The theft of a friend’s priceless, family-legacy Christmas ornaments brings amateur detective and culinary expert, Sadie Hoffmiller, back on the case in a new standalone cozy mystery. In the latest chapter to the Culinary Mystery series, amateur detective Sadie Hoffmiller continues combining her sleuthing with her cooking and baking to connect with people and gain information she might … information she might otherwise not have access to. Moreover, now that Sadie is married to Detective Pete Cunningham, she has a street-savvy husband to test out her crime-solving theories.
With Christmas approaching, Sadie is preparing for a large blended-family gathering–including many new grandchildren–in their home in Fort Collins, Colorado. Even with the festive chaos, Sadie drops everything when word gets out that her friend, Mary, is the victim of a holiday robbery.
At ninety-four years old, and nearly blind, Mary knows this is may be her last Christmas and the last year to enjoy her family heirloom Christmas tree ornaments. She wants just one more holiday to display her ornaments and following Christmas Eve Mass, she’ll pass them on to her great-granddaughter, Joy. Though priceless to the family, the collection has been valued at $40,000, and the Christmas tree in the care facility has never looked so good. But before the ornaments can be retrieved by Mary, eleven of the most expensive ornaments are stolen.
A holiday Christmas caper might be new to Sadie, but she’s ready to mix in her seasoned crime-solving skills with a pinch of new holiday recipes.
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Another fantastic mystery for my favorite detective, Sadie Hoffmiller. Heartwarming and delightful! Merry Christmas to me!!
The Candy Cane Caper by Josi S. Kilpack is the thirteenth A Culinary Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series (like me). Sadie Cunningham is a retired detective who now uses her expertise to craft culinary mysteries when not whipping up baked goods. Sadie takes time out of her baking schedule, to help her dying friend, Mary decorate her Christmas tree. Mary has a collection of vintage ornaments that her father brought over from Germany and France after World War I. When eleven ornaments are found missing the next day, Sadie works to get them back. She does not want Mary’s last Christmas ruined by a thief. Sadie bakes up some special cookies and sets out to wheedle answers out of suspects. I liked that Sadie actively investigated the crime. There are good clues that help readers follow the path to the guilty party. I appreciated that this mystery was a robbery instead of a murder. I enjoyed the descriptions of Mary’s beautiful vintage Christmas ornaments. It is a shame that they do not make ornaments (kugel and Dresden paper) like this any longer. Mary’s collection is rare and valuable. There are some humorous moments in The Candy Cane Caper with my favorite being when Mrs. Claus got her bustle stuck on a chair. Candy Cane Caper is a lighthearted cozy mystery that reminds me of Ellie Alexander’s A Bakeshop Mystery series with Jules. There are recipes included for the various items that Sadie baked. The Candy Cane Caper is charming Christmas cozy with a salacious Santa, a bothersome bustle, a bevy of baked goods, a kugel loving criminal, and a tight timeline.
The Candy Cane Caper by Josi S. Kilpack is book thirteen in the Cozy Culinary Mystery series. This is the first one I have read but had no problem getting up to date..
Christmas is coming fast and Sadie is busy baking and visiting her almost blind friend, Mary, in assisted living. When Mary asks Sadie to decorate her Christmas tree with her family heirloom ornaments, she happily agrees. Once Mary goes into detail about the ornaments, Sadie realizes they are worth a small fortune. Then when some of the ornaments come up missing Sadie is on the hunt to find them before Mary finds out.
This is an easy to read cozy with plenty of suspects but what I most enjoyed was the reuniting of family. The setting and characters are great. And you get some yummy recipes.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
The Candy Cane Caper is the 14th book in the Culinary Mystery series. However, I had not read any previous books and I was able to follow along.
Sadie is overwhelmed with checking things off her to-do list before her family arrives for Christmas. Yet, when her friend’s priceless, family-legacy Christmas ornaments go missing, Sadie is on the case.
I liked Sadie as she is quirky, and being a retired P.I. she does stick her nose in where it doesn’t belong, but it’s always done with good intentions. I liked how the story stressed the importance of family, friendship, and not judging others by appearance.
I really enjoyed how this Cozy was about the missing ornaments rather than murder and I loved learning about the ornaments history. (I use to collect ornaments as a teenager)
There are several suspects as family, friends, and nursing home staff are included in the suspect list. I didn’t guess the thief until the very end.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Sadie is getting ready to play host to her family for Christmas. While her husband, a detective, is out of town, her dear friend and elderly neighbor Mary becomes the victim of a robbery just days before Christmas. Some of her most cherished antique ornaments have been stolen! These ornaments are not just any old ornaments either. The robbery had to know they were worth a pretty penny. Who would do something to such a sweet elderly woman in a nursing home? Mary had just told Sadie the ornaments were to be a gift to her great-granddaughter after the holiday. To make matters even worse, this would likely be Mary’s last Christmas. Will Sadie be able to locate the missing ornaments before Mary finds out their missing?
