Cupcakes not included.Get all three books of Death by Cupcake series in one bundle! A cozy mystery series with a heap of laughs, a generous portion of romance, and just a smidgeon of suspense. The bundle includes Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker, Bring Your Own Baker, and Self-Serve Murder.Come join us at Callie’s Cakes, where murder investigations are on the menu. Warning: This is NOT your …
Warning: This is NOT your mom’s cozy mystery. The books in this series may be a ‘clean’ reads, but if gangs, illegal gambling, strip clubs, and pimps make you turn your nose up at your e-reader, you might want to skip it. The final book in the series also deals with the very real issue of rape on college campuses.
Never Trust A Skinny Cupcake Baker
Callie’s life is rather awesome. She owns a successful bakery and teaches German literature at the local university. There’s just one tiny problem. She has no self-confidence when it comes to her body. And then there’s the little matter of her being accused of murdering her pole dancing instructor. There’s no way Callie’s going to risk losing her teaching position and thus she embarks, with her best baker bud Anna, on a journey to discover the real killer. Between stripper auditions and a detective who insists Callie is the woman of his dreams, it’s a roller coaster adventure.
Bring Your Own Baker
Anna just wants to earn enough money on the side to buy into the bakery, Callie’s Cakes, where she works together with her best nerd pal Callie. The last thing she expects to see when she walks into Arthur’s apartment to do some moonlighting is a blood bath. Callie’s ready to jump into the investigation into Arthur’s murder, and she’s bringing another bakery worker, Kristie, into their hijinks whether Kristie wants to or not. But things aren’t as they seem. There are gang affiliations, illegal gambling dens, and ladies of the night to wade through. Will Anna and Callie discover who murdered Arthur or will Callie’s detective boyfriend and Anna’s self-appointed protector put a stop to such aspirations?
Self-Serve Murder
Kristie may be a sweetheart out to save the world, but sticking her nose into an investigation of rapes across campus makes her the target of a murderer. Before she knows it, Kristie is smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation with her colleagues from the cupcake bakery. If that’s not enough to drive a sane person up the wall, a friend has decided he’s going to keep her safe whether she wants him to or not. And, oh yeah, he’s her man and that’s that.
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The Death By Cupcake Series by D. E. Haggerty is a collection of her three mysteries, Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker, Bring Your Own Baker, and Self-Serve Murder.
I loved Callie, and her everyday, every woman issues, in Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker. Her “Detective Hottie” sounds hot as well. As an opener, it’s wonderful.
In Bring Your Own Baker, the resident pink-haired pixie baker falls in with a tattooed tough guy, gang member Logan the hottie. This story is fun and fast moving, and a definate must read!
Kristen trying to figure out what is happening to the girls at her school in Self-Serve Murder. Secrets revealed and love found. As usual couldn’t put the reader down!
This box set is wonderful, and the three stories center around a bakery and the three friends connected by it. Definitely a must read for anyone who loves cozy and romantic mysteries. Full 5-stars.
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
The Death By Cupcake Series by D. E. Haggerty is a collection of her three mysteries, Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker, Bring Your Own Baker, and Self-Serve Murder.
I loved Callie, and her everyday, every woman issues, in Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker. Her “Detective Hottie” sounds hot as well. As an opener, it’s wonderful.
In Bring Your Own Baker, the resident pink-haired pixie baker falls in with a tattooed tough guy, gang member Logan the hottie. This story is fun and fast moving, and a definate must read!
Kristen trying to figure out what is happening to the girls at her school in Self-Serve Murder. Secrets revealed and love found. As usual couldn’t put the reader down!
This box set is wonderful, and the three stories center around a bakery and the three friends connected by it. Definitely a must read for anyone who loves cozy and romantic mysteries. Full 5-stars.
Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker
How much did I love this??? This read was simply too much fun!
Someone is trying to frame bakery owner and part-time college professor, Callie Muller, for the murder. With two detectives who are more like badly played TV cops than real professionals, Callie realizes that to avoid jail and save her job, she’ll need to do a lil investigating on her own. Okay, Callie doesn’t realize it in the beginning, it’s actually her pink-haired, diminutive bestie, Anna. And trust me here – ANNA ROCKS!
Think up any buddy team…Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, Laurel & Hardy, Martin & Lewis, LUCY AND ETHEL! There is always one buddy who is calm and rational, while the other throws caution to the wind in a heartbeat and lets the chips fall…wherever. Take all the devil-may-care buddies, roll them up into one…and you have Anna! I had several laugh-out-loud moments during this read, and nearly all of them were because of Anna. Who else could convince you to take a pole-dancing class…(stripper dancing), except for your zany, out-of-control best friend? Kudos to the author for this well-developed, breath of fresh air!
Detective Hottie aka Ben is the perfect wannabe boyfriend. He is determined, without being pushy and overbearing. I mean, who spends a year just trying to get a woman to have dinner with him? Once he saw that jealous spark in Callie, all bets were off, and he “moved in for the kill!” Go, Ben!
Dottie was absolutely, positively, perfectly dreadful! Everyone knows a Dottie…and probably wanted to commit homicide at one time or another! LOL! No tears were shed at her demise. But why frame Callie?
