Murder Most Sweet is the first book in the Bookish Baker Mystery series!

We meet Teddie St. John, a mystery writer and breast cancer survivor, as she’s getting ready to go to a book signing for a bestselling author. At the event, the ex-fiancee of the visiting bestselling author turns up dead — with Teddie’s scarf wrapped around her neck. Teddie needs to clear her name asap before she loses her dream job and her freedom!

I really liked this series! No, I loved it! My favorite thing about it was the characters! They really made this book for me. They were all charming and entertaining and funny. You can literally feel how much they all care and love each other. And I LOVED the friendships between Teddie and her friends.

The mystery itself was good! I had a big hunch on who the killer was from the beginning, and I was right. But even so, I read cozies all the time, so it’s hard to really get me, but I still really enjoyed it!

Overall, I loved it! I really can’t wait for the next one! This series has the potential to be one of my favorites!

5 stars = Excellent!
The voice for this novel is what first grabbed my attention. It had a different vibe to it than other cozy series, and I was sold. Teddie is a fun and engaging protagonist - a cozy writer, a baker, a daughter, a friend, a cancer survivor who chose mastectomy without reconstruction. The cancer pieces - and Teddie's attitude about her journey - were another part of what captivated me here. It felt fresh and different, but not just for the sake of being different. There's an authenticity to it that I adored.

There's a great ensemble in the book of Teddie's friends and family that I loved. Then the book was set in a fictional Wisconsin town in the area where I grew up. And there was KRINGLE (and not that Hallmark movie garbage - the real stuff)! Add to that a terrific mystery with lots of suspects and fantastic pacing that gave Teddie time to dig into them with some significant time. And a believable reason for her sleuthing. This book was the whole package for me. I would read this again, and have book 2 on my radar already. (The author is launching another series at the start of 2021, too. And I KNOW I have read some of her Christian novels from 10-15 years ago before.) Cozy fans should NOT miss this one! (CW: references to the Harry Potter series and its author which may be a trigger for some readers.)

Synopsis:

In this series debut for fans of Jenn McKinlay, baker Teddie St. John spends her time away from the oven writing murder mysteries. But is she herself a murderer?

Everyone in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, knows Teddie St. John. Tall, curly-haired Teddie is a superb baker, a bohemian bon vivant, and a mystery writer. Teddie is walking her American Eskimo dog, Gracie, when her four-legged friend finds Teddie's missing silk scarf. Only problem: the scarf is tied tightly around the neck of a beautiful blond woman, the fiancée of a touring British author.

Before you can say "Wisconsin kringle," Teddie becomes a murder suspect. Everyone in town knows all too well that the distinctive scarf was hers. But there are more layers to this case than there would have been on poor Kristi's wedding cake. Tavish Bentley should be bereaved after his sweetheart's strangling. Instead, the dashing Brit takes a shine to Teddie's witty wisecracks and to-die-for cookies, and soon he's mooning over her instead of mourning his bride. That is, when he's not dodging the attention of Annabelle, an obsessive fan who's taken to stalking him.

And when a second murder shocks the community, the plot thickens to the consistency of fondant as Teddie stands accused of not one, but two, murders. With the help of her friends Sharon and Char, can Teddie clear her name and deliver a killer's just desserts? (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters were well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed meeting Teddie, Char, Sharon and Brady. You can tell they are good friends and care a lot about each other. And Gracie, Teddie’s American Eskimo dog, added a lot to the story. We will have to wait and see what happens between Teddie and Tavish, a possible love interest for Teddie.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me right into the story early on. The mystery was well plotted, although I had an idea of the killer fairly early.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

A Sweet Cozy mystery involving baked goods and books. My favorite part of the book was the Gracie the American Eskimo dog. This book was a little slow for me, but as the first book in the series that was to be expected as the author builds the setting and the characters. I did enjoy this one a enough to pick up the next book in the series when it comes out.

Bookish Escapism.....
A Bookish Baker mystery and a debut series. Baker extraordinaire Teddie spends much of her time away from the oven writing murder mysteries but when she herself unwittingly becomes a murder suspect is she able to clear her name? Enjoyable, amusing cosy mystery with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of supporting characters. A promising start to a new series and a nice dose of escapism.

