It was a slow start but I like the premise of the book. Fun to see two baker nans in Florida mixed with a bit of baking drama.

Who doesn’t love a baking competition? The Scone Sisters, Violet and Bettina, are back in the latest Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdette. This time, the Scottish baking sensation are visiting Key West, FL on their American tour, taping episodes for their new American spinoff of their popular Scottish baking competition television show.

Their first stop includes a visit to see Hayley, the series' intrepid Food Critic and amateur sleuth, her husband Nathan, who is actually a police officer, and their retired neighbor Gloria. While they are there, they will begin filming a competition among local bakers.

This story moves along a quick pace, becoming increasingly more dangerous as it goes, from a fire at the bed and breakfast Violet and Bettina were meant to be staying, to an entire shipment of pans that has gone missing, to the mysterious disappearance of the sisters’ agent, to a brutal murder. The characters, including tarot readers, feisty old ladies and mysterious baking show contestants are just as engaging as the action. Some of the contestants have shady pasts and questionable baking skills. But through it all, Hayley, the Scone Sisters and Gloria are ready for any adventure. The climactic scene especially is great fun and surprisingly believable.

You needn’t have read the rest of the series to read this book, but why wouldn’t you after reading it? Like the rest of the series, this book does a fabulous job of capturing the flavor of Key West, the furthest southern point in the United States. Burdette sprinkles in some Key West history, along with generous portions of delectable food descriptions. You will find yourself craving some of these foods, especially the Scone Sisters famous Cinnamon Scones. Lucky for us readers, Burdette includes recipes for many of the foods featured in the story.  

A Clue in the Crumbs comes out August 8, 2023. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this book.

I love this series and always look forward to the next installment. Food critic Haley Snow and Miss Gloria are a riot and this time they get the scone sisters (Violet and Bettina Booth), from Scotland, involved, when the sisters come to visit them in Key West and host The UK Bakes - Key West Edition.

Things go down hill, from almost the minute they get off the plane. There's a fire at the bed-and-breakfast, where they're supposed to stay and the next night the owner of the B&B and husband of one of the baking contestants, is found murdered.

When the group of women aren't working on the baking contest, they're trying to help find clues for Haley's detective husband, Nathan. Can they find out who the guilty party is, without getting burned?.

An enjoyable easy read, with caring neighbourly characters. My favourite part is near the end when they all defend Miss Gloria. The scene nails so many of the attitudes of the busy and money oriented towards older folk. I received this as a complimentary copy from the author via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

A Clue in the Crumbs is book thirteen in the Key West Food Critic Mystery by Lucy Burdette. During her honeymoon in Scotland, food critic Hayley Snow met the Scottish Scone Sisters Violet and Bettina Booth and was so excited they were coming to Key West. On the first day of shooting the Key West Edition of their show, Rayna's husband dies, and Violet and Bettina become the prime suspect. Hayley Snow started to help her husband with the investigation to clear Violet and Bettina's name. The readers will continue to follow Hayley Snow to discover what happens.

A Clue in the Crumbs is another fantastic addition to this excellent series by Lucy Burdette. I also enjoy the recipes in her books, and I will try Lucy Burdette's scones recipe, hoping it will finally help me make them. I love Lucy Burdette's portrayal of her characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. A Cue in the Crumbs is well-written and researched by Lucy Burdette. I like Lucy Burdette's description of the settings of A Clue in the Crumbs, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of A Clue in the Crumbs will learn how to make good scones. Also, the readers of A Clue in the Crumbs will learn about the consequences of swindling money out of people.

I recommend this book.

A Sour Turn..
The thirteenth outing in the Key West Food Critic series and the arrival of the Scottish Scone Sisters has the town abuzz with excitement but things soon sour when an unexpected catalogue of bizarre events unfold. A death is the final fly in the ointment and investigations may well mean mortal danger. Another fun and frothy instalment with a delightful setting, delicious food and an eclectic and enjoyable cast of characters.

Loved this one! Totally unexpected ending... Lots of mystery and a hint of romance. Would love to read the rest of the series.

Lucy Burdette's A CLUE IN THE CRUMBS

A fun little baking show contest, a lovely line of bakeware, and a much-anticipated visit from the Scottish Scone Sisters, Violet and Bettina . . . what could go wrong? In Hayley’s life, nearly everything: fire, murder, sabotage, missing persons, oh, and baking disasters, and all just before the craziness of St. Patrick’s Day in Key West. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and the food descriptions and recipes whetted my appetite. I didn’t even mind staying home in an ice/snow “event” as I just kept reading. Now I want a little cruise in a Tiki boat, some shrimp, and a cinnamon scone.

Another charming installment by Lucy Burdette! Love coming back to Key West to see what Hayley is up to. Each book is a must-read for me and I'm never disappointed.

Gosh, I sure enjoyed this book! We're back in Key West with Holly, Ms. Gloria, Nathan, their friends, family, and a visit from The Scone Sisters, whom we met in Scotland in the previous book.

