Food critic Hayley Snow and her pal Miss Gloria are overjoyed to welcome Violet and Bettina Booth, aka the Scottish Scone Sisters, to Key West. The sisters will host The UK Bakes!--Key West Edition. But the same day they arrive, the bed and breakfast the sisters are staying in gets torched. Then, someone is murdered. The three elderly ladies and Hayley must search for clues to the brutal murder. But as they draw closer to the answer, the threats from a murderer grow closer too. Are they now in danger of getting baked off?
This was a very delicious cozy mystery full of wonderful eats, a delectable plot, and scrumptious characters. Haley and Miss Gloria are great amateur sleuths who are always looking for a good adventure. I love that Haley works with her police detective husband in solving the crime. My only issue with this story is that it seemed too long, like there were too many details that seemed to slow down the story. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

who doesnt love a good murder mystery that includes yummy foods?? i never really mind guessing the culprit before its revealed, i actually try my hardest to figure it out before the book reveals it. and i managed to figure it out in this book! this book was easy, enjoyable, and overall a really fun read. i enjoyed the characters and what they brought to the table (literally) lol. nothing negative to say at all, it was a great cozy read and im glad to have found it! thank you netgalley and crooked lane books for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Those readers who were miffed that Burdette moved the setting from Key West to Scotland in book 11 can rejoice.

The Scone Sisters are back, but this time they are in Key West. The sisters arrive to a typical Key West airport welcome, complete with spangled signs and citizens dancing to the sounds of Jimmy Buffett. This arrival is also marked by the acrid scent of a house fire. Daughters of a fireman, the sisters suggest a "wee look before dessert." Thus, the mystery begins. Arson? Most likely. Reason? Who knows. Will the three older women listen to Nathan and stay safe? If you know Ms. Gloria, you know the answer. However, the arson is topped when a death occurs during the filming of UK Bakes! – Key West edition. Will the production be ruined? Not if Hayley Snow can step in.

Burdette excels in character development by allowing her characters to carry things learned in previous novels into the present. No stale retreads for Hayley Snow. As a reader of mature years, I appreciate the intergenerational bond between Hayley and Ms. Gloria. I also appreciate the realism of Burdette's settings. Each novel reflects Key West accurately, down to the location of well-known and not-so-well-known landmarks. A reader doesn't need to visit the Keys in person. Burdette will take you there and also provide the right food that will enhance your tropical adventure.
Very highly recommended for mystery readers of all ages.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

"The Clue in the Crumbs" by Lucy Burdette is a sweet addition to the Key West Food Critic Mystery series. Burdette cleverly weaves together this mystery tale and uses vivid descriptions of Key West and its culinary scene. The protagonist, Hayley Snow, is as charming and relatable as ever, making her amateur sleuthing both entertaining and believable. This book is a good fit for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with a flavourful twist.

Since I enjoy watching cooking competition shows, I liked the premise of this story. The characters were engaging, especially the Scone Sisters. The mystery was well-developed, even though the suspect pool was not that large. The author also does a good job of capturing Key West.

This is such an adorable cozy mystery I can’t wait to pick up more in this series. This book follows Hayley a person in charge of a British baking competition in key west when Haley bed and breakfast gets burned down and one of the baking competitors end up dead we follow as they try to figure out what happened.

This was a cute cozy mystery it is the 13 th on the series and this is the first book I read. The characters seem really well fleshed out and I want to read some of the previous entries in this series. The writing is fun and fast paced I could use a little more humor in this cozy romance but I still really had a good time. I hope to read more from this author in the future. I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

What I liked about this book is the behind-the-scenes of how a baking contest was run, the food descriptions, and the Scone sisters were the highlight of the book for me. Now what I didn't like was the actual mystery part of the book because to me it was so predictable I had already figured out who the killer was and that was frustrating to me. Because now I have to finish a book knowing who the killer already is.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the review copy.
I received an ARC and am giving my thoughts my own..

"A Clue in the Crumbs" by Lucy Burdette is a delectable mystery that combines the savory world of Key West cuisine with a gripping murder investigation. Food critic Hayley Snow, alongside her charming friend Miss Gloria, finds herself in the midst of a culinary competition turned crime scene when the Scottish Scone Sisters' visit takes an unexpected turn.