I enjoyed Murder Most Sweet, the first book in a new writer and baker based cozy series, "A Bookish Baker Mystery." The characters were interesting, had quirks, and room to grow, and Gracie, the dog, is just plain fun. The setting of small-town America is almost required in these types of books. Each town has a special distinction and character that make it unique, and Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, is no exception.

Teddie is a realistic character who isn't perfect, but who does the best she can with what she has and who she is. A cancer survivor, a writer, and a baker are just a few of her accomplishments. She isn't letting anything stand in her way to fulfill her dreams, not even murder. As a mystery writer, she knows about murder, but real life isn't like one of her books. Finding out that she could not only be arrested for a murder she didn't commit but that she could lose her publishing contract galvanizes her into action. She can't leave the investigation up to the police, or she will end up behind bars, or worse. When a second body shows up, and she is the only suspect the police are looking at, Teddie knows she has to find answers.

Suspects abound, motives are almost limitless. The danger is constant. This book has lots of action, twists, turns, and red herrings. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, waiting to find out how Teddie unveils the killer. Teddie, the writer, fits the pieces together, while the baker part of her makeup works continually as she finds it the best way to think while trying to sift out a killer. In the end, the killer is found, and Teddie has new ideas for future books. Readers will most likely know who the killer is before they finish the book, but it won't stop them from wanting to read every word. Murder Most Sweet will be a fun and compelling read for lovers of all things baking and murder.

An excellent start for a new cozy mystery series!
I had a lot of fun read it as it's engrossing and highly entertaining.
Well thought characters, a lovely setting, and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next installment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is the debut novel in A Bookish Baker Mystery series. Teddie St. John is a strong female protagonist who is an author, avid baker, and breast cancer survivor. Teddie writes a cozy mystery series set in a town similar to her own of Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. She is a likeable and relatable protagonist who is going through early menopause (from chemo). We get to see how the breast cancer has changed Teddie’s body and life. There are some humorous moments. There are a variety of secondary characters that includes her fashionista mother, Sheriff Brady Wells, and her two close friends, Char and Sharon. Teddie has an American Eskimo dog named Gracie who is such a sweetie. Two women die in this whodunit after famous author, Tavish Bentley comes to town. Teddie becomes a suspect because she has no alibi and her scarf was used as the murder weapon. The evidence is circumstantial, but the police must follow procedure. The clues, like the killer, were obvious. I would have liked a more challenging mystery. Despite two murders, romance is in the air for Tavish and Teddie. At times, Murder Most Sweet felt more like a romance than a mystery. Teddie likes to bake and does so frequently especially when she is stressed. She whips up treats for friends and for bribes to get information. It was interesting learning about the pastries native to Teddie’s ancestry and Wisconsin like the Kringle. To my disappointment, there foul language present throughout the story (mild). I preferred it when these type of words were taboo in cozies. There is a scene involving Gracie that dog lovers will find upsetting. I loved the Lord Grantham reference. Murder Most Sweet is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a bevy of baked goods, an attractive author, modish mother, a concerning contract clause, and one worried writer.

This was a really fun book to read! I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The main character, Teddi, is quite an independent woman and author! She meets another author at a book signing and it's kismet, kind of. She is pulled into a murder - of his wife! The story just gets better after that. I found the characters to be well developed and Gracie, the dog, won my heart.

And, oh the recipes at the end! I want to try them all. Quite a bonus.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book! I'm ready for #2 in the series!

Murder Most Sweet
A Bookish Baker Mystery

By: Laura Jensen Walker

Crooked Lane Books

Mystery and Thrillers

Published Date August 11, 2020

#MurderMostSweet #NetGalley

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This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. This book features both a little dog and food. I love a cozy mystery that has food in it because I know there will be recipes for me to try.

This new series takes place in a little town called Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. The main character is a breast cancer survivor. She is single and her little dog is an American Eskimo. She is a cozy mystery author and also loves to bake. She became a writer after her cancer. It is something she always wanted to do and after cancer realized that life is to short and went for it. In this story she is working on her fourth book.

She meets a famous British Author at her friends book store and he takes a liking to her. There is murder at his book signing event and things go from there. The murder victim is his ex-fiancée. She is found with a scarf around her neck. Our main character wars scarves all the time now to help cover up her chest because both of her breasts were removed.

This has never happened in the little town before so things go a little crazy. There happens to be another murder using a different scarf later in the book.

