Dollycas’s Thoughts

#DreamWedding! The biggest bridal expo in the country is making a stop in New Bison, Michigan. Maddy Montgomery is so excited not only because Baby Cakes Bakery will have a booth at the event, but plans are underway for her and veterinarian Michael Portman’s upcoming wedding. She has entered a contest hosted by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina for an all-expenses-paid “wedding extravaganza”. There is so much to do, Maddie hopes Serafina will help her make all the important decisions.

Serafina turns out to be nothing like Maddie expected. She is mean and nasty. She has dug up dirt on all the couples entered into the competition and embarrasses them on stage in front of everyone at the expo. Her “plan” was to see how they reacted under pressure; well, they reacted all right. During a short break, the famous wedding planner’s plans went off course. She was killed using a skewer commonly used to hold layers of wedding cakes together.

Sheriff and Maddie’s maid-of-honor, April Johnson, takes charge of the scene and gathers the obvious suspects to question. Maddie assembles the Baker Street Irregulars, aka friends of her Aunt Octavia, and her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, to start their own investigation to try to catch the killer before the expo closes. With a killer on the loose, no one is safe. If Maddie wants to walk down the aisle to marry the love of her life, they need to put icing on Serafina’s murderer before they can say “I Do!”

When social media influencer Maddie’s Aunt Octavia died, her inheritance not only included her home, her bakery, and her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, but all her aunt’s wonderful, quirky, and lovable friends. Maddie is surrounded by love and people who care about her, including her BFF, the sheriff, and her tenant, April Johnson. The icing on the cake was meeting Army veteran and veterinarian Michael Portman. The man she has fallen in love with. The community that Ms. Burns has created in this series always warms my heart. Her characters are unique and have a purpose within each story. Their dialogues ring true.

These characters are strong because of how they come together when one or more are in trouble. They are faced with a complicated mystery. They ask questions, listen to each other, throw out theories, and make plans on how to proceed. Then they go off to investigate and later gather together again to report their findings. And then they repeat if necessary. The death happened in a large venue filled with people, plus there is a time limit. I was completely entertained following along. The takedown of the killer was fierce and fantastic. It started with me holding my breath and ended with me smiling ear to ear. #CrimeDon’tPay #YouHadItComing

A subplot features Maddie and Michael’s wedding plans. Maddie is feeling overwhelmed, and Michael was very understanding. Wedding budgets are stressful, but they finally agree on their budget. Of course, winning the contest would have made everything easier. A very special item was found, and it brought back memories of not only my wedding but my daughter’s. It was so meaningful for Maddie.

It wouldn’t be a Baker Street Mystery without the awesome Baby. The English Mastiff rarely leaves Maddie’s side. He has a special talent that everyone would like to avoid, but when it happens, the mystery begins. His love for Maddie and his trust in her are heartwarming, even with all that drool.

Icing on the Murder is an excellent addition to this fun series. I truthfully cannot get enough of these characters. Their devotion to help each other fills me with all the good feels. This visit went way too fast. I can’t wait to return to New Bison and see what Ms. Burns has baked up for Maddie, Baby, and their friends next.

#IcingonaMurder #BakerStreetMysteries #ValerieBurns #bookreview #5starread #recipes #perfectescape #murder #cozymystery #babycakes #englishmastiff #somuchfun # #familyhistory #appleseason #spectacularweddingcakes

🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Icing on the Murder is book 4 in the A Baker Street Mystery. I am loving these cozy black murder mystery books! Sometimes I just want something cozy, and Valerie Burns delivers that every time. Baby Cakes is back with another murder mystery. Love it.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I began this book, an influencer turned bakery owner but I found myself laughing at the shenanigans that happened in this book. I jumped in mid series, and I was happy to discover that it can be read as a stand-alone, but I do plan on circling back to the beginning. Baby an English mastiff was literally a scene stealer! I looked forward to Baby's entrances and the trouble Baby left behind. There is a solid mystery and Maddy is on the case sleuthing to see what really happened to the wedding planner. This one had several scandalous secrets being aired and whew, get your tea ready! The narrator, Jasmin Walker did a great job portraying Maddy and many of the characters in the story. I binged on this story in one day. The only thing that took me out of the story was when the narrator spoke Spanish, she did a great job but some of the inflections were off. But the Spanish narration was only a few sentences. Overall, a very solid listen that I recommend. This one isn't just about solving a mystery. There are also deep personal conflicts that Maddy has and it makes her seem very realistic and I really enjoyed those deep personal connections. If you're a dog lover, enjoy wedding planning, and sleuthing be sure to check this one out! An entertaining listen.

