Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder by Valerie Burns is the start to a new cozy mystery series, and while it had lots of good things, it also had some not so great things in it too. I can see some cozy readers really being put off by some of them unfortunately.

Let’s do the good first! I love the location of a small town in Michigan. Plus who hasn’t wished for a long lost relative to leave them a huge Queen Anne to live in and a lucrative business, in this case, a bakery. Those three things would be an ideal life for me. Throw in a huge dog that has a silly side and a protective side, and this makes for a great start to a new cozy mystery series.

The characters are well written and we get the tropes that are often found in a cozy. Older woman that knows a lot, but people don’t take her seriously. And with Burns having this character in the stages of early dementia, I feel like this will resonate with a lot of her readers. A sheriff that shares information and is on Maddy’s side (either the sheriff/police help the main character or there is strong animosity between the two), and an attractive love interest that happens to be a veterinarian and an Army Vet… so we get someone who can help out with her adopted dog, Baby, who is a huge English Mastiff and a fun “rivalry” between the Army and Navy, since Maddy grew up a Navy brat.

As for the mystery, there were lots of suspects and some really good red herrings. There were even some twists and turns and a huge question that will be a continuation point for the series, which I enjoy.

Now for the not so good… although some of these things I enjoyed, I know others will not.
For the things I enjoyed, the social media bit with constantly taking photos and leaving #hashtags could help bring in a younger reading audience. And the photos were another great way to describe the town and the shops. But I can see how this can be jarring for some readers and take them out of the story. I liked reading her tags and hope that Burns makes them even wittier in the future, if she decides to continue them.
Love it or hate it, social media has such a huge presence in our world today, and it’s not going away.

The second thing that I enjoyed, but I know some will not, is the open ended question (aka cliffhanger) at the end of the book as to what really happened to Great Aunt Octavia. I read a lot of fantasy series which are known for having multiple storylines that rarely get finished in one book. But for those who are used to reading mysteries, thrillers, suspense, or romance there is usually a conclusion and the reader is not left with questions… so this may not be something a cozy mystery reader is used to.

And in this day and age, where books are so easy to acquire and some authors put books out monthly, authors do need as many ways as possible to get readers to come back to their series… and a cliffhanger is a great way to do that.

As for the things I didn’t enjoy, it comes down to a couple of the characters, the first being Maddy, the main character. I really didn’t enjoy how bratty she was at the beginning. For me it was very off putting to read in a cozy. By the end Maddy is a much better person, which is wonderful.
But, even that had me feeling a bit off too. You come to a small town and have been a jerk for many years, but spending a couple of weeks there and you're like someone from a Hallmark movie. Now even as I write that I’m thinking to myself… why are you complaining… the character went from a jerk to being nice and aren’t cozies like Hallmark movies. I mean there’s a Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel, for goodness sake.
I know, but it just was off to me.

And the sheriff, who is a woman, which I love, also has lots of confidence, which I love, but she also has horrible self-esteem when it comes to her intelligence. It’s a weird combo of being self-assured, but then thinking you’re stupid and that Maddy can solve the case, but you can’t… and you’re the sheriff. Sure, this is your first murder case too and you ran for sheriff on a whim, but I really hope in future books that Maddy and friends are able to lift up the sheriff’s thoughts on her intelligence.

Okay, this is way longer than I thought it was. So if you like cozies, I say to give this one a chance and you might really like it even though it’s not as traditional as some other cozy mysteries. I know I’m looking forward to the next one in the series!

The second half of this book really shows that this series has promise. The first half is a bit off-pudding- despite her obvious intelligence, the main character comes across as pretty vapid in the first half, concentrating more on money and clothes than on her new town. However, as she makes connections and gets into bantering with her new community and friends, she becomes a lot more interesting as a character and it's easier to invest in her as a series lead I'd want to spend more time reading. I'd definitely pick up book two in this series to see where it goes!

