The Key West Food Critic series was brand new to me when I discovered this book on NetGalley. I do enjoy a good cozy mystery and this did not disappoint. I enjoyed learning the characters and have already gone back to my library to read some of the previous books in the series.

This was a fun read but the phrase “to die for” was so over-used in this book! A Clue in the Crumbs is book 13 in Lucy Burdette's A Key West Food Critic Mystery series. I had not previously read any of the books in the series, and although there appear to be recurring characters, I found it easy to follow so reading previous books is not necessary. I love the relationship that Miss Gloria and Hayley have, it feels so real and true to life. Thank you for the advanced copy!

The Scottish Scone Sisters are in Key West for a special edition of their baking show. In spite of a missing contestant, a cranky baker, and almost inedible food the sisters the maintain their happy disposition. However, more trouble is coming.

There are interesting details about Key West, along with historical snippets, which add depth to this story. I've enjoyed reading all the books in the Key West Food Critic series and look forward to more in the future. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Violet and Bettina Booth, aka the Scottish Scone Sisters, have come to Key West to visit Hayley and Miss Gloria and to host the UK Bakes!—Key West Edition. Due to a fire at the B&B where they were supposed to stay the sisters end up staying on Miss Gloria's houseboat, right next door to Hayley.

They all arrive on the set where the cooking show will be filmed to meet the three local bakers. One is Rayna, she and her husband own the B&B that had the fire. The other contestants are Harry Sweeting and Martina Bevis. Rayna's husband storms the set to get Rayna to drop out and come home and the next night he is found dead with evidence that lands Scottish Scone Sisters at the top of the suspect list.

Do the sisters have a recipe to get them out of trouble? While UK Bakes!—Key West Edition continues, Violet, Bettina, Gloria, and Hayley keep their eyes peeled for any clues. They report everything they learn to Haley's police detective husband, Nathan, but the murderer is right on their tail. Can the killer be caught or will UK Bakes! lose its hosts and two of its biggest fans?

___

These characters are so much fun. I love the relationship that Miss Gloria and Hayley have, it feels so real and true to life. Hayley and Nathan's relationship is so comfortable. Nathan is so patient and kind with Miss Gloria and in this story with Bettina, and Violet. Having Hayley's mom and Sam nearby enables them to participate in everything Hayley gets wrapped up in. I also like Lorenzo, Hayley's Tarot Card reading friend. Sometimes he is very involved in the story, sometimes she only visits him once. This time he was actually invited to dinner on her houseboat and that let him know and us readers too how important he is to Hayley. I loved that Bettina and Violet were able to visit Key West, they are just so much fun.  Miss Burdette has created such strong characters and they continue to grow and be relevant. That is not easy to do in a long-running series.

The author has put forth a complicated mystery starting first with the fire that was clearly arson, then the murder which led to other events, including a missing agent. All kept the pages turning quickly. It is always fun when Miss Gloria tags along with Hayley in a quest to get answers but adding the Scone Sisters was marvelous. They were up for everything and anything and took to snooping like pros. Ms. Burdette threw some nice twists to shake things up and misdirect. I had discounted the actual guilty party completely. The exciting showdown and reveal surprised me. And what a showdown it was!

As always Ms. Burdette's descriptive style sets each scene wonderfully. I was able to visualize every place from Williams Hall where the baking show was filmed to Miss Gloria's and Hayley's houseboats to all the places around Key West where the characters traveled. She also had me drooling over the food descriptions too. Yes, there are recipes at the back of the book. It was like a little virtual vacation.

A Crumb in the Clues was such an entertaining read! Fabulous characters and a divinely plotted mystery with plenty of humor make it A Perfect Escape. I hope this isn't the last we see of Betina and Violet. Until next year, Ms. Burdette. I can hardly wait.

