I initially dropped this book, because I couldn't get into it. But, then I saw the audiobook was available on Netgalley, and I had a feeling it might turn my experience of this book around.
And I'm glad I gave it another chance, because the immersive experience of listening to the audiobook while reading the book was really great.
The narrator has such a pleasant voice, it was wonderful to listen to her. She did an amazing job bringing the story to life, and giving a "voice" personality to each character. I thought Aspen's Legally Blonde voice was spot-on.
As for the content of the story, the author developed a Wisteria Lane-kind of community. It was flabbergasting to see so many hidden skeletons in that smalltown. I agree with other readers and found that the women in Wingate were a difficult bunch, to say the least.
Near the end, I was dreading an underwhelming finale, but an unexpected twist proved me wrong. Spoiler alert: The ending sounded as though it could easily have been an episode from the series "Why Women Kill".
All in all, I'm glad I found the audiobook, and I hope they'll put up more of them on netgalley to accompany the mystery category. It's really helpful sometimes when you have a hard time concentrating on a book.

This is a first book in series. I would put this at 3.5 stars. I rounded up. I like the story. There are some great twists and turns.
Things I liked: the cookie shop sounds delicious and fun; all the dangerous things that happen keep the story moving forward; the detective; Kip and his friendship with Mallory
Things that had to grow on me: Mallory. Mallory seems likable enough but the author gave her too many things to overcome right out of the gate - cheater boyfriend, chance of losing her business, huge business loan, issues with cookie recipe, disloyal newspaper report, problematic cousin, tension between coworkers and the other woman. Mallory jumped in to investigate very quickly and made a number of too stupid to live decisions. The only reason she survived the dumb things she did is because she is the main character and you can’t kill them in a cozy mystery.
Remember I did say I liked the story, and I did. The murder turns out to be a complicated matter. There were plenty of red herrings.
I listened to the book. I liked the narrator.
I had access to both the ebook and the audiobook. Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review this book.

I love cozies and always enjoy starting a new series and getting to know the new characters. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great. I will definitely read the next book in the series.

Great start to a new series! I like the setting and the characters, particularly Aspen. Mallory is OK but tends to make a lot of TSTL mistakes; hoping those go away as the series progresses. This was a well-paced and intriguing mystery. Looking forward to continuing the series.

Mallory is the top suspect when the hateful Bea is found murdered! Bea had just accused Mallory's aunt of stealing one of her cookie recipes, which led to a public argument. Mallory already has a lot on her plate- running her cookie business, recovering from a romantic split, her cat, and her employees- but luckily, her friends are willing to help her find the real villain. Oh and there's Detective Will Hannigan. This is a nice start to a new series with good characters. It's classic cozy territory and Sennefelder does it well. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. And- recipes!

This is a great debut for a new series.

I loved the cookie shop run by Mallory Monroe with the help of Kip and Claudia. The sentimental reasons for her running it were so sweet and I love the family story involved. I also love the setting of Wingate, Connecticut. The characters all offered something to the story and I look forward to getting to know them more in the next book.

I love the offerings of the cookie shop and I look forward to how the shop grows and changes in this series.

This murder kept me guessing. So many people had reason to want Beatrice gone and the actual criminal took me by surprise. So many layers to uncovering their identity. It definitely kept me guessing.

This book was a nice lighter read after some of the heavier ones I have read lately.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

What a great debut to a new series! A cookie shop that specializes in cookie bouquets...delicious, and was the epitome of cozy to me! I really liked that the character wasn't that gung-ho to jump into solving a crime, but reluctantly did out of self-preservation.
Really loved Kip and his loyalty to Mallory...hope Claudia thaws a little bit in the next book.
This book had me guessing til the end!
I would recommend this to any cozy lover!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank netgalley, the author Debra Sennefelder, and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder is the first book in Cookie Shop Mystery series.

It is definitely off to a good start.
I especially appreciated that it seemed pretty realistic, in a way that the main character was reluctant to get involved into investigation at first, that she had some very awkward and unpleasant situations while sleuthing and so on.
While there were some very stereotypical moments and traits typical for this genre, this book is not exactly like all others.
While the heroine is likeable and smart, down to earth and hard working we didn't actually find out much about her, But this being only book one I hope that in future we get to see a lot more of her and her side kicks as well as they seem like an interesting bunch.
The mystery itself was well thought out, nicely presented, it was steady paced, there weren't any dull moments. The ending it well wrapped as well.

All in all, I am looking forward to reading the next installement.

How the Murder Crumbles was a fun story. The main character Mal is interesting and it is fun to try to solve the mystery with her.

This delightful, beautifully written cozy mystery grabbed my attention right away. A great beginning to what looks like a light, heartwarming cozy series, How the Murder Crumbles, delivered everything it set out to do and more.

