A delicious tale of desserts, deception, and murderA Cozy Mystery from #1 Bestselling Author Danielle CollinsMargot Durand is running a growing bakery business in a quaint little town near Washington DC. When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, she does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. … uncovers a story of lies and deception. Can she solve the case, catch the killer, and keep out of harms way?
Desserts and Deception is part of the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery series. If you like fun cozy mysteries, you are going to love Desserts and Deception.
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This is Book 3 in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Books 1-12 and this was a fast read in the last few mornings after breakfast.
Margot Durand is running a growing bakery business in a little town near Washington DC. When a man is murdered in the craft store run by her friend, she does everything she can to catch the killer and protect her friend. In the process, she uncovers a story of lies and deception. Margot also is teaming up with Adam who is a police detective that worked with her husband before he died 5 years ago and things are getting interesting for both of them.
2. Book 2 Desserts and Deception
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Deserts and Deception in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
Fast-paced and action-packed with multiple ties to high-profile Mob boss Victor Carow’s case which are blended with Margot’s and Adam’s burgeoning romance, and the addition of the charismatic surprise bakery assistant, Dexter.
Coincidences, inconsistencies, and the request of her good friend, recently married Craft Boutique owner Tamera, has Margot partnering with Adam to prove Tamera’s lawyer husband, George innocence of murder.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
3. Book 3 Pastries and Pilfering
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Pastries and Pilfering in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Intriguing with multiple clues, small mysteries, and Margot worrying over if she can have a lasting relationship with Adam who has secrets.
41-year-old Margot takes a 2-week vacation from her North Bank, Virginia bakery hoping to relax on a five-day cruise to Mexico with her ex-student Addie and then another week with her sister Renee’s family in Long Beach, California but things become complex when Margot overhears some suspicious conversations, a prominent actor takes interest in her, Adam and his friend Gage show up on the cruise, her friend Addie does not keep her promises, and staff die.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in the series order as it begins with a series recap.
4. Book 4 Muffins and Murder
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North Bank, Virginia set cozy mystery Muffins and Murder in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
This is a complex mystery with a developing romance where an act from over forty years ago produces negative reactions in the present.
Missing retired trial lawyer Bentley’s daily visits and stories after he injured his back, Margot takes him breakfast hoping for an intriguing story which she gets but, she also finds herself mixed up in a murder mystery where his friends are killed. Another layer of mystery is added in the form of her assistant Dexter’s hacking skills and sudden leave of absence.
The recent death of one of Bentley’s friends prompts him to relay a tale from his twenties when he and his three law school friends provided scuba diving lessons and found a sunken treasure only to have it stolen.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
5. Book 5 Vacations and Violence
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Vacation and Violence in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Suspenseful and complex with a twist, this story contains a fair amount of drama in the form of well-blended odd encounters, multiple murders, and suspicious behavior.
Margot visits her friend Chef CeCe Baxter, who is been working in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains for a year, hoping for a relaxing weekend only to learn CeCe invited her to help stop a stalker, who has located the hiding CeCe and become active again on the anniversary of her marriage to her unfaithful and abusive ex-husband Rick Moody.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
6. Book 6 Boating and Bodies
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North, Bank Virginia set cozy mystery Boating and Bodies in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
While the mystery feels less complex than the previous novels in the series, it is an easy-flowing story with realistic characters and a good bit happening. This is a single murder mystery where the story is divided between Margot and Adam’s relationship progressing with thoughts of an engagement, the growing need to fill Dexter’s position and Margot’s investigation of a suspicious drowning with the help of Adam and Dexter.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
7. Book 7 Murder in Maine
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Murder in Maine in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
Four months after he leaves, Margot receives a sudden 2 AM call from her ex-bakery assistant Dexter aka Hector VanNess asking for her to come to the sleepy small New England town of Bath, Maine to help him find his missing sister Danielle, a former gang member and FBI informant, and to help him, a former FBI cyber-security worker, run Danielle aka Darcy’s bakery.
Margot places her unconventional new assistant baker, single mother Julia Hangeman, in charge for a week and heads to Maine where on her first night a suspicious sound draws her down to the bakery where she finds a dead body and then becomes a target.
8. Book 8 Bakeries and Bodies
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Bakeries and Bodies in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
An easy-flowing Christmas time murder mystery based on greed that contains some poignant moments and has a heartwarming ending.
Love is in the bloom of this sequel where Margot goes home with Adam to meet his family in Sister, Oregon leaving her bakery and her two assistants, Dexter and Julia, who have a hate/love relationship, under the care of Mama Rosie.
The vacation is less than relaxing when on day one, Margot learns she is volunteered to bake for the yearly Christmas bake-off and, her partner Fran is accused of killing the biggest rival.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
9. Book 9 A Deadly Engagement
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the North Bank, Virginia set cozy mystery A Deadly Engagement in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
An easy-to-follow, drama-packed, and at times suspenseful story that occurs around Valentine’s Day.
A story based on greed with a profession of love. While love continues to grow for the couples at the Bakery, this is not a carefree Holiday romance.
Shortly after Bentley enlists Margot’s help to unravel the meaning of the cryptic letter, he received from his recently deceased first wife, Margot has an odd encounter with Felix Lynch posing as a staff member, has a car following her, and someone with Bentley’s name is found burning in a car.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
10. Book 10 A Killer Cover Up
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery A Killer Cover Up in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
An easy-flowing story of police corruption and wedding preparation stress.
As Margot approaches the last months before her wedding, a reporter from the past offers to provide Margot with new information regarding Julian’s murder only for him to be found dead at their meeting spot.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
11. Book 11 Catering and Crime
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Catering and Crime in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins, and this review was given freely.
Margot takes a break from wedding planning stress to solve a murder and capture a jewelry-thieving ring that are connected to her reception caterer. Contains cameos with Bentley and his son Ben.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
12. Book 12 Murder and Matrimony
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the cozy mystery Murder and Matrimony in the Margot Durand Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Books 1 – 12 by Danielle Collins and this review was given freely.
A fitting conclusion that is full of drama.
When Adam’s “Secret Life” threatens to change their wedding plans, Margot must rely on her friends for help to clear Adam, finish the wedding planning, and protect herself from the violent stalker who is trying to stop her before she stops him.
Two weeks before the wedding, Margot thinks her main stressor is the lack of a wedding cake until Adam is arrested for murder.
May be read as a standalone but is best if read in series order.
4 1/2 stars
Excellent work keeping the reader intrigued with the story. I couldn’t put it down.
No language or sexual references and murder isn’t graphic so I can happily recommend this to my advanced reading preteen friends
This was a very fun book to read. I enjoyed the tension over who dunnit! There were so many different possible culprits that I was kept guessing throughout the whole book!