This one had me at “only murders in the building meets the great British baking show”. It was a fun little mystery, and not too difficult to track with all the characters. It’s also a short one - less than 300 pages. Overall I liked it, but could have used a little more to the story!

A fun cozy mystery! I’ve long been a devoted fan of The Great British Bake Off, and loved the inspired riff on that theme of this debut novel, as well as its quirky, charming characters and sprawling Vermont country manor house setting. This was an entertaining, enjoyable story, perfect for a weekend reading binge - especially by fellow baking contest enthusiasts.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

The Golden Spoon
By Jessa Maxwell
Pub Date: March 7, 2023

I finished another ARC yall! And I loved it. This was so clever and fun - and what brought my attention to it was the description. The Great British Bake Off meets Only Murders in the Building?? How do you turn down a premise like that? You just can’t.

I loved the ending despite it being fairly cookie cutter, which isn’t always my favorite. But this one just worked for me. So many character POV’s was confusing at first but as I got to know them it was so funny to read from their perspective. I highly recommend this one if you love cozy murder mysteries!

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to @netgalley and @atria books for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review!

6 bakers, 1 week - and a bunch of drama. The Golden Spoon combines mystery and baking into a delicious read. You read the perspective of the different bakers and of the seasoned host, Betsy, as you get insights into what was at stake for them that week. The action unfolds quickly after a gradual build up and keeps you reading to understand how it all fits together.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Spoon reads like a wonderful Agatha Christie novel, with well-developed characters, each with secrets, a great plot and a dead body to start Its surprising conclusion adds to a terrifically suspenseful murder mystery!

It all begins with the finding of a body, but we’ll get to that later. The premise of the story is six contestants have won treasured slots on a very famous baking show, called Bake Week, hosted by a lovely woman whom everyone loves, book author and baker, Betsy Martin. They excitedly converge in hopes of winning by baking their hearts out. It is filmed at Betsy’s property called Grafton in Vermont. But, unfortunately for Betsy, the executives to whom she answers to have decided to add another host/judge this year. Archie Morris, who really knows nothing about baking, but seems to know a great deal about women, has been added in hopes of raising the ratings.

The contestants include:

Stella Velasquez, a meek former journalist, turned baker. Anxiety ridden and honestly not the best baker, she can’t believe her luck as she has been obsessed with meeting the kind Betsy Martin for years.

Pradyumna Das is the former CEO of an app which he sold and made him very rich. Very laid back, he just decided to try his luck at baking and was fortunate enough to be given a slot.

Hannah Severson, from Eden Lake, Minnesota, perhaps an homage to another baker from another cozy mystery series? is a true baker. She has worked at a diner since she was fifteen and loves to bake. Hannah would be the one to watch to win the competition if she can only stay focused.

Lottie Byrne, the oldest contestant has been trying for a slot in the contest for years. A retired nurse, she is an avid baker, and she can’t wait to impress the two judges with recipes she used to bake with her mother.

Peter Gellar is a construction worker by trade. Married to Frederick, they have a three-year-old daughter. He loves to bake for his family.

Gerald Baptiste is a math teacher who believes in precision in everything. He can calculate anything and everything, and he takes measurements very seriously, whether he is baking or catching a train. Formulas are his obsession.

The story opens with the murder. But whose? Well, we don’t know! And everybody is a suspect. The story then retraces the contestants, judges and crews’ movements during the days prior to the murder. We learn a few secrets the contestants have been hiding, and it seems perhaps one of them may be sabotaging the other contestants.

As the contestants dwindle down, perhaps because of the pressure, their true colors begin to show. Some will do just about anything to stay in the spotlight. Others will do anything to get what they want. There perhaps may be one with an ulterior motive as to why they entered the contest. And of course, Betsy and Archie, although judges and hosts, are anything but friendly when the cameras turn off.

The final bombshell is who was murdered and why. With everyone as a suspect, who on earth will be able to figure out just what happened. It may take all of them to band together to smell out the killer.

The Golden Spoon is a terrific tribute to all those who enjoy cozy mysteries intertwined with Christie’s amazing ability to leave the clues in the story. Just follow the breadcrumbs!

Thank you #NetGalley #AtriaBooks #JessaMaxwell #TheGoldenSpoon for the advanced copy.

I thought this book was great for a debut novel. The mystery behind the murder that was revealed in the very beginning, was very fun to read through and try to solve what, or who was behind the murder. I think that the descriptions used to describe Grafton were very vivid, and there were times where I was a little spooked because I felt like I was in that state with the contestants. Gerald was by far my favorite person, he was so funny and I was sad about what happened to him. I am not hugely shocked with the reveal but it still worked out in the end!

