Wildwood Cove the home of Marley's Pancake House, The Flip Side, is hosting the Olympic Peninsula's annual amateur chef competition. The event will take place over three weekends. Marley is enjoying volunteering for the event as she is still finding ways to become more involved with the community. The competition serves as the background for Book 5 in the Pancake House Mysteries.

The mystery begins in earnest when a skull is discovered adjacent to property where Brett is finishing a landscaping job. It turns out the skull is part of the remains of Demetra Kozani, a member of Chloe's high school class. She disappeared ten years back, after a party where she and Chloe had a vivid argument. Will Chloe be a suspect in this investigation?

Marley is reluctantly drawn into the investigation. She wishes to focus on her ongoing romance with Brett, and to help out with the Amateur Chef competition. This changes when she spots a stranger whose appearance is so close to her dead father, Marley believes he might not have died.
These three strains of plot build and intertwine as Fox skillfully leads the reader to the climax.

As much a romance novel as a mystery, Crepe Expectations provides a satisfying and hunger provoking tale for the cozy mystery fan.

Recommended.

Full disclosure: I received this review copy from netgalley and Lyrical Press in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for the opportunity.

This series is perfect for a quick getaway read on an afternoon. No need to have read any of the other four books in the series to enjoy this one. However, i did end up with a craving for pancakes, etc. Marley owns the Flip Side Pancake House and is a cozy mystery murder magnet. This time, she stumbles upon a skull, uncovered by the recent heavy rains. Upon further investigation, the police identify the remains of a young woman who had disappeared a decade ago. As that cold case is reopened, Marley has her attention on the local cookoff which is being held in town. Her chef, Ivan, is one of the judges and some of her friends are in various events of the competition. Trouble starts when several of the judges become ill - who would want to sabotage the cookoff?
There are several mysteries running and it kept me turning the pages to figure out what could connect the threads. Not only was I very satisfied with the way the mystery unfolded, it was nice to see how the various characters are developing. It's nice to have a series that I can count on to give me a good puzzle to become lost in for a few hours.

I really love this series - I was so happy to see that there was going to be another book.
Marley is a great character and all the supporting characters are also very good and truly enhance the story. This one was a bit different than the previous books as they have to discover who a murderer was from a long time ago [from when Brett's sister Chloe was in High School]. Marley stumbles, quite literally, into some bones and from there the mystery ensues.
There are some interesting side stories within this one and one of them involving Marley and someone who looks so very familiar to her will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for Marley as she starts to really discover what family really means.
I truly enjoyed this one and for sure hope there is more coming!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Marley McKinney, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, is excited to volunteer for the local amateur chef competition. But, when Marley stops by to visit her boyfriend, Brett, at his work, she finds some human remains. Can Marley find out the true killer before another body is found?
I literally read this book in a day. I couldn’t put it down. Marley is such a great character, and the plot was so full of twists that I couldn’t figure out whodunit and was surprised in the end. I can’t wait for the next installment to this great series. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

People poisoned at an amateur chef competition and the discovery of an old skeleton give Marley something to keep herself busier than normal. I like how new characters, that could be recurring, along with the foundational characters continue to evolve. I am getting weary of older crimes being uncovered. Seems rather repetitive from the previous book in the series and makes you wonder if Ms. Fox is already running out of ideas. What hasn't gotten repetitive is the yummy creations that are served up at the Flip Side and the relationship between Marley and Brett.

Crepe Expectations
Pancake House Mystery, Book #5
Sarah Fox
5 Stars

Synopsis:

When a murder case from the past heats up again, it’s up to Marley McKinney to sort through a tall stack of suspects in the latest Pancake House Mystery . . .

Although it’s a soggy start to spring in Wildwood Cove, the weather clears up just in time for the town to host an amateur chef competition. Marley McKinney, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, already signed up to volunteer, and chef Ivan Kaminski is one of the judges. But when Marley visits her landscaper boyfriend Brett at the site of the Victorian mansion that’s being restored as the Wildwood Inn, she discovers something else pushing up daisies: human remains.

