She’s a talented pastry chef—with a secret recipe for solving crimes… for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam—then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam’s cinnamon rolls—all eyes focus on the town’s beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar…before someone else gets burned.
“This delightful cozy has memorable characters…and a satisfying plot twist.” – Booklist
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And Then There Were Crumbs” by Eve Calder the first instalment in the “A Cookie House Mystery” series. I loved this book and totally added it to my favourite series list! I started reading series backwards with book 3 first but I loved so much I bought book two. I really enjoyed visiting Coral Cay, Florida , and the Cookie House and seeing how Kate started her journey on the island.
Everyone knows I’m a sucker for furbabies in my cozies so when you have a Doodle named Oliver who belongs to everyone, I was okay I’m in love. He really did belong to everyone in town, and they all pitched in for his care. Another thing I enjoyed was the relationship between Kate and Maxie when she goes to stay with her family and bakes cookies for everyone. It’s great how the people of Coral Cay take care of their own and opened their arms to adopt Kate into their town family.
I was surprised by what happened to Stewart Lord and drawn in to find out what happened to him and saving The Cookie House! Kate turns out to be a great employee/friend to Sam by never doubting him and getting the whole town involved in bringing life back into The Cookie House and Sam.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Kate did. plus all the descriptions of the cookies made my mouth water.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 4 to come out!
All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery set in a small town bakery in south Florida. The cast of characters will be fun to follow in the next books in the series – I’m looking forward to seeing what mischief Kate and Maxi stir up next. And hands down everyone needs an Oliver in their life.
I actually read this book again today. All I remember from the first time was Sam the cranky baker and that there was a dog. I decided to re-read it before starting Sugar and Vice, book #2 in the series.
This series (so far) has what I really like in a cozy series, any series actually. A smart, capable main character, an interesting setting and lots of secondary characters, both human, and animal, which add to the story and world building. Kate’s closest buddies, Maxi and Oliver, are ones I hope play a big role in the next book. Also looking forward to Sam and seeing how his and Kate’s relationship develops.
I also found the mystery element strong enough and sleuthing sufficient to meet my cozy needs.
I got this book from my local library.
Great start to a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder is the first novel in A Cookie House Mystery series. I like the authors casual writing style which made the book easy to read. Kate McGuire has a bad day when the restaurant where she works goes out of business, her apartment building is sold and going condo, and she broke off her engagement to a cheating louse. Kate relocates to Coral Cay and gets a non-baking position at The Cookie House. When her new boss is accused of murder, Kate works to prove his innocence. I like that Kate is a strong, independent character. Her new best friend, Maxi Mas-Buchanan is a delight along with her large family. She is a florist who works magic with blooms. There is a cast of secondary characters that enliven the story and help in solving the case. Oliver is a large, friendly puppy that belongs to the town. The mystery was clever. It was a unique whodunit which I just loved. It can be solved before the reveal thanks to the clues sprinkled throughout the story. I like how Maxi and Kate work together and get help from the other townspeople. I hope the author keeps providing unique mysteries in future installments of A Cookie House Mystery series. I did feel, though, that the book was too long (352 pages). Fifty pages could have easily been edited which would have enhanced the book (tightened it up) and improved the sluggish pace in the middle of And Then There Were Crumbs. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful new cozy mystery. There were humorous situations, tasty cookies, tempting sourdough bread (yum) and jovial moments. I was tickled pink that there was not a hint of a romance for Kate. One of my favorite lines from the book is “I can’t believe I have my very own kitchen elf. Look out Harry Potter.” And Then There Were Crumbs is a tempting cozy mystery with appetizing pastries, a cozy southern Florida town, Francine the sourdough starter, a clever canine, and two curious meddlers.
What a cute book – loved the cover, the story, the characters, the setting and everything in between. It’s definitely worth checking out!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/OyFQpXw0dX4
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/book-review-and-then-there-were-crumbs-by-eve-calder-a-cookie-house-mystery-book-1/
Fun series that makes my cookie loving heart go pitter patter….
Kate McGuire, a pastry chef, has arrived in Coral Cay, FL to begin a new life. She is leaving behind Manhattan, her ex fiance and her career. She is hired temporarily to work in a bread shop. When the proprietor is arrested, Kate experiences the kindness of strangers and is determined to prove that Sam is innocent of murder.
This is the first book in A Cookie House Mystery series. I was hooked within the first 4 pages. The characters in this book are realistic and well developed. The setting is a bit hard for me to envision but it did not affect my enjoyment. I loved the idea of Maxi’s “dining room.” This plot moved at a steady pace and kept me engaged. I look forward to reading the next book and recommend this book. I wish this book contained recipes.I frequently found myself hungry for bread or cookies.
