Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is book #3 in the Baker Street Mystery series by Valerie Burns.

I knew I was going to enjoy this from the first chapter. I enjoy humor and this book delivered on it right away. I like the characters, lovable dog, nice setting and interesting mystery. I enjoyed how everything was wrapped up the end.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death: A Baker Street Mystery
By Valerie Burns
Kensington
September 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

After her humiliation of being left at the altar was live-streamed and went viral, social media influencer Maddy Montgomery took advantage of an unexpected inheritance to flee L.A. and move to New Bison, Michigan to take over her late Great-aunt Octavia’s bakery. Along with Baby Cakes Bakery came the unexpected gift of Aunt Octavia’s 250-pound Champion English Mastiff Baby, a Georgian-style home, and the four close friends who make up the Baker Street Irregulars. After deciding that the mandatory residence was a gift she’d like to continue past the one-year requirement, Maddy is shocked when her old life arrives in the form of mean girl Brandy Denton. She was the woman Maddy’s ex-fiancé Elliot Lawson ran away with on the day of his supposed wedding, and Brandy seems intent on continuing her reign of torment with insults posted on social media. Their latest confrontation has Maddy wishing Brandy dead, which also has the unfortunate result of making the baker owner the prime suspect when Brandy is found dead in Baby Cakes Bakery.

Maddy had previously been focused on learning how to boil 5 dozen eggs for the police
Easter egg hunt without them exploding in her kitchen, but now she must do everything she can to keep herself out of prison. Brandy had been the first (with malicious delight) to show Maddy pictures of her boyfriend Michael with another woman, and unfortunately it was not photoshopped. Dr. Michael Portman has just brought in his gorgeous ex-girlfriend to be a partner in his veterinary practice, and while he is emphatic that they are now just friends, Maddy was too recently burned by her own ex to accept it. Perhaps it’s not the best time for her navy veteran father, aka the Admiral, to arrive for a visit to support his stressed-out daughter, but Maddy will need all the help she can get when she seems to be stalked by a mysterious blue-eyed man. Maddy does what she can to combat the negative postings by Brandy’s assistant by hashtagging Baby Cakes Bakery treats, but she will also be forced to face her ex-fiancé and his new girlfriend, both who have arrived in town and are staying in the same inn now being run by a famous milliner fashionista. Complicating matters further is the discovery that Aunt Octavia has left yet another message for her grand-niece, one that warns of danger and fears that not everyone in New Bison can be trusted. A possible traitor in their midst, an art forgery scheme, and dealing with a bout of jealousy have Maddy stressed out and relying more than ever on Baby, Michael, and her strict but loving father.

This third in the series ingeniously incorporates a mystery that began in the first while also compellingly introducing the newest murder of Brandy Denton. Many loose ends will be tied up by the conclusion, and Maddy discovers a new connection with her father as she learns more about her parents’ relationship. While the influencer saw the dark side of social media as comments caused her to flee her former life, the support from her neighbors and customers in New Bison reveals just how caring real people can be. Fans will be delighted and satisfied by Maddy’s growth and the very rewarding conclusion of this funny, social-media-savvy mystery.

Ooooo wee I absolutely love this crime fighting community. The third book in The Baker Street Mystery and I love it. Once again Maddy finds herself a suspect for someone she had beef with and we know Trooper would stop at nothing to lock her up. Thank goodness for the New Bison crew and top of that list is a hundred pound mastiff named Baby who will and has taken a bullet for its owner.

Burns has such a great pen, the story development outstanding and we’ve been waiting for more information on the Admiral and we got that in this book. We also got to see a beautiful budding friendship, well a couple of those. This story touched my heart because Maddy was struggling and the thing she was struggling with came to light at the end when she finds family and so much more.

In exchange for my thoughtful and honest review I received a digital copy from NetGalley.

This was so enjoyable! A great food-themed cozy mystery. This is the third in the series and the overarching mystery from the earlier books is solved is in this one. I’m hoping there is more books to come!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series so much! So cute! Was so excited to read this one when I saw it on here! Cozies are so great! Maddie solved the crime of course! Baby as always a big help

Influencer, Maddy Montgomery is slowly becoming a successful owner, promotor and baker of Baby Cakes Bakery. As long as she doesn’t have to cook eggs, she has learned to follow some of her late Aunt Octavia’s recipes with surprisingly good results.
Except for the problem with the eggs, things are going well for Maddy and her mastiff, Baby. Then Brandy Denton, the woman who stole Maddy’s fiancé, shows up in New Bison. Before Maddy can figure out why Brandy came to town, she finds Brandy’s body in her bakery. Of course, Maddy wants to clear her name and find the murderer.
Another body on the beach, a land development scheme and a painting forgery ring have Maddy’s Baker Street Irregulars searching for clues, connections and suspects.
Humor, mystery, likable characters, an ending twist to the murder and a touch of romance all combine to make this a fun addition to this series. A solid 4-star novel

