In this fourth installment of the Pancake House Mystery series, Marley finds herself in quite a conundrum when her cook, Ivan discovers a new rival dead in his kitchen.  As Marley begins to ask around she discovers that Wally, the Waffle King, is a former resident with a less than reputable past. Although she no longer has to deal with competition, Marley finds herself more suspects than she can deal with as a second body emerges.

I rather enjoyed this novel and the idea that Marley would have a competitor left me curious to see how things would ultimately play out.  However, I was fairly certain Wally was going to wind up being murdered.  He was so over the top and boisterous that I couldn't see the author wanting to write too many scenes with him involved.

In this novel, it's almost Christmas time and Marley is feeling pressure from the upcoming opening of the Waffle Kingdom, finding the perfect present for Brett and ultimately to protect those she cares about.  My favorite aspect of this story is the plot from decades earlier.  Two local girls had gone missing and it was believed that a young man was responsible for their deaths.  I felt that the author did an amazing job of developing this side plot and I almost wished it had been a book on its own.  It was played out perfectly for my true crime obsessed brain and it was just another layer of development for Wildwood Cove.  Let's be honest, in a cozy mystery, the town and its history can be just as important as the quirky people who live there.  Sarah Fox has helped to make this small beach town another character in this series and I love it!  Hopefully she'll continue to add little pieces of the town's history into future novels.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. I was forced to listen to the audiobook version because I was working all day, but I found that I didn't want to turn it off, even once I was home. I can't wait to see what happens next to Marley, Ivan, Brett, and the rest of the Wildwood Cove gang.

I wish I liked this book as much as I liked the previous book in the series, Of Spice and Men. For some reason, I couldn't really get into this.

I didn't care too much for the storyline. Some of it was a little over-the-top and there were a lot of different characters that made it hard to keep track of who was who.

A benefit is that you don't need to read any other book in the series to enjoy this one.

*Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books, and Lyrical Underground for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

Marley McKinney is back in the fourth installment of the Pancake House Mysteries by Sarah Fox, Yeast of Eden. In this novel, a previous resident has returned to Wildwood Cove, and is flaunting his new money by opening a new waffle house that is in direct competition with Marley’s pancake house, The Flip Side. Wally Fowler is not particularly liked, and is an arrogant blowhard; it’s no wonder that he is found murdered in his new state-of-the-art kitchen, and Marley and her friends are on the top of the suspect list.

Sarah Fox writes a fun series that is organized and is easy to read. Her characters are well-developed, and Marley is very likeable. The supporting characters are likeable and seem real. The dishes prepared at The Flip Side are mouthwatering, and it’s nice that there are recipes for some of the delicious dishes in the novel. As is the norm for cozies, there is no blatant violence, sex, or language, making it easy to enjoy the novel. For fans of culinary mysteries, this is a nice series and well-worth reading.

Marley McKinney, the owner of the FlipSide pancake house in Wildwood Cove, has been working hard to improve business since she inherited the eatery. Now trouble is brewing because Wally Fowler has returned to his hometown with the intention of opening up a Waffle House which could cut into Marley's breakfast business drastically. Wally seems to think that all he needs to do is open the doors to his establishment and the whole town will come running. He doesn't seem to remember that when he left he was not very popular and that feeling hasn't changed. No surprise when Wally is found murdered but Marley isn't happy that the prime suspects seem to be her BFF and her head chef. Needless to say, Marley feels the need to find out w hat really happened. She uses her investigation as a way to distract herself because her boyfriend is out of town with family (father having heart surgery)..

Cute entry to this series, moving relationships along and the recipes sound scrumptious!

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Yet another Pancake House mystery that doesn't disappoint! I just love Marley and her wily way of getting herself wrapped up in murders in her little town. Again, this is another mystery that I didn't figure out until the end and I love that about these cozy mysteries. As a true romantic though, my favorite parts of this series has been reading/watching her and Brett's relationship continue to grow. Onto the next in series!

