The Corpse Who Knew Too Much is the fourth in the Food Blogger series, but it can be read as a standalone. Hope Early, successful blogger at Hope at Home, is preparing to teach a blogging class at the local library. She keeps hearing about a podcast called "Search for the Missing" and learns that it is hosted by Devon Markham, Hope's high school friend. Not only is Devon the host, but the latest podcast is about her mother Joyce who went missing twenty years prior and whose whereabouts is still unknown. Devon has recently returned to their hometown of Jefferson, CT, to further investigate her mother's disappearance. Devon believes her mother was murdered, and is determined to prove it, with help from Hope.

Hope receives a call from Claire, her sister, that someone has broken into Devon's apartment (located above Claire's shop), the apartment has been ransacked, and Devon cannot be found. Some time later Devon's body is found in her wrecked car just after Devon has paid a visit to the retired detective who investigated her mother's case. Hope believes Devon was murdered, and against the wishes of her Police Chief boyfriend Ethan, begins to ask a lot of questions which endangers her own life but eventually bring her to the truth of what happened to Joyce and Devon.

All of the activity around Hope and her friends add interest to the story - Hope's restoration of her farmhouse, Josie as Hope's assistant, Claire, Iva, another high school friend who now helps Hope around her farm, Drew, Hope's best friend and journalist...and many more! You really do not know who committed the crime until the very end of the story with some subtly dropped clues -- well done!

Hope is a bit of a busybody and doesn't always act in the best interest of others, but in the end, she realizes her mishandling of situations and will hopefully (in the next book) show she has learned from past experiences!

The story is enjoyable, all the characters likeable and have many different "layers." I look forward to the next installment in the series.

Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review.

The latest food blogger mystery has Hope teaching a blogging class and exploring the world of podcasts, especially the true crime podcast created by one of her childhood friends. After building an audience, Devon has returned to her hometown to cover the unsolved disappearance of her own mother. Not long after she asks Hope for help, Devin is found murdered, all of her carefully compiled notes missing. I enjoy this series, which focuses almost as much on Hope's daily life as a food blogger as it does on the mystery in each book.

Successful blogger Hope Early was busy with her food blog and teaching a newbie blogging class. However, when Devon, an old friend from high school, asked for help in solving her mom's disappearance 20 years ago she couldn't say no. Little did she know the terrible consequences that would result due to their investigating.

From this book I learned a little about blogging, got some great recipes and enjoyed the story too. Even though it is book #4 in A Food Blogger Mystery series it could easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Food blogger Hope Early has a full plate running her popular blog, Hope at Home; doing freelance work; and teaching a blog class at the local library. Living in the Northwest hills of Connecticut in the winter with her pets—Bigelow (dog), Princess (cat), and a couple of chickens; she also enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Ethan, the chief of police.

Hope has a knack for solving mysteries, and when the daughter of a missing woman returns to town determined to find out what happened to her mother 20 years before; Hope’s mixed up in the middle of the old cold case.

A swift, tight plot keeps this cozy novel moving and grooving. Hope is a strong protagonist backed up with a variety of interesting secondary characters. The killer reveal and truth about the circumstances leading up to the murders is clever and I actually had my suspicions about this character, but didn’t know the motive until the end. A final yummy perk is the tasty recipes the author shares after the story. I highly recommend this fourth story in the Food Blogger series.

I honestly reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Another excellent addition to this series, fun to read and enjoyable.
Great characters, lovely setting and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Devon's been hunting for information about her mom for 20 years and now she's asked for Hope's help. Hope's a food blogger who is expanding into pod casts and Devon thinks her cold case would be good for one. Sadly, though, Devon's apartment is ransacked and she is killed (accident? or murder?) soon after. You'd think Jefferson, Connecticut would be a quiet place but no....Hope, however, is really good at nosing out the truth and, if you haven't read this series before (it's fine as a standalone), you will be impressed. Her love interest Sam isn't too thrilled about her activity but she's got a posse of friends to help out. It's a good classic cozy with a twisty plot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. AND- there are recipes!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Having read the previous books in this series, I definitely wanted to read The Corpse Who Knew Too Much. It was fun to read again about Hope, her food blog and her investigation. This time, what makes the story particularly interesting is that it involves the death of two members of the same family, at different moments in time. What I really loved about this book is that the story is well built and you are pulled into it, and the characters are written in nuances of grey - they are not all good or all bad. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much is the fourth book in the Food Blogger Mysteries, and the second one i've read. Our main character, Hope, is a relatively successful food blogger. Hope begins teaching her first blogging class at the local library, but is quickly distracted by the arrival of her old friend, Devon. Devon hosts a true-crime podcast about missing persons cases, and she's back in town for the 20th anniversary of her mother's disappearance. Knowing Hope's recent experience with investigating and solving murders in town, Devon enlists Hope's help. But when Devon dies in a suspicious car accident, Hope starts to suspect something more sinister at play.

