This book was really fun! I love a good cozy mystery and this one was a great way to break up some of the heavier books that I have been reading.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series by Olivia Matthews. This atmospheric cozy mystery can be read as a standalone, but is even better if read in order.

This story takes place in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood with it’s close clan of residents. Lyndsay Murray has recently opened her family-owned cafe and bakery and is trying to put a murder from the first week of her grand opening in the past. She reluctantly agrees to host a retirement dinner for her mother’s ruthless former boss, and lives to regret it. The invitees clearly do not want to be there, in-fighting is rampant and tensions flare when the woman of the hour arrives. Before the main course is served, tragedy strikes and Lyndsay’s family is once again suspect.

This story follows the typical cozy mystery format of victims haltingly being forced to solve their own semi-related crimes, due to inept detectives, or misconstrued motives. This mystery unravels at a slower pace. In fact, the investigation does not begin until about halfway through the story. The resolution is also not altogether shocking. The beauty of this story, and series, lies in the sweet closeness of the family, the support of the community, and the distinctive cultural components. Though I found the mystery to drag, I definitely enjoyed the other elements of this story.

Solidly unique and well crafted cozy. The warmth and love of the family and community come through in this book, and the mystery is both frustrating as Lyndsay struggles to clear her mother's name and keep her bakery afloat amid accusations and full of interesting turns.

I loved everything about Olivia Matthews' Hard Dough Homicide! The setting is a great one – a family run bakery in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood – how I wish the bakery was real so I could go there, stand in line, smell the wonderful food, listen to the music, and interact with the owners and other customers! I found the main character, Lyndsay Murray, to be very relatable. She is determined to make the bakery a success yet full of doubts at times – she is much stronger than she realizes and I love that about her character. I also love her relationship with her entire family – it adds much to the book and the mystery – I really like the fact that Lyndsay doesn’t rush into trying to solve the mystery herself but has the whole backing of her family. Speaking of the mystery (a high school principal is murdered during a retirement party at the Spice Isle Bakery and Lyndsay’s mother is one of the suspects), it is well done with just the right amount of suspects and clues (one very well done clue is a seemingly innocent scene early in the book) and a surprise or two. I always try to guess who the killer is but I had no luck figuring it out this time – well done by Matthews!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Another wonderful mystery set at the Spice Isle Bakery. I love the setting and the constant mention of the food makes my mouth water. The main character, Lindsey, is strong (not a pushover) and professional when it comes to her bakery. Where I get annoyed, however, is her treatment of the detective/her high school crush. There are several conversations where she tells him she can’t date someone investigating her family. As an avid mystery reader (which she also mentions a few times), she should know that they have to investigate everyone. I get it’s a gut reaction but it’s tiresome to mention it repeatedly. The mystery itself is well-plotted and had me guessing until the very end. This is quickly becoming a favorite series for me.

This is the second book in the spice isle bakery mystery series but this can be read as a standalone.

This is now the second murder connected to the spice isle bakery in Brooklyn. The first murder was not due to the bakery, and neither was this one. They both just happened to be in the bakery.

Lyndsay and family host a retirement party for a local high school principal on the day the bakery is usually closed making it a private event. During this party the principal is murdered.

I enjoyed the mystery of trying to find out the murder mystery. I loved how the family came together as one to support and try to figure out the murder. They were a great support system.

However, I cringed many when times when Lyndsay who owned the bakery would call her parents “mommy and daddy”. It was almost every sentence and I just found it to be way too much at times.
The overall mystery was good and kept me interested despite some of the character flaws that bothered me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved returning to Spice Isle Bakery with Lyndsay and the rest of the Murray family. Their relationships with each other, the culture, the food. This is only the second book in the series and I enjoy them so much.

In this one, the Murray family is once again at the center of an investigation when a retirement party goes south. Emily Smith begins convulsing at the table shortly after beginning to eat and there are so many possible suspects, including Lyndsay’s mom who used to work with Emily.

This family has each other’s backs always. They even get themselves in trouble trying to protect each other. The banter, especially with Lyndsay’s grandmother is one of my favorite parts of this family. I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

There is a lot of family and business stuff happening in this book. I enjoyed getting to know Lyndsey’s parents better and seeing the extended family work together. I liked hearing some different things they were making.
However, it didn’t leave a lot of time for investigation and it seemed to take a while for some Lyndsey to ask some important questions. So the mystery moved a little slower than I would have liked.
Part of the solution was obvious, but there was still a part that surprised me. I was pleased to guess part of it and also be surprised. I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed seeing Lyndsey grow more confident.

I really love Lyndsay and her awesome family! Granny just cracks me up with how she wants to help sleuth, and Lyndsay's always having to worry about keeping her feisty little granny out of trouble, lol. I really like how this family loves one another unconditionally and always has each others' backs. Even any bickering done is always good-naturedly, and I also think it's pretty awesome how Lyndsay and her family start each day at the bakery with a prayer.

