Thanks so much to @minotaur_books for the eARC of Coconut Drop Dead, book three in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries by Olivia Matthews. This is such a fun cozy mystery series–I’ve listened and read copies and both forms are wonderful.

Lyndsay Murray is co-owner of the Spice Isle Bakery with her family. They are looking forward to serving as one of the food vendors at Brooklyn’s annual Caribbean American Heritage Festival. Their food truck is a success, but the glow of that success quickly subsides when Camille, lead singer of an up-and-coming reggae band, dies. The police think it may be a tragic accident. But Lyndsay’s cousin Manny was close to Camille, and he believes someone cut her life short. Now Manny needs Lyndsay’s help to make sure a killer faces the music.

There’s so much to love about this series, but I think my favorite is the closeness of Lyndsay’s family. I especially love her grandmother who pushes Lyndsay to trust her intuition and step out of her comfort zone. Lyndsay’s romantic interest develops at just the right pace for a cozy mystery, and I found myself anxiously awaiting the next clue to solving the mystery. The celebration of Caribbean culture and food is delightful and the recipes at the end had my mouth watering.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Coconut Drop Dead is the third book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries. In this book, the storyline is about a singer who dies during a Caribbean festival. Lyndsay, the main character, is great, and so are the other members of her family. One of the highlights is the sense of family in each book, which I find pleasant. Another highlight is the Caribbean culture. I find it interesting to read about other realities than mine, it makes for a richer reading experience. The mystery is solid and the storyline unfolds smoothly. Highly recommended!

The book opens right as the Caribbean Heritage Festival is getting started and Lyndsay and her family at Spice Isle Bakery are super busy preparing and keeping up with demand. There's a new band that is taking the festival and the community by storm and Lyndsay's cousin Manny just happens to be their producer and possible love interest of the lead singer Camille. The festival ends on a sour note when Camille is found dead and Lyndsay and her family are once again trying to figure out the who in the whodunnit.

This was a really entertaining and interesting read. I liked the conflict and hesitation her family felt about getting involved in the mystery and there was some thought about potentially ending up in a dangerous situation. As well, I loved Lyndsay's drive for finding the truth as she had been wrongly suspected of murder and didn't want it to happen to anyone else. I love all the food mentions and wish we had better Caribbean restaurants and bakeries here as I would love to try so much of the food that Lyndsay talks about.

Small negative - I didn't love how Lyndsay treats Bryce. I like both characters separately but together it just doesn't feel like Lyndsay has much respect for Bryce and I kind of wonder why he puts up with her. Otherwise, this is a fun cozy mystery with fantastic characters and an entertaining community.

It was a cute cozy mystery. The food aspect was great as well as the actual murder. Some parts felt very repetitive. But it never felt weird being the third book in a series and not read the first two

I was rooting so hard for Lyndsay and the Murray’s to solve this one! I loved seeing the festival that they have been talking about! The mystery was very well done and pulled hard on my heartstrings. The investigation was a bit unreasonable, but it was a good development considering the previous two books. The romance has been creeping along, but I liked it because it had a touch of realism that I liked. I figured out who did it and why pretty early on, but I wanted to see justice done, so figuring it out early didn’t ruin my enjoyment.
There are lots of upcoming events like the kickboxing tournament that I want to see! So I can’t wait to see what is next.

3 1/2 stars. Another good entry in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series which celebrates Caribbean food and culture (and of course there are some murders to go with your order of pastries). You can read this without reading the other volumes in the series but I like to see the growth in Lyndsay and the light romantic development over the books. I also enjoy how much the rest of the family is involved in solving the mysteries. Sometimes one or two other members of a family are involved in solving the mysteries but not usually as many as this group. There is a lot of love in this family and it comes through.

Give it a try for a good mystery and of, course, the wonderful description of food--and some recipes too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Coconut Drop Dead is book 3 in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries series. I read book 1 Against the Current but somehow missed book 2 Hard Dough Homicide. Even if you haven't read the first two books, you can start the series with this book with no problems. We are repeatedly reminded of what happened in the previous books.

A couple of months ago, I mentioned while reviewing Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal by Raquel V. Reyes that at first I confused it with another series. This is the other series that I was confusing it with. If you enjoy the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series then I'm sure you will enjoy this series.