We get to see a bit, just a bit, more of Wildwood Cove's business district. Marley steps in when Ivan is a suspect in a former local's death. That former local, Wally, is hated by many so there's plenty of suspects.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Yeast of Eden
A Pancake House Mystery, Book #4
Sarah Fox
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox’s delicious new Pancake House Mystery, it’s up to Marley McKinney to discover the waffle truth behind a rival’s murder . . .

Winter has come to Wildwood Cove, and riding in on the chill is Wally Fowler. Although he’s been away for years, establishing his reputation as the self-proclaimed Waffle King, the wealthy blowhard has returned to the coastal community to make money, not friends—by pitting his hot and trendy Waffle Kingdom against Marley McKinney’s cozy pancake house, The Flip Side. Wally doesn’t see anything wrong in a little healthy competition, until he’s murdered in his own state-of-the art kitchen.

Marley isn’t surprised when the authorities sniff around The Flip Side for a motive, but it’s her best friend Lisa who gets grilled, given her sticky history with the victim. When a second murder rocks the town, it makes it harder than ever for Marley to clear Lisa’s name. Marley’s afraid that she’s next in line to die—and the way things are looking, the odds of surviving her investigation could be stacked against her.

Includes pancake recipes right from The Flip Side menu! (Goodreads)



Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Marley loves her job, her friends and her boyfriend. Life is good until there is a murder and two of her friends are suspected of being the culprit. She knows she has to solve the case before one of her friends is wrongly accused. I really enjoy the fact that Marley has such good friends and how much they all care about each other.

The writing style flows smoothly and defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and it pulled me in from the beginning, and took me for a great adventurous ride.

The mystery was well plotted and had enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider. I had an inkling about the killer but I was not sure until the reveal.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. This whole series is great and you cannot go wrong reading these books.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Yeast of Eden by Sarah Fox is the fourth tale in A Pancake House Mystery series. Marley McKinney owns The Flip Side in Wildwood Cove. The pompous Wally Fowler recently returned to town and is opening Wally’s Waffle Kingdom in a week which will put it in direct competition to The Flip Side. Wally visits The Flip Side and invites Marley along with her chef, Ivan Kaminski to a nitrogen ice cream demonstration that evening. Ivan gets upset when Wally insults his culinary expertise. That evening, Marley attends ladies’ night at the hardware enjoying the sales, giveaways and delicious treats. She encounters Lisa Morales who is upset at Wally’s return to town. Wally got Lisa’s brother, Carlos hooked on drugs years ago and is responsible for the death of another woman. Marley has yet to meet a person who likes Wally Fowler. On her way home, Marley walks by the Waffle Kingdom and notices that the tires on Wally’s van have been slashed. Marley goes into tell Wally about the incident and encounters Ivan walking out of the kitchen where Wally has cooked up his last waffle. Sheriff Georgeson focuses his investigation on Lisa and Ivan since they both had reason to harm Wally. Marley needs to whip together the clues and serve up the killer.

Yeast of Eden is a light-hearted cozy mystery. New readers to A Pancake House Mystery will have no problem delving into Yeast of Eden. There are friendly characters including the regulars who enjoy breakfast at The Flip Side every morning. The Flip Side is set in the small town of Wildwood Cove where the hardware store has a ladies’ night each month. With the giveaway, discounts and yummy treats, the woman of the town cannot help but drop in. There are two intertwining mysteries in Yeast of Eden. We have the death of obnoxious Wally Fowler and an older case. After stumbling upon some journals in an old trunk, Marley finds herself embroiled in another mystery. I liked how they tied together. I just wish they had been more of a challenge to solve. I am glad that Marley is happy with her boyfriend, Brett Collins. But must we have so much gushing and “what will I do without him” when Brett rushes out of town when his father falls ill. It was over-the-top sickly sweet (what happened the Marley in the first book). The romantic element needs to be dialed down a few notches (this is a cozy mystery, not a romance novel). I like that we get to experience real moments with Brett when his father is rushed to the hospital. There are recipes for Candy Cane Pancakes, Gingerbread Crepes, Eggnog Whipped Cream and French Toast at the end of the book. I am giving Yeast of Eden 3 out of 5 stars. Sarah Fox has whisked together family, friendship, romance, breakfast delicacies and murder into the jaunty and airy cozy mystery-Yeast of Eden.