Very delightful book! I loved the characters and the town of Coral Cay, Florida. I liked how Sam, the owner of the bakery, despite his grumpiness, really looked out for Kate after the she began working at the bakery and the break-in occurred. I also liked how Kate, despite only knowing Sam for a couple of days, truly believed in his innocence when he was accused of murder. It was so nice to see how the entire town really came together to help Sam and help him keep the Cookie House and get it fixed up. Kate has moved to Coral Cay after losing her job and apartment and calling off her engagement. She finds a job at the Cookie House taking care of the sales counter. When Stewart Lord, a developer, comes in to the Cookie House to try to get Sam to sell, Sam tells him no and ends up sending him off with a box of cinnamon rolls that Lord had goaded him into. Lord dies later that day from being poisoned and it is discovered that the poison was in the cinnamon rolls. Sam is arrested and Kate is left without a place to stay and a job for the time being. Kate, with the help of local florist, Maxi, start looking into the case and trying to clear Sam. The friendship that developed between Kate and Maxi was nice to see. I also really enjoyed Oliver the dog. The murder in this case had a bit of a twist to it and I found it really intriguing. I am glad I discovered this series and can’t wait to read more and see how Kate and Sam refresh the Cookie House.
Loved this Cookie House cozy mystery. Loved the characters and great mystery. Sure made me hungry for some cookies, and sourdough, which I started a few days after reading this book. 🙂 Looking forward to more of this series. Highly recommend.
And Then There Were Crumbs
A Cookie House Mystery, Book #1
Eve Calder
5 Stars
Synopsis:
She’s a talented pastry chef–with a secret recipe for solving crimes…
WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE
Kate McGuire’s life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiance both. But sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window. Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .
WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam–then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam’s cinnamon rolls–all eyes focus on the town’s beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent. Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar…before someone else gets burned.
“This delightful cozy has memorable characters…and a satisfying plot twist.” – Booklist (Goodreads)
Review:
Sometimes when you read a book, something just clicks and you enjoy it so much. I do not know why it happens, but it does. That is exactly what happened when I read this book. I enjoyed everything about it, from the characters to the setting to the mystery. I would not change a thing about it.
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Right from the very beginning, the residents of Coral Cay, Florida, were friendly and caring. Kate could not have picked a better place to settle down. Well, except for the murder, that did not feel very welcoming. I really enjoyed the way that they all banded together to try and solve the mystery. And I really liked the way that Oliver was a community dog, he spread his love around.
The writing style flowed smoothly and the book was a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning.
The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. There were twists and turns galore and I was shocked at who the killer was. Bravo for the ending, it had me totally fooled.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
FIRST BOOK IN THE COOKIE HOUSE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
I absolutely LOVED this book! And Then There Were Crumbs is a clever who-dun-it with an EPIC TWIST in the end. I wasn’t expecting the killer to be who it actually was and I praise the author for using originality. I haven’t seen this in any other cozies (and I have read quite a few) and was stunned.
In this one, readers will meet a brand new sleuth named Kate who moves to the small town of Coral Cay, Florida after a devastating breakup with her fiance. Following the move, Kate finds work in a small Cookie Shop (that doesn’t technically sell cookies) with a slightly grumpy owner. Feeling like she finally fits in she is happy to work alongside Same even though her culinary talents are wasted behind a counter. But then, Sam is accused or murder! What will happen to Kate’s new life in Coral Cay? Will she ever be able to use her culinary talents to make ends meet? Well, you’ll find out when reading And Then There Were Crumbs!
Friendship, small town morals and values, delicious recipes, and so much more are RICH in this book! Eve Calder is an excellent mystery writer and her talent is shown through these pages. I am so excited to get my hands on the second book in the series Sugar and Vice which releases on April 28th, 2020. I have a strong feeling that this Culinary, Cozy Mystery series is going to be a TOP FAVORITE of mine in the years to come!
This series is off to a great start. Kate isn’t the kind of character who decides she knows more than the police and decides to launch her own investigation. Instead she treads carefully and asks a lot of questions of her new found friends. Kate is on the rebound from a broken engagement and has come to Coral Cay, Florida to try and start a new chapter of her life. On her way to a job interview her car decides it has had enough getting her here from New York City and dies in the middle of the street. It’s a good thing, too, as her rescuer points her in the right direction, one that changes her life in the best way possible. Kate is a pastry chef and is a master at baking awesome cookies. Instead of applying for a job at a seafood joint of dubious quality, she lands on the doorstep of the Cookie House and boy, the timing couldn’t be better. Sam, the owner, is soon going to be arrested for murder, thrown into jail and Kate, along with lots of help from his friends in the local business community, is the one to track down the real killer. Each friend has a piece of the puzzle, a way of finding answers in a very realistic manner. They work as a team and Kate feels like she has known them forever. She has found the place to settle down and, as a plus, it comes with housing and a sweet pup named Oliver. And lots of friends.
The mystery was very well crafted and believable. The clues were there with a red herring or two as needed and it was all tied up at the end in a nice package. I have already circled April 28, 2020 on my calendar for the next in the series, Sugar and Vice.
