I really enjoyed this book. I did not read it until recently and I realize that it's a bit late for feedback here but I did enjoy it.

Theodosia St. John, known to her friends as Teddie, is a breast cancer survivor who rather than having reconstructive surgery, regularly goes flat wearing only scarves to hide her lack of breasts. She took early retirement and is now a mystery writer. While at a book signing for one of her favorite authors, Tavish Bentley, her scarf is stolen and found wrapped around the throat of Bentley's former fiancée. So was Teddie involved or a victim as well.

The writing as crisp, the characters need a bit more fleshing out, but for a first installment, definitely a good one!

This cozy mystery ended up being just kind of ok and very mediocre for me. There were several things that prevented me from really enjoying it.

The book had some pacing and writing issues – some passages became too slow and boring with too detailed and inconsequential scenes and dialogues. I didn't love Teddie as the main character. It was good to see the rep of a breast cancer survivor but the way she talked about body image and also how the characters talked about other women in general was quite cringey and annoying. And of course, throw in the obligatory OCD joke and "tofu is disgusting" remark because we certainly haven't heard those ones before.

The mother was basically the mother from Miranda and most of the characters felt pretty cliché and one-dimensional. I didn't know what to think about Tavish and the chemistry between him and Teddie was pretty weak.

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Some of the language that took me out of the story and made me roll my eyes:

"I am not the girly-girl type who giggles, flirts, and plays the dating game."

(about Tavish): "Interested in me – even though some of my lady parts are missing. Definitely not your typical male."

random people being described as "a millennial" and then: "Melanie had asked Sharon if she had any kombucha, and Sharon and I exchanged a blank look. Color us old."

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I can imagine how this book could be really fun for some readers but it didn't end up working much for me.

This was a new to me author and series and I am so happy I found them!!

As a breast cancer survivor the debate regarding reconstruction was difficult, and I really did consider just going flat. I was really happy that the main character is this series pointed out, clearly, that it is not just being flat, but actually being concave. I really have believed that any dating in my life is over, and although this is a work of fiction, it has made me think that maybe not...

The mystery was fun, layered and although I figured out who the killer was right away, it is probably just because I love cozy mysteries. The baking in the story made me want cake, and cookies the entire time.

Loved this story and I really hope there are many more in this series.

This is a fun and fast first offering in a new series. The theming has been done before, but this was such a cute little cozy mystery. I would love to read the second book.

Murder Most Sweet is a good start to a promising new cozy mystery series. The main character, Teddie, is quite enjoyable. Though I feel like the author relied too much on Teddie's inner monologue. Sometimes it slowed down the story, especially when she started having an inner monologue as her dog, which was strange. I mean, I talk to my pets but I don't have an inner monologue of them talking back to me. I also enjoyed the characters of Teddie's friends, Char and Sharon. I hope we get to learn more about them in future books. By about the mid-point of the book, it was obvious who the killer was, but I still enjoyed the journey to get to the big reveal at the end. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I loved the main character, Teddy, a breast cancer survivor who is so quirky and funny. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this book. This book has a great cast of characters and I loved all of the descriptions of what Teddy was baking. I can't wait to try some of the recipes that are included in the book. There were several suspects and a little romance that kept the pages turning and led to a satisfying ending to the story.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really like cozy mysteries that DON'Tfeature youngish women returning to their hometown to open a small business after having their heart broken/career failure etc. This nontraditional cancer survivor really works for me. I love that she is a writer, and all the descriptions of food, and the dog too. Just a fun read.

I so wanted to like Laura Jensen Walker’s Murder Most Sweet. After all, it features a mystery writer who likes to bake (also a cancer survivor), a dog, best friends, and a handsome British man. The concept is excellent, but the delivery not so much. First, Teddie focused so much on her lack of breasts that it was mentioned repeatedly. I also didn’t like her mother. Maybe her mother’s comments are why Teddie focused so much on this subject. The other thing that made it so I had to put the book down is that her brain was having arguments. After enduring it in Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen series, I can’t do it anymore. It does not add anything to the story and is very irritating. I won’t be ready any more by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Murder Most Sweet is a fun cozy mystery. It has every box ticked for me. The mystery is satisfying and I loved the characters. This is not the typical cozy, its so much more ! I loved it and recommend it.

