From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes another to-die-for culinary mystery…Full-time baker and sometime-sleuth Sally Muccio is enjoying life as a new bride and only wishes that sales in her bakery would pick up. So when popular TV host Donna Dooley invites her and best friend, Josie, to be guests on Someone’s in the Kitchen with Donna, it’s the answer to their prayers. The pair … prayers. The pair is excited about the opportunity until they discover Donna’s new assistant is none other than Josie’s former nemesis from culinary school, Kelly Thompson.
Like cookies in a hot oven, temperatures rise, and their animosity escalates into a food fight during the taping—which then goes viral! But when a dead body is then discovered on the set, fingers immediately point to Josie, and Sal’s usual sassy partner is at a loss of how to defend herself. Sal’s world is once again plunged into chaos as she attempts to keep her friend out of jail, control a blast from the past that threatens to harm her marriage, and keep her crazy parents at bay as they film a commercial for a funeral home. Already knee deep in dough, Sal discovers a possible link between the current murder and an unsolved one from the past. But she’ll have to work fast because a killer is on her trail and determined to silence Sal…forever.
Recipes Included!
The Cookies & Chance Mysteries:
Tastes Like Murder (book #1)
A Spot of Murder (short story in the “Killer Beach Reads” collection)
Baked to Death (book #2)
Burned to a Crisp (book #3)
Frosted With Revenge (book #4)
Silenced by Sugar (book #5)
A Drizzle Before Dying (short story in the “Pushing Up Daisies” collection)
Crumbled to Pieces (book #6)
What critics are saying:
“Catherine Bruns has whipped up another delicious treat with this delightful cozy. If you like your mysteries to taste sweet this one is a good choice.”
—Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick!
“I want to visit more with all of the quirky characters just to see what crazy and outrageous things they will do next!”
—Fresh Fiction
“The delightful whodunit kept me guessing until the end, and the tasty treats had my mouthwatering from start to finish! A fantastic culinary mystery in the vein of Joanne Fluke and Diane Mott Davidson!”
—Gemma Halliday, New York Times & USA Today bestselling mystery author
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Silenced by Sugar once again has Sally investigating a murder – and this time Josie is the accused! This well written book keeps the reader entertained with Sally’s unusual family, too many suspects and too many possible motives. I love these mysteries because I never figure them out! I am not sure how Ms. Bruns keeps all the loose ends straight, but she wraps up the plot very logically. This entire series is a treat!
“Silenced by Sugar” earns 5+/5 Sweet Treats…Karma 5, old Nemeses 0!
Karma has returned to Colwestern, New York, and Catherine Bruns is brilliant at putting it center stage! This fifth book in her Cookies & Chance Mystery series finds Sally Donovan (finally married to Mike) and Josie Sullivan (her BFF and head baker at Sally’s Samples) being invited to be guests on Someone’s in the Kitchen with Donna, a popular show on the Food Network. The host, Donna Dooley, has purchased the Cookie Crusade contest and hopes to revisit past winners highlighting their signature cookie recipes and plugging their businesses. What an absolute honor and the wonders it would do for the bakery’s bottom line is incalculable! But, enter Josie’s former culinary school nemesis. Kelly Thompson, Dooley’s personal assistant and owner of her own popular ‘sugar free’ bakery Naturally Delish, sabotaged Josie’s work at the culinary school, and now, does not miss an opportunity to insult and demean Josie at every turn. Even when Sally and Josie (promising to hold her anger in check) shows up at the studio to tape their spot, Kelly goads Josie into a violent reaction when she reveals to everyone the very personal reason Josie left the culinary school without graduating. Josie will seriously regret the ensuing ‘cat fight’ when Kelly ends up Karma’s next victim…I love it!
Catherine Bruns has penned another well-paced mystery with more than Josie on the list of suspects that would have loved to see Kelly ‘out of the kitchen’ for good: On set conflicts? Professional jealousies? Secrets and lies? Karma has a lot to choose from! Bruns provided clever clues to follow, engaging descriptions and dialogue, and a realistic investigation style for Sally, although she admits multiple murders have forced her to improve her sleuthing skills. Catherine’s story is the signature exciting page-turner, but it’s the character driven plot lines that keep me coming back for second, third, fourth, fifth helpings. I love Sally and her quirky family, and the new challenges with which she is confronted in her newlywed life. I enjoyed the spotlight on Josie’s background, too, as well as the friendship between Sally and Josie that is more like sisters. Fans, like me, will be thrilled with this new book, but newbies should not shy away even though a lot has already passed. There are references made to background and character connections, but no spoilers to interfere with going back and enjoying the other books. Start here to satisfy your sweet tooth, then go back at book one, “Tastes Like Murder.” Be sure to get baked, burned, and frosted and you’ll be a fan, too! Easy-to-follow recipes are included.