The skeleton on the riverbank washed out by the early-spring floodwaters belonged to
eighteen-year-old Demetra Kozani, who vanished a decade earlier. While the cold case is reopened, Marley must step in when some of the cook-off contestants fall suspiciously ill. Stuck in a syrupy mess of sabotage and blackmail, it falls to Marley to stop a killer from crêping up on another victim . . .

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



Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. I enjoy getting to spend time with Marley and her friends and coworkers. Marley and her boyfriend, Brett, make a great couple and I enjoy watching their relationship grow. The Flip Side employes are like a family to Marley and you can tell how much they care about it.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into book from the very beginning. I felt like I was right there, spending time in Wildwood Cove, watching all of the action taking place and listening in on conversations.

I liked that fact that the mystery was a cold case, waiting to be solved. And there were two mysteries to deal with. The second mystery was who was sabotaging the cook-off and making people sick. With two mysteries, there were double the suspects and clues to sift through, which I thought was a great thing.

I would recommend this book, and series, to everyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next one already.

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

Demetra didn't move to New York 10 years ago- because she was murdered! Marley and her boyfriend Brett discover her bones and then more. Demetra was a good friend of Brett's sister Chloe, who is a suspect in the murder. Regular cozy readers know that Marley's going to investigate and that the killer will be a surprise. The charm of this series is in the characters and in the other plot lines, in this case a cooking contest. Marley's pancake house seems like a fun place to visit (even if there are an inordinate number of murders in Wildwood Cove.) A classic cozy and a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to more adventures with Marley and Brett. Oh, and I'm going to make at least one of the recipes!

Crêpe Expectations is the fifth book in Sarah Fox’s Pancake House Mystery series. I had not read the previous four but enjoyed this one so much that I went and bought them for my TBR pile.

When a murder case from the past heats up again, it’s up to Marley McKinney to sort through a tall stack of suspects in the latest Pancake House Mystery . . .

Although it’s a soggy start to spring in Wildwood Cove, the weather clears up just in time for the town to host an amateur chef competition. Marley McKinney, owner of the Flip Side pancake house, already signed up to volunteer, and chef Ivan Kaminski is one of the judges. But when Marley visits her landscaper boyfriend Brett at the site of the Victorian mansion that’s being restored as the Wildwood Inn, she discovers something else pushing up daisies: human remains.

The skeleton on the riverbank washed out by the early-spring floodwaters belonged to eighteen-year-old Demetra Kozani, who vanished a decade earlier. While the cold case is reopened, Marley must step in when some of the cook-off contestants fall suspiciously ill. Stuck in a syrupy mess of sabotage and blackmail, it falls to Marley to stop a killer from crêping up on another victim . . .

I loved the setting of Wildwood Cove and can’t wait to visit it again. The protagonist Marley is a likable main character and Chloe makes a great sidekick. The characters are well-developed. The mystery had just enough suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns to keep you guessing till the end. I found it to be a fun fast read.

Includes pancake recipes right from The Flip Side menu!

I enjoyed this book and recommend to my friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley and Kensington books. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Crêpe Expectations is the fifth book in Sarah Fox’s Pancake House Mystery series. The writing style flows smoothly. This book is a quick and easy read with a great cast of well-developed characters. The mystery is well plotted and has enough suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns to make it difficult to figure out who committed the murder and other crimes.

