Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in a new culinary-based series, with hints of paranormal. It features a bakeshop in an old lighthouse that may or may not be haunted. Lindsey, the main character, is young, a bit immature, and at times, doesn’t stop to think before she jumps in. These can be good and bad traits. Other characters, such as Lindsey's friends, and neighbors all have issues that blend well with Lindsey. The location is enjoyable and easy to picture.

The murder of Lindsey's ex’s new girlfriend is a bit unexpected, especially as it takes place in a crowded room. Unfortunately, the blame is placed squarely on Lindsey. Some of the storyline is questionable. For instance, how would Lindsey have planned to murder her ex’s girlfriend when she didn’t even know that she would be at her shop’s grand opening? Why her ex and girlfriend showed up in the first place is never really explained, or why they brought other people with them. I question if the people who are in the shop at the time of the murder could even fit in a lighthouse all at the same time. And, if you are going to introduce a ghost into the story, why wasn’t he at the opening wreaking havoc along with everyone else? There are suspects, evidence that readers will follow, but the killer’s identity will surprise most.

Lindsey's dog is a nice addition to the cast, and a few other characters help the story progress and make it interesting. The love interest, however, is too soon, and he may not be the best choice. The lighthouse is an excellent backdrop for a bakeshop. The ghost would be a great character as long as the character can be given a more defined role. Lindsey needs to do some growing up, and her friends may not be the best people for her to take advice from. Overall, I liked most of Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop, the mystery was done well, but I did find that the book, in general, had some issues. This is not, however, unusual in a new series. Characters will grow and deepen, plots will tighten, and the stories will become more attractive. I will be reading the next book in the series to see where the author takes these unusual characters.

Darci Hannah starts a new series with the Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop. Linsdsey a successful Wall Street entrepreneur has left New York for Beacon Harbor, Michigan, where she has opened her heart's dream, the Beacon Bakeshop. On opening day her cheating ex-fiance and his lover turn up to trash the opening but the lady chokes to death. Whodunit? Lindsey has friends in Beacon Harbor who assist her in keeping the police off her case and trying to find out the real story.. There's also a cute Newfoundland sidekick, Wellington. Start of an interesting cozy series.

The first book in the Beacon Bakeshop series by Darci Hanna is Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop. Lindsey flees her life in New York for a fresh start after finding her fiance cheating with his pastry chef. Her former financial career allows her to transform an old lighthouse into a bakery. During her grand opening she is horrified when protesters seem set on destroying her dream. Among them are her ex fiance and his girlfriend, Mia. When Mia suddenly dies at the bakeshop after apparently eating something poisoned, Lindsey is the main suspect. This small tourist town has several quirky and mysterious characters which add to the book's charm. My issue is the fact that the police only suspect Lindsey even though Mia ate food stolen off several customers' plates. A twist at the end surprised me. I am already looking forward to the second book.

Rounding up from 4 and half stars for this delightful cozy debut. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I immediately searched to if there was a second in the series available. Well not yet, but I am hoping it won't be long. Lindsey Bakewell had a successful NYC career, but decided to go for her dream after discovering her fiance exploring the delights of his pastry chef on a slab of salt. Buying a semi-derelict lighthouse in Michigan to renovate and convert into a bakery was challenging but exhilarating
That is until what started out as auspicious opening turned deadly. Lindsey is a great character...resourceful and intelligent. All the secondary characters are engaging. Well paced plot with enough twists to keep you guessing.

First in a new series

Lindsey Bakeswell leaves the big city after finding her fiancé in the arms of another woman.

She arrives in Beacon Harbor, Michigan to start her own business as a pastry chef in an old light house. But she has many obstacles to overcome before opening the doors. The preservation society is against it and has protesters on the day of the opening. If that wasn’t bad enough her ex shows up with his new flame Mia who trashed the place before she chokes on a donut and dies.

Her autopsy reveals she has cyanide in her bloodstream and Lidney’s is the police prime suspect. To save herself and her bakery she needs to find the real killer before she is closed down for good.

With the help of her best friend who has come to help her open the bakery a good looking next door neighbor and her dog Wellington, Lindsey sifts through the clues to catch the killer.

A great new read. Love the setting and the characters. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop had an interesting plot and characters and the fact that it was set in Michigan gave it great flavor. This novel kept me looking forward with each new page...a cozy mystery, not to mention some great baking (recipes included). My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the beach setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

This book is the first in what looks to be a promising new series. The characters are definitely interesting to say the least and the setting is amazing. Who doesn't love a lighthouse, recipes and a ghost story?! Add 2 murders to the mix and a nicely woven story and you have a winner.

