OF SPICE AND MEN by Sarah Fox
The Third Pancake House Mystery

Although not a fan of horror films Marley McKinney is excited that a Hollywood production crew is filming a remake of a horror classic in Wildwood Cove. But excitement turns to true horror when Marley and Sienna find the head make-up artist's trailer on fire with the artist still inside. The horror continues when Marley discovers the lead actress in the arms of her boyfriend and learns that they once lived together. Marley can't help getting involved into what has become a murder investigation and while trying to find justice for the victim she also has to come to terms with Brett's past and his ongoing belief in his ex's innocence. A difficult task when Marley thinks the woman could easily be guilty.

OF SPICE AND MEN brings in a lot of new characters to serve as suspects, victims, and foils, an important thing as a small town has only so many residents to kill and be killed! Included in these new characters is a woman who puts Marley's and Brett's relationship to the test. For as much as the book is about the mystery, it's also about the relationships between its characters.

I really enjoy the Pancake House mystery series from the ambiance of the seaside town, to the residents (especially my crush, Chef Ivan), and the delightful dishes served at The Flip Side, not to mention the various mysteries. OF SPICE AND MEN is a solid addition to the series providing an intriguing, well thought out mystery. My only quibble is the plausibility of the penultimate confrontation. That being said, it was exciting and a good read!

Recipes included.

slowly it quickly picked up and I found myself enjoying an engaging mystery. The characters were relatable and I liked the setting and plot. I ended up liking the book very much.

This is a great book; this is the third book in the Pancake House Mystery Series written by Sarah Fox. This book can be read as a standalone, but once you read it you will defiantly want to go back and catch up with the other books in this series. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Intrigue. Runaways. Killers. Severed heads. Movie stars. PANCAKES. Red Herrings galore. What a fun romp through this 3rd installment of the "Pancake House Mysteries". I really enjoy these books and the characters; they are very believable and fun and when there is danger afoot, you know that Marley will be right there in the middle of it all.

There were a few moments that I was not fond of [if you are dating someone seriously and it has evolved into an intimate relationship, I would HOPE that you and your SO would have discussed past serious relationships so that if someone from your past shows up, you are not totally and completely BLINDSIDED by it when it happens], but they were few and far between and for the most part this was a very enjoyable book. I like how the characters are developing and how we are seeing more interaction between Marley and her co-workers and her friends. It makes for a really enjoyable read.

Looking forward to #4!!

Sarah Fox is one of the best cozy mystery writers out there. Well written, fun story!

This is the third book in the Pancake House series but the first I've read. Wow!- the drama! There is a lot going on in the book. I was fully entertained- not a dull moment. The characters were great getting to know. The romance had its ups and downs. I am willing to go back and read this series from book one. It is fine as a stand alone but I have a feeling I would like the others. Recipes are included.

Marley shows no signs of stopping trouble following her in this latest installment of the Pancake House Mystery series.
A film crew is in town to shoot a remake and of course The Flip Side is a go to for the crew. When Marley scores herself a behind the scenes tour, she is thrown head first into a murder. With a list of suspects and Marley herself a possible future victim, well, we have the makings for a great mystery.
As this series goes on and gets it rhythm, I get more and more invested. I love how the characters grow with each new addition to the series, and how the relationships between them do also. The author has a smooth way of writing, so smooth that you are at the end of the book before you realize it. This is a well loved group of characters that you become more and more invested in as time goes on. The author created a strong mystery that keeps you guessing.

Another great adventure with Marley and company! This is a quick, easy read. It is a fun yet suspenseful story--you'll find humor, mystery, romance, and a look at what happens when a movie crew comes to town.

As someone who has read all three of these books, I am glad to see some of the secondary characters being more developed in this one (in particular, Marley's chef). Looking forward to seeing others get their chance to shine in the future.

A pleasant cozy about a horror movie remake in a small town. The protagonist owns a pancake house. She has a cat and a boyfriend. For a nice change, the boyfriend is not in law enforcement. The town and beach description makes one eager to visit.

Of Spice and Men is third in A Pancake House Mystery series; it can be read as a standalone, but don’t miss the rest of the series! The characters, for all their stress and concerns, are delightful. The author has a knack for keeping the suspense growing with steady action and realistic dialog.

Marley, owner of The Flip Side for several months since inheriting it from a cousin, works hard and loves what she is doing. She also inherited her cousin’s cat Flapjack and the Victorian home that he and his late wife once owned. She has a close friend, Lisa, and is now seeing Brett, the guy she mooned over during summer visits when a teenager. Life can’t get much better than this!

