Beachfront Bakery: A Killer Cupcake (A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery—Book 1)

Fiona Grace

Nov 2020 · A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery Book 1 · Fiona Grace

About this ebook

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"

--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)

BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE is the debut novel in a charming and hilarious new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, whose bestselling Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery) has nearly 200 five star reviews.

Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own.

When Allison spots a charming, vacant storefront on the boardwalk near Venice, she wonders if she could really start life anew. Feeling like it’s a sign, and a time to take a chance in life, she goes for it.

Yet Allison did not anticipate the wild ride ahead of her: the boardwalk, filled with fun and outrageous characters, is pulsing with life, from the Italian pizzeria owners on either side of her who vie for her affection, to the fortune tellers and scheming rival bakery owner nearby. Allison yearns to just focus on her delicious new pastry recipes and keep her struggling bakery afloat—but when a murder occurs right near her shop, everything changes.

Implicated, her entire future at stake, Allison has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. As an orphaned dog wanders into her life, a devoted new sidekick with a knack for solving mysteries, she starts her search.

Will they find the killer? And can her struggling bakery survive?

A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart.

Books #2 (A MURDEROUS MACAROON), #3 (A PERILOUS CAKE POP), #4 (A DEADLY DANISH), #5 (A TREACHEROUS TART), and book #6 (A CALAMITOUS COOKIE) are also available!

Ratings and reviews

I love a good mystery. And I love that cozy mysteries don't make me think too hard and aren't super gruesome. But I'm beginning to feel that I wasted my time when books start to feel the same. I loved Fiona Grace's first book. She has a fun, easy style of writing. But I have two major problems with her writing and this book highlighted those more than ever. She doesn't do her research (I guess there's no time for that if you publish a book every month) and she uses the same template for all of her books. Research problems: There are two actors in this story. I guess if it's set in LA, there have to be actors. Both actors are gay. Seriously? Not all actors are gay, okay? Then you have the stereotypical surfer from Australia living the dream of running a surfboard shop and riding the waves. Fine. But then he smacks himself in the nose with his surfboard, giving her the excuse to run out into the waves and hand him a napkin. Seriously? And of course, there is mention of the "typical California beauty" with "endlessly long, tanned legs and bleached blonde hair." But fine, I can handle the stereotypes. What I can't handle is the same story told over and over again. Which brings me to... The template: Girl loses job (or quits) standing up to the big bad boss. Her boyfriend/fiance/husband dumps her. She moves to another country/state/city to start over in an industry completely unlike her previous one (in this case it is similar, except that she's having to learn to run her own business). Then there are the family problems. Sister is always a know-it-all who is somehow more successful than the girl. Mom is a downer, trying to get girl to come back home and give up on her dreams. And for some reason or other, Dad is missing, but he was oh-so-wonderful! Oh, and there is always a local successful shop owner/CEO next door posed to become the new love interest. Yes, there have been a few twists, but for the most part, this is where each series begins. So why, my mom asks, do I keep reading these books? (Same answer as to why I gave this review 3 stars.) I like the writing style. I like the pacing. I like the new settings Fiona uses. And I keep hoping she will come up with a new origins story. Will I read more of her books? Probably. But at this point, only if I can get advance review or library copies. I'm still hoping things will change. I received an ARC from BookSprout and have reviewed it willingly.

A Killer Cupcake is the first book in the Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery series and is a great start to this new series. I really enjoyed this book and found the character of new baker owner Allison Sweet to be well depicted, likable, and relatable. The story is entertaining and has murder, mystery, a scruffy sidekick, and suspense. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.

Rather good. Solid work on the characters, a good setup. Hits a few Cozy Mystery bingo tropes, but that's expected. The mystery itself is ok, though not the greatest - the real work here is in the setup of the setting and people that live there.

About the author

Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series, comprising three books (and counting). Fiona is also the author of the TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY series, which includes three books (and counting).

Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.