Golden Spoon 🥄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highlights:

Cozy Mystery
Elements of locked room mystery
Baking
Multiple POV
Only Murders in the Building vibe
Gothic Mansion Secrets

This isn’t a nail biter or a suspenseful thriller as the summary suggests(scroll to see) but a cozy murder mystery that unfolds while the characters are competing in a show similar to the Great British Bake Off. It’s an easy, enjoyable, and quick read. It really picks up and had a little more suspense in the last 25% of the book. I usually try not to think too deeply when reading this type of book as to not ruin it for myself. However, some of the events that occurred were predictable. This made the book no less enjoyable for me, however. Having so many POV was fun and really added to the “whodunit” aspect of the book. I really enjoyed each character and the different stories and perspectives being woven together!

This is a debut novel from Jessa Maxwell and has already been picked up by Hulu for a limited series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

Review on Jensatt.shelves to come on pub day march 7! Review now posted on Goodreads

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this lovely eARC.

As this book was pitched toward fans of Only Murders in the Building and The Great British Bake Off, I was absolutely thrilled to dive in as I am admittedly fans of both. However, I was not as big of a fan of this piece as I had hoped I would be.

Both the storyline and the characters felt rather simple and flat. Though the ending did contain some much appreciated twists, it felt as though there were still loose ends. Though the premise was captivating, I felt myself having to push myself to get to the end.

Overall, I felt this book was a generally entertaining and straight-forward read. It is perhaps a good fit for a reader who is new to the genre.

Written like it was meant to be inserted directly into the veins of GBBO lovers (me), this cozy-ish mystery follows six contestants as they compete in a baking show at a prestigious mansion hosted by America’s grandmother. The chapters alternate perspective between the contestants and host as the competition ensues.

I was anxious to get my hands on this book as I love both the Great British Bake Off and cozy mysteries. Unfortunately, most of the characters were either unlikeable or insufferable, and also pretty one-dimensional. There was very little action until the last 25% of the story. The rest was not particularly interesting or propulsive. The ending was satisfying and I’m glad I kept reading for that reason.

Maxwell’s debut has an interesting concept with solid potential and a good ending. I look forward to seeing how her writing develops in the future.

The Golden Spoon releases on March, 7 2023.

Thank you to @netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

This one was incredibly hyped up and I came in with high expectations. It was being pitched as The Great British Bake Off and Knives Out. That's genuinely a dream pairing. I was pretty let down by the execution of it. It still has its merits though! It's more of a cozy mystery, which is nice if you want a book that's to pass the time but just don't go in expecting super intense thrills. It's pretty predictable in terms of character reactions but still a fun time!

okay, hear me out ... if KNIVES OUT and a baking show on the FOOD Network had a baby, it would be this book!! it also gave me THE MAID vibes!!

an interesting and intriguing concept, but one that fell a little flat for me ... I'm a sucker for historical mansions and murder mysteries, which is why this one immediately pulled me in. however, that's pretty much where it stopped for me, unfortunately. I wanted more from this one!! the seven POVs throughout this one were a bit disjointed.

for me, the cliches of this story were the main problem. as anyone would expect, things go off the rails - but it was so predictable in terms of how the characters would react and what would happen next. it has all of the elements of a locked room mystery but much more basic.

it's a super light and easy read if you want a fun unique murder mystery without any real stakes or plot twists!! I'd definitely advertise this as a cozy mystery rather than a thriller!!

thank you net galley and atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 2 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet sauvignon

A cosy murder mystrey set in a large country manor during a baking contest, if that doesn't tell you this is a fun book I don't know what will. I enjoyed learning about the characters backstory's and how their relationships formed, in this way it reminded my of Ricahr Osman's Thursday Murder Club series. I would feel comfortable recommending this book to most readers as it very entertaining - it hit all the right notes (dare I say flavour notes).

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell was so fun! Told through 7 different POVs of contestants in a reality baking show being filmed at the estate of America’s favorite baker, this locked room murder mystery was fast-paced and kept me page turning late in the evening. Each character had a unique backstory, special baking talents, and shocking secrets. Add this to your TBR and pick up a copy on release day March 7, 2023 🎉.

Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I love reading a good mystery and I also deeply enjoy a cooking or baking competition show, so upon reading the summary for this book I thought I was in for a delectable treat. Instead, I found that it was more like a deceptive-looking dish, beautiful on the outside and sounding delicious but was not meant for my tastebuds.

For me, the biggest issue is that I went into this book thinking it was a mystery/thriller, but it was far more like a light and breezy mystery, which is definitely not my taste. I went in thinking I was getting Knives Out, twists and turns, and some humor, and instead this read a little bit more like a cheesy Hallmark mystery.

