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.

I thought this was a good cozy mystery, that I would recommend to anyone who wants to start this series!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

This had everything I needed from a cozy mystery. Food and a big ole dog! I can't wait to read more of this series.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder
A Baker Street Mystery, Book #1
Valerie Burns
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In a brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town setting, the acclaimed author introduces Maddy Montgomery, a social media expert who’s #StartingOver in small town Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt’s bakery…and a 200-pound English Mastiff named Baby.

When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison, Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named Baby.

Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .

Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too. But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—and her life.

“Everyone is a suspect in Valerie Burns’s entertaining new mystery, filled with surprising twists, suspicious characters and a mastiff named Baby who will win your heart. Top that off with humor and delicious recipes and you have a delight of a cozy.” —Valerie Wilson Wesley, author of A Fatal Glow (Amazon)

Review:

Maddy was going to get married on the internet until her fiance was a no-show. But as luck would have it, Maddy learns that great-aunt, Octavia, has left her house, her bakery and her dog. The problem is that she has to move to New Bison, Michigan, and live there for a year. With help from her Aunt’s friends she is planning on doing just that. When the mayor is stabbed to death and Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, she knows she will have to find the killer to clear her name.

The characters are well rounded and well developed. I really enjoyed getting to know Maddie and Maddie’s aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars. And the people who work in the bakery. Even the sheriff who wants Maddy’s help, which does not usually
happen in cozies.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am excited that I have another series to read by this author.

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

A great way to start a series! The characters are exciting and realistic. The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists and turns. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans. Can’t wait for the coming books!

Thank you, NetGalley, publisher, and author, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a lot of fun reading this. When a livestream disaster strikes Maddy's online life, she is grateful for the chance to try to fulfill the terms of her Great Aunt Octavia's will. New Bison, Michigan is small and a great place to unplug at her own pace, while taking over her aunt's popular bakery and home. The characters are wonderful, and I can't wait to learn even more about them as the series moves forward. Of course, Baby, Aunt Octavia's Bull Mastiff, is a character all on her own, and is a sweet addition to the story. Fans of Sherlock Holmes, Aunt Octavia's friends rally around Maddy after a body is found in her bakery, with her prints everywhere. In addition to the great characters and setting, the mystery was good too and wasn't too easy to figure out.

I really enjoyed this book as soon as I started it I was hooked. The characters, the storyline and the plot absolutely well done. If you enjoy a mystery, a who dunnit an emotional ride of a story this is it. I was guessing until the last minute and again I was wrong. Sometime it takes a big change in order to live life just ask Maddy and her Mastiff. I live life with my Shih Tzu mix
#ShihTzu #ShihTzuForLife

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is the first book in Valerie Burns’s delightful new Baker Street Mystery series. With a fresh and modern take on the cozy mystery genre, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder has enough variety to please everyone.

Maddy Montgomery, a savvy social media influencer, finds herself at a crossroads, leaving the big city for New Bison, Michigan to claim an inheritance left her by her great-aunt Octavia. That inheritance includes a house, a bakery, and a 200-pound Mastiff named Baby. Only problem is Maddy doesn’t know the first thing about baking (or apparently large dogs). Despite several offers from local businessmen, Maddy decides to give the bakery a go with the help of a couple of loyal employees. After the mayor (who was one of the would-be purchasers) is found dead at Baby Cakes Bakery, Maddy begins to suspect that there is more to Aunt Octavia’s death than originally supposed. A series of video tapes from Octavia herself help to cement those suspicious, and it becomes clear that Maddy has put herself on a dangerous trajectory.

There is so much to like about this book. From the opening pages, it grabs you and sends you on an entertaining roller-coaster ride. The opening sequence illustrates just how different (modern and sophisticated) Maddy is compared to her new surroundings. While Maddy may love her Louboutins, it quickly becomes clear that under that veneer of pretention lies a woman with a good heart. In fact, the transformation that occurs throughout the book is very uplifting. And the consistent use of hashtags and media tags gave an extremely modern feel to the story.

