Come for the cozy, stay for the thrill of it
The first in a brand new series: Cooking up MurderIn a jam… prime suspect.
Now, with the help of the crazy Coupon Clippers clan, Mona must prove her innocence and redeem her lifelong dream. After all, she received her seed money from her crazy and unpredictable Aunt Cee–and she can’t possibly let her down. With several attempts on her life and Vicki’s shady new beau in the picture, things look bleak for the jam-making jailbird. Will Mona concoct a recipe to get herself out of this very sticky situation?
Praise for Diana Orgain
“If you were expecting warm and cute you’ll be mistaken. Fast paced and fun…”
–Rhys Bowen, New York Times Bestselling Author
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“Murder as Sticky as Jam” earns 5/5 Jars of Blackberry Ginger Jam…Murderously Delish!
I may not have a desire to live a gluten-free lifestyle, but the first book in the Gluten Free Mystery series was engaging and entertaining with a couple of easy-to-follow recipes that may entice me to test it out. Diana Orgain gives us Magnolia Falls nearing Memorial Day and heralding the tourist season, and joined by BFF and organic beekeeper Vicki Lawson, Mona Reilly is very excited anticipating the grand opening of her Jammin’ Honey shop. But even the annoying whining by Lacey MacInroy, caterer/high school pain-in-her-backside, about the inconvenience using gluten-free almond flour for the pastries will diminish her excitement. Then the wail of a fire engine, the smoke, the fire, her shop and inventory, her mother’s recipes, and a body all engulfed in flames. Wow! This can’t be good…well, actually it is, very, very good!
Diana Orgain has penned a delightfully entertaining story with everything I look for to in my cozies: a clever, engaging mystery (a fire hiding a dead body implicating Mona) with some contemporary references (PTSD, ins/outs of owning a business, small town community), endearing characters always with a few quirky (Mona with her strength and realistic insecurities, supportive BFF, octogenarian aunts as comic relief), a renewed or developing romance (Mona’s heart has secretly belonged to Deputy Leo forever, and now hints of his heart being available to her), lots of suspects and motives (business competitors, women scorned, jealous relatives), a theme that sparks my googling interest (jams, honey, and gluten-free treats), and recipes, always a recipe or two (gluten-free southern biscuits and grain-free strawberry thumbprint cookies, but what about the blackberry ginger jam?). I highly recommend this book. Get started on this one; I understand book two, “Murder as Sweet as Honey,” is on the horizon.
Light. Reminded me of Hallmark Movies and plots. Enjoyed this mind candy.
The main premise of the book (Mona’s infatuation with her former high school boyfriend) is ridiculous. She is a grown woman who acts and sounds more like a 12 year old middle schooler with a crush. This storyline was totally unnecessary and took away from what should have been the main premise: the mystery. I cannot recommend this book and will not read any other books by this author.
Curiously cute story!
Couldn’t wait to buy book number 2 in the series.
Her books are great page-turners!
Loved it
A good beach read
This book was an enjoyable read with humor and great characters. A delightful, fun read.
:Mona and Vicki are gearing up for the grand opening of Jammin’ Honey. Mona is lured away to taste some delectable pastries, their store burns down with a victim inside. All fingers point to Mona as the prime suspect. With the help of the crazy Coupon Clippers clan, Mona must prove her innocence and redeem her lifelong dream. She borrowed money for the business from crazy Aunt Cee and does not want to let her down. With several attempts on her life and Vicki’s shady new beau in the picture, things look bleak. – This is a good small-town mystery. The residents are very gossipy, and one loves to tell Mona all the rumors about her. Mona’s Aunt Bea is fun, and the book is good.
A very good start to a series, but room for improvement.
Great start to a new series. Cannot wait for next one.
Sticky Jam Catches the Murderer
(Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.) Murder As Sticky As Jam is an engaging, curious and romantic murder mystery. The author created an idyllic setting with character development appropriate for the storyline. The setting of Magnolia Falls is very detailed so you can see what the characters see which is important to engage with the story. The budding-old romance captured my attention and was a pleasant insertion by the author. It’s the main character’s (Mona) heartthrob who has come back into her life so the antics run parallel to the solving of the murder. There are a lot of twists and turns from Chapter One to Chapter Fourteen. The ending is what you expect of a cozy mystery so this will not disappoint. In Book Two of the Gluten Free Mystery Series, I can’t wait to see where the author takes the two characters that are engaged in the budding romance – they would make a good murder mystery solving pair. I RECOMMEND Murder As Sticky As Jam by Diana Orgain –Tex.
First in A Gluten Free Mystery series, Murder as Sticky as Jam is sure to be a hit! The characters are lovable, emotions are real, and the mystery is intriguing. The Jammin’ Honey shop is unique, as is the career goal of Mona and Vicki, and I like this new series!
Mona is moments away from her dreaming come true as she prepares for the grand opening of Jammin’ Honey. She sells jams from her late mother’s recipes and best friend Vicki’s organic honey products. She plans to make more of her special blackberry ginger jam for the next day. Her least favorite person, Lacey, owner of the local bakery, calls. Lacey is suppling goodies for the Grand Opening, and wants Mona’s approval on a revised gluten-free recipe and she needs it immediately. Lacey hates gluten free foods, and doesn’t like providing the breads and crackers for people to put jam and honey on.
The nightmare begins when she hears fire trucks when leaving the bakery… Her shop has just gone up in smoke, and a body is found in the unused storage area. Mona is the main suspect! Then the local gossip calls to tell Mona about the rumors going on about her, Vicki seems to want one of Mona’s nemesis’ for a boyfriend, and her family members accuse her of torching it for the insurance money. It is a mixed blessing, then, that Leo, Vicki’s brother, is the detective on the case. Leo, who Mona has been in love with since high school. Hopefully he can find the real culprit before Mona is run out of town.
I really like Mona. She has been working hard towards her dream, and her emotions are normal under the circumstances. This reader gets to know Mona best in this exciting first in series, and she is very likable. Stephanie, a former bakery employee, seems likable, also. Other characters are as well defined as their roles require. I am certainly looking forward to getting to know Stephanie, Vicki and Leo better in the future!
The plot seems, as first, cut and dried regarding the mystery. Surprise! There are a couple major plot twists that sent this armchair sleuth backpedaling. The end is satisfactory, with all loose ends tied up. This novella is the perfect intro to Jammin’ Honey; in my opinion, this will be one of the author’s better series! There are recipes at the end, which are not to be missed. I highly recommend Diana Orgain’s new series!
From a grateful heart: I was given this eBook by the author, and here is my honest review.
This is a very cute cozy mystery. It is also a romance which I enjoy. It is the beginning of a new series. Diana is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend this book.