I think it’s time for me to give up on this series. I really like Burns in general and think she’s amazing at putting together a compelling mystery. While that holds true for this book, what doesn’t work is her attempt to capture a millennial voice. Maddy just isn’t pleasant to read and her perspective is just odd. She’s a strange mix of extremely shallow and emerging depth, but it just doesn’t work for me. As much as I enjoy the mysteries here, I can’t quite bring myself to enjoy the characters.

I really enjoyed this installment in the series. I think it works as a standalone if this is the first book your coming to and it works as a continuation of the series. I think that I want just a little bit more for all of the characters its like there's just something missing in all of the books and I hope the series continues so we can see more of them!

I love this series! The characters are well developed, continue to grow throughout the series, and are people that I would love to be friends with. The mysteries are always creative and keep me guessing until the end. My one issue is that she runs a bakery but never seems to be there; I get that she can’t bake and it runs on its own but it is just mentioned at times. If you’re looking for a book with good mysteries, fun characters, and a lot of humor (I will never look at hard boiled eggs the same way again), then I highly recommend this whole series.

Thank you so much for a copy of an ARC for this book. Valerie has done it again! I just loved it, and I love this world so much. Over the last year I have come to find my love again for the cozy mystery genre and I even went and bought a copy on release day. I highly recommend this book!

A smart heroine, a lovable protective dog, sexy boyfriend, and eccentric caring friends all adds up to perfect recipe for a scrumptious treat! Although, not 100% necessary, I read the first book in this series and I am really glad I did to have a good feel for how much Maddy has grown and seeing how strong and loved she is for being her true self. Unfortunately, I did miss the 2nd book in this series but, this third installment gives enough background to give the gist of what I missed. I won't give any spoilers but, we do get answers for a big question from book 1 in this one! Proud to admit, I knew it all along! Don't miss this fun and cozy whodunnit. #maddyandbabyforever

Another great installment of the Baker Street Mystery series. As per usual, this book had me smiling and giggling at the main character’s/bakery owner’s antics. Surrounded by a whole slew of supportive characters, I did enjoy that this story had more of a focus on Maddy’s personal life in tandem with solving the mystery. What also made this cozy a little more unique was the underlying mystery that was threaded throughout the series was connected with the main murder in this story. Although I felt Maddy cried way way way too often in this book to the point that I was getting annoyed, it was her family and friends that really made the story for me. I look forward to what stories are to come that involve these characters; especially about the Admiral (Maddy’s father).

A huge thanks to Kensington publishers for my complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are mine.

It's baby everyday for me! Valerie Burns can do no wrong. I absolutely enjoyed this delectable read.

The book follows Maddy (and yes she still owns Baby Cakes Bakery) and her love hate relationship with Brandy who stole her fiance Elliott. Nothing is great than a nemesis who isn't in the same zip code nut when Brandy shows up in New Bison feathers get ruffled. It does not help when Brandy ends up as a dead body in Maddy's bakery. Engrossing ,entertaining and fast paced. It's a must read summer book.

Maddy and Baby are back in book 3 of this charming, cozy mystery with its diverse cast of characters.
This go 'round, Maddy's ex, yes, that one, and his new love arrive in New Bison and stir up trouble. Maddy thought she had left that old life behind; she has grown up and loves her new life. Maddy is the number one suspect in yet another murder, as she is seen arguing with the victim, Brandy. Yes, thee Brandy, the one her ex dumped her for. I mean, the body is also found in her bakery, so who else could have done it?
Maddy and the gang team up to find the real killer and clear Maddy's name.
We finally meet the Admiral, which I enjoyed reading. Baby is absolutely adorable, as usual. And, we readers get a much happy ending. I also enjoyed how Burns incorporated the loose ends from previous books into this one. I'm not saying to not read the previous two books, but yeah, read the previous two books to get a full understanding of this one. Overall, I enjoyed this cozy mystery! I cannot wait to try the recipes included!

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

This is the third book, so if you like the previous two then you will probably like this one too. There are two mysteries going on, one for this book and one for the series. The book specific one is definitely trying to be balanced with the over all one.

