Val and her fabulous grandfather (my favorite character) travel to a mystery fan festival, where he enters a cooking contest and Val finds a body. This mystery is nicely written with plenty of plot twists to keep things interesting. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

This is book 6 in the Five Ingredient Mystery series and is absolutely charming. Val and Granddad are back to their sleuthing and this time they're attending a dessert competition. The setting is the Eastern Shore of Maryland which has plenty of small town charm. Granddad runs into his old nemesis at the event, a woman he claims ripped off his "Five Ingredient" recipes. The competition turns deadly, the suspects pile up at an alarming rate and Val and Granddad have their work cut out for them. Wonderful, engaging characters. Highly recommend.

Did you see that book cover, how could you not want to pick it up and give it read? Bake Offed offers the plot of a bake off and a mystery convention with an added hook of a “locked room” who done it. Not to mention the unique history behind Granddad’s recipe box, what an incredible and valuable find that offers a unique recipe for this themed bake off. That very recipe box goes missing after the completion of the bake off contest. Granddad is sure that fellow contestant and rival recipe columnist, Cynthia Sweet must have sticky fingers. Before he is able to do some private investigating, Cynthia turns up dead in a locked room with a tea kettle whistling. In order to help Megan keep this even on track, Val and Granddad must; in Holmes-like fashion, eliminate all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. Many suspects for both the murder and the theft of the book come to light but how did they do it?? Recipes from the bake off and some created by the Codger cook and based on the characters from the game Clue are found at the back. I highly recommend this story and the Mrs. White bean chili, scrumptious!

Val and her grandpa, Don, are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest - Val as a volunteer, and Don as a competitor in a dessert bake-off. Everyone is having a great time until one of the competitors dies under suspicious circumstances. Now Val and her grandpa well have to put their sleuthing caps on and solve this mystery before someone else falls victim to a dastardly killer.

I love the idea of a mystery fan fest. And absolutely want to attend one. It was a great background to this fun and interesting whodunit. I enjoyed sleuthing with Val and Don. Searching for clues. Getting off track due to red herrings. And bringing a killer to justice.

Many thanks to Kensington Books/Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.
I also won a paperback copy from the author.

A good storyline but I had trouble with how the narrative was written - 3rd person interspersed with first-person storytelling.

Not my cup of tea, but this book does have an audience.

What worked - interesting plot, with many suspects to keep you guessing who did it and why.
Con: We had many suspects with side stories, and keeping all the storylines straight was hard

Pro: likeable heroine
Con: grandfather being the "investigator" yet did not solve the crime. lol

I just LOVED this cozy mystery, Bake Offed.

The Maryland Mystery Fan Fest sounds like exactly the fun getaway cafe manager Val Deniston and her grandfather could use. Granddad will even compete in a dessert competition in which contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Playing Nero Wolfe’s gourmet cook Fritz is an exciting challenge for Granddad. A restaurant manager is playing Lord Peter Wimsey’s valet and cook Bunter. But Granddad is steamed to learn who will be playing Sherlock Holmes’s landlady, Mrs. Hudson—his nemesis Cynthia Sweet, who he believes ripped off his five-ingredient theme from his column “Codger Cook” to use in her own recipe column.

Apparently, he isn’t the only one who has a beef with his not-so-sweet competitor. When she’s found dead in her room with the teakettle whistling, it’s up to Val and her grandfather to sort through the festival goers to find out who was most definitely not a fan of Cynthia Sweet . . .

A MUST-READ!

a wonderful informative witty story! Filled with interesting complex and quirky characters, this entertaining unpredictable story is a real page turner and a must read!

Grandpa and Val return for book 8 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series.

Val is preparing for her and granddad's departure for the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest! The event is Beth's baby. She has convinced the Denistons' to help monitor, run panels, and auctioneer along with Granddad competing in the Deadly Desserts competition! Grandpa is preparing to go up against his culinary nemesis Cynthia Sweet, a Baltimore columnist he feels copied his style.

Granddad brings an heirloom collectible Too Many Cooks, a recipe "book" passed out around 1938 by the publisher. And we're off ... to theft and murder that is!

I loved this book! It's my new favorite in the series. My previous favorite was Crypt Suzette, now in second place. Each book can be read independently without worries.

