All Lyndsay has ever wanted was to own a Caribbean bakery and sell the food of her ancestors. Claudio is threatened by this new competition, and when he ends up dead, after a very public fight with Lyndsay, who is the first (and only) suspect the police look at? As Lyndsay fears for the reputation of herself and her new bakery, she sets on a course of investigating the case to clear her name.

With a bunch of twists and turns, this semi-cozy mystery doesn’t hold anything back. I’m looking forward to continuing this series and hopefully find out if the hint at romance for a few characters come to fruition.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in a new series is always tricky. This book introduces readers to Lyndsay who has recently opened a Caribbean themed restaurant with the help of her family. She finds herself accused of murder after a rival (?) shop owner is murdered. The entire idea of her as a murder suspect is a bit hard to buy into. The setting and characters were good, and I will definitely read the next book.

I really enjoyed this Caribbean food cozy as we follow our amateur sleuth and oh my goodness the family dynamics was so good. I've been wanting to read this cozy and anticipating this one since last year and it was just as fun as I thought. The pacing was good and even though I had a thought about whodunnit and I was pleasantly surprised.

Against the Current is the first book in Olivia Matthews' Spice Isle Bakery series. Lyndsay Murray opens a bakery in her Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn. Her family plays a critical role in the book and the bakery, where they offer support and even roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help her get her new venture in town. Her goods are primarily based on recipes from her family's native Grenada, and she attracts a clientele of people of West Indian heritage and those who love her unique flavor profiles.

Her venture seems doomed from the start, with local bakery owner Claudio Fabrizi claiming she is encroaching on his territory and swearing to force her out of business. He comes to the Spice Isle Bakery on opening day, spoiling the mood with his bloviating. Lyndsay loses her temper and gives back as good as she gets in front of her many patrons. They cheered her in the moment, but when Claudio turns up dead the next day, she's the easiest place for the police to lay blame.
She has little choice but to take it upon herself to clear her name.

Against the Current is well-paced and keeps the reader interested and engaged all the way through. The characters are likable and well-rounded. I enjoyed getting to know a little bit about the culture and cuisine of a region quite different from my own heritage.

I look forward to reading more in the series, and I'd recommend the book to anyone who loves cozies and is looking for something a bit different.

I received this advanced reader copy of Against the Currant from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

This was a fun and delightful bakery cozy and the descriptions of the food had me drooling. The plot was enjoyable and I especially loved Grandma.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fun new cozy mystery set in a west indies bakery. A close-knit family working together. Lyndsay's dream was to open a family bakery even though she can't bake very well. Another neighborhood bakery is mad she's opening up and going to steal his customers. After having a heated fight in her bakery. The owner is found dead and Lyndsay is the prime suspect. Lyndsay and her granny must investigate to find the real killer.

This was a fun new start to a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the family helping out no matter what. I can't wait to see what happens next for the mystery.

The Spice Isle Bakery series is kicking off with a great start! Lyndsay and family were so fun to read about as they open their new bakery. Of course, it wouldn't be a cozy mystery if someone didn't show up dead but that doesn't stop Lyndsay and her positive attitude about her new adventure. When she becomes a suspect, she decides to investigate the matter on her own and her cleverness was fun to follow. I cannot wait for more in this series and continuing to read about Lyndsay. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This first in a new culinary cozy series is practically perfect, from the family and bakery, to the scenes at the club and on the street. I love the fact that the main character who has the idea and motivation for the business is not actually a baker but still learning. I also really liked the way the plot was structured, the case investigated, and how it was solved. It felt refreshing and different.

First book in a new cozy mystery series and I liked it, but didn't love it. The grandmother is the highlight as she's a bit of a spitfire. And cousin Reena definitely brings the energy. But the main character, her brother, and parents...they didn't have much personality. I also thought the cops were just kind of there as background noise because they didn't do any actual investigating. The series has potential if characters and personalities are developed further.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Lynds has dreamt all her life of opening a West Indian bakery and now with the support of her family, her dream is coming through. When an obnoxious man who doesn’t want the competition bullies into her soft opening, mild mannered Lynds gets up the gumption to answer him back. Unfortunately, that was the least opportune time for her to do something so out of character. When the man, Claudio, is found murdered and someone has planted evidence, the cops in charge focus on her as their prime suspect.

While the community continues to support her, she soon realizes if she is not proactive in finding the real killer, she might end at trial and she has no doubt whatever the verdict, the stain will follow her and her business. She is asking the questions the cops have not asked and the villain is not happy. In fact, the killer is willing to do whatever it takes to stop her including another murder. Will Lynds be the next victim?

Here is where the story really kicks butt. Lynds is quite capable of self defence. It is a highly satisfying resolution to a good story. I love the characters with their tight knit family. And while I suspected the murderer, there were enough twists before the big reveal. Five purrs and two paws up.

Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery that offered up a unique and distinctive culture and setting. At times it did seem repetitive but as a first book in the series it does not disappoint. I am invested in the characters and looking forward to the next title in the series.

This was a DNF for me even though I was past the halfway mark. The thing was: I still didn’t really care. I was reading out of obligation, which is never a good sign or a good reason to continue. For a cozy mystery, it took much too long to get to the meat the story for me, there was too little direction in the investigation side, and the whodunit/thriller aspect felt flat and safe. I must like my cozies with a bit more danger in them. I wanted to like it more because I loved the atmosphere and the idea of the novel but overall it just didn’t quite pull me in.


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

3.5 stars.
Olivia Matthews' "Against the Currant" introduces us to the Spice Isle Bakery and its owners Lyndsay Murray and her family. Lyndsay is a little awkward, and shy, unlike her older brother, and not someone whom people notice, or when they did in the past, for example in school, did so to bully her.

Though not always willing to stand up for herself, Claudio Fabrizi's words rile Lyndsay up because this new business is not just a labour of love for the whole family, it's been something Lyndsay has been working incredibly hard toward for many years.

Lyndsay gives the man a piece of her mind, and her parting words to the bully are unfortunate, as they sound threatening, which brings her to the police's attention when Claudio turns up dead.

When it seems that the police have no intention of looking further than Lyndsay, she decides she needs to clear her name, against her family's wishes, who want her to wait for the police investigation to conclude.

Nope, is pretty much what Lyndsay says, and begins looking into Claudio's finances and business practices by asking around the neighbourhood with people affected by Claudio's actions. Lyndsay quickly finds others with equal or better motives, and eventually discovers who the real killer is.

I liked Lyndsay a lot. She's quiet, determined, and also physically able to take care of herself. She's also incredibly dedicated to her dream, and is willing to go against family and police to discover truths about the dead man.

I loved how well Matthews characterized the different players in the book. Lyndsay begins somewhat naïve, but definitely adjusts her view of things as the book progresses, and I loved all the different baked goods that featured throughout the book. This is a fun cozy, and I look forward to more Lyndsay adventures.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Favorite new cozy of the year..so far!! FANTASTIC start to a series!
This series has so many great things going for it....diverse characters (grandma is a new favorite), a bakery cozy...an INDIAN bakery...forget about it!! The food descriptions are mouthwatering, and to top it all off a fun mystery!
I recommend this to all cozy lovers and for those of you that love culinary cozies...you'll want to pick this one ;up today!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Olivia Matthews, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book!

This debut novel wasn't for me. It was a little too cozy in its slow pace. There are a lot of characters are introduced all at once, so it was hard to make a substantial connection even though family and community were a big part of the book. I did enjoy the setting and descriptions of the book and would be willing to give the sequel another shot.

Against the Currant is the first book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery Series. Lyndsay Murry has convinced her family to help her open a bakery in Little Caribbean in New York. And, being a cozy mystery, a body soon shows up. For the most part, I liked this book. I wanted something quick and light and Against the Currant fills the bill. I did feel Lindsay seemed a tad immature for someone who had graduated from college, worked for a marketing firm and was able to start and manage her own business. But, again, cozy mystery. Everything doesn’t always make sense. I will be looking forward to the next installment.

There are so many cozies centered around food that sometimes they start to feel the same. This was was fresh and very enjoyable. The author did a great job of blending the main character’s West Indian culture without bombarding you with it. You really feel like you know this family personally. The mystery was good, but the family dynamics really bumped up the enjoyment of this book for me.

I cannot speak to the Caribbean rep - though, after reading Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson, it gave me the impression that it wasn't well done, particularly the accent of the narrator chosen for the audiobook. Choosing a Caribbean-American narrator was too much effort?Again, Black Cake was right there.

Anyways. The reasons why I dnf'd:

1. the sheer naivete and ingenuity of the main character that almost bordered on stupidity and I couldn't get over it; that whole speech about community and the need to point out that yes, they were Caribbean but hey they had their American citizenship and they integrated well and wanted to share their culture with... ugh, please. Just spare me. When these themes are shoved down your throat in such a blatant way, it means you as a writer are failing. You aren't able to create nuances, to show it and have it come to the surface to the pages instead of telling it point blank. Nope.

2. the way in which Claudio Fabrizi was your typical cookie-cutter overbearing villan with no layers whatsoever just pissed me off. It was so extreme and cartoonish I was picturing foam at his mouth and his face as read as a tomato, it was so utterly unbelievable and annoying.

I couldn't bring myself to keep going. Noppity nope.

When Lynds and her family prepare to open their Caribbean bakery, a rival business owner tries to stop their business going forward. He ends up dead, and Lynds is accused of his murder. Who is really responsible, and how will Lynds and her family manage their business while trying to remove suspicion from Lynds?

This cozy mystery includes a lot of detail about the characters and the bakery items. For readers who enjoy this kind of story, this book will prove to be a treat!

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.