Marley McKinney owns The Flip Side pancake house in Wildwood Cove, has an orange tabby named Flapjack, and the unfortunate habit of finding dead bodies and involving herself in investigations. Her boyfriend, Brett Collins, owns a lawn and garden care company, and he and his dog, Bentley, recently moved in with Marley. Each year, one of the peninsula’s communities hosts the Olympic Peninsula’s annual amateur chef competition, and this year is Wildwood Cove’s turn, so when one of the judges has to go out of town at the last minute, Marley convinces Flip Side’s talented chef, Ivan Kaminski, to take his place. One of the judges becomes ill, and Marley is recruited to fill in for him. As the second round of the competition begins, several contestants suddenly become ill. Brett is busy preparing the gardens at the Wildwood Inn for its upcoming garden party and grand opening. When Marley visits Brett at the inn to bring him an afternoon snack, she spots a tiny kitten, and they follow it into the woods, where Marley slips, lands on a patch of ferns, and discovers a human skull poking through the mud caused by recent flooding. They contact Brett’s uncle, Ray Georgeson, the sheriff of Clallam County. The investigators locate the entire skeleton, and the body is identified as eighteen-year-old Demetra Kozani, who vanished a decade earlier. Marley finds herself juggling trying to identify the person who sabotaged the amateur chef competition and looking into the cold case murder with Chloe, Brett’s sister, who graduated the same year as Demetra.

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

Loved the book and ended up buying the other books in the series! Great well developed characters, an interesting mystery and a very unexpected killer.
Marley McKinney is at it again- this time with an accidental discovery of a body of a girl who disappeared 10 years ago. while rescuing a stray kitten There are many people who didn't like her- and lots of suspects to go through. Fast paced book that you won't want to put down!

Bringing a snack to boyfriend Brett, Marley spots a kitten and give chase as it flees into the woods. When the two finally capture the tiny black bundle of fur, Marley points to a human skull partially buried in mud.

The body is identified as Demetra Kozani, an 18-year-old girl who disappeared over 10 years ago, after a post high school graduation party. Marley’s friend and Brett’s sister, Chloe is a suspect since she had a loud argument with Demetra at the party. As Marely begins nosing around other suspects emerge. Demetra’s best friend Chrissy is questioned by police as is Tyrone, the boyfriend Demetra dumped just before the party. Demetra was seen leaving gardener Quaid Hendrix’s cottage. And a ring found with Demetra’s body is identified by Lonny Barron as a family heirloom that his mother had given him.

As if tracking a murderer isn’t enough, Marley is also involved in the Olympic Peninsula annual amateur chef competition where it turns out one of the judges and a couple of contestants are poisoned, disrupting things but not fatal to anyone.

Finally, Marely runs into an older gentleman who bears an uncanny resemblance to her deceased father. As her imagination runs wild, she starts looking for him, wanting to find out who he is and are they related.

The 5th Pancake House Mystery by Sarah Fox is a strong series entry. Ms. Fox fabricates an interesting mystery with twisty sub-plots, warm characters and an even pace that makes this an easy read. A delightful way to spend an afternoon.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters, plot and setting are all great. I could not put this book down!

Series: A Pancake House Mystery - Book 5
Author: Sarah Fox
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 212
Publishing Date: May 28, 2019

From Kensington Books comes the latest addition to Sarah Fox’s “A Pancake House Mystery” series, Crêpe Expectations. This is the 5th book in the series and is one of the best. A short, quick read that will leave readers flipping the page and guessing up to the very end.

Marley has her hands full with the pancake house and now the cook-off. She doesn’t have time to figure out yet another murder. But like most things she does, Marley can’t help becoming involved, she puts her amateur sleuth skills to work and starts asking questions. That is what she does; she gets involved in solving old murders and putting herself in jeopardy.

The characters in this book and the entire series are well written and easy to like. They give the reader surprises, contentment, and hope. Brett is especially great! He is a dream of a boyfriend, hardworking, honest, romantic and sexy. Brett’s sister Chloe is spunky and loves to tease her brother and even enjoys the good-hearted ribbing he gives her. The victim wasn’t the sweetest person on earth and in some opinions, she may have been one of the worst, but that doesn’t prevent the reader and the characters from wanting to find out who killed her. I think most people will be content and a bit amazed when the murderer is revealed. Yet after thinking about it, they will agree that he/she is the perfect villain.