The beginning was sluggish, with far too much backstory at times for me, and then the end was rushed. The murder itself didn’t even happen until the third act, which meant my mystery-solving didn’t happen until the end and even then it wasn’t fun. I think that the concept of a reality competition show as the backdrop for murder is an excellent idea, there are so many motives you can play with and so many personalities to work with, I just wish that this was more for me and less Hallmark-y.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC.

I loved so many things about this debut novel! First, the setting was unique and fun. I am a fan of the Great British Bakeoff and love mysteries that take place in big manors. Second, there was suspense and mystery throughout the novel. After the prologue, I was a little worried, there wouldn't be much mystery since we jumped back in time several days. However, the author did a great job weaving in suspense from the very first competition. Third, I was nervous with a debut author taking on so many POVs but Maxwell did a fantastic job with writing each character and I was never lost amongst them. One thing I would have liked more of is the quirkiness or development of the characters. Gerald had a lot of personality, but I felt some of the other characters lacking in the development. This could have easily been a five star for me if the characters were a little more fleshed out. Other than that, great debut and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I will be posting a shorter review on my Instagram @clairscurrentread on pub day.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

So the premise of this book is supposed to be like a mixture of The Great British Bake Off and for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Lucy Foley ( two authors who write well mystery/thrillers). Well, I can tell you it was it’s more of a story about people baking at a fancy estate house in New Hampshire and someone dies.

Honestly, I couldn’t stand the writing in this book. I’ve read a ton of murder mysteries, I’m usually shocked at whodunit and kept me in suspense. This book? I could figure out who was sabotaging the contestants bakes and who died within the first 1/4 of the book. Not really that suspenseful.

Can we talk about The Golden Spoon? Take one part delightful baking show one part locked-room cozy mystery, mix well and allow the intrigue to slowly rise to the surface. Best enjoyed on a day that will allow for a complete read through as you won’t want to put it down once you start reading.

I love how the story starts out in the format of a baking competition and slowly shifts into a cozy mystery as you keep reading. The characters were lovable (mostly..) and finding out about their pasts and how their stories would come together was really fun. The backdrop of Grafton manor was so fun with lots of secrets to explore and unveil. I felt that the author left enough clues for the reader to follow along and put things together without giving away the mystery. All in all a fun quick and easy read that I couldn’t put down, absolutely looking forward to more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Golden Spoon is a cozy mystery about a reality tv baking show that begins suffering from mysterious events, culminating with a body being found during a huge rainstorm.

I had mixed feelings about this one, I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it. I loved the setting, hearing about the baking competition and the food the bakers were competing was really fun. I thought the characters were well written, they all seemed very unique and were easy to tell apart. However, I didn’t really enjoy the pace of the story. Things don’t really start happening until halfway through the book, and then everything happens very, very fast. This made the first half of the book feel very slow. I didn’t really feel surprised by any of the twists and reveals, they all felt very basic to me. I feel like this would be a great book if you love cozy mysteries, or are new to the mystery genre, but if you’re a seasoned mystery/thriller reader, it might not be for you. I gave this 3 stars.

I was immersed from the start . There is nothing more compelling to keep me turning the pages than a reality show/ murder mystery with people behaving badly. Each of the contestants had their own drama and interesting back story. Betsy was the best villain and I loved that everything about her character was pretty much unlovable. I was rooting for Stella and jeering for some of the other contestants. The characters were a pretty good mix of good, bad, annoying and lovable.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Golden Spoon combines two of my favorite things - a cozy mystery with a baking competition. The story unfolds at a steady pace, told from alternating perspectives of each contestant and the creator of Bake Week. I enjoyed the rotating views, although I often used my Kindle search feature to remind me who was who (remembering names is not my strength).

The characters, motivations, and backstories were good. The plot was slow-built to a climactic scene. Overall it felt on par with the pacing of a real baking competition like the British Bakeoff. Some readers may feel it is too slow or be frustrated that the murder doesn't occur until nearly the end. This is not a murder mystery where there's a body, and the book is spent figuring out who did it. This is a book with slowly accelerating sabotage and a hunt for who is behind it.

The baking information is sometimes off (why would the characters put their bread dough in the refrigerator? Sometimes it went in a proving drawer, and other times in the fridge. This is a minor point but may frustrate accomplished bakers. I have one other bone to pick - for a national baking contest, why are all the contestants from New England and New York except one heavily caricatured Minnesotan? The author missed an opportunity here.

You'll likely enjoy this book if you love the British Bakeoff competition style and cozy character-focused mysteries. It would make a fun, lighthearted movie or TV show along the lines of Agatha Christie or Murder in Paradise.

Thanks to NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for a review.