Cover Image: Kneading to Die

Kneading to Die

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Member Reviews

I really enjoy this animal cozy mystery series. I had previously read this book in paperback and it was fun to revisit in audiobook. The characters and pets are really entertaining and it has a fun mystery.

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I gave Kneading to Die four stars

Maybe the best thing that ever happened to Kristan "Stan" Connor was losing her high-stress public relations job. Now there's plenty of time to spend in her sleepy new Connecticut town working on her dream: baking healthy, organic pet treats!

Before long the neighborhood dogs are escaping their yards to show up at Stan's doorstep, begging for the kinds of special homemade treats her Maine coon cat Nutty loves so much. And Stan's pet-loving neighbors are thrilled with the new organic options available to their furry family members. But not everyone loves Stan and her newfangled organic ways...

It seems Carole Morganwick, the town vet, is from the old school of pet care. But when Stan swallows her pride and brings a very unwilling Nutty in for a checkup, she not only finds Carole dead under a pile of kibble. . .but also that she's in the dog house as the prime suspect! Finding the real killer and clearing her name will require some seriously surreptitious sniffing around. . .and hopefully, curiosity won't kill this innocent cat!

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Such a cute cozy with many charming friends – both furry and non-furry.

This is not a new release since it was published a couple of years ago. The audio however is new, and I really liked the narrator.
I really liked the quirky friend and connected well with all the other characters. The mystery was interesting and I did not figure out whodunit. There are 7 more books in the series and I hope they will come out as audiobooks as well, since I very much would like to continue listening to this series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Kristan "Stan" Connor has just moved to a small town after being fired from her PR job. Almost immediately after she arrives, she begins to meet several of the townspeople, including the town vet who invites her to bring her cat Nutty in for a checkup. But, when Stan arrives at the vet's office, she finds the vet dead. This book describes the aftermath, including Stan's quest to clear her name. I found the narration easy to listen to and the characters were mildly interesting, though not exceptional. The inclusion of cats and dogs lent an additional spark of interest. Overall, it was entertaining and a typical cozy mystery.

Thanks to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

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So fun and cozy!! If you’re a fan of baking, animals, or cozy mysteries, this one is for you! The audiobook is also narrated beautifully!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advance audiobook of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have been listening to quite a few cozy mysteries involving female sleuths and cats of late, and I will start by saying that Ann Marie Lee is an excellent narrator. Many voices made it easy to distinguish among the cast of characters!

Frequently in these mysteries, the female sleuth gets involved with the official detective on the case. That is definitely not the situation here...though possibly a relationship with a relative of the trooper could develop in a future installment?

The cat, Nutty, does not seem to have any special powers, though he does make his opinions known. The dogs, on the other hand...

I loved that this book was full of people who truly care for animals. I was actually surprised by the identity of the murderer. I am still trying to determine whether Frog Ledge was based on a specific town in Connecticut. I am not going to start making gourmet organic food for my cat as a result of reading this book. If the bar in the story is based on a real Connecticut bar, I would like to visit it!

I hope that Tantor makes audiobooks of the rest of the series with the same narrator--I will definitely be looking for them! The narrator bumps this story up to 5 stars for me!

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"Kneading to Die" is a cozy mystery that one could enjoy in front of a fire, with a nice cup of tea. I enjoyed the storyline immensely and the characters, with the exception of the main character. Unfortunately, I found Stan to oscillate between being overly confident and being incredibly insecure and I thought the swings between those two states were a bit extreme and not terribly believable..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Fans of Agatha Raisin, Agatha Christie, or Miss Marple will love this book. A cozy thriller that keeps readers engaged with delightful characters, plot, and story. Perfect to curl up with during spooky season. The narrator was brilliant and engaging.

