Lexi is managing her parents' bookstore in Confection, Oregon while they spend a year traveling. Sweet Fiction also sells coffee and limited sweets. Lexi's border collie Cookie has developed the bad habit of digging which has gotten her into a lot of trouble. When Lexi wakes up one morning to find Cookie sitting next to a shallow grave in her cranky neighbor's yard and the police present is when the trouble multiples. I enjoyed following along with this murder mystery. It was a fun read.

Good start to a fun new series. I look forward to reading the next one. A cute dog, potential romance, good friends and family in a small town. Clever cozy mystery that will keep you guessing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Digging Up Trouble (Sweet Fiction BookShop 1) by Kitt Crowe.


Ms. Crowe did some serious world-building here and I enjoyed every minute of it! I can hardly wait for book 2 to be released. I was really impressed by the quality and flow of Ms. Crowe’s writing. I loved the small-town feel of the book. I also loved how when Lexi did something stupid but frankly realistic of a few people the author/character owns it.

The story is set in Confection, Oregon a town that’s all about gardening. Gil Cloutier is that mean old man who seemingly hates everything (except gardening) and everyone, even his own family.
Lexi Jones is our main character a former book editor, who is writing a mystery novel while running both the Sweet Fiction Bookshop and book club Macaroons, owned by her parents who are away traveling. Her dog Cookie is a digging fiend upsetting many of the locals, especially her next-door neighbor Gil! She has hired Cat, one of her two best friends to help out and sell her baked goods out of the shop.
I love how the author refers to the CGC (Confection Garden Club) as a mafia group where you’re either in or out!

If you’re a fan of Jenn McKinlay (Library Lover’s), Paige Shelton (Scottish Bookshop & Dangerous Type), Allison Brook (Haunted Library), Victoria Gilbert (Blue Ridge Library & Book Lover’s B&B) here is a new author to add to your must-read list!
I’m so ready for book two! 5*****

Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.

Digging Up Trouble is the first book in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series by Kitt Crowe.

Lexi Jones has left her job as editor in Seattle and has returned to her hometown of Confection, Oregon, to take over her parent’s bookstore. Confection is known for its beautiful gardens cared for by competitive gardeners. For Lexi, all of the town’s gardens aren’t the best thing as her rescue dog, Cookie, is a digger and has them into trouble. Detective Berg has warned Lexi the next time Cookie is seen digging, a ticket will be issued.

One morning, as Lexi gets out of bed, she hears a bark from Cookie, figuring she has to go potty. She grabs her robe and heads downstairs to let Cookie out. She finds the doggy door slightly ajar and heading next door to her cantankerous neighbor’s, Gil’s, house. Hoping to sneak into Gil’s yard and get Cookie back home before anyone sees them, but luck wasn’t on her side. What she did see was Cookie sitting in a shallow ditch with a piece of copper pipe in her mouth and Detective Berg and another officer next to Cookie and Gil’s dead body in the ditch.

Berg can confirm that the pipe was the murder weapon, and Lexi will become a person of interest when the police learn that she had a loud disagreement the previous day.

Many of the residents of Confection didn’t care for Gil., but it is not clear why Gil was killed. It’s thought that someone didn’t want Gil to win the $15,000 prize for having the best garden in the annual garden judging, where others believed the rumor that Gil had a map for possible buried treasure.

Since Lexi doesn’t have a lot of faith that Detective Iceberg, the name she gave the detective, would find the killer, she sets out on her investigation. Lexi will get help from her book club, The Macaroons, and her uncle and his partner.

The book is well-written and plotted and has an interesting and believable cast of characters. I am looking forward to learning if there will be any romance in the future for Lexi, and hopefully, Cookie won’t get into any trouble.

I’ll be watching for the next book in the series.

This is a first in a series, and the first time I've read this author. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this author's wicked and fun sense of humor! It comes out in the form of her main character Lexi of course, and that girl cracked me up so many times! I loved it when she got together with besties Cat, Teri and two members of their bookclub for sleuthing. Stefanie was such a hoot, and her bestie Alison was a quiet but super knowledgeable lady having been an librarian before she retired. I liked that the run-ins Lexi had with Det. Berg were never to the point where he actually yelled or got overly angry. I thought the man was really pretty darn patient with Lexi and her snooping, lol.