I especially loved the connection the MC had with her aunt and as I lost mine not long ago, the story touched my heart. Love the cookies, the murder mystery, the community, the pacing, the relatable characters. Am I looking forward to the next one in the series? Absolutely!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

How the Murder Crumbles is the first book in a new series (A Cookie Shop Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder. I enjoyed another series by the author (Food Blogger) so I was excited to see she had a new series out. How the Murder Crumbles was really good. We’re introduced to Mallory, who has recently opened a cookie shop in Connecticut. She has two employees who are very different. One lady is older and is pretty blunt with her opinions (I liked her a lot), and the other is a good friend of Mallory’s named Kit, whom she’s known for a long time (he’s cool). It's fun hearing about what all they make in the cookie shop and the creative designs Mallory comes up with.

As for the mystery, a woman is murdered and Mallory is the last person who publicly argued with her. There are lots of suspects because this woman was a bully. Mallory decides to figure out who the killer is so people will come back to her cookies shop; it’s new and struggling. Mallory has a few other personal issues to deal with – a breakup with a boyfriend, the other woman he was seeing now wants to be friends with Mallory, and dealing with her cousin who owns the building the cookie shop is in. There’s lots happening and the story moves along very quickly. There is a hint of a possible romance too.

I’m so glad the author has this new series, she’s a really good writer and creates interesting characters who feel very real. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this wonderful ARC. I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I will post this review to my blog, Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts on the publication date, 6/20/23.

HOW THE MURDER CRUMBLES is the first book in the brand-new Cookie Shop Mystery series by Debra Sennefelder. This delightful cozy mystery brings all the right ingredients to the story—a fast-paced plot, memorable characters, yummy cookies, and a charming setting. Protagonist Mallory Monroe is an enjoyable character. Who wouldn’t want to spend time at her bakery, The Cookie Shop, with all the delicious and beautiful treats she bakes and decorates. I greatly enjoyed the tidbits of cookie decorating skills shared on the pages and could just envision the gorgeous flower cookie bouquets she creates. Mallory’s best friend and employee, Kip, offers some comic relief with his jokes and brings a lightheartedness to the story. It helps offset the irritation brought by her disgruntled employee, Claudia, which I hope improves with the next book.

Ms. Sennefelder manages to effortlessly juggle several subplots—such as a cheating boyfriend, a cousin who is intent on ruining The Cookie Shop, a pie baking contest, and an accusation of stealing a cookie recipe. But it’s the death of the accuser who drives the story and the well-plotted mystery kept my attention throughout. Not only is Mallory accused of stealing the recipe, but she becomes a suspect in the murder. With business drying up and the townspeople unsure of her innocence, Mallory decides she needs to ask some questions around town and clear her name. Thrown into the mix is a handsome detective and the unlikeliest of sidekicks, which bring some surprising twists. The author’s deft writing wraps all the threads of the plot and subplot together into one highly satisfactory conclusion. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

Be prepared to crave cookies as you read this book! Fortunately, for the home cook, Ms. Sennefelder has included a few recipes at the back of the book.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mallory Monroe’s famous Cookie Shop, which welcomes customers with the delightful scent of freshly made cookies that are as exquisitely adorned as they are delectably tasty, is located in Wingate, Connecticut, one of the top ten retail destinations in the state. For Mallory, things aren’t going as well. She sees her lover with another woman, her two staff members make a complete mess in the kitchen, and she gets into a heated dispute with food blogger Beatrice Wright about Mallory’s alleged theft of her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice is discovered dead in her kitchen, her corpse covered in flour, and a bloody marble rolling pin is found nearby. As soon as this happens, Mallory is named the prime suspect, her sales fall, and she furiously seeks to clear her name—but that’s not the only murder the assassin is planning.

The narrative was entertaining, and the cookies sounded delicious. Author Debra Sennefelder creates a clever cozy mystery full of delicious baked goodies, humor, and a cunning criminal who would do whatever to hide their misdeeds. Red herrings abound, and there are many twists. I adored the romance-related undertones and the final surprise.

The friendship between Aspen and Mallory was particularly appealing to me. They got along well despite the circumstances, and I hope to see them again soon. I am eager to read the next book in the series since I liked the supporting cast, especially her new friendship with her ex-boyfriend. With some shocks and a wonderful blend of humor tossed in with the mystery narrative, the mystery storyline moved along at a nice speed. There were several suspects and unexpected turns. I cannot think of anything negative to say about this book, and I cannot wait to read the next one. My smile was brought on by the resolution, and I anticipate some romance in the next volumes.

Cookies & small town gossip

It took a while to really get into this story, and outside of the town gossip there wasn’t much that happened until about 65%. The main character was a bit self righteous in her interactions with others. Would I read again? Probably not

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity, all thoughts are my own.