A very special thanks to Kaye Publicity + Kensington Cozies + Recorded Books + Netgalley for the gifted copy.

5/5 stars: This is the fourth entry in Burns' Baker Street Mystery series, which is a BIPOC Culinary Cozy Mystery set in Michigan and follows an influencer-turned-bakery-owner, who's counting down the days for her impending nuptials, as she turns sleuth after a world-renowned wedding planner's found impaled to death by one of the skewers her bakery uses on their tiered wedding cakes. With an entire bridal expo full of suspects, she'll team up with her fiance, the Sheriff aka her Maid of Honor, her late great-aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even her lovable galumph of a dog to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight. With plenty of twists and turns, Burns has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Burns' writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Maddy's a fun and great character and it's a joy to catch up with her, her employees at Baby Cakes Bakery, her friends and family and the fine folks of New Bison. I especially love Maddy's sleuthing crew, the Baker Street Irregulars, who are a diverse group of folks and always crack me up. Additionally, I loved seeing Maddy and her veterinarian fiance, Michael, making plans for their trip down the aisle. And of course one can't forget Maddy's 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, who steals every scene he's in. Oh and you won't want to miss all of the absolutely delicious sounding recipes included. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review — and yes, Valerie Burns has officially stolen my cozy mystery heart all over again!

Book 4, Icing on the Murder, was everything I didn’t know I needed. Maddy is deep in wedding planning mode, but you already know nothing stays peaceful for long in New Bison. Between running Baby Cakes and preparing for her dream wedding, the last thing she expected was for a dead body to crash the bridal expo — literally. That twist had me clutching my imaginary pearls!

From the jaw-dropping murder to the shady suspects and Maddy doing what she does best — sleuthing while slaying (in heels, no less) — this story gave everything. I laughed, I gasped, I wanted cake. And Baby the mastiff? Still the real MVP. 🐶💚

Maddy's growth throughout this series continues to impress me. She's more confident, still relatable, and always surrounded by a small-town crew that makes my heart happy.

Valerie Burns, I am SO invested. This series is cozy mystery gold and I’m already counting down to book five. If you love drama, desserts, and a heroine who doesn’t back down, grab this series ASAP!

Maddy Montgomery, the owner of Baby Cakes Bakery in New Bison, Michigan, is planning her wedding to her handsome fiancé, who is a vet in both senses of the word. Michael, a former Army man and now a veterinarian, is everything Maddy has ever wanted, and she is determined to make sure their wedding is perfect.

However, Maddy finds decision-making really difficult, and she is hoping that a wedding planner can help make the process less stressful. While promoting her wedding cake services at a bridal expo, she is also secretly trying to win free wedding planning services from an Insta-famous vendor named Serafina.

But when Serafina is found murdered at the expo, Maddy realizes she will need the help of her Baker Street Irregulars to uncover the truth and to make sure she does not become the prime suspect herself.

This is the fourth installment in the series, and I was thrilled to catch it on NetGalley before publication. I listened to the first three as audiobooks, and I love the narrator, Jasmin Walker, so much that I read the entire ebook in her voice.

I definitely recommend this book (and the series) to fans of cozy mysteries featuring baking, animals, and amateur sleuthing. I especially appreciated how this book highlighted Maddy’s growth, particularly as she learns to trust her intuition, move past indecision, and grow beyond her usual focus on designer labels and trends. Even though the central mystery from the first three books has been resolved, the story still feels wide open for more adventures, which is exciting.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book 4 in the Baker Street Mysteries is another fun cozy mystery.

Maddie and Michael are starting to plan their wedding, and Maddie, frazzled by all the decisions, is determined to have her wedding planned by Seraphina. Maddie enters Seraphina's competition at a bridal expo only for Seraphina to end up dead. And, once again, Maddie is a suspect.

