A Clue in the Crumbs is the first book I have read by Lucy Burdette, which is surprising as this is Book #13 in her Key West Food Critic Series. Haley is a food critic writer for a local Key West magazine. She lives in a houseboat with her husband who is a detective for the local precinct. Her neighbor her chosen family, is an elderly woman named Gloria who Haley spends a lot of time with. They receive news that Key West is hosting a baking competition with The Scone Sisters, whom Haley and Gloria met in a previous story whilst traveling in Scottland. The ladies are excited to reunite with the sisters as they are a lot of fun. The competition is fraught with one disaster after another. The bed and breakfast where the Scone Sisters are supposed to stay at burns down the first night they arrive, having them stay with Miss Gloria on her houseboat, the competitors are comprised of three bakers who only one of them has actual talent to bake. The foursome find themselves embroiled in mystery from the beginning as the Scone Sisters don't even know who their US Agent is who set up this tour, why the local bed and breakfast burned, and why a local was murdered. Despite the fact that Haley's husband is a detective, she and the ladies take it upon themselves to try and solve the Murder. I enjoyed the fact that despite I have not read the previous titles in this series, I did not feel lost or that I was missing key information on the main characters in the story as bits of background were infused throughout that did not distract from the main story. I found Haley and her husband to be likeable and enjoyed the fact that they were very different personality wise but fit well together. Miss Gloria was a sweet woman with lots of energy and I enjoyed that she did get involved in the mystery solving but she also exhibited human characteristics of getting tired from a full day and not being overly involved. The Scone Sisters were delightful and they reminded me of a British Cooking show I used to watch years ago, Two Fat Ladies, they were so much fun. I found the story to be a good mystery in that I could not figure out the end result of who did what until the very end, however, I found that the baking competition was pointless to the story. I can understand and appreciate the idea of having that in the story because suspects were needed but that part of the story fell flat for me. Unless the other part of the story, the reason why there was murder and fire, could have been centered at the baking competition instead of outside of it. Just my opinion on the confusing bits in the story. I recommend this author and story to cozy mystery lovers everywhere and will pick up other books by this author in the future. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

A Clue in the Crumbs is the 13th Key West Food Critic series book. The Key West setting is fun. A Clue in the Crumbs is another extraordinary addition to this series by Lucy Burdette. I also enjoy the recipes in her books. I couldn't get enough of the laugh-out-loud parts., the great description of food, and a few recipes to boot.

Love Lucy Burdette's Key West Food Critic mystery series and this was entertaining and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
Glad to catch up with the characters and read about mouthwatering dishes.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Love this author and all her stories. This have fun and relatable characters. The story line was great and it kept the reader wanting more. Reading about all the deserts made me hungry at times. Looking forward to what else the author has in store

Hayley and her elderly sleuthing trio have gotten themselves involved in a questionable murder. Things became complicated when one of Hayley's ladies got attacked. With the killer still at large and taking potshots at the elderly, Hayley began to panic. Although this story was not as exciting as I had expected, it was entertaining and enjoyable.

"A Clue in the Crumbs" by Lucy Burdette is an absolute treat, blending mystery and culinary delights in the sunny setting of Key West. Hayley Snow, our food critic protagonist, eagerly welcomes the Scottish Scone Sisters, Violet and Bettina Booth, for their show, The UK Bakes!--Key West Edition. However, their arrival is marred by a fire at their planned accommodations, and the mystery deepens when a murder occurs. Joined by her spirited neighbor Miss Gloria, Hayley sets out to unravel the truth behind the murder and protect her newfound friends. The book is brimming with delightful characters, mouthwatering recipes, and a vibrant Key West backdrop that will whisk you away on a delightful adventure.

Lucy Burdette's thirteenth installment in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series shines with its well-crafted characters and their heartwarming relationships. The camaraderie between the Scottish Scone Sisters, Hayley, and Miss Gloria is a joy to behold, providing a sense of genuine affection and humor. Burdette's portrayal of Key West captures the essence of the vibrant locale, and immersed me in its sights, sounds, and culinary wonders. While the mystery takes center stage, the book's true charm lies in its captivating characters and their community dynamics, making it an ideal "escape" for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

"A Clue in the Crumbs" is a delightful and engaging addition to Lucy Burdette's series. The author's witty writing style keeps the pacing lively, and you'll find yourself fully immersed in the twists and turns of the plot. The book boasts a satisfying balance between the central mystery and the richly developed characters, making it a highly enjoyable read. With a dash of humor, a pinch of suspense, and a dollop of culinary delights, this cozy mystery is sure to leave you craving more adventures in Key West.

