In this series debut for fans of Jenn McKinlay, baker Teddie St. John spends her time away from the oven writing murder mysteries. But is she herself a murderer?Everyone in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, knows Teddie St. John. Tall, curly-haired Teddie is a superb baker, a bohemian bon vivant, and a mystery writer. Teddie is walking her American Eskimo dog, Gracie, when her four-legged friend finds … four-legged friend finds Teddie’s missing silk scarf. Only problem: the scarf is tied tightly around the neck of a beautiful blond woman, the fiancée of a touring British author.
Before you can say “Wisconsin kringle,” Teddie becomes a murder suspect. Everyone in town knows all too well that the distinctive scarf was hers. But there are more layers to this case than there would have been on poor Kristi’s wedding cake. Tavish Bentley should be bereaved after his sweetheart’s strangling. Instead, the dashing Brit takes a shine to Teddie’s witty wisecracks and to-die-for cookies, and soon he’s mooning over her instead of mourning his bride. That is, when he’s not dodging the attentions of Annabelle, an obsessive fan who’s taken to stalking him.
And when a second murder shocks the community, the plot thickens to the consistency of fondant as Teddie stands accused of not one, but two, murders. With the help of her friends Sharon and Char, can Teddie clear her name and deliver a killer’s just desserts?
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I may be a bit biased, having been born and raised in Wisconsin, but Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is a fantastic start to A Bookish Baker Cozy Mystery series!
I think everyone will enjoy the book, but those from the Midwest will find all the local nods super fun. Yous Guys (not you guys, yous… yes, that’s how some folks around here talk), Kringles (a delicious Danish pastry with lots of flakey layers), Pabst Beer (the first beer I drank and probably the reason I don’t drink beer… you either love Pabst or hate it), and Walker even ended the book with a nod to Accordions and Polka Music… you really can’t get more Wisconsin than that.
There were so many great characters too. I often find myself liking the sleuth’s friends or sidekick better than the protagonist, but Teddie is awesome. I love her sense of humor and that she is very forthcoming about her double mastectomy. And the way Teddie is with her American Eskimo, Gracie-girl is adorable, and so true to how people are with their fur babies. I had never heard pee-mail before, when a dog is checking out what other dogs have been in their territory, but loved the image… if we had a dog instead of three cats, that’s what I would say, “Are you ready for pee-mail time?!?”
And Teddie’s friends and love interest are wonderful too. First, I just love the love interest’s name, Tavish, and he really does seem lovely. 😉 He brings her flowers, helps out when he can, and loves dogs too… as a bonus he’s a writer too and rich. Yes, please!
Sharon and Char really do act like people who you’ve been friends with forever, they don’t put up with any of Teddie’s bull and push her towards a relationship. I was a bit concerned with Teddie’s mom at first, I’m so over mom’s being horrible to their daughters in cozies, but by the end of the book, Claire is a more enjoyable character.
As for the mystery there were plenty of suspects and some red herrings. I did know who the killer was early on, but that’s just because I read a lot of mysteries, and it was more of a gut feeling.
Already looking forward to book two in the series, Deadly Delights, coming out later in 2021, and I’m excited to read Walker’s other new cozy mystery series coming out January 2021, with the first book being called Hope, Faith & A Corpse.
I loved this book from the first line to the end of the book. Who wouldn’t want a best friend who loves to bake? Yum! There are some great recipes included at the end of the book. The Three Musketeers are three great friends who have know each other for ever. I enjoyed both the story line and the way the characters related to each other. Who doesn’t love a man with an accent? Sit down and get comfortable and enjoy the folks in Lake Potawatomi. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Murder Most Sweet is a deliciously sweet read!
A small town baker and mystery writer with an adorable American Eskimo dog named Gracie, Teddie St John is not your typical amateur sleuth.
When she finds herself not only in the middle of a murder investigation, but being looked at as a major suspect, Teddie must put her mystery writing skills to work to solve a real life murder before she loses her favorite means of livelihood and before anyone else is killed.
Wonderful characters, romance, jealousy, revenge, and a very tricky mystery, make this book a must read for all cozy mystery fans. I’m already wishing for more books in this series.
There are also recipes and fun tidbits of Wisconsin lore. What a fun read.
I loved it. Highly recommended.