The mystery (or really, mysteries) is quite good. Not only is there the actual murder mystery, but the suspicious death of Aunt Octavia. Use of media to provide clues is both innovative and charming and totally in keeping with what we know of Aunt Octavia’s personality. There were several suspects and sufficient twists and turns to keep us guessing, and the resolution is satisfying (although the book seems to hint that there might be more to it – it will be interesting to see what happens in book 2).

The supporting characters, too, are distinct and interesting. I immediately liked Father Calloway and wish that it had gone full circle and Maddy could have met up with him at the end of the book. Maddy’s father, “the Admiral” is a formidable figure, even in absentia. And Aunt Octavia seem to have been a bright and charming lady who would have approved of Maddy and her cohorts. Of special note is the way Miss Hannah, who is suffering from a mild dementia, nonetheless actively participates in the investigation. And Sheriff April has a refreshing attitude for law enforcement, following her instinct regarding Maddy’s potential involvement in the murder and soliciting the advice of the Baker Street Irregulars on the case. But, best of all is Baby, whose enthusiastic personality lives up to his size. He is unquestionably loyal, and I love how fiercely he defends Maddy.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is a terrific beginning to what promises to be a charming and delightful series. Maddy has just the right combination of street smarts and compassion, and the writing and cast of characters are top-notch. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in the series.

Note: I received an ARC of Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

Madison Montgomery is fleeing the social (media) disaster of her doctor fiance leaving her at the livestreamed altar by flying to New Bison, a small town in Michigan. Her recently deceased grand Aunt Octavia has willed her a house, a bakery and a dog, and Madison is more than happy to take a break from the humiliation of her everyday life in balmy California to go settle her affairs in the midwestern cold instead. Trouble is, Aunt Octavia has specified that if Madison wants to keep any part of her inheritance, she’ll have to hang on to those three important bestowals for at least a year before selling.

Baby, Aunt Octavia’s 200-pound English mastiff, swiftly endears himself to Maddy, who is somewhat surprised to find herself also quite taken with Aunt Octavia’s lakefront home and cozy bakery. And while she quickly makes friends amongst the locals, she’s somewhat nonplussed to find herself wooed by various parties who want to buy out her inheritances. The longer Madison stays though, the more reluctant she is to sell out and leave, to the horror of her domineering father. Admiral Jefferson Augustus Montgomery is quick to remind her that she has no experience either baking or running a business, and that she needs to get back to California and continue her search for a man who’ll provide for her the way he always has.

For once, Maddy refuses to do as her dad orders. Part of her desire to stay stems from a series of mysterious occurrences around town, as well as cryptic video messages recorded by Aunt Octavia before she died. Sherlock Holmes-loving Aunt Octavia was convinced that something nefarious was going on in New Bison, and had assembled her own group of Baker Street Irregulars to investigate. With their leader passed away, they’re now looking to Maddy to guide them.

While Maddy is flattered to be needed for her brains for a change, she isn’t entirely sure how seriously to take Aunt Octavia and her Irregulars until a dead body is found in her bakery. This confirms their certainty that there’s a murderer running around town, one whose plans might have something to do with Aunt Octavia’s investigations. Will Maddy be able to figure out who this is without risking her own life and those of her newfound friends in the process?

This was the freshest, liveliest culinary cozy novel I’ve read so far this year! The social media-obsessed Maddy is a girl after my own heart: I found so much of her life deeply relatable. The diversity throughout the novel was a delightful bonus.

I’m also pretty certain that the mystery isn’t over and that I know who the mastermind behind the shady doings in New Bison really is, despite the (one) murderer being apprehended in the closing chapters of the book. I’m very much looking forward to reading future installments of the series to see if my theory is correct!

There were three delicious baked good recipes included here, and I had to try the first one, if only to get a few more servings of vegetables into my kids’ lives:

QUOTE
Lemon Zucchini Bread

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
1 cup finely shredded unpeeled zucchini (don’t squeeze or dry)
¼ cup cooking oil
1 egg
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons lemon zest

For the glaze (optional, but why wouldn’t you?)
½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside.

