A baker with secretsWitches in troubleThe cameras are rollingOn your marks, get set, die!Poppy Wilkinson is thrilled to be chosen as a contestant on The Great British Baking Contest. As an American with English roots, winning the crown as Britain’s Best Baker would open doors she’s dreamed of. In more ways than one. Appearing on the reality show is her chance to get into Broomewode Hall and … chance to get into Broomewode Hall and uncover the secrets of her past.
But strange things are happening on the show’s set: accusations of sabotage, a black cat that shadows Poppy, suspiciously unsociable residents at Broomewode Hall—and the judges can be real witches.
There are murmurs that Broomewode is an energy vortex. It certainly makes Poppy see and do things that aren’t exactly normal, and seems to draw interesting characters to the neighborhood.
When a fellow contestant dies in mysterious circumstances, Poppy has more to worry about than burned pies and cakes that won’t rise. There’s a murderer on the loose and it’s up to Poppy and her new friends to solve the crime before it becomes a real show-stopper.
From USA Today Bestselling Author Nancy Warren, this delicious series of cozy paranormal mysteries will have you guessing until the end. Includes recipes.
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Poppy Wilkinson has landed a spot on the hugely popular British Baking Show. But, her real reason for wanting to be on the show isn’t to win the best baker prize. Instead, she is on a quest to find out about her birth mother. Broomewold Hall, the site of the show, seems to hold the key to learning something about her past. While she is participating in the show, she stumbles (literally) upon a dead body and soon Poppy is drawn into a murder mystery. On top of the stress of the show, the murder, and her quest for answers, she also finds out that she is a witch! All of these factors rolled together make for a highly entertaining book. Fans of TV baking shows will love it as the reader is pulled into the backstage workings of this type of show. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy Poppy’s urge to find the murderer. The magical element to the book just makes it that much more fun! The narrator does a great job and the different voices she uses for the characters make this a very enjoyable listen. If you are looking for a fun, quick and entertaining book to listen to as you go about your daily life, I highly recommend this one. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book by the author and chose to review it.
I was hooked by the magical world and the wonderful characters from page one! This cozy mystery is a true delight.
I received a free code for the audiobook version of this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
I’ve been enjoying this author’s other series The Vampire Knitting Club and I was excited when she released this first book in a new series. I like paranormal cozy mystery books and add in the baking theme as well as a baking competition seemed so much fun. I was so happy to get my hands on the audiobook for this one and started listening as soon as I finished my current book.
The Great Witches Baking Show follows the story of Poppy. Poppy is one of the contestants, but she’s not here for the competition, her main goal is to find out more about her past and she thinks it might be connected to Broomewode Hall where the show is being held. She’s a great baker as well and has trained hard to be on this show. I thought it was interesting how she had an extra goal for being there. There are also some fun baking related scenes.
The story started off a bit slow for me, there is a lot of information to get first. From how the show works to Poppy’s past and background to why she’s here. Then there is the first episode of baking and only after that the mystery really starts, although I didn’t mind this set-up and had expected the mystery to start later in the book as that’s what happens in this author’s other series as well. And while I liked the baking part, I only got really into it once the mystery started as it felt that only then the story really took off. And the other side plot lines start progressing around then as well.
I liked the mystery, even though it takes some time to really start there area bunch of clues and set-ups in the first part before the murder occurs, which was great. I also liked that even though it gets solved relatively fast it was still an interesting mystery and there are some well done red herrings and a nice twist when the real murderer and motive is revealed. I liked how things got wrapped up at the end and we got a few more scenes before the book ended.
Besides the mystery there also is the paranormal storyline. Poppy finds out she’s a witch in this book and she has to figure out what that means and how to handle it. I liked how there is some information about the whole witches thing, but it’s spaced throughout the book and not everything is revealed at once, which made it easier to absorb the information we got. I liked the paranormal aspect so far and how there are different type of witches and I look forward to finding out more. The paranormal theme was nicely woven throughout the book.
I liked Poppy as a main character. She did seem a bit too focused on finding out where she came for, but it did give her a good motivation and extra interest in being here. I also liked how she wanted to solve the mystery. She was very determined to get the answers she is looking for. I liked how she dealt with finding out she’s a witch, yes she accepts things quite quickly, but I liked that and through it fit the book. There is no long going back and forth and while she’s a bit unsure about her powers it’s clear quickly that she really is a witch and I liked she has a few instances where she used her powers already. The cat Gateau also was a fun addition. And I liked how she already made a witchy friend who could help her along.
There is a huge cast of characters, which took some gettign used to. Especially at first it was hard to remember who was who. It helped when partway through the book some characters played a lesser role so it was easier to get a feel for the characters that were more involved with this mystery. The different voices the narrator had for the different characters helped me along a bit to slowly start to remember who was who. By the end of the book I was doing decently with remember the more common side characters and luckily throughout the book there are enough hints and reminder so it’s easy to get reminded of why a certain character is.
