3.5*’s, lots of fun character touches and the best use of kickboxing in a cozy mystery…perhaps a bit less of Lyndsay’s internal monologue as that got a bit repetitive

2.5 stars
It was very meh.
The writing was repetitive and the mystery fell flat for me, maybe it’s cause I’m not familiar with cozy mysteries. If they’re your thing I’d say give it a try.

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews is a fantastic read! I loved the music, the family, the bakery vibes, and of course, the food! The mystery, like the Brooklyn setting, was vibrant and compelling. I'm certainly looking forward to more in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Against the Currant was not my cup of tea.

I loved the Caribbean representation and the community the book showed. The characters were likable and had fun personalities.

Sadly, the book was very slow paced and felt like a chore to get through. Then, suddenly, everything sped up the last twenty percent. There were many side-characters that were easy to get confused about.

If you like a slower pace, many details, and a cozy setting with a dash of mystery, then this is the book for you.

This is the debut of the new cozy series "Spice Island Mystery Series" by author Olivia Matthews. The author has all the wonderful elements of a perfect cozy mystery in this charming series. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC. My review opinions are my own.

I love a mystery set in Brooklyn. This series is set around Little Caribbean neighborhood of Brooklyn with all the wonderful food and culture . Our protagnist Lyndsey has opened a traditional West Indian bakery. She wants to create a bakery to honor her family background and also work with her family at the bakery. She has a large family that bring so much fun and humor to this series. Her bakery opening is disrupted by another bakery owner Claudio Fabrizi. Who does not want her in the neighborhood as competition. When they have a heated verbal argument it is witnessed by many. The following day he is murdered and Lyndsey finds herself top suspect . Now she must solve this murder with help from her family and friends to save her reputation and her new bakery for her family.
The charcters are all richly drawn , the sleuth was well crafted and had red herrings to conclusion that kept this reader guessing. I loved the descriptions of the neighborhood and the bakery foods. This cozy series is a winning combination for cozy lovers. Well done to the author. I look forward to the next in series.

Cozy mysteries aren't my favorite genre but I found Against the Currant to be very entertaining. It kept my interest throughout. In fact, I couldn't wait to pick up the book each time to find out what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading more about them. 3.5 stars

In this new cozy mystery series starter, we see Lyndsay finally fulfilling her dream of opening a Caribbean bakery in New York City with her family. But when another baker in the neighborhood is killed, Lyndsay becomes the chief suspect--despite one of the lead detectives being her handsome high school classmate and childhood crush. But formerly mild-mannered Lyndsay isn't going to take the accusation lying down. She's a full-grown adult now, who kick-boxes and isn't afraid of confrontation. So Lyndsay, with the help of her grandmother and cousin, begin investigating who else could have committed the crime.

Series starters are always a unique breed, as they require so much groundwork to establish a wide cast of characters and a new environment that we'll (hopefully) be with for a long haul. The beginning in particularly is overall repetitive, where I feel like I'm hearing the same facts over and over again--which I'm surprised an editor didn't catch. But as a whole, this book is extremely solid, with an interesting mystery and a plausible reason for our heroine to become involved. It reminds me tremendously of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen mystery series in terms of framing, though I prefer the writing style and voice in this series.

Thanks to St. Martin's for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

This novel is the first installment of A Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series by Olivia Matthews, an author that I had not previous read. This particular series is a foodie themed cozy set around a bakery.

Lyndsey and her family have dreamed of opening a Grenadian inspired bakery in her Brooklyn neighborhood. When the day came to welcome their neighbors and friends to the opening, they didn't expect to have a confrontation with Enzo, a fellow bakery owner, who showed up and started an argument with Lyndsey. Enzo didn't like that she was opening the bakery and would become a competitor and promised that her continuing to stay opened would invite nothing but trouble. This incident was in full view of all the patrons who came to sample the food offerings in her bakery.