Let's face it-Maddy comes off as an entitled brat at the start of this entertaining first in a new series. Yes. she's been left at the altar but the influencer, who has lived all around the world with her dad, an Admiral in the US Navy, doesn't seem well grounded. And then she ends up in New Bison, Michigan, where she's inherited a house, a bakery, and a mastiff named Baby from her great aunt Octavia. The will states that she has to spend. year there before she can sell so she settles in and tries to learn how to bake. When the mayor, a not nice man, is found murdered and her fingerprints are on the knife she finds herself calling on aunt's friends to help her prove her innocence. If the characters (except Maddy) don't feel as well rounded as you might like, remember that this is the first one so they'll no doubt grow with the series. I liked the setting (both New Bison and the bakery) and Baby is a treat. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers from me.

Parts of this I loved- bakery, the dog and the characters. I absolutely hated the social media expert side of it, I found it super annoying and I doubt I’ll read more of this series.

This is the first in a new series, Baker Street Mystery series. It is set in New Bison, Michigan.
I like how Maddy is using social media to rebrand herself & she helps others along the way.
This isn’t the first cozy series to use social media to promote a business but it is different from the other I read.

I’m not overly crazy on reading all the hashtags but I can easily skip them without missing any of the story. Murder usually boils down to love or lust, greed, or revenge. This was no exception. The story is well plotted and well written. Looking forward to the next installment.

As a bonus, there are several recipes from the bakery at the end of the book. I look forward to trying them out.

I was given an advanced readers’ copy and am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.

2.5/5 stars

I wanted to love this story. Maddy is a fun main character. All the inhabitants of New Bison are quirky and alive. But goodness GRACIOUS this book needed some MAJOR editing. The author had great ideas the story is fun, interesting, and the pacing is good, but there were so many weird glaring errors that just took me out of the story. I mean we don't even technically solve the ultimate question of what happened to Aunt Octavia and the story just ends. Good Lord the ending was insanely abrupt. Same many details are dropped and don't make sense.

This is an e-ARC so I hope the final version has corrected all of these issues. Such great potential. I would try more from this author as the bones were great. I blame the editor for the poor execution.

Posh, pretty, and witty Maddy is a delightful heroine. I always enjoy the Hallmark-movie trope of a big city girl arriving in a lovable small town to take up an Inheritance she knows nothing about. Of course, this book goes one better by adding a murder mystery!

I've been a cozy mystery fan for a long time, and this one was just delightful. It's hard to believe this is Valerie Burns' first book! It's such an excellent debut series from a new author. I can't wait to read the next book about Maddy, her adorable doggo Baby (a giant 200-lb mastiff), and this quiet and quirky small town.

Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder is the beginning of a new series by Valerie (V. M.) Burns. It takes place in small town New Bison on Lake Michigan. Main character Madison Montgomery arrives in New Bison to claim her inheritance from her great aunt Octavia.
The mystery is well written and interesting.
The story is one of growth for Maddy. She is pretty shallow and self absorbed in the beginning. She makes friends and gets involved in the things happening in New Bison. She solves a murder.
I have to admit the Maddy’s preoccupation with social media and her shallow character almost sabotaged the book for me.
In addition, the English mastiff, Baby, is definitely not my kind of dog. The drool was so hard to read about. It kind of grossed me out.
Overall, it was an interesting mystery, but Maddy and Baby’s drool reduced my enjoyment. We each have our thing, so this book may be right up your alley.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This was an absolutely delightful first book in a new series and I cannot wait to read the next one.
Maddy and Baby really grabbed me from the get go.
The characters and premise were interesting and engaging.
The whodunit was well paced and kept me enthralled and guessing.
This is one of my new favourites.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Maddy Montgomery's privileged life as a 20-something social influencer is turned upside down when her doctor groom dumps her before their livestream wedding. Maddy gets a chance at a new life when her late great-aunt Octavia leaves her a generous inheritance. There's a catch. Maddy has to leave Chicago to live in Octavia's lakefront house in tiny New Bison, Michigan for a year, run her beloved Baby Cakes bakery and take care of a huge 250-pound English mastiff named Baby.

It's a steep learning curve for Maddy since she can't bake. But with the help of Octavia's friends Leroy and Hannah, as well as her social media savvy, Maddy soon has plenty of yummy treats for the loyal Baby Cakes Bakery customers until there's a fire at the bakery & New Bison’s mayor is found stabbed to death with a bakery knife.

