I love this series. It's definitely cozy with the murders happening off-screen and the focus being on Maddy and her relationship with the people and loved ones in her new town. Maddy is relatable in some ways and has some of the spunk of her late aunt, even though she didn't know her. I love the discovery process she goes through of her life through the lens of her inherited life.

Murder Is A Piece Of Cake is the second book in the Baker Street Mystery series by Valerie Burns.

Maddie is far from being called a gourmet pastry chef but doing far better than when she started. She is looking forward to the opening of the remodeled Baby Cakes bakery. But a ruthless wealthy businessman, C. J. Davenport, who recently arrived in New Bison, plans to put her out of business by opening a gourmet patissier shop across the street. But before he can open his store, he is found dead in Baby Cakes, stabbed with a Baby Cakes knife. Maddie will come under suspicion for his murder. Making matters worse, April, the police chief and Maddie’s friend, has been removed from the case when it is learned that she is married to Davenport, even though they have been estranged for years. A good-old-boy state trooper is assigned to investigate, and he doesn’t want to hear any of Maddie’s theories. But she will soon win him over a little when she supplies his teenage daughter with a cake and cookies, at the last minute, for a party she is having for friends. In addition to clearing her name, Maddie must also clear April’s. Maddie, her veterinarian boyfriend, and the Baker Street Irregulars will begin their investigation.

They soon discover no shortage of suspects. Candy, the widow of the former mayor, learns that the mayor was allegedly never divorced, and she will lose the building where she will have a coffee shop. Another lady enters the picture to claim she is the former wife and others.

The book is well-written, well-plotted, and it gave me many chuckles. The characters are well-developed and very enjoyable. I would love to spend time with them. There were enough twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the killer was,

Maddie’s romantic interest in Baby’s vet continues to grow. Even Baby now has a romantic interest in Daisy, a young Mastiff.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I am anxious;y awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.

As the second book in a cozy series with a fun setup (big-city, rich social media influencer inherits a small-town bakery), I found this one to be less well-paced with a very thin story and too many loose threads.
I love Maddie, her voice, and her community of friends. I love all the details of her small business and the BAKED GOODS.
Other than the hashtags (#STAHP), I enjoyed the writing.
But at times there was too much going on (I don’t understand the bet?) and also not enough (what is the bad guy’s motivation?). It was clear that the author is setting up for a bigger mystery arc, and I hope it’s resolved in the next book.
I’ll keep reading because I like the character and the business. (And the dog.)

This was a fun read with foreshadowing for the next book of a traitor in the midst. So excited to see where this goes and I have several people who I hope are not the bad person. Fun story with great characters, love the setting, as I grew up nearby!

I loved the first book in this series as it is focused on Maddie who owns a bakery in a michigan small town.
A second bakery opens by a shrewd investor who is set on sabotaging Maddie. Sure enough, he turns up dead in the bakery.

I absolutely love the setting of this book. I really enjoy the characters as well! There were things in the beginning of the book that really did not make sense for me (a bake-off contest with repercussions that almost made no sense it made me mad) and why is another victim killed in the bakery? That happened in the last book.
I didn’t mind the majority of this book however the way the book ends is extremely sudden. It’s not clear that the murderer is confirmed and no confirming of why people were killed and how which kind of frustrates me. I thought the first book wrapped up.

I really do like the series and I’ll continue reading and hope the next book provides clarity. I love the narrator of the audio books. So I recommend listening to this book as well.
Thank you, netgalley and Kensington Book for an advanced copy in exchange review.

Murder, bakery, small town, dogs, and the most charming townspeople?! Yes, please!

For starters these books leave me wanting to bake (or go to the bakery and buy sweet treats 😂).

Maddie is a character that has you constantly rooting for her no matter what obstacles fall in her way. I love her relationships with the town and its people and her constantly trying to do good by her aunt. And never giving up!!!

I love this series and will read every book written for it.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

Murder is a Piece of Cake is the second book in the Baker Street Mystery series by Valerie Burns.
I love this series, Book 2 started right where Book 1 ended, which I highly recommend!

This was a very fun book and the perfect sequel to Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder.

Maddie is a great character and there are some new characters in the second book. They are all trying to save Maddie's bakery.

The mystery was really great , I was so surprised who the murder was.

Such a great cozy mystery with fantastic characters.

Maddie and her friends are developing deeper relationships and she has a friend to fight for. I really liked that. The victim had lots of people that might want him dead, so there are plenty of suspects. There are also lots of secrets surrounding him that have to be sorted out. The reveal was interesting and I suspect there are more secrets to come. My only slight complaint is that Maddie seems too oblivious to the secrets that are left undiscovered. However, book 3 might surprise me.

Fun fun fun! I love that we start to see our MC growing up and trying to be more of an adult, but still be her. The mystery was definitely fun and intriguing, especially giving us insight into so many of the other characters. Very zippy and with plenty of red herrings.