If you love a good cozy mystery with a unique, fearlessly quirky lead character (and a wonderfully sweet doggo to boot!), this is for you. I truly enjoyed Laura’s protagonist, Teddy, who refreshingly embraces her hard-won battle with breast cancer and does not loathe her boobless body. I LOVE that! Great friends, a couple scarves I now covet, Wisconsin bakery treats that made my mouth water, a mystery that had me guessing through the whole thing, a couple of truly creepy people who gave a bit of edge to the story, and a budding romance that was truly enjoyable. All around a really fun read!
This is the first book in a new cozy series by author Laura Jensen Walker. I thought the story was a solid start to the series. Theodora St. James, or Teddie as she is known by friends, is a sympathetic and likable protagonist. She is a breast cancer survivor and is taking nothing for granted as she lives her life. She is surrounded by a secondary cast of characters that includes her two best friends Sharon and Char, and her childhood friend Brady, the town Sherriff, as well as her mother and her cute dog Gracie. I thought the secondary characters were well done and enjoyed the friendship between all of them. Teddie is a bit self-deprecating when it comes to some of the repercussions of her cancer, but there were times when I just wanted to smack her mother. Fortunately, she mellowed by the end.
The mystery involves two killings that occur when a well-known writer comes to town on a book tour. He and Teddy hit it off but things don’t go as planned when she circumstances appear that she is the killer. I thought the mystery was the weakest part for me. I’m not really good at always figuring out the whodunit part of a cozy mystery, but this time I did. Early on I suspected I know who the culprit was and I was a bit baffled as to why this person was not even on the radar. To me, it seemed obvious. I also thought it was a bit flimsy that Teddie became a suspect on the flimsy circumstantial evidence.
All in all, I enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and it was fun to see how Teddie tried to clear her name. There is a budding romance with the other author that I think works for the series and characters. I enjoyed this story enough that I will check out the next book in the series. Oh…Teddie is a baker, which helps relieve her stress, so there are some delicious sounding recipes included.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley.
A bit of cooking, a bit of romance and a couple of murders what could be better. A nice cozy mystery set in Wisconsin complete with smattering of regional dialect.. This book is witty, charming and has crazy capers that keep the reader smiling and guessing until the end.
post-mastectomy, dogs, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, author, cozy-mystery, small-town, family-dynamics, friendship
Retired from government cubicles after defeating breast cancer twice and becoming disgusted with cosmetic implants, forty something Teddy skips the fakes and wears fancy scarves or Knitted Knockers (TM) and bakes for stress relief and writes cozy mysteries.
The local bookstore is happy to have a famous British mystery author have an unplanned book signing until his fiancee is found in the alley strangled with Teddy’s scarf. And that’s only the first murder! It’s also a first for the town. Great characters and lots of misdirections, plot twists, and red herrings. I loved it! Well done!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I loved the main character, Teddy, a breast cancer survivor who is so quirky and funny. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this book. This book has a great cast of characters and I loved all of the descriptions of what Teddy was baking. I can’t wait to try some of the recipes that are included in the book. There were several suspects and a little romance that kept the pages turning and led to a satisfying ending to the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really liked this book. A refreshing heroine who is a breast cancer survivor (double mastectomy) and chosen to go flat. This is based upon the author’s own real life experiences which gives Teddie that much more zing and panache. Endearing small town, wonderful cast of secondary characters and an adorable American Eskimo dog. Cannot wait to read the second book, Deadly Delights.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I had planned to read and review this book closer to the release date but I was suffering from chemo side effects and preparing for surgery at that time. Now I have just a few radiation treatments left and am in a much better place to read this book that features a breast cancer survivor protagonist.
Teddie St. John loves to bake and she’s good at it. She also loves to write mysteries and she excels at that too. A breast cancer survivor she has plotted her life around those two things, plus her friends, her mom, and her American Eskimo dog, Gracie. She is excited to attend a book signing at her BFF Char’s bookstore. The author, Tavish Bentley, is a famous British suspense writer who ended up in Lake Potawatomi when his event in Milwaukee was canceled. Sadly just as the event is getting started Teddie suffers one of those dreaded side effects brought on by cancer treatments and ends up leaving the book signing early.
Later while out walking Gracie she makes a gruesome discovery. Behind her friend’s bookstore, she finds the famous author’s fiance dead with a significant clue that points directly at Teddie as the murderer. Thankfully she is friends with the sheriff and he knows she didn’t kill anybody. The author does have a fan who is obsessed with him, and Teddie’s money is on her as the killer but then a second body is found and that really twists things up. Teddie enlists the help of her besties to help her find the real killer and serve them up on a silver platter.
