🕑 Quick Take:
Madison “Maddy” Montgomery has inherited her great-aunt Octavia’s home on the shores of Lake Michigan, along with her bakery, Baby Cakes Bakery, and a 250-pound English Mastiff named Baby in New Bison, MI. Maddy is engaged to marry the town’s veterinarian, Michael Portman. She hopes to win a dream wedding at the biggest bridal expo coming to New Bison, but her plans are disrupted when the renowned and in-demand wedding planner, Serafina, is murdered.

💕What I Loved:
I may be partial, but I have been in love with The Baker Street Mystery series since last year. Maddy is a social media maven and is ready to capture the moment and caption it with the perfect hashtags. I like the cozy small-town vibes, and as a Chicagoan who enjoys visiting the southwestern Michigan area, it immediately piqued my interest. Lastly, I loved the comedy and banter between the characters.

🎭 Narration:
Jasmin did an excellent job narrating this novel. Especially, narrating different characters. Lastly, Jasmin’s narration exudes Maddy’s character flair and sass!

💭 Final Thoughts:
Overall, this was a fun listen, and I really enjoyed the story. I recommend this audiobook if you enjoy quirky, fun, and cozy mysteries. Also, if you have not read or listened to previous books within the series, what are you waiting for?!?!

Thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books for this advanced listener copy.

Valerie Burns once again delivers a sweet and satisfying mystery in Icing on the Murder, the latest installment of the A Baker Street Mystery series. With a delightful blend of suspense, charm, and mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods, this cozy mystery hits all the right notes for fans of the genre.

The story centers around Maddy Montgomery, a savvy social media influencer turned amateur sleuth and bakery owner, who finds herself tangled in yet another murder investigation—this time surrounding a high-profile wedding gone terribly wrong. Burns expertly balances intrigue and humor, keeping the pace brisk while giving readers plenty of clues (and red herrings) to sift through.

What truly elevates this book is its vibrant cast of characters. Maddy is both relatable and clever, with a refreshing sense of self-awareness. The supporting characters—from her lovable coworkers to the quirky townsfolk of New Bison—create a community that readers will want to revisit again and again. And let’s not forget the canine companions who add just the right amount of heart and hilarity. If you’re not already a fan of this series you are truly missing out.

Such a fun series with an amazing cast of characters. Even though the story revolves around a murder, it's light and humorous. I appreciate the bonds of friendship and family as well. Of course, Baby is my favorite!!

Valerie is a fantastic woman and her personality and values truly shine through her gift of story telling. Reading her books gives me the same feeling and snuggling under my favorite blanket with a steaming mug.

Big Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

'Icing on the Murder' is the fourth book in the 'Baker Street Mysteries' series.

The book follows Maddy, a social media Queen turned baker, as she sets up to meet a famous wedding organizer to help her out with her upcoming wedding. However, things get complicated when the said organizer is murdered.

First of all, I loved the characters. Maddy is fiesty and relatable, and I loved her and her fiancé, and their dynamics. The dog was adorable as well.

The story is interesting, furthermore, but it took too long for the mystery to be introduced, even though the murder case had many twists and turns. It focused a bit too much on Maddy's story rather than the actual mystery case, not that that wasn't entertaining.

The audiobook was also well narrated and gave character to the book. The production of it was well managed as well.

Finally, I loved the recipes at the end of the book.

If there is one thing Maddy Montgomery can always find -- it's a murder. This go-round, she's gearing up to go to a bridal show, as both a bride and a cake store owner. She wants to have the uber popular Serafina to help plan her wedding, even to Michael's dismay. However, when the bridal show begins, and the truths of Serafina come to light, Serafina is found dead -- and Maddy has to figure out the killer, and fast.

I adore this series; it's all the things you'd want in a cozy mystery, mixed with some humor. This one is the perfect one sitting read (or listen!).

I really love this series. This one was wild, I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was. I have to admit, though I was getting tired of her obsession with this wedding when you already had a terrible one of the first

This serious has so many fun characters. What’s not to love with a sassy grandma, an attractive veterinarian, a clever and headstrong main character, and a large and lovable mastiff.

Prepping for her wedding and wedding expo, Maddy fears she won’t be able to make decision and is trying to win a contest for the help of an iconic wedding planner, but what she doesn’t plan on is the horrific attitude of the planner and her eventual murder.

I’m glad I read this series in order as Maddy really grows throughout the books, and this series wouldn’t be complete without Baby! A fun read and sweet story- I wish the ending hadn’t been as rushed though.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RBMedia for an ALC.

