The Walking Bread by Winnie Archer is the 3rd book in A Bread Shop Mystery series, and another good addition. Ivy Culpepper is an apprentice baker and a photographer who is photographing Santa Sofia's annual spring event. Ivy's brother has entered the contest and always come in runner-up, this year he is determined to win. When the 1st winner turns up dead, Ivy must save her brother and find the real killer. This book had more twists and turns, and an excellent mystery that kept me reading. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for a fair and honest review.

I’m reviewing this after receiving a free ARC from NetGalley.

This is the first book I’ve read by Winnie Archer. I absolutely loved it! It’s a book you won’t want to put down. The story is fun and her dad and dog and loveable. There are many twists and turns and it is cozy, not bloody. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great cozy that is an easy and fun enjoyable read.

Santa Sofia: Come for the tasty bread, stay for the murders

I received this book for free for the purpose of an impartial review.

This was the most fun I’ve had reading a cozy in a long time. The author's prose is approachable and fun, while still conveying the seriousness of the situation at hand. The book even had one or two wholesome moments which are nice to read. Net total of this book was a fast and easy read which I Highly Recommend.

Ivy Culpepper, the protagonist, must save her brother from being falsely imprisoned after his sworn nemesis is found dead. Ivy had plenty of agency in this book, which is a criticism I have of a lot of other mystery books. Ivy goes out of her way to save her brother against impossible odds of a system stacked against her. I liked her, she was very charming. Ivy’s partner-in-crime-solving Mrs. Branford, an octogenarian Archie Goodwin, was even more fun because she had a devil-may-care attitude about solving the crime.

The plot was also very good. As is the case with most cozy mysteries, the premise is innately ridiculous: there is a murder at a themed car festival. The victim is found dead inside his zombie-themed car, and Ivy's brother is implicated by evidence planted on the site. Ivy and Branford must team up to find the real killer after the cops rushed through their investigative process and failed to see through the planted evidence. Ivy must find the dead man's enemies (here's a hint: there are a LOT of enemies) and discover which one killed him.

The pacing was very good as well. While it was never what I would call ‘seat of your pants reading,’ THE WALKING BREAD was fun and I read it pretty much cover to cover in two days. The author successfully conveys a sense of urgency which made the book very gripping. Our hearts were in our throats as we were afraid that Ivy’s struggling family would collapse because of the false imprisonment of her brother.

I always like to include some constructive criticism at the end of all my reviews. For this book I have just one thing, however it is fairly major spoilers so sign off here if you don't want to be spoiled.

My chief complaint was that this book was not a Fair Play mystery. Fair Play mysteries are mysteries which the reader can figure out the killer before the protagonist because the evidence is all there waiting to be put together. I, the reader, lacked a key piece of evidence until after the protagonist got it. The final piece of evidence only became available at the climax of the book, so there is no way for me the reader to figure out who the bad guy was until after the protagonist. It's a small complaint, but significant in its own way.

As I said previously I do Highly Recommend this book. The characterization was strong, the plot was strong, and the pacing was great. If you're in the mood for a fun, reasonably light cozy mystery consider checking this out.

I admit to being an unabashed fan of this series featuring Ivy Culpepper, an apprentice baker at Yeast of Eden in Santa Sofia. The mysteries- this time it's the murder of her brother's rival- are not gory or even particularly complex- but the characters are completely winning. Ivy has a large "family" at the bakery, starting with Olaya. She's also got a great Dad, a pesky little dog and a best friend Emmaline who is law enforcement. These are nicely real people in plausible situations (well, except for the high number of murders in this small town). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans and others. Read this even if it's a standalone for you!

Ivy’s brother Billy is the main suspect when a dead body is found at the art cars warehouse. Max Litman has won the art cars festival competition for many years even though Billy’s designs are often better. There is word of bribery. Plus Max was a dishonest businessman and cheated some investors out of money totaling $1 million. Ivy and Emmaline are trying to clear Billy but the clues don’t really add up until near the end.
Ivy and Miguel are starting to get cozy and Mrs. Bradford adds some spunk and spice to the story. The bread shop is a haven.
I enjoyed this story. This is the third book in the series. Each has a different tone which almost makes me wonder if there is a different author for each book.
I like Ivy, the main character. It is fun to be part of the life of the main characters that appear in each book.
I read a pre-release copy obtained through Netgalley.