I really enjoyed reading this book and trying to solve the disappearance and suspected murder. However, this is a little darker for a cozy which could be a draw for some readers but a deterrent for others. I would add a content warning to this one for portrayal and discussion of suicide. This wasn't a negative for me, but I think it's worth noting for other readers.

Thank you Kensington Books for the digital ARC!

4.5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Food Blogger mysteries by Debra Sennefelder.

Hope is teaching her first blogging class at the library and she is really liking it. One of her old friends, Devon, a podcaster, is back to town to research her mother’s disappearance for one of her podcasts. Then she turns up missing and all her research gone. Later her body is discovered and they now know that her mother’s disappearance was probably murder after all.

I really like this series. The whole blogging aspect really appeals to me. I wish the author would write an ebook about the ins and outs of blogging and how to do marketing and such. I would totally be interested in that. I love all the little tips she gives out.

This is one of those series I would probably start with book one and read up on the back story before digging into this one. But it can totally be read as a standalone.

Loved the intricate mystery and the cast. They compliment each other so well. Makes me want to stay in town and know what is going on day to day even when there isn’t a mystery afoot.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Hope Early is a successful food blogger living in the town of Jefferson, Connecticut and it is the middle of winter. With snow swirling she has just begun a how to evening class at the local library to teach her fellow enthusiasts about setting up a notable blog of their own.

Surprised by the arrival in Jefferson of one of her best friends from high school, Hope is delighted to see Devon again but amazed when she discovers her reason for returning. Twenty years previously Devon's mother disappeared without trace and she is determined to find out what happened and why. Hope volunteers to help but by the following morning her friend's apartment has been ransacked and Devon is nowhere to be seen.

Determined to discover what happened both now and in the past Hope begins an investigation, much to the dismay of the local police department, and finds herself in more danger than she knows what to do with. Can she stay safe long enough to solve the two cases or is the killer closer than she thinks?

I enjoyed this book, it flowed, had good characterisation and an original plotline for the most part. I also liked the description of the location and the secondary characters had enough of a part to play to keep Hope's life full of interest and individuality. The recipes included at the end of the book were all mentioned during the story and sound delicious.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who has read the previous books in this series or enjoys a good cosy crime mystery.

I liked the mystery of this book but was not in love with the protagonist. She was a bit over the top. The mystery was well planned and the characters were OK. I just wish the protagonist was a bit more aware of people's feelings and the idea that a batch of cookies can heal broken friendships when she accused someone of theft and murder is a bit much.

The beginning of the novel started very well with us getting introduced to the cast and crew of this story, however, the narrative would have a lot of instances where it dragged and I couldn't stay engaged. What was a bit more frustrating was the significant other of the main character, I couldn't stand him, and even with Ethan having kids--it didn't elevate his position in my eyes to be Claire's partner.

There were several instances where he put himself in compromising situations, and brushed it off like it was nothing and would tell the heroine she was over thinking things and that she's jealous. You know what? I do like romance in cozy mysteries, but Claire hinted that her past relationship had someone hurt her and cheat on her. Yet... here's Ethan, who's the Chief of Police, doing things and actions that are not okay, even for me.

I also felt the story got lost after Claire started stating she wasn't lying to Ethan about her snooping around, and while I can understand in cozy whodunit stories, that this kind of situation happens a lot with the heroines. Ethan and Claire made me cringe, as he doesn't seem to care about her, and his action towards Claire about fixing up the room that his two daughters sleep in in her house.

That was the final straw, I don't agree with people pleasing for heroines, and while Claire is a recovering one, Ehtan enables those actions. I lost the whole point of the story with how weird their relationship was, and then we'd get thrown back into the story.

The flow of the story was not fluid and hard to keep up with with all the random love moments (if they even were romantic moments), and then boom dead bodies everywhere.

Hope Early is happy with her life as a full-time food blogger in Jefferson, Connecticut. Hope is busy growing her business and beginning to teach a class on blogging at the local library when her old friend, Devon Markham, returns to town. Devon hosts a true-crime podcast about women who are missing, inspired by her own mother’s disappearance twenty years before. Devon is back in town to get answers and asks Hope for her help. When tragedy strikes, Hope is more determined than ever to get answers about Joyce Markham’s disappearance even though it’s clear someone in Jefferson wants that case to remain cold.

This book is the fourth in a series, but the first I’ve read. Although the mystery doesn’t require reading any of the other books, I think it would have helped me to better connect with the characters. I like Hope, but other characters who are supposed to be good, like her boyfriend Ethan and her sister Claire, just didn’t impress me. Claire seems very self-centered, and I saw more chemistry between Hope and a detective she doesn’t care much for than with her police chief boyfriend. There are a lot of other characters in the book and it was hard to keep track of all the residents of Jefferson. I like a couple of her friends but never felt I got to know them well, and I would have enjoyed the book more if I would have.