Local sheriff April doesn't think Maddy is the killer. And with the help of Octavia's Baker Street Irregulars, she is determined to save her reputation and business to fulfill her late great-aunt's wishes.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Kensington Books and Valerie Burns for the E ARC of this book.
This is the first book in a new series by Valerie Burns. We meet Maddy, who’s life in turned upside down when her groom does not show up for their live stream wedding. Needing to get away and re group, an inheritance from her Great Aunt could be just what she needs.
Maddy has inherited not only a house, but an English Mastiff called Baby and her great aunts’ bakery in New Bosin on the shores of Lake Michigan. Maddy can’t bake but luckily all the people that worked for her Great Aunt are willing to keep working for her. Maddy settles in to her new life, making friends, learning to bake and realising that her life is actually better on the shores of Lake Michigan.
All is not plain sailing though; the town’s major is found murdered in the bakery and Maddy’s finger prints are on the murder weapon. With the help of the Baker Street Irregulars (her Great Aunt’s Friends), Maddy sets out to find out why the major was murdered and by whom. As she learns more, she discovers why her Great Aunt was suspicious about the goings on in the town.
I really enjoyed this book, great characters, loved the bakery aspect. I liked seeing Maddy come into her own and in many ways grow up. She uses her social media for good and helps other members of New Bison. A really good start to a new series and I look forward to the next book.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my favorite cozy mystery to date! Sometimes cozy mysteries can seem a little slow moving or out of date in my opinion, but author Valerie Burns did an amazing job with this book. The writing was fun and fast paced. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing Maddy’s growth through story. I can’t wait to catch back up with New Bison in the next book!

Influencer Maddy Montgomery received a surprise inheritance from her great Aunt Octavia right after being abandoned at the altar. Embarrassed from her recent rejection that was seen by the world on her social media live stream, Maddy welcomes a change of scenery in small town New Bison, Michigan. However, her inheritance comes with stipulations – she must live in her late aunt’s home, run her bakery, and care for her dog baby for at least a year before considering selling.
Maddy is in town for just a little over a day when the mayor is stabbed in the bakery with a knife that had Maddy’s fingerprints… Now Maddy and her aunt’s friends must stay together to try and figure out what exactly is going on in New Bison.

Maddy Montgomery learns that her great aunt has passed away and has left her home and bakery to Maddy.

The only condition is that Maddy has to run the bakery for one YEAR and take care of her hugeee Great Dane , Baby . Did I mention Maddy has never baked before? 🥴

Maddy meets a lot of different characters along the way. Before you think this is like a Hallmark movie (even though it kinda is), know that there is a murder !

Maddy quickly becomes involved in solving the murder of the mayor who has a lot of enemies.

This never gets very deep or frightening. The book was aptly named. It’s two parts sugar and one part murder.


I thought Maddy was VERY annoying at first. Literally everything she said was #cookies #bakery #canteven.
They kinda poke fun at it , and she does grow up a little. So I was ok with it.

I liked this one!! I think I will read the next one when it comes out. If you’re in the mood for a cozy mystery, try this one.

Thanks to netgalley for a free book in exchange for an honest review!

Loved every page of Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder! What a great new series debut by Valerie Burns! Unique storyline with a great core group of characters, amazing setting, side plots of self discovery and romance - plus who doesn’t love a huge lovable mastiff? 10/10 recommend scooping this book up when it hits the shelves!
I’m already looking forward to the next books in the series!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I need book two right now! I love Maddy and New Bison. I love the Baker Street Irregulars. Baby is amazing and deserves to be an social media star. I also have the need to bake a bunch of yummy treats, so it’s a good thing I have the recipes for it.
The main mystery is solved, but there is a secondary mystery that might not be solved. And there might be more people to prosecute also. So as I said, I need book two now!

3.5 stars, rounded up

Maddy is surprised to learn that she has inherited her great-aunt’s house and business – and Baby, a 250-pound English mastiff. Although she needs to step back from her life and regroup, moving from LA to a tiny town in Michigan and learning to bake aren’t exactly what she had in mind. But when a body is found in her bakery and her fingerprints on the weapon move her to the top of the police’s list of suspects, she decides to help with the investigation to save her reputation.

