When I started the book, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story. I kept going back to see if there was a previous title in the series. A little more development would have been helpful. Additionally, I kept thinking this entire plot is much ado about nothing. The main character is found leaning over a dead body that she came across. However, a friend was with her when they came upon said body. The entire plot was about how the MC was under immense suspicion of murder because others (other than the friend) came across her leaning over the body. The MC stressed the entire book and the plot line was of course her trying to solve the murder to take suspicion off herself. The book would have been fine (and even better) with this strange plot line. The MC was a likeable character and had the resources to solve the murder without her being the main suspect. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for review

Jessica is the black sheep of her family because everyone else has always been involved with books and literature. Jessica loves to bake and has her own food truck. Jessica enters a food truck baking competition show and the tension ramps up when the show is being filmed in her home town. When a fellow competitor is found murdered, Jessica is the immediate suspect.
This is a fun cozy mystery and I am looking forward to trying the scone recipe included at the end of the book!
Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

Jessica Askew grew up in the Yorkshire village of Little Quillington, where her family has been selling books for as long as anyone can remember. Much to the dismay of her relatives, Jessica's interests lie in the culinary arts rather than literary ones. Taking part in a TV cookery competition was supposed to increase the profile of her food truck business, but instead, it made her a murder suspect determined to clear her name!

Book one in Matilda Swift's new series is a quick and easy read with a killer that surprised me, which is always good. Jessica is an interesting main protagonist, and although I have read quite a few cosy mysteries with a theme relating to a very popular cooking show, this was still enjoyable. There are recipes at the end of the book plus a link to Little Quillington's local newspaper, which I think is a great idea. I will definitely be on the lookout for books two and three, which are released in March and April.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, but the opinions expressed are my own. I really enjoyed this. It was a good series starter, which promises much. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

A dead man and fingers point in Jessica's way and she gets blamed. Oh boy, and what kind of a family does she have. The story quickly pulled me in. It's interesting and entertaining and then that end. I have to know what happens next. I wish it was already March 12 when book number two will be published.
I received an advance review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

Jessica is competing in a TV baking contest, when she finds one of her competitors murdered. Suspicion quickly falls on her - can she concentrate on baking alongside clearing her name?

The story felt very rushed to me and not very suspenseful. There were clearly threads started that will continue through more books - Jessica has issues with her family wanting to stop her future inheritance for example, but these felt like an aside at times. I liked Pippa, and loved Hattie, and I do want to know what happens with the family issue, but something just didn't work for me. It was a very quick read - it reads more like a short story than a full book, and is apparently the first of three books. I think if all are this length, I would suggest reworking them into one book.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I was hoping I'd really like it, but it didn't spark any excitement.
The cover of the book and the description seemed like something I'd really like, but there were parts that dragged out and I found myself skimming through the pages.