The mystery got resolved in this book, but the quest for answers about Poppy’s family and the baking show contest will probably be ongoing plot lines that continue throughout the series. I liked how both of those plot lines made some progress here, but there is clearly still a lot to uncover too.
This was a new to me narrator and while I had to get used to her style a bit at first, I ended up liking her narration for this book. She did a great job with giving characters different voices and accents, which also helped me get a better feel for the characters. I thought she did a great job narrating this book and am hoping the rest of the series will be in audio as well.
To summarize: This was a fun first book in a new series by this author. I like the way the mystery, paranormal and other elements get blended in an interesting story. The story started off a bit slow, but I was interested from the start to see where things went. The mystery is a good one and I liked how there were some red herrings and interesting twists. The paranormal aspect is introduced as well when Poppy finds out she’s a witch, I liked how that was handled and how the paranormal part was woven throughout the series. The baking show contest and Poppy’s search for answers about her birth family seem like they will be continuing plot lines throughout the series, but both storylines made progress in this book already. I liked Poppy as main character and look forward to reading more about her. With the large group of side characters it was a bit hard to remember who was who at first, but it got easier as the story progressed. And the different voices and accents the narrator gave to them also helped. It took me a bit of time to get used to this new to me narrator, but I ended up liking her style for this book. I hope the rest of the series will be audio as well so I can listen to those as well.
Would you like something sweet? If yes, treat yourself with The Great Witches Baking Show. Nancy Warren cooked it especially for you. Curious about her recipe and the ingredients she had used? Let’s try to find out:
Ingredients:
– one young woman to play the amateur sleuth; carefully developed, intelligent, insecure and with a secret (of the paranormal species) enough to add a particular pleasant flavor;
– some herrings… better said, some red herrings, in the perfect amount to don’t spoil the taste, but sufficient to raise and keep the curiosity; maybe also some red herrings about the red herrings…
– two plots that intersect each other at the right moments and will make people want more; each of them with their specific elements and curiosities;
– intrigues as much as it’s necessary;
– several possible suspects (with motivations for all of them) and several real clues here and there;
– one or two teaspoons of some action in a naïve but believable way;
– other (innocent) characters who have a suspicious vibe to resist until consumption of the last gobbet.
“We’re looking for interesting flavors and some artistic imagination.”
Method: – it’s secret; I can only say that I discovered; Nancy Warren:
– mixed the plots – attention this is a very tricky business but in this case, nicely done;
– then took in the right amount the above ingredients – this is the real art of…cooking a cozy mystery;
– added them at the right time and in the right drops in the mixed plots;
– boiled them all softly in a cauldron of the small community; not too long, the time (and pages) will flow immediately!
The result: a nice puzzle to elucidate and the challenge to work it out before the end of the book. One plot seems solved, the other will continue in the next volume of this new series. I’ll keep an eye on it, you do well and do the same! After all, from time to time, all of us need something sweet, cooked by the good witch Nancy Warren.
What happens when you combine the elements of drama and suspense within and behind the scenes at a favorite television reality show with all the ingredients for a fun, cozy mystery?
You get The Great Witches Baking Show!
When a talented author adds a dash of magic and asks the questions “What if…” to the mixture we discover all the flavors of a fabulous combination. What if judging a television baking show is used as punishment for using magic outside of the rules?
What if the cameras and mics on the contestants catch clues that would otherwise be missed?
What if some of the contestants had previous relationships to each other?
Then add a totally different reason for one of the bakers to be there. She is actually looking to find out answers to a greater mystery in her life. I don’t normally like cliff~hangers but this book will not solve all the unanswered questions, making me salivate over what could possibly happen next!
A watched pot never boils
What an enjoyable read. The author was really able to create a connection between the reader and the characters. The story does end in a conclusion for one mystery, but leaves us guessing and longing for the next book, about the answer to the mystery behind Poppy’s origins. I love how the characters really made a connection in such a short time and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. It really is like reality TV in a book and I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see who gets voted off next. I can only hope the author doesn’t make us wait too long.
Poppy Wilkinson has won the right to compete in the Great British Baking Contest. She has a personal reason that she hopes to resolve while she is competing. Her best friend Gina is the hairstylist on the show. As Poppy starts the competition she is befriended by Gerry, a fellow competitor. But at the end of the first event, he is complaining that he is being sabotaged. Life on the show is stressful but the first evening at the inn is enjoyable.
Poppy soon finds out a surprise in her life along with a black cat who is a frequent companion. When a contestant is found dead, Poppy tries to find his murderer.