The following day, Enzo shows up dead and Lyndsey becomes a person of interest. The police feel that have enough on her to not entertain the possibility that there might be other suspects with greater motive than her to get rid of Enzo.

Lyndsey tries to do the right thing by allowing the authorities to handle the investigation, but she soon realizes that she has to take matters into her own hands. Her reputation and the success of the bakery, which she and her family have poured their hearts and souls into, not to mention financial investments, to allow things to progress the way they have been. She begins to investigate on her own, coming up with a suspect list and opening herself and her family to danger. She's being framed and she has to find out who and why they chose to target her and the family's bakery to hide their crime. During her investigation, she finds that Enzo had acquired quite a few enemies.

The strong family connections, the neighborhood support system and the glorious sounds and smells described in this novel puts you directly in the bakery and the characters lives. I enjoy reading about other cultures and how they work together for a common goal to achieve success.

Included are two recipes at the back of the book to try.

I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series which I was invited to download a copy of this first installment through Netgalley in return for my honest review.

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a new author for me.  I think I'm getting a little blasé with cozies set in bakeries and someone getting murdered. The story was okay but a lot of things bothered me. Mommy and Daddy repeated over and over all through the book, and what is Granny kissed her teeth? It read more like YA.

Penned under Olivia Matthews, award-winning romance author Patricia Sargeant delivers this great punny cozy mystery!

Lyndsay and her family set up a Grenadian-style bakery in her home neighbourhood, with a goal of giving back to her community. Her grandma, parents and even her brother Dev don their aprons and make the delicious sweet currant rolls and other delights. But true to cozy mystery style, on opening day, Lyndsay has a big public disagreement with neighbourhood bully. Claudio. When he later turns up dead, Lyndsay is prime suspect.

What I loved about this book:
-Lyndsay is supported by her family in every step she takes
-the police publicly thank her for her role in solving the crime
-the mystery isn’t apparent - at least not to me - until the very end
-it includes yummy recipes

What I didn’t love
-some of the dialogue was a bit stilted
-I would have liked a little bit more about Lyndsay and her family.

Would I recommend this to others?
Yes! It’s a fun read, especially if you like a good cozy mystery.

IG post on Foldingthepage to be posted next week.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC
Publication date January 23, 2023

Lyndsay Murray is finally opening her Caribbean bakery. Brooklyn greats the new West Indian cafe and bakery with great enthusiasm, that is with the exception of Claudio Fabrizi. Claudio owns a bakery several blocks away and see the new Spice Isle Bakery as competition, even though they offer different goods. Claufio confronts Lyndsay loudly and publicly on the crowded opening day. The following day he is found dead and Lyndsay is the main suspect. With little being done to find the real murderer, it is up to Lyndsay and her family and friends to find the truth and clear her name. Piece of cake, or not!

The beginning of the book moves terribly slow. With this being the first installment of a panned series, this may have been a way of introducing characters, but I had to push on, I found this cozy mystery ok, but not my favorite characters to curl up with, I will give it another chance when the next installment is released. Hoping for good things to come out of this oven!

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Against the Currant by Olivia Matthews is the first book in the promising new Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series. It was charming and fun!

The book centers on Lyndsay and her family, who are realizing her lifelong dream of opening a West Indian bakery in their neighborhood in Brooklyn's Little Caribbean. However, a rival baker threatens to shut them down to avoid competition, Lyndsay defends herself, but their disagreement is public and witnessed by several people. Soon after, Lyndsay becomes the prime suspect in this man's murder. Setting out to clear her name and save her bakery, Lyndsay sets out to catch a killer.

