A good cozy mystery has a few typical ingredients: a murder, an amateur sleuth intent on solving it, and a tight-knit community both helping and complicating matters. In How the Murder Crumbles, first in a series, author Debra Sennefelder has successfully baked all of these elements and more into a charming story.

Mallory Monroe, new owner of her recently deceased aunt’s The Cookie Shop, is shocked when neighborhood busybody Beatrice Wright accuses the business of stealing her cookie recipe. Shortly after their public spat, Mallory attempts to clear the air only to discover someone has murdered Beatrice. It doesn’t take long for their barbs to reach detectives Will Hannigan’s ears, and soon Mallory is at the top of his list of suspects.

Immediately, Sennefelder has checked off all the traditional cozy elements. Mallory is the quintessential sleuth and Beatrice, unfortunately for her, is the perfect victim. Thrust into an investigation based off one badly timed argument, Mallory’s highly motivated and more than capable of poking around for clues. Still, Sennefelder has added a pinch of drama with a storyline involving Mallory’s cousin, Darlene, threatening to sell the bakery’s building. It’s the kind of necessary addition that provides plenty of tension and gives Mallory added stress to clear her reputation and, hopefully, save her business.

Which brings us to the real blue-ribbon winner here: the The Cookie Shop itself and the community it brings together. Sennefelder has cooked up a stunning location with cookie descriptions so vivid I could practically smell them coming through the page. It’s also the kind of quirky place that fits in an idyllic, cozy town, where all sorts of flamboyant patrons can pop through, dishing out clues and secrets to Mallory. And they’re much needed—the mystery is as rock solid as a cookie left out for a couple of weeks.

Ultimately, How the Murder Crumbles has all the traditional marks of a cozy mystery, and that works perfectly. It’s a darn good recipe, after all.

Wingate, Connecticut, is the backdrop to a tantalizing mystery that unfolds at Mallory Monroe’s beloved Cookie Shop. As the intoxicating scent of freshly baked cookies fills the air, Mallory's life takes a sharp turn when she becomes entangled in a murder investigation.

From the chaotic kitchen to personal betrayals, Mallory faces numerous challenges that threaten her business and reputation. Accused of stealing a recipe and embroiled in a deadly feud with food blogger Beatrice Wright, Mallory's world is rocked when Beatrice is found dead in her kitchen, casting suspicion upon her.

Sennefelder skillfully weaves a narrative filled with twists and turns, keeping readers guessing until the very end. With a cast of endearing characters and a vivid portrayal of small-town life, "How the Murder Crumbles" offers a delectable blend of mystery and charm that will leave you craving more.

A fun new start to a new series.

Mallory Monroe owns her own little Cookie Shop. When a local food blogger shows up in her shop accusing Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe publicly, things can't seem to get any worse for Malloy - until that said blogger ends up dead and Mallory is the one who discovers her body.

This was such a fun new read. I adored Mallory, especially her passion for cookies was endearing and fun.

The mystery was fun to follow and kept me interested for the most part. I do feel like the pace slowed down from time to time, but during winter wrapped in a cozy blanket, it's perfect.

Adored all the side characters as well which added to the relationships and the story overall. I am looking forward to the next book in this fun new, delicious series.

A cute sweet cozy mysteries involving cookies what's not to love. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one in the series.

When the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ah, cookies. I knew I was going to like this series. I love cookies. Mallory now owns her aunt's cookie shop. Beatrice tends to cause trouble and accuses Mallory of stealing her recipe. After "Queen B" ends up dead, Mallory is trying to find the truth and clear her name. This book had my attention from chapter 1 and I did not want to set the book down until I was done. I am already excited to read book 2!!

Cozy mystery focused on baking!

Mallory's life isn't easy. Her cookie shop is her safe haven but her employees are a disaster, her boyfriend is cheating on her and she had a very visible argument with a food blogger who ends up dead. Mallory is immediately a suspect. Can she clear her own name?

What a terrific start to a new series!

How the Murder Crumbles is my first book by Debra Sennefelder, and what a fantastic first book it was.

How the Murder Crumbles takes us to the town of Wingate where our protagonist, Mallory, on the heels of a breakup with her cheating ex, runs a small bakery that specializes in cookies. And yes, you'll feel hunger pangs throughout the entire book. When a cantankerous lady accuses her of stealing her cookie recipe and then winds up dead, Mallory finds herself struggling to clear her name.

Along the way, she enlists the help of her trusty friend and shop employee, Kip, all while dealing with a problematic cousin.

Side notes:
* I loved the evolution of her friendship with Aspen.
* I especially loved the connection with the detective that comes out toward the end of the book. Awesome!

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A wonderful start to a new series featuring cookies! The main character of Mallory finds her life being turned upside down: a failed relationship, a public argument with a local food blogger bully, and her cookie sales in the dumper when she is accused of murder. No matter how much she dislikes it, she has no choice but to get involved in the investigation, find a killer, and clear her name.