This was an audio book that I chose to read in the spirit of Christmas. This was the first book I’ve read by Josi S. Kilpack and I really enjoyed it! It was another great cozy mystery and I am looking forward to read more by this author! I rate this book
The Candy Cane Caper is a long overdue read for me. I have read all of the culinary series by Ms. Kilpack but this one just escaped my radar. I have loved this series from the first time I met Sadie Hoffmiller in Lemon Tart, and devoured each book. When the series ended with Wedding Cake, I was sad to see the series end, although happy to see Sadie and Pete become Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham. You can imagine my delight when I received this book as a Christmas gift.
Ms. Kilpack picks right back up where the previous book lets off and brings us up to date with Sadie’s life. I have missed Sadie’s adventures. She is a smart, resourceful woman that knows how to use the recipes she prepares to get the information she needs. With clues sprinkled throughout, and the varied storylines of the suspects, I was caught off guard when the thief was revealed. Another excellent addition to the Culinary Cozy Mystery Series with mouthwatering recipes included.
I’m not a huge cozy mystery reader. I listened to this on Audible because it was “Included” with my membership, and because it was a Christmas themed book. I thought it was a good book. After I finished it, I learned it was the last of a 13 book series. Now I want to go back and read the entire series! I loved the reader for this book. She was fantastic.
I love Sadie. She and Pete are cute together. This is a mystery about stolen Christmas ornaments. It is sweet but has a fun caper to it. There are lots of characters. Some of them are rough, others sweet, some suspicious. The mystery kept me engaged and actually surprised me in the end. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to escape for a few hours and enjoy a cute mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest review on this book.
This is a great book! It shows the interaction between family members and friends in stressful situations! It has humor and heartbreak, and not only do you get a fantastic book you get some great sounding recipes! I’m absolutely sure you’re going to love it too!
Overall Rating: 4 stars
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrator-Pam Ward: 4 stars
My thoughts on this book:
• I enjoyed this Sadie mystery. It was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I just had to know who took Mary’s antique Christmas ornaments.
• I liked Sadie’s personality. One full of kindness, don’t interfere with my investigation attitude, and love for those around her.
• There were many secondary players in this novel. They were varied, well developed, interesting, and added depth to the storyline.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were very well done, easy to visualize, and to feel.
• The pacing of this story was good. It was neither too fast nor too slow.
• There was a smooth, coherent flow to this book. The author’s writing style was descriptive, clear, and concise.
• The narrator had a pleasant voice and read with a lot of expression.
• This was a clean read and I appreciate that.
• This was a great mystery that will please amateur sleuth readers.
This was just an OK cozy read for me. Sadie is celebrating Christmas and is worried that the storm will delay the arrival of her family. Her across the street neighbor, Mary is celebrating her last Christmas in an assisted living home. She asks Sadie to pick up her heirloom Christmas Tree Ornaments and decorate her tree. Mary is blind but still recalls all the ornaments from her childhood. As Sadie decorates the tree she is shocked to discover that the ornaments are very expensive Antique German ornaments. When some are stolen overnight she is determined to solve the crime and get them back. It was a very slow read for me and I felt the book could have been a lot shorter. There were a lot of details that did not add to the story. The recipes looked good but there were scattered through the book and just slowed the story down more. The mystery was OK and there were enough suspects but I was able to figure out culprit. This book was disappointing and way to slow for me.
I love everything Josi Kilpack writes and this is no exception! Sadie is my hero! And it is a very merry Christmas when I get a chance to read about her once again!
The Candy Cane Caper by Josi S. Kilpack is a sweet clean mystery with protagonist Sadie Hoffmiller Cunningham at the center of the book. Sadie and her husband Pete have been married for five years and have a combined family. Pete is a detective and Sadie is a retired schoolteacher, amateur detective, and chef.
Sadie’s neighbor, Mary who is now in a home is in declining health and not expected to live much longer. She is determined to last one more Christmas in the hopes of repairing her relationship with her daughter Ivy. Her granddaughter Joy is around to help Mary out in whatever she needs including daily visits.