This is the first book in a new series by a new-to-me author. As with many new series, especially one by a new author, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this was a pleasant surprise. At first, I wasn’t too fond of Maddy, but I liked watching her come to terms with living in small-town Michigan – and making friends with Baby, the English mastiff. The town residents are an interesting mix of characters, and I like the way most of them accepted Maddy into their “circle” and tried to help her adjust to her new life. It seemed a bit unrealistic that someone new to baking would be able to follow a complex recipe and turn out a good result, even with help, but I guess that’s something readers will have to accept. The mystery was done well, with enough potential suspects to keep the reader guessing. I didn’t figure it out until just before it was revealed, but that won’t keep me from reading the next book in the series.

TWO PARTS SUGAR, ONE PART MURDER, is the first book in the brand-new Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns. With humor woven into an intriguing murder and a sassy, social media savvy protagonist, the story kept me glued to the pages. From the very first paragraph, I was entertained by the author’s descriptive voice, which is frequently humorous, and had me laughing out loud several times. After a disastrous wedding with her being left at the alter—livestreamed no less—protagonist Maddy Montgomery finds herself inheriting a bakery, a house, and a giant 250-pound English mastiff named Baby. It’s a far cry from her globe-trotting, pampered lifestyle provided by an overindulgent, but distant, father. This sets the stage for Maddie to find self-reliance as she attempts to fit into an unknown lifestyle in rural New Bison. I enjoyed the learning curve Maddie experiences and the character arc woven into the plot. Ms. Burns does an admirable job of creating memorable characters, besides Maddie, and, by far, Baby, steals each scene he inhabits! I also appreciated the small-town vibes given off by the people who welcome Maddie into their midst, particularly her great-aunt’s friends known as the Baker Street Irregulars. They are quick to jump into action to help her out, no matter the problems that crop up.

But not everyone is happy to see Maddie move into town to take over her great-aunt’s bakery. Pressures mount for her to sell the bakery and her new home, but with the will stipulating she must live in New Bison for a year before taking any actions, she’s stuck. And when the mayor is found murdered in Maddy’s bakery with her fingerprints on the weapon, she becomes suspect number one. This fast-paced whodunit weaves Maddie’s aunt’s demise into the current murder, taking the reader on a whirlwind ride. She finds there are secrets people are loath to part with, but she must uncover them to find the clues to save herself and her aunt’s business. As she begins unraveling the clues, the pressure builds for her to abandon her inheritance. Will she stick it out to find the truth and clear her name or will her former indulgent lifestyle become a siren call she can’t refuse? With a hair-raising reveal, the author answers that question and brings together the threads of the story into a succinct and satisfactory conclusion that has me pleading for more!

While Maddy may not know how to bake, or even cook, her great-aunt left behind her recipes and a capable baker named Leroy to keep the bakery running. Be prepared for many mentions of mouthwatering treats mentioned throughout the book… I think I was drooling almost as much as Baby! Thankfully, the author includes several recipes at the back of the book for the home cook to make at home to satisfy those cravings.

This was such a good new series by Valerie Burns aka VM Burns. There were some good twists and Madison moves from spoiled brat to pretty damn good sleauth.. But the ending felt rushed. I think maybe the follow up will be a bit tighter in the plot.

For the first half of this book, the main character (Madison) is a spoiled airhead who only cares about her Jimmy Choos and social media. It is revealed that she can’t cook even though her dad basically wanted to set her up to be a “good wife”? Very strange. She’s treated like a child by her father (she’s at least in her mid twenties) and her ex-fiancé.

This was a pretty quick read but the ending felt a tad abrupt and unresolved. We find out the murdered but not Aunt Octavia’s murderer? That part was confusing. Also the romance aspect felt a little unnecessary.

I didn’t really connect with the main character so I wouldn’t recommend this book, but it could be somebody else’s cup of tea.

A great story with lots of twists and excitement. I enjoyed all of the characters and how they interacted with each other. The recipes at the end were a nice touch too!