Of course the murderer is found but it takes you on a journey and keeps you guessing who did it. I did have a feeling who the murderer was but I second guessed myself there for awhile.

It is always fun reading books like this because they are quick and just a delight to read.

I recommend that you give this new series a try. I gave it 4 stars.

4.5 stars

This is the first book in the A Bookish Baker mystery series by Laura Jensen Walker.

Teddie had been about to appear during a book talk along with popular author, Tavish Bentley when she gets an unexpected hot flash and retreats to the bathroom. While cleaning up she gets her shirt too wet and decides to leave but notices that someone stole her nice silk scarf from the bathroom. Bummer. Later when walking her dog she comes across the body of a bottled blonde who just happened to be Tavish’s fiancee and her silk scarf is tied around the dead woman’s neck! Now she is suspect number one!

This was really fun to follow. I enjoy digging into new series and this one caught my attention right off the back. The protagonist has had her breasts removed due to cancer and this series shows how she handles her life while trying to solve the mystery at the same time. She speaks about knitted knockers and why she likes to live the flat chested life even though her family wants her to get implants.

From what I am gathering, Tavish may turn into a recurring character and vie for Teddie’s affection. I kinda like this idea for this series. It’s one of those aspects that will keep people coming back for more. Who doesn’t like the idea of a bestselling author falling in love with them, the flat chested gal, when they normally preferred bottled blondes with bib knockers.

This is definitely a series I want to continue with. Just loving it.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Murder Most Sweet: A Bookish Baker Mystery
By Lara Jensen Walker
Crooked Lane
September 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

A life-threatening illness can definitely make one reassess priorities. After her diagnosis and eventual double mastectomy, Teddie St. John’s life is much different than the one she had five years ago life B.C. (Before Cancer). Not only has she successfully published her first mystery Death by Danish, she is well on her way to finishing her second in the series featuring B& B owner Kate and her crime-solving canine Kallie. Teddie is looking forward to the book signing at Lake Potawatomi’s local bookstore not only because it is owned by one of her “Three Musketeers” best friends, but because the event is featuring NYT bestselling author Tavis Bentley. When an untimely chemo-driven hot flash sends Teddie into the bathroom for some welcome relief, she discovers that the favorite scarf she just removed has been stolen. Too embarrassed to return to the signing without anything to cover up her now soaking-wet t-shirt, Teddie has the worse luck of finding the scarf, only now it’s wrapped around the strangled body of Tavis’s fiancée.

With accusations flying – in person and online - that Teddie had a hand in the death, she can’t help but start to use her mystery-author skills to investigate who wanted the bimbo-ish woman dead. While Teddie rejects her mother’s advice to ramp up efforts to snatch a man now that Teddie is now essentially damaged goods, she can’t help but find herself intrigued by the handsome British author. It would be nice if he wasn’t a murderer though, or that he didn’t come with the complications of a lovelorn assistant, stalking fans, and a recently deceased ex. It’s no wonder that Teddie relies on the comfort of cooking hearty Wisconsin desserts to ease her anxiety, a coping mechanism sure to please her friends as well as fans of hearty pastries.

This debut series introduces readers to a unique heroine who rarely feels sorry for herself or regrets the choices she made to ensure her health. The matter-of-factness about her mastectomy not only makes her admirable for those facing similar challenges, it humanizes her by acknowledging that her path has not been easy. Mystery fans will enjoy Teddie and Travis’s discussions as writers who plot versus those who write by the seat-of-their-pants, following the paths characters take them. While this new author may seem to be the latter with her engaging and very funny characters, a distinct plot takes readers steadily to a well-devised solution. This first of the Bookish Baker Mysteries introduces so much romance, humor, and delicious Norwegian desserts that readers will be hungering for more of Teddie’s fictional and “real” adventures.

I really loved this book and the unique main character! Teddie's sense of humor was so awesome in light of her being a breast cancer survivor and making little jokes about herself. She was a strong lady who knew what she wanted and didn't want. The cozy mysteries she wrote sounded really good, maybe a little like this series ;) From reading the author's bio, I feel like she's adding some of her own experiences to Teddie's life, and it was all so interesting. I enjoyed the characters of Char and Sharon a lot too! The three of them really were like the 3 Musketeers. I couldn't put the book down at all during the time Char and Teddie went on a road trip to sleuth. Gracie was just the sweetest dog ever and definitely played a good part during the showdown with the killer.