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Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero, narrated by Ann Marie Lee, is an absolute delight for cozy mystery fans. Kristan "Stan" Connor's transition from high-stress PR job to small-town baker of organic pet treats sets the stage for a charming and engaging story. Mugavero skillfully blends elements of mystery with heartwarming moments, creating a tale that keeps listeners hooked from start to finish.
Ann Marie Lee's narration brings the characters and setting to life, enhancing the already captivating story with her expressive voice. As Stan finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation, Lee's narration keeps the tension and intrigue palpable, making it impossible to press pause.
With a plot full of twists and turns, endearing characters, and plenty of furry friends, Kneading to Die is a must-listen for anyone craving a cozy mystery that's as satisfying as a warm batch of freshly baked treats. (I received an advance reader copy of this book, and all opinions are my own.) Mugavero's clever storytelling paired with Lee's engaging narration make this audiobook a winner in every sense.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this title. Stan Connor is at a crossroads. She has lost her high-powered PR job, and on a whim moves to a small town in Connecticut with her cat. She wants to adjust and fit in, but she keeps discovering murders! Add an obtuse boyfriend, a meddling mother, and her (possible) distrust of her best friend, and Stan is wondering if she made the right move. A cute, quick, cozy mystery.

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I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
I really enjoyed this murder mystery. The characters were all likeable and I couldn't put it down. I found out this is book one of a series I was very excited can't wait to read the rest of the series. Highly recommend.

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This was a super cute cozy and I can't wait for the next book to come! Man was her boyfriend a total douchebag! I can't wait to see if her relationship with the bar owner progresses from friends to something else! This was my 1st book by Liz Musgavero but will not be my last!

#KneadingtoDie
#NetGalley

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3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy this audiobook ARC!

I thought this was a cute book! I loved the animal tie ins and the small town vibe. I was generally confused as why the main character was doing the sleuthing. The police (the 1 lone lady) was barely around for there likely being not much else to do. I also completely missed what ended up happening with the budding romance. I’m sure I just got distracted for a minute, but it was wrapped up REALLY fast if that’s the case. I’d look for more in the series as they come out in audio for a cozy read.

Narration of the book was enjoyable. I liked the overall vibe of the narrator and how the characters were differentiated. I wouldn’t think twice about starting another book narrated by them.

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Kneading To Die
Positively Organic Mystery #1
Liz Mugavero
Kristan (Stan) Connor worked in public relations until she didn’t. She and her Nutty, her Maine Coon Cat, purchased a Victorian house in Frog Ledge, a small town in Connecticut. She enjoyed the less stressful life of making homemade pet treats. The animals in the area love her treats and make their way to her home in hopes of a handout. Her treats are a big hit with the neighborhood’s pet lovers.
Dr. Carole Morganwick was the local vet. She didn’t approve of the organic and homeopathic (non-traditional) method of treating pets. She barged into Stan’s home and demanded Stan bring Nutty by the office for a checkup. Stan did not agree with Carole but in order to keep peace agreed to bring Nutty to the appointment. Stan found the vet dead; there was a needle protruding from the woman’s neck. The local police suspected Stan of doing the dastardly deed.
I’m not sure about this tale. On one hand I love the humor but on the other it bothered me that Stan was ever considered a suspect. There was little to know evidence to make anyone think Stan would commit such a crime. As Stan clumsily interviewed people in the area concerning Dr. Carole; mostly she managed to make people upset.
I would call this a cozy mystery. I love the name of the town, Frog Ledge. I like Jake and hope to see he and Stan grow closer as the series continues. Most of the neighbors in the small town were not very friendly nor likeable. I did not like Richard or Stan’s mother. While I make treats for my 4 legged son I am very careful over what I put in them. I have talked to the vet and know that what I need is good for him.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

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This is an enjoyable first in series, and it does a good job of setting the scene and introducing a variety of characters without getting bogged down in the process. Stan is a likeable protagonist, as are most of the supporting characters, and if you love animals in your cozies, you are in for a treat (pun intended). I look forward to listening to the next in the series.

The narrator does a great job of voicing these characters.

My thanks to #Tantor and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this entertaining read.