Truly enjoyable as I would give this 5 scones out of 5. This newest Key West Food Critic Mystery brings the Scone Sisters, introduced in the Scone of Contention (book 11) to Key West for a UK Bakeoff in the US challenge. It seems to spiral like a cinnamon roll after their arrival, missing bakeware supplies, a BnB that goes up in flames, contestants who aren't the best bakers, a missing agent, an amazing cook who is dealing with a controlling husband (yep, he is the victim) and Ms. Gloria's over protective sons to round it all out. Hailey is amazing, as usual, and you don't have to be familiar with the series to understand who she is, what she does, and who her friends are. I had an idea of who the guilty party was but the red herrings did make me question myself numerous times, plus the race to the reveal had me on the edge of my seat turning pages just as quickly as possible to get to the whole story. The only thing more satisfying than this mystery is the amazing recipes that are included, which seems only fair since Ms. Burdette has us salivating with the food descriptions found on almost every other page. I for one will be making some yummy garlicky shrimp for dinner tomorrow and cinnamon scones to follow for breakfast the next morning.

Found it difficult to get into this book and the characters, perhaps because I have not read any of the previous books in the series. I need to go back and read those books so I can fully appreciate this one. This book fell short because I could not get into all the characters

In this latest addition to the Key West Food Critic series, Hayley and friends assist local law enforcement in solving crimes of arson and murder. The characters in this novel are adorable and funny, especially the elderly and feisty Miss Gloria (Hayley's neighbor in the houseboat neighborhood) and the Scone Sisters from Scotland. The sisters are visiting Key West for the filming of a baking show. However, the husband of one of the contestants dies under mysterious circumstances, and the baking equipment the sisters brought along has disappeared, including a large knife. The suspicions fall upon a number of different individuals, such as the seemingly non-existent agent for the sisters, and a grumpy baking show contestant.

Having read most of the others in this series, I can say this is one of the best novels in the series. Although it is a follow-up to the previous novel, it can easily and enjoyably be read as a stand alone story. Readers who enjoy quirky characters and cozy mysteries with a large plate of baked goodies will find this story to be a choice reading selection.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the 13th book in the Key West Food Critic series and the first I've read.

What a great cast of characters! You can feel the history and connection of Hayley Snow and Miss Gloria.

Hayley is excited that the famous Scone Sisters are coming to Key West to film the US version of UK Bakes! They are acquainted from a previous book. The night they arrive, the B&B they are staying in catches fire then a dogwalker finds the owner (also the husband of one of the contestants) dead, and the murder weapon is connected to the Scone Sisters.

Hayley and her friend, Miss Julia investigate with the assistance of the Scone Sisters. The more they investigate, the more questions they have.

The supporting cast is a delight. I would definitely watch the Scone Sisters! While the identity of the murderer is pretty clear, the ride to reveal is fun. I enjoyed the relationships between these characters and will most likely seek out other titles in this series.

Violet and Bettina Booth, the Scottish Scone Sisters are coming to Key West to host The UK Bakes!—Key West Edition.. Hayley Snow and Miss Gloria are thrilled to spend time with their Scottish friends. The sisters were booked at a Bed & Breakfast for the week, but unfortunately it burnt down the first day they were there. Miss Gloria was delighted to have them stay at her home.

They all find out on the first day of filming that Rayna (one of the contestants) is the wife of the B&B's owner. The show must go on and Rayna is clearly the best baker in the group.

That night Rayna's husband is found murdered in the alley near the B&B. Coincidence?

In between filming sessions, Haley, Miss Gloria, and the sisters investigate the crimes, and put their own lives in danger.

#AClueintheCrumbs

I want to be Miss Gloria when I get old! I love her spunk and vitality! She definitely drags Haley, the main character, into some interesting situations. Add in two elderly visitors from Scotland who also like to get into the thick of things and you have a fun time following the antics of all involved as they quickly try to unravel the mystery of who the arsonist and killer are. Could it be separate criminals or just one spreading their evil over multiple crimes. I love how the author weaves her stories with the personal lives of the characters, multiple potential suspects, yummy food and a great setting to make the mystery an experience rather than just a story. This one in particular was wrought with potential suspects and misdeeds so it was fun to be along for the ride while the characters unraveled the mystery! I can't wait to see what antics are in store for Haley and Miss Gloria in the future!