There's a TV baking contest being filmed in Key West but when one of the contestants husbands is murdered, there's a world of challenges for everyone involved.

This was a solid mystery with some great twists with an opportunity to get to know new - and old - friends.

Though this is a series and I always like reading them in order, this particular Key West Mystery could easily stand alone.

Thanks Net Galley, Lucy Burdette, and the publisher for this ARC.

Cozy mysterys my thing, you know?

I never realized this was part of a series, thats a good thing you know, know I have a entire series to read. I loved hayley and miss Gloria and Nathan 👀 (he's part of the force, I love mmcs that are in the force). Please, I never could have guessed the killer 😥😟.




Thank you to netgalley and the author for a eARC in return of a honest review

I really liked this book. My favorite category or genre is mystery/thriller and this fit in nicely. It was a lighter read than most of my previous books. My interest was engaged from the beginning because of the food theme, which also happens to be a personal favorite. The characters are great especially the Scone Sisters. They are so cute. The quotes and such at the beginning of each chapter are well thought out and fit in with the overall theme. I will definitely look for more books by this author.

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: A Clue in the Crumbs
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Lucy Burdette
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 08 August 2023

“ I would rent α houseboat and head to Houseboat Row tomorrow! ” - @dupuisshowreads

Another great read to end your summer with - plus, don’t you just love adding books to your summer TBR already?! The characters make this book α fun read and the story itself is α great mystery. I laughed-out-loud for real, not just in my head.

Violet and Bettina Booth are a duo of older Scottish ladies, known as The Scone Sisters, who are venturing from across-the-pond to Key West to promote their baking show. The reader is taken on an adventure as soon as the plane touches down! As soon as the ladies arrive, they find out their B&B is closed and being high season, there are not many options available for housing, so they are hosted on a house boat. When someone ends-up murdered, the characters are ready and willing to lend another set of eyes to the investigation, even if their help is not wanted.

The setting brings the story to life and makes it relatable on many levels, making it easy to envision as you read. The characters are loveable and I was unable to stop reading. I did not know this book is the thirteenth instalment in the Key West Food Critic series. I found the book to work as α standalone and still really enjoyed the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC!

Food and books, crime and mystery, entertainment and fun. This is what I want in a good book and this one delivered for me.

There is food, critics, crime, a bake-off and a cosy BnB. This is a fun book to read and one I read quite quickly. It is easy to read, has intrigue, mystery and even a few recipes to finish off.

A quick, easy, fun, enjoyable, entertaining read with some great and quirky characters.

A favorite series! The 13th book in the Key West Food Critic series! Hayley Snow is an excellent character who continues to grow. Love the story plot. Packs all that you want in a cozy. Very enjoyable! Keep them coming!! Thanks #netgalley and #Crookedlanebooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for ARC of A Clue in the Crumbs, Lucy Burdette.

This is my second foray into cozy-mystery, and the genre seemed like a no-brainer since I already love mysteries and cozy fantasy. This one was a pleasant surprise, to my relief!

Set against a TV baking contest (a la Great British Bake-Off, Key West edition) - a dead body turns up and it is up to protagonist Hayley and her friends to put together the clues and get to the bottom of it.

A foodie, cozy mystery with great world building -even complete with recipes.

Key West Culinary Intrigue
Hayley, food critic and her elderly neighbor Gloria are planning to show their Scottish sister friends Key West and all the ladies get dragged into a murder mystery.
Ms. Burdette paints a clear and inviting picture of their surroundings and the culinary delights available. Her characters are clearly defined and believable. A peek into the machinations behind the baking show was enlightening, you usually don’t think about it when you’re watching. Between Hayley, Nathan, her cop hubby, Gloria and the matronly sisters, Bettina and Violet, they finally work out who and why.
The recipes at the end are a gotta try.
I requested and received A NetGallet ARC to peruse and offer my opinion freely.

A new installment of the food critic series set in beautiful Key West. Follow Hailey and her elderly friends as they navigate a baking competition, an arson and a murder. Feel the warm ocean breezes blow across the island, imagine the tastes of the foods that are created. Enjoy the friendships on display in this group.

Let me start by saying that the cover is stunning! I really enjoy this series and book 13 was no different. I love the cast characters however with the visiting Scottish ladies it was much more fun. 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. Short after the bed and breakfast owner is murdered. This was one of my favorite adventures and the Scottish Scone Sisters need their own series!
#AClueintheCrumbs #NetGalley

If you've read any books in the series, you know what to expect from the characters and setting. Except in this one, Hayley has two Scottish visitors who I didn't remember from the last book, but that's fine. The previous story is very briefly referred to and plays no role in this one. An off element is that Lorenzo seems to be having problems. Hayley mentions her impressions, but then it sort of gets dropped. This is either a lost opportunity or may be featured in the next book. I will hope it will be a part of the next story line.

I also enjoy visiting Key West and Hayley and this book was no exception.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.