I really loved that Teddi was a breast cancer survivor. Her mom was also a hoot! The mystery was sold , it kept me turning pages long after I should have gone to bed. Teddi’s relationships with everyone from the police to her family made this a non stop read for me. I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Walker’s second book.

I absolutely love Teddie St John. She's seen some things. She's a cancer survivor. She's hilarious, and the disguises are a treat!...It's a cozy with all the elements, but a protag that is one you haven't seen before which is refreshing. The reader even gets a little education about her journey with breast cancer. Above all she is a flawed and inspirational amateur sleuth. I loved the romance potential, the frustration and how Teddie talks to herself. Her mother, not so much. Can't wait until the next book, thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for letting me read and enjoy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sensational debut in the Bookish Baker series set in a fictional southeast Wisconsin small town (always a plus for me as so few seem to be set there). The book features breast cancer survivor, cozy mystery author, and baker, sleuth Teddie St. John.

Terrific characters, both the sleuth and the secondary characters and a wonderful plot leave me eager to read many more from this author.

Highly recommended!!

With all that is going on in the world right now, I am seeking out escapist books, and this one absolutely worked for me! Thanks for the opportunity to preview the title, looking forward to the next in the series!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I had planned to read and review this book closer to the release date but I was suffering from chemo side effects and preparing for surgery at that time. Now I have just a few radiation treatments left and am in a much better place to read this book that features a breast cancer survivor protagonist.

Teddie St. John loves to bake and she’s good at it. She also loves to write mysteries and she excels at that too. A breast cancer survivor she has plotted her life around those two things, plus her friends, her mom, and her American Eskimo dog, Gracie. She is excited to attend a book signing at her BFF Char’s bookstore. The author, Tavish Bentley, is a famous British suspense writer who ended up in Lake Potawatomi when his event in Milwaukee was canceled. Sadly just as the event is getting started Teddie suffers one of those dreaded side effects brought on by cancer treatments and ends up leaving the book signing early.

Later while out walking Gracie she makes a gruesome discovery. Behind her friend’s bookstore, she finds the famous author’s fiance dead with a significant clue that points directly at Teddie as the murderer. Thankfully she is friends with the sheriff and he knows she didn’t kill anybody. The author does have a fan who is obsessed with him, and Teddie’s money is on her as the killer but then a second body is found and that really twists things up. Teddie enlists the help of her besties to help her find the real killer and serve them up on a silver platter.

I love Teddie St. John! It is always nice when you have something in common with the lead character in a cozy but this time it isn’t just a craft or an occupation, it is something neither would have chosen for ourselves. Surviving cancer is a battle and her road was much tougher than mine. I know the author drew from her own experiences and that makes the story even more special. Ms. Walker also surrounded Teddie with excellent friends, an overbearing mother, and a lovable pup. These characters all drew me in right away.

Setting the story in my home state, also the author’s, grabbed my attention too. The dialogue rang true, the descriptions of the people and places was like looking out my back door, and OMG the food/Kringles mentions brought me actual joy.

The mystery was top-notch, with actually two to solve. Teddie was an interesting sleuth to follow. If you are looking for quirky, somewhat creepy characters look no further than the people that land on Teddie’s suspect list. She takes some risks but none of the “too stupid to live” kind that some amateur sleuths do. I did hone in on a few things before she did but was very entertained by the way things played out.

The story had a great flow with one scene near the beginning of the book that had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. There is also the start of a romance for Teddie. At first, I thought it was happening too quickly but who am I to judge. Teddie has been through a lot and deserves all the happiness she can get.

