Valerie Burns’s ‘Two parts sugar, One part murder’ unveils an exciting start to a refreshing cozy mystery series. The protagonist, Maddy, brings a vibrant, youthful energy rarely found in this genre. Her relatable social media approach for business adds a contemporary touch to the storyline, setting it apart from conventional cozy mysteries.

What truly shines are the well-drawn characters. Maddy’s personality resonates with a younger audience, and her interactions with the charming Baker Street Irregulars, especially the lovable 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, offer heartwarming moments that make the narrative endearing.

The mystery itself is engaging, unfolding with a perfect blend of action and suspense. While I correctly guessed the culprit, the book kept me intrigued with multiple plausible suspects, adding to the overall suspense.

I appreciated the inclusion of recipes and the charming cover design, which complemented the story’s cozy vibe. Looking forward to diving into the sequel, 'Murder is a Piece of Cake,' anticipating more delightful mysteries and character development."

This is a fun mystery with a protagonist who will grow on readers. Maddy begins the story as a sheltered influencer, whose failed wedding plans have been shared on social media. She is not heartbroken, but wonders what to do with her life. This changes as she inherits her aunt's home, business, and dog and is embraced by her late relative's "mystery" club friends. Through the friends and the community, she gets to know of her aunt posthumously, and through hidden messages, sinister theories the aunt had before passing away, are revealed. The huge dog, humorously named Baby, stars in several funny and action scenes and more than one romance (kisses and flirtation) blooms. This is a quick read, with enough well-placed twists to engage armchair sleuths. First in a foodie mystery series, it includes recipes of baked goodies at the end.


Thanks to Kensington Publishing Corporation and NetGalley for the e-galley. I listened to the audiobook on Everand for this review. My ratings and reviews are my own.

This was such a fun start to a new cozy mystery series! I really loved the cast of characters and I’m already invested in all of the regulars. Maddy has this young vibe and a bit of an Alexis Rose persona which is nice to see since most cozies feature middle age, well established protagonist. This gives Maddy lots of room for character development as the series grows. I even liked all of her Instagram and # posts throughout the chapters. Social media is a modern way to promote business and you don’t see the mentioned often in stories.

I adored master baker Leroy, sheriff April, forgetful Hannah and hunky vet Michael. They make up the Baker Street Irregulars - loved the concept behind this group. I like that we got to know Aunt Octavia better through them as well as her hidden messages to Maddy. Clearly the star of this cast is Baby, the drooly Mastiff who brought lots of love and smiles to every scene.

The mystery was really well done and included a bit of action along the way. I pegged the correct culprit, but there were a few suspects that nearly made my guess waiver.

Bonus points for a cute cover and included are a few recipes made throughout the story.

I look forward to reading the sequel, Murder is a Piece of Cake!

This story was cute, but very cheesy. I didn’t feel like there was enough character building to make me really care what happened to anyone. Except Baby. The star of the book!

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is the charming first book in a new cozy mystery series by Valerie Burns. Social Media Star Maddy Montgomery inherits her great Aunt Octavia's home, bakery, and dog when Octavia unexpectedly passes. Ordinarily, Maddy wouldn't be interested in this offer. But she's recently been left at the alter and could us a big life change to distract her and help her move on.

An important part of any cozy mystery is the side characters and we're introduced to some pretty great ones right off the bat. I loved the friends that Maddy met at the bakery and it made me happy how through the story they helped her feel at home.

Although this book was a fun mystery, I found myself really enjoying the small town and some of the conversations between the characters really made me laugh. I loved how feisty Hannah could be. I loved how Leroy quickly befriended Maddy in an attempt to save the bakery. And of course there's baby, the lovable canine companion in this book.

I love a dog in a cozy mystery and Baby, Octavia's english mastiff, was very funny. You could tell that Baby was very pampered while he was under Octavia's care, and it made me happy how quickly Maddy adapted to being a dog owner. I love to read cozy mysteries with my dog by my side and it makes me happy when there are pets in the mysteries that I am reading!

I hope that there will be more books in this series because Valerie Burns has created a great town with a warm cast of characters that I definitely want to hear more from. The mystery in the first book was a bit intense so I look forward to seeing what other mysteries Maddy can help solve, all while learning how to bake as well as manage a small business!