Please note: This is a good solid whodunit set during a modern-day mystery convention. Not a romantic mystery. It also has no profanity or graphic violence depicted. 5*****



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

Bake Offed by Maya Corrigan is the eighth A Five-Ingredient Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Val and her grandfather are fun characters. I find Granddad to be a hoot. He is a lively character. You never know what he will do next (always has something up his sleeve). Val and Granddad are attending the Maryland Mystery Fest where they are hoping to have a fun weekend. Unfortunately, the woman in the hotel room next to Val ends up dead. Don Myer, Val’s grandfather, is hired by the victim’s stepdaughter to investigate the crime. The victim was not well-liked (that is putting it mildly) so there are several suspects. Val and Granddad ask questions and search for clues. They share their intel with Detective Roy Chesterfield. There is a red herring or two as well as a twist. It was a fun mystery to solve. I like how the mysteries mentioned in the book were incorporated into the whodunit. There is humor scattered throughout the story especially regarding a missing recipe box. I enjoyed reading Bake Offed. I am looking forward to Val and Granddad’s next adventure. There are five ingredient recipes at the end of the book. Bake Offed is a sweet treat with an anomalous note, a penetrating noise, a curious crime, mystery mania, a pilfered recipe box, and a caught crook.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Bake Offed is the latest book in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series. The setting is different this time, as the murder takes place at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. It was interesting to have this book mainly around main character Val and her grandfather. As with previous books, Val and her grandfather work together to solve the mystery, and it's nice to read a cozy mystery where the main characters are of different generations. I really enjoy the family aspect of the series. As for the mystery, there are plenty of suspects at the Fest, along with a not-so-pleasant victim. Bake Offed is well written and entertaining, without spoilers for previous entries. Not to be missed!

Bake Offed is book #8 in the Five-Ingredient Mystery series by Maya Corrigan.

I enjoy the Five-Ingredient recipe books and this one was really good! The setting was a dessert competition at a mystery lovers convention. The contestants had to take on the role of cooks to famous sleuths.

The animosity between Val’s Granddad, Don, and another contestant, Cynthia Sweet was interesting, especially when Cynthia turned up dead. Val has to investigate to find out who else besides Don didn’t care for Cynthia. It was fun to see how Val and Don worked together to investigate. There are recipes included at the end of the book and I’ll be trying the punch and chili. They all look good.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the eighth installment in the Five Ingredient Mystery series. I have read each of them.

In this installment, Val Deniston and her grandfather attend the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. At the fest, there will be a dessert competition. The contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Three cooks, three fictional characters and some unconventional tricks.

So, who killed Cynthia Sweet and why? What happens to the recipe box that Val’s grandfather found in his attic. It was a promotional item from many years ago.

I enjoy Val and her grandfather’s relationship. I find her grandfather, the codger, a hoot.
The twists were great and the reveal was different. I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out.

I’m looking forward to the next installment.
I was given the opportunity to hear this from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Val and her grandfather are helping at a mystery festival when one of the cook off competitors is found dead in the hotel. The two of them are on the case and have several suspects. The setting is a great way to set up the mystery and the writing is well done to lead you to several possible scenarios. These characters continue too be amusing and capable. Another great read in this series.

Val and her granddad are spending the weekend at the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Granddad is competing in the festival bake-off where each entrant is playing a famous fictional sleuth's cook to create a signature dessert. Granddad is assuming the role of Nero Wolfe's gourmet cook Fritz and is creating a dessert from a family dessert box with ties to Wolfe. But Granddad is miffed that one of his competitors is Cynthia Sweet who ripped off his five-ingredient theme from his column "Codger Cook" to use in her own recipe column and upcoming cookbook.

Several other attendees also have a beef with Cynthia. That night, Val is woken up by the sound of a teakettle whistle and finds Cynthia's dead body next door.

Although I enjoyed reading earlier books in the Five-Ingredient mystery series, this one felt a bit off. I lost interest mid-way through and struggled to finish the book.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Kensington Books. All opinions are my own

This was so much fun and Granddad was at the top of his sleuthing game. Somehow I knew from the minute he found that Nero Wolfe recipe box that something was gonna happen to it. And it was so cool to read in the acknowledgement section that there was really such a thing as this publicity item back in the day. I haven't quite had the time to curiosity-check it on eBay, but I'm really interested in seeing what it looked like.

It made perfect sense that at a mystery convention there'd be plenty of people with secrets and things to hide. Val's old friend Roy was on the case. I felt sorry for poor Bethany through all this craziness as she tried to keep her event going as best she could. I was never completely sure whodunit, but everything including the saga of Granddad's recipe box whereabouts were all wrapped up nicely at the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

What a fun, creative and unique, cozy mystery.


