The second book of a series (I did not read the first but would like to) centers around Caribbean bakery Spice Isle and the Murray Family including our main character Lyndsay. The bakery hosts a retirement party for high school principal Emily Smith, and immediately after dinner she convulses and dies. Lyndsay's mom and Principal Smith knew each other from working the school, and her mom becomes one of the persons of interest in the murder investigation. Lyndsey feels the police aren't doing their jobs, so she sets out to investigate and clear her family's name on her own.

A fun cozy mystery with a intriguing setting and lovable family. I will read more about Spice Isle Bakery if published.

Positives:
The setting of the bakery in the little Caribbean area of Brooklyn
Description of the food and recipes in the back of the book
The main character is spunky and one to root for
Strong family ties are a positive throughout the book
The mystery was one that had enough intrigue, suspects, and motives, to make it interesting and enjoyable to read about
The bit of romantic interest between Bryce, one of the main detectives, and Lyndsey

Negatives:
At times the book and wriitng could be repetitive; maybe part of the cozy mystery genre

I really wanted to like this more than I did. It’s a cozy mystery about a family bakery in Brooklyn, full of what should be interesting characters who all could be suspects in the suspicious death of a much-disliked local principal. Unfortunately, I felt like the book kind of jumped all over the place, the detectives were randomly suspicious of people for no reason (without really doing anything about it), and random characters kept being introduced, making it hard to keep track of who was who, which were “regulars” and which were strangers, and who I should care about.. Lyndsay (our main character) annoyed me, and I didn’t really ever connect with her or her family or romance. I know a cozy is light and fluffy, and this definitely was that, but I guess it wasn’t the fluffy book for me.

Hard Dough Homicide: A Spice Isle Bakery Mystery
By Olivia Matthews
St. Martin’s
May 23, 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s only been one month since the opening of the family-owned Spice Isle Bakery in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood, so Lyndsay Murray is looking for opportunities to promote their West Indian specialty baked goods and treats. That doesn’t’ mean that she’s willing to host the retirement party for Kings County Early College High School principal Emily Smith though, as the woman made Lindsay’s mother’s life miserable when Celia Bain Murray was a math teacher. Despite the deadline of only ten days to plan a party of six though, the dollar amount Emily’s administrative assistant throws out is just too high for the bakery to resist. Which they definitely should have, as in the middle of the dinner Emily collapses, later dying from a case of poisoning.

It was also a month ago that NYPD were last called to the Spice Isle Bakery as a result of a murder, and now Lyndsay’s high school crush Detective Bryce Jackson is back again with his suspicious partner intent on examining their kitchens. When they determine that Celia had both motive and opportunity to act out revenge on her nemesis, they only have to discover the exact means the poison was delivered for them to arrest her for murder. Not about to allow her beloved mother be found guilty for a crime she would never have committed, Lyndsay and her grandmother Genevieve don’t hesitate to begin their own investigation into the woman who never put the “pal” in principal. Those attending the retirement party did so reluctantly, and all had reasons for resenting Emily for petty insults and controlling their careers. While a local reporter for the Brooklyn Daily Beacon writes incendiary articles that implicate Celia and the bakery, Lyndsay must also deal with her own family’s turmoil when her lawyer brother returns home and faces his own personal crisis. Their chances of participating in the Caribbean American Heritage Festival are dwindling as murder-fans flock the store while neighboring businesses resent the link to criminal activity.

One of the more enjoyable aspects about both the first and this follow-up of the series has been the treatment of the relationship between Lyndsay and Detective Bryce Jackson. Despite suspecting both Lyndsay and her mother of committing murders, it doesn’t seem to have affected his interest in dating Lyndsey. The normal trope for most books would be to have them spar but quickly get over this conflict and begin a relationship, and it is possible for this to be the eventual endgame for them. For now though, Lyndsey very realistically finds his active investigations of her family to be an insurmountable roadblock that makes him undatable. The ethics of the detective pursuing a relationship in the first place are extremely questionable, so Lyndsey’s refusals to date are extraordinarily refreshing. This allows her to focus on the far more enjoyable and rewarding interactions with her family members, who are so loving and unwaveringly supportive. Both Lindsay and her brother are loyal to the family and feel responsible for the bakery, wanting only to make their parents proud while ensuring its success. Descriptions of the many West Indian meals will have foodies ready to take a turn at trying the recipes at the end, and while the retirement party may have been a bust its jerk and curry chicken seemed amazing. This second installment full of entertaining, relatable, and admirable characters lives up to all of the promise of the first, making this a must-read for those looking for multicultural, food-centric reads.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second book in the Spice Isle Bakery series, and another fun cozy just like the first! I loved being back with the Murray family, as Lyndsay tries to solve another murder, this time with her mother as the prime suspect. However, the timeline felt off to me. Two murders connected to the bakery within weeks of each other would make me wary as well. This book didn’t hold my attention as well as the first, and I did find the incompetence of the police less believable in this one. Overall, I did still enjoy the book and look forward to continue reading the series as the books release!