This is the 13th installment of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. I thought the book was well-written and plotted. I rate this as a 4.5 but of course will round up as there are no half points in this rating scheme.

There were a slew of suspects and minor detours throughout the story. I grew found of the Scone sisters and the regular characters are unique. I loved the family care, differing points of view, and showing you did not have to be blood related to be considered family. Miss Gloria’s living arrangements again come into play. I was happy at the resolution as I have an aging mother that needs looking after.

I look forward to the next installment in this series. I was given an advanced copy and am NOT required to leave a positive review.

Book 13 of Lucy Burdette’s Key West Food Critic Mystery series brings the Scone sisters from Scotland to Key West. There, they will be hosting a baking show contest, but things seem to be falling apart. First, the sisters’ B&B was burned down, then two of the three contestants don’t actually seem to know how to bake, the third contestant shows up with an angry husband on her heels, and finally said husband ends up murdered. The sisters also cannot find their agent or their equipment.

This is not one of my favorites. I actually had a hard time getting through this one. The mystery didn’t flow smoothly in my opinion, and the reasonings for everything was off. Suspects and evidence didn’t feel fully formed and I just couldn’t understand the killers reasoning for anything. Nor did I understand how they were caught.

However, I did enjoy the main characters and their relationships. I didn’t understand Gloria’s sons and how they thought they could order their mother into an assisted living. This isn’t the 1800’s or even the early 1900’s, next of kin cannot force relatives into homes with proof/evidence of the inability to care for themselves. But I did enjoy how much energy the Scone sisters had, and how Hayley tried to be there for them all. I hope that the next book connects the dots better, as well as follows Hayley’s job better.

Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.

Overall I enjoyed the exotic setting in Florida and the personality of the Scottish sisters here to promote a baking show. However I didn't care much for the investigation, which is rather unfortunate. Maybe I'll give it another go with the audiobook.

This was a fun book to read. I always enjoy Lucy Burdette's books. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Another delightful installment in this series. I adored this book and the series just keeps getting better and better. If you love cozy mysteries, then you need to check out this book.

Always enjoy Burdette's books and A Clue in the Crumbs is another delightful, charming, and well-written treat. This series only keeps getting better and better with each new installment. This was definitely worth the wait and I highly recommend everyone that loves mysteries and appreciates good twists to add this series to their list.

I received this book for free from Netgalley for an honest review.

Adorable cozy with a perfect setting and a cast of fun characters too. I hope the series continues.

As always, murder aside, the characters are what draw me back to this series again and again. The pacing and dialogue flow naturally and the use of humor adds to the fun, with just enough backstory woven in to make us feel like we know the characters. In many ways, you could probably call Key West a character, too, as Burdette does such a wonderful job sharing it's sights and sounds, the heartbeat of Key West, so to speak. What a delight to have the Scottish Scone Sisters, Violet and Bettina Booth, come to visit. I think I'm jealous they got to stay on a houseboat at the pier where Hayley lives. Ah, houseboat living, so Key West.

Too bad playing tourist and their cooking show production are ruined by murder. Even worse, one of their knives was used. Red herrings galore, not to mention suspects, and if you're like me, you'll find yourself changing your mind whodunit frequently, I bet. Through it all, you'll admire the sisters' energy -- I got tired reading about all they did while visiting -- and ability to find positives. I do hope Burdette finds a way to bring them back occasionally. They are fun and the sort of fun aunts we'd all love to hang out with.

I won't detail the plot other than to say that Hayley's husband, Nathan, already hoping for a promotion, has his hands full at the police station. I did like the little bits of logic/reasoning that Hayley shares about why, for instance, the police dislike having untrained investigators ask questions of witnesses. She's obviously learned a thing or two from Nathan. She strives hard to be the perfect hostess while still working her day job at the paper and fretting about being fair to all involved in her reviews. She also worries about her friends and family, even showing sensitivity to the "aura", so to speak, of the local Tarot card reader who appeared down spirited. In other words, she pays attention to others, always a good trait. I mean, she even feels guilty for not badgering Miss Gloria to call her sons more often. Family. Hayley's family may not all be blood-related but they are family nevertheless.

