Sunday, May 1, 2022

Review: Cupcakes and Catastrophe by Sue Hollowell

 


About the Book


Genre
Cozy Mystery

Format
E-Book

Release Date
March 4, 2021


Synopsis from Goodreads:

A nightmare ending to her storybook marriage. An escape to a quaint beach town. Will a mysterious murder derail a second chance at her dream?

Tilly Griffin did everything by the book. Everyone else’s book. Now it was her turn to write a new chapter, three thousand miles from her former life. Her dream of opening a bakery like her grandma Luna was now becoming a reality.

No sooner does she arrive in the charming beach town, when she and her quirky uncle are tangled up in a mysterious death. When a kite competition judge is found murdered in the bookstore next to her uncle's Checkered Past Antiques shop, Tilly questions her decision to move to Belle Harbor, and everything about her new life.

As the clues emerge, and the small-town secrets are revealed, Tilly’s uncle finds himself smack dab in the middle of the investigation and surrounded by suspects. Will the murderer be nabbed in time for the bakery’s grand opening or will this close the book on Tilly’s dreams?

Cupcakes and Catastrophe is Book 1 in the Belle Harbor Cozy Mystery series. A light, cozy mystery in a quaint beach town with a fun loving, amateur female sleuth, her quirky uncle, and enough antiques and pastries to fill your home and your belly. No gore, swearing or cliffhangers. Can be read as a standalone.

My Review

After her marriage ends in divorce, Tilly Griffin looks to start her life over.  She moves to the beach town where her uncle has an antique shop.  One of Tilly’s dreams is to open her own bakery and her uncle is more than happy to make space for her in his shop.

As Tilly settles in and tries to make her bakery a success, she and her uncle discover a dead body in the bookstore next to their shop.  It turns out the victim is the judge in a kite competition.  The police investigate, but the investigation leads to more questions with Tilly’s uncle in the middle of it all.

This is a cute novella.  It’s a short, quick read with a variety of off-beat characters.  The plot moves along at a fast-pace.  With various suspects to choose from, it keeps you guessing.  There are no cliffhangers and the mystery is solved in this book.

I can easily see how this can be a binge-worthy series.  Each one can be read in one sitting.  I’m only just beginning the series, but I’m intending to make my way through the whole thing.  

It’s a great start to a series. 



For reading challenges:

Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge 2022
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2022


Disclosure:  This one is from my own e-book collection. All opinions expressed are my own.



 

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