Until the Hollywood people pull into town to film scenes of a remake of the classic movie, The Perishing in their quaint beachfront town. A huge Victorian home, Abbott House, is the central filming location. At first it seemed like a blessing to have added business during the off season, and it even sounded like fun to try to get a glimpse of actor Chase Lowman, many young women’s heartthrob.

When Christine invited Sienna and Marley to see the special effects trailer and they set a time, the first clue something is wrong is to hear the fight that Alyssa, female lead, has with Christine. They wait a few minutes to save the ladies the embarrassment of being overheard. Until smoke begins to billow from the door of Christine’s trailer, and Marley ran inside to help Christine escape. Thankfully she had help moving her, but their efforts were unnecessary. Before the fire had been started, someone had strangled the young woman. The following day, Marley went to see Brett, only to find him wrapped in the arms of Alyssa, the leading lady – and the woman he had lived with a few years earlier. Alyssa knew she was a person of interest in the murder, and clung to Brett, hoping he would do something to dissuade his uncle, the sheriff, from arresting her.

Marley is a young woman who has redefined her life; a brief stint helping manage the restaurant turned into a new lifestyle when her cousin died. She grows to love again the town where she spent summers as a teen, and genuinely cares for the people she has met. Even without reading the earlier books in the series, one can see how carefully crafted each character is. We learn much about them by their realistic dialog and actions. Even Alyssa, the actress who can boo-hoo and get sympathy like nobody’s business. Guess that’s why she earns the big bucks!

There are twists and turns throughout that continue to change the focus on suspects, which there are few of at first. Christine had few enemies, despite threats made. I was completely surprised at who the bad guy really was! I still shake my head at how innocuous the person seemed. The ending is perfect, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend Of Spice and Men for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy oceanside settings, restaurants, lighthearted characters, a bit of romance and a lot of suspense.

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I LOVE the setting. I like hearing numerous descriptions of the ocean and of the pancake house. I like hearing what is being served to people because I like dreaming of these flavors. So this series is becoming a favorite. A haunted house movie being filmed in the fall makes for a fabulous set up. The romance is not over the top. The ex-girlfriend showing up brings expected tropes. It isn't my favorite trope, but I have read worse. Thankfully, we are not dragged into a long drawn out romance issue. It just shows up a couple times and seems to be realistic.
The part that I didn't like and the primary reason for the 3 stars is the murder. The reasoning behind the murder is too exaggerated. Without giving away too many spoilers, it seems like an extreme action to cover a much less bad action.
Overall, I would read this one just to visit the pancake house again even if this mystery isn't my favorite. I will be visiting the pancake house again.

“Of Spice and Men” earns 5/5 Stacks of Pumpkin Crêpes…Murderously Fun!

Again, I was excited to have the opportunity to read the newest release in Sarah Fox’s Pancake House Mystery series, “Of Spice and Men,” and totally entertained with revisiting the well-developed and sometimes quirky characters (even the ‘fur’ friends), and being absorbed in another clever mystery. This time Sarah has a Hollywood-twist with a movie crew invading Wildwood Cove. Everyone is all abuzz by the prospect of having their town being center stage, and Marley McKinney, owner of The Flip Side, is overjoyed with the extra business from the cast and crew who find her crêpes delicious.

I greatly enjoy Sarah’s style of writing as the her ‘twists’ come early with Marley invited to the set, but finds the special-effects makeup artist Christine is a real-life victim of a trailer fire; the police are labeling it murder. Ok, it gets even better when Sarah adds ‘turns' with Marley discovering her boyfriend’s ex was the replacement lead in the film, Alyssa Jayde, who rivals any full-of-herself diva, and then, hold on, here it comes! The ex needs someone to clear her name from the ‘prime suspect’ list. Yeah! What an exciting start! Marley finds curious visitors, tensions on set, jealousies, missing props, and threats overheard “burn your whole career down to a pile of ashes!” All this and well-written drama, a few giggles, continuing romance, a ‘What? No, watch out!’ ending, and delicious easy-to-follow recipes straight from The Flip Side kitchen: Pumpkin Waffles and a Basic Crêpes recipe for those tasty fillings for Pumpkin Crêpes and Apple Crêpes.

Of Spice and Men is a cozy mystery set in a small town in Oregon.

The characters were entertaining, although a bit lacking in depth. and the story was engaging, although a bit coincidental. The plot was mostly the main character, Marley, falling into various situations and then pulling bits and pieces together to solve the mystery.

It was still a fun read. 3 stars.