Callie. She is where the story hits snags for me. She was smart and resourceful, and brought the snarkiness with a quickness. But the number she allowed her ex to do on her psyche didn’t sit well with me. So she’s carrying a few extra pounds. To not only allow and tolerate the person who’s supposed to care about her most to ridicule and insult her on a regular basis, but to let that mindset beat her down even AFTER he’s walked away? Oh please! She should have thrown herself a party, instead of believing herself unworthy. (And spending all that time pushing hunkalicious Ben away!)
However, for any points Callie lost with me because of her endless, self-deprecating remarks, she gained them back with her amateur sleuthing. She was sharp enough to think outside of the box – of course, with Anna right there tossing out ideas, staging ‘distractions’, and possibly engaging in less than legal cyber activities. I was quite proud of her for not only going through with the audition (Anna, again!), but getting the job! That should have shut down all those negative self-images then and there.
I figured out who the murderer was ¾ of the way through but trust me – my motive couldn’t have been more wrong. That is a plot twist you will not see coming!
If you love cozy mysteries, this is a must-read. If you don’t, or have never read one, this will convert you. Who knew you could have so much fun solving a murder?!?
Bring Your Own Baker
Not quite the book I was anticipating. I cheered for Anna in book 1. While I’m still in her corner, she had me rolling my eyes far too many times. Anna seemed a bit watered down to me…not as fiery and spunky. To be fair, finding a bloody, dead body can wreak havoc on anyone’s psyche. If it’s someone you actually knew – call the guys in white coats. Which she’ll probably need anyway, because other than explaining how she happened to find Arthur’s body to Dumb and Dumber, she never truly talked about it…to anyone. Yet, her many recollections of ‘All. That. Blood.’, coupled with the fact that she blacked out clearly indicates she was traumatized.
It seems as though Anna and Callie did a role reversal. Now Callie was the investigator/instigator ready to rush out and follow up on leads, only she wasn’t as good at it as Anna, and not nearly as funny. (Okay, I focus on humor…sue me!) Still puzzled by Kristie. Half the time she seemed afraid of her own shadow, and the other half, she just seemed…bored.
Ben was adorable, as always. Logan was extremely likable, if a bit too ‘handsy’ right after meeting Anna. Kind of felt bad for Logan when the few times we did see flashes of ‘badass’ Anna, it was usually directed at him. The whole “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar” routine didn’t work for me when all Logan had to do was kiss Anna…or speak…or breathe, and she was putty in his hands. *Glaring at Typical Romance Heroine Behavior*
But the two things I truly didn’t connect with were:
1) Anna’s determination to ‘get justice for Arthur.’ Yes, Anna and Arthur were ‘friends’ from college and he did help her get through a ComPro class; and yes, he did also assist with Callie’s situation; and yes, Anna was even his part-time accountant, but I just never felt there a strong, go-to-the-ends-of the-earth-for-you, ride-or-die type of bond between the two of them. When Callie was in trouble, of course Anna was front and center…they’re not just besties, but as close as sisters. Anna and Arthur didn’t FEEL like anything more than casual acquaintances.
and,
2) This was a SERIOUSLY dangerous ‘investigation.’ Granted, an unsolved murder means a killer is walking around free, but I physically cringed every time the female sleuths set off to follow up on a lead. They were entering a world where murder was a daily solution to a problem. These are smart women who took too lightly the danger they were dealing with. Not smart. At times, it felt like a game to them. Then at others, it felt as though they’re doing it simply because MEN had TOLD them not to. And after telling them to stay away from the case, Logan allows Anna to don her disguise and takes her to a card party for leads. Really?
I still like these characters and the way they flow together. You can feel they truly care about each other. The good-natured, light, sometimes sarcastic banter doesn’t usually miss the mark.
Personally, the bakery-inspired euphemisms and constant references to all things pink and pixie were beginning to make me weary. But Logan’s nickname for Anna was a cute addition.
I do recommend Bring Your Own Baker. FOR ME, it’s not as strong as book one, but I am still #TeamAnna!
Self-Serve Murder
Though little more than a supporting character in the first two Death by Cupcake books, Kristie Lawson is a standout in Self-Serve Murder, the third book in the series.
The youngest of the daring trio (which include Callie and Anna) from Callie’s Cakes, Kristie is, IMHO, the most mature…or at least she doesn’t act on impulse…much.
These ladies seem to have a knack for finding dead bodies, and in Kristie’s case, she wakes up next to one!
(Totally appropriate to freak out at this point.)
A frazzled Kristie is soon ruled out of any involvement in the murder when test results show she was drugged. However, she did know the deceased, and wonders if his death is related to something sinister Kristie was looking into – the drugging and sexual assaults of young women who all happen to be in the Social Work program…like Kristie. So, who’s responsible?
Enter Callie and Anna to help solve the case! *Overly dramatic eyeroll* I like these two, honestly, but they’re just a bit too over-the-top for me some of the time.