Sadie also visits regularly and because Mary is blind, she helps put up a tree for Mary. Mary has a lot of ornaments that are worth a long of money. She is worried that something could happen to the ornaments as Mary wishes to give them to Ivy. Sadie’s worries are affirmed as some ornaments turn up missing. Now Sadie has to find out who stole the ornaments before Mary realizes that they are missing. Mary wants to give the ornaments to Ivy after Christmas. Pete is away so she is on her own.
Not only is she trying to find out who the thief is she has to get ready for the holidays, bake the Cunningham Candy Cane Cake and worry about the weather all within 24 hours. Family members are all coming from different states and bad weather is headed to Fort Collins.
What did I think, well I was pleased with Sadie and the dozen Christmas themed recipes in the book. I loved Sadie, strong determined woman and a wonderful friend to Mary. A few times later in the book, I was moved to tears. It is sad when someone is dying and the author wrote this part of the story with empathy but it was also lighthearted. This book is a sweet, clean mystery with great characters. I can’t wait to make some of the recipes with the holidays coming they will be helpful.
If you are looking for a fun mystery, then pick up a copy of the book! I recommend it.
I love Sadie Hoffmiller (now Sadie Cunningham), the “59-ish” amateur detective that seems to find trouble, or it finds her, wherever she goes. It’s been five long years since the last Culinary Mystery book, but now Sadie’s back with all kinds of Christmas plans which may get derailed when her good friend’s Christmas ornaments are stolen.
Sadie’s husband Pete is out of town on business and she’s got a lot to do by Christmas Eve. It’s their first Christmas with all of their kids, their spouses and children coming in to celebrate, so Sadie wants everything to be perfect. Her good friend Mary is in a care facility, and with this more than likely being her last Christmas Sadie wants it to be a memorable one. Everything’s going according to her schedule until Mary’s heirloom ornaments disappear from the tree in her room. Somehow in between cooking and delivering gifts, Sadie needs to make time to catch the thief and recover the ornaments and she’s only got 24 hours to do it!
Oh, how I love Sadie. I’ve read every book in the series and was thrilled when I found out the author was writing another one. I love Sadie’s organizational skills and all her lists because I’m a list maker too. I love the humorous situations Sadie finds herself in–when she tries to get information from Joy’s boyfriend without him knowing who is was priceless. There’s also the scene in the mall when Sadie’s mistaken for the hired Mrs. Claus that didn’t show up. They talk Sadie into filling in and the children’s reactions to her reminded me of Tim Allen’s The Santa Claus. There’s also Sadie’s exclamations using Christmas words such as Holy Nutcracker. I loved them all.
This book has so much heart to it too. Sadie helps Mary and her daughter start mending their strained relationship and she helps Mary’s great-granddaughter Joy come to terms with something that happened years before. This is a perfect book to read to get into the Christmas spirit and of course it includes all of Sadie’s recipes.
I’ve become of fan of Josi S. Kilpack’s historical books over the past couple years, so I thought I’d give her cozy mysteries a try. What I didn’t realize is The Candy Cane Caper is the fourteenth book in the series. However, The Candy Cane Caper stood totally on its own. Not once did I feel like I was lost or missing out on something because I haven’t read the other books.
Sadie is overwhelmed with checking things off her to-do list before her family arrives for Christmas. Yet, when her friend’s antique Christmas ornaments go missing, Sadie is on the case. Family, friends, and nursing home staff are included in the suspect list.
Sadie is a little quirky, sometimes sticking her nose into things where it doesn’t belong, but her heart is in the right place. While the mystery is front and center in this book, the heart of the story is in the importance of family, friendship, and not judging others by appearance.
Add in some delicious recipes, and it’s no wonder Kilpack’s Sadie fans have requested another serving of the Culinary Mysteries.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
I was so excited when I found out there would be a new Sadie Hoffmiller book. I absolutely love this series and it felt like going home to visit an old friend.
Once again we find Sadie being Sadie, involved with helping others and trying her best to make everything perfect for family and friends. Of course, you can tell that this story takes place at Christmas time. I simply loved all of the recipes in this book and can’t wait to try several of them. A few days before Christmas Sadie finds herself deep in another mystery waiting to be solved. It was fun to be immersed once again in Sadie’s world of spying, snooping, and doing undercover work. She definitely has a way about how she investigates a mystery. There’s also a sweet feeling in this book as she is helping her elderly neighbor who is sick and dying. Sadie helps make things better for Mary and in the long run, learns some important lessons of her own. I highly recommend this novel to all of my fellow Sadie Hoffmiller fans and those who like to read culinary mysteries. This book, of course, could be read on its own but I can’t help saying…PLEASE go back and read all of this series. I have loved it and it was so delightful to once again be solving a mystery alongside the fun-loving Sadie.