Owning a cookie shop is a sweet and fun career with little stress, right?

Wrong.

Mallory Monroe loves baking and cookies are her specialty. Her shop is wonderful and located in just the right town. Things should be hunky-dory, but..... Mallory has employee problems, and a pesky food blogger accuses her of recipe theft. Things only get worse when Mallory finds herself the top suspect in a murder investigation. Can she catch the killer, clear her name, and whip up some wonderful cookies in time to save her business and reputation?

I really enjoyed this book! While I did read one of this author's books back in 2018, so much has happened between then and now, I really felt like I was reading a new-to-me author. I'm going to backtrack and re-read the series I started five years ago while waiting for the 2nd book in this series!

The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with some surprises and a nice mix of humor thrown in with the mystery plot. There were plenty of suspects and twists. I liked the characters and the side plot of a cookie shop (even if it did make me crave a cookie!).The story kept my attention from start to finish.

I'm definitely going to keep reading this series. This book was a nice escape for me! Lots of work stress going on right now....and I loved being able to just lose myself in an entertaining mystery for a few hours.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

I liked the story, but I’m not much impressed with the people that live in the town of Wingate. I liked Aspen and I thought Mallory shouldn’t be so judgmental of her.

Halfway through the second chapter I was hoping Claudia would be the murder victim. She is a firm believer of “don’t mix business with pleasure”, which seem to be the reason she’s not nice to her coworkers.

Alas. There is always the next book in the series.

In this book Beatrice Wright is killed. She’s an unpleasant person that seems to thrive on picking fights with people and accusing them of being dishonest (cheating, stealing). Most people in town don’t seem to like her, but it is Mallory Monroe owner of a cookie shop that finds her body. Earlier in the day Mallory had a fight with Beatrice at her shop where Beatrice accused Mallory of using a cookie recipe that was stolen from Beatrice. A fight that was witnessed by the town’s detective.

During an interview he gives Mallory the impression he suspects her of the murder. It can’t be a very strong suspicion as Mallory is not placed under arrest. Mallory, however, decides she must find the real person that killed Beatrice to clear her name. Next to running her business.

Her friend, Kip, decides to help and volunteers Mallory to be the chair of the re-instated pie contest. The pie contest is part of the Garden Tour events and Beatrice was heavily involved with the organisation of that. Kip reasons it gives Mallory an in to talk to many people that knew (and probably disliked) Beatrice.

The first meeting of the Garden Tour organisation Mallory attends is that evening and is all kinds of wrong. First of all, all the chairs are facing the window. That means that the people attending the meeting have to look against the light to see the person in the front that is speaking. Second, when Mallory tells the group she has nothing to report yet because she has only been chair of the pie contest committee since earlier that day, there are murmurs of discontent. Those people seem to have forgotten that it was only decided the previous day or so to have the pie contest. I doubt there would have been much to report even if Mallory had had time to get up to speed. Third, when the fire alarm goes off and someone in an apparent panic starts the evacuation. Evacuations should be done calmly yet quickly. Not a panic where people are likely to push and shove and people end up getting trampled.

After that Mallory started to behave a bit stupidly in regards to her investigation and I became less invested in the story.

Mallory was headstrong with a keen sense of nosiness and a penchant for getting into trouble. Her stubbornness Walked her right into the number one suspect slot in the murder of the town's antagonist. Finding herself in an undesirable place, she decided to investigate the murder to clear her name and save her business and unwittingly placed herself as the killer's next victim. It was intriguing, captivating, and engaging.

This is the debut installment in Debra Sennefelder’s new series. This is a well developed introduction to the series. The bakery setting may not be unique in the cozy genre, but the type of bakery featuring cookie bouquets and themed cookie baskets certainly is. The characters are enjoyable and their evolving relationships add interest. The murder victim’s nasty personality and manipulativeness sets the stage for there being a plethora of suspects to be investigated. Our amateur sleuth has her work cut out for her if she’s going to find the killer before her questioning of the suspects makes her the next victim. This was an entertaining series starter.

A new cozy series -- and its a culinary themed one, so it is the perfect book to recommend to readers who enjoy books by Joanna Fluke. The quaint small town setting, the endearing characters, the step by step investigation, the twist at the end -- it checks all the boxes!

Everything is going wrong for Mallory, but she hits rock bottom when she becomes a suspect in a murder case. Mallory starts asking questions and soon finds out there is a long list of people that have had altercations with the victim. Her questions must be hitting close to home because now Mallory is receiving some serious threats too.

There is a large cast of characters that keeps the reader constantly guessing and trying to put all the pieces together in this engaging mystery. This is a great start to the new Cookie Shop Mystery series and I look forward to more books in the series. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.