This is the first book in a new series. I love the story. The characters are wonderful. And #2 in the series cannot come soon enough! More, please!
Such a cute, fun read to kick off a new series. I loved The Great Witches Baking Show. The nod to the Britain cooking show is fabulous. You will adore Poppy and her journey through the first 3 challenges. I can’t wait for more of this series and getting to know Poppy more as she discovers her powers. I couldn’t put this one down. If you enjoy cooking competitions then you will love this book. Go discover Poppy and solve the mystery that presents itself along the way today.
The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren a surprising five-star read. This is the first novel in a new series and I will be popping by to grab some more from this author as I loved it. I didn’t know what to expect from this one, the cozy genre isn’t one I always like, but this was brilliant, the mystery really kept me going and the sweetness just made me all warm and fuzzy. Poppy Wilkinson is a great main character; you can feel her emotions and story leaping off the page at you. The rest of the characters are just as fun and sweet, or are they?? There is a great supernatural storyline to the story as well and I loved how the author managed to pull all of the characters and plot lines together. This was a very well done story and I for one a very eager for number two, I also cant wait to get the second recipe of the series.
The Great Witches Baking Show by Nancy Warren was first offered as a free book on my Facebook feed. I’m so glad I downloaded a copy of this story. It’s my first book from Nancy Warren and I quickly discovered how much I enjoy her writing.
The characters are fun, even the annoying ones. They are well developed and full of humor, fun and mischief. The story line caught my attention because I love the cooking competition shows as much as I love reading.
There is an unresolved mystery running throughout the series in addition to fully resolved mysteries within each book, until you get to number 8. I quickly grabbed the other books in the series and devoured them all.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, great characters, funny spirits and well written plots and dialog, you can’t go wrong with this series. The only downside so far is finishing through book eight with an unresolved murder (the only time within the series there is nonresolution) and having to wait for the next book to be published. You can bet I will be jumping on that as soon as it’s available.
I strongly suggest reading the full series from the first book to enjoy the running mystery as well as watching the character development. Poppy and Ben are truly fun to watch. Gerry will probably make you roll your eyes more than once and Hamish is such a doll, I’m hoping he gets a book or series of his own.
3 stars – I liked it
Poppy Wilkinson is thrilled to be chosen as a contestant on The Great British Baking Contest. Unfortunately, the first weekend challenge doesn’t go as planned when there is sabotage, a murder, and witches.
This was a wonderful start to a series. As a fan of The Great British Bake-Off I couldn’t resist picking this book up, especially once I saw the paranormal twist to it. I really enjoyed Poppy and her banking/ murder mystery journey. Poppy has a secret motive for being in the baking contest though. She is looking for information about who her family is because she is adopted. Also Poppy can see ghosts which came in handy at times.
This book ends basically at the end of the first week, so I am excited to see what is going to happen to Poppy in week two. Also, I really love that the judges are witches in this and that there are male witches as well.
Review Snapshot : This book has been sitting on my kindle for AGES! I was in the mood and decided to start reading to see if I’d like it and I can happily say I did! Paranormal cozy mysteries are so much fun, and this is a first in a series that I know I’ll be reading through to the end.
I’ve been feeling the blogger burnout for months. I debate with myself if this is something I want to continue or if I want to do it in a slightly different manner and I think that’s what I’m going to do (for now). One of the things I’m accomplishing is reading my OWN books and NOT signing up for any early reader copies; it’s too much stress without the reward and I am so tired of it. So instead, what I’ve been doing is going through all my books and just picking out what I want without feeling the stress of having to read the books too quickly and on a schedule. Let me tell you IT FEELS GOOD! This is one of the books I chose, and I am delighted with this paranormal cozy mystery series.
This is the first book in a series that follows main character, Poppy, as she not only competes in a baking competition but searches for her birthmother too. You see, there’s something strange going on with Poppy (it’s no secret, she’s a witch) and she wants to know where her newfound power comes from! But that’s not all either. There is a murder that she has to solve too in order to help a new friend find peace and go to the other side! But this murder investigation could get sticky for Poppy….
Nancy Warren has captured my attention with this series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Poppy’s adventures! So far, it looks like this series is going to follow Poppy through the baking competition as she not only competes but does some searching for her birth mother too. I’m excited to see where it all goes!
Listening to the book was fantastic. The two narrators voice was so nice to listen. I love watching the Great British Baking Show, I think is just awesome that this book had it in it. I think it’s so great that Poppy can see ghosts. Nancy Warren has so many good series but this one is a top one. Another good series for you cozy mystery lovers. If you haven’t read any of her books, it’s time you do.
Poppy is ready for some answers. She is am avid fan of Britain’s baking show and when she sees interior shots of the manor where the show is filmed she realizes she has to get on the show to get some answers. What Poppy didn’t count on was finding a body that led to a different set of answers than what she was looking for.