In any case, the finale is a wowzer and one I didn't see coming. Give it a read. You'll enjoy not just the rhythm and beat of Key West -- tiki boat ride, anyone? -- but the intriguing characters that people Hayley's world. And, oh, yes. Make sure you aren't hungry when you sit down to read because, oh, my, the food talk will make you so even if you eat. Toss in some great recipes at the end and you are in foodie heaven.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for letting me enjoy this virtual trip to Key West. I'll add, too, kudos to author Burdette for her respect for the elderly and family ties, both blood and of the heart. That was special.

Earlier this year, I read the eleventh entry in this series, A Scone of Contention, and enjoyed it enough that when I saw this advanced reader's copy on NetGalley, I immediately read it. Coming this August, the Scone Sisters of Book 11 reappear in this story. After they won the scone contest in England, they starred in a British cooking show, and they and their show have come to the US to film the show with US contestants. They convince the producers to start the competition in Key West so they can visit Hayley and Gloria. The series includes characters that appeared in earlier stories, it seems from a brief perusal of the earlier titles, and I imagine that just like other long-running series, the author could run out of ways to get Hayley involved in murders that don't result in people running from her as soon as she steps foot in their restaurant for a review. The characters are likable enough, although I found Nathan's reluctance to do things Haley likes to do a little annoying. When he's working his police detective job, he can't go to dinner, but the fact that he doesn't like fancy meals, he doesn't want to go on the evening cruise with the Scottish visitors, and other instances make me wonder how much this pair has in common. Granted, I've only read two books in the series, but still, I wonder. In this book, the baking contest is close to collapsing when one contestant's husband is murdered and she withdraws, leaving only two competitors whose baked goods are not quite edible to do culinary battle. The murder and the reason for the murder are realistic, but the mystery surrounding the Scone Sister's agent seemed a little farfetched. But it's a pleasant enough series with pleasant enough characters, and that makes for a good beach read.

Hayley and her elderly best friend/former roommate, Miss Gloria, were excited to welcome the Scottish baking sensations, The Scone Sisters, to Key West. The trip is to be part pleasure and part work. The sisters are hosting UK Bakes!-Key West Edition and spending time with Hayley and Gloria. Things get off to a rocky start when the bed & breakfast the sisters were supposed to stay at catches on fire. The next day, a murder occurs, which ends up being the husband of one of the contestants and the owner of the B&B. In between taping and sightseeing, Hayley and the girls search for clues. Can Hayley and her friends discover who the killer and arsonist are?

A Clue in the Crumbs was the last of the five books I snatched from Crooked Lane Books on their NetGalley page. As mentioned in previous reviews, I needed to improve in the reading department, mainly the cozy mystery department. So, I went and downloaded five books that were Read Now. The books I downloaded were different, and they varied with how much I liked them. I went from “meh” to “awesome.” A Clue in the Crumbs was on the latter end of that scale. I enjoyed reading it.

A Clue in the Crumbs is the 13th Key West Food Critic Mystery series book. Yes, you read that right; it is book 13. I winced when I noticed that (and I don’t pull them up on Goodreads before I accept them). I figured I would have difficulty keeping up with the storyline. Picking a book that is 13 books in a series made me wonder. But, surprisingly, I didn’t have that issue. Yes, the author mentioned previous books but didn’t make it a point to rehash them. So, what I am trying to say is that, yes, you could read this as a standalone. But I do suggest reading the books in order. That way, you can better grasp Hayley’s relationships with various characters in the book.

A Clue in the Crumbs is a medium-paced mystery. It took me over a day to finish it. The pacing in this book suited it. With everything going on, if the book had gone any faster, it would have taken away from the story. Also, I am notorious for getting lost or forgetting things if the book goes too fast. That didn’t happen here.

This book takes place entirely in Key West, Florida. Key West is somewhere I have been wanting to visit but haven’t had the chance. I liked that the author took real places and used them in the book. It made the book feel more authentic to me. It also made me want to visit Key West.

A Clue in the Crumbs main storyline is the mysteries Hayley and her three elderly friends are trying to solve. The first mystery is who set the fire at the bed and breakfast and why that person did that. The second mystery was who killed the bed and breakfast owner and why. I liked that the author kept the storylines separate but simultaneously similar (if that makes sense). There was some lag in the middle (right around when Bettina got attacked), but the author did a great job of getting the book back on track.

I liked Hayley. I loved that she had such a great relationship with Miss Gloria, and her caring for Gloria was the reason Gloria wasn’t in a retirement home. I also liked that Hayley was human. She made mistakes (like trusting Gloria, Violet, and Bettina not to get into trouble). I wish more background had been given on her job as a food critic in this book. It was mentioned once or twice. But I feel the author gave more attention to her profession in the previous twelve books, which means I need to read them.

