Great story with many fun and exciting characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and I know that many other people will too.

If you're going to find your horrible neighbor apparently bludgeoned to death with a pipe, it's probably best if you haven't been working on a mystery novel where a stand-in for your neighbor is also bludgeoned to death with a pipe. But if that's the kind of morbid hijinks that work for you (and they certainly do for me), then Digging Up Trouble, first in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series, should be your next read.

Lexi, writer and bookshop proprietor, has been in an ongoing feud with her neighbor, Gil, over just about everything, but especially about her dog Cookie's digging tendencies. When Cookie slips through the fence again, Lexi follows and discovers Gil's body, a copper pipe, and a detective already on the scene who suspects her of murder.

Fortunately for Lexi, author Kitt Crowe, in digging up a solid mystery, has provide a host of other wacky potential murderers. Crowe obviously has a love for the cozy genre, and it's hard not to imagine her writing some of these over-the-top side characters without a tongue planted firmly in cheek. To clear her name, Lexi bands together with her book club and stumbles through an investigation involving some squabbling brothers, potentially buried treasure, and the most nefarious of groups: the local garden club.

While this investigation would be fairly straightforward, Lexi's cheeky attitude frequently lands her in situations that are incredibly funny, but also keep her from plowing through the mystery too quickly. She's somewhat brash, often pushing suspects until her book club buddies pull her back. Remember: she's someone who has no problem fantasizing about ways of fictionally killing her neighbor. It's appealing having a sleuth who almost has a compulsion for not playing by the rules, and it's no surprise when she eventually does find herself in some dangerous situations. By that point, because of the humor cut by the frequent affection she shows for those closest to her, you do end up hoping she'll be okay.

Digging Up Trouble, with a genuinely likable sleuth and a quirky sense of humor, ultimately works because it feels somewhat off-kilter. It has all of the elements I think of when it comes to cozies: a murder, a cute animal, a sleuth on a mission. But its offbeat humor also makes it feel fresh. It's a heck of a lot of murderous fun.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library app.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were cute and the story was interesting. I will have to say I don't now what is up with these female cozy mystery writers. They throw in their feminist liberal views when it doesn't need to be added. I was really enjoying the book up that was put in.

Confection, OR was the sweetest town! I wanted to stroll down cinnamon avenue and peppermint way with Lexi and her dog, Cookie.

Lexi runs Sweet Fiction bookstore and with the help from her book club members, the Macaroons, and her best friends, Car and Teri, she helps solve the mystery of the murder of her next door grumpy neighbor.

I really loved this town. I liked Lexi and Cookie! The mystery was fun with also figuring out who is digging up holes by all the rose bushes for some buried treasure. I see a love triangle happening with Dash & Detective Berg and I hope it doesn’t take forever to resolve. 😝

I’m looking forward to listening to book two — A Poisonous Page. And I also can’t figure out the author behind this name.. looks like I have sleuthing of my own to do! 🔎

Living in Confection, Oregon and next door to the owner of the Sweet Fiction Bookstore should be sugar and spice and everything nice, however for Gil, Lexi Jones neighbor, it couldn't have been more sour. Gil winds up dead, in his yard with Lexi's mischievous dog Cookie, clenching the murder weapon in her mouth. Now, Lexi is on the case to prove her innocence and protect her and Cookie's lives!

A great start to a new series, I enjoyed meeting Lexi and her friends. As with most towns - small and large, secrets are everywhere and Confection is no different. Lexi is a relatable main character and Cookie is adorable! I'm ready for another mystery in Confection!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cute cozy mystery. Loved the story plot and enjoyed the quirky characters. Highly recommend to all mystery lovers.

I tried really hard to like this book. I started with the eARC that I received, then borrowed the audiobook when it became available. I eventually made my way through it, but it was difficult. For me, I like books where I can connect with the protagonist and that just didn't happen with this book. The mystery was good, butI just couldn't get past my feelings about the protagonist.

