor who is determined to sabotage Maddy in any way he can, she is worried about the competition to no end. All of a sudden, CJ ends up dead and they're looking for the killer.

I enjoyed being back in this small town with our great cast of characters and Maddy continues to grow as a baker in her Aunt Octavia's old bakery. This mystery was a bit more complete and I didn't figure it out! The only thing I am not fond of in this one is the overuse of the hashtags in this story - sometimes it just takes you out of the story. Loved having Baby the Mastiff dog back in the story and the overall cozy vibes of the town, characters and mystery.

Thank you to the publisher for a NetGalley ARC copy to honestly read and review

When last we left Maddy, Baby, and the folks of New Bison, Michigan, I said that although one murder was solved, two deaths remained mysterious and I wasn’t sure who to trust in the town or even in Maddy’s inner circle. Well after reading Murder is a Piece of Cake, I’m no longer unsure of who to trust (many characters confirmed my initial good opinion of them) but I’m definitely unsure about who NOT to trust. Some people I thought were safe in book one definitely seem to be hiding some things in book two… and I’m pretty sure at least one of those people is a murderer. I love this story arc that connects the whole series, and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out in future books!

Maddy is once again an absolutely lovable character, as is her 250-pound English Mastiff – Baby. They’re actually a lot alike, though I wouldn’t necessarily tell this to either of them lol. Both characters have big hearts and lots of love to give. They will fiercely protect the ones they love, and they both have instincts that people need to pay more attention to. And… they both appreciate good food that other people fix haha. (Though, kudos to Maddy, who is getting her bake on more in this book.) We also get to know April and Leroy’s backstories more in Murder is a Piece of Cake, and of course I still adore Maddy’s swoony new veterinarian boyfriend Michael and his grandmother Hannah who is a sassy spitfire, despite battling dementia.

There’s a lot of mystery swirling around New Bison in this book, and I have a strong feeling that even more layers will come to light in book three. The initial victim is decidedly unlikable, but the suspects are a who’s-who list of my fave characters. Needless to say, Maddy is personally invested in this case, and so was I. It’s a lot more complex than it first appears to be, and I enjoyed piecing clues together as more elements were revealed. The small town/bakery/influencer vibes complement the mystery-solving aspects of the story, and I really admire how the author develops the characters in step with the sleuthing. Also, if I’m ever in danger, I want a dog like Baby in my corner. #doggoals

Bottom Line: Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns is fun and entertaining, with mouthwatering food and heart-racing mystery. Bodies and suspects pile up along with a hearty dose of small town scandal and Trooper Bob grumpiness as Maddy & her Baker Street Irregulars tackle another investigation in New Bison. Wonderful characters, lots of intriguing layers, and some swoony (but not overdone) romance mean you’re in for a delightful read from cover to cover.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Not bad, not bad. The first book in this series was certainly stronger. This one didn't seem to have as much meat or as high stakes as book 1. Not sure if I will pick up book 3 but I probably won't request an early copy.