I really enjoyed this first in series by Valerie Burns. Between the setting, characters, and a dog with a big personality, there was nothing NOT to like! The author generously included recipes at the end so I felt this was a well-rounded cozy mystery with enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

I LOVE COZY MYSTERIES. this was incredible and such a fun, fast paced read. would read more by valerie burns!

I enjoyed this first book in the series, even though I read the second one first. It was nice to get to know how Maddy ended up in New Bison as well as to meet her new friends. There is a group of quirky characters that get together for dinner at Maddy’s, formerly Aunt Octavia’s called The Baker Street Irregulars. They hash over what is going on in town and have been known to solve a few mysteries. They are made up of the local sheriff, Aunt Octavia’s best friend and some other townsfolk. Maddy is a social media influencer and although that is not her life anymore, she still posts here and there and she still has influence. Her father is a retired Admiral, who just wants his little girl to come home, but Maddy wants to stand on her own two feet. Although Maddy was like a fish out of water at the beginning of this book, I really liked her by the end and was surprised to see how far she came. The culprits in this one were a little harder to figure out, but there were clues here and there. I loved how Baby was such an integral part of this story including the final showdown. This was an enjoyable mystery with great characters, both human and canine, an interesting and timely storyline, and enough twists to keep me guessing. I am already looking forward to meeting up with Maddy and her friends in the next Baker Street Mystery.

Really enjoyed the first book to this new series. I really enjoyed getting to know the cast and look forward to watching them bond and develop.

I often have a hard time when the protagonist of a cozy inherits from a long distant relative. I always want to know more about them, so I enjoy the videos left from Aunt Octavia. The mystery was a good one. Of course, Baby is what sets the entire book off!!

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is a classic cozy mystery combination of small-town sleuthing, baking, and a cute pet sidekick. The story takes us to Southwest Michigan in a small town right on Lake Michigan. Protagonist Maddy inherits her great-aunt's bakery and English mastiff, a windfall that takes her away from the embarrassment of a high-profile broken engagement in LA.

On the plane ride to Michigan, we're treated to a backstory info dump as Maddy spills all her life problems to a priest, a source of great secondhand embarrassment to yours truly. We learn that Maddy's life plan was to marry a doctor... which fell through when her fiancee determined she didn't care about him as a person so much as his profession and status. While the breakup was more complicated than that, it sets the stage for Maddy's reputation as someone without purpose, independence, or real human life skills. If that weren't enough, we're then treated to the excruciating experience of her posting constant updates on social media, using her hashtags to passive-aggressively come for her ex. When she mistakes her new dog for a horse and refers to him as "it" after introductions, I began to suspect she was a monster and not in a fun way (to be fair to Maddy, she falls in love with Baby pretty fast after that). And like I get setting up the traditional character arc: big city L.A. shallow girl arrives in small-town Michigan and learns to love the simple life and get in touch with her inner depth. But I prefer to be less annoyed at the starting line regardless of future trajectory.

The info dump is only the first in a string of writing choices that lead to a rushed feeling. The mystery is presented and then solved with almost brusque efficiency. Character growth and relationship building happen out of nowhere. There's an unnecessary love triangle/male pissing contest over Maddy as the new girl in town. Option 1 is slimy... like if your sweet dog wants to attack him... gtfo, my dude. Option 2 is clearly end game as the only reasonable choice, but while he is respectful to Maddy, he insinuates another woman is stupid in a condescending, flippant way that pushed my buttons. And all these little dramatic moments and fast-paced arcs are punctuated with Maddy's signature social media updates, which drove me a bit batty.

Finally, some philosophical/political points got under my skin. On the plus side, we have a Black protagonist and a brief aside about how a racial minority has cause to feel unsafe opening the door to the police. There's also some back and forth between characters that results in a definitive comment that slut-shaming is not acceptable, nor is making assumptions based on the way a woman dresses. On the con side of the list, though, we have the pro-military sentiment that comes through Maddy's experiences as the daughter of an Admiral and her Army love interest. I was willing to not read too much into it until "anti-military hippie" is used as an insult. The author also tries to engage with harmful stereotypes about Indigenous people, both pointing out the effect of media and stating the disproportionate amount of violence directed at Indigenous women. Despite these well-meaning comments, the author proceeds to bring in a theory about how the Indigenous tribe in the story falsely claimed land as ancestral to build a profitable casino. And the whole concept of painting Indigenous people as land-grabbing profiteers boggles my mind. The final disappointment comes in the form of a pro-death penalty statement about the murderer. "He should get the electric chair, but some lawyer will probably get him off with just a slap on the wrist." Yes, that pesky constitutional right to a defense and a trial, etc. always getting in the way of a good state-sanctioned murder.

