This was a easy-to-read story, but it wasn’t like a full blown murder mystery investigative thriller. Its more drama, character oriented story with a murder, that happens later in the story. Felt this could have been 100 pages less. Very interesting characters tho! Could read this just for the characters and their behaviours.

This was a fun mystery that leaned towards the cozy side. It was a little too predictable and cliched for me at times though.

DNF for me, this is an interesting premise, I just was having trouble keeping track of the characters enough to feel invested in the storyline.

This book was pitched to me as Great British Bake Off but with murder, but I don't know if that really describes this book which had a much darker and insidious core within. It open with the host discovering a dead body and then goes back a couple days before as the contestants for the baking show arrive. There are several interweaving plot lines with interesting ideas, but unfortunately, none of them ever seems to fully inhabit the driver's seat. There were some good twists at the end that will absolutely leave readers wanting more!

It’s a modern-day Clue game. This book kept me on my toes trying to figure out whodunit. It’s part cooking show, part game of clue.

What if the Great British Bake Off involved murder? The Golden Spoon brings together a cast of characters to compete in Bake Week for the coveted Golden Spoon prize. So many twists and turns with brilliant intricacies I didn't see coming. I was on the edge of my seat as competitors were picked off one by one, still not sure who to pin it all on. And boy was I surprised at the big reveal. Thoroughly enjoyable. I would read more by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Atria Books, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is a murder-mystery story set in northern Vermont at the Grafton Manor. It revolves around a baking television competition show, Bake Week, hosted by Betsy Martin, “America’s Grandmother.” The story is about six of the “country’s finest amateur bakers” for the tenth season of Bake Week. The reader gets to know each of the six contestants. Several mystery themes run through the story. The ties Lottie has with the Grafton Manor, mysterious sabotaging the competition, the excitement with Hannah, and all the strange personalities keep the story interesting.

The story ends with four mini-celebrities and a villain. Bake Week became a life changing event for some – some good changes and some not so good. Mysteries are solved. The book moves slow at times around the baking competition, but all the loose ends are tied up. I enjoyed the story overall.

This one sounded right up my alley, but the number of POVs and slow pace just didn't reel me in. Unfortunately, this was a miss for me.

The Golden Spoon

⭐️⭐️.5

As someone who loves a good “Great British Bake-off” marathon over the holidays or in the winter, I wish this one landed a bit more for me!

Six amateur bakers are invited to Grafton Manor to compete in a baking competition, “Bake Week,” to win the ultimate prize: the golden spoon. Their host, Betsy Martin, has been ruling over the show (and their hearts as their “America’s grandmother”) for years; for this 10th season, however, the network has added a brash new co-host, Archie Morris, to spice up the program. When a body is found in the tent of the competition, a mystery unfolds as readers (and the contestants) figure out who is dead and who killed them.

Similarly to how the “Great British Baking Show” known for its pastels and positivity, this book took a murder mystery and added lots of sugar to it (pun intended 😉). At first I was thinking we’d get more baking-related drama, but it pretty soon the plot becomes just a regular closed-room whoddunnit at the Manor. I guessed the ending fairly early on.

The bite-sized chapters following the characters’ POVs do actually makes the book fly by; at first, it was a little confusing to track who was who, but once you know everyone’s signature trait, it works. I think the author set out to build fully-fleshed contestants, but to me, they all were pretty one-dimensional to get their purpose in the plot across.

All of this being said, I think the idea and writing were interesting for a debut novelist, and it was a quick read — I’d give this author another try on her future releases! 🥄👩‍🍳🧁🏆🔪🎂

This was a fun cozy mystery! Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book! I wasn't sure what to expect going into it and really enjoyed it!
It gave me British Bakeoff vibes! I loved the setting at the historical mansion! I'm usually hesitant with books that have multiple POV but this book did a great job! It was fun seeing everything from the perspectives of the contenders and show creator/host.
It was a light and easy read! Not too serious or creepy. It was a quick read and I really enjoyed it!