Yeast of Eden by Sarah Fox
Book #4: A Pancake House Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley and Purchase
My Rating: 3/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: UGH! For the second time in just a few days, I find myself at odds with a cozy mystery series. Yet again, I have come to the point where the setting of the series seems to be what’s keeping me tied to the series and that just isn’t enough any longer. The bit of this book I enjoyed the most was the secondary plot line which had absolutely nothing to do with the primary focus of the book. In truth, I found the primary plot line to be somewhat dull and the growth in some of the primary characters (Marley, Brett, Ivan) to be, minimal at best. While I appreciate this is a cozy mystery, I think this series has gotten a bit too cozy for me and that is what’s leading me to call it a day with the Pancake House Mystery series. To remain engaged, excited, and entertained, I need more action (appropriate to the genre), more character growth, and more interesting plot lines. From a technical perspective, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book, and I cannot fault the author one bit on this component, but I don’t think that’s going to be enough to bring me back for round five.

Marley is back but with competition from the Waffle King who's bout to open up his own restaurant and try to run her out of town. But, before the doors open, Wally is killed in his own restaurant. Which is not surprising, given his rough history with the peoe in Wildwood Cove he returned to. A list of suspects longer than a grocery shopping list, and Marley has her work cut out for her as she tries to prove at least two of the suspects, her friends Lisa and Ivan, are innocent. Each time I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong. As the mystery develops, so does Marley's relationship with Brett as he has a medical emergency to deal with for his father and Marley stands by him, and later, she asks him to take the next step with her by moving into her home.
And if all that is not enough drama to keep your head spinning, Marley discovers old journals in this house she inherited from a relative and ends up stumbling upon a cold case she ends up solving. Whew!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my review.

Sarah Fox's Yeast of Eden is the fourth book in the Pancake House Mystery series. Marley's pancake house success is in danger with the arrival of the "waffle king" Wally. Marley soon finds out the Wally has more enemies than friends in town, but she is shocked when he is murdered. Her best friend, Lisa, is at the top of the police's suspect list. The book is action packed with a strong side story in addition to the mystery. This series gets better and better with each book.

Christmas is right around the corner and things are getting festive at the Flip Side. At least until Wally the self proclaimed Waffle King announces his arrival. Wally is long on odious and short on friends and soon finds himself, or rather Ivan finds the man dead in the Waffle Kingdom store, a victim of foul play and liquid nitrogen. Was it for money, for revenge, or for no other reason than because the guy was a blow hard. Now the sheriff has his sights set on Lisa and Ivan as possible suspects and there is now way that Marley can sit this one out. Balancing the business her boyfriend Brett, Marley will get to the bottom of not one but three murders. This was another great installment and I really enjoyed the mystery within the mystery. Looking forward to the next Flip Side and starting the new book pub series expected to release next month.

This is the 4th book in the Pancake House Mystery series. Marley is back at the Flip Side pancake house and she has to contend with new competition in town. The Wally Fowler, the Waffle King, has moved back to Wildwood Cove to open the Waffle House and Marley is a little worried that she'll lose some customers. When she finds out he's been murdered and her oldest friend Lisa is the main suspect, she starts to investigate to clear her name.

This book is well-written with interesting characters. I highly recommend it and the other books in the series.

Thanks to Lyrical Underground and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

A fun cozy mystery that has engaging characters, and a fun plot. This will have you anxious for the next in the series.