April’s not-quite-ex-husband is back in town and she is positively NOT happy to see him. CJ (Clayton Jackson Davenport) immediately provokes Maddy, our narrator, into a bet wherein, if he wins, she’ll shut down her bakery. And she’s not the only one he’s picking fights with having presented Mayor Rivers’ first wife with the news that the two were never divorced meaning Candy doesn’t own her store either. And right after she had told our narrator that there was a tunnel between the two stores.
Of course, CJ is the one who ends up dead. Maddy is one of the immediate suspects since their arguments were so public. So she's going to investigate and try to clear her own name as well as that of her friends.
I enjoyed getting to know people in this book but didn't feel like there was much character growth and there were some parts of the story that felt like they were wedged in and not developed (the parts with Leroy.) Still a good story but am hoping for more in the next book.

Three and a half stars
This book came out June 27, 2023
Follows Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

An entertaining addition to the series. I am eager for the next one. Great cast of characters. Fun dogs. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Maddy and Baby were at it again, except by now Maddy's gotten pretty good with baking certain items. When a guy showed up then was killed, poor April had to sit out from the investigation since said guy was once her husband or as he claimed, they were will married. Now it was poor Leroy since he had a big crush on her. Even with the good ol' boy mentality of Trooper Bob, Maddy actually managed to find his weak spot, his daughter, lol. I wasn't sure about the good trooper for a while, but he proved to be pretty useful and seemed happy to get the heck outta town when the real killer was found, so at least April's job was safe.

I liked the idea of the tunnel between the stores, it was a little spooky and mysterious--and made for some good sleuthing by listening inside it. The showdown was awesome and even Baby got to help a little. Although Aunt Octavia was right (along with Rapunzel) that a good skillet can work wonders! I've got some suspicions now and can't wait for the next book to see if what I'm thinking might actually be true. And word has it the Admiral might be coming for a visit. Oh, Maddy, I guess you'll be herding him next time.

A good Spring Festival was had by all, and Baby's new girlfriend Daisy (a Mastiff who'd belonged to a murder victim and someone unsavory) got a forever home. Maddy was glad because her sweet doggie would be able to visit his girlfriend whenever he wanted, lol. Don't miss this super fun book when it releases next Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

What would you do if a rich stranger came to town and threatened everything you love?
Small Town Bakery - In this second book in this mystery series, Maddy has inherited a bakery and a dog, in the small town of New Bison
Ex-husband - Her friend April’s rich Ex comes to town with the goal to own everything, including Maddy’s bakery
Lost It All - And when he is found dead in her bakery, she is really afraid she will lose it all.

If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know how much I love to settle in with a cozy mystery. And while this one is the second in the series, you don’t really need to read the first in order to read this one. And while I loved the characters and the bull mastiff, named Baby, it left me wanting more. It is definitely wide open for a third book in the series. While I do have some issues with the pacing and the ending, if you like contemporary cozy mysteries you may want to give this one a try.

Murder is a Piece of Cake is the wonderful second installment of the the Bakery Street Mystery series by Valerie Burns. She writes such warm and compassionate characters with humor and strength, creating a sense of community that draws readers in, and keeps them there. The mystery is twisty with more than one story line, and sprinkled with delicious descriptions of desserts. So satisfying on every level.
After the fire in book one, the bakery is being renovated---but Maddy is operating a makeshift bakery in a garage on her property. She may have the competition of a new bakery in town, when a knife from Baby Cakes is found in the victim's back. The mystery is on with clues, twisty turns, and so much fun. Though it isn't necessary to read book one first, I recommend it if you are a "character-driven" reader, as Burns' characters have personality.
I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for an ecopy of this book to read for an unbiased review. All opinions are my own. I loved the book.
#BakerStreetMystery #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #MurderIsaPieceofCake #ValerieBurns

Maddy is becoming more confident as a baker and businesswoman running Baby Cakes while continuing her Great Aunt Octavia's legacy in New Bison, Michigan. But a shrewd investor has shown up in town to open a rival bakery intended to put Maddy out of business. When he dies with one of Baby Cakes' knives sticking out of his back, Maddy and friends are on the case!

I love that Maddy's character continues to grow and mature and hone her baking and sleuthing skills in this second book. She's a smart and likable character (with an enviable shoe collection) but is also evolving, becoming more grounded, and building a great life in her new hometown. Her supporting cast is just as likable, and their interactions/relationships are the heart of the book. I loved spending more time with them.
The book opens with a funny scene, and more humor is woven throughout. The mystery is fast-paced and well-plotted, with plenty of red herrings to keep your suspicions shifting. We also get great dialogue, delicious food references, several recipes, and sweet romance. And the romance isn't just for the human characters--Maddy's 250lb. Mastiff, Baby, adorably falls hard for a sweet pup named Daisy. The bigger mystery in the community, the one Maddy's Great Aunt left clues about, is still swirling, and I look forward to seeing how that plays out across future books in the series. I loved this charming, entertaining, cozy mystery; it was a fun read!
I look forward to book three!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This book was better than the first one in the series. So many red herrings! I even found the hashtags less irritating than I did the first time.

