This is the second book in the Spice Isle Bakery series. I did not read the first one and I think that affected my opinion of this particular book. There were several things that kept me from enjoying the story. First of all, there was a lot of repetitiveness. I do not need to be told over and over that the bakery is blond wood. And are we still talking about being bullied in high school? I would think you would have moved on by this point in time in your life. Another issue that bugged me was the way the police were presented as incompetent. That just hit me the wrong way and turned me off from being able to enjoy the story and the mystery aspect.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Hard Dough Homicide by Olivia Matthews is a fun cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is a charming and diverse cozy mystery series! Lyndsay is a relatable, endearing protagonist. I love that she is independent and loves her family and culture. I love that this followed the cozy mystery framework but included diversity about the family's culture and food! Family is important in this one, and I adored that. The food descriptions were to die for, and I love that we get recipes in the back of the book. I highly recommend this one!

A book that focuses on good food and a great family? Sign me up. After reading the first book in the series earlier this year, I quickly fell in love with the stories in the Murray family and their dynamics. While the mystery was incredibly important to the plot, I found myself wrapped up in learning more about each member of the family and seeing the ways that they supported one another through difficult times. It was beautiful to read a mystery that was so much more than a simple whodunnit.

Lyndsay Murray is a wonderful protagonist that has been so fun to watch grow from the beginning of the series. Not only do readers get to see her growth through her current hardships, but there are also glimpses into her past that gives insight into how she became the strong character that is so easy to root for. I appreciated that her reasons for wanting to solve the case was to protect her family, rather than a simple desire to throw herself into danger to sate her own curiosity. There were only a few moments where I found myself doubting the realism in Lyndsay’s decision making.

Once again, I was blown away by the descriptions of the bakery and the amazing foods that were baked there each day. Each food description had my mouth watering, leaving me with a strong urge to bake something myself.

While the mystery itself was complex enough to remain interesting without being overwhelming, several of the motives that were focused on seemed forced to make the book longer. For most of the book, the motives for several of the top suspects felt shaky at best. However, when the mystery came to its conclusion, it was satisfying, if a bit underwhelming.

⅘ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading book two, I'm starting to get more into this series (do read book one of you haven't yet). I'm enjoying the characters (although Lyndsay needs to start believing in herself as much as everyone else does), and the storylines are interesting and keep me guessing. I'm also enjoying learning about the food and traditions of other cultures.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Principal Emily Smith is determine to have her retirement dinner at Spice Isle, much to the chagrin of Lyndsay's mother, who used to be a teacher at the school Emily is retiring from. Since Lyndsay is trying to expand business, she figures it wouldn't hurt, until Emily dies of possible poisoning at the restaurant, and Lyndsay's mother is the prime suspect. Lyndsay and the family is back at it again to find who the real culprit is.

I loved the growth of the characters in this story. I also loved how the story just flowed and made it such an easy read. I can't wait for the next book in the series

I probably should have read the first in the series, but I was able to follow along enough. I feel like its hard to get away with reading cozy mysteries as a standalone. I loved the characters and the bakery. I do think it was somewhat repetitive though.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC

Book 2 in the series and the Spice Isle Bakery is dealing with another murder. I think the series is starting to hit its stride in this book and found the overall mystery to be enjoyable and easy to follow. We’re starting to see Lyndsay and Detective Bryce connect and the grandmother is still a treat with her antics and commentary. I do wish there was a little less explaining and repeating of information throughout the book, and some of the writing falls flat for me because I think it probably works better in an actual conversation and not in writing. I also hope the future mysteries aren’t always impacting the bakery directly or else it will be hard to suspend disbelief that a bakery can be impacted every few weeks by a murder.

This second in the Spice Isle mystery series features the feisty Lyndsay Murray. She and her family have recently opened their Caribbean bakery in the Little Caribbean section of Brooklyn, NY. They’re excited about their undertaking and are building a solid clientele with their authentic baked goods.

Then they’re invited to cater the retirement dinner of the school principal who made Lyndsay’s mother’s final teaching years incredibly stressful. But the contract is too good to turn down according to Mrs. Murray, so they agree to provide the celebratory meal at the bakery. All is just fine and dandy until six show up for dinner and only five survive. And Lyndsay’s mother becomes a prime suspect in the principal’s murder.

Lyndsay feels the need to protect and clear her mother of the charges, although it won’t be easy…or safe! But she’s tough, savvy and a kick boxer.

Ms. Matthews has created a close-knit, loving family, always there for one another and cheering on each other’s success. I did find there was repetitive description (someone or other was always “kissing her/his teeth”) and the story did drag in places for me.

This series is excellent. Hard Dough Homicide is the second in the Spice Isle Mystery series by Olivia Matthews that takes place in the Little Caribbean section of Brooklyn, NY. Lyndsay Murray is running her recently opened, family owned and run Caribbean bakery. She solved one murder in the first book, and now is facing another.

Lyndsay agrees to host a retirement party for the principal at her old high school, a universally hated woman who is snippy and petty. Six people from the school attend the party, where the principal is poisoned to death and suspicion falls on Lyndsay's mother, who used to be a teacher under the principal. The others fall under Lyndsay's suspicion and she must investigate to clear her mother's name.

The whole book was a delight! The characters were engaging and well drawn. I could feel at home in the bakery as if I was watching it all happen. Lyndsay's grandmother is particularly colorful. The plot was compelling and it was a fast read. I look forward to reading the final book in the series. Also, I was able to interview Olivia Matthews (pen name) for my blog and she was delightful!
5-stars

3-3.5 stars
A cozy mystery set in a bakery in the Little Carribean neighborhood of Brooklyn. I enjoyed the setting, especially the food and the cultural aspects. But I didn't love how the author portrayed the police as doing next to nothing to investigate the murder and naming a woman with no reasonable motive as the prime suspect, leaving the bakery owner to do all the detective work. Just didn't seem plausible.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Loved this!!!! I’ll post my full review soon. Special thanks to the author & publisher for my advanced copy.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second book in the Spice Island shopfront cozy mystery series by Olivia Matthews. Released 23rd May 2023 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 304 pages and available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. Ebooks with interactive formats are so handy.