There are plenty of suspects that center around the townspeople. The evidence is easy to follow but may not lead to the person readers think. The setting is fun and normal for a cozy mystery. Other characters in this book have great personalities, even Claudia, who is grumbly and not happy to have Mallory as her new boss but, in the end, knows what she is talking about.

The ending may come as a surprise to some readers, but a surprise that is worth the read. The last page of the book will give readers something to look forward to and help answer the questions brought up in the subplots throughout the story. This is a great start to a new series by a well-known and talented writer. I look forward to the next installment.

Mallory Monroe’s Cookie Shop is in Wingate, Connecticut…one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state. Customers love the treats they find at her delightful shop, but her life is a little bit out of control with arguing employees and a cheating boyfriend.

Life gets way more out of control when Mallory argues in public with local food blogger Beatrice Wright over ownership of a popular cookie recipe…and then Beatrice turns up dead in her own kitchen, her body outlined in flour and a rolling pin lying beside the body! Mallory is the number one suspect and Cookie Shop sales nose-dive while the police begin their investigation. Mallory steps up to clear her own name, but the killer isn’t sitting idly by.

Debra Sennefelder has created an intriguing cast of characters and an interesting community. There are plenty of clues to follow as you try to figure out who is baking up murder in such a nice place as Wingate. How the Murder Crumbles starts a new cozy series that is an easy, light read.

This is a great debut to a new cozy series! The theme is cute, and I loved following our protagonist Mallory as she worked to solve the mystery. The mystery kept me guessing until the end!

Cute cozy mystery that seems more about cookies than murder, but it was an easy read. A woman running a cookie shop has troubles with her employees and her boyfriend as well as the neighborhood food critic.

This series starter doesn’t waste time with the killings. First chapter has the death of a relationship and chapter two has the body drop. Ouch, Mallory, our marketing maven turned cookie artist, manages to get herself on the suspect list because of a very public, very heated disagreement over the author of the Almond Melt-Away Cookie recipe. So let that be a warning, do not tell someone that they will get what is coming. Plenty of suspects, in fact almost everyone who isn’t a family member or friend that is like a family member was on my list including the reporter. What a tangled web that Queen Bea weaved, she sure wasn’t liked by, well, anyone. The plot is engaging and the clues are laid out nicely. I had no idea until the end because of the red herrings jumping up left and right, plus the inclusion of a second body drop. This was an excellent story that kept me entertained and craving cookies. I am looking forward to trying out the recipes included at the conclusion in both the e-version and the audio. Hopefully the cookies will tied me over until the next Cookie Shop Mystery.

How the Murder Crumbles. the first book in author Debra Sennefelder’s Cookie Shop mystery series, is two parts charm and one part intrigue, making for a delightful start to what promises to be a clever new series.

Mallory Monroe is running her late aunt’s cookie shop when she is accused by Beatrice “Queen Bea” Wright of stealing the recipe for almond meltaway cookies. A loud and public argument ensues, but when Mallory goes to make amends, she discovers that Beatrice has been murdered. Not surprisingly, the police focus on Mallory as the prime suspect.

The mystery is solid, with enough clues and red herrings to keep you guessing. I like Mallory, who works hard to expand her business, cares about her customers, and is a loyal friend. But she shows a remarkable lack of common sense when she encounters the murder scene. Another favorite character is Kip, who is a cookie shop employee (and the son of the chief of police). He, too, is loyal, but seems to have the common sense Mallory lacks. And while I really thought the idea of cookie bouquet arrangement classes was unique (and interesting), I’m a bit iffy on the “meet cute” whereby the cute guy Mallory spills coffee on just happens to be the detective investigating the murder.

All-in-all, How the Murder Crumbles, is a light, enjoyable read (or in my case, listen). I look forward to meeting these characters again in the next book.

Note: I received an ARC of How the Murder Crumbles from NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books. The above is my honest review.

-first book of series
-fun read
-loveable characters
-loved all the dad jokes
-great for Hannah Swensen fans
-had too many characters to keep straight- often felt confused
-three cookie recipes included
-looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

A fabulous first in series! The setting and the characters are perfect for a cozy mystery. It was a lot of fun to read about the main character's cookie business. The mystery was well planned and kept me guessing until the very end. I was happy to find out that the author generously included recipes at the end of the book, especially the Almond Meltaway cookies that played a big part in the mystery.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

This book by Debra Sennefelder. This is the first book I have read by this author. It's a very charming, exciting 1st book in the seroes and I really enjoyed reading about Mallory Monroe's bakery that was her aunt's and all the cookie's she is baking and decorating to the point that they look real and yummy. I took my time reading the book because I was enjoying it with all the different mysteries happening in the book to the end!!!

