Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She’s a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real … real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.
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I am a big fan of this author. I love the hat shop mystery series and decided to try this one out. I love the characters and the story. I wanted to run out and grab a cupcake!!
Fantabulous. What a fun read, I found this book while perusing my local used bookstore. I always try to locate new first of the series by authors I haven’t read and this did not disappoint.
I love the characters and really look forward to seeing where the three amigos plus a few controlling brothers take their relationship.
I think I had an inkling of who the killer might be, but not until the end of the book. The ending was brilliant.
3+ stars to Jenn McKinlay’s Sprinkle with Murder, the first book in the “Cupcake Bakery” cozy mystery series. I’m a fan of Ms. McKinlay, as I enjoy both her “Hat Shop” and “Library Lovers” mystery series, which pushed me to try this one. It was a fun read that took me about two hours on a train to/from Long Island to see family for the day, and I will continue to read the series.
Story
Mel and Angie have been best friends since an incident with a chocolate bar and a bully in the sixth grade. Almost 25 years later, they co-own a cupcake bakery together in their Scottsdale, Arizona hometown. When their third best friend Tate ask them to design his wedding cake for the upcoming nuptials, they are a little leery (give he is their silent partner in the business) and they aren’t very keen on his bridezilla. Christie Stevens was a famous designer who seemed to make it big by stealing from others and being a general nasty businesswoman. When she ends up dead after taste-testing one of the cupcakes Mel made, the press suspects foul play, claiming Mel had long-buried feelings for Tate. In order to save her reputation, and the bakery, Mel investigates Christie’s life and comes up with a few suspects. While trying to save themselves from the murder, someone else falls prey to the killer, and a rival bakeshop owner takes advantage of the situation. In the end, the stories collide for a bit and Mel almost bites the dust. Luckily, her new crush, Angie’s brother, comes to her rescue.
Strengths
1. McKinlay’s writing is direct, funny and charming. She’s consistent in her tone and story, finds good red herrings and creates strong interest in the cast and story.
2. The characters are likable, and they have some longevity. The rivalry will turn out to be a fun one to follow, as will the different love interests.
Suggestions
1. In the beginning, McKinlay is clear to call out that Tate isn’t gay although he was teased about it as a child. What’s wrong with making a supporting character gay? Perhaps because in this case it was his bride-to-be who was murdered, him being gay wouldn’t have turned out too well… especially when there are already strong hints that he has feelings for either Mel or Angie, and Angie has secret feelings for him. I think it would have been a better and stronger story if he was gay and there weren’t any romantic feelings between the 3 friends.
2. The book is over 7 years old, so it may have been one of the first, but there are at least 10 of these types of series where the protagonist gives up a day job to own a bakery and then solves murder mysteries. Love the concept. Perhaps it was the trend setter. But… something needs to stand out to make it different than the rest. I’ve only read a few series, and just the first one of this series… so I’ll hold judgment until I get through a few more. Make it stand out, Jenn… I know you can do it!
Final Thoughts
A fun read, definitely worth giving it a chance. But challenge yourself. Find 5 or 6 of these series where they revolve around bakeries and decide which has the best chance to survive! McKinlay’s definitely at the top of the list in my book and if the series pushes a bit more in the next book, I’m sure it’ll get a 4 of 5 stars from me.
I have read Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lovers series and loved it but somehow overlooked this series so I’m catching up. I really enjoyed this book which is first in the series. It’s well-written with a wonderful cast of characters and the relationships are well-done. I was drawn into the story from the beginning where the mystery kept me guessing and didn’t want to put the book down. I’m very eager for the next book.
Loved this first installment in Jenn McKinlay’s Cupcake Baker cozy mystery series! But now I really want a cupcake.
This is such a comfort read kind of a series for me. The characters are so fun (especially the secondary characters), the mysteries are twisty and keep me guessing, and the books always make me hungry for cupcakes.
This is the start of a great series by Jenn McKinlay. I have read her Library Lover’s Mystery series and really enjoyed it. I like the quirky cast of characters, best friends Melanie, Angie and Tate; and Melanie’s mom Joyce, her uncle Stan, a police detective, and all of Angie’s brothers including Joe, the district attorney. I loved the descriptions of all of the cupcakes and especially the class that Melanie was teaching with flavors that are also drinks like Mojito Cupcakes. There were several twists before the mystery was solved and I was happy with the way it turned out. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
Absolutely love the characters in this cozy series! Best enjoyed in order.
Really enjoyed this cozy mystery. In this mystery, Melanie, Angie, & Tate have been best friends for over 20 years and are now the proud owners of Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. I definitely recommend reading this to find out more. Also, personally, I found myself craving cupcakes and coffee…and the next book in this series.
This was a great cozy! I love the trio of best friends. Very easy to read. Cupcakes and murder. What’s not to love.
I did not need another cozy mystery series demanding my attentions when I already have nine of them in varying stages of progress, only one of them current, but here we are. And I am hooked. Amusing and fun, I liked the characters immediately. The pages turned easily. I figured out whodunnit just before The Big Reveal. Really, my only complaint was the heavy hand with all the similes. Ease up a little on that front, please! I’ll be back for book two, no question about that.
When Mel is accused of murdering her best friend’s fiancee, she has to set down her cupcake tins and start sleuthing to find the killer.
I’ve heard such praise for this series, and I didn’t feel the debut quite lived up to the promise. However, I did find the plot good and the characters real. I enjoyed the book enough that I will continue on with the second in the series.