This book and I did not have a good time.

I wondered if I should wait to review this book after I have read the next one since I already have it on my shelf, but I finally decided to go ahead.
The main reason for me to come out with this review now is that it has already been quite a long time since I read this first book in a series. Maddy has a splashy online presence, she has had a rich upbringing, and that shows in her helplessness when on her own. She inherits her great-aunt's bakery and home and, on the spur of the moment, decides to give this new life a go.
A large part of the book shows the transformation our lead protagonist goes through, from being unused to doing work on a regular basis to making proper friends and enjoying her day just for herself and not for the likes.
The mystery itself was a little obvious, with me guessing the culprit. Maddy's new dog, Baby (a big misnomer), adds to her routine, and all of those antics are a bigger and better focus in the book.
The writing was straightforward, and the large supporting (and supportive) cast that makes their presence known throughout the book definitely added to the energy of the book.
I would recommend this book to fans of this genre, especially since the sequence is already scheduled to be out later this year.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This was a lot of fun. It hits all the cozy mystery tropes that I love, including the giant, loveable dog. The social media aspect helps to keep it modern but doesn't get in the way of the story. There is quite the cast of characters in the Michigan small town. I'm ready for book #2.

4/5

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder" by Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a cozy mystery novel filled with suspense, humor, and a dash of romance. The book tells the story of Emma, a single mother who returns to her hometown to start a new life, only to find herself embroiled in a murder investigation.

As a cozy mystery, the book features a small-town setting, quirky characters, and a puzzling mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The author has a knack for weaving together multiple plot threads and creating a cast of suspects that are both intriguing and suspicious.

The book is full of suspenseful moments that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. From the discovery of a dead body to the dangerous encounters with the killer, the tension builds steadily throughout the book. The book also has a great sense of humor that adds to the charm of the story. The author has a talent for injecting witty dialogue and humorous situations that provide a welcome relief from the more tense moments of the book.

Finally, the small-town setting of the book is beautifully described and adds to the overall cozy feel of the story. The author has a talent for creating a sense of place and transporting readers to the quaint streets of Emma's hometown.

"Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder" is a delightful and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries. With its blend of suspense, humor, and romance, the book has something for everyone. Highly recommended.

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

Really well thought-out book with amazing characters and excellent setting.

So darn fun! I loved the MC. Loved the setting. Loved this amount of cozy - just enough mystery + some sass!

For the most part, I really enjoyed the story. The hashtags did get to be a bit much and would not want to listen to them in an audiobook. But the main character was likable, as were the supporting characters.

But I also was concerned by the use of the "sq----" word when discussing how someone was dressed. I know there is some disagreement among Native Americans about whether the word is offensive, but many of those that live near me have spoken out on how they find it offensive.

Life was not going according to plan for Maddy. She was stood up by her groom to be, but she has also inherited a house, a dog and a business from a great aunt. So, off Maddy goes to the Midwest. This is a big change for Maddy who is not a baker; luckily help is on the way from the aptly named Baker Street Irregulars. Things seem to be looking up until there is a murder. Who did it?

This book has many elements that cozy readers want; the small town, the characters, the mystery and a bit of humor. I also always enjoy baking. All in all, an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this one! Social media influencer, Maddy, inherits a bakery she knows nothing about, but with the help of her employees she decides to keep the business running. Soon after Maddy moves to a small town in Michigan the mayor is found murdered and Maddy’s fingerprints are on the weapon.

I have been LOVING cozy mysteries lately and this one did not disappoint. The characters were so easy to fall in love with and I could not stop reading until I was finished! Looking forward to more from this author.

I am all about this culinary story line! I haven't been drawn it reading anything similar in the past but enjoyed it will be looking to future books in this series!

This book combines a social media influencer, hashtags and a murder.

Social Media Influencer Maddy travels to Michigan to run her late great Aunt's bakery so that she can claim her inheritance. But when the town's mayor winds up dead, and with Maddy's fingerprints on the murder weapon, it's up to Maddy, along with her great aunt's crew, affectionately known as The Irregulars, they set out to find out who the real culprit is.

If you like cozy mysteries, a bit of romance and dogs, I think you'll enjoy this book. it was entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were authentic and it is such a great start to the series. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.