A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death is a fun, cozy mystery with lots of humor, great characters, and an adorable 250 lb English mastiff named Baby. This is the third book in Valerie Burns’ Baker Street Mystery series. Mandy enlists her friends in solving yet another murder. Although a relative newcomer to New Bison, Mandy discovers that this small town takes care of their own. I love Ms. Burns’ sense of humor and easy writing style. I highly recommend this book and the first two in the series. I look forward to reading more of her books.

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is a fun, cozy mystery, and part of the Baker Street Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone- huge thanks to Valerie Burns for that, because I did not read any of the other books, but fortunately, I was not left clueless!
In this book, we follow Madison Montgomery, an LA girlie new to the small town of New Bison, Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt Octavia's bakery, house, and dog after she passed. Being the daughter of an Admiral, the girlfriend of an ex-Army commando, and the best friend of a sheriff, you would think no trouble would come Maddie's way, right?
Wrong!
Trouble always seems to find Maddie, specifically by means of murder. There have already been two bodies found in her bakery, and when her ex-friend turned nemesis, Brandy Denton is found dead in her bakery, all fingers seem to point to Maddie. The two have been enemies ever since Brandy stole Maddie's fiancé right from under her nose, and she's been making her life hell ever since. A video of the women arguing was posted to social media right before Brandy was found dead, and it does not look good for Brandy. Not to mention, just days later another body is found, thankfully not in the bakery, however there is a connection between the new victim, Oliver Freemont, and Brandy. With the help of her boyfriend, father, English mastiff, and new family in New Bison, Maddie sets out to find out who killed Brandy and Oliver and clear her name.
I loved every minute of this mystery! It is so cozy and fun, with each character adding to the story as a whole. The mystery is a funny and very relaxed one, with pieces slowly coming together to solve this enjoyable mystery. The ending was the sweetest and perfect, considering where Maddie and Michael were unbtheur relationship. Huge perks for adding recipes from Baby Cakes bakery at the end! Loved it, and I'm so ready for the next book in this series (right after I get my hands on the first 2! Lol)
Thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Valerie Burns for such a wonderfully creative ARC!

Book three of this culinary mystery series finds once-upon-a-time LA influencer turned bakeshop-and-mastiff-owner Maddy with another murder on her hands - and once more she is accused of being the killer. As Maddy works with her new group of friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, to solve the case, she's also starting to question her newly formed romance with the local veterinarian Michael. Is he the one true love of her life? And will she still be around to enjoy their relationship or will she find herself in jail for a crime she didn't commit?

This third installment nicely ties up the loose ends left from the first two volumes and wraps things up nicely for a trilogy, though it would also be easy for this to grow into a much larger series.

This series is a great addition to already established cozy baking mystery series, and readers who are looking for some quirky characters who keep landing themselves involved in some outlandish acts will find this hits the spot. A great suggestion for readers who have enjoyed Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson, this brings cozy culinary mysteries into the new century with the use of social media and name dropping of prominent brands in fashion.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had everything that I was looking for from a cozy mystery element that I wanted. The plot has a great writing style and I enjoyed the overall feel of this story and glad I got to read this. Valerie Burns has a great writing style and can’t wait for more.

I’m always guaranteed a great read by this author.
Interesting premise, intriguing characters and a well written whodunit!
I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH (Book 3 of the Baker Street Mystery series) by Valerie Burns in exchange for an honest review. Maddy’s social media success promoting her English mastiff Baby and Baby Cakes Bakery draws her ex-fiancé and Brandy Denton, the woman for whom he dumped Maddy, to New Bison. After Brandy ambushes Maddy, forces confrontations, and posts those videos online, Brandy is murdered and her body staged at the bakery. Suddenly, Maddy is a murder suspect, and it’s time to call in the troops!

I liked the book and enjoy the series. I’m a fan of this series and others by V.M. Burns. I recommend the book to fans of this series and the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring social media, influencers, bakeries, giant dogs, as well as learning to bake and to laugh at yourself.

#ACupofFlourAPinchofDeath #NetGalley

Maddy, Baby and her friends are back to solve another mystery. Brandy, Maddy’s enemy who stole her ex-fiancé has shown up and Maddy wants to know why.

Brandy ends up getting killed and Maddy is the prime suspect. Maddy the Admiral shows up to help. I like how he plays a bigger role in this book. The mystery of Aunt Octavia’s murder and what she felt was going on is also solved in this book.

A really great addition to the series. I hope it doesn’t end, I would love to read more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, opinions express in this review are completely my own.