In the end, Crêpe Expectations is a pleasure to read. Everything is tied up in a nice tasteful bow, all of the questions are answered, twists bring smiles to lips, and the armature sleuthing characters of Marley and Chloe who get into mischief make you long for old friends, family, and your hometown.

ARC Provided by Netgalley

The characters in A Pancake House Mystery series are engaging and likeable. I especially like the warmth and affection that Marley has found with Brett's family. The mystery in "Crepe Expectations' carries us to the past into the present with many twists and turns involving a missing teenager, a deceased father and a Wildwood Cove cooking competition. I was certain I had the answers and happily I was wrong as it made for a much more challenging reading experience. If you haven't followed the series I'd recommend you start at the beginning for full enjoyment. It is delightful!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions express in this review are entirely my own.

I was absolutely thrilled have book number five in the series to read. I am guaranteed a great read from this series, I am never disappointed!
There are so many things I like about it, including the strong female lead character Marley, the small town setting and the inhabitants.
This latest offering has a strong plot involving a cold case.
As always, a well written whodunit, which kept me guessing and engaged right until the reveal.
I highly recommend this book, and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This is a delightful addition to this fun series.
I always enjoy reading a book by Sarah Fox, and I was not disappointed in Crepe Expectations.

Crêpe Expectations by Sarah Fox is the fifth book in the Pancake House Mystery series but the first I’ve had a chance to read. This delightful cozy mystery was easily read as a standalone and I never felt lost by not knowing all the central characters and their backstory. That said, it did make me want to start the series from the very beginning for the pure enjoyment of seeing the growth of the protagonist, Marley McKinney, along with the supporting characters. They were all well-developed and I enjoyed their interaction. I especially liked the friendship Marley has with her boyfriend’s younger sister. It brought a sweetness to the story, while the siblings’ interaction together added realism.

The premise of the story with Wildwood Cove’s amateur chef competition was fun. I enjoyed how Marley got involved in solving a cold case murder, after she and her boyfriend find a skull on the property he was landscaping. She also gets involved investigating who tries to sabotage the town’s event. The author wove the two crimes together with plenty of suspects dished out for the reader to muse over. The startling reveal caught me by surprise with some twists I didn’t see coming. With a heartwarming ending, I’ll be revisiting Wildwood Cove just as soon as I can.

Marley owns the charming pancake house, The Flip Side. Numerous mouthwatering dishes are served there and luckily for the reader, the author provides some recipes at the back of the book that would be more than appropriate for a special breakfast or even dessert!

I like the Pancake House Mystery series, and this one felt a little more thoroughly plotted--a bit more complex--than the previous books. Yay! While I enjoy a culinary mystery, I also liked the fact that this book was not dominated by recipes and descriptions of the cooking process. Marley is a small business owner, and the pancake shop is definitely in the background of this one. Fox did a great job of bringing back old mysteries and relationships into the present day, and weaving together the cooking competition and the murder mystery.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written cozy. I recommend reading this in series order to learn the backgrounds of the main characters so you can understand their decisions and actions in Crepe Expectations.

A cold case surfaces with a skull and everyone from Wildwood Cove's old graduating class becomes a suspect, including Marley McKinney's boyfriend's sister, Chloe. As Marley investigates during a county wide amateur cook-off she finds herself facing a personal dilemma. A happy ever after to begin the next book in this series gives us something to look forward to.

Book includes three Flip House recipes and the first chapter of the first book in the series.

I still don't care for how Marley appears way more nosy busybodish than she does amateur detective. Scheduling appointments to have people go over where they were during the time a crime was committed? I'd tell you to kick rocks. Regardless, I do enjoy the characters as a whole, the plot was fun (I was really glad to see this one was a "cold" case as opposed to yet another murderer in their small town) , and I loved the surprise ending. Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2754969531