This was a really baffling mystery, but with the help of her family going over motives and possible means, Lyndsay and Granny set off to solve this once and for all. Lyndsay's always been super gracious and again credited her entire family with solving the case (her kickboxing training came in handy again too!). And to top off being declared completely innocent, the fam got a nice surprise at the end of the book. I can't wait to see what mystery adventures Lyndsay and crew get into in the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Paperbacks) via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I love cozy mysteries. And this was such a cute cover, and the punny blurb just immediately sold me.

Lyndsay Murray‘s Caribbean bakery is once again embroiled in a murder when a client ends up dead at a retirement party. To protect her business & her family, Lyndsay is going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

This was a delightful read. It's a sequel, but it really stands well on its own. You get enough background information to understand what's going on, but not a complete rehashing of the plot.

My absolute favorite part of this book was Lyndsay's family. The characters are well defined, and we get to see the love and support they all have for each other as they deal with the stresses of their bakery being in the spotlight again. The entire family, even the characters that only show up for moments, are delightful. And Lyndsay's determination to solve the mystery makes perfect sense within the context of the story.

There were plenty of twists, and so many possible suspects for the murder, that I was actually surprised. And I was really amused that every little thing we learned about the victim made her worse and worse and opened up so many more motives for her murder.

I'm personally not a big fan of the two men being put forward as possible love interests for Lyndsay, but I'm definitely interested in seeing where this series ends up going. And there are recipes to be tried at the end of the book!

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advance reader's copy.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second in the Spice Isle Bakery mysteries. In this installment, Lyndsay Murray, owner of the Spice Isle Bakery, is getting ready to cater her first event. Reluctantly, her and her family have agreed to host a retirement dinner for Lyndsay’s mom’s ex boss, Emily Smith, who is not a well liked high school principal. Tension is hot as the guest arrive at the restaurant, and it gets worse when Emily falls out having convulsions after they get served their food. Lyndsay and her family know this is not going to go over well especially after they have already been involved in one murder investigation not too long ago. So with the help of her family and friends, Lyndsay seeks answers, and the truth about Emily’s incident. If the police won’t figure this out, Lyndsay will!

These stories are the perfect, cozy mysteries! Lyndsay is spunky, and will do everything in her power to protect her family and their business. The closeness Lyndsay has with her family might be my favorite part of these books. They have each other’s back, no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this title. As always all opinions on my own.

I received this novel as an ARC.
Spice Aisle Bakery is filled with Grenadian culture and delicious food. Lyndsay Murray runs the bakery with her family-Grandmother, Mother, Father, and Brother. They've only been open for a short time and are looking for ways to promote their business and make more money. They decide to take a catering job for a retirement party for the principal of the local high school and soon find themselves involved in a murder investigation, but Lyndsay is no stranger to sleuthing and she will stop at nothing to restore her family's name and clear the bakery.
I was happy to read this novel and I was slightly disappointed. There were moments when the story line was repeated and some where the story didn't mesh together. I was also looking forward to a more fulfilling ending. The cultural aspects saved this novel for me where the storyline failed it.

The characters in the Spice Isle series are definitely unique. I love cozy mysteries but some can seem to just be repeating what I've read before. Lyndsay Murray is an original, assisted whether she wants them or not, by her equally original family members. This was a fast read for me, well written books tend to be. Book #2 in the series, but easily read as a stand alone. If you love cozies, you need to try HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE.

Setting the Scene: Lyndsay Murray, owner of Spice Isle Bakery, has a business plan, but when pushed hard to host a retirement dinner for her mother's former boss and tormentor, she caves and agrees to do so. Unfortunately, the retiree doesn't survive the dinner party, and Spice Isle Bakery once again finds itself struggling to survive the publicity and neighborhood gossip, while Lyndsay's mom becomes a prime suspect.

What I Thought: This is a delightful series with engaging yet quirky characters. It is full of wit and humor and an enviable family interaction, both immediate and extended. The mystery is well plotted, and glimpses of the food and the occasional lilting language of the West Indies are charming. This series is set apart from other equally enjoyable series because of the familial and community respect that flows out to others. Even the growth and confidence that Lyndsay is experiencing are always governed by that respect. While this series will most likely always focus on Lyndsay, as it should, I look forward to more character development of other family and non-family characters (and relationships) in future books. This book makes me happy.

Happy book birthday to Olivia Matthews!

Lyndsay Murray is fresh off solving a murder, at no small risk to herself. She’s ready to get back into the groove with her business, Spice Isle Bakery. She and other family members – her parents, her granny – are working hard to build their customer base. But when her mother’s former boss, principal Emily Smith, wants the bakery to host her retirement dinner, Lyndsay is prepared to tell her not no, but HAIL, no. To her surprise, her mother – whose relationship with Emily was tense, to put it mildly – is in favor of the bakery hosting the dinner.