I only picked this book on kindle unlimited because I needed a paranormal culinary cozy mystery, my least favorite shelf call on book bingo. I am so glad I did! I loved book it. I enjoy binge watching episodes of The Great British Bake Off and this book was just like the show. Well except for the dead body and the witches.
It was a fast read that held my attention from the beginning. I plan on continuing the series and I may not wait for the next book bingo. Plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the big reveal.
Poppy Wilkinson was left wrapped in blanket
inside a box at a British bakery. The family who
adopted Poppy later moved the family over to
the United States.
Now Poppy has qualified for The Great British
Baking contest at Broomewode Hall. She has
learned to bake from the kitchen witch ghost
who lives with her. Poopy is on her own to try
and win plus hope she is not the first voted out
of the competition. She also has an ulterior
motive of being on the show. While watching a
television show, Poppy spotted a blanket in a
picture exactly like the one she was wrapped
up in as a baby. Poppy hopes to sneak into
Broomewode Hall to see if she can learn about
her family.
A creatively cast of characters in a well plotted
murder mystery with witches, magic plus good
eating will keep the reader’s attention.
I listened to an audiobook copy of this book. I am a fan of Nancy Warren’s books, but this is the first time I have ever tried a cozy mystery.
I was surprised that this story kept my interest. I enjoyed listening to it and the narrator was very talented with all of the different accents that she used between the range of characters. I even caught myself thinking that I was thankful to have someone else pronounce the names of the characters because I never would’ve figured them out.
It wasn’t a very long story and it is book one of a pretty popular series. Poppy will have other mysteries to solve in future books, but in this one, she stumbles upon a fellow baking contestant that has been murdered and eventually realizes that she is a witch. Two major revelations that can only mean bigger adventures and twisting plots in the next few books.
Loved Poppys story, some of my fav things to read are Baking, ghosts and witch’s , this has all that plus suspense, going to love this series for sure
This is a great start to a new series. Poppy is chosen for The Great British Baking Contest but she not only wants to win but wants to find out where she comes from she was abandoned as a child and also a witch and the contest is on the grounds of a Manor that just may have a clue to her beginnings but other strange things begin to happen like deaths and other witches Poppy must Wade through it all to find out.
I listen to the audio for this some of it was a little slow but overall I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for next in the series. The narrator I thought was a little mature for the main character who is 25 years old but good other than that. I would recommend.
A true joy to my ears!
Audiobook version: 5 stars overall, 5 stars story, 5 stars narration
I heartily recommend this audiobook for every reader of paranormal cozy mysteries and to every fan of PBS’s “The Great British Baking Show”. This is now in my top 3 favorite mystery series, and I am going to listen to Book #2 very soon.
The author’s crisp descriptions of the baking competition setting made me feel like I was a contestant on my favorite baking competition TV show but with added witches and a murder! With the author’s talent for imagery, I could almost smell the fresh sponge cakes and feel the heat from the ovens. Together with recreating the coziest cooking show ever, this wonderful audiobook gives us a truly likable heroine and a really good, mind-teasing mystery plot. In addition, the solo female narrator Hollis McCarthy was a joy to my ears. She did a masterful performance with multiple perfect accents, both American and British. Her voice is so lovely and melodic. Her pacing and emotiveness are everything I could have wished for. Hollis McCarthy’s performance really impressed me, and I will definitely look for more of her work.
The heroine Poppy Wilkinson is a nice young woman in her 20s who can see ghosts. She was abandoned as a newborn and had a happy childhood in America with her adopted parents. However, the mystery of her birth mother’s identity occupies her mind. Her only clue points to Broomwode Hall, the location of the famous British baking competition. Getting on the show as a contestant leads to more than she bargained for: a murder on the set and a bit of magic.
The Great Witches Baking Show is book one in The Great Witches Baking Show series which is a cozy paranormal mystery, written in the first-person point of view of the heroine and can be either read as a standalone or as the first novel of the series.
Poppy has been trying to figure out who she is and where she came from since she was a little girl. After watching The Great British Baking Contest and seeing the same blanket she was wrapped in on the television she knew that her only way to find out more would be to get on the television show. After much practice and determination, Poppy is chosen for the show and her search for answers are now about to come a reality. Poppy does not expect the pull she feels to Broomewode Hall and when a fellow contestant dies, Poppy is caught in the crossfires of having to solve the mystery.
The Great Witches Baking Show was my first novel by Nancy Warren and it was an enjoyable read. There was just enough suspense and mystery to keep you guessing and wanting to read on to find out what happens next I just wish there had of been a little bit more paranormal in the novel. I am looking forward to diving into Baker’s Coven next to continue to follow Poppy’s growth in her powers.