I liked this book even if it's not the best one in this series.
The plot is sound, it keep you guessing till the end and it's full of twists and turns.
Even if there's the usual humour there's a melancholic undercurrent and the general mood seems to be affected by the death of the heroine's mother.
I'd like some more development in the character histories and relationship.
It was entertaining and fun to read and I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC

3.25 stars

Ivy Culpepper had moved back to her home town after a divorce and the death of her mother. She found an emotional anchor at the Yeast of Eden Bakery, and was working to re-establish a photography career. She is surrounded by the local cast of characters, including her father and her brother Billy, her best friend Emma (who happens to be assistant police chief) and her high school boyfriend Miguel. The backstory between her and Miguel doesn't exactly make sense, but their relationship appears to be fairly solid.

Her new life is upset when the police chief is determined to pin the murder of a local developer on her brother Billy. Emma is taken off the case and the police will not entertain any other suspects, so Ivy and her trusty and crusty octogenarian detecting partner Mrs. Bradford must solve the crime.

This is a pleasant enough read, but feels a bit superficial. The plot mostly hangs together, but there isn't much character development. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series. They are all well written fast reads and this is a great addition to the series!

In the small town of Santa Sofia, California there is a yearly Art Car Show. Ivy"s brother Billy has tried years to win first place. This year while Ivy is taking photos of the cars she finds businessman Max Litman dead in this art car. Billy is accused of the murder since he always is competing for first place.
Ivy with the help of her neighbor and boyfriend will track down the real killer.

This is a delightful cozy series ! I have read the previous two in the series and enjoyed them very much. I highly recommend this series for all cozy mystery fans who enjoy a great sleuth, with a dash of baked goods and fabulous charcters in a charming setting.

In this next in series (the third) we return to the charming town of Santa Sofia . Our protagonist Ivy Culpepper is working part time as a photographer and also as a part time bread apprentice at a bakery called "Yeast of Eden.", Yeast of Eden is a Mexican bread bakery that is managed by her good friend Olaya. The bakery is very popular in town and Ivy is enjoying her job baking. The descriptions of the baking in this series are divine.

A Art and Car Parade is taking place in Santa Sofia and Ivy's Brother Billy wants to enter. As Ivy enters the judging area with her little pug Agatha to see his entry, the dog begins to growl and stops at one of the cars. Inside the car a body is found and its someone who was greatly disliked in town especially by Billy. Now the sheriff is convinced Billy is guilty and Ivy is on the case to clear his name.
This is a well crafted sleuth with plenty of clues and suspects to keep readers guessing to the end. The supporting charcters all add to the fun and assist Ivy with her sleuth. She is a smart savvy protagonist who proves to be very adapt at solving her third murder case. I look forward to the next in series. Thank you for the ARC and my opinion is my own.
I highly recommend this series

The Walking Bread is the third installment in the A Bread Shop Mystery series featuring part time baker and photographer, Ivy Culpepper. The quaint town of Santa Sofia, California is preparing for the annual Art Car parade and not only has Ivy been hired as the official photographer for the festivities but Yeast of Eden, the bread shop owned by her honorary aunt Olaya Solis, is catering for the crowds.

Ivy's brother Billy, has been entering the Art Car Show for as long as she can remember and has always finished runner up to his rival Max Litman. Unfortunately early on Ivy had discovered that Billy's mentor, high school art teacher Mr. Zavila had been secretly spying on Billy's plans and then turning them over to Max, ensuring that Billy would always finish second. Determined to best his rival this year, Billy put out false plans for his car and was keeping his true theme top secret.

As the cars begin staging in the airport hangar that will house them for the show Ivy is busy snapping pictures when she suddenly spots a pair of legs sticking out of the front of Max's zombie car. The legs belong to Max and it's no surprise when Sheriff Robert Lane accuses Billy of being the killer. Knowing that her brother is not a killer, Ivy sets out with the help of Deputy Sheriff Emmaline Davis, her boyfriend Miguel, and octogenarian Penelope Branford to clear Billy's name.

A fast paced plot with well developed characters that kneads together a great mystery and the true meaning of family and friends. The book reads as a stand alone but I strongly urge readers to start from the beginning of the series in order to learn more about Ivy and her community.

I received an advanced copy of The Walking Bread from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This is a delightful series. The Walking Bread is a pleasant cozy mystery. It isn't a compelling read, but it does have some sweet moments and surprises.

The Walking Bread is the third installment of A Bread Shop Mystery series but can be read as a stand alone.