I enjoyed my visit with Hayley, Ms. Gloria, and the Scone Sisters; they were so much fun to spend time with. While the story was amusing, I do find that the reason for the visit, the cooking show, seemed somewhat of a stretch, and the baking competition didn’t really make any sense (there weren’t any participants). The mystery was presented well but the solution seemed abrupt and rushed, as did the whole ending. There was more time spent world building than there was investigating, which is what tends to happen when a series runs as long as this one has; there’s so much to catch up on with the continuing storylines that sometimes the mystery itself suffers a little and the middle of the book tends to drag a little. Still, I love this series and can’t wait for the next.

A Clue in the Crumbs is book #13 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery series by Lucy Burdette.

The Scottish Scone Sisters come to Key West to host The UK Bakes!—Key West Edition. Things don’t go as planned and Haley and Miss Gloria join forces with the Violet and Bettina to investigate.

I really enjoy my book visits to Key West with Haley and Miss Gloria. This is an entertaining series and this book didn’t disappoint. The mystery had twists that kept me guessing. Recipes are included at the end.

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

This is another fun cozy mystery all about food. It was interesting to get some insights as to how a baking contest is organized and produced for television. Haley is a good amateur sleuth, aided by her older friend, Miss Gloria. I loved the Scone Sisters and their dialogue and quips. I like the setting too. Having visited Key West years ago, it was fun too be reminded of the interesting places. And there are recipes included at the end of the book. That's a good thing as the food descriptions sound luscious.

This is a good cozy mystery for readers who enjoy a novel with many references to food, a good amateur sleuth and an interesting location.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

A Clue in the Crumbs: A Key West Food Critic Mystery
By Lucy Burdette
Crooked Lane Books
August 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

It was on their much-delayed honeymoon to Scotland that Key West Food Critic Hayley Snow and her husband Nathan Bransford first met the senior sibling baking duo Violet and Bettina Booth. After winning their season of The UK Bakes! Scone Edition television baking competition, the sisters have embarked on an American tour promoting the show while also looking for contestants for an American version. The sisters are a little concerned to have only three Key West contenders, especially since one of them seems hesitant about competing at all. When Rayna Humboldt does arrive, her stellar baking skills are immediately overshadowed by an overbearing husband who refuses to allow her to participate. So when Hayley’s policeman husband alerts her that a body has been found near the site of a fire, it’s almost a relief to learn that it was not Rayna but her husband who was left with a literal knife in his back.

Things don’t look too good for Violet and Bettina though, as it turns out that one of their heirloom knives and a specialty-branded baking pan were used as weapons to take out the abrasive bed-and-breakfast owner. And even though Nathan and Hayley have finally moved into their dream houseboat, her former roommate Miss Gloria is still a neighbor and more than ready to resume their amateur detecting team status. Hayley has a personal reason for being invested in the fate of the cooking program, as her own mother and stepfather have subbed in as a baking team when it looked as though the competition was getting a little unimpressive. So when she’s not watching the bread and quick-bake cook-offs Hayley and Miss Gloria will be delving into the lives of the competitors and the Sisters’ production team, some of whom are definitely not who they appear to be.

While the pseudonymous author is a standout at crafting complex and very fun mysteries, fans of Top Chef and the Great British Bake-Off will adore every new stage of the cooking competition. Especially appealing are the epicurean-themed quotes at the beginning of each chapter, taken from works of food gods like critic Frank Bruni, the famously infamous Anthony Bourdain, and of course Julia Child. Equally impressive are the descriptions of the Key West setting, making it an enviable destination for its eclectic cuisine and equally unique population. Series crossover tarot card reader Lorenzo once again appears to provide Hayley with sage life and investigation advice, with his reading of her and the case calming her and helping her to move forward. This 13th in the series continues to entertainingly provide readers with recipes, fun dialogue, and a deadly cooking competition. This is a novel of baking competitions and murder mystery that definitely deserves a Paul Hollywood handshake.