There were so many possible suspects and just as I thought one person did it, I changed my mind. Lots of great red herrings and boy, what a showdown! Cookie, Lexi's adorable dog (with klepto tendancies) ended up being a hero--I always love when the pet saves the day! There was a good twist I'd definitely not guessed although I wasn't terribly surprised by something else. I did like this so much I requested the next book as an ARC that comes out June of 2022. Now that the book club has one case under their belt, I'm eager to see what they do with another.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Confection, Oregon – the town with the shop names to match. Lexi owned the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, where she also ran the Bookclub. Her good friend Cat helped her run the shop, while cooking delicious cookies which were also sold at the shop. Lexi’s mischievous dog, Cookie, was always in trouble for digging and Inspector Berg was often in Lexi’s face about Cookie. But it was early one morning when Lexi had unlocked the doggy door and fallen back to sleep, when she heard a ruckus. It was Cookie in the back yard, pipe in mouth (Cookie had stolen that from Gil next door the day before) and the police standing over what looked like a grave…

With Lexi on the police’s suspect list, she knew she had to dig for answers – would she recruit the bookclub members to help? It seemed gossip was rife in the town and the word was out that Lexi was a killer – the real killer had to be found. But when another body was found, and Berg had told Lexi in no uncertain terms to stay out of police business, Lexi knew she needed help. She didn’t want to be jailed as a killer! But would she find out whodunnit?

Digging Up Trouble is the 1st in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery series by Kitt Crowe and it was entertaining and fun. I loved Cookie and laughed when he was watching “Pit Bull Rescue” on the TV while Lexi was otherwise occupied! A good start to a new series, I’m looking forward to #2. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Digging Up Trouble by Kitt Crowe is the first book in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, and my first book by this author. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series, especially to kind out Cookie, the dog gets up too. I recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fantastic start to a great mystery series. I loved the main character, Lexi, and her dog Cookie. They seemed very suited to each other, Although, Cookie gets Lexi in a lot of trouble. The plot is fast-paced and suspenseful. Confection, Oregon is a great whimsical name for the setting, and the descriptions were enough to draw a picture of the place in my mind. I believe that anyone interested in a cozy mystery that will make you think will love this one. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a good introduction to a new series set in a small town in America called Confection. With that for the town's name all of the businesses are called something along the same lines, hence the Sweet Fiction Bookshop run by the main character, Lexi.

In true form for a cosy mystery not many pages pass before Lexi stumbles over the dead body of her next door neighbour. She becomes a suspect for the murder and consequently gathers all her friends to work together to find the real guilty party. There's a cute and clever dog called Cookie, two possible love interests for Lexi and a whole bunch of local characters, some friendly and some not so much.

I enjoyed the mystery, got confused by all the red herrings, selected which of the possible love interests I want to succeed and decided I want a dog like Cookie. I will look forward to discovering what happens next.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, there were parts that made me laugh and I love the banter between Lexie and Chad "Iceberg" Berg. On the other, I thought this book went on for far too long and towards the middle it got a bit tedious.

Lexie Jones is home running her parents' bookshop, Sweet Fiction, in the cute little town of Confection, Oregon. Apparently, the gardening competition in this community is fierce and the CGC is akin to cult status. Lexie discovers someone has been digging holes in the prized gardens' yards and angry gardeners are blaming her dog. When Lexie's next door neighbor, whom no one likes, ends up murdered and Lexie is the prime suspect (for a bit) she launches her own investigation to prove her innocence.

Lexie's dog is the best character in this story. I did like all the other characters, none of them felt unnecessary or out of place, although I admit that sometimes I had to refresh my who was who memory. The author has a great ear for dialogue, which made the story much better and is what kept me in there until the very end. The whodunit is a clever one. I would read another in this series. I will say that since this is an ARC, perhaps more editing will be done to pare down the book a little. Overall 3.5 stars.

It took me a while to get into this book, I started reading it September 21st and finished it October 2nd. It felt like there were too many characters thrown at me at the beginning of the book but once I got into the book and got everyone straight in my head the book was enjoyable.

I will read book #2 to see if I enjoy it more than book #1 now that I know the main characters.

