Food blogger Hope Early takes on a cold case that’s heating up fast . . . Building on her recipe for success with her food blog, Hope at Home, Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the local library in Jefferson, Connecticut. She’s also learning about podcasts, including a true-crime one called Search for the Missing, hosted by Hope’s childhood friend, Devon Markham. Twenty years ago on … Devon Markham. Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day, right here in Jefferson, Devon’s mom disappeared and was never found. Finally Devon has returned to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother—and she asks Hope to help.
The next day Hope discovers Devon’s apartment has been ransacked. Her laptop with the research on her mother’s cold case is missing, and Devon is nowhere to be found. When her friend’s body is later discovered in a car wreck, Hope is convinced it’s no accident. Clearly, Devon was too close to the truth, and the cold-blooded killer is still at large in Jefferson. Now it’s up to Hope to find the guilty party—before the food blogger herself becomes the next subject of another true-crime podcast . . .
Includes Recipes from Hope’s Kitchen!
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Food blogger Hope Early has a full plate running her popular blog, Hope at Home; doing freelance work; and teaching a blog class at the local library. Living in the Northwest hills of Connecticut in the winter with her pets—Bigelow (dog), Princess (cat), and a couple of chickens; she also enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Ethan, the chief of police.
Hope has a knack for solving mysteries, and when the daughter of a missing woman returns to town determined to find out what happened to her mother 20 years before; Hope’s mixed up in the middle of the old cold case.
A swift, tight plot keeps this cozy novel moving and grooving. Hope is a strong protagonist backed up with a variety of interesting secondary characters. The killer reveal and truth about the circumstances leading up to the murders is clever and I actually had my suspicions about this character, but didn’t know the motive until the end. A final yummy perk is the tasty recipes the author shares after the story. I highly recommend this fourth story in the Food Blogger series.
I honestly reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
I loved “The Corpse Who Knew Too Much” the 4th book in Debra Sennefelder’s “A Food Blogger Mystery” series. Visiting Jefferson, Connecticut has become a pleasure, even in winter.
I love Hope as she is real and I have become invested in her and what is happening around her. I like her family and friends, Claire, Jane, Drew and of course Ethan (Police Chief boyfriend) and the dynamics between them all. Don’t get me started on her dog Bigelow, Poppy the chicken and Princess the cat!
There was sadness in this book as they looked back on her childhood friends missing mum. With a few suspenseful moments as well as some lighthearted ones, but with plenty of twists and turns to keep us entertained. I did suspect the killer early on but I started second guessing myself as there was plenty of suspects.
I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Hope in this series and I look forward to reading the next book …
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love this series. I really like the main character, Hope, and her friends. They are so down to earth and very likeable. This was a well written mystery that had me guessing right to the end. This book is my favorite of the series, so far.
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is the second book that I’ve read in the Food Blogger Mysteries and it was wonderful catching up with Hope, Jane, Drew, Claire, and the rest of the gang. This is book number four in the series and if you haven’t read any of the other books, Sennefelder gives you enough background and references to previous cases that you won’t be lost. Although with any series, starting from the first book is always a great idea so you can watch the characters grow and be privy to insider information. The Uninvited Corpse is book one in the series in case this is a new series to you.
Hope is going non-stop all of the time and is dealing with a lot; creating new recipes for her blog and all the things that come along with maintaining a blog, running a class at the local library, learning to do podcasts, remodeling/decorating her older farmhouse, working on her relationship with the town sheriff and his daughters, and solving not one, but three murders! It’s no wonder she’s finally hired an assistant to help with the administrative parts of her blogging business and someone to help around the house and with her chickens. And besides solving three murders she also figures out who’s been stealing small objects around her house. I’m tired just thinking of having to handle all of that.
But with giving Hope so many responsibilities, Sennefelder uses it to write a great cozy since there is always something happening. And while everything is going on, Sennefelder is continuing to have her main characters grow and make sure the new ones are well developed. And I feel like Sennefelder has really stepped up her game when it comes to including Hope making new recipes fitting seamlessly into the story, as well as all the yummy recipes at the end of the book. There’s a couple of cookie recipes that I know I will be trying out soon.
As far as the mystery went I was guessing for quite a bit of the book. Towards the end, one of the characters makes a comment that stuck out so I knew they were involved, but I wasn’t exactly sure as to the why. And I really enjoyed how Sennefelder incorporated a true crime podcast into the book since they are so popular and it seemed to give the cozy a bit of a darker feel. Not that it isn’t a true cozy, it just has a bit more menacing creepiness behind it.
Another excellent addition to the Food Blogger Mysteries and the cozy genre!