I'd had some suspicions about the person who ended up being the killer but fell for the red herrings along the way. I was happy to see my suspicions were right though. I'm so anxious to read the next book in this series!

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

This is a delightful first in series ! This is the first book in the new cozy mystery series "Bookish Baker Series" by author Laura Jensen Walker. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My re.view opinions are my own.,

We are introduced to our protagnist a Baker Named Teddie St. John. Teddie is a popular baker in her home town of Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. Right away I liked this protagnist who is also a mystery writer. Teddie is walking her Eskimo dog, Gracie, when her trusty companion finds the body of a woman, who is the fiancée of a touring British author. The problem that ties Teddie to the victim in the worse way is her scarf that was used to strangle the victim.

Tavish Bentley the fiancee does not seem very upset about his intended's death and begins flirting with Teddie. Teddie finds him suspicions and soon is investigating him and the victim to find out who wanted her dead. Teddie must save her business and her reputation to clear her name when many in town think she is guilt. As another murder occurs Teddie finds herself again accused and asks her friends to help clear her name.

This is charming smart new mystery series that I enjoyed cover to cover. i read it in one sitting. The suspense of the sleuthing was very well crafted with many twist and turns. The charcters are done to perfection and I love the smart savvy wit of Teddie as a protagonist. I look forward to the next in series.

Teddie might be the most charming debut sleuth of the year. Smart, wickedly funny, and with a bold fashion sense, she’s the perfect guide through small town Wisconsin. Her attitude is routinely upbeat—even when facing accusations of murder—and it’s refreshing to find a character approaching the mystery she’s been embroiled in such a straightforward manner. Sure, she has her doubts, but it’s a testament to author Laura Jensen Walker’s ability to craft realistic characters that these never overwhelm the broader flow of the action. There’s hope in these pages. More pressingly, there’s a killer out there, and there’s never any doubt that Teddie has the pluck and determination to crack the case.

And what a case it is. Teddie, after her scarf is discovered as the murder weapon, unfortunately becomes the first suspect in the case. From there, it’s a whirlwind of clues, misdirection, and some inventive investigating on Teddie’s part. After all, it should be no surprise that someone so invested in clothing knows how to whip up a costume or two.

While Walker has expertly worked in enough tension to give this cozy some edge, it’s her humor that shines through. Teddie has an eclectic group of pals who help her along—or, in the case of a certain sheriff, hinder her—while dishing out jokes and positive energy. They’re an easy group to fall in love with as they banter, and several moments between them feel genuine. They’re usually chatting over one of Teddie’s regional delicacies, like fattigman bakkels, which Walker has no problem describing in delicious detail. It would be easy—though not recommended—to drool on these pages. Fortunately, she’s also included several tried and true recipes.

Baked goods galore. A clever mystery. Tons of fun. Murder Most Sweet is a stunning debut to a hopefully very long series.

After surviving breast cancer five years ago, Teddie St. John starting writing culinary cozies, combining her love and baking and mysteries. She’s moderately successful, and looking forward to meeting the highly successful Tavish Bentley when he comes to her small Wisconsin town for a book signing. However, the event ends early when Teddie finds Tavish’s fiancée dead in the ally next to the bookstore. The murder weapon was one of Teddie’s scarfs. Teddie needs to clear her name, but can she do it?

Since I love both culinary and booked themed cozies, I was looking forward to digging into this debut. Unfortunately, I found the mystery to be weak. It started well, but it wasn’t strong enough overall. On the other hand, Teddie does lead a cast of fun characters that I enjoyed meeting. I did find Teddie’s mother a bit much, but hopefully that relationship will grow as the series goes on. The suspects are just as strong and memorable as the main characters. As a man, I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the talk about Teddie’s breast cancer, but I am sure most people who pick up the book will be fine with that. If the book leaves you craving some Wisconsin sweets, you’ll be thrilled to find the six recipes at the back of the book. Hopefully, the mysteries will grow as the series progresses.