This is the first of a brand-new Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery series. Lexi Jones runs the Sweet Fiction bookstore in Confection Oregon for her parents. Previously Lexi was an editor in Seattle but decided to return home to Confection and perhaps fulfill her dream of being an author. She acquired her adorable dog Cookie when she was driving home to Confection and Cookie is getting Lexi in trouble all over town as someone has been digging up gardens and people suspect her dog, Cookie. The local detective Chad Berg seems to be almost stalking Lexi and her Cookie around town as the town prepares for the upcoming garden festival with a large cash prize the local gardening group including her neighbor Gil are not fans of Lexi and Cookie. Lexi is heading home after a run in with the cute detective before he can give her a ticket and Gil yells at her in front of a large group of garden enthusiast. Well Lexi is determined to keep Cookie on her leash and with her at all times so she goes out with her at night and Cookie is barking at the fence next to Gil’s but Lexi decides to keep her in her room for the night. The next morning, she lets Cookie out but falls back asleep until she wakes up late and looking for Cookie, she slips thru the fence line when she sees Cookie next store in Gil’s backyard with a copper pipe in her mouth which what appears to be blood. Oh boy, next the police are there and her she is in her bathrobe being interviewed on her front porch for all the town to see and soon a suspect in her neighbor’s murder. Lexi is determined to prove her innocence and she uses her two best friends Terri and Cat to help her out. Lexi runs the local book club and soon her journal with book ideas (of course she is writing a murder mystery) is missing and next she is brought in for questioning and has to explain why all those notes involve death and murder. She is mortified but decides to engage select book club members to help gather information. The hottie detective is telling her to back off but Lexi needs to prove her innocence. I loved this story and her friends, Uncles, and book club members (lots of characters to get to know) are fun. Cookie is a star. The one thing I am not too thrilled about is a possible love triangle as Lexi has had a crush on Terri’s brother Nash since forever and perhaps now, he is starting to show interest but she is also crushing a little bit on the hot detective and vice versa. Not a fan of love triangles. Really enjoyed Lexi and this whole story. A winner and can’t wait for the next installment.

The first book in a new cozy mystery series set in a town in Oregon called Confection and with a town by that name it is not a surprise that all businesses, roads, streets, rivers, etc are named after something remotely do with everything sweet & sugary. Lexi Jones, the MC, runs a bookshop called Sweet Fiction, manages a book club called the Macaroons and even has an adorable and very clever dog named Cookie. This sweet, little town even hosts a 'bazillion events' (according to Lexi) and while one such event, the CGC's annual Central Oregon Gardener's Prize is underway, Lexi's neighbour Gil Cloutier is found murdered. Gil was grumpy and not well liked by anyone but does his murder really have to do with the hefty Gardener's Prize Money he was touted to win?? Lexi who has worked as an editor and has hopes to be a budding crime fiction writer takes it upon herself to find out the 'who dunnit part' while being the main suspect and getting ample research for her own book along the way.

This was a good start to the series. It was loads of fun and entertaining with equally entertaining characters and Cookie was the star of the book!  This is one of those books where I honestly had no problems with any of the characters and liked everyone. The plot and the mystery was done well with a lot of funny and witty moments and enough red herrings to keep you guessing who the culprit is and the motive behind the crime.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the Kitt Crowe for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

You know it's going to be a good cozy mystery when a dog finds a body!
Great setting and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to the next book to see what trouble Cookie will get into!

Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Joanne Fluke, a bitter discovery is made in a sweet-as-candy town, in Kitt Crowe's Sweet Fiction Bookshop series debut.

Life is sweet when you live in Confection, Oregon. Or, at least, that's how it's supposed to be. But on a summer day, when tourists and locals alike gawk at the majestic mountains, quaint Craftsman houses, and lovely flowers--particularly the renowned Confection Rose--the last thing anyone has come to see is a dead body, unearthed from a shallow grave by a curious dog.
In this first series book, we see Lexi and her pup getting into trouble with a really cute detective at every turn. We see her tackle obstacle after obstacle. she ends up solving this case in what would be deemed as easy but everything she goes through is just ridiculous! Her sidekick is four-legged but her friends are always faithful!

Lexi is the owner of Sweet Fiction Bookstore in the charming town of Confection. Her neighbor is found dead after a heated argument with Lexi, and things are not as sweet as they could be. The characters and setting were fun, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. Lexi's dog, Cookie, is definitely the star of the book though!