This is a fun and really readable series. It's a breezy fun shopfront cozy with an appealing and intelligent protagonist, a baker, working with her family (and solving the occasional murder/mystery).

As with most cozies, the emphasis is on the characters and the puzzle. It's a well constructed and easy to read cozy, with clean language and no over the top violence. The addition of a likable protagonist and her family with roots in the West Indies gives the whole a Caribbean flair. It's nice to find a new series with well written PoC in central roles with positive representations. Lyndsay's family are adorable and fun to read and their relationship with one another is sweet and fun.

The mystery and resolution are self-contained in this volume, so it works fine as a standalone. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Sue Minix, Wendy Meadows, and Ellie Alexander will likely enjoy this series also.

Four stars. Book 3 is due out from the same publisher late fourth quarter 2023. It would be a good choice for a mini-binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

We are back at the hip new Caribbean bakery in Brooklyn. It has been a rocky start for this little bakery, but they are making strides and filling a need for many in this neighborhood. However, this time around, Lyndsay's mom is the suspected killer when her former principal ends up dead. Of course, Lyndsay can't have that and sets out to investigate and clear her mother's name.

There are many things to like about this series - the food, the location, and the strong family ties. This is evident in both books when the whole family comes out to help clear their family of any wrongdoing. I mean aunts, uncles, cousins, and more. This is a close-knit family, which is a blessing and a curse.

There are just enough clues provided, if you catch them, to suss out the killer. I think I was a little surprised since many red herrings are thrown into the mix for good measure.

There is a potential romance between Lyndsay and her high school crush, but only if he stops investigating her family. I'm sure she doesn't stop to think they must investigate everyone to clear the family and those not involved. Hopefully, she will move past this and allow love to blossom.

This series is still working on its place, which means some of the characters may be annoying, or there is a lot of repetition. I think that is somewhat needed at the beginning of a series to the reader can get a feel for the scene, characters, and more.

The food descriptions make my mouth water, and I might have gained a few pounds just reading this book!

We give this book 4 paws up.

Olivia Matthews' Hard Dough Homicide brings us back to Spice Isle Bakery. Lyndsay Murray is back and still trying to grow Spice Isle Bakery. Still, when local high school principal Emily Smith's retirement dinner goes wrong, Spice Isle Bakery is back at the center of a murder investigation. Matthews' descriptions and detail of Spice Isle Bakery, the Murrays and all the supporting characters make this murder mystery fun.

Lyndsay Murray and Spice Isle Bakery are sadly involved in another murder investigation. While this time Lyndsay isn't the accused nor is it a rival of the bakery thankfully. This one does have bigger consequences possibly and it creates a ripple effect that could jeopardize the entire bakery business as a whole.

Overall this book to me was even better than the first one. We are more established with the bakery and the family so we know the dynamics better, as well as knowing some of the regulars at the bakery. The mystery part itself is from the bakery having hosted a retirement dinner for her mom's old teaching jobs principal that no one seemed to like. This means anyone and everyone could be the person who did it to the principal. On the bright side though Lyndsay now has some sleuthing experience thanks to the first book and she isn't afraid to use it especially to protect her family.
Along with the mystery portion of this book which is a lot of it, we also get to know some of the regulars a little more and see how invested they are into the bakery now and making sure it stays around.
I cannot wait to see what Lyndsay and Spice Isle Bakery get into with the next book! This has quickly become my favorite cozy mysteries series!!

I do think you will need to read the first book to get full insights into Lyndsay and families dynamic with the detectives. You can read this one as a stand-alone though and be able to piece together anything that could have happened in the first book fairly easily.

(Quotes were taken from a finished copy.)

"The top motives are usually the four L.'s.
Four L's? What are those?
Lust, Love, Loathing, and loot."

"I didn't involve myself. You did by going after my mother."

"You don't seem to understand, Detective. Hope is all I have right now. Hope and leads you don't seem to be taking seriously."

"You're like the Grenadian Nancy Drew."

A entertaining tale with a spunky heroine, a murder mystery and a loving and interfering family! Why do the police keep bungling, and it falls to Lyndsey to, once again, solve the mystery and save her family’s bakery

Hard Dough Homicide was a little slow for me at the beginning, but I raced to finish it once I got about halfway. I would read the next in the series if presented with the opportunity.

Really enjoyed the characters in this one again, as well as the mystery and the stakes. I'm looking forward to the protagonist Lindsey doing more in-depth investigating in the future.

Am I reading cute cozy mysteries even when I am fully relaxed on vacation ? You bet I am, especially fun modern varieties of the cozy genre, The Spice Isle Bakery series is not set in a small town, it is set in Brooklyn‘s Little Caribbean neighborhood where the Murray family has opened a Grenadine bakery. Their success is hampered when a death occurs on their premises - a poisoning no less, to all Agatha Christie fans out there, yes, strychnine is involved. The dead woman is a local Highschool principal attending her own retirement party. As suspicion falls on the bakery and Lindsay Murray‘s mother in particular since she was a teacher at the high school in question until she retired, Lindsay knows she needs to take matters into her own hands and start investigating to clear the family name and bring customers back into the bakery. This book is well-plotted and fun. The mystery had me hooked from the beginning and I enjoyed my reading. It is the second book in a new series that is a fresh new take on the classic cozy mystery and I am looking forward to Coconut Drop Dead the third being released in December !