It's a good start for a new series, engrossing and entertaining.
The characters are well thought, the setting is lovely and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Lindsay is starting over in a new town starting a new business. Where disaster strikes at the opening. She makes new friends and together they try to figure out the mystery. There is also some romance involved. It was the first story I read by this author and it kept my interest.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley**

I loved this foodie cozy though I did spend a good bit of the book wanting food. But hey with a foodie cozy that might be a good thing. I loved Lindsey, her humor, her sass but especially her sarcasm. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Release Date: February 23, 2021

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in a new series by Darci Hannah. This is actually the first book I've read by the author and I really enjoyed it!

This was such a fun cozy mystery! I loved the small town setting and all of the characters! I found the mystery so exciting! This was a great book and I can't wait to see what is coming up in the future books! (Isn't the book cover just the cutest!)

The next book in the series, Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off, is set to release in September of this year. I can't wait to read it!

I'm so grateful to Darci Hannah, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Wall Street whiz Lindsey Bakewell has abandoned her entire life in New York City following her discovery of her (now ex-)fiance, hot-shot restaurateur Jeffrey Plank cheating on her with his pastry chef, Mia Long. In a moment of drunken self-pity, she decides to buy a dilapidated lighthouse in a Michigan town she has fond memories of visiting as a girl, with a view towards converting the structure into a bake shop and cafe where she can follow her life-long dream of running a bakery.

Not everyone is thrilled by her plans, however. Notorious local rabble rouser Fiona Dickel is upset at anyone rehabbing the historic lighthouse, never mind that it would have been torn down for luxury condos if Lindsey hadn’t intervened. So it isn’t a huge surprise when Fiona brings a group of protestors to mar the Beacon Bakeshop’s grand opening. What is a surprise is the sudden appearance of Jeffrey and Mia all the way from New York City, the latter of whom especially causes a huge commotion. Lindsey is determined to grit her teeth and see the day through, but the Bakeshop is forced to shut down after all when Mia suddenly chokes on a donut mid-protest and keels over.

After Mia’s death is found to have been caused not by an accidentally restricted airway but by a deliberate dose of cyanide, Lindsey becomes prime suspect in her murder. Worse, the Bakeshop must stay closed indefinitely while she and the premises are investigated. Determined to clear her name, Lindsey recruits her influencer best friend Kennedy Kapoor as well as Wellington, her gentle giant of a Newfoundland, to help her solve the case.

I loved Darci Hannah’s Very Cherry mystery series so was all set to fall in love with her new cast of quirky city-types converging on a lovely Michigan lakeside town. While I didn’t find them quite as charming as I’d expected given my prior experience with Ms Hannah’s writing, Wellington, or Wellie for short, exceeded expectations as a delightful canine companion. Most importantly, the mystery was intriguingly layered. I also really enjoyed the food and baking descriptions, and thought the inclusion of both the romance and the paranormal element tidily done.

Over ten recipes were included in this volume, and since I was in the mood for a savory baked good, I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Bacon and Spinach Quiche

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 35 to 40 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

1 piecrust (use your favorite premade or homemade crust)
1 cup milk
5 large eggs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped into little pieces
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves, chopped
2 scallions, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a 9-inch pie plate with crust and crimp the edges.

In medium bowl whisk milk, eggs, salt, and pepper and set aside.

On bottom of piecrust, layer cooked bacon, Swiss cheese, Parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, and scallions. Pour egg mixture over the top and bake 15 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees and continue to bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving.
END QUOTE

I love a good quiche, and this was no different! However, I did have trouble sourcing the bacons I prefer, so decided to get a little crazy and use beef scrapple instead, which I found a perfectly adequate substitute. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that substitution unless you’re a fan of offal though, as I am. I also thought I’d have to shred some sharp provolone, since I couldn’t find the parmesan my husband had hidden in the refrigerator, but I finally unearthed it so the rest of my cooking went as I and the recipe planned.

Until, that is, near the very end, where I found that my custard was just not setting! I had to bake it at 350 degrees for fifteen more minutes to get it to set properly. Since my oven does tend to run cool, other bakers may find that they need less time: regardless, a maximum of 40 minutes does seem a little on the low end for a quiche, especially at a finishing temperature of 325 degrees. The end result was very delicious and worth the extra time though.

Next week, we head back east to solve the murder of a local curmudgeon while whipping up a sweet, multi-purpose condiment. Do join me!

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah is the first book in a new series. More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey's breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wanted in a place that always made her happy. She'd spent many childhood summers near this beach community and converting the old run-down lighthouse into a bakery café and home offers a perfect fresh start for Lindsey and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington. But not everyone in town has a sweet tooth. The preservation society won't have the lighthouse's history sugar coated by lattes and cakes--and a protest group crashes Lindsey's Memorial Day opening. Then her ex-fiancé Jeffrey Plank and his girlfriend Mia Wong arrive to trash the place. In the ensuing chaos Mia chokes on a donut and dies. An autopsy reveals cyanide in Mia's bloodstream and Lindsey is the police's prime suspect. To clear her name, she's going to need to combine ingredients found in the town's checkered past to uncover the identity of a desperate killer.