Fast-paced and full of the fun cast of characters, I actually liked this one the least out of the series so far. There wasn't a whole lot of sleuthing done by Maddie; she mostly just tagged along while April conducted interviews. Also, there wasn't much of a resolution for the cake mystery subplot, though that could just be setting up for the next book. Baby and Miss Hannah are always my favorites, and they don't disappoint here. I loved how supportive everyone is of Maddie and Michael.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I love this series so much. It's like spending time with a friend, full of laughs and lightheartedness, but also passion for her friends, family, business and of course her adorable english mastiff, Baby. I am SO happy for Maddy and Michael, they are such a good match with lots of banter and fierce loyalty. I love how he lets her be herself and does not judge or hold her back. I love how proud they are of each other no matter what. This book was FULL of drama for all the characters involved in the mystery; phew it was a whirlwind of surprises and betrayal. My head was spinning with all the lies and was shocked, but also not surprised by the ending. I have so much fun following Maddy and her sleuthing crew investigate and cannot wait to return!

I love this series. I love that this book in particular seems to move faster than the others in the series, and that the end makes it seem as though the main character doesn't figure out who the killer is in the end.

I received this as an ARC through netgalley.
I wasn't to sure what to expect with this as it was my first by the author and it's not my usual genre but im trying to branch out this was a fun little book and i might even go beck and read the rest of the series as im yet to read them. My suspect list while reading this was crazy I was spitting theories out left and right to who and why seraphina was killed.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

As someone who has devoured every book in the baker street mystery series, I can confidently say Murder on the Icing is another delightful treat from Valerie Burns! Watching Maddy grow from an insecure, freshly dumped social media influencer into a confident baker and amateur sleuth has been such a satisfying journey, and this latest installment only adds more depth to her character.

This book has everything I’ve come to love about the series: a quirky cast, mouth-watering desserts, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments (grandma Hannah never disappoints!), and a cleverly layered mystery that kept me guessing. I especially appreciated how Valerie continues to weave heart into the humor and suspense—there’s real warmth and growth in Maddy’s relationships, especially with her staff and her fiancé.

If you’ve followed Maddy through her ups and downs, this book will feel like a cozy visit with old friends—complete with murder, of course! Highly recommend to fellow cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a well-paced whodunit with a lot of heart (and baking!).

*I was approved for both the audiobook and ebook, this review is posted for both galleys*

I get really giddy whenever I spy a new Baker Street Mystery releasing from Valerie Burns. First, because those covers are – no pun intended – to die for! Some of my very fave illustrated covers for sure. But the other reason my bookish heart always skips a beat when I see Baby and Maddy pop up on another novel is this: the characters are so. much. FUN. Baby, the 250-pound English Mastiff that Maddy inherited (along with the bakery) from her Great-Aunt Octavia, of course steals the show… and Icing on the Murder may be my favorite example yet. But Maddy, her fiance Michael, her best friend April, Michael’s grandma Miss Hannah, Maddy’s head baker Leroy, and the rest of the ever-growing group of Baker Street Irregulars have all completely captured my heart. Their close-knit relationships and well-timed humor make me smile in every book, and they certainly do in this latest one.

Icing on the Murder weaves the murder of a wedding planner (who also happens to be a truly horrible person) into Maddy & Michael’s wedding planning struggles. The more we learn about the victim, the more I disliked her… and I daresay I’m not the only one. A whole passel of characters in this book would definitely agree with me. The chaos of a wedding expo (which Burns captured perfectly) combined with the unique world of influencers & social media (I always love the hashtags Maddy uses!)… combined with cake baking and apple deliveries and a bridal competition and all the decisions Maddy has to make about her wedding… combined with a murder…. whew. It’s a lot on Maddy. But Valerie Burns is a master at penning delightful cozies that blend multiple plot threads into one cohesive story that grips your attention, and Icing on the Murder is no exception. I loved following Maddy and crew through their investigation AND through working out the details for her wedding (I adore Michael for her!!). They unearthed so many layers in their sleuthing, each one more intriguing than the last, and even though I had the culprit pegged after a certain point (not right away) there were still some twists that I did NOT see coming.