But, Kristie…she’s not (quite) from the same ilk. She’s more focused and keeps things closer to the breast – the proof being the major secret she’s kept from everyone, including her best buds/workmates.
While Kristie needs to know what happened to her and Dick (the dead guy) and find out if it’s all related to the sexual assaults, she’d rather keep Lucy and Ethel, er, Callie and Anna…and everyone else away from the case…lest her secret comes out.
Of course, Kristie doesn’t get what she wants.
At the risk of angering their police detective significant others, Callie and Anna commence with the investigation plans. Kristie is more thoughtful…and tactful. Finding and gaining access to a private online forum for sexual assault victims, Kristie attempts to build a friendship with another member. She doesn’t necessarily get the information she’s after, but this connection will bring a big reveal Kristie never saw coming.
A couple of suspicious characters keep popping up at the unlikeliest of times, but when the villain is revealed, it’s #TeamKristie all the way. She’s shocked…and caught off guard, but when she realizes who’s standing before her…I wanted to stand up and cheer. I may have screamed, “YOU GO, GIRL!” It was awesome, and I subconsciously apologized to Kristie over and over again for underestimating her in previous reads.
Self-Serve Murder is a good read. Kudos and much respect to the author for tackling such a sensitive, yet timely issue.
Two things kept this from being a five star for me – 1) the passive/aggressive relationships of Callie/Ben and Anna/Logan. One minute they’re all “We do what we want”, and the next they’re being chastised and plopped on their men’s laps with threats of spankings; and 2) Tyler’s aggressive behavior with Kristie. For me, it was too much too soon considering what happened to his sister, and for not only what Kristie went through, but the fact she was still an ‘innocent.’ It’s okay to be concerned, protective, and interested, but being so ‘hands-on’ right from the start isn’t.
It’s still Kristie’s show, though. Her internal thoughts were quite telling as to who she is. While she may have been falling victim to a case of insta-love, and hesitant to speak, she did eventually say the words, “I belong to no one.”
And that brings the story full circle and cements the vileness of the villain because he took away women’s right to choose. Good stuff!
You could read this as a standalone, but I don’t recommend you do. Reading books one and two will help you to understand more of the conversations, how the other two couples got together…and see just how awesome Kristie Larson truly is!
Enjoy!
Favorite Quotes:
Never Trust a Skinny Cupcake Baker
Anna’s not even five feet tall and, with her bright pink spiky hair, easily confused with a pixie. The girl doesn’t even weigh enough to donate blood – let alone drag a heifer like me across my kitchen.
I debate leaving my glasses in my locker but decide I’d rather look like the nerd I am than be the idiot that knocks herself out when she walks into a door. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Bring Your Own Baker
Arthur wasn’t in a gang. He was a computer programmer. Unless there’s some total nerd gang I haven’t heard of.
Maybe we should get you a gun. No one’s going to be intimidated by a sprite in Strawberry Shortcake pajamas holding a knife.
The last thing we need is a gang targeting Callie’s Cakes because of our extracurricular activities. Stupid gang probably wouldn’t understand that harming cupcakes is akin to sacrilege.
Holy coffee cake, you guys make me hot. Like smoking hot. I should probably carry a fire extinguisher in my clutch.
Not going to lie. I have no idea what I’m talking about. Most of my information about prostitution is the result of an obsession with Richard Gere and Pretty Woman.
Self Serve Murder
Not only is there a man in my bed I don’t know, but he’s passed out. And he’s naked. I’ve never even seen a naked man before. Well, not up close and personal. And he’s lying on his back with his junk hanging out. Not that I’m looking. Okay, I’m looking. Is that what a man’s junk looks like? That’s not attractive at all. It’s wrinkly and small. Way smaller than I expected. I shake my head and look away.
That’s completely cowardly lion territory. I am not a cowardly lion. I am the fierce lioness. I can do this.
Anna’s voice is now all business. These ladies sure take their crime solving seriously.
Not another one! How does this happen? We’re strong independent women. How do we keep ending up with these alpha men?
My Review:
D.E. Haggerty is a sure thing – she has never failed to put a smirk on my face. Her cozy mysteries guarantee an afternoon of delightful entertainment with likable and relevant characters, snark, clever humor, and a fun plot.
I adored Callie and her tendency to spout off obscure yet loosely relevant trivia when nervous. She has a real woman’s curvy body and struggles more than a little with body issues, although she also enjoys her baked goods. Most of us will see a bit of ourselves in Callie, I hope that you notice her intelligence and perseverance as well.
Anna is a pink spiky-haired pixie-sized baker who stumbles into several remarkably odd and dangerous situations once she becomes embroiled in solving her friend’s murder, well she just has to since the police show no interest in the effort. She lives to bake and even uses the names of desserts to swear with.
Kristie is a twenty-three-year-old virgin, good girl, and social work major who awakens with no memory of the previous evening to a naked man in her bed, oh, and he also appears to be dead.
I had no idea that a bakery was such a tough and cutthroat industry as everyone connected to this shop seems to be a magnet for murder and odd corpses. It appears that running a bakery is far more difficult than I ever imagined. I don’t think I could ever tire of these endearing and quirky characters.