AND THEN THERE WERE CRUMBS by Eve Calder
The First Cookie House Mystery
Kate McGuire lost her job, her apartment, and her fiance all in one day. Leaving Manhattan behind the pastry chef has arrived in Coral Cay, Florida to start fresh. It seemed like a good idea, but with her car on its last legs, money running out, and no job in sight Kate’s getting desperate. So desperate that she agrees to take a job manning the counter of a bakery that doesn’t sell sweets-and she’s not allowed to bake, merely man the front counter, at less than minimum wage. But when a greedy developer winds up dead and her new boss is accused of the murder Kate knows the gruff old man can’t be guilty. Joined by a new group of friends Kate is determined to prove his innocence while keeping The Cookie House running and ready for his return.
The Cookie House Mystery series is off to a great start with AND THEN THERE WERE CRUMBS. A likeable protagonist, an adorable dog, and a welcoming florist team up to save a curmudgeon with a heart of gold. I love how the whole town gets behind Kate and do whatever they can to help Sam. Everyone wanted to kill the victim, everyone agrees the world, and Coral Cay in particular, is probably better off without him, and everyone agrees that Sam wouldn’t do it, especially not in the manner it was done.
Oliver is an absolute charmer while Maxi is a terrific side kick/mother figure/friend. She’s resilient and funny with a heart as big as Cuba! Although autumn in the mid-east is my perfect habitat, I wouldn’t mind spending time on this Florida island, even in summer…as long as I could have a hunk of sourdough and a specially divined cookie from Kate.
Endearing characters, a close knit community, and an intricate mystery make AND THEN THERE WERE CRUMBS a delectable start to a new series.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder is the first book in a new cozy mystery and I was captivated from the first page.
I really liked Kate because she’s fiercely independent after surviving the loss of her job, apartment and fiance all on the same day. She is soon swept up in a murder mystery after landing a job as counter help at The Cookie House in downtown Coral Cay. The secondary characters are all integral to the investigation especially Maxi who I want to meet. A complex plot with red herrings and twists that kept me guessing until the reveal. The twist at the reveal was perfect! I’m looking forward to many more in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
And Then There Were Crumbs is an awesome new cozy mystery with likable interesting characters, friendship and an intriguing cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end! Kate McGuire left Manhattan to start a new chapter in her life in Coral Cay,FL. She is a Pastry Chef looking for a job. Her car breaks down and she is short on money so when she finds a temporary job at a bakery, she takes it until she can find something permanent. An unpopular local real estate developer, Stewart Lord, is harassing Sam who owns the bakery, The Cookie House, where Kate is now working. When the developer is found dead, Sam is the prime suspect. Kate, Maxi and all of their friends work together to find out who killed Stewart Lord. The characters (including the book club members) in this book are what makes it so very enjoyable. Both the book and audiobook are well done and very enjoyable!
Loved it! Kate McGuire and her new best friend Maxi lead the charge to prove sweet, grumpy Sam Hepplewhite owner of The Cookie House innocent of murder. The pot is ingenious, the characters are wonderful and the smell of cinnamon, chocolate and fresh baked bread and cookies drove me to Carb binge while I read this fun island cozy mystery. I now have Coral Cay Florida on my travel list! I highly recommend “And Then There Were Crumbs” be read with a Cinnamon Dolce Latte and chocolate crinkle cookies….Yum! Try it you’ll agree!!
Enjoyable starting-over tale with a murder thrown in!
Great cozy mystery! But, made me hungry for cookies. Enjoyed the characters especially Oliver.
Looking for a fresh start, Kate McGuire packs up and moves from New York City to Coral Cay, Florida, where she lands a job working at The Cookie House. On her first day on the job, Stewart Lord stalks into the bakery. He is a real estate developer who has decided to buy up Coral Cay and turn the entire island into a resort for the rich and famous, and he has The Cookie House in his sites as his first purchase. He makes the owner, Sam, a rock bottom offer, but only leaves with some cinnamon rolls he demanded from Sam. A few hours later, Stewart is dead, and Sam’s cinnamon rolls are the culprit. The police arrest Sam, but Kate doesn’t think her new boss is a killer. Can she prove he didn’t poison Stewart?
Between the fact that this is a culinary cozy and it is set in the Florida Keys, I was ready to sit back and enjoy. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I was captivated at first. The setting is very real and fun and comes to life. Kate quickly makes a lot of fantastic friends, and I enjoyed hanging out with all of them. The further I went into the book, the more frustrated I became with the pacing of the mystery. We spend significantly more time watching Kate work to save and transform the bakery while Sam is in jail than we do getting clues to who might have killed Stewart. It’s a shame because there is a good mystery here; we just needed more of it. All the baking certainly made me hungry for bread and cookies, but there aren’t any recipes at the end of this book. Plenty of people seem to love this book, so if the premise interests you, I recommend you pick it up and judge the results for yourself.