It’s always a gamble to start a series in the middle but I am a sucker for cozy mysteries, especially when there are animals in the mix so I took a chance and jumped right in. This is a super cute fast paced cozy mystery that about bakery owner Maddy and her friends- who have started their own mystery solving club. This weekend she is pulling double duty at a wedding show, both advertising her bakery and competing to when her dream wedding. When things go wrong her group steps up to try to solve a murder instead. Jumping into the middle of the series i appreciated that there was enough information to still understand who the main characters were and get a feel for their personalities, but i think starting from book one would give a richer experience for sure. I listened to this in one afternoon and the narrator had her work cut out for her with such a large cast of characters but she did a good job. For me it’s all about the animals and I adorable Baby, the massive mastiff that Maddy inherited with her bakery. I also really loved the nostalgia of finding pieces of family that she didn’t know about, it gave her character much more depth. I did feel like the mystery itself was pretty predictable, they lined the clues up pretty quickly but still went about introducing all the suspects so that we knew what the sleuths knew. Overall this was a fun easy listen that even had me tearing up a little. Worth the listen for anyone who enjoys a low stake quick mystery with a little character growth.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟.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.

The audiobook is narrated by Jasmin Walker. She did a good job telling the story. Easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 2x speed.

Thank you, NetGalley, and RB Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

As a baker who loves a cozy mystery, the Baker Street Mystery series has been a fun go-to for me. I really enjoyed the first three books—there’s something so satisfying about mixing small-town drama, sweet treats, and murder. Maddy Montgomery is a social media influencer-turned-baker who’s still figuring it all out, and I love how her character has grown with each book.

I was especially happy to see the same narrator return for the audiobook. The production quality was great, and the narration felt familiar and warm—she is Maddy at this point and really brings the quirky cast to life.

That said, Icing on the Murder was a slower read than the others for me. The mystery didn’t hook me as much this time around, and I found myself missing the tighter pacing and spark that made the earlier books so engaging.

Still, the cozy vibes, strong narration, and the ongoing bakery storyline make it worth continuing if you’ve been following the series. I’ll definitely be tuning in for the next one—just hoping it brings a little more spice with the sugar next time.

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.

This book is a delightful cozy mystery that perfectly blends charm, humor, and suspense. Set against the backdrop of a small-town bakery, this story follows a well-crafted whodunit with engaging characters and plenty of heart. It’s the kind of armchair mystery that makes you want to curl up with a warm drink and savor each page. This is book 4 in the series but even though I haven't read the other books, I still enjoyed this one. The author does a good job of referring to the other books, but filling in information so this book could easily be a standalone.

The plot was well-paced and intriguing, keeping me curious about how the mystery would unfold. I loved the cozy, small-town vibe and the cast of characters, each bringing something unique to the story. A standout for me was Baby, the dog, who wasn’t just a background character but played a meaningful role throughout the story. The inclusion of Baby added warmth and personality that made the story even more enjoyable.

Some parts were a bit predictable, but overall still very enjoyable.

The audiobook, narrated by Jasmin Walker, was fantastic. Her narration was engaging and easy to follow, and I loved how she gave each character a distinct voice that brought the story to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I hate that the person I suspected from the jump was in fact the person who did it. Overall the storytelling was ok, the victim husband was a hot mess but the victim wasn’t likeable at all. I loved how they incorporated real recipes in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a simple, cozy, murder mystery that might have been a little better for me if I had read the first three books. While you don't have to read them in order as they have their own mysteries, it would have helped to have had more background on the main character and how she has progressed thus far. The supporting characters were interesting, and I'm definitely team Baby! I am interested in reading the first three books to help bring the background of the story out more, and definitely suggest trying from the beginning as you may feel the same way. Or just give one a try and see if you like it, especially if cozy mystery interests you.

Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns is cozy mystery perfection! The audiobook narration truly brought Maddy Montgomery to life, capturing her warmth and determination as she balances running Baby Cakes Bakery with solving murder.

Set against a bridal expo in small-town New Bison, Michigan, this book delivers everything cozy mystery fans crave: quirky but loveable characters, mouthwatering baked goods, and authentic small-town charm. When nasty wedding planner Serafina meets her end via cake skewer, Maddy and the Baker Street Irregulars jump into action.

The mystery is well-paced with satisfying twists, while the supporting cast (including Baby the English Mastiff) adds heart and humor. Burns perfectly balances romance, community, and mystery without overwhelming any element.

I enjoyed this book. This is the four book in the series and to be honest only the second book I have heard but that is soon going to be corrected. I enjoyed the quirky characters that much. I could still follow the story and it wasn't because I felt I didn't understand anything, it's more I want to find out what fun I missed out on. I loved the way all the characters wanted to get involved in solving the case but ultimately Maddy, well okay Baby the 250-pound English Mastiff solves the case. The mystery itself provided plenty of possible suspects to keep you guessing. Like Maddy I had no clue who was responsible until Baby found the important clue. Team work makes the dream work and creates an entertaining and fun story not to be missed. I am now following the author so I don't miss when the next book comes out.