On the day Teddie St. John meets Tavish Bentley, his ex-fiancé dies by scarf strangulation. It’s Teddie’s scarf. Annabel a rabid fan of Tavish dies by scarf strangulation a few days later. Again Teddie’s scarf, but her house had been broken into.
The set up is great. The characters were great. The mystery was somewhat lacking. I knew who was responsible from very early on. Enduring the red herrings the author tried to use to camouflage the real culprit made the book seem overly long. It was a case of Occam’s razor where the least complicated solution is often the answer. I’m not sure if it was a device the author was using since Teddie’s occupation is cozy mystery author.
So while I loved many components of the book like the great cast of characters, I struggled with the mystery. 3 stars for the great characters. I’d give another book a try to see if the author can up her game on the mystery.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review a pre-release digital copy of the book.

I've now added another must be read cozy series to my list. From the first scene with Teddie and her mother in Teddie's kitchen I knew I had found a great character to spend my reading time with. Teddie is a breast cancer survivor and has decided not to go the route of reconstruction surgery. She's fine being flat as a pancake but her mother won't let it go. I'm in there cheering Teddie on and ready to smack her mother. Teddie is a successful mystery writer and is on her way to a book signing at her friend's book store. The visiting author is a British mystery writer accompanied by his bride to be. During the event Teddie has a major hot flash (an aftereffect of chemo) and heads for the bathroom. While there her distinctive scarf is swiped. When she next sees it, while walking her wonderful Eskie named Gracie, it's tightly wound around the neck of Kristie, the no longer bride to be. Because the scarf is known by all to be Teddie's but everybody knows she couldn't have done it, focus is on Tavish, the not so grieving groom, so he's definitely on the suspect list. He and Teddie get along and set out to figure out who killed Krisite.
I enjoyed the puzzle and the misdirections, the setting was great, the characters were well defined and the recipes - oh I can't wait to test some of them. As for Gracie, well I just hope that the little Aussie shepherd in my life never finds out I was even virtually interested in another doggo.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is the first book in A Bookish Baker Mystery.

Main protagonist in this new series is Teddie, who happens to be a mystery writer, cancer survivor and an all together great character. Her mother lives next to her, which is not always a good thing and she has two best friends since childhood, Sharon and Char. Her life is perfect as she enjoys writing walking her dog and living the high life in her tiny hometown.
The excitement happens when an extremely famous author, Tavish Bentley is visiting their local bookstore and his ex fiancee ends up dead strangled with Teddie's scarf.
As all clues point to her as killer and the only thing keeping her out of jail is the fact that she is best friend with the sheriff, Teddie has no option but to do some sleuthing herself with the help of her two friend and partners in crime.

This book has it all. Cozy feeling, small town, fabulous protagonist, sense of community and friends solving crimes together and even a dash of romance make a perfect combo.
I like so many things about it, the fact that main character is a mystery writer, that she solves mysteries with her friends and family, that her romantic interest is also a mystery writer, gorgeous dog and so much more.
It really pulled me in from the first page,
I also like that very important issue is addressed here. Many references are made regarding breast cancer, things that women survivors go through and how their lives change. I think it is extremely important to raise the voice and talk about it. It will change things.
The only thing that bothered me was the constant reminder that Teddie has had mastectomy and her lack of breasts in a joking manner. While I appreciate how important it is to see humor even in the hardest of times and situations, it was mentioned on almost every page, so much so that it started to lose the point it wanted to raise at least in my opinion.
Great start to a new series and I am so looking forward to the new book to see how things turn out.

Teddie St. John, a Norwegian-Danish-American, bibliophile, Anglophile, murder mystery writer, baker, dog mom and breast cancer survivor is enjoying life post-cancer with her best friends Sharon and Char. But life comes to a screeching halt when the well-known English suspense writer, Tavish Bentley, comes to Char's bookstore for a signing. An obsessed fan has followed him to small town, Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, along with his ex-fiance. When his ex-fiance is found dead in an alley with one of Teddie's scarves wrapped around her neck, Teddie finds herself a murder suspect rather tan a cozy mystery writer.

An easy-to-read cozy mystery with interesting main characters. The addition of the small town relationships with the secondary characters added a nice touch, and who couldn't love an adorable ball of furry Alaskan husky. I did think that the continued emphasis on Teddie's mastectomy was a little bit overdone, and her mom was a real pain in the neck sometimes. But I did like the changes I saw in her mom by the end. The recipes included in the afterword were nice, and I will definitely try the carrot cake. Hope to see Tavish in book 2 of this series as who couldn't fall for an English mystery writer.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.