I love Teddie St. John! It is always nice when you have something in common with the lead character in a cozy but this time it isn’t just a craft or an occupation, it is something neither would have chosen for ourselves. Surviving cancer is a battle and her road was much tougher than mine. I know the author drew from her own experiences and that makes the story even more special. Ms. Walker also surrounded Teddie with excellent friends, an overbearing mother, and a lovable pup. These characters all drew me in right away.
Setting the story in my home state, also the author’s, grabbed my attention too. The dialogue rang true, the descriptions of the people and places was like looking out my back door, and OMG the food/Kringles mentions brought me actual joy.
The mystery was top-notch, with actually two to solve. Teddie was an interesting sleuth to follow. If you are looking for quirky, somewhat creepy characters look no further than the people that land on Teddie’s suspect list. She takes some risks but none of the “too stupid to live” kind that some amateur sleuths do. I did hone in on a few things before she did but was very entertained by the way things played out.
The story had a great flow with one scene near the beginning of the book that had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. There is also the start of a romance for Teddie. At first, I thought it was happening too quickly but who am I to judge. Teddie has been through a lot and deserves all the happiness she can get.
Murder Most Sweet is a terrific cozy mystery that has set this series off to a fine start. My appetite has been seriously whet, I can hardly wait for Deadly Delights that will be hitting shelves June 8, 2021.
Murder Most Sweet, a Bookish Baker Mystery, is the first book I’ve read by this author and I can’t wait to read more from her! Set in Wisconsin, Teddie St. John is an excellent baker and a mystery writer. Everyone in town knows Teddie always wears a colorful scarf around her neck so when the body of a woman is found dead with her Teddie’s scarf around her neck Teddie becomes the number one suspect. When the fiance of the murdered woman starts paying more attention to Teddie than his dead fiancé tongues start wagging. It gets worse for Teddie when a second murder occurs and she again is suspected. Who wanted these two people dead? Why? Did the murdered woman’s fiancé actually have a stalker? Her friends step in to help her investigate and try to clear her name. I loved the characters and it’s a well written mystery that will keep you guessing! Also included are a few delicious recipes…yum! I happily recommend this book!
MURDER MOST SWEET by Laura Jensen Walker
The First Bookish Baker Mystery
Teddie St. John is known for her writing, her baking, and her scarves. A mystery writer, Teddie is happily single with good friends and an adorable dog. Teddie is pleased to meet the dashing bestselling British author Tavish Bently at her friend’s book store, but a menopausal emergency causes her to leave the book signing early. Deciding to take her pup for a walk, Teddie lets Gracie take the lead only to find herself behind the bookstore with Gracie barking at a dead woman. A dead woman with one of Teddie’s scarves around her neck!
A captivating mystery is just one of the things that make MURDER MOST SWEET a standout. I really like Teddie and her self deprecating humor. I understand her doubts about Tavish; is he truly interested in her or merely looking for information and deflecting suspicion from himself? I love her friendships with her childhood friends, their banter and camaraderie enhancing the cozy feel of the book. I also appreciate Teddie’s relationship with her mother, a tricky one, to be sure. The delectable descriptions of the food made my mouth water and stomach rumble. I really want a taste of that Danish layer cake, but although the recipe was thoughtfully provided it’s a bit complicated for me. I’ll just have to hope I can snag a Kringle from Trader Joe’s!
MURDER MOST SWEET is a delightful start to a new series. Good friends, delicious food, and bookish people make this intriguing mystery a hit.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a copy of this book in the hopes I would review it.
Murder Most Sweet is a mystery set in a small town in southeastern Wisconsin. Teddie, a cozy mystery author herself, attends author Tavish Bentley’s book signing at her friend’s bookstore in town. Tavish is a huge bestselling suspense writer and he’s drawn a crowd. Teddie’s scarf is stolen while she’s in the bathroom but is later found; unfortunately it’s wrapped around the neck of a murder victim, a woman connected to Tavish.
Teddie is a fantastic character. She’s a breast cancer survivor, and like many cancer survivors is still dealing with treatment side effects such as hot flashes from early menopause and other people’s reactions to her mastectomy. The author herself is a breast cancer survivor so it’s no surprise she described Teddie respectfully while not glossing over the realities.
Teddie’s sleuthing is interesting, and she thinks through her plans instead of running straight into danger. That’s not to say mistakes aren’t made, but amateurs can’t be perfect when even the pros aren’t. There is also a great cast of characters, which include multiple who have been Teddie’s friends for years and Teddie’s sweet dog Gracie.