For Maddy who can't decide what she wants for her wedding, the bridal expo provides her with the perfect opportunity to show of her cakes and possibly win a competition to have the top wedding planner design it for her. The problem is the designer is doing it for a reality show and is more interested in scandal than happy ever afters. So it's comes as no surprise when she is murdered,the only surprise is the killer uses a skewers from a tiered wedding cake provided by Baby Cakes, making Maddy the prime suspect, especially as the designer tried to humiliate her. Maddy, Baby and the rest of the Baker Street irregulars have until the expo closes or until the FBI turn up to find the real killer.

I liked the narrator. She did some amazing accents and voices which felt like you were being transported along side Maddy and the gang and helping them solve to the case.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I adored Maddy as the main character, she’s cute as pie! And her giant dog, Baby? Total icing on the cake! 🐾 This was such a fun and exciting murder mystery with the perfect dose of small-town charm. Even though it’s the 4th book in the series, it worked perfectly as a standalone, and now I definitely want to read the earlier books! I also listened to the audiobook, and wow! the narrator was fantastic and brought every character to life!

I received an advance audiobook of Icing on the Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment.

When bakery owner Maddy Montgomery finds herself caught up in yet another murder investigation (this time involving a celebrity wedding and a suspicious death), she once again has to balance cake decorating with crime solving.

The mystery is fun, well-paced, and filled with charming characters and red herrings. It’s everything I love about the genre: cozy, clever, and comforting. The narration is excellent, with distinct voices and warm delivery that pulls you right into Maddy’s world.
Highly recommend if you need your dose of cozy mistery!

This was such a fun cozy mystery! I literally listened to it while baking and decorating a cake.

I didn't realize it was the fourth book in a series when I started it so it took me a second to pickup on who everyone was and their backstories but that made me want to go back and read the first few books! Very fun quick read.

In Icing on the Murder, influencer-turned-baker Maddy Montgomery is living her best hashtag life: Baby Cakes Bakery (named after her enormous, lovable mastiff, Baby) is thriving; she’s engaged to hometown veterinarian Michael Portman; and New Bison, Michigan, is buzzing as the nation’s biggest bridal expo rolls into town. Maddy lands a prime slot to showcase her wedding cakes and even enters a high-stakes contest for an all-expenses-paid dream wedding planned by the famously exacting (and famously impossible) celebrity planner Serafina. But when Serafina is found spectacularly murdered, impaled on one of Baby Cakes’ own cake skewers, Maddy’s happily-ever-after gets iced.

With her Maid of Honor, Sheriff April Johnson, leading the official investigation, Maddy teams up with her late Aunt Octavia’s loyal friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and, of course, Baby the mastiff, to sift suspects hiding in plain sight amid fondant, tulle, and social-media sparkle. If they can unmask a killer before Maddy walks down the aisle, those wedding bells might still ring.

Icing on the Murder, the fourth entry in Valerie Burns’s Baker Street series, serves up exactly what I want in a cozy: light, lively reading with just the right drizzle of action and mystery. This installment leans into the sheer fun of its bridal-expo backdrop, vendors, influencers, and egos layered higher than a seven-tier cake, while keeping the pages turning briskly.

What really charmed me is how human the characters feel. Maddy and Michael aren’t painted in sugary “all good” frosting; they show little flaws, humor, doubts, and growth that make them read like real people you’d actually root for (and maybe DM for relationship advice). That grounded warmth extends to the wider New Bison cast, creating an ensemble you slip back into like a favorite sweater.

Pacing? Lightning fast. I tore through the book in what felt like a single sitting because every chapter dangled just enough new detail (and frosted snark) to keep me saying “one more.” This isn’t a twisty, puzzle-box whodunit where you’ll build a murder wall of red string; the clues are generously scattered, and most readers will spot the answer early. But that’s part of its appeal: it’s a comfort read. The pleasure is in watching the community rally, in the banter, in the delicious bakery details, and in the countdown to Maddy’s own wedding chaos. It’s the kind of weekend curl-up book you pair with tea, coffee, or, let’s be honest, a slice of something sweet.

Burns shows she has all the essentials for great cozy mystery writing: an inviting setting, a heroine with heart (and a social following), a lovable animal sidekick, and a steady hand balancing humor, small-town stakes, and murder without ever tipping too dark. Icing on the Murder is a tasty treat, and one that leaves me ready for the next course in the Baker Street series.

If you’re craving a breezy mystery that feels like spending an afternoon with friends, plus cake, this one hits the spot. Enjoy!