I loved the characters in this book! Lyndsay is relatable, intelligent, and very likable. No spoilers, but I enjoyed one scene where she researches online how to investigate a murder. It made me laugh, thinking many of us would do the same! Surrounding Lyndsay is a lively cast of characters, including her loving and supportive family. Her grandmother, Genevieve, stood out as a character full of warmth and wisdom. Strong bonds are explored in the book, family, extended family, and community. Even though set in Brooklyn, the neighborhood is tight-knit, making it feel cozier. The writing is very descriptive with the strong world-building you expect in a first in a series. I enjoyed learning about the culture and foods of Grenada and how Lyndsay and her family wanted to share their culture with the community. The food descriptions were fantastic and had me dying to try a currant roll and coconut bread! Combining this with the twisty murder plot makes for a delightful book. Very much looking forward to future installments of this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this ARC.

AGAINST THE CURRANT is the first book in the brand-new Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries by Olivia Matthews. Multi-layered conflicts begin from the very first page and the tension builds throughout the story, holding the reader’s attention. Protagonist Lyndsay Murray is close to fulfilling a lifelong dream of opening a family-run bakery featuring food from her Grenadian heritage. The description of food, bakery décor, and music brought the setting and the Caribbean vibe to life. I adore her close-knit family and how they all pitch in to make her dream become a reality. Their interaction is both loving and respectful, which adds to the charm of the book. Especially delightful is her grandmother, who most often can be found with a crocheting project in hand while dispensing advice to family, friends, and customers, whether or not anyone wants it.

Despite Lyndsay’s lack of self-confidence in herself and her avoidance of confrontation at all costs, she snaps when a local bakery owner, Claudio, threatens to shut her down on her opening day. Too many people witnessed the verbal altercation and heard her threaten Claudio… and she ends up being the prime suspect in his death. Even though her family worries for Lyndsay’s safety when she tries to hunt down other suspects, I liked how they band together to assist her since family comes first. As she questions people and listens to the gossips who frequent her new bakery, it becomes apparent that Claudio was not a nice man. Even his own son might have had reasons to kill him. There were plenty of clues to follow and a twist or two to keep things interesting. The reveal caught me by surprise but had me cheering Lyndsay on as she used her skills to keep from becoming the next victim. While Lyndsay may have started out as a meek young woman, she grew over the story and proves she can make the bakery a success and face any situation thrown her way.

There are many mentions of food being served at the bakery, both sweet and savory. I was pleased to find a couple delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book that reflect Lyndsay’s Grenadian heritage.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I very much liked the Caribbean flavour of this novel. The characters in Lynsday's family are genuine, likeable and believable people and I could identify with their reactions to the situation. Would love to try the recipes at the end too.

I enjoyed the setting, culture, and family dynamic in this book. I wish the main character had more layers and depth, more of a personality beyond sleuthing and cooking. If this will become a series, then she needs to be developed a bit more!

Against the Currant is a fun mystery to read. Lyndsy and her family open a Caribbean
bakery in their neighborhood. The owner of the other bakery in the area does not want
the competition and makes threats to close them down. When he turns up dead Lynds
becomes the prime suspect. Can she and her extended family prove the police are
wrong?
This is a great story of family supporting each other and working together. They share
their Caribbean beliefs along with their neighbors who also believe in Lynds innocence.
The characters are all realistic and act in believable ways.
I really enjoyed this book and give it 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from the Netgalley in exchange for my honest review..

This is a gorgeous family story. Lyndsay Murray and her family are of Grenadine descent. They open a bakery in Queens and run into issues with a competitor. The story is a cozy murder mystery. It has wonderful and witty characters. Lyndsay is accused of murder and sets out to clear her name with the help of her entire family. The author does a great job keeping the pace of the plot steady and interesting. The lead up to the discovery of the killer is wonderful. It is a page turning and great story to read.

Lyndsay (Lynds) and her family are having a soft opening for their Caribbean (Granada) style bakery, when another baker from town storms in and threatens them if they don't shut down. Claudio Fabrizi has a reputation for driving out "competition" one way or another, but this time someone takes him out first.