There were only five other guests at the dinner. When Emily has convulsions shortly after the dinner began, they all appear to be shocked. Given their acrimonious past, the detectives on the case quickly zero in on Cendella (“Mommy” to Lyndsay) as a person of interest – and apparently their only suspect. And since Emily collapsed shortly after starting her meal, the presumption is that the food was somehow tainted and perhaps the bakery is to blame. Lyndsay realizes she’s going to have to get involved and do some investigating of her own, to save both her mother and the bakery.

This is my first venture into the world of Spice Isle Bakery, but it won’t be the last. I absolutely loved this book! Olivia Matthews creates a space that’s warm and inviting, like you would expect a bakery to be. I’ll own to having pretty much zero knowledge of Grenadian culture – Caribbean culture at all, I should say – but now I want to learn more.

The characters are fantastic. I loved the lovable ones and disliked the detestable ones. Turns out Emily Smith was a real piece of work, and she was mean to everybody, not just Cendella. Like, REALLY mean. But who had she upset so much that they wanted to kill her just when she was about to retire and be out of their hair?

I loved how the family pitched in with the bakery, with investigating, with everything. They pulled together to support each other and work through challenging times. I also liked that their faith was a visible part of the story without being the least bit preachy. And I was delighted by the fact that, after an initial shock, their faithful customers not only came back, but stood up for them when a local festival tried to remove the bakery as a vendor. That made me cheer!

The mystery was intricate enough to keep me guessing, and I really liked the method the killer used. It was one I’ve never seen in a book before. (Tiny spoiler: the food wasn’t poisoned! But y’all probably figured that out already.) There are little sparks of romance between Lyndsay and one of the detectives (he was her high school crush), but she’s determined not to give him the time of day as long as he seems determined to cast her mother in the role of a murder suspect. I’m curious to see where things go with them in future books!

And just for that final kiss of perfection, the book has recipes. Y’all know I love a book with recipes. I see hard dough bread and coconut drops in my future.

Hard Dough Homicide is a warm hug of a book that almost perfectly captures what I look for in a cozy mystery. (A bookstore or library is my preferred setting, but a bakery is a close second!) I’m eagerly anticipating more adventures with Lyndsay and her family!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hard Dough Homicide, the second installment in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries, is a fun read. Lyndsay is a great main character, and her family adds to the charm of the series. This series stands out as it has unique elements while being in the familiar cozy mystery vibe. The storyline is great, and the mystery definitely grabs the reader's attention. I had a great time trying to guess who the culprit was. I'm looking forward to the next book!

In this second installment of this series, we once again find Lindsay Murray and her family‘s Caribbean bake shop in hot water with the police. Her mother is being targeted as the prime suspect, and a murder of her former employer. The victim collapsed and died after eating an entrée they were catering for her retirement party. Lindsay is upset that the police don’t seem to be looking for other suspects and makes it her mission to clear her mothers name and to stop the bad press. They are new bakery is receiving. A very satisfying story with believable characters . I especially enjoy all of the familial connections, and the references to their Caribbean culture, which is very fresh and unique. This foodie reader also enjoys the recipes shared in the back of the book. A definite read for lovers of cozy mysteries.

I have to first start by stating my woes. 1) the narrator is 27 years old and refers to her parents, even in conversations, as Mommy and Daddy. I just couldn’t. I almost DNFed on that alone 2) she is VERY entitled and immature. I really couldn’t stand her as an MC the only thing that kept me reading was the Agatha Christie like plot. I just wish the MC had been somehow a detective and not just a bakery owner impeding on an investigation. I also enjoyed some of the writing style. The nuggets given to readers along the way kept me totally guessing on who the murder was. I don’t think I’ll pick up another book by this author but it was entertaining even if it was in how much it annoyed me.

y Olivia Matthews)

This title is the second entry in Olivia Matthews’s new series following on Against the Currant. As readers can tell from the book’s titles, there is good food here…oh, and murder!

Protagonist Lyndsay owns the Spice Isle Bakery along with her family. She also becomes involved in a crime when her mother’s old boss does not survive a catered event. This sets the stage for Lyndsay’s investigation.

What follows is a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery. There are lots of suspects, a good Brooklyn setting in the Little Caribbean neighborhood, and a bakery with things I wish I could actually eat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. I look forward to the next in the series. All opinions are my own.

Lyndsay Murray and her family own Spice Isle Bakery, a new business that is really starting to come into its own. That is, until the honoree at the retirement dinner they host suddenly drops dead. Now Lyndsay and her family find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation, with everything to lose.

This is an enjoyable addition to the cozy mystery genre. I really liked the exploration of the importance of culture and family, and the multiple strong female characters. The story did feel a little repetitive at times, but the mystery was an intriguing one with a lot of plausible suspects. If you’re looking for a new cozy mystery with a unique spin, this could be one to pick up.