The Five Ingredient Mystery series is offering up Baked Offed for our reading pleasure. Café manager, Val, Denison and her grandpa are attending the Maryland mystery fan fest. Both of them are lucky enough to be taking part in events that are happening within the conference. Val will be taking part in the mystery trivia contest, and grandpa will be taking part in a dessert cooking contest based on recipes from old books. Which should be a fun event turns into a big mystery that some people aren’t even sure is actually a real event. Sometimes that’s what you get at a mystery conference. Val and Grampa put their skills to the test to figure out why a woman ended up murdered.

This was a different type of cozy mystery at that I thoroughly enjoyed. Val and her grandpa are great characters. I love how thorough they were trying to get to the bottom of the mystery that turned into a couple mysteries. I love the homage to the classic mysteries that we have all come to love. I love that what could be an insignificant clue became something that actually made a major part of the puzzle come together. There was lots of personality and charisma in the pages of Baked Offed. Also, I should mention I love it when a book is based in my home state. This was my first read in the unique series and it definitely won’t be my last.

As someone who goes to book conventions, Baked Offed give the reader all the fun of going to the book conference, minus the murder. It is a very fun experience to be able to get to spend time with the authors that you enjoy reading and partake in different fun activities with them. I really love how this book showed that experience.

This series has gotten better as it’s gone along! I started out not loving Grants and the dynamics of their relationship, but it’s really mellowed and the the growth of the characters has been lovely to read. There are plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing and nice twist at the end.

Val Deniston and her grandfather, Don Myer are off to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest. Don will be competing in the Deadly desserts bake-off. Each person will be in the persona of a fictional mystery character's chef/cook. Don will be with Nero Wolf. The fly in the pie turns out to be one of his least favorite people, Cynthia Sweet who is Sherlock's cook, Mrs. Hudson. He has every reason to dislike her intensely as he is sure she ripped off his five ingredient theme from his Codger Cook for her own column. That may be but when she turns up dead, Val knows he is the last person to commit murder. With a conference full of mystery fans eager to solve a murder things get interesting fast. The game is afoot and Val and Don make a great pair of sleuths. The killer's days are numbered.
I have enjoyed each of the eight books in this delightful series not just because the mystery is well crafted but because I love the relationship between Val and her grandfather. I think it would be fun to be able to hang out with them. It wouldn't be dull.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Bake Offed is the 8th book in the 'A Five-Ingredient Mystery' series. I picked up this series with Crypt Suzette (book 6), which I thoroughly enjoyed.

In this fabulous cozy mystery, Val Deniston is looking forward to the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest due to take place in Bayport, Maryland. Val and her granddad, Don, are taking part in the event with Val as a volunteer and granddad competing in the Deadly Desserts Bake-off, using a recipe inspired by Nero Wolfe’s chef.. But when Don's rival, Cynthia Sweet is found dead in her hotel room with a whistling teakettle, Val and Don must find the killer before (s)he strikes again...

This cozy was right up my street, with its well-drawn characters, exciting plot and a wonderful setting. I am fond of Val and her granddad and how well they get along together. Maya Corrigan's writing style continues to impress me and the story is amusing and easy to follow. Narrator Val is a great character and I loved her determination and her common-sense approach.

The author delightfully conveyed the tastes on offer and the mystery aspect was great with plenty of opportunities for armchair detectives to play along. Abundant clues were scattered around and I found myself caught out by the clever misdirection a few times. As the reveals unfolded everything started to gel together into a splendid read. This tremendously good novel was a hit for me and I am looking forward to reading book nine, as well as reading some of Maya Corrigan's back catalogue. If you adore a fantastic cozy mystery with oodles of scrumptious sounding recipes and foodie references, don't miss out on Bake Offed!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

An entertaining story about Val and her grandfather who both enjoy being sleuths. In Bake Offed they attend the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest where Val is a helper and grandfather takes part in the Deadly Desserts Bake Off.

There is a murder followed by lots of investigative work from both the police and Val and her grandfather. There are many suspects and a very confusing aspect due to the timing of the death. Eventually I left it up to the main characters to sort it out and let my brain have a rest. Nothing wrong with that - I still enjoyed the read.

It was all very pleasant but the characters never grabbed my interest. Not sure if I will follow this series up.