The best parts of the book are the blogging class and the podcast. I actually wish there have been more details included as Hope was conducting her class. However, she does mention some of the things that are necessary in making a living from a blog that most readers like myself wouldn’t have thought about which was interesting. I like the podcast aspect of the book and the fact that a couple of the actual podcasts are included really brings that part of the book to life. Hope’s persistence is admirable and she refuses to give up until she gets justice for those who deserve it, even when the situation becomes dangerous. There is a lot of sadness, but the book ends on a positive note and I would rate it 3.5 stars. Those who follow the series, as well as fans of Lynn Cahoon, should enjoy the book.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

I adore this series! Hope is an endearing character whose receives always make me hungry! I love the small town dynamic of this town.

I loved this book! Big thanks to Netgalley for gifting me a copy!
The characters were easily relatable and the plot was awesome! I will definitely read more from this author!

THE CORPSE WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, the fourth book in the Food Blogger Mysteries by Debra Sennefelder, is another yummy addition to a delectable series! I’m always fascinated with protagonist Hope Early, a food blogger. Not only does she immerse herself in creating delicious recipes and then styling and photographing mouthwatering images, but she’s also busy renovating her farmhouse, does freelance writing, and is set to teach a blogging class at the local library. Her energy seems boundless and it trickles into the story creating a page-turning read. Ms. Sennefelder is a former food blogger and her attention to the details of what it takes to run a success blog lends authenticity to the storyline. She includes factoids, such as there are over 30 million blogs online (I had NO idea!) along with a few tips on what it takes to set up a blog. Being a blogger myself, I was intrigued.

The mystery centers on a 20-year-old cold case involving the missing mother of Hope’s friend. Her friend, now a young woman running a true-crime podcast, is back in town with plans to investigate her mother’s disappearance herself and asks for Hope’s help. But when her friend is killed, Hope realizes she has to uncover the truth. I admire the talent it takes to weave in an old, unsolved crime with a current day crime and Ms. Sennefelder rises to the task admirably. The clues for both murders were expertly planted without giving too much away. There is also a higher level of emotional involvement in this book based on the young mother’s disappearance that had me wanting to turn pages faster and faster until the last word was read. As the reveal unfolded, the clues that I’d missed clicked into place for a satisfying conclusion!

With Hope creating so many delectable recipes for her blog it should come as no surprise that several recipes are included at the back of the book… and they all sound amazing!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved "The Corpse Who Knew Too Much" the 4th book in Debra Sennefelder's "A Food Blogger Mystery" series. Visiting Jefferson, Connecticut has become a pleasure, even in winter.

I love Hope as she is real and I have become invested in her and what is happening around her. I like her family and friends, Claire, Jane, Drew and of course Ethan (Police Chief boyfriend) and the dynamics between them all. Don't get me started on her dog Bigelow, Poppy the chicken and Princess the cat!

There was sadness in this book as they looked back on her childhood friends missing mum. With a few suspenseful moments as well as some lighthearted ones, but with plenty of twists and turns to keep us entertained. I did suspect the killer early on but I started second guessing myself as there was plenty of suspects.

I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Hope in this series and I look forward to reading the next book ...

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Cold cases can come back to kill and Hope is about to find that out up close and personally! The plot of this book is simply outstanding! It is complicated with a few twists and turns to delight and entertain for hours on end. I found myself simply turning page after page as I could no more put the book down than the main character could stop asking questions. I love that the main character is an intelligent, independent woman who asks the right questions albeit often leading her into uncomfortable encounters with others. The realistic reactions of the characters around her make this book all that more compelling. I absolutely have fallen in love with this series!

The Corpse Who Knew Too Much earns 5/5 Cold Cases...Entertaining!

Debra Sennefelder has penned a delightful page turner with a food blogger perfecting her amateur detecting skills on a few murders plaguing Jefferson, Connecticut. Sennefelder’s well-written drama centers around Hope Early who seems to manage well her busy schedule running a successful blog, Hope at Home, and expanding to teaching blogging at the local library. She’s also remodeling her old farmhouse, navigating a romantic relationship with the local detective, and as circumstances have it she’s become interested in podcasting. She sure could use a few extra hours in the day or maybe an assistant. Devon Markham is a new resident in town with a popular podcast, Search for the Missing. Her main topic has been the twenty-year-old cold case of her own mother’s disappearance. Hope’s fascination turns serious when Devon is found murdered. Engaging! The drama is compelling, slowly revealing details of the cold case and connections to the recent murder. Using a third-person narrative, readers are kept engaged with a writing style filled with descriptive language and entertaining dialogue. Don’t think you’ll be able to figure out this one before the surprise conclusion...fun to try! Join right in with this fourth book’s drama since revisiting background and character connections from the three previous stories make it easy for newbies. Food Blog Treats! Hope Early shares her thoughts (a delightful addition) and easy-to-follow and varied recipes perfect for any stay-at-home meal: Three-Cheese Lasagna, Rustic Apple Pie, One-Bowl Brownies, Sunshine Corn Muffins, Sugar Cookies, and Double-Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies!

I love this series. I really like the main character, Hope, and her friends. They are so down to earth and very likeable. This was a well written mystery that had me guessing right to the end. This book is my favorite of the series, so far.


Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.