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a new series by an author I enjoy. It has many elements that could develop into an entertaining series. Mallory, ex publicist now cookie maker, gets caught up in the murder of the woman who stormed into her shop in the middle of an interview and accused her of a heinous offence. Worse yet, Mallory rose to the challenge and after finding her body, she tops the list of suspects. Or at least that seems to be what the town thinks. Bad enough she has to deal with an annoying detective but her new business could topple with the bad publicity.

The cast of characters, both the ones I suspect will be continuing and the ones who may only show up in this book are interesting and believable. But Mallory herself almost commits the worst crime a heroine can commit: she does dumb things that put her in danger. Not only that, she does them even after she has been warned twice, once with violence. To make matters worse, she continues after she has been told she is no longer a suspect. She does not cross the line and is, at least towards the end, a bit self aware but it does detract from the suspense when this happens. Still, it is a decent first outing with a good end. Four purrs and one paw up.

A good start to a brand new cozy mystery series and the narration by Ellen Quay makes it all the more fun and enjoyable. I received both an e-ARC and ALC from the  publishers but I mainly listened to the audiobook. The book is well paced with a good plotline and nicely developed characters.

For some reason, while listening I kept hearing the female protagonist name as 'Marilyn Monroe' and it was mid-way until I checked the e-ARC and realised her name was Mallory Monroe 🙈😂. Just like Detective Colin Zabel kept popping up in my head whenever Detective Will Hannigan was described or made an appearance in the book 👀🤷‍♀️. I also learned that cookie bouquets are very much a thing (I want one) and the book ends with a few yummy cookie/biscuits recipes.

I enjoyed this one!

My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media and the author Debra Sennefelder for the ARC/ALC.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder is a lighthearted cozy mystery. Mallory Monroe enjoys baking and decorating cookies. She has traded in the big city for a small town. Mallory has fond memories of summers spent in Wingate, especially the summer she received her first kiss. The cookie descriptions will have your mouth watering. There are recipes for a couple of them at the end including the controversial Almond Meltaways. The mystery has the unpleasant Beatrice Wright ending up dead and Mallory finding her body. Beatrice was a disagreeable woman who managed to annoy the majority of the town’s residents. This leads to a lengthy suspect list. It can be confusing trying to keep all the suspects straight. The guilty party can easily be identified and with the reason why long before the reveal. Mallory runs around town asking questions in a not-so-subtle manner. I thought someone who had worked in advertising would be a better schmoozer. Mallory manages to anger several people during her investigation (not good for a fledgling business). There are a couple of incidents along the way, but they do not deter Mallory. Personally, I kept hoping Mallory’s cantankerous employee, Claudia, would find herself in the killer’s crosshairs (there is always the next installment). The mystery is neatly wrapped up at the end. I had trouble getting into How the Murder Crumbles. The story is a slow starter. The pacing was choppy throughout the book. I also found there to be too much repetition of key details (the bakery, the cousin, details regarding the mystery). The majority of the characters are superficial and there are so many of them. There is some romance as well. Mallory breaks up with one fellow and soon has feelings for another. I thought it was a little quick. I liked Mallory’s cat, Agatha. Mallory’s best friend, Kip, is a friendly, upbeat individual as well as a good baker. He is a good friend and there for Mallory in her time of need. How the Murder Crumbles was just okay for me (as you can tell). How the Murder Crumbles is a cookie centric cozy with a mean Queen Bea, a cookie controversy, a lethal rolling pin, an unkind cousin, a two-timing suitor, a cuddly cat, an attractive detective, and a probing baker.

Mallory Monroe loves baking and decorating cookies that are like works of art. Her shop is in a town in Connecticut that is known for wonderful shops, but things are not as good as they should be. Her two employees are a disaster, and she has just broken up with her boyfriend. A local blogger, accuses her of stealing her cookie recipe, which Mallory vehemently denies. When said blogger, Beatrice, ends up dead while baking cookies, clobbered by a marble rolling pin, Mallory becomes the number one suspect. It is time to clear her name and save her business, so she begins an investigation of her own.

This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series. I have been reading two other series by Debra Sennefelder, so I was pretty sure I would enjoy this one and I did. Mallory is a great character and I love that she isn't just a baker, but an artist when it comes to decorating cookies. I also liked that she listened to her customers so she could give them exactly what they wanted. It is that listening skill that helps her with her investigation. I liked when she commented to the detective who was upset with her for investigating, "I can't help it if people tell me things." As the investigation proceeds, it becomes obvious that Beatrice wasn't a very nice person and there was more than one person who might have done her in. As Mallory gets closer to discovering what happened, she is threatened so knows she is on the right track. I love that people confessed other crimes to her and she ended up helping arrest several other people who had broken the law. The final showdown surprised me, as I didn't suspect the killer at all, but it fit well together and I enjoyed the story. This is a well written and plotted story with great characters. The side stories helped us to get to know the characters and I definitely enjoyed this one. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a culinary cozy mystery.