A tranquil village.A poisoned cupcake.A murdered vicar. A simple case – or it should be. But all clues point to the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute, and Detective Inspector Adams is about to discover there’s much more to the W.I. than just bake sales and jam making. Alice Martin, RAF Wing Commander (Ret.), and current chair of the Women’s Institute, knows the ladies of the W.I. are not guilty. But … chair of the Women’s Institute, knows the ladies of the W.I. are not guilty. But she has a bigger problem. Toot Hansell has a large and dragonish secret, and she needs to keep the police well away from it. Plus she’d really rather not be arrested for murder. Again.
Meanwhile, Beaufort Scales, High Lord of the Cloverly dragons and survivor of the days of knights and dragon hunts, knows even better than Alice that the modern dragon only survives as long as no one knows they exist. But he also knows friends don’t let friends face murder inquiries alone. Beaufort fully intends to Get Involved.
This investigation is about to take on dragonish proportions.
Best put the kettle on…
A funny cozy mystery (with dragons), for anyone that likes their mysteries British, gentle, and well-stocked with cake, tea, and friendship. And dragons, obviously.
Baking Bad is the laughter-steeped first book in The Beaufort Scales series of cozy mysteries (with dragons). If you like casually profane heroines, whimsical shenanigans, and stories that give you wings, then you’ll love Kim M. Watt’s enchanting tale.
Buy Baking Bad to whip up a recipe for murder today!
Note: This cozy mystery contains:
- no graphic violence
- no sex
- no strong language; however it does contain some blasphemous language
- but there are copious quantities of cake and tea. You may need supplies.
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Loved the idea of dragons teaming up with the Women to take on a mystery. It was a smashing fun run with delightful characters. I was also glad to finally see older women who were smart and savvy. I was laughing and wishing I were there to jump into the adventure too!
I love dragons, and found a great new series by Kim M. Watt – A cozy mystery with Dragons – I read The Tales of Beaufort Scales, and Baking Bad – such fun books. I love Beaufort ! Any dragon lovers who want a series with humor need to read this. The characters are great, the plots fun – you won’t want to put these down.
What an absolute delight!
Small English village. Dead vicar. Gotta figure out whodunit. Sounds like your typical cozy mystery, right?
Well, toss in a couple of sleuthing dragons and plenty of charming humor and you’ve got a unique and enjoyable mystery to solve.
I was a little worried when I first started this because in the first couple chapters you’re thrown into the midst of A LOT of characters who almost all blend into one another.
But these are short chapters and quite soon you settle into four main characters (two women and two dragons) who are having to go through plenty of hijinks to solve the mystery while trying to stay out of trouble with the police (which they sometimes fail to do).
Besides the piles of pastries, the humor, the overall theme of friendship, and Watt’s smooth storytelling, I also loved the hint of something more going on in the dragon world and the dragons themselves are perfect foils for one another. I’ll definitely be continuing with this series.
Any fiction requires the author to have an imagination, but some books require more authorial imagination than others, and some books are so imaginative that it almost makes my brain explode. BAKING BAD was one of those latter books. A cozy mystery set in an English village … with dragons? I prefer my cozies without paranormal elements, but I was so boggled by the premise that I had to read the sample, and once I read the sample I had to buy the book, and I loved it! A great, fun read. (And imagine my delight when I got to the end and discovered that the author is a Kiwi. Go Kiwis!)
A cosy mystery with WI and dragons? One-click buy!!
My hopes were high and I was delighted by what I read.
More tea, vicar? He may regret that!
When the quiet ‘new’ vicar meets his demise, all fingers point towards the Women’s Institute (WI). Well, their chair, Alice, isn’t about to take that lying down, thank you very much.
Miriam and her cohorts, Beaufort and Mortimer, who just so happen to be Cloverly dragons, get roped in. Beaufort is eager to clear the name of his friends. The other two are more reluctant to interfere.
Enter in a whole heap of whimsical British country life (set not far from Leeds in fictional Toot Hansell).
Chaos rules throughout, but what else would you expect with boisterous dogs and dragons running amuck?
There is plenty of cake and gallons of tea, of course.
I just love this story. It’s fun, well-written, farce, and just what this reader needed to lift her spirits.
There are a few recipes in the back of the book too – bonus!
If you like cosy mysteries, you’ll love this.
I almost did not get this book as I don’t usually read fantasy and paranormal. I found the dragons, Beaufort and Mortimer, funny, helpful and charming. I am a big fan of British country side mysteries. Alice ex RAF and current head of the local WI is always unflappable. Unlike her friend and co conspirator Miriam who is always in a perpetual state of anxiety. DI Adams, out of her element in the country fights against seeing the dragons but finally has to give in. The mystery was good and there was lots of funny situations because of the helpful dragons to keep the murder light. I bought the next book and can not wait to start reading.
It’s been a while since I read a cozy and had almost forgotten how much I enjoyed reading them. Baking Bad was no exception. From the smart title to the WI capers, this mystery was absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t stop laughing while reading the scene in the church in the beginning and Walter’s chase across the graveyard. Delightfully characters from the ladies of the institute to the dragons. And all deliciously punctuated with baking goods. Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cozies, dragons, or both. Good job Ms. Watt.