Combine sugar, zucchini, cooking oil, egg, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a separate bowl and mix.

Add the dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture and stir until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then remove from the pan and cool completely.

Optional
Combine ingredients for glaze and drizzle over bread. If the bread isn’t cool, the glaze will soak into the bread and be even more lemony.
END QUOTE

This was one of the fastest treats I’ve ever baked to disappear into my family’s tummies, which is saying a lot given how many things I’ve made for them and how picky my kids ordinarily are! I loved how the grated zucchini adds both moistness and necessary nutrients and vitamins to the lemon quick bread, making for a treat that is as healthy as it is delicious. And while ordinarily I would absolutely make a glaze to spread on top, I ran out of powdered sugar: the loaf was still very delicious without.

Next week, we bake up a seasonal specialty as we head east and look into a murder that hits way too close to home for our heroine. Do join me!

This is going to be a great series. This is the first one . Maddie Montgomery inherits her Aunt Octavia house and Bakery in New Bison, Michigan.Maddie is an influencer and also the amateur sleuth in this series. It is a small town and everyone tends to stick together as you will see and you will soon find out the ones that aren't. Maddie doesn"t cook or bake.. This is a must read Cozy. You won't want to put it down. She gets herself in some sticky situations.

TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER by Valerie Burns
The First Baker Street Mystery

Humiliated when her fiance is a no show for their live streamed wedding, social media expert Madison Montgomery is eager to get out of town and lie low. The opportunity arises when a great aunt she barely knew died and named Maddy her sole heir. Leaving LA for New Bison, Michigan Maddy learns she must live in Aunt Octavia's house, run her bakery, and take care of Baby, her 250 pound English Mastiff. Eager to prove herself, Maddy takes on the challenge, even though she can't cook. Things get more difficult when a fire breaks out in the bakery and the mayor is found dead inside. What was the Mayor doing in her shop after hours? Will Maddy be able to start a successful new life? Or will a killer stop her before she can even get started?

As I started TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER I did not like #SocialMedia Maddy. I found her shallow, snobbish, and immature. Or, as Great Aunt Octavia said, spoiled. However, I soon discovered that Maddy had a good heart and was willing to see her imperfections. As the book progressed, so did she, and I see her growing as the series continues. In the end, I like her! I also like the friends she's made in New Bison. Now, I had to willingly suspend my belief. I know a few people with dementia, and I've never seen it presented like Hannah, who is perfectly fine, then doesn't know who anyone is, but docilely goes with them, naps and wakes perfectly lucid again. I also doubt a sheriff quickly makes friend with a person of interest, even if they don't believe them guilty. Still, suspending my disbelief, I really liked them and the friendship they cultivated with Maddy. I grinned at the fact that a romantic interest happens to be a vet, when she's done with doctors and I enjoy the navy/army ribbing. I absolutely adore Baby.

I enjoyed the mystery and while we have a conclusion, I think we'll discover not all has been resolved. There's a lot more shady things happening in New Bison and I can't wait to discover more! There are recipes at the end of the book, but, while it may be a family secret, I hope Maddy eventually shares Octavia's chocolate cake recipe. In the meantime, I'll have to be satisfied with those of her apple turnover and lemon zucchini bread.

TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER is a satisfying tale of deceit and murder, while coming to your own. New friendships, delectable dishes, and an engaging mystery make a great start to a new series.

Maddy Montgomery, a social media expect, is jilted at the altar and needs to put some distance between her and her ex. She has inherited a bakery and house from her Aunt Octavia which she doesn’t remember since she was raised by her military father and grew up on military bases. When the bakery is set on fire and someone is murder there Maddy has to save the bakery and find out who is trying to take everything from her.

The characters are interesting and realistic. Maddy’s character shows a lot of growth over the course of the book. She starts out like a bit of a spoiled brat to someone who helps others and is part of a community. I love her new pup, Baby, he is very entertaining. The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists and turns. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.

