When the annual Seagrass Days summer festival kicks off, Ashley Adams and Patty LaFontaine are selling their French desserts and cuisine faster than they can make it. Ashley is dreaming about the future—of her business, of her new relationship—until a murder threatens to derail it all. When a vendor from the festival shows up dead, Ashley discovers he made a living selling more than just festival … just festival wares…and it may have cost him his life.
Ashley gets tangled in the man’s web of deceit and has to find her way out with help from the usual crew of Patty, Smoke Daddy Lee, Ryan, and of course the lovable Dizzy….before it costs Ashley too much.
This is the third book in the Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mysteries Series.
BONUS: Recipes included.
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Love the series so far.
In Madeleine Murder the gang is detecting again. All the girls were trying to do was earn enough money for a food truck, but murder and drugs get in the way. Mouth watering food descriptions.
Enjoyed reading this book it is the 3rd book in the Seagrass Sweet Cozy Mystery series. I have not read book 1 or 2 but that was not a problem. I enjoyed getting to know the Seagrass characters. There was many twists and turns in this story keeping me interested but still revealing who done it. I will be reading book 1 and 2 soon.
Madeleine Murder by Sandi Scott is the 3rd book in the Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery series. This book can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery. I would recommend this book to cozy mystery and romance lovers alike. This is a sweet & enjoyable quick read… No bad language, no graphic violence, or no graphic sex.
Ashley Adams, her doggy Dizzy, and her friends are back with another mystery on their hands. Ashley and Patty have a food booth at the Seagrass Days Festival sharing their French Cuisine with their fellow Texans. While on a break Ashley meets a couple out-of-towners that also have booths at the festival–Betty another food vendor and Sparrow Soulbrother that has a booth sell items made of hemp. Ashley’s boyfriend Ryan is a volunteer at the festival. He is doing several jobs including some security and he introduces her to Coyote Johnson that is new in town and buying a house on Ashley’s street. Coyote and Ryan tell Ashley of the troubles that seem to be plaguing the festival this year from suspected drug sells to someone stealing from the vendors’ booths. Ashley believes she has escaped these problems until several unknown charges appear on her debit card and her bank freezes her account. One evening while on break Ryan and Ashley decide to walk on the beach where the festival is setting up a bonfire. When they arrive at the bonfire site the festival organizer tells them to keep people away while he goes to meet the police. Ashley shines her flashlight on the teepee of wood and realizes there’s a body in the middle, Ashley is once again involved in a murder investigation. Is there a drug dealer at the festival? Who stole Ashley’s credit card info and has been making unauthorized purchases? Who is the murderer? Are all these crimes related? Are the out-of-towners to blame?
Once again Author Sandi Scott brings the small Texas town to life with her fun cast of characters. I really enjoy reading this series. This book is as well written and thought out as the other two books in the series (Cream Puff Murder and Tarte Tatin Murder). I have really enjoyed seeing how the relationships are evolving into closer friendships and even a new romantic relationship between Ashley and Ryan. I love Ashley’s dog Dizzy she is a lovable animal. I missed her at the beginning of the story but was glad to see she played an important part near the end. The characters and the storyline are realistic and well written. There are enough red herrings in the story to keep you guessing right along with Ashley. If you like romance there is a little bit of a continuing romance in the series.
The latest Seagrass Sweets story has a bit grittier series of encounters with con men and drug runners. Some spoilers ahead, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know! Folks who seemed like innocent business people turn out to be a bad gamble for new culinary ventures, but a good bet for Pot sales, and ultimately bankruptcy. Anger and desperation push some people to extreme limits- even murder. In the end, both Dizzy the dog and boyfriend Ryan get in some kisses and cuddles, and good friends Smoke Daddy Lee stand by each other, and our intrepid heroine. Will wedding bells or sales on a food truck ring out in the next book of the ongoing story? Maybe all of the above if we’re lucky! Another yummy story with happy tummy making recipes !
“Madeleine Murder” earns 5/5 Plates of Madeleines!
Joining her BFF Patty LaFontaine, Ashley Adams is participating in the Seagrass Days annual festival. The girls have been friends since their days working at a bistro in Paris, and now with Patty’s The Southern Bird French cuisine and Ashley’s Seagrass Sweets desserts, they are enjoying some real popularity and entertaining the idea of expanding their catering businesses with a food truck. But, the festival is having some minor issues with theft, a disgruntled Karaoke singer, and just plain mischief, but then…there’s the dead body set inside the bonfire display. When Ashley finds herself a victim of all the mischief, she has to uncover the truth to save herself and others.
I am a newbie to Sandi Scott’s Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery series, where have I been you ask? I have no idea; I’ve missed so much. But I am now a big fan! “Madeleine Murder” is the third book in the series and for me an exciting place to start: French desserts!? Stolen identities? Mysterious money issues? Murder? Who knew a fun festival could go from a nuisance to deadly! The engaging story takes on a couple of investigations that seem at first glance unrelated, but soon the identity theft and murder seem destined to be intwined, but the “I didn’t see that coming!” ending was spot on. I am partial to French deserts and cuisine, so the descriptions made my mouth water sending me to the cupboard for a plate of macarons. Sandi’s characters are well developed with an entertaining BFF dynamic and love interest. The small town setting (a favorite), ins and outs of the catering business, and food truck community play out in the background along with an animal lover’s treat with Dizzy, a Labrador-hound cross, adding to the entertainment. Although there is plenty of information provided to keep newbies in the loop, if you like to witness character and story evolution, I suggest starting with book 1 “Cream Puff Murder.” I will be reading them like prequels to discover where it all began.
5 Stars
Entertaining Cozy Mystery!
This is a fun story! It is a quick read with a very interesting mystery. This is the 3rd novel in the series and can stand alone. I can say that because I have not read the previous 2 installments and had no problems enjoying this story on its own merits. This author is very good at placing the reader in the story and immediately getting the reader invested in the characters. I will be reading the rest of the series as well as anything else this author writes!