A new cozy series that's off to a great start. Combining a charming location with a cute bookstore, a likable main character, a lovable pooch and a well developed puzzle - I was entertained from the first page. Lexi has the neighbor everyone dreads sharing a property line with at the best of times. Add to her issues with the grouch, her dog, Cookie, likes to dig, a lot and everywhere. That adds a sour note to the quaint town of Confection, Oregon. Too bad there is more to come when somebody murders the grouch and Lexi, along with her family, friends and Cookie, set out to catch the killer. Cookie can't be left out as Cookie was the one who found the corpse.
Given the stressful times we are dealing with this sort of funny, small town cozy with a pup gave me a welcome reading escape. I'm already holding a spot on my "must be read" list for the next in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you like a good cosy mystery then you will really enjoy this book. Set in a small town where people are willing to help solve a murder. 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

A fun first book in a new cozy series. I enjoyed "meeting" Lexie, Berg, and Lexie's dog, Cookie. The mystery was interesting with a few unexpected twists and red herrings. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

With a synopsis stating this book is for fans of Joanne Fluke and Jenn McKinlay, I was excited to read! I’m not sure it quite made their level but I did enjoy this one and look forward to reading more in the future. The author’s style of writing was neat and the characters were fun, I can’t wait to get to know them more in the next.

I didn't love this one.
I had a hard time connecting with the main character.
The mystery was okay, but just didn't really catch me.

A unique and entertaining cozy series debut.

I am always on the lookout for new cozy mysteries to try and I must say I am impressed with the storyline of A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery series.

I loved the setting and the character portrayal. The doggo Cookie certainly added oodles of cuteness to the story. The mystery behind the vandalisms and murder(s) kept me guessing till the end. As the story ends, we see our protagonist left with two possible suitors - woo-hoo, love triangle!!

Overall, Digging Up Trouble was am impressive start to the series and I am looking forward to knowing what's next for Lexi and her friends.

Lexi is shocked when her go Cookie discovers the body of their grouchy neighbor Gil dead in his garden. She's been writing a novel, btw, where a character similar to Gil is murdered, which is problematic when Detective Chad Berg starts to investigate. Of course, Gil wasn't a nice man so there are more suspects afoot and. luckily, Lexi, who manages a bookstore, has good friends willing to help her out. The small town setting- Confection, Oregon- is nicely done. Since this is the first of a series, some of the characters might feel a little thin but of course Crowe will build on them in future installments. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A nice start to a classic cozy series.

I’ve got a real liking for a ‘palate cleanse’ of a cosy mystery in between more serious reads, and finding a new series to try is always exciting. I’ve got a real thing for books set in bookshops and libraries, and this offered not only that – with another author as a heroine, to boot – but also the added bonuses of sweet treats, clever dogs, and some competition-winning gardening. Sounds ideal!

Lexi has been back in her home town for over a year, taking over the running of her parents’ bookshop after leaving a lucrative but too-demanding job editing books in the ‘big city’. The slower pace of life is suiting her, and she’s more than happy to have swapped the big career for a better work-life balance, and actual friends instead of just friendly colleagues.

Of course, it can’t all be sweetness and light, and the biggest thorn – rose pun definitely intended, as this is a town obsessed with a big gardening competition – in her side is neighbour, Gil, who will find any excuse to complain about Lexi, and her rescue pup, Cookie. The pair are also on the radar of local law enforcement, after Cookie is caught digging by the town’s prize-winning rose display, and Lexi is sure Detective Berg – or ‘Iceberg’ – has it in for them.

That theory is about to be tested to the max, when Cookie’s latest escapologist act takes her under the fence into Gil’s yard. Lexi chases after her – and is thus discovered standing over a dead body! Will the police believe her claims of innocence? Can the local book group – fans of murder mysteries of the more fictional kind – help Lexi point the blame elsewhere, and more to the point, uncover the dark reasons for the crime in their quiet little town?

I really enjoyed this. It’s well written, and uses all the tropes without falling into any of the pitfalls. So yes, sure, we’ve got some romantic hints, but it’s tackled maturely. The reasons for Lexi’s involvement in the case don’t seem forced, and there’s no need for eye rolling at silly decisions, in the main. The supporting cast is also nicely drawn, not leaning too hard into stereotypes.

My only complaint would be, as in common with the genre as I’ve sampled it to date, the final unravelling of the mystery seems to happen relatively abruptly, landing into Lexi’s lap without it feeling like she’s done too much work to get there.

Still, it was an enjoyable read, and I’d happily revisit Sweet Fiction for a follow up :)