The author skillfully weaves together the excitement of The UK Bakes!--Key West Edition with a cleverly crafted mystery. The plot unfolds with the arson of the sisters' accommodation and escalates when a murder occurs, casting suspicions on the inn owner's wife, Rayna. Burdette keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the trio of elderly ladies and Hayley navigate the challenges of a murder investigation while participating in a baking contest.

The characters are charming and well-developed, adding a delightful layer to the story. Hayley's passion for food and her determination to uncover the truth create a compelling protagonist. The Scottish Scone Sisters bring a touch of humor and warmth, balancing the tension of the murder mystery.

The pacing is excellent, with the murder mystery seamlessly integrated into the backdrop of a baking competition. Burdette skillfully sprinkles clues throughout the narrative, allowing readers to piece together the puzzle alongside the characters. The suspense builds steadily, and the twists keep the story engaging until the satisfying conclusion.

"A Clue in the Crumbs" is not only a feast for mystery enthusiasts but also for those who appreciate culinary delights. The descriptions of Key West cuisine and the baking competition add a flavorful dimension to the narrative, making it a delightful read for foodies.

In summary, Lucy Burdette's "A Clue in the Crumbs" is a four-star culinary mystery that combines delectable descriptions of Key West's culinary scene with a well-executed murder investigation. With a cast of endearing characters and a plot full of twists and turns, this book is a treat for readers who enjoy a perfect blend of mystery and gastronomic delights.

This series is normally a favorite, but this book fell a bit short. The mystery lacked the flow of the previous books. The cooking show with the visiting sisters was so unorganized. Real life is super messy, but I like for the fictional places I visit to not need to try so hard.

I enjoyed this mystery! I hadn't read this author before but it won't be my last one. The story kept me guessing which is something that I love in mysteries. And the characters were so much fun!

A Clue in the Crumbs is a cute cozy mystery with a cast of eclectic characters. I loved The Great British Bake Off type plot and the Scottish Scone Sisters were so much fun. The murder mystery itself was lacking for me but I enjoyed the story as a whole and would love to go back and read more of the series. This one worked fine as a standalone, so don't feel like you need to start at the beginning. I also loved the relationship between Hayley and Miss Gloria and found myself wishing I could be a part of their friend group.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I do enjoy a good cosy mystery, add in some yummy food and a great setting, Key West and a house boat and some wonderful fun characters and this one was a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me guessing. This was my first time meeting food critic Hayley Snow and her off-sider Miss Gloria and it was good to meet them.

Hayley and Miss Gloria are thrilled to be welcoming the Scottish Scone Sisters Violet and Bettina to their home town to do a new TV bake off show, Key West Edition, but things go upside down when the B & B they are supposed to be staying in goes up in flames, easily fixed they can stay on the houseboat with Miss Gloria but when the owner of the B & B is found murdered and it turns out that his wife Rayna is one of the contestants in the show, Hayley and Miss Gloria go into full investigative mode with the help of Violet and Bettina.

Will they find the fire bug and the killer before anyone is hurt, are they the same person? Will the bake off show still go ahead? I am glad I picked this one up and I look forward to getting around to reading more in this series, I do recommend this one to anyone who loves a good cosy mystery.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Lucy Burdette has done it again in her amazing books. her characters are well written. Haley Snow with her police husband make a great team. Just like her food critic she does an amazing job trying to work and help with the scone sisters, she really was amazing. I didn't see it coming who the real killer is. An enjoyable read couldn't wait to see who wins and who is the killer.

Another great installment in the Key West Food Critic mystery series. I love Ms Gloria and Hayley and I was so happy to see Bettina and Violet join them in this mystery. I hope we haven't seen the end of Violet and Bettina and that Tim gets to join them on their new adventures.

I always love reading the recipes at the end of the stories; someday I will actually make some of them as they all sound tasty.

Daisy agrees to participate in a podcast by Trevor Lundquist, and during the course of the interview, he receives a tip about evidence of a 20 year-old crime to be found in a chest coming up for auction. Out of curiosity, Daisy and Jonas go to the auction with Trevor and buy all 4 of the trunks for sale. There seems to be nothing them, yet someone tries to break into the storage area where they were kept. And then a murder, possibly connected to the anonymous call. Daisy is resolved not to get involved. After all, her wedding is coming up in a few short weeks, her daughter Jazzi is getting ready to leave for college, her other daughter is having some issues in her relationship with her husband, and there's another township event coming up. But she soon gets pulled in, first by the police, asking for help calming down the victim's wife. And then by Trevor, as he keeps recklessly pursuing this mystery for his podcast, often dropping her name as being part of it. Once again, the author has provided an enjoyable and challenging mystery, while focusing on family and friends relationships. This series truly meets the challenge of a cozy mystery - minimal violence and bloodshed, and tons of personal interactions (rated PG), typical personal issues, and sheer joy at maintaining good relationships. Looking forward to the next story in this series. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley and all opinions are strictly my own.