Murder Most Sweet is a terrific cozy mystery that has set this series off to a fine start. My appetite has been seriously whet, I can hardly wait for Deadly Delights that will be hitting shelves June 8, 2021.

A baker who writes murder mysteries? Um, yes please! I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into MURDER MOST SWEET. Author Laura Jensen Walker thoroughly satisfied my sweet teeth and cozy cravings. I enjoyed this first in the Bookish Baker Mysteries and am looking forward to the next installment!

"Murder Most Sweet" the first instalment in the "A Bookish Baker Mystery” series by Lara Jensen Walker Is a easy read and entertaining if on the little slow side for me personally. But as with some first in series that can be expected. I did enjoy it enough that I will read the second instalment to see if it improves.

I enjoyed visiting Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin and meeting Teddie and her friends Sharon and Char. But by far my favourite was furbaby Gracie the American Eskimo dog. I’m a sucker for pets in my cozies.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book as I felt the series had so much potential but I cringed while reading way too much.

It starts off great as the amateur sleuth, Teddie, lets us know she is a breast cancer survivor and is not ashamed to admit she has no breasts. Yay, for a strong woman. But...she CONSTANTLY mentions she has no breasts. By the millionth time (felt like to me) I wanted to scream "I GET IT!" There is so much more to Teddie than no boobs. She is an accomplished author, owns her own home, and is loved by many.

Plus she jumps way too fast into a romance with a possible murderer. Yes, I know the Jane Austen quote (that is mentioned a couple of times) about "...seven months or seven days..." but Austen's characters were not potential murders. Tavish is.

There are many more things I did not enjoy but I want you, the reader, to make your own decision. You may pick up the book and fall in love with Teddie and crew. I hope you do. I could have had an off day reading.

I always look forward to starting a brand new cozy mystery series and this first instalment, Murder Most Sweet written by Laura Jensen Walker was everything I hoped it would be!

The reader soon meets the star of the show, Teddie St. John, who is a baker and a culinary cozy mystery writer in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. She’s looking forward to meeting the highly successful British author, Tavish Bentley when he comes to her small town for a book signing. However, the event turns sour when Teddie and her American Eskimo dog, Gracie find Tavish’s fiancée dead in the alley next to the bookshop. The murder weapon was one of Teddie’s silk scarves and Teddie needs to clear her name.

I thought this was a magnificent, really solid start to the series. I found Teddie to be one of my favourite, charming début sleuths so far this year. She was wickedly funny, smart and her upbeat attitude was refreshingly straightforward. Laura Jensen Walker also laid the foundations of an eclectic cast of friends and others who offered their help adding positive energy along with a touch of fun and comedy as they japed and bantered. Laura Jensen Walker's detailed descriptions of Teddie’s regional delicacies, soon became habitual, like the fattigman bakkels and the lemon sugar cookies, both of which sounded scrumptious.

This book was such a fun read and I enjoyed puzzling over the mystery. With Sheriff Brady Wells something of a hindrance, Murder Most Sweet was a hubbub of clues and misdirection. The writing was comfortably and smoothly paced, the mystery was very well executed, and I really relished my time in Lake Potawatomi.

All in all, Murder Most Sweet is a great, humorous read and an outstanding series opener. I will certainly be returning to see what Teddie is getting herself into next in the second Bookish Baker Mystery. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance readers copy of this story.

Murder Most Sweet, by Laura Jensen Walker, is available at booksellers on 9-8-2020. This is book 1 of 2 in Ms Walkers A Bookish Baker Mystery series. I'm afraid that this is the end of the line for me. I have had a hard time with the characters, I never managed to get involved with them. The story is ok but the mystery is buried in the leads angst. She's so hung up on having no breast after cancer that it's all she thinks about. After all this time she's still hiding behind scarves & making wisecracks that are not funny but are awkward. Her breast cancer took over the main spot in the story and I wanted more mystery. I did manage to kind of like the new British boyfriend. I'm a sucker for an accent.


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