I like the characters of the Spice Isle Bakery series and the unique cultural flavor of the series. There is definitely a lot of diversity in the book.

Overall I enjoyed the story. There is a lot of repetition in the book though that got on my nerves. I lost track of how many times were are told that both the main character Lyndsay and her mother had been the focus of murder investigations. And I really wondered if we needed to be told every time Lyndsay inhaled that she smelled stew, jerk, and curry along with cinnamon and nutmeg. And what is up with the detailed description of clothing. No one wore khaki shorts, it had to be sand or taupe or stone colored. I found myself skimming a lot of the book because there was so much unnecessary detail provided.

As I read more cozy mysteries, I'm finding that I don't care as much for the ones that have incompetent police people. So while I do like when the amateur sleuth and the police detective work together, having the amateur sleuth show up the detective (and everyone point it out constantly) is a tired trope that I'm liking less and less. Right now how Bryce acts - jumping to conclusions, going with the easiest explanation even if it doesn't all add up - I'm not sure why Lyndsay would want to be in a relationship with him. I'm not saying that he can't occasionally be wrong or make a mistake, but repeatedly making the same mistake is not good, particularly if you want me to see him as a potential love interest.

The clues to the case are dribbled out so you can't really solve the case before the characters do. I think it is ironic that I've read two books recently that had the victim falling down stairs and they both used the way the victim landed as proof of murder but in each book the victim landed differently and the reasons the characters in each book gave for why it proved murder contradicted each other so now I want to look up whether how someone falls down the stairs can be used to indicate murder.

If you are looking for a book with colorful characters that is quick but fun read, then you should try this novel. If you are interested in Caribbean cooking be sure to check out the recipes. I've been looking for a sweet potato pudding recipe since I had it in Jamaica and so I'm looking forward to trying that recipe from the book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/12/coconut-drop-dead-by-olivia-matthews.html

This is the third book in Spice Isle Bakery Mystery Series. I missed the first one, I give 2nd one 4 stars.
In this one Lyndsay's Family own bakery attend Caribbean American Heritage Festival. On the event, the famous singer dead,
this is a ok for me, average cozy mystery, not great, not bad just OK.
I lost my interest in the middle of the book, don't see why Lyndsay have to involve. the case itself is not get me full attention, the love interest part still hanging.
Maybe the author don't want to upset those reading who have read the first two books, their are too many info given out about the characters, relationships etc. but i am a little bord.
I love the community setting, the recipes of west Indian food. i still want to see a big step forward with the romance part. Author need to give stronger personality to the love interest, what is his name? (see, that's a problem)

3 stars

Coconut Drop Dead is the third book in the Spice Isle Bakery cozy mystery series but my first read in this series.
I really enjoyed the authentic flavor the author has added to the book. I learned a lot about Caribbean American foods and the culture. Spice Isle Bakery is doing very well and a vendor spot at Caribbean American Heritage Festival helps business to boom. I enjoyed seeing how close knit this family is as they work together at the bakery even granny, the family matriarch. Granny seems to have the final say in everything and the family and community gives her the respect she deserves.
While at the festival a murder occurs, the lead singer of a famous reggae band.
Believing the police are not solving the case quickly enough Lyndsay, owner of Spice Isle Bakery is ready to take things into her own hands and do some investigating on her own.
The investigation, presentation of clues and possible suspects are presented in a believable way and the book kept me guessing on who the guilty party was. Well done and I'll look forward to reading more in this series.



Pub Date: 26 Dec 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Lindsay is pulling out the stops to advertise the bakery.. They are in the park for a celebration of the island culture. When the lead singer of an up and coming band winds up dead, Lindsay is asked by the police to help solve the mystery. I loved this book because Lindsay comes into her own and her confidence in herself begins to shine. I love the cultural nuances and all the characters. A good read and well plotted. This series gets better with each book!

Lyndsay Murray is thrilled when her bakery is accepted as a vendor at the annual Caribbean American Heritage Festival. With the help of her family, this event is sure to boost sales in her new shop.

Then, tragedy strikes. The festival turns from happy to sad in a matter of moments. The lead singer of the band performing at the event mysteriously dies. At first the police think it’s an accident, but Lyndsay’s cousin knew the singer well and is convinced she has been murdered. Lyndsay is determined to help her cousin and bring a killer to justice.