A baking reality show with 6 contestants, two judges who don’t like each other, a mansion for the setting, and then murder. As a fan of the British bake-off show it was fun to see the similarities to the actual cooking challenges in this book. The characters were not all like-able and it took awhile to get the full picture of each of their stories. 3.5 stars

This book's description caught my eye because it seemed like a mash-up of so many things I love. A closed door mystery set in a massive, old house, a baking reality show, and an interesting cast of characters.
I think this book will especially appeal to cozy readers and especially those who also enjoy Great British Bake Off, however one does not need to be a fan of the baking show to really enjoy the book. It is a fun, fast-paced delight.

Oh wow, y'all, this book definitely took me by surprise! Excellent storyline that kept you intrigued the whole way and then of course, an outstanding ending. Great suspense as well. I could not stop reading this novel, must read!!

this took me a while to get into but after that, i enjoyed it! i feel like because of the blurb i expected events to happen faster than they actually did and that feeling of waiting for the moment where everything falls apart i think took away from my reading experience but other than that this was a decent book! it was giving very cozy murder mystery vibes even if that is slightly off from what the actual plot was. i enjoyed all the characters, and once i got into the book fully i could differentiate them well. very happy i picked this up actually !

This book will lure you in with its sharp cover and marketing plan but don't trust it! It's an anglerfish, friend! This book will promise to meet you for brunch and then never show up. This book will borrow your shirt and return it unwashed with a ketchup stain on the cuff. This book dog ears the pages of a novel it got from the library. In summary: basic writing not done particularly well peppered with a "mystery" that is boring to the point of unreadability. Maybe read it if it's all you can find at the airport but even then I'd say just get a magazine.

I liked that the scene was set fairly quickly. We stepped right into Bake Week and the backstory of each character was sprinkled in so there was a nice flow to the story. I’m a Great British Baking Show watcher and I particularly enjoyed the elements of the reality/competition show that were included in the book - the attention to GBBS rules, elements, and the way the competition show typically flows - while still making The Golden Spoon its own fictional entity. Now, the mystery part was very good and multilayered. Without giving away spoilers, some things do become clear due to hints before the big reveal(s) but the ride was worth it. All-in-all a good mystery. I look forward to more from this author.

Delightful combination of Great British Bake Off and classic murder mysteries. Fun and light, an easy read,

A must read for fans of baking reality series- the unique narrative structure lends a fun element to this whodunnit...even as the reader isn't quite sure what the mystery may be!

I love Agatha Christie and I do binge watch the occasional cooking competition show so I knew I had to read this book when I heard about it. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and was told in alternating perspectives of each of the characters, getting to know each character and their reasons for wanting to be on the show and win, and possible reasons for each to be the murderer. I enjoyed the slower pace of this novel while I tried to figure out the who and why of the murder. A good, fun read.

Six baking competition contestants descend on Grafton estate in Vermont to begin this year's "Bake Week" contest. Betsy Martin is the main star of the show and has been for many years. She has made a name for herself writing cookbooks and now the show has launched her into a culinary legend. Now this year, the producers think that the show is becoming stale and have invited Archie Morris to help her co-host the show and Betsy is not having it. She instantly takes a dislike to Archie and lets everyone know how she feels but she plods on for the sake of the show. Each of the contestants, Hannah, Gerald, Stella, Lottie, Peter and Pradyumna have their own backgrounds and are excited to participate in the competition. The competition starts and immediately there is drama; salt is put in the sugar container, a burner is too hot and burns a contestant's filling. Is someone there to sabotage the competition? What will they do to win?

Soon we find out. A body is found in the baking tent during a terrible storm and all the remaining contestants are shocked to learn that they are now suspects and they all have motive. Is one of them a cold-blooded killer? The twists and turns of this book is keep the reader guessing until the very end. Every chapter in this book is told through the eyes of one of the contestants and each chapter is a different contestant's story. I loved that there were many points of view and the author did a fantastic job of weaving everyone's stories into one fluid and engaging read. When I wasn't able to read because I was at work, I found my mind slipping back to this book and wanting to see what would happen next.

Man oh man, was this book fabulous. I really enjoyed this book and the author did a fantastic job in this debut novel. I think Maxwell is a phenomenal writer and I hope there are more books coming from her in the future. Simply put this book is hard to put down. I really enjoyed the characters as they were well-developed and very engaging. If you like baking competitions and murder, well this is a delightful treat.

Overall Rating: 5+ stars

Author: Jessa Maxwell

Series: N/A

Publisher: Atria Books

Publication Date: March 7, 2023

Pages: 287

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.