Despite Claudio's popularity as being unpleasant and a bit of a crook, Lyndsay's short but public exchange with him convinces the police of her guilt, and they show no evidence of looking for other suspects. (Idiot police detectives syndrome.) So Lyndsay investigates.

This book mentioned Granada and some food traditions, but otherwise did little more than follow the "I have a store and have been accused of murder, thus I must clear my name" formula. Some things were repeated so often, they rated eye rolls, even in me! (Which is saying something!)

It does bring to light the need for therapy for victims of bullying as children. The store owner experiences flashbacks whenever she has a confrontation.

Lyndsay showed some growth and improvement over time, but I didn't like her more.

2/5 Stars

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks, and NetGalley, for the temporary digital preview; any review is voluntary and my own opinion.

#AgainsttheCurrant #
#ASpiceIsleBakeryMystery
#OliviaMatthews #OliviaMatthewsAuth
#FemaleSleuth
#GranadaCookingCulinaryCozyMystery
#CaribbeanStyleCulinaryCozyMystery
#BlackanfAfricanAmericanMysteryThrillerandSuspenseFiction
#BlackandAfricanAmericanMysteryThrillerand Suspense
#CozyCulinaryMystery

3.5 stars

A strong debut for the Spice Isle Bakery series. Main character Lyndsay and her close family are realizing Lyndsay's dream of opening a Grenadian bakery and restaurant. She had to win the family over but they are committed now, and firmly in her corner. Her family are major characters in the plot, and they are numerous, but they are well fleshed out and it doesn't take long to figure out how and where they fit in.

The trouble begins at their soft opening, when a neighboring business owner storms in, threatens Lyndsay and the business, and causes a public scene, claiming she will steal customers from his bakery. Lyndsay has tried reasoning with him, but he's a well-known local curmudgeon and she finally loses her temper and throws him out of the shop.

So, when his dead body is discovered, the cops come knocking on her bakery door. Soon it is obvious that someone is trying to frame her for the murder. Lyndsay doesn't feel like they are investigating other obvious suspects with much stronger motives so she starts an investigation of her own.

This is quite readable, and we are rooting for her to be successful. The narrative is well-paced and the Caribbean flavor of the dialogue, food and setting make it fun. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Lyndsay Murray and her West Indian family have recently opened a new bakery shop and become public enemy number 1 of Claudio, who also owns his own bakery shop in the same district. Claudio is known as the bully on the street and has made it his business to see that the Murrays fail. After having enough of Claudio's harrassment, Lyndsay has a very public spat with him and seems to threaten him. The next day Lyndsay receives a visit from the police who inform her that Claudio has been found dead. Due to their spat, she has now found herself as the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

Against the Currant is a debut cozy (heavy on the cozy) murder mystery from Olivia Matthews. I knew from the cover that this wasn't going to be the typical mystery/thriller that I normally read, and that couldn't have been more correct. Having said that, I think you'll have to be a fan of cozy murder mysteries in order to enjoy this. There isn't much of a hook and it's pretty medium to slow paced. The local police are completely ridiculous and really do nothing in terms of an investigation, but I also understand that's for the plot. I thought there would be more there with the reporter who seemed to somewhat want to help Lyndsay but that story line kind of fell flat for me. I did think that the baking aspect was a cute overall theme.

The one thing that was a little hard for me to get past was that it read a little like YA. I think Lyndsay was around 26, she felt so much younger. I actually double checked a few time while reading to see if it actually was YA. But, I haven't read any cozy murder mysteries prior to this so they could all just typically read very tame and YA-ish.

Overall, if you enjoy cozy murder mysteries and are used to the pacing, I think you would enjoy this. It looks like this is going to be the first in a series, and I would honestly probably pick up the next book. It's a good palate cleanser after you've read lots of creepy thrillers and cheesy romance.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Olivia Matthews, and NetGalley for this e-ARC. All opinions in this review are my own. Review will be posted to my bookstagram, @ReadingWithTrey, and my Goodreads account on Tuesday, December 27.