Bottom Line: To say Maddy has her work cut out for her in Icing on the Murder, and Valerie Burns too by default, would be an understatement. Planning a wedding. Running a bakery. Promoting that bakery at the bridal expo. Winning a contest. Solving a murder (and trying not to get arrested for it first). But the author seamlessly layers each of these elements into a delicious story that will keep you turning the pages, grinning, cheering, sleuthing, and yes even swooning a little, too. The bond these characters share and their tight team dynamic – whether in the bakery, helping a friend, or solving a murder – is truly special, always entertaining and uplifting to read. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these wonderful characters (who feel like dear friends) next!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

ICING ON THE MURDER by Valerie Burns
The Fourth Baker Street Mystery

Social media influencer and bakery shop owner Madison Montgomery is excited that a huge bridal expo is coming to New Bison, Michigan. Not only will she and her crew promote Baby Cakes Bakery, she'll also be able to check out all the nuptial possibilities for her own wedding. The biggest news is that Serafina, the hottest wedding planner in the world, is having a contest for one lucky bride to have a Serafina planned wedding. Afraid of too many bridal decisions Maddie is determined to win. Unfortunately, Serafina is a horrible woman who goes out of her way to make people miserable. Before a winner can be chosen Serafina is murdered, by Baby Cakes' skewers. Trooper Bob is ready to accuse Maddy, but with the expo and subsequent murder occurring at the casino, there's a question of jurisdiction.With little time for the Baker Street Irregulars to solve the crime, the friends divvy up the suspects. Will they solve the murder before it's too late?

I must admit I was behind in this series. I'm generally a stickler for reading series in order, but thought I'd jump in. Consequently, I was a bit confused at the start; Maddie getting married?! However, I soon got caught up and the mystery itself required no prior knowledge, so even if this is your first Baker Street Mystery you'll quickly get into the swing of things.

Perhaps because I'm older I have an issue with social media influencers. But what was really annoying me about Maddie was her inability to trust her own decisions and a need to have another influencer plan her own wedding, despite what her friends and fiancé said. Who cares about the types of chairs or how napkins are folded?! However, this series is one of growth and Maddie does have the ability to develop and grow. For all her insecurities she is smart and likable, although not as likable as Baby. Baby is a wonderful, slobbery, giant ball of love who is a valiant protector as well. The one thing I discovered that I did not like is that Maddie intends to use him as a stud. There are too many healthy animals who are killed as there are not enough homes and promoting breeding, even in a work of fiction, is wrong. Baby is one in a million, but Maddie should not see breeding him as a way to earn money!

I enjoyed the mystery. With a tyrant such as Serafina there were so many suspects. I enjoyed seeing the Baker Street Irregulars work their magic and find the killer. I also loved how the team worked together, not only in solving the crime, but also watching Maddie and Leroy working together to create new cake concepts!

Bridal options, delicious food, and a 250 pound love bug make ICING ON THE MURDER a delectably fun mystery.

A cute cozy mystery. Ive never read anything by this author but I definitely will. This is a great rainy day or beach read.

Icing on the Murder is the 4th wonderful book in Valerie Burns A Baker Street Mystery series. I love the characters, friendship, and humor. Maddy Montgomery inherited Baby Cakes Bakery and a 250 pound English Mastiff Baby. Maddy and her fiance Veterinarian Michael Portman are planning their wedding. There is a big Bridal Expo. Maddie wants to go and to also have a booth displaying their unique wedding cake ideas. Maddie entered a contest to have famous wedding planner Serafina plan their wedding. It turns out Serafina isn't nice and ends up dead with skewers from Baby Cakes Bakery. Maddy's friend April is the Sheriff and allows Maddy to go when she questions suspects. Serafina created conflict with the competition so two other couples, her employees and her entourage are the suspects. Maddy's friends form The Baker Street Irregulars. Maddy assigns each person a task to get information. I love that they all help instead of the main character doing all the sleuthing. There is some humor and warmth that gives this book and series a lighter, happier feel. Maddy realizes all the wedeing details are nice but the important thing is marrying her soulmate Michael. Stay tuned for the wedding in the next book! I really enjoyed this!
#IcingOnTheMurder #BakerStreetMystery #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns

Weddings! Maddy is marrying Michael (yay) and she's hoping that she might win something at the bridal expo and sell some wedding cakes. But cozy fans know there's going to be a murder. In this case it's Serafina the wedding planner and all around mean girl and she's killed with one of the supports for Maddy's cakes! Luckily Maddy's got her team to help her find the real villain. The charm of this series lies in this group and how they interact with and support one another. That includes Baby the mastiff! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Maddy is planning her wedding to Michael and preparing for a bridal fair. A famous wedding planner is coming for the Bridal Fair and offering a “lucky” bride a chance to win her services planning the wedding.
Maddy has entered the competition. That in itself would be okay, probably. What bothers me is she lies to Michael about the nature of the competition and prize. It’s my biggest disappointment in this book.
The wedding planner isn’t a very nice person, and that is the murder that occurs in the book.
The solving of the murder comes down to Maddy and her friend’s observational skills. It was a good collaboration between the main characters in the series.
I enjoyed my return visit to New Bison and Baby Cakes Bakery.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

4.5 rounded up to 5

I’m glad to see that I was wrong last year, thinking that book three, A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, was the last in the series. Icing on the Murder is a fantastic addition to the Baker Street Mystery series. And I still want more of Maddy and the gang. Please, Ms. Burns, can we have more of the Baker Street Irregulars?

As I did last year, I still recommend reading the series in order. While there aren’t too many spoilers in this book for earlier ones in the series, I still suggest you read them in order. The first book is Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder.

Now, for the murder, I was making my list of suspects from the minute we were introduced to Serafina. I don’t think I have ever cheered for someone’s death as much as I did hers. She is probably one of the most despicable characters I have ever met. I think she’s the most deplorable person anyone has ever met, as everyone in the book seems to wish she were dead. And that makes it hard to figure out who killed her.

While I understand Burns was setting the scene and adding tension, why did it take until after the 30% mark for the murder to happen? If anything, it made the rest of the book go quickly, because you had so many more suspects to consider, and less time to consider them.

Overall, I enjoyed Icing on the Murder as much as, if not more so, than the rest of the series. Do you enjoy reading books set in small towns? What about books that feature food, especially baked goods? Or nods to classic literary detectives? Then you should read Icing on the Murder! Or better yet, just read all of the Baker Street Mysteries! I, for one, look forward to returning to New Bison soon.

This is book four in this delightful "Baker Street Mystery Series. I enjoy this series for the humor, great vibrant characters and the mystery. This next in series is featuring the wedding of Maddy And Michael. Thank you to the author, the publishers and Net Galley. My review opinions are my own.
Maddie's wedding is the big event in town. She is marrying her veterinary Michael with everyone attending. When a wedding planner proves to be difficult and is murdered Maddie is on the case.
The antics of her mastiff dog add humor and mischief. The wedding excitement was a fun part of this book. I enjoy the characters who so richly add to the fun of this series. The sleuth was as always intriguing and fun to conclusion. I look forward to the next in this hilarious cozy series.

Maddy is thrilled to be marrying veterinarian Michael Portman and is deep into wedding plans when she learns that the country’s biggest bridal expo is coming to New Bison, along with celebrity wedding planner Serafina. Maddy not only secures a spot for Baby Cakes, her bakery, to show off their gorgeous wedding cakes but has also entered a contest for a wedding ‘extravaganza’ offered by the wedding planner. But when a body is found and the weapon clearly belongs to Baby Cakes, Maddy and her friends set out to find the killer and clear the shop’s name.

I wasn’t sure about this series at first, but now it’s become one of my favorites, at least in part because I absolutely adore Baby, the 250-pound English Mastiff that was part of Maddy’s inheritance. I’ve come to like Maddy, her friends and even her father, The Admiral. They work well together, with strengths and weaknesses that balance out in the long run.

I wasn’t at all surprised at who the murder victim was; that was easy to see coming almost from the moment the character was introduced. There were plenty of suspects to think about, and all motives were just variations on a theme, so that wasn’t going to help much. As the investigation progressed, I kept coming back to a couple of characters, but they seemed too obvious. The only real surprise when the killer was revealed was that it actually was one of them!

I hope this series doesn’t do what so many other cozy series have done – come to an end once the wedding occurs – because I’d really like to read more of what Maddy, Michael, Baby and the rest get up to next.