There is a lot of humor, as well as great Wisconsin references throughout. Recommended for fans of mysteries, particularly cozy mysteries. #cozymystery #mystery
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance readers copy of this story.
Murder Most Sweet, by Laura Jensen Walker, is available at booksellers on 9-8-2020. This is book 1 of 2 in Ms Walkers A Bookish Baker Mystery series. I’m afraid that this is the end of the line for me. I have had a hard time with the characters, I never managed to get involved with them. The story is ok but the mystery is buried in the leads angst. She’s so hung up on having no breast after cancer that it’s all she thinks about. After all this time she’s still hiding behind scarves & making wisecracks that are not funny but are awkward. Her breast cancer took over the main spot in the story and I wanted more mystery. I did manage to kind of like the new British boyfriend. I’m a sucker for an accent.
#Netgalley #LauraJensenWalker #MurderMostSweet # ABookishBakerMystery #CrookedLaneBooks #Mystery #Romance
Synopsis:
In this series debut for fans of Jenn McKinlay, baker Teddie St. John spends her time away from the oven writing murder mysteries. But is she herself a murderer?
Everyone in Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, knows Teddie St. John. Tall, curly-haired Teddie is a superb baker, a bohemian bon vivant, and a mystery writer. Teddie is walking her American Eskimo dog, Gracie, when her four-legged friend finds Teddie’s missing silk scarf. Only problem: the scarf is tied tightly around the neck of a beautiful blond woman, the fiancée of a touring British author.
Before you can say “Wisconsin kringle,” Teddie becomes a murder suspect. Everyone in town knows all too well that the distinctive scarf was hers. But there are more layers to this case than there would have been on poor Kristi’s wedding cake. Tavish Bentley should be bereaved after his sweetheart’s strangling. Instead, the dashing Brit takes a shine to Teddie’s witty wisecracks and to-die-for cookies, and soon he’s mooning over her instead of mourning his bride. That is, when he’s not dodging the attention of Annabelle, an obsessive fan who’s taken to stalking him.
And when a second murder shocks the community, the plot thickens to the consistency of fondant as Teddie stands accused of not one, but two, murders. With the help of her friends Sharon and Char, can Teddie clear her name and deliver a killer’s just desserts? (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters were well rounded and well developed. I enjoyed meeting Teddie, Char, Sharon and Brady. You can tell they are good friends and care a lot about each other. And Gracie, Teddie’s American Eskimo dog, added a lot to the story. We will have to wait and see what happens between Teddie and Tavish, a possible love interest for Teddie.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me right into the story early on. The mystery was well plotted, although I had an idea of the killer fairly early.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is the debut novel in A Bookish Baker Mystery series. Teddie St. John is a strong female protagonist who is an author, avid baker, and breast cancer survivor. Teddie writes a cozy mystery series set in a town similar to her own of Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. She is a likeable and relatable protagonist who is going through early menopause (from chemo). We get to see how the breast cancer has changed Teddie’s body and life. There are some humorous moments. There are a variety of secondary characters that includes her fashionista mother, Sheriff Brady Wells, and her two close friends, Char and Sharon. Teddie has an American Eskimo dog named Gracie who is such a sweetie. Two women die in this whodunit after famous author, Tavish Bentley comes to town. Teddie becomes a suspect because she has no alibi and her scarf was used as the murder weapon. The evidence is circumstantial, but the police must follow procedure. The clues, like the killer, were obvious. I would have liked a more challenging mystery. Despite two murders, romance is in the air for Tavish and Teddie. At times, Murder Most Sweet felt more like a romance than a mystery. Teddie likes to bake and does so frequently especially when she is stressed. She whips up treats for friends and for bribes to get information. It was interesting learning about the pastries native to Teddie’s ancestry and Wisconsin like the Kringle. To my disappointment, there foul language present throughout the story (mild). I preferred it when these type of words were taboo in cozies. There is a scene involving Gracie that dog lovers will find upsetting. I loved the Lord Grantham reference. Murder Most Sweet is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a bevy of baked goods, an attractive author, modish mother, a concerning contract clause, and one worried writer.
I enjoyed Murder Most Sweet, the first book in a new writer and baker based cozy series, “A Bookish Baker Mystery.” The characters were interesting, had quirks, and room to grow, and Gracie, the dog, is just plain fun. The setting of small-town America is almost required in these types of books. Each town has a special distinction and character that make it unique, and Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, is no exception.