This is the first read in the series for me and I had no trouble following the story.I especially liked that characters are particularly well portrayed and likable. The family bond is very strong and they are so supportive of each other.

When local business man, Max Litman who just happens to surpass efforts of Ivy's brother Billy each and every year in art car parade is found murdered in one of the parade cars that Ivy is taking photos of., the suspicion falls on Billy. So it's up to Ivy and her helpful sidekicks to figure out the truth and save her brother.

I especially enjoyed descriptions of art car parade and all elaborate and detailed work put into it. I also appreciated the clever and interesting fast paced story.
Very good read.

I am getting very attached to Ivy Culpepper and the Bread Shop Mystery series. In 'The Walking Bread' Ivy's brother Billy is the suspect in the death of his nemesis in the art car shows that have taken place over the years. I love the development in relationships and the importance of family that is portrayed, as well as the mystical healing powers of bread! The mystery in this is expert, with clues unfolding that took me in many different directions until the totally surprising conclusion. I look forward to many more.

The Walking Bread is the third book in Winnie Archer’s Bread Shop Mystery series. The characters are three dimensional and well developed and the plot is well paced and can be read as a standalone as the author provides great background information. Ms. Archer’s writing is descriptive and vivid, making you feel you are with the characters and actually experiencing what they are. There are multiple possible suspects, and lots of clues ad twists and turns in this well plotted whodunit. There’s a touch of romance, lots of compassion and caring, and emotions involved with the pages of this book. The identity of the killer was surprising.

Ivy Culpepper, a professional photographer, returned to her hometown of Santa Sofia after the death of her mother and is working part-time as a bread-making apprentice at Yeast of Eden, a Mexican bread bakery run by her friend Olaya Solis. Almost every year since he was seventeen years old, Ivy’s brother, Billy, had an entry in the event, only to be beaten out by his rival, Max Litman, every time. Their mother loved the Art Car Parade and Ball more than any of Santa Sofia’s other events, so after taking a hiatus for a few years, Billy decides to enter this year. In honor of her, he replicated “Through the Looking-Glass,” one of their mother’s favorite books. Ivy, Billy, and Owen, their dad, are certain this will be the year he brings home the blue ribbon. Completed entries were being housed in an airplane hangar outside of town. Ivy was photographing the first of the entries and since she wanted to take her little fawn pug, Agatha, along, her dad agreed to join them and keep an eye on high-spirited Agatha. As they approached one of the cars, Agatha stopped, sat down, refused to move, and uncharacteristically bared her teeth. The car troubling Agatha, decorated as a grotesque zombie, was missing its registration tag and upon closer inspection, Ivy discovered a dead Max Litman inside the zombie’s mouth. Max was a liar and a scoundrel and not many people will be sad he was dead. Everyone knew there wasn’t any love lost between the two men, so with one piece of circumstantial evidence against him, a lot of people think Billy’s guilty, including Sheriff Robert Lane. Deputy Sheriff Emmaline Davis, Ivy’s best friend, who is planning a life with Billy, is taken off the case. Ivy is determined to clear her brother’s name.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I enjoyed reading this fun, fast paced story. The description of the art cars was great and I found myself seeing the cars through the authors eyes.
The mystery was full of twists and turns and I was engaged with the story all the way through to the end.

This series just gets better and better! I love how creative the author is with the story lines, but still keeping everything perfectly authentic for a small town. I love how she writes the main character, I love Ivy so much! This story was incredibly hard to put down, and i enjoyed every single word!

I liked this book. The descriptions of the festival, the cars and all the work that goes into them is wonderful. The rest is a typical cozy mystery with the surprising ending reveal of the murderer. #TheWalkingBread #NetGalley

I always enjoy books written by Winnie Archer. The Walking Bread is the third installment of A Bread Shop Mystery Series. If you missed the first book, Kneaded to Death, I highly recommend you pick it up. It started the series off with a bang. The stories revolve around Ivy Culpepper, a thirty-something year old woman who has returned to her hometown of Santa Sofia after the death of her mother. She is a photographer and bread making apprentice at the cleverly named Yeast of Eden bakery where she has befriended the much older owner, Olaya. Yeast of Eden is catering the local arts and cars festival, a festival that means a lot to Ivy’s family. Ivy’s brother has entered in the car festival every year since he was 17 years old, only to be beat out by Max Litman year after year. This year is different, however. Max never gets to compete. The rival is found dead in his own art car. Ivy and her gang of adopted aunts at Yeast of Eden resolve to solve the case before her brother takes the rap.