Lexi Jones knew it was going to be a bad day when she discovered her dog Cookie standing in her dead neighbor’s yard with the murder weapon in her mouth and a local police detective standing nearby. The body is that of Lexi’s next door neighbor Gil, a cantankerous old coot. Lexi, the owner of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, immediately becomes Detective Berg’s chief suspect. The characters are well-developed and believable. The plot contained several red herrings and kept me guessing. Unfortunately, the story was weighed down by an overload of cutesy, which I found distracting and annoying. The town in which the story is set is named “Confection.” Lexi’s store is the “Sweet Fiction Bookshop” and her book club members are known as the “Macarons.” Her dog’s name is “Cookie.” Ms. Crowe created an excellent plot and interesting characters. Unfortunately, all of the sweetness and cuteness struck me as incongruent in a murder mystery, even a cozy, and it kept me from enjoying an otherwise promising book. Readers who don’t share my opinion of the book’s cutesy factor will no doubt love it, as the book has a lot going for it.

🌱I read Digging Up Trouble by Kitt Crowe last year. This first in a new series is set in a town in Oregon called Confection which happens to also be the name of a very special rose that grows there. The town has lots of avid gardeners and every year hosts a gardening contest with a big cash prize.

🌱Lexi is already in trouble with the law because her dog Cookie won't stop digging up everything (including roses). But when her dog digs up a dead body who also happens to be Lexi's neighbor, things go from bad to worse. Lexi was just seen arguing with him. And she might have imagined killing him off in the secret mystery no one knows she's writing on her laptop. Thank goodness for the members of the book club from the bookstore Lexi runs... they are on the case!

🌱Cookie steals almost every scene she's in but throw in two romantic interests, a brother, and a couple of fantastic uncles for what by the end has the makings of a decent start to a series.

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Joanne Fluke, a bitter discovery is made in a sweet-as-candy town, in Kitt Crowe's Sweet Fiction Bookshop series debut.

Life is sweet when you live in Confection, Oregon. Or, at least, that's how it's supposed to be. But on a summer day, when tourists and locals alike gawk at the majestic mountains, quaint Craftsman houses, and lovely flowers--particularly the renowned Confection Rose--the last thing anyone has come to see is a dead body, unearthed from a shallow grave by a curious dog.

A bathrobe-clad Lexi rushes next door to her neighbor's backyard to find her pooch, Cookie, stalwartly sitting watch over a body in the vegetable garden. Cookie, encrusted in dirt, grips a copper pipe between her teeth. Was this the murder weapon? And was Lexi the murderer? It sure looks that way, seeing as she was spotted squabbling with the victim just the day before. The case becomes all the more perplexing when the real murder weapon turns out to be a garden stake. Then where does the copper pipe fit in? And might a more likely suspect let Lexi off the hook?

All the volumes in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, and all the specials at Eats n' Treats, prove of little help in jogging Lexi's brain to find a solution. Fortunately, Cookie is not finished digging up clues. As the fur flies, can this trusty border collie mix save sweet Lexi from a bitter end? (less)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Lexi, Cat and Teri are all good friends and enjoy each other's company. When Lexi’s crotchety neighbor is fould murdered, Lexi becomes a person of interest. The three of them will try to figure out who the culprit is. They will also have help from Lexi’s dog, Cookie, who is happy to dig up clues to help them out.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is talented in her descriptive writing and it helped me to feel at home in Confection, Oregon, and to be a part of it. The mystery was well plotted and I was surprised who the murder was.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

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

This is a wonderful start to a new series. The characters are likable and relatable. The mystery is entertaining and full of twists and turns. I am looking forward to more in this series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the writing style. It kept me interested. I would recommend it to others.

A promising start to a new series. Some themes and aspects have been done in this type of cozy, but it was still a fast and fun read. I cannot wait to see what happens to Lexi in the next book.

Loving reading this book and author. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend her books. Happy reading and enjoy

Lexi is unhappy with corporate life and moves back home to Confection, Oregon to work at her parent's shop. Her next door neighbor and others in town are unhappy with Lexi because her dog Cookie likes to dig and she keeps escaping and digging where she shouldn't be. When the neighbor, Gil, that had a public spat with Lexi because of Cookie is found dead, all eyes are on Lexi.

Perfect start to a new series. This will be one series that I continue reading. It's a fun read with twists and turns galore. If you are like me and don't like romance novels, you will still like this book.