Well written with interesting characters and unexpected but plausible solution to mystery. Also the recipes were great, especially the one-bowl brownies!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Twenty years ago on Valentine’s Day, a woman went missing. The mother of Hope’s friend Devon Markham. She was never found and now Devon is back in Jefferson, Connecticut to find out what happened to her mom and she asks Hope for her assistance. But the very next day, Devon is missing and all her notes about her mother’s case are gone too. Later, Devon is found dead after what appears to be a traffic accident but Hope knows better. Devon was onto the killer’s trail and had to be stopped. Now Hope has picked up the case and is determined to catch the killer even though she may die trying.
Hope Early’s blog is far more successful than my blog with corporate sponsors and a huge following. She is so busy she has hired an assistant to help her meet all her commitments. She also has a little help with her chickens and home projects. Teaching a class about starting a blog seems like a natural fit. She has a little spare time to spend with Boyfriend/Chief of Police Ethan Cahill but they both get busier when there is yet another murder investigation.
Hope is an interesting amateur sleuth and she is all in to find the person who killed her friend as well as solving a 20-year-old case. She receives some nice assists from friend Drew and her sister Claire. These core characters are all very well developed. I love the way they work together to a common goal. The bit of sibling rivalry between Claire and Hope is always spot-on.
This mystery really tugged on my heartstrings. How awful to lose your mother with no explanation. Did she walk away from her family? Was she kidnapped? Is she alive somewhere? or dead nearby? I totally understood Devon’s need to find the truth and was so upset when her body was found. I was so wrapped up in the story my suspect list was all over the place and I never honed in on anyone. I was intrigued by all the information Devon had gathered about her mom and that she had done other “Search for the Missing” podcasts before tackling the one closest to her heart. Ms. Sennefelder does an excellent job of blending some intense situations with some lighthearted moments to keep the story well in the cozy realm but some of Hope’s tactics made me a little nervous. All the clues were cleverly placed and the big reveal was a total surprise.
I love the food blogger theme of this series. I always seem to learn something from Hope even though our blogs are totally different. The recipes she posts had my tastebuds tingling. Yes, the recipes are included at the end of the book.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much had a different feel than other books in this series. The characters are engaging, and the story really grabbed me but my heart really clung to Devon and her story. I really loved the ending and that Hope has now dipped into the idea of podcasts. I am excited to see how she may use them going forward.
Another exciting installment in this tasty series about a food blogger who ends up with too much on her plate. Hope Early doesn’t let cold and snow keep her from filling her schedule with places to go and people to see. She seems to be helping others out regularly and has difficulty saying NO.
One of her assignments is to help others learn the behind the scenes world of blogging.
When visiting her sister, Claire, she discovers that an old high school friend has returned to town, just in time for the anniversary of the date this friend’s mother disappeared. Devon has decided that if no one else will discover what happened to her mother, she will dig into this very cold case.
With all the elements one desires in an amateur sleuth mystery, this story also has a knife sharp edge.
My only complaint is that it arrives at a time when I have had enough of blizzardly cold weather and this book threw me solidly back into winter! Curl up closer to a fire as you read it.
Will Hope’s dogged determination to find the truth lose her friends or even her own life?
Are some mysteries and secrets better left laid to rest?
Do the things that happen to us alter the way we view the world and people we thought we knew? How well do we really know people around us?
More questions than answers pop up as Hope seeks not only to fulfill Devon’s search for the truth but to make the authorities realize there are connections between this twenty year old case and recent deaths. And will Hope’s own romance suffer from her persistence?
You will eagerly turn the pages to find out.
The book is also filled with friends and food, making me long for dinners with extended family.
Delicious recipes included at the end.
I’ve loved this series from the start, but this latest installment blew me away! Hope Early has truly found her niche, both in food blogging and in rooting out killers. I should have seen the ending coming, but the red herrings swimming through the chapters like mad little demons completely threw me off. To me that’s the sign of a brilliantly executed cozy. I hope this series will have a long run because I’m already salivating for the next Hope Early mystery.
I find cold cases to be very interesting. The resources we have now are so much better than in the past. Go along with Hope, Ethan, Devon, and the good folks of Jefferson as they plow through the snow and the clues. I enjoyed this story and the characters in it. Hope makes some very tasty food for her blog. There are even some recipes included at the back of the book. Maybe it’ll be warmer on my next trip. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Winter Snows and Cold Case Murder
This story is a cozy mystery that takes place in Connecticut. It includes several recipes at the end. This book is part of a series and the first I’ve read. While the reader may enjoy the series more if read in order, it is not necessary. The story moves right along. Our food blogger heroine has a history of solving murders and getting herself in hot water while doing it. Unbelievably, she continues digging into this cold case even while being threatened and the dead bodies piling up. The story has some creepy nightmare scenes that will give me nightmares. A critical part of the plot and a key ingredient to solving the murder doesn’t show up until very near the end of the book. It is hard to put together a puzzle when you’re missing some pieces! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much earns 5/5 Cold Cases…Entertaining!