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is a good series starter, but still manged to keep the mystery on point. I really enjoyed the character building. I liked Lindsey and her approach to the world. I liked Rory as a mysterious neighbor, and the growing circle of friends and acquaintances. I thought the ghost story and added mystery was a good touch, and was woven into the larger story very well. The food talk, and the recipes at the end, were also welcome extras to the story. I adored the small town feel and the truth that even the smallest towns have secrets.I though the murder mystery was very well plotted and executed. While I had my suspicions about some aspects of the case, the final reveal was a surprise to me. I was glad to be taken by surprise, and see how everything came together at the end. I am interested to see where the series goes from here.

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is a mystery with a nice balance of world building for the series and twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

Release Date: February 23rd 2021

Who leaves a solid finance career in NYC to buy a lighthouse in Michigan? Well Lindsey does after she after she finds her fiancé cheating on her! Thanks to her best friends impressive social media skills Lindsey’s bakery takes off. Things are great...until the cheating ex brings in Mia the mistress. Then things go from bad to worse when Mia dies in the bakery, making Lindsey the top suspect. She needs to clear her name and fast!

I was ambivalent about this book. It didn’t draw me in like most #cozymysteryseries books do. I LOVED Wellington. He’s was a highlight to the book. I wouldn’t read it again but it didn’t seem like a waste of my time. It truly was just meh for me.

#bookstagram #murderatbeaconbakeshop #bookrecommendations #netgalley #cozymystery

This is a great start to a new cozy mystery series. I really enjoyed getting to know Lindsey and the residents of Beacon Harbor. It is a well written mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to reading more books in this series.

I received an advanced copy for NetGalley and the publisher in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

This book has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I liked this book and thought it was a great start to a new series. This book is great for fans of cozy mysteries featuring bakeries and lakeside small towns. And Wellington is a bonus.

Eating a donut may be bad for your health but it most certainly should not be deadly! Lindsey Bakewell (and yes she can), former financial wonder woman and recovering baker (recovering from a jerk fiancé) has decided to leave New York for a quite lake town in Michigan, after all, she made it there, so she and her pup Wellington, can make it anywhere. Buying a dilapidated landmark lighthouse, thereby saving it from developers, and renovating it into a bake shop and home, she has her work cut out for her. You would think that the preservation society would be happy, you would think. You can tell right away that this is one determined character. She has a lot riding on opening day and doesn't help that her ex-fiancé shows up with his girlfriend and her followers/friends to cause a mess of trouble and a mess. While Lindsey might have wished that Mia would just choke on her words she did not mean for her to choke to death! Teaming up with her sexy and secretive book writing, former military, neighbor to get to the bottom of this mystery because there is more than just dough riding on the outcome. Your typical cozy town with some extremely awesome characters, especially her pup who Perfect series starter and the recipes, OMG, I think I gained 10 pounds just reading through them!

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!
I read and enjoyed the author's "Very Cherry" mystery series, so it is not surprising that I also enjoyed this one, especially as it is set in Michigan! Go Blue!

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah is the debut of A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. I thought this was a delightful story. It is well-written with developed characters. The author took the time to introduce us to Lindsey Bakewell and her dog, Wellington. After catching her fiancé with his pastry chef, Lindsey is given the advice to follow her dream. Thankfully, Lindsey invested well and has a solid portfolio. It allows her to purchase a rundown lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan that she renovates into living quarters, bakery, and café. Lindsey is smart, loyal, independent, and has a good heart. She is also an excellent baker. I love Wellington. He is a large, fun, friendly dog. We are introduced to the charming town of Beacon Harbor and its friendly (most of them) residents. Unfortunately, Fiona Dickel is not happy with Lindsey purchasing a historical landmark and improving its appearance. The mystery was entertaining. A bruhaha on opening day leads to the death of Lindsey’s ex-fiancé’s lover. Lindsey finds herself at the top of the suspect list and her bakery closed. She has no choice but to investigate. With help from her bestie, Kennedy Kapoor and her new friends, Lindsey asks questions, does research, and looks for clues. There are several good suspects in this whodunit along with subtle clues (you have to pay close attention to details to find some of them). I enjoyed piecing together the clues and figuring out who is behind the poisoning. There is action that kept the book moving rapidly forward toward the conclusion. The conclusion was eventful and complete. There is a hint of paranormal in the story. It is said that the ghost of Captain Willy Riggs haunts the lighthouse. I enjoyed the ghost legends and how it was incorporated into the story. Lindsey and her neighbor, Rory Campbell hit it off from their first meeting. He asks her out to dinner right away. I did feel there was a wee bit too much romance (for a cozy mystery) and that it was happening too fast (I prefer the romance to play out slowly over the course of the series). Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is a delightful cozy mystery with delectable donuts, a wandering Wellington, an enticing neighbor, a fashionista friend, a guileful ghost, and a busy baker.