Oh, Sadie Hoffmiller–how I’ve missed you! This is a series that does better read in order, since Sadie’s relationships gradually build over time, but it’s not essential. This installment is awhile after the last one ended and was a true delight!
Sadie is a typical busybody housewife, who finds herself in over her head time and again when she sticks her nose too far into someone else’s business. But I absolutely adore her! Her heart is pure and her intent to help others is good, but she has a knack for finding herself in the most precarious situations ever. I’m left cringing, blushing, and internally dying, yet I find myself cheering her on.
Helping her friend, Mary, have the best last Christmas ever, Sadie once again finds herself smack in the middle of a mystery. Her newish husband, Pete, is out of town and she’s also trying to prepare to host their blended families for the holidays and what better way to do so than through the kitchen? I absolutely love Sadie’s recipes that are shared in the books and I can’t wait to try some of the Christmas foods included in this book.
Sadie’s character is like wrapping up in a soft, comfy security blanket, but she’s also entertaining with her unique experiences and I loved her comeback.
Content: mild mystery/danger/peril
*I received a complimentary copy through the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Warning: This book will make you hungry
Josi Kilpack’s Sadie Cunningham series are cozy mysteries with recipes interspersed between the chapters. The cover alone has me wanting hot chocolate with a candy cane stirrer.
This particular episode is a sentimental, cozy Christmas mystery that centers around the ornament collection of Sadie’s elderly friend, Mary. I’ve looked at designer ornaments before and the variety is fascinating – beautiful and fun.. The prices can be impressive, too, lol. If you’ve time, I encourage you to google the subject.
The story’s characters are fully dimensional, relationships are carefully built, and the mystery is deftly constructed. It was very believable – including the critical whodunnit and how it happened.
While there are some sad elements in the story, overall it’s light and fun. The ending in particular was so sweet and happy – this is a great piece of Christmas cheer and family love, no matter what time of year you happen to be reading it.
Thank you to @shadowmountainpub for my review copy! #partner
Awww is there anything better than a heartwarming Christmas event?
The Candy Cane Caper by @authorjosiskilpac is a cozy culinary Christmas mystery!
It publishes October 1st, but let me tell you right now how PERFECT it is to read during the Christmas season.
Absolutely no one gets brutally murdered and there is no crazy AF twist- instead some valuable antique ornaments are stolen.
After reading Verity, it was refreshing to read a pure mystery where the worst thing that was said was ‘son of a nutcracker’ and yes I immediately thought of ‘Elf’.
Plus it has yummy recipes! It has me craving pies, cookies, hearty soups, and of course candy canes.
On the back of my book it says that this is a stand-alone and in many ways it qualifies as one, but of course I wanted to know the backstory and it felt like I was being dropped into the end of an established series. Which essentially, I was.
Speaking of these established characters, I liked them! They felt layered and like they had pasts worthy of reading about.
There were a lot of Christmassy undertones (duh) that I found cute! Even though I read this in September and it’s still like 98º it got in the Christmas spirit.
Of course there is family rifts, heart-warming reunions, shallowness, red herrings, explanations and more!
The ending was just what I expected to happen in a cozy mystery and I was totally happy with it!
Short review: this is a great cozy, Christmas, culinary, white collar mystery that is guaranteed to melt your grinch heart.
BRB- making like all these recipes.
Sadie is gearing up for Christmas and getting her blended family together. She has food to prepare, gifts to buy, and cookies to deliver to friends and neighbors. Her once neighbor Mary asks her to help set up her Christmas tree in the facility that she is now living in and Sadie agrees to help. She knows that this will be Mary’s last holiday and wants to make the elderly woman’s last days as happy and cheerful as possible. While trimming the tree Sadie soon realizes that the ornaments being hung are not only old but worth quite a bit of money. Mary tells her that she would like to leave them to her granddaughter so that she can sell them and make her life better. Sadie isn’t sure about leaving the pricey ornaments up for anyone to see but it will only be for a few days. When Sadie gets a call from Joy, Mary’s niece, telling her that around ten ornaments are missing she I owe she must step in and investigate. Will she be able.to find the ornaments before Mary knows they are gone? Follow along to fix out just what happens!!! This was the first book I’ve read from this author and even though it wasn’t the first of the series it wasn’t hard for me to keep up with all the characters. I enjoyed the read and look forward to returning to the beginning to get to know the characters better!!!