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I enjoyed this twist on a new calling. Stan has been let go from her job and moves to a small town. While there she meet the local vet and decides to go ahead and let her take a look at her cat even though Stan is not really into traditional vet visits. When she gets there she finds the vet murdered and Stan becomes the main suspect. She has to go about clearing her name so that she can move on with her life and the next steps. I did not see it coming as to who did it and why. Look forward to the next one.

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This was such a cute quick read. But it's one of those books that after you're done, it just poofs out of your head. I remember the vague basics. But nothing stands out
3.5☆

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I know this is an older book just being released on audio, however I hadn’t read it. Sometimes cozy mysteries older than 10+ years do not hold up, but this one did.
I really liked the core characters and animals. The author even invoked anger out of me which is a good thing.
The protagonist needed to find herself and I feel many women can relate to having to start over as an adult.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Tanor Audio. Thank you.

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It's a beautiful Saturday and Stan Connor (35 y/o) who has been laid off recently from her stressful PR-job at Warner Insurance moves from West Hartford (Connecticut) into a green Victorian house not too far away in the small town of Frog Ledge with her Maine Coon cat called Nutty.
She immediately feels home the moment she sets her foot into her new House… hers!
Only downside is Richard Ruse, her boyfriend of 4 years, still lives in the City.

Soon enough she befriends the older couple Char & Ray Mckey from Alpaca Haven, the Bed 'n Breakfast/Alpaca farm and their british friend Isabella (Izzy) Sweet from Sweets (her sweetshop) with her Boxer Baxter and Poodle Elvira.
They welcome Stan to the town with a yummy basket on Sunday while she's still trying to make herself cosy in her new Home.

And that's about as good as it gets for her before Stan finds herself in trouble.
By Monday Stan becomes the Prime Suspect in the Murder of the town's Vet, Carole Morganwick, who was on bad terms with almost everyone as soon as she met them.

Stan needs to find out who the real Killer is, so that she can clear her Name.
Oh, and she's got to bake more pet treats in this Story, that's for sure!

¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦ · ¦ ߹ ¦

This was a cosy read (ok, AudioBook )and I liked, that pets were a big part of this small town Mystery.
After the past week's tense mystery/thriller and gory horror Books I read, this was a somewhat light intermezzo.

The characters and of course animals were well written by the Author, I like all the unique quirks they had… and the Narrator did a very nice voice performance. Not that robotic kind of monotone voice but the lively kind that grabs your attention.
(Even though I had to laugh, everytime the Narrator voiced a male and her voice went deeper. Too cute!)

Plotwise I was okay with everything as it was, it was easy to digest meal so to speak…only downside for me was how creepy the cheeriness of everyone in Town seemed.
I am always wary of overly bubbly people I have only meet once or a few times, so at first I was like… "Yeah, it's the whole town. They are all together in this murder and only Stan as the Newcomer has nothing to do with it! That's it!ONE!" But of course, that wasn't it.

A 4 Star Rating for this animal fun… oh, and it's out today!

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒚. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕!

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I mostly enjoyed my time with this book. At times I found the main character to be a bit grating at times, but I really loved the supporting characters, nosy neighbors, and quirky business owners. The community was my favorite aspect of this book.

However, I found the pacing and cliche of pinning the crime on the town newcomer to be a bit of a drag. I'm not sure the next Pawsitively Organic Mystery book will be at the top of my list, but I found this entry to be pleasant and inoffensive and might still give it a go at some point.

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A great start to a new series!

After losing her high-powered, high-stress job, "Stan" Connor bought a cute house in a small town to get away from it all. But little did she know, small towns ofter harbor big secrets... And soon, she's embroiled in the midst of a murder investigation, with herself as the prime suspect! (It's always the outsider who gets blamed first.) :-)

As she works to unravel the threads of information and misinformation, while keeping half the pet population of the town satiated with high-quality organic treats, she begins to find her calling and purpose, and it's much more exciting that her old boring profession. The question is, will she survive long enough to do anything about it!

I'm looking forward to reading more of this series!

Thank you to Liz Mugavero, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

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