*NetGalley review*

This was a cute cozy mystery that I didn't have high expectations for. Some of the parts were pretty cheesy and there were some moments where Maddy contradicted herself (one time she wasn't religious and didn't go to church and then shortly after she was talking about how she would need to repent to her priest.) Overall, it kept me entertained. I loved the incorporation of food, mystery, and Baby. Thank you-- NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Valerie Burns for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much Netgally for the arc of this book.

it was a vibe thing, I am still not sure if I would continue this book or not... I'm still like trying to process what I read and if I enjoyed it at all. I guess I am not a fan go people who are like social media aficionados and do things like #catholic #lovingthesimplelife #lovehonestmen.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is the first book in a brand new cozy mystery series by Valerie Burns. I absolutely LOVED this cozy mystery!

We meet Maddy Montgomery, who is having some tough luck. She was left at the altar and her life as an influencer isn't going so well. Until she receives an inheritance from her Great Aunt Octavia. Maddy heads off to New Bison , Michigan to claim her money!

There is a little catch in the will, Maddy has to stay for a year and run her aunt's bakery.
As if that wasn't enough, she has to take care of Baby, and baby is not a baby but a 250 pound English Mastiff.

When the Mayor of the town is murdered Maddy is one of many suspects. So Maddy and her new friends try to investigate the murder to clear her name.

The characters are charming, well written and REAL. I absolutely LOVE baby!

The mystery is perfectly paced, and I was really surprised when the killer was revealed.

This book is just SO FANTASTIC, I hope there will be more in the series.

In a brand-new culinary cozy series with a fresh edge and a delightful small-town setting, the acclaimed author introduces Maddy Montgomery, a social media expert who’s #StartingOver in small town Michigan after inheriting her great-aunt’s bakery and a 200-pound English Mastiff named Baby.

When Maddy Montgomery’s groom is a no-show to their livestream wedding, it’s a disaster that no amount of filtering can fix. But a surprise inheritance offers a chance to regroup and rebrand—as long as Maddy is willing to live in her late, great-aunt Octavia’s house in New Bison, Michigan, for a year, running her bakery and caring for a 250-pound English mastiff named Baby.

Maddy doesn’t bake, and her Louboutins aren’t made for walking giant dogs around Lake Michigan, but the locals are friendly and the scenery is beautiful. With help from her aunt’s loyal friends, aka the Baker Street Irregulars, Maddy feels ready to tackle any challenge, including Octavia’s award-winning cake recipes. That is, until New Bison’s mayor is fatally stabbed, and Maddy’s fingerprints are found on the knife . . .

Something strange is going on in New Bison. It seems Aunt Octavia had her suspicions, too. But Maddy’s going to need a whole lot more than a trending hashtag to save her reputation—and her life.

Amazon.com



The first book in the Baker Street mystery series, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder, by Valerie Burns was released yesterday. I looked forward to reading it, but in the first chapter, I was dismayed. Main character Madison Montgomery wasn’t someone who I thought Valerie would create as a champion.



First, Madison didn’t have a dog! I was shocked. Second, although Madison had conflicting character traits, she seemed like an entitled spoiled brat. The second chapter rectified almost all of my concerns, and the rest of the book took care of the rest. In fact, this series will be a favorite.



Yes, in Chapter 2, Madison inherits a dog, no less, a 250-pound, slobbering English mastiff—Baby. Madison steps up to all of the challenges she faces, not only to Baby’s slobbering all over her car (it’s a rental, thank heaven!), but also to overzealous real estate agents, and murder.



Great Aunt Octavia may be dead, but her notes, videos (what’s a VHS tape?), and cold cash make her a wonderful character. And Baby provides character assessments as he greets or growls, as the case maybe.

Valerie blogs with WWK as her time permits, but I’m okay with that as long as she keeps them coming! E. B. Davis



Did Madison get on the plane from L.A.? New Bison is about as different from LA as it can get. Is it a real town or based on somewhere you’ve lived? Is New Bison located near to the University of Michigan? Madison was living in L.A. and she’d never heard of New Bison, Michigan either. Actually, New Bison Michigan is a fictional town based on the real town of New Buffalo, Michigan. New Buffalo is located 70 miles East of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan and borders my home state of Indiana. New Buffalo is closer to Chicago than it is to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. While I have not lived in New Buffalo, it is about 30 minutes from cities where I lived in both Michigan and NW Indiana.



