Just when Vangie Vale’s life was getting back to normal… …after a murder that rocked her little Rocky Mountain tourist town, she found herself in the middle of another murder… as the chief suspect. Vangie stood shocked on the side of the curb as the sheriff stretched yellow crime scene tape around the front of her new bakery. Wouldn’t this make a lovely headline in next week’s paper: Local … headline in next week’s paper: Local Baker Kills Parishioner With Pudding. Vangie’s road back to good graces as a part-time pastor was bumpy enough already. This would be a road block. Can’t have that.
Don’t miss a moment of Vangie’s new adventure.
SECOND EDITION: This book was first released as Vangie Vale and the Strangled Strudel
RECIPE INCLUDED: THE STRANGLED STRUDEL
“R.L. Syme is a fresh voice in the cozy mystery genre.”
– Zara Keane, USA Today bestselling author of the Movie Club Mysteries series
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This is the third book in The Matchbaker Mysteries series. After I just read a cozy mystery that missed the mark for me, I decided to return to this series as I really enjoyed the first two books. Luckily book 3 was just as good. It took a bit of time for the mystery to get started, but once it did I was hooked.
I really like how this author writes mysteries. They are just a tad different than most cozies and this makes it feel fresh. I also like how I can never predict how things are going to go. This mystery is filled with twists and turns. It doesn’t start with a bunch of suspects, instead the main character has to dive deeper to find possible motives and uncover more from the victim’s life. I like how it almost has an exploratory vibe with the main character learning more about the victim and their family and possible suspects. It was engaging to see the mystery progress and see the direction it took. The only thing that bothered me was a clue that to seemed obvious and important to me, but everyone seemed to forget about and it turned out to explain part of the how. I liked seeing how it all played out. It’s a bit sad when the whole truth comes to light, but it also made sense.
I like reading about Vangie, she makes for a great main character. I like how likable she is and how her curiosity gets her into trouble. She also has her flaws and I think those make her feel even more real. Something from her past turns up and seeing her deal with it shows a lot about her as well and how much it still haunts her.
I was curious to see how her romance would be now that they started their relationship, but sadly I am a bit mixed about it. In some scenes I really liked them together, their romance isn’t perfect, but I like that they both are working on it. And there are some great scenes that really show they care and are there for one another. In other scenes I didn’t feel their romance at all and I have my suspicions that she’ll end up with someone else after all. He could be a bit controlling at times and while I am sure he means well, the whole interaction between them got old quick with him wanting to protect her and be safe and Vangie wanting to have the space to do her own thing. It didn’t help that half the interactions with the sheriff are similar. Yes Vangie does get herself into danger a few times, but most of the time she is reasonable smart about it.
To summarize: I really enjoyed this one and the mystery kept me guessing. The mystery had plenty of twists and turns and I really liked seeing it all play out. I like how these mysteries feel just a tad different than the ones in most books and I am never sure what’s going happen. I like Vangie and how real she feels. I am not sure yet about her new romance, but guess we’ll see how that develops in future books. Another great read in this series!
Unputdownable!
Again, it was a real delight to read R.L. Syme’s 3rd story, Vangie Vale & the Strangled Strudel, of her fun series ‘The Matchbaker Mysteries’! Be prepared to escape in a suspense that will capture you till the very end! Ms. Syme didn’t disappoint me! She sure knows how to grab your interest by leaving clues everywhere! Lovers of ‘who dun it’ of cosy mystery suspense are in for a treat. Following Vangie is so much fun!
Set in the small town of Saint Agnes, Vangie is the proud owner of a bakery, she is also a part-time pastor at a community church and part-time investigator, which keep her pretty much busy. Vangie is in trouble again when her bakery becomes a crime scene. A client died after she has eaten a pudding at her shop! Who is the guilty one? All her friends, Derek, Emma and Nadine will also be in trouble when dangers lurks around them. The suspense will keep you sitting at the edge of your seat! Also Vangie’s past will come back to haunt her! Double trouble for Vangie and her gang!
Another great cozy mystery to watch for! It’s filled with intrigue, mystery, fun adventure and a bit of romance! This series keeps getting better!
VANGIE VALE AND THE STRANGLED STRUDEL drew me in with its fast moving plot, and interesting characters.
Death by rice pudding! Or was it? Protagonist Vangie sure looks good to the police for this murder. Of course, she knows she didn’t do it, and struggles to find the killer, while trying to clear her name.
Author R.L. Syme really kept me on my toes during this fast moving read. The story kept me guessing from the beginning to the reveal. And the ending was one I certainly didn’t see coming.
This was my first book in the Matchbaker Mysteries, but I don’t see VANGIE VALE AND THE STRANGLED STRUDEL being my last last!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Vangie has had a rough time making herself at home in Montana, being part of two police investigations, but she has been offered a contract by her church so some of the pressure is off. That is until a woman dies after eating at her bakery. Crime scene tape marks the spot across the door and that is not going to make the church council happy. She knows she didn’t kill anyone but someone with access to her place apparently did. Now she just needs to figure out who before the investigation puts her out of business and behind bars.
This third installment of this series is packed to the brim. In the last book, Vangie told the church council about what brought her to Montana. In this story, we learn much more as people from back in North Carolina are contacting Vangie. People she is not supposed to have contact with. She is also dealing with the death of a mother who looks to have died after eating at Vangie’s shop. Malcolm knows she isn’t responsible, but he has to find proof and find the person who is and that is not easy. He has to admit, that while he doesn’t want Vangie involved in the investigation, people do open up and talk to her in a way they never do with him. Maybe together they can get to the truth, that is if Vangie can survive long enough.
Vangie Vale & the Strangled Strudel is a roller coaster ride from start to finish with corkscrew twists and turns. Vangie is absolutely wonderful. She has such a big heart, wanting to help everyone she can and this time puts her in a lot of danger. While figuring out “the how” of the murder early on, “the who” and “the why” was really tough. I was clearly taken aback as they were revealed. I sure didn’t see the “WHY” at all.
This author has a talent for drawing readers in, holding on tight, and then giving us a shocking twist. She gives her characters many layers that are slowly pulled away. For Vangie, that means secrets she has been keeping from her friends in Montana. They are being revealed sparingly on top of trying to solve the murders. She also has two complicated men in her life. One that she is dating and one that she probably should be dating. Both have ways of making her a little nuts, but this triangle is so much fun to read and speculate about which one she will actually choose.
Well written, fast-paced, great characters, intriguing, relevant, fresh, entertaining, all words that can be used to describe this story. I was sad to see it end. I am anxiously awaiting Vangie Vale and the Larcenous Lava Cake.