A Clue in the Crumbs by Lucy Burdette takes us back to Lucy in Key West. Hayley is a writer, restaurant and good reviews, mostly, who is married to a hot police detective and lives on a houseboat. If that is not enough, her sidekick is eighty-year-old, Miss Gloria. Today they are expecting visitors from Scotland: the Scone Sisters, who are beginning a US tour and filming of a new baking program right here in Key West. They have no sooner arrived than Miss Gloria hears over her police scanner that there is a fire downtown: strangely it is the bed and breakfast in which the sisters were scheduled to stay. When they “innocently” drove by they noticed a pile of burning paper/cloth piled up against the wall of the B&B. They could smell gasoline. The next day filming began and the contestants were disappointing. A lovely young woman who was a musician, not a baker, and a crotchety older man who had zero baking skills. Lucy immediately called her mother and Sam to enter to enter in and put some balance into the show. On the second day a woman, named Rayna joined the bakers and she had, not only a wonderful personality, but was an excellent baker. Things were looking up until Rayna’s husband came and dragged her out of the filming. He was obviously a little controlling.

Hayley is a cute character. Partner her with Miss Gloria, who is nothing but personality and Burdette has created a duo of dynamic characters who are more than entertaining, as well as clever. Well written. It was especially poignant when her sons arrived to drag her off to a retirement home. We watched her wilt. Excellent bit of writing. The mystery was convoluted, to say the least. Lots of people who weren’t exactly what they seemed. One character who was underused in this story was Lorenzo, Lucy’s tarot-reading friend. All in all, it was a good read. Very entertaining as Hayley zips around Key West on her motorized scooter.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Clue in the Crumbs by Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #LucyBurdette #AClueInTheCrumbs

The Scottish sisters readers met in A Scone of Contention are a main feature in A Clue in the Crumbs. Violet and Bettina come to Key West to kick off baking competitions across America.
Gloria, Violet and Bettina are a potent combination that Hayley attempts to both keep up with and rein in as necessary.
The murder was an interesting situation. The author put the pieces of this puzzle together very carefully.
I was entertained and charmed by A Clue in the Crumbs. Hayley may be the main character but Miss Gloria is a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book.

"A Clue in the Crumbs" the 13th instalment in the "A Key West Food Critic" Mystery series by Lucy Burdette. This is one of my favourite foodie cozy mystery series.

I really enjoyed this story and hanging out with Haley, Miss Gloria, and the Scone Sisters! I must say I really do love octogenarian Miss Gloria and now Violet and Bettina.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I liked trying to figure out who killed the overbearing B&B owner. I kept second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had the hardest time connecting with this book. I never got hooked. I probably should have given up but I forced myself to finish this book. I did enjoy the glimpses of Key West it brought back memories. This wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for the E-ARC! What a fun read! Out today (08.08.23) so grab your copy now!!

This book was so cute! I really loved the light humor in the characters and took a liking to the Scottish ladies. On the other hand, this one was not particularly for me. I felt like it was a little dragged out and sluggish in some parts and rushed at the very end. I also guessed the murderer but that’s okay!

I didn’t feel super invested in the characters, but overall the book was super cute and a really easy read for anyone looking for a fun & cozy mystery!

The Scottish Scone sisters have arrived in Key West to host a baking contest. Key West is just the first stage for this contest. The only problem is their agent is missing along with their luggage, their B&B has caught fire, and a man is found murdered with probably their knife. Will Hayley be able to solve this mystery before the cooking show falls apart? If you can’t visit Key West, this is the next best thing.