Even though Madison seems like a social media maven and a bit of an airhead, she actually graduated from Stanford, which has the lowest acceptance rate in the country. What was her major and why did she pick that major? Like Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde,” there’s more to Maddy than meets the eye. She majored in Art History with a minor in modern languages at Stanford. Low confidence made Maddy believe that her highest aspiration would be marrying a doctor. As a doctor’s wife, she might be asked to sit on the board of nonprofits like museums. So, understanding art would come in handy. As the daughter of a navy admiral, Maddy traveled the world and is fluent in multiple languages. So languages were an easy choice.



The reader can’t help but notice Madison’s daddy issues. According to Great Aunt Octavia, they aren’t all Madison’s fault. What’s the story? Admiral Jefferson Augustus Montgomery loved Maddy’s mother, Leah. When she died, leaving him with a two-year-old daughter to raise, he buried his grief and did his duty. He raised his daughter and worked hard to advance his career. The Admiral is the stereotypical example of a man who thinks his sole job in parenting is providing for his daughter’s physical needs. He indulged her by supplying money while ignoring her emotional needs.



Great Aunt Octavia’s store has done well. Her college major was chemistry. She owns a large home that fronts Lake Michigan. In a video, she tells Madison of the real estate developers who want her house and acreage—and that she won’t sell. I was surprised that Madison wasn’t more suspicious of her very first visitor, a real estate agent, who has clients who want her residential property. Why did Madison agree to go out to dinner with him? Maddy doesn’t see New Bison, Michigan as her forever home. When she meets Brad Ellison, she is still hopeful that she can sell (eventually) and return triumphantly to her old life. At this point, she doesn’t want to close the door on that possibility. Plus, she’s new to town. Brad Ellison is young and handsome. He fits the mold of the type of guy she’s dated before. He’s shallow and I think she sees herself reflected in him.



Madison mainly promotes herself on social media, but when she posts about the bakery and a knit shop in New Bison, and about Baby—they get a lot of attention. Is it always about new news? Or is she better at promoting others than herself? When Maddy arrives in New Bison, she wants to hide from the humiliation of getting dumped by her fiancé. After she arrives, she takes a different tactic and posts on social media to show that she’s doing well. Her hashtags serve two purposes. It makes it easy to find her posts, but it also shows that she’s moving on. She’s not sitting at home crying her eyes out over her ex. Instead, she’s with #Realmen #MovingOn #LovingtheSingleLife.



I was surprised to learn that few believed Great Aunt Octavia’s conspiracy theory. She was smart, successful, and knowledgeable. Why wouldn’t everyone believe her? “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” Mark 6:4. Sometimes it’s easier to accept ideas from strangers than it is from the people we know intimately. No matter how much you love and respect people, some ideas seem so farfetched, that we discount them. Great Aunt Octavia also has some biases that may have colored her views.



I didn’t realize that older Black women were insulted by the use of their first names, even if preceded by Miss. Why is that? I thought it was a sign of respect. But Madison asks to be called Maddy—I was confused. In the past, using a title was a sign of respect. In America’s past, Blacks were property and were denied that respect by Whites, even White children. Many older Black women are insulted when younger people refer to them by their first names. Most are not offended if the title is used with the first name (i.e. Miss Octavia, Miss Hannah). I was raised to ALWAYS use a title when referring to older Black women. For younger people, like Maddy, it’s okay to use the first name without a title. FWIW, my sister (4 years older than me) is insulted when younger people use endearments like, “honey,” “sweetheart,” and “dear,” but I don’t think that’s race-related.



Alpaca fibers are hypoallergenic and rarer than cashmere? YES! I didn’t know that either until I started my research. That’s when I learned that alpaca is hypoallergenic. I also assumed alpaca would be coarse and rougher than cashmere, but I was wrong. Who knew?