Teddie is a realistic character who isn’t perfect, but who does the best she can with what she has and who she is. A cancer survivor, a writer, and a baker are just a few of her accomplishments. She isn’t letting anything stand in her way to fulfill her dreams, not even murder. As a mystery writer, she knows about murder, but real life isn’t like one of her books. Finding out that she could not only be arrested for a murder she didn’t commit but that she could lose her publishing contract galvanizes her into action. She can’t leave the investigation up to the police, or she will end up behind bars, or worse. When a second body shows up, and she is the only suspect the police are looking at, Teddie knows she has to find answers.
Suspects abound, motives are almost limitless. The danger is constant. This book has lots of action, twists, turns, and red herrings. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, waiting to find out how Teddie unveils the killer. Teddie, the writer, fits the pieces together, while the baker part of her makeup works continually as she finds it the best way to think while trying to sift out a killer. In the end, the killer is found, and Teddie has new ideas for future books. Readers will most likely know who the killer is before they finish the book, but it won’t stop them from wanting to read every word. Murder Most Sweet will be a fun and compelling read for lovers of all things baking and murder.
After surviving breast cancer five years ago, Teddie St. John starting writing culinary cozies, combining her love and baking and mysteries. She’s moderately successful, and looking forward to meeting the highly successful Tavish Bentley when he comes to her small Wisconsin town for a book signing. However, the event ends early when Teddie finds Tavish’s fiancée dead in the ally next to the bookstore. The murder weapon was one of Teddie’s scarfs. Teddie needs to clear her name, but can she do it?
Since I love both culinary and booked themed cozies, I was looking forward to digging into this debut. Unfortunately, I found the mystery to be weak. It started well, but it wasn’t strong enough overall. On the other hand, Teddie does lead a cast of fun characters that I enjoyed meeting. I did find Teddie’s mother a bit much, but hopefully that relationship will grow as the series goes on. The suspects are just as strong and memorable as the main characters. As a man, I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the talk about Teddie’s breast cancer, but I am sure most people who pick up the book will be fine with that. If the book leaves you craving some Wisconsin sweets, you’ll be thrilled to find the six recipes at the back of the book. Hopefully, the mysteries will grow as the series progresses.
I’ve now added another must be read cozy series to my list. From the first scene with Teddie and her mother in Teddie’s kitchen I knew I had found a great character to spend my reading time with. Teddie is a breast cancer survivor and has decided not to go the route of reconstruction surgery. She’s fine being flat as a pancake but her mother won’t let it go. I’m in there cheering Teddie on and ready to smack her mother. Teddie is a successful mystery writer and is on her way to a book signing at her friend’s book store. The visiting author is a British mystery writer accompanied by his bride to be. During the event Teddie has a major hot flash (an aftereffect of chemo) and heads for the bathroom. While there her distinctive scarf is swiped. When she next sees it, while walking her wonderful Eskie named Gracie, it’s tightly wound around the neck of Kristie, the no longer bride to be. Because the scarf is known by all to be Teddie’s but everybody knows she couldn’t have done it, focus is on Tavish, the not so grieving groom, so he’s definitely on the suspect list. He and Teddie get along and set out to figure out who killed Krisite.
I enjoyed the puzzle and the misdirections, the setting was great, the characters were well defined and the recipes – oh I can’t wait to test some of them. As for Gracie, well I just hope that the little Aussie shepherd in my life never finds out I was even virtually interested in another doggo.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Teddie St. John, a Norwegian-Danish-American, bibliophile, Anglophile, murder mystery writer, baker, dog mom and breast cancer survivor is enjoying life post-cancer with her best friends Sharon and Char. But life comes to a screeching halt when the well-known English suspense writer, Tavish Bentley, comes to Char’s bookstore for a signing. An obsessed fan has followed him to small town, Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin, along with his ex-fiance. When his ex-fiance is found dead in an alley with one of Teddie’s scarves wrapped around her neck, Teddie finds herself a murder suspect rather tan a cozy mystery writer.
An easy-to-read cozy mystery with interesting main characters. The addition of the small town relationships with the secondary characters added a nice touch, and who couldn’t love an adorable ball of furry Alaskan husky. I did think that the continued emphasis on Teddie’s mastectomy was a little bit overdone, and her mom was a real pain in the neck sometimes. But I did like the changes I saw in her mom by the end. The recipes included in the afterword were nice, and I will definitely try the carrot cake. Hope to see Tavish in book 2 of this series as who couldn’t fall for an English mystery writer.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.