Miss Gloria, Bettina, and Violet were the most fabulous old ladies I have ever read. Their shenanigans throughout the book cracked me up and made me fear for their safety. I wanted them to adopt me as a grandmother(s).

The secondary characters also made the book. Each one has a presence that adds extra depth to the book.

The mystery angle of A Clue in the Crumbs was well written. The author started with two mysteries, and she connected them at the end of the book. While I wasn’t surprised at who the arsonist/killer was, that person wasn’t at the top of my suspect list. The author did a great job of diverting my attention from the baking show (which was featured heavily in both mysteries). I did get a small laugh at how everything came together, and I was a bit sad at why that person did what they did.

The end of A Clue in the Crumbs was interesting and exciting. I liked how the author wrapped up the mystery storyline. I was a little miffed at how Miss Gloria’s sons treated her and how they treated Hayley. I also liked the recipes the author included at the end of the book. I also can’t wait to read book 14 in this series.

I recommend A Clue in the Crumbs to anyone over 16. There is mild language, violence, and no sexual situations.

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Lucy Burdette for allowing me to read and review A Clue in the Crumbs. All opinions stated in this book are mine.

'A Clue in the Crumbs' is a perfectly charming and well-executed cozy that I have come to expect from Lucy Burdette and her A Key West Food Critic Mystery series. All of the characters are engaging and the mystery was suspenseful with plenty of twists and turns. I love to admit that I was surprised by the outcome. I look forward to many more in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This review of A Clue in the Crumbs by Lucy Burdette is courtesy of NetGalley. #AClueintheCrumbs #NetGalley #CulinaryMystery #CozyMystery #LucyBurdette
Rating: 4/5
Upcoming Publication Date: Aug 8, 2023

When I saw Lucy Burdette's Key West Food Critic Mystery in books available for review, I picked it up. I've read Lucy's books previously and also have some prior reviews. See https://www.netgalley.com/book/214126/review/29073 for my review of A Scone of Contention and https://www.netgalley.com/book/245963/review/29073 for my review of A Dish to Die For.

This book brings back Hayley and community along with non Key West charactes from A Scone of Contention in the form of Violet and Bettina Booth, aka the Scottish Scone Sisters. This book continues things I love in culinary mysteries and Lucy's books in particular: no illegal activities to solve the crime, some nice food descriptions, some historical knowledge gained, references to real Key West locations and restaurants and a supportive community of friends and family. What keeps it from being 5/5? There's some less appetizing sounding desserts. In the last book, it sounded like Hayley hadn't seen Lorenzo in a long time and the same occurred in this. I wonder if his part is always going to be "someone I haven't seen in ages and thus excuse to meet with for food".

Key West on Saint Patrick's Day meets the Scottish Scene Sisters who are visiting to tape a baking show. All your favorite characters are there in this lively and delicious cozy with an exceptionally knotty plot. Lots of fun with great description food and a few recipes to boot.

Review of eBook

Hayley Snow and Miss Gloria are excited to welcome sisters Violet and Bettina Booth to Key West. The Scottish Scone Sisters will host a television baking show, “The UK Bakes!,” while they are in Key West.

But things get off to a difficult start when a fire keeps the sisters from lodging at the bed and breakfast where they’d planned to stay, their agent vanished under mysterious circumstances, and some of the contestants seem rather inept.

But when the sisters become the prime suspects for the murder of someone close to the competition, can Hayley and Nathan ferret out the real murderer and save the sisters?

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In this, the thirteenth Key West Food Critic Mystery, all the expected, beloved characters are in place. Well-developed, nuanced characters and a strong sense of place pull readers into the telling of the tale from the outset.

Readers will find Hayley’s relationship with Miss Gloria heartwarming; the camaraderie, affection, and heartfelt concern she shows for Violet and Bettina add a layer to the friendship displayed throughout the telling of the tale. Some humor, a bit of lighthearted banter, and some delicious food descriptions [and recipes!] keep the narrative both thought-provoking and intriguing.

The plot twists and turns, taking the story in unexpected directions as it not only spins a captivating mystery but also examines the serious issues of domestic abuse and concern for the welfare of the elderly. The unfolding narrative is sure to keep readers guessing as it heads toward an unexpected denouement.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Severn House and NetGalley
#AClueintheCrumbs #NetGalley