Another Winner from Sarah Fox's Pancake House Mystery Series. This one was my favorite by far. Lots of excitement and adrenaline building, a good amount of red herrings wfhere you couldn't figure out just quite who the murderer was. Very good character development and I'm getting more and more invested in the lead characters I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

**Id like to thank the author/publisher/Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review*

Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox is another winner in this fantastic series.
Marley McKinney is a strong leading character and this book really shows her true self.

In a relationship with Brett, Marley is enjoying all the excitement that comes with a new relationship, stolen kisses, late night dates, holding hands and sleep overs.
Unfortunately for Marley, she is experiencing the not so pleasant things as well, including the return of the ex girlfriend, who is not only drop dead gorgeous, but the leading star in the remake of a classic horror film, The Perishing.
Wildwood cove is bustling with activity since the arrival of the Hollywood movie crew, in which the return of Alyssa Jayde has Marley on edge. Luckily for the patrons of The Flipside, Marley's pancake house, the distraction does not ruin the delicious treats that come out of the kitchen. The descriptions of the food will make your mouth water and you might find yourself in your own kitchen whipping up a batch of pumpkin crepes!

Marley's staff have stars in their eyes and when they are invited by Christine, the film's head make-up artist to take a tour behind the scenes, Marley takes her up on the offer. Hoping the distraction will keep her emotions in check, Marley heads over to the artist's trailer, only to find it on fire.
Without a second thought, Marley dashes inside and drags Christine to safety.
Sadly, Marley's efforts are not enough and Christine's death is ruled as foul play. The leading suspect? The leading lady- Alyssa!
When news hits the street, Brett id the first one to defend the actress, leaving Marley unsure of her relationship with him.
It is up to Marley to seek the truth and try to salvage her relationship with Brett.

Fans of this series won;t want to miss Of Spice and Men which hits the shelves November 7th!
Be sure to grab your copy- and don't forget- books make great gifts!

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by NetGalley and Random House- Alibi.

Combine the world of movie making, where rumors run rampant, with a small town setting, where gossip rules. Add in jealousies, personal, professional and romantic and anything can happen.
You might think someone who runs a pancake house should be safe enough, right? She isn't involved in the movie making or the scandals or rivalries.
If that person has a healthy curiosity and continues to ask questions, showing up where she is not welcome, she may catch the attention of a killer.
Exciting and intriguing. A good book to curl up with in front of a fire.

I love this series and never can put them down once I start I liked the movie set aspect in the storyline. It made for an exciting, action filled cozy. I love the mention of all the food and especially like the recipes included with the book. Look forward to another book in this series.

Marley, a self-employed independent woman, turns into a jealous and irrational person when a movie company comes to town bringing Brett's ex-girlfriend with it. This felt extremely uncharacteristic for her and my distaste for this overshadowed the entire book. Added to this was the redundant and mundane task of Marley letting her cat in and out of the house. Why mention this unless something happens related to that event? Finally there was the rather confusing introduction of several new characters, in the form of cast and crew for the movie (aka: victim and suspects) that pushed most of the people the reader had gotten to know in the previous books to the side. I wish this had been a bit more balanced and hope the series returns to the quality cozy it was in the first two books.

Fun cozy that combines a movie set with a pancake house (well, it does!). Marley is back in fine form in this outing of her series = but you don't need to read the earlier ones to enjoy this. The interactions between Marley and Brett, especially with regard to his ex, Alyssa, who is initially the prime suspect in the murder, are well done. The mystery itself isn't too twisty but there are enough red herrings to keep you guessing. Thanks to net galley for the ARC- and to Fox for the recipes!

I finished book Three, Of Spice and Men, from the Pancake House Mystery series by Sarah Fox last Saturday night. I simply loved it. One of the things I have loved most about the series since the first book was the setting. A West Coast cozy mystery that gets the setting, feel and flair for the west coast has a special place in my heart. Until finding this series all the cozy mysteries I read were on the East Coast or tucked into the Southern USA . Living on the West Coast as I do, I was more than delighted to find author Sarah Fox and this series. In book three a movie crew has come to town and while filming a remake of a horror movie, mysterious things start happening and between the movie and the drama in main character Marley's life this cozy is quite exciting. I love her cat flap jack and feel like we really get to know her chef better in book three. There are mentions of so many wonderful menu items in this issue and I was thrilled with the recipes at the end of the book. Loved this story so much that I could not put it down and read very much past my bedtime to get it finished last Saturday night. This one comes out November 7th and published by Alibi/ Random House LLC.