This is the third book in the series and it's one of my favorites. These are characters you can truly grow to love. I know I do. This is why it’s so important to start from book #1. It means so much more when you know about the Murray’s roots and what they are each striving to achieve. Each character is perfectly crafted and truly comes to life with each page.

The mystery gives us several potential suspects. I kept changing my mind as to “whodunit”, but one of the people on my list was the culprit. Lyndsay is a strong character and doesn’t back down from anyone, not even the police. More often than not, she seems to be one step ahead of them.

Of course, there’s a potential romance for Lyndsay with the local police detective, but they are taking it slow. It works well that way. It leaves me wanting more and that’s a very good thing.

It’s a fast-paced story with so many suspects your head will spin. The main theme with this series is family. The love and care for each other shines through the entire book. These feel like old friends, not characters in a book. I’m looking forward to another visit with the Murrays very soon. I’m already missing them.



FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow what a case and I’m sure Lyndsay and her family were thrilled not to be suspects this time, but she was still up for some sleuthing. I love the camaraderie of this fun-sounding section of Brooklyn and how Lyndsay’s family was ready and willing to help out even if someone was a stranger.

Dev’s little side story turned out well and that was one exciting showdown. Did Lyndsay use her kickboxing skills in this killer showdown? You’ll have to read and see! I hope there’ll be more in the series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

Book three in the series
Have gotten a food stand during Brooklyn’s annual Caribbean American Heritage festival could bring a big boost to their family run bakery. Everything is going great until the lead singer of an upcoming reggae band dies. Lyndsay’s cousin Manny is devastated with the dead of Camille to whom he was becoming close. He refuses to believe this was an accident or that she killed herself. Plenty of suspects to choose from, but who could have done it? I really enjoyed the book and would have given it a five star if it had not been for the repeat description of the same aromas filling the bakery. The occasional use of different wordings but having the same effect would have been better. One of the best parts of this story is the closeness of the family. The interactions with the various customers and of course we cannot forget grandma. You might need snacks ready because the description of the food is going to make you hungry.

Spice Isle Bakery is thriving, and is lined up to be a vendor at the Caribbean American Heritage Festival. Lyndsay Murray, who owns the bakery with her family, has also earned a reputation as a bit of a Nancy Drew, who has solved two previous murder cases. So when the lead singer of a popular band dies, Lyndsay begins working with the police, including her crush Detective Bryce, to solve the crime.

This is a great cozy mystery series. The descriptions of food and drink alone are amazing. The family is such a strong, loving, resourceful group of characters, each unique. Lyndsay is a very strong main female character. The mystery is a great one as well, with lots of suspects and possibilities. I would recommend this series, and this book.

Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of Coconut Drop Dead. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While Coconut Drop Dead is the third book in the series it may be read as a standalone. This is a fun new cozy mystery series. I like how they all pick up immediately after the previous book. Storylines continue over the series but you won’t be lost if you miss reading one of the books.

Lyndsay does a great job honing her detective skills in Coconut. The hunky police detective even suggests they work together to solve the mystery. This is super refreshing, as most main characters are told to “step back and let the professionals solve the case.”

Looking forward to reading more in this series.

I've really been enjoying the Arsenic and Adobo series by Mia P. Manansala, and so when I saw the description for Coconut Drop Dead by Olivia Matthews, I thought it'd be something right up my alley. I have not read the other books in the series, but hoped that I'd be able to pick it up as a standalone. I will say right away, there are some mentions of continuity from the earlier books, but it is easy to read this without having read the other two. Normally, I am always hesitant to read things out of order, but this worked just fine. Also... look at how pretty this cover is. I love how the colors contrasted and popped.

One of the things I really noticed in this book, was even as a murder mystery, Matthews actually centered the victim in the book. The grief of the other characters was explored, which sometimes is briefly explored in other books but in Coconut Drop Dead, it was really expressed by both the immediate characters in Camille's vicinity and the wider community. Another aspect of this book I really enjoyed was how Matthews gently educated about the West African and Caribbean communities. There would sometimes be words that I did not recognize, would Google them, and then in the next paragraph Granny would be telling a story from their culture that better described the meaning of the word and the meaning to them than Google could.