Madison has an expensive SUV rental and buys whatever she wants at the knit shop. Is she on Daddy’s dime? Yes, she is on daddy’s dime. Maddy struggles with making decisions, so it’s been easy to allow someone else to take care of the practical side of adulting. That’s one reason owning her own home and running a bakery will be a completely new experience for her. It’s also one reason Great Aunt Octavia wanted Maddy to live in New Bison where she will be forced to stand on her own two feet and make her own decisions around regular people.



Hannah is intriguing. She can be clear mentally, and then totally lose it. Is it emotional shock or tiredness that brings on her blank-slate mind? Are there different types of Alzheimer’s or dementia? There are different types of dementia with different symptoms and stages. There are a number of triggers, including tiredness, diet, depression, alcohol, etc. Alzheimer’s disease is one cause of dementia. Hannah is in the early stages, so she has good days and then bad moments. The bad moments will gradually grow more frequently and last longer. Generally, after resting, she’s usually okay.



Model-beautiful Sheriff April Johnson is a surprising character. Her beauty hasn’t given her much self-confidence, though. What is her background? April has beauty but doesn’t feel she’s smart because of her family and the fact that she didn’t graduate from college. Maddy is a talented and successful social media influencer, but she’s indecisive. The women in this book have a number of traits that many people THINK would make them happy, beauty, success, and money. Yet, like many of us, they find themselves focusing on what they lack rather than all of the wonderful things that they do have.



There is a character named Garrett Kelley. Does Kelley Garrett know? When I was looking for an idea for a new culinary cozy series, Kellye Garrett actually suggested some of the ideas that I incorporated into this book, including the social media aspect. So, yes she does know that I have a character named Garrett Kelley.



Although Mr. Russell is Great Aunt Octavia’s lawyer, Madison spots valuable antiques in his office, and then he shows up driving a McLaren Spider, worth at least 300 thousand dollars. Should we be wary of him? Chris Russell is an attorney in a small town. He’s single with no children. Rather than investing in the stock market, or squirreling away money in banks, he prefers to invest in art and cars.



What are the requirements in Michigan to run for the position of Sheriff? The minimum criteria in the state of Michigan to become sheriff is: 1) US citizen, 2) at least 18 years old, 3) residency in the county for 1 year, 4) GED or high school diploma, 5) physically and mentally fit. New Buffalo (the city New Bison is based on) is in Berrien County and has additional criteria. Most areas prefer someone with law enforcement experience.



Why were the Baker Street Irregulars, comprised of April, Leroy, Hannah, Michael Portman, who is Hannah’s grandson, and Tyler Lawrence, formed? Aunt Octavia was a fan of mysteries and specifically, Sherlock Holmes. After April Johnson was elected sheriff, Aunt Octavia started the Baker Street Irregulars to help her with any challenges. Most of the crimes in the sleepy resort town of New Bison are simple. However, April lacks confidence, so when there were tough cases, she would bring those cases to the Irregulars. Talking through the cases with the group helped to boost April’s confidence, but it was also a good social gathering.



Dr. Michael Portman, a veterinarian, who was in the Army, gets into a debate of Army vs. Navy with Madison. Is learning Morse code a military mandate? Is Tap code different than Morse code? Morse code is no longer a military mandate. However, it’s still taught to certain troops (i.e. radio intercept troops). Tap code is similar to Morse code, but it is not the same. Tap code is a true (2 part) code, while Morse code is a ternary (3 part) code.



Crimes against Native American Women are fifty percent higher than crimes against other women. Is this because legal enforcement is up to Federal authorities in Native American communities? Crime on tribal lands is complicated. If the perpetrator is non-Indian and the victim is an enrolled tribal member, then only a federal agent can make an arrest. If both parties are tribal members, then the Tribal Officer can make the arrest, but tribal courts cannot sentence those convicted to more than three years in prison.