Marley McKinney lives in the seaside town of
Wildwood Cove on the Olympic Peninsula.
Marley owns and operates the Flip Side restaurant
With her chef, Ivan. The Flip Side specializes in
breakfast.
Marley lives nearby in a house on the beach
with Flapjack, the cat.
You will meet also met Bentley and Angel, the dogs.
You will get delicious recipes and mouthwatering
descriptions of foods while helping Marley
investigate two murders and a family mystery
where two women went missing years ago.
A very well written and plotted adventure to keep
the reader glued to the book. Plenty of twists and
turns and clues scattered throughout the story.
Colorful, vivid, quirky and well defined characters
provide an array of suspects.
This is book # 4 in the Pancake House Mystery
series. It can be read as a stand. The author
gives the reader the past and present effortlessly.
A Highly Recommended Read!!
I volunteered to read Yeast of Eden. Thanks to
Net Gallery and Alibi for the opportunity. My
opinion is my own.

This is a cute, easy-to-read series. Marley and her friends are nice, kind characters. I have to like the characters in order to enjoy the book. Marley owns a pancake house and competition has just moved in. Wally is opening a waffle restaurant and wants to run Marley out of business. Marley doesn't really like Wally, but she hardly knows him. However, there are lots of other people in the town that hate his guts. So when Wally turns up dead, there are lots of suspects, including Marley's Chef Ivan and her best friend Lisa. Marley decides she must investigate before either of them is arrested. While investigating Wally's death, Marley has her own little mystery going. A distant relative, had a sister disappear under suspicious circumstances and another young girl was assumed killed about the same time. Marley chances on some journals of her missing ancestor.

I enjoyed both mysteries and I like how they wrapped up. It wasn't until the end that I figured out who killed Wally and I was surprised by the ending to the missing girl.

Marley and the Pancake House are about to get some competition in the form of the Waffle King. Wally Fowler is back in town and planning to open a restaurant in direct competition with Marley’s business. Only he dies before ever opening his doors. There are lots of possible suspects but the ones that get Marley involved are her friend Lisa and her cook Ivan.
In this fourth book in the Pancake House mystery series, Marley solves two mysteries one from the past and one from the present. The author continues Marley and Brett’s relationship and Marley has the added worry of Brett’s father having a heart attack. Ray, the sheriff feels like a missing character in this book. Usually he’s there and investigating and there is more interaction between Marley and Ray. He doesn’t like Marley investigating but I’ve liked the interplay in past books better than the perceived absence in this one.
A good addition to the Pancake House mysteries. I enjoy the characters, the setting and the mysteries.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Two things you can rely upon when reading the Pancake House mysteries are lip smacking pancakes and crepes and a good mystery. I love one that surprises me at the end when I have been so sure I was able to figure it out. This one had me fooled legitimately. I say legitimately because some authors bring in a killer at the end without giving the reader a chance to figure it out. The clues were there in plain sight. I got snookered.
Marley’s business and her love life are both doing well. Then an obnoxious former resident of town returns and plans to open a waffle place not just as competition but to obliterate The Flip Side. She is lucky there are so many others whom he has hurt or offended in the past that Marley is not a suspect despite finding the body again. Sadly her best friend, Lisa, and her chef, Ivan are both high on the list. This a truly nasty piece of work both when he lived in town before and now that he has returned. His grisly end is justified.
Marley in an attempt to keep Lisa or Ivan or both out of jail, tries to figure out who did the deed. Every time she thinks she has it nailed, it turns out not to be the case. At the same time she is worried about Brent, whose father suffered a heart attack and to figure out what happened to her Aunt Grace’s sister who vanished into thin air when she was 17. I would be hard pressed to choose which of the two mysteries was more compelling. By the end, Marley has her answers but not before some chillingly scary moments.
I have become fond of this series. This did not disappoint. I give five purrs and two paws up.