Debra Sennefelder has penned a delightful page turner with a food blogger perfecting her amateur detecting skills on a few murders plaguing Jefferson, Connecticut. Sennefelder’s well-written drama centers around Hope Early who seems to manage well her busy schedule running a successful blog, Hope at Home, and expanding to teaching blogging at the local library. She’s also remodeling her old farmhouse, navigating a romantic relationship with the local detective, and as circumstances have it she’s become interested in podcasting. She sure could use a few extra hours in the day or maybe an assistant. Devon Markham is a new resident in town with a popular podcast, Search for the Missing. Her main topic has been the twenty-year-old cold case of her own mother’s disappearance. Hope’s fascination turns serious when Devon is found murdered. Engaging! The drama is compelling, slowly revealing details of the cold case and connections to the recent murder. Using a third-person narrative, readers are kept engaged with a writing style filled with descriptive language and entertaining dialogue. Don’t think you’ll be able to figure out this one before the surprise conclusion…fun to try! Join right in with this fourth book’s drama since revisiting background and character connections from the three previous stories make it easy for newbies. Food Blog Treats! Hope Early shares her thoughts (a delightful addition) and easy-to-follow and varied recipes perfect for any stay-at-home meal: Three-Cheese Lasagna, Rustic Apple Pie, One-Bowl Brownies, Sunshine Corn Muffins, Sugar Cookies, and Double-Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies!
This book just seemed to fly by for me. It was a one and a half day read and if I hadn’t had some prior obligations on one of those days it would have been a one day read. I really enjoy the characters in this series. I especially enjoy the sibling relationship between Hope and Claire. Being a younger sister myself I can relate to some of the relationship issues that come with being younger. I love Drew, Hope’s best friend. I love it whenever he gets the chance to show up Norrie. The one thing I think the characters go right in this book is Hope’s penchant for accusing someone of a crime without all the information or evidence. It’s a realization I think the characters came to in this book and perhaps there will be some growth in that area. I’m still out on how I feel about Hope and Ethan as a couple given he is the Chief of Police and she is such a busybody.
The mystery was well done and kept me guessing through the entire book. There is a murder that occurred 20 years ago that lead to the current murder of an old high school friend of Hope’s. The murder involved this friend’s mother and was complicated not only by the passage of time but the secrets that were being kept by some of the people in town. I was surprised by the identity of the killer. I thought I was on the right track with my guess but I was off (as usual).
This is a fun series and I enjoy catching up with Hope, Claire, Drew, and the rest of the cast. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley.
I missed book #3, but it didn’t impact my reading of this book. We are briefly told who died in the last book, but it didn’t really matter much to this story or the community the author is building.
After three books, I’m still rather ambivalent about the series. I haven’t really warmed up to Hope and the recurring secondary characters though the story lines and Hope’s world is quite full and detailed.
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
What a good story! Her friend Devon’s mother going missing all those years ago was so sad. Drew me right in, though. Great characters. Can’t wait for the next one.
A great book! Hope’s childhood friend, Devon, is back in town with a podcast about missing women. Her latest podcast is about her mother, Joyce, who disappeared 20 years ago. Devon is determined to find out what really happened to her mom and asks Hope for help. Before Hope can make a decision, Devon has disappeared and her apartment has been ransacked. When Devon later turns up dead in her car, Hope is convinced that Devon was murdered. Hope sets out to find the truth about what happened to Joyce and to Devon. When a woman who was friends with Joyce dies in an apparent suicide, Hope is once again convinced that someone killed all three women. Can Hope figure out the truth without getting herself killed? I really enjoyed this book and trying to figure out what happened to Joyce as well as Devon and Donna. Hope’s class on developing a website and blogging was intriguing and I enjoyed seeing her relationship with Ethan deepen. The characters and the storyline were intriguing and it was fun to try to figure out who the killer was and what happened to Joyce 20 years ago. Recipes included!! I look forward to reading more of this series and seeing what’s next for Hope and seeing more of her relationship with Ethan!
Having already adored this series since book one, I was truly over the top excited for, THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. I have felt connected to lead character, Hope, from the beginning. It’s been fun to read about a fellow blogger, even if we do blog about different things.