Madison recognizes that she’s actually a lot like real estate agent Bradley Ellison. Why doesn’t she like that thought? Brad Ellison is self-centered and selfish. Maddy recognizes those same traits in herself. She’s never had to think of anyone other than herself. After only a small amount of time in New Bison, she’s forced to focus on more than clothes, shoes, and her own best interest. Now, she’s taking care of Baby. She’s running a business and helping to find a killer.



What’s next for Madison and the Baker Street Irregulars? In the second book in the series, it’s spring and New Bison is getting ready for the annual Spring Baking Festival. Feeling pressure to continue her Great Aunt Octavia’s legacy and bring home the top prize, Maddy’s also working hard to transform Baby Cakes into Southwestern Michigan’s must visit bakery. As if that wasn’t enough to worry about, a second bakery is opening under the ownership of a shrewd investor, CJ Davenport. Davenport is found murdered with a Baby Cakes’ knife in his back. Maddy and the Baker Street Irregulars must figure out whodunit or Maddy’s goose will be #cooked. The second book in the series, Murder is a Piece of Cake, will release in July 2023.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is a new fun-filled mystery by Valerie Burns, also known as VM Burns.

Can Maddy make it for a whole year in New Bison?

Madison "Maddy" Montgomery
Maddy Montgomery is a Navy brat and a spoiled brat, and she is in major need of a wake-up call. That comes in the form of her great-aunt Octavia dying and leaving everything to Maddy so that she can use her brain and be around people that won't use her for her money. Octavia has left her with her English Mastiff dog named Baby, her house, and her business. I have to say I am quite jealous of Maddy, especially the house that looks, at least in my head, really nice. Maddy does a lot of character building, like realizing there are more important things in life than shoes. She is becoming a better person than the girl at the beginning. I believe being there in Michigan, next to the lake, will be good for her.

The Mystery
The mystery part is a bit complicated. Octavia had her suspicions about what was happening in her small town, and she wasn't happy about it. Maddy stumbled upon the mayor murdered in her aunt Octavia's bakery only on her second day of being in the small town. Of course, her fingerprints were on the knife, and that isn't good. Maddy helps the sheriff to solve the mystery. A lot was uncovered in this mystery. Well, of the mysteries that were important for this book. The main mystery is still... well, that a mystery.

Five Stars
Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns is a great read that I went through fast. I love this book; it was such a fabulous story. My rating for Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns is five stars, and I recommend it to anyone that loves cozies.

Oh, don't forget to check out the recipes in the back! They are Lemon Zucchini Bread, Apple Turnovers, and Thumbprint Cookies. These sound so good. The one recipe I want so bad is aunt Octavia's award-winning cake!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns.

Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When we first meet Maddy, we find a selfish, vacuous, waste of space. Social media darling, she posts every tiny aspect of her life, including her fiance leaving her standing at the altar when he realizes what an empty shell she is. But someone believes there could be more to her. Her aunt Octavia has left her home and business in a small town to Maddy on the proviso that she live and work there for at least a year. While Maddy’s first instinct is to cut and run and let someone else take care of her, she realizes the gift she has been given. It is the chance to grow up and be her own person.

She meets and makes friends with several of the townsfolk who loved her aunt. She starts out a total disaster and the old Maddy would have conceded defeat the first time one of the villains in town offered her a boatload of money to sell her inheritance. With the support of her new allies, she rises to each and every challenge, including a couple of murders and arson. In the process of learning how to bake and run a business, she learns so much more- about herself. She is ably assisted by a 250 pound English Mastiff named Baby. The two of them make an awesome team and when her father, The Admiral, once again tells her to come home, she realizes she IS home.

It is a good mystery- even though I figured out the bad guy right off the bat- and the book is highly entertaining. But the real heart and soul of it is the transformation of Maddy. I think the priest she meets on the airplane on route to her new life would be shocked and delighted by the change. I know I was. Five purrs and two paws up.

4.5 stars = I loved it! Would re-read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this new mystery. The characters are fantastic, and I loved the homey, community aspects with Maddy's new friends, love interest, and business partners. The mystery is well done, although the book ends abruptly with a few threads still unresolved, hopefully to be addressed in book 2. I will definitely be sticking with this series!