Maddy is ready to re-open Baby Cakes Bakery in time for the spring festival. With the renovations from the fire winding down, she is busy planning what to enter into the baking contest. Except that multimillionaire CJ Davenport waltzes into town and is opening his own bakery with a fancy Belgian pâtissier at the helm. Given the stipulations of Maddy's great aunt's will that she has to stay in New Bison with Baby and run the bakery for a year, this could close Baby Cakes and ruin Maddy's new life. When CJ winds up with a knife in his back, no one seems to miss him. Maddy once again finds herself a murder suspect.

I wanted to sample many of the baked goods mentioned in this book (thank goodness for the recipes at the end!). Baby steals the book once again but I adore the cast of characters. I look forward to future trips to New Bison!

My thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5 stars

A strong followup to the last book, the series debut. Maddy has grown up a lot -- this 20-something has morphed from a self-involved semi-airhead to a confident businesswoman after inheriting her great aunt's bakery in a small Michigan town. Maddy is much more likeable now and has earned some respect in her family and community. Her skill set is social media but she isn't afraid to get involved in the actual cooking and baking and has tried to acquire some kitchen chops.

The ensemble cast, her employees, her friends, and her hunky veterinarian boyfriend, is nicely drawn and she has a good rapport with them. The town is getting ready for their big festival and Maddy and crew are gearing up to finally open the renovated bakery and take part. But a surprise out of town visitor who has ties to Maddy's best friend April, the sheriff, threatens to derail everything. He is determined to run Maddy out of business and mess up everyone's lives -- until he is found dead, stabbed with one of the bakery knives.

April is prohibited from the investigation after the bombshell discovery that the murder victim was her husband. Maddy dances around the finger-shaking of the local trooper who is in charge of the case for her to stay clear.

A quick, fun read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns is the second book in A Baker Street Mysteries. It can be read as a standalone for those who did not read Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder. We return to New Bison, Michigan where Maddy is getting ready to reopen Baby Cakes, the bakery she inherited from her great aunt, Octavia. Maddy wants the opening to coincide with New Bison’s Spring Festival. Maddy is still learning to bake and, naturally, makes mistakes. Of course, most people’s mistakes are not online for all to see. Maddy likes to take pictures (of food, events, etc.) and post them online with hashtags. I quickly tired of the hashtags (there were too many). The first half of the book deals with the setup. It was obvious who would die. The victim was not a nice guy. Maddy and her friends work to solve the mystery. Maddy is determined to find the guilty party which will clear her friends. The killer can easily be identified along with the why (there might as well have been a neon sign over the killer’s head). The reveal felt rushed. I was left with some lingering questions. I have a feeling that residents of New Bison have more secrets that will come to light in the future. I wonder, though, how many murders can occur in one small town (soon the tourists will stay away in droves). Maddy seemed a touch more grounded in this book than in the first. She has made some good changes to the bakery and, hopefully, it will get to open to the public soon. I like the discovery they made concerning the bakery (sorry, but it is a spoiler). I love Maddy’s dog, Baby (I like big dogs). Baby is the highlight of the story. Murder is a Piece of Cake is a lighthearted cozy mystery with whipped egg whites, a horrible husband, a lovesick mastiff, a setup sheriff, copious hashtags, and a probing baker.

This is the second book in this series. Each book can be read as a standalone but I’d still recommend reading the series from the beginning. The characters are so entertaining, realistic and supportive of one another. The mystery is well plotted providing plenty of potential suspects to choose from. The book’s mystery is solved but there are clues dropped that are a teaser of more intrigue to come and hinting that things may not be all that they seem. Can’t wait to see where that leads! This is a fun, entertaining cozy mystery series filled with small town intrigue, murder and mystery, community, food, friendship, a little romance, humor and a lovable mastiff!

Maddy is dating the local vet Michael. She's selling baked goods in a detached garage on her property. Her bakery is just about done with renovations after the fire. Baby is not his normal self after a stud appointment. April's estranged husband Clayton Davenport has come to New Bison to create trouble.
Aunt Octavia warned Maddy that there is some shady stuff happening in town and she wasn't sure who to trust.
Then Clayton is found dead in the bakery and April, Maddy and Leroy are all prime suspects.
The irregulars get together to investigate to find out who the real culprits are.
I'm liking that we still haven't figured out who is shady and controlling things and the web of deceit keeps growing. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what happens next.