This is perhaps my favorite book in the Food Blogger Mysteries so far. I’ve enjoyed watching, author Debra Sennefelder, flesh out and grow her cast of characters. Characters I both love, and love to not like. They are layered with wonderful, and not so perfect layers. She truly is a gifted writer.
Sennefelder’s gift of writing doesn’t stop at creating rich characters. She uses it to superbly pen mysteries that keep the reader both intrigued and engaged. That talent is doubled in, THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TO MUCH, which features murder both past and present.
Trying to follow along with everything that was going on in this story, both delighted me and made my head spin (in a good way). Seriously, for as many cozy mysteries as I have read, it’s rare for me to figure out whodunit. But with author Sennefelder at the helm, I didn’t even stand a fair chance. She has a way of sidetracking me every time I think I’m on to something. I’d get all excited because I just knew I had it all worked out, and she would pull the rug out from under me. LOL Well done, Debra. Brava!
Above, I mentioned this may be my favorite book in the series so far. Honestly, there’s no maybe about it. THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH win hands down.
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is another terrific book written by this amazing author.
Can Hope figure out what happened to Devon and Devon’s mom twenty years ago?
Hope Early
Hope Early is not only our sleuth but a wonderful blogger herself. She runs her blog that specializes in not only food but things to do around the house. I have always loved reading about this series just for that fact alone. It’s great to see what other bloggers are out there, even though I still stand by my notion to be doing this book blog. If Hope were an actual person, I would probably be following her blog and trying out these delicious recipes that she is always making.
The Mystery
Hope gets asked by an old high school friend, Devon Markham, to help her out with her mom’s cold case from twenty years ago. She didn’t give Devon her answer right away, and then her old friend dies in a freak accident. So, Hope decides to investigate. Now with the ball rolling faster from what Devon had started with her true-crime podcast while trying to figure out what happened to her mom Joyce Markham. Let’s say I got stuck on a red herring; then I was clueless on who could have done it. Until the killer revealed themselves, and then I got the picture.
I feel so bad for the Markham family, even though they are a fictional family. So much happens to them within the span of twenty years. At least justice is finally going to be served, and they will finally know what happened to not only Devon but Joyce.
Five Stars
My rating for The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is five stars, and I give it my most outstanding recommendation. Ms. Sennefelder has done excellent work on figuring out everything for A Food Blogger Mystery series, and I love seeing what the characters are saying in my head as it unfolds. I need to start writing down the suspects, clues, and motives a bit better than what I have been doing to get it right next time potentially!
Let me know if you figure it out before the reveal at the end.
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 The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Hope has the perfect job for someone who likes to cook and write, a food blogger, and now she is adding teacher to her list of incredible talents. In the newest addition to the culinary “A Food Blogger Mystery” series, The Corpse Who Knew Too Much, Hope is busy solving a mystery and finding a killer while trying to keep herself out of trouble. But it isn’t going to be easy, and she ends up doing precisely what she swore she wouldn’t, investigating a homicide of an old school friend.
Characters in this series have endless traits that are endearing, and some that are irritating. Hope and her sister, Claire, always seem to be on opposite sides when it comes to sleuthing. Not because they don’t want the crimes solved, they just have vastly different ways of being involved. As business people, Hope, a culinary blogger, and her sister, a home stager, both know what it takes to make things work, and even when they don’t see eye-to-eye, they respect and love each other. Hope’s boyfriend Ethan, the chief of police, doesn’t play as big of a role in this book as he has in the past. I would have liked to have Ethan more involved. Readers will love Drew and want to have him in every story.
There are plenty of suspects and a good mystery which is well written, entertaining, and will keep readers guessing. Twists and turns are peppered throughout The Corpse Who Knew Too Much, and motives are easy to understand. This book could stand on its own, and anyone who has not read any of the other books in the series will have no problem figuring out the main character’s roles. The recipes sound delicious and are easy to follow if you want to try your hand at cooking one of them or all of them. I love the blogger aspect of these books; it is very much in sync with today’s world. I am happy to recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys great characters, delightful recipes, and a mystery you won’t figure out on the first page.
Great book!
The Corpse Who Knew Too Much by Debra Sennefelder is the fourth in The Food Blogger Mysteries series. This easy to read Cozy can be read as a standalone though.
A former classmate has returned to town to re-investigate her mother’s disappearance from twenty years ago for her podcast.. Devon has rented the apartment over Hope’s sister store and set up all her notes. Devon also has enlisted Hope to help her but before she can get involved, the apartment has been broken into, the notes are missing and Devon is found dead in her wrecked car. Hope feels Devon’s death wasn’t an accident and sets out to get answers.
This story has plenty of suspects to have you guessing to the end. The characters are likeable as is the setting. There are recipes included.
I received an ARC from Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.