A CUP OF FLOUR, A PINCH OF DEATH is the third book in the Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns. This fast-paced contemporary cozy mystery is both protagonist Maddy Montgomery’s life revolving around her bakery (and learning to bake with hilarious results!) and a crafty, multi-faceted mystery spanning the three books in the series. Ms. Burns has created memorable characters from Maddy’s English mastiff dog, Baby, to her boyfriend veterinarian Michael, to her roommate, Sheriff April, to her Admirable father, as well as her deceased aunt’s elderly friends. I love how they all come together to solve the murder of Maddy’s nemesis and call themselves the Baker Street Irregulars. I especially enjoyed seeing Maddy’s father more involved in this book and their close relationship brings an emotional note to the story. While there may be drama and angst between Maddy and her fiancé-stealing nemesis leading up to the murder, the core characters are kind and supportive of each other. The kind of people you’d like to call friends.

In this newest release, Maddy comes face-to-face with Brandy Denton, the woman who stole her fiancé, and is subsequently murdered at her bakery. There’s also a mysterious man who seems to stalk her, and Maddy can’t figure out why or who he is. Ms. Burns has created a complex plot that kept me turning pages and guessing who would have wanted to murdered Brandy since Maddy was the only one in town who knew her… or was she? There are twists I didn’t see coming, and I appreciated that the ongoing mystery thread weaving throughout all three books is finally resolved with an edge-of-your-seat conclusion. I hope that doesn’t mean that this is the end of the series because I love hanging out with Maddy, Baby, and the entire gang and can’t wait to read more!

There are several mouthwatering dishes mentioned in the story, and the author has included a few recipes at the back of the book to try at home.

This is one of my favorite recent series. It's great to read a main character of color. And it's actually really fun to have a protagonist that's a social media influencer who isn't a total jerk. Maddy's clever, sassy, but also self aware. I love the moments of humor and self doubt. I also love the community/family she's built for herself in New Bison, Michigan.

This book is well plotted, though I think it was a bit too easy to guess the killer. Still, I had a great time reading it, start to finish. Love following along on Maddy's and Baby's adventures.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It's always a delight to be back in New Bison with Maddy and co! I especially love Baby!

This is the third book in the series. There is a main murder that gets solved and a mystery that has spanned three books also gets solved. I think you could easily read this book on it's own but I would recommend reading them all in order to get more of a sense of Maddy and her growth.

I hope there are many more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Kensington Publishing.

Maddy and her large canine friend Baby are back to solve another mystery. When Maddie sees her old nemesis, Brandy, the woman who stole her fiancé and humiliated her, she wonders what this woman is doing in Michigan . Brandy is her usual nasty self, but not for long. Maddy's friends, including veterinarian boyfriend Michael and her father, The Admiral, are there to support her and to help find the murderer when Trooper Bob considers her a suspect. Someone who knew Great Aunt Octavia, original owner of Baby Cakes bakery, ostensibly has a package to give Maddy from her late great aunt. Will she ever get it, and what could it contain? Likable characters in a friendly small town, a loyal and entertaining dog, and a good mystery make this series a cut above other cozy mysteries I've read. Recipes are included. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love cozy mysteries and this one was such a sweet book. I found this is more appealing to younger adults and it is an easy read. It took less than a full day and I was enthralled in the mystery. I did not like though how focused the details were on somethings, such as the Rivian R1S. It seemed an odd page to include in the book. I do love that she highlights her past life of social media to now a baker and the changes she has underwent. It made her have a more layered character. It was definitely cheesy, and I felt the mystery was not too over the top. I do adore this genre specifically. I did not absolutely love the military reference as much more when two male characters saluted each other in a time they normally would not. It was cute and lighthearted so for those who want to read this for sweet mystery I would recommend it. I give it 3.5 stars.

This was a good conclusion to the who was the “spy in the camp?” plot that connected the first three books. Maddy finally has some answers and hopefully both she and New Bison will be able to move forward. There is some significant character development in this book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

#ACupofFlourAPinchofDeath #NetGalley is another fun addition to this series.
Maddy and her side kick Baby are up to their elbows in another murder investigation and this time, Maddy is a suspect once again.
The appearance of ex friend and fiance stealer Brandy rocks Maddy's world, especially when she is found dead, and all evidence points directly to her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this arc. I received this arc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.

