With summer approaching, Estes Park is abuzz with flowers, baking, tourists, and… murder. Tourist season is about to begin, and the lovely weather has Winifred Page and her corgi sidekick, Watson, leaving the comfort of the Cozy Corgi Bookshop and Bakery to reluctantly attend a celebration at the Black Bear Roaster coffee shop. But a chill of uncertainty settles over Fred when a choking death … death doesn’t seem so accidental—despite the dry, hazardous scones.
As Fred and Police Sergeant Branson Wexler rekindle a possible romance, Fred shares her suspicions. But is she seeing murder at every turn? Learning to trust her gut feelings, Fred risks the ire of the coffee shop owner to investigate not one, but two, deaths.
As suspects and motives abound, old resentments are uncovered, and Fred and Watson build new friendships even as they follow the crumbs to find clues to a killer.
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Wow, just wow. A lot of crazy and treats. Although all the talk about Katie’s wonderful creations has made my sweet tooth disappear (that’s probably good for my diet).
Fred & Watson do it again
Really enjoyed reading this book. The whole series is great. Lots of fun & quirky characters. Look forward to reading more.
I love this series. The characters are wonderful.
Scornful Scones by Mildred Abbott is a tale of regret, revenge, and people who use power to belittle and berate those considered beneath them.
Is Eustace’s death something that Fred needs to investigate?
The Mystery
Black Bear Roaster’s owner, Carla, is back from maturity leave and introducing a new expresso flavor named after her son. Carla is trying her best to be nice to everyone until her father-in-law chokes on a scone and dies. No foul play is detected, and yet Fred feels as though there is a game afoot. No evidence is found until Fred convinces Branson to test the scone for poison. Then before Fred gets those results, she heads over to speak with Carla, and another of Carla’s customers dies from anaphylactic shock. Fred is more convinced that someone is murdering people.
In this installment, Fred spends time feeling guilty and doubting herself. Until a young man that had the means and motive but not the backbone is arrested, then Fred really starts to figure out what is going on.
Secondary Plots
• Fred and Katie hire assistants, twin brothers. Nick, who worked at The Black Bear Roaster and Ben who wants to be a writer.
• Barry’s daughters work on getting their shop together with the family’s assistance.
• Uncle Percival was hurt in a car accident that destroyed the front of Verona and Zelda’s shop, Chakras.
• Everyone also helps out with Jonas and Noah’s new shop, name to be determined.
• Fred goes out on a few dates with Branson.
Five Stars
Another excellent job, Ms. Abbott. I adored Scornful Scones. Kate, Leo, and Fred have a wicked sense of humor. My favorite part was watching Fred figure out her gut feelings. But seriously another orange mini? Still, I am giving Scornful Scones a rating of five stars.
If you like cozies, this is an awesome series. Corgis, food, recipes, books, and murder, what more would you like?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Scornful Scones by Mildred Abbott.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Fred is busy with her first tourist season in Estes Park since The Cozy Corgi opened. But she still finds time to attend an event at the Black Bear Roaster. Even though the owner can’t stand her, she stills needs to show her face. Wouldn’t you know it. She accidentally overhears an argument between two people and soon after one of them chokes to death. Fred and Watson are once again on the case.
So many fun things to talk about. I was especially excited about Ben and Nick. Twin brothers that couldn’t be more different. Fred hired Ben to work in her increasingly busy bookstore and bakery and is soon immersed in the job of his clearing his brother Nick’s name when he is arrested for murder. I had so many hopes about these two brothers. And had such fun reading whether things went the way I wanted.
Fred was a bit off her stride this time around. Not only because of her anxiety over possibly rekindling her romance with Sergeant Branson. But also because she struggled with not one but two suspicious deaths and, for the first time, had doubts about her ability to solve them. I sure struggled with trying to solve these myself. Without even realizing it, I retained in my head some clues that didn’t even appear to be clues. How did the author do that? When the big reveal came, I remembered all those hidden hints and had a now I see moment.
Watson, our furry friend, is his usual incorrigible self. He usually avoids most people, unless you are a regular dog biscuit enabler. He does have a crush on Park Ranger Leo and Fred’s stepfather Barry. He goes all silly when they’re around. And now there seems to be another human with mysterious charms for Watson to go all waggy tailed over.
More is revealed about the character’s of Estes Park. Two suspicious deaths kept me guessing. And lots of furry mayhem had me wearing a grin all through this one.
I’m more in love with this series than ever.
Scornful Scones was a delightful visit to the small town of Estes Park, tagging along while Fred and Watson poke their nose in another mystery.
Katie’s delightful squeal of joy and Watson’s scrabbling feet as he rushes to get the treat he missed when it was thrown to him put an immediate smile on my face.
A small town takes a while to accept an outsider and Fred sure doesn’t make it easy for them. Everyone knows everyone’s business and they are just waiting for Fred to start questioning her suspects, wasting no time in letting the gossip fly.
These quirky characters and their furry friends are always a delight to visit, giving me some light mystery and smiles.
I don’t have any complaints about Scornful Scones. It was a nice change of pace from the heavy, gruesome, dark and dangerous stories that I immerse myself in, leaving me needing a fun read for a change of pace.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Scornful Scones by Mildred Abbott.
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Book 5 in this fun series. I just love Watson and how he interacts with his owner “Fred”. I have read all the book in this series and have watched the characters develop. Mildred Abbott does a wonderful job of describing the town in Colorado. She makes you want to jump on a plane and go see it for yourself.
Love this wonderful cozy mystery series! Great introduction and interactions between characters. Beautiful descriptions of scenery and characters. I definitely will read all of Mildred Abbott’s other books. Fabulous writer; don’t miss any of these books!
Fred does it again! This one kept me guessing a little bit trying to decide what the motivation was behind the most recent death in Estes Park. Fred kept me hopping from one theory to another as different people in town come under suspicion. I have really been enjoying Fred, Katie and Leo’s friendship as Fred becomes more submerged in the town’s culture. I wish I could figure out the mystery behind Branson Wexler…there’s just some secret I know Fred is going to discover. Watson seems to be an excellent judge of character so I’m trusting him. I liked finding more out about Paulie and Athena too. The residents of Estes Park have a lot of character and just pull me in with all of their quirkiness and strong personalities. I’m becoming a regular cozy mystery addict. I keep needing my fix.
This book was fantastic. IMy first book by her. I was not
sorry, I read it. Characters were good, surprising ending, which I like.
I usually can pick out the ending, not so in this book.
Try you will love, it.
Scornful Scones is book five in the series but you can read them as stand alone, but it’s more fun in order! This way you do have a better understanding of all the characters. And man oh man is there a lot of characters!
Fred (Winifred) is back to sort of dating Branson, though she still hasn’t written Leo off all the way either. It looks like Katie and Leo are pretty cozy. I couldn’t help the pun) and we get to see more of Paulie and his fastidious corgis Flotsum and Jetsum.
Things seem to have settled down on the murder front until Eustace Beaker chokes on a scone at Carla’s debut of her new brand and son. (if you’ve read the others you know this is a running joke about Carla’s scones being so dry you could choke on them) But Fred is unconvinced and up to her snooping.
There are many twists and turns, and its hard to guess the real killer. The story is fun to read and who doesn’t like cute corgis? I also love the recipes in the back of the book!