Overall, the pacing of the mystery was just right. The other story lines between characters was well developed, as well as enough to keep the reader turning the page and wanting to know more. I also really want to visit a local West African bakery and try some of the foods described after reading this book, I'm going to have to go on the search for one in my community.

Honestly, while I love a digital copy of the book, I'm probably going to go out and buy a physical copy, if only to get the recipes at the back in a format I can carry into the kitchen.

Please be advised I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Dollycas's Thoughts

The Murrays have been going to the Caribbean American Heritage Festival for years. This year with the opening of their Spice Isle Bakery they are excited to be one of the event's food vendors. Lyndsay Murray had the dream of working with her family and opening a bakery featuring West Indian foods. While they have had a few bumps along the way, they have built a solid following. She hopes the festival will bring even more customers their way.

The bakery's booth was busy and people were enjoying the live music until the lead singer of an up-and-coming reggae band had a fatal fall. Lyndsay's cousin Manny knew the singer and while the police think her death was an accident, he believes someone pushed her. After Lyndsay's success in solving other murders, he asks her to help find the person responsible for his friend's death.  She knows Detective Bryce Jackson won't be happy with her butting into his case but she believes he isn't taking her concerns seriously, so she has no choice but to do some investigating on her own. The killer isn't going to be happy she is investigating either.

_____

You can't help but get behind the Murray family. They are a close family who come together every day to realize Lyndsay's dream. Her parents and grandmother do most of the baking but Lyndsay's baking skills are improving under her grandmother's tutelage. When not in the kitchen Granny holds court at a table between the kitchen and the customer area of the restaurant. Her brother Dev, has left his stressful law career for now to help at the bakery. Everyone, in this family, is dedicated to their heritage and just plain nice and willing to help anyone.

We are getting to know Detective Detective Bryce Jackson and Detective Stanley Milner better as well. Lyndsay had a crush on Bryce in high school and now he seems interested in her but with him putting her and her family on his suspect list whenever there is a murder her brain has no desire to date the man. Her heart may be a different story. I am so pleased by the way these characters continue to develop in realistic ways.

I enjoyed that the theme of this story is the Caribbean American Heritage Festival. I love learning about different cultures and their traditions. The Murray family is immersed in their culture and shares their love of their Grenadian roots through their food and the music played at the bakery. The descriptions of the food will truly make your mouth water and the music can be uplifting. Two pudding recipes can be found at the end of the book.

I was really surprised that Bryce asked for Lyndsay's help with the case. He has finally realized that people in her community would open up to her better than talking to the "bo-bo". Plus he knows she is not going to stop investigating and the best thing would be working together. Lyndsay accompanying Bryce when he interviewed persons of interest and suspects was a nice twist. She asked great questions and picked up on things he may have missed.

I did have my own lists of suspects and enjoyed following along with Lyndsay as she worked through all the clues. I can happily report that I had the correct person at the top and wasn't exactly surprised by the killer's justification of their crime. They hurt a lot of people and need to be locked up and are in need of counseling too. I really enjoyed the takedown and the way the case was discussed to tie up any loose ends. I loved the final paragraphs as well. I can't wait for the next Spice Isle Bakery Mystery.

Coconut Drop Dead is a top-notch addition to this series. The core characters are so genuine and draw readers into this story and their lives so easily. I am invested in them and excited to see what Ms. Matthews has planned for them next. I highly recommend all three books in this series.

A cozy mystery set during a Caribbean Festival.....a great way to escape the cold dreary weather in December. The 3rd book in a great series with characters that fit well together and keep the bad guys on the run. Olivia Matthews set up a great mystery just for her loyal readers. Grab your copy and join the fan club.

4.5 rounded up
Great characters and good story. Love the recipes at the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Coconut Drop Dead is Olivia Matthew’s third book in the Spice Isle Bakery Series, featuring Lindsey Murray and her family. When Lindsey’s cousin loses a good friend to a strange and tragic accident, he asks her to help him investigate. She also gets asked by “Detective Fine”, Bryce Jackson, her high school crush. If she could help since she knows the locals. I think this is my favorite of the three. Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read and listen to this story.