Rating: 4/5

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns. What a fabulous book! Cheerful banter. Interesting characters. Good plot. Most of all it was fun. Sometimes I think authors get so invested they forget fun. I think I chose this book by happy accident. Maddy is learning to be a baker. All because her great aunt Octavia had left her a bakery and a house and most importantly, a dog the size of a pony. She adored the dog, liked the house, and was learning to bake. She had also fallen in love with Michael, the town vet, who was run off his legs trying to keep up with New Bison, Michigan’s animals, let alone those on the surrounding area. She had left the high-powered world she had come from and from the fiance that left her on the steps of the church and her life was nothing but better. Until Brandy Denton showed up. She was an influencer and the woman Elliott had left her for. Maddy had no desire to see her her in New Bison. What could she want? Then, she turned up dead. Guess who the police thought had done it?

This series is fresh and entertaining. Yes, murder is serious. Never forget that. But, the people and the town are fun and Maddy learns she is part of the community, something she never had been before. He father was an Admiral and he looked and spoke like one. She called him when she was in trouble and he always came. Of course, Maddy didn’t kill anyone, but we sure had a good time figuring that out. Michael turned out to be beyond reliable and the Admiral came through. Plus lots of back-and-forth and entertaining town folks! What a terrific book! Thanks, Valerie Burns!

I was invited to read A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #ValerieBurns #ACupOfFlourAPinchOfDeath

Maddy was frustrating me at the beginning, but by the end I was in love with her again. She did a great job getting information out of some people. I also laughed out loud a few times as the obvious was pointed out to her. I liked the addition of Carson Law and the Admiral showing up. They were really great additions that supported Maddy through some difficult spots. The conclusion was obvious, but I realized several clues that I didn’t pick up earlier. I also really like the way this series humanizes the beautiful women and influencers. This might be my favorite of the three I have read.

A Cup Of Flour, A Pinch Of Death is the third book in Valerie Burns's Baker Street Mystery series.

It's always a heartwarming experience to catch up with the familiar faces of Maddie Montgomery and her friends in New Bison, Michigan.

One day, as Maddie was walking down the sidewalk, she was surprised to see Brandy Denton, the girl who caused Maddie’s fiance to leave her at the altar. A few days later, Maddie's life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers Brandy's body in her bakery, setting the stage for a thrilling and suspenseful mystery. To clear her anime from any suspicion, Maddie will call on her Baker Street friends to clear her name.

This book also deals with a man approaching Maddie and telling her her life is in danger. He is a friend of her Aunt Octavia. Maddie shortly after this discussion, finds the man’s body washed up on shore near her home.

After hearing about Maddie’s father in books one and two, we finally get to meet him. The Admiral is a very interesting character, and I hope that he appears in future books. And, of course, her Mastiff, Baby, is back and as adorable as before.

I love this series. The characters are all well-written and believable. The story is well-written and plotted, and one will feel like they are right there. There were enough twists and turns that I kept guessing until the killer's reveal.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.

4.5 stars

The Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns is one of my very favorite cozy mystery series, and I was delighted to return to New Bison, Maddy, Baby, and the Baker Street Irregulars in A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death!

From the beginning Maddy and her inherited 250-pound English Mastiff named Baby easily captured my heart, but honestly I love the Irregulars – including Maddy’s hunky new boyfriend Michael and his grandmother Miss Hannah – almost as much. They’re a solid cast of characters that endear themselves to me more all the time, and of course I love the chemistry between Michael and Maddy and watching their romance progress. The way everyone, including Maddy’s crusty admiral dad and several tertiary characters of New Bison (one of whom I especially enjoyed meeting), rallied around Maddy in this third book really warmed my heart and had me wishing I could pull Maddy into a ‘see? they love you!’ hug.

The mystery in A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death brings Maddy full circle in more ways than one. The LA life that she left behind collides with the new life she’s built in Michigan, and Maddy is soon suspect number one in the murder of her fiance-stealing nemesis. Cue some scenes where I’m reminded again of how much I love Maddy and how relatable she is, but also the layers to this part of the story kept me on my toes. The author also brings us back to the suspicious death of Maddy’s Great-Aunt Octavia, the same mystery that Maddy’s been investigating since the first book. The loose ends that now get tied up were, for me anyway, a mixture of “I didn’t see that coming” and “I KNEW IT” moments, and I loved it!

Bottom Line: Once again, Valerie Burns treats us to a fun and engaging mystery-solving adventure with the completely endearing (and formidable) team of Maddy and Baby and the Baker Street Irregulars. Her writing voice is perfect for this style of cozy – and for Maddy & Baby’s characters in general – and the various plot threads that make up A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death were the most delightfully twisty of the series, I think. The mysteries in this book were tightly-layered and held my interest all the way through, too. I could easily spend several more books with these characters and in this world, and even though the author brought some ongoing elements of the series to a conclusion in A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, I hope there are at least several more books to come.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)