A Clue in the Crumbs ~ Key West Food Critic #13 (by Lucy Burdette) 4*
I have read several of the books in the Key West Food Critic series and have loved every one of them! This one had so many positive aspects:
1) I love Miss Gloria … She is a perky elderly lady who is a delight to be around. She is one tough cookie and I love seeing what trouble she and Haley get into with every story.
2) Violet and Bettina, the Scone Sisters, from Scotland were a hoot. Having met them in the previous book, I loved having them travel to the US to host the UK Bakes — Key West Edition cooking show. They had the best personalities and I wanted to meet them and hope they would become good friends. What delightful ladies with great personalities and outlook on life.
3) The mysteries are intriguing and keep you glued to the pages. You will be flipping through them as fast as you can to see what the next day will bring and helping to solve the mystery.

I am a huge fan of this series and find my stomach growling at the food they enjoy as they dine out in restaurants or at home on their houseboat. I want to buy a boat so I can be their neighbor!

This is the 13th book in this delightful, long running series. Hayley Snow and her pal, Miss Gloria, welcome some British Baking stars to Key West for a competition. As always there is a wealth of fascinating detail about baking and food, which makes sense as Hayley is a professional food critic. The ambiance of Key West is captured perfectly, as it is in the other books in the series. When a murder occurs, we feel confident Hayley and Miss Gloria will start their detecting work and solve the crime. There are enough red herrings and plot twists to keep us turning the pages. A terrific read!

Princess Fuzzypants here: Every time I read one of the books in the series, I want to morph down to Key West. It seems like such a cool and fascinating place and life on the houseboats is never dull. As the book begins, Hayley and Miss Gloria are awaiting the arrival of the two Scottish ladies, the Scone Sitters, at the airport. They are bringing their hit baking show to the US and will hold try outs in Key West. Things do not go smoothly from the get-go.

Two contestants have questionable baking skills and the third one who is a whiz has a husband who barges in and demands that she not compete. There is then a fire at the B & B the couple own and where the two Scottish ladies are booked to stay. Then the abusive husband is found murdered in a nearby alley. Between trying to get the shows in the can, keeping the three older ladies safe and trying to figure out which one of the contestants or the elusive agent of the ladies is the killer, Hayley is run off her feet. Good thing her cop husband is so supportive.

With lots of intrigue and deceits swirling in the background, Hayley and the reader sort through the confusing tangle to uncover the villain. It was an enjoyable jaunt to the southernmost tip of North America. Five purrs and two paws up.

There were a few things that I loved about this book. I enjoyed seeing how a baking contest was run, the descriptions of food found throughout the book and the quirky fun Scone Sisters (judges for the contest). The Scone Sisters were the characters that really kept me reading through this cozy.

The mystery is what fell flat for me. I had a suspicion on who the killer was and was right. What was more intriguing to me was the burning down of the B&B. Also, where was the luggage and what is going on with the travel agent? Not usually what I tend to focus on in a cozy mystery.

I would recommend this book for fans of food related books. I would not recommend this as a cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the review copy.
 
I received an ARC and am giving my thoughts voluntarily.

A Clue in the Crumbs takes place in March around St. Patrick’s Day, which is a fun time to set a cozy mystery. This book features Bettina and Violet, the Scottish sisters, who we met in Scones of Contention. The sisters have become famous in the UK. They are now in the United States looking for cooks to participate in their reality baking show. They are excited to start off their search in Key West. Haley’s elderly neighbor, Miss Gloria, is excited to be able to spend more time with the sisters.

As always Lucy’s descriptions of Key West make me feel as though I were walking through the streets of the area. This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. This is another hit in the Key West Food Critic cozy series. I would not recommend starting with this one, just because part of reading a series is knowing the characters and seeing their interactions with old and new characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave this novel a solid 4 stars. Don’t hesitate to pick this one up!