I love this series. Valerie Burns does it again with her third book in this cozy mystery series. I have read her last book in this series through Kensington publishing and this author has officially become an auto buy author for me. Maddy Montgomery is back!! Maddy’s ex best friend Brendy comes to New Bison for revenge after ruining Maddy’s wedding and causing her to move to New Bison in the first place. They have a few altercations that also include Maddison’s boyfriend Michael and a baby cat. Brendy ends up dead inside Baby Cakes and Maddy becomes the main suspect. A mysterious man with blue eyes has also been stalking Maddy but later finds out that he was a friend of her great aunts and had figured out who was trying to hurt her great aunt Octativa. The lawyer Chris ends up being our murderer who bribed Brendy into coming and trying to frame Maddy for her murder so that he can gain control of her land. It is also revealed that he killed her Great Aunt Octavia and confessed it to Maddy and Michael. At the end of the novel Maddy and Michael get engaged while Maddy is on medication for her shoulder injury after trying to save Michael from Chris and gets shot instead. They both propose to each other and Michael tells Maddy and that the reason he didn’t invite her to Chicago was because he was going to Tiffany’s to get her an engagement ring. What an amazing cozy mystery and I can’t wait to see what adventure Maddy, Baby, and the gang get into next. Sign me up for whatever books come out next from this author. I’m hooked.

“Valerie Burns’ A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death offers a masterful blend of intrigue and authenticity that captivated me from start to finish. Unlike many mysteries where the perpetrator’s motive feels forced or illogical, this novel presents a twist that is both surprising and plausible, enhancing the reading experience significantly. The protagonist, Maddy, navigates her new surroundings and a fledgling bakery with a realism that speaks authentically to the challenges faced by a young woman in her situation. Her mastiff, Baby, adds a delightful touch to the story, bringing warmth and humor.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The persistent military references can feel overly repetitive, and certain scenarios seem to recur a bit too frequently. Despite these minor distractions, the core narrative remains engaging, making these issues easy to overlook. Overall, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it highly to readers seeking a mystery that keeps them guessing until the very end.”

An unexpected ex-friend shows up in New Bison to cause havoc in Maddie’s life. When she is found dead in Baby Cakes, Maddie tops the suspect list and is on the hunt for the person responsible. Then another and another of her past arrives and Maddie finds herself looking at them as potential suspects who may have a stronger motive for the killing. But a second murder takes the case up a notch because the two victims are not known to each other and then the little strategically placed twist tells a different story and wow, what a story. We also get a visit from the Admiral and what an honor it was to see him interact and appreciate the person Maddie has become and I also enjoyed his interaction with her friends, especially Michael.

The mystery was staged to perfection with a solid multi-plot story, visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, and a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. There was the aha moment when I had an inkling of who was behind the murder, and I enjoyed watching it play out with several characters having pivotal roles that would lead to the killer’s identity, apprehension, and motive. Overall, this was the best book in this delightfully entertaining series, and I look forward to more adventures with Maddie and her friends, and hopefully more Admiral visits.

This was a cute, cozy mystery. This can easily be read as a standalone which I love. I had no idea this was a #3 in a series until after I finished and didn't feel like I was missing any information.

We follow Maddy as she adjusts to her life in small town Michigan, a new boyfriend, new friends, running her late aunt's bakery, and a new pup named Baby. Her aunt passed away in maybe suspicious circumstances and then others show up dead in or around the bakery. The local police don't seem keen on doing a thorough investigation so Maddy and her new friends have to pick up some of the slack.

Burns does an amazing job of giving each character such perfect depth and personality. There were multiple interpersonal relationships happening between characters that keep every page interesting and Burns writing makes all the mini story lines easy to follow within the main plot.

I will definitely read more from Burns.

recipes, pet-dog, Michigan, unpleasant-victims, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, local-politics, family-by-choice, family-dynamics, relationships, relatives, amateur-sleuth, multigenerational, murder, murder-investigation, English-mastiff, situational-humor, verbal-humor, art-fraud, veterinarian, ex-military, wealthy, influencer, surprises, bakery, friends, friendship, small-business, small-town, Mitten-State, dementia, cozy-mystery*****

The state deputy is a caricature of a bumbling law enforcement officer but the bakery owner who was an LA fashionista and influencer and her 250 pound English Mastiff named Baby are on the case. A very nasty competitor from LA shows up in the small Michigan town to do things to embarrass Maddy but winds up dead and stuffed in the bakery's cart after a rather public row. Who else could have done it? and how? This fun (except for all those annoying #) cozy mystery is a great stressbuster with engaging characters and some baffling twists. Loved it
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you! Available Jul 23 2024