Hard Dough Homicide
Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries Book 2
By Olivia Matthews

Principal Emily Smith dies during her retirement dinner at Spice Island Bakery. The police suspect Cedella Bain Murray; her daughter Lyndsay knows one of the dinner guests committed the deed. Determined to clear her mother’s name, Lyndsay, with the help of family, does the solve the how and why of the principal’s murder, but may not live long enough to reveal the killer’s identity.

Family-owned Spice Island Bakery sits in the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Owned by Lyndsay Murray and her lawyer brother Devin, the bakery employs Lyndsay’s parents Cedella Bain Murray and Jacob Murray. The staff is rounded out by Lyndsay’s grandmother Genevieve Bain, Cedella’s mother. The four-month-old bakery has survived an earlier murder investigation (Coconut Drop Dead), but is facing another when Cedella’s previous boss, Emily Smith, principal of King’s County Early College High School and the reason Cedella took early retirement, drops dead during her retirement party at the bakery.
Because of Cedella’s rocky history with Principal Smith, Cedella becomes the prime suspect in her former boss’s murder, much to the regret of Detective Bryce Jackson, detective with the NYPD Homicide Division. Lyndsay and he are old schoolmates; he was a few years older, but Lyndsay noticed him in high school. Now, it’s obvious he is attracted to her, but Lyndsay can’t forget he suspected her of murder in the previous case. Now he suspects her mother of murder. Humor in the story comes through as Lyndsay’s heart wars with her mind over the handsome detective.
The mystery itself kept me guessing all throughout the book. Principal Smith’s death happens during her retirement party-a very small, private affair she insisted Spice Island cater. The suspect pool was confined to the staff and the guests, and the how of the murder was as big a mystery as the why Principal Smith was murdered.
I enjoyed Hard Dough Homicide for multiple reasons. The Grenadian influences throughout the book—the food and the close family relationships that included extended family. A tricky murder. The characters and their relationships drew me in and kept me reading to the end. The resolution of the murder left me feeling a bit flat, but all-in-all I enjoyed reading Hard Dough Homicide.

Hard Dough Homicide is book two in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries series and just as good as the first one! In this volume, we see Lyndsay take on another murder that her family is on the suspect list for. Principal Emily Smith, Lyndsay's mom's old boss, is a little unhinged. Constantly rude to all of her employees, taking credit for all of the things they accomplished, and blaming them for all of the things she messed up. It's honestly no wonder when she ends up dead after her retirement dinner. Unfortunately for Lyndsay and her family, the poisoning that killed Emily took place in her bakery, on a day when they were typically closed. With her mother being at the top of the suspect list, Lyndsay will stop at nothing to get both her mother and her bakery out of the negative spotlight. If only the dreamy detective would listen to her when she provides good evidence and leads!

The Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries series is easily becoming my new favorite cozy murder mystery series. I really love Lyndsay and her family (especially her granny) and how they work so well together to have each other's backs. Another I really like this series is they are really making this budding romance between Lyndsay and the detective a slow burn... I cannot wait to see it finally come to fruition. Plus, I love the work politics at the school and how they played a role in this investigation!

Characters - 9/10
Atmosphere - 8/10
Writing - 9/10
Plot - 9/10
Intrigue - 9/10
Logic/World Building - 8/10
Enjoyment - 9/10

Overall, a 8.71/10 or 4.5/5 stars! Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!~

Great second in series. I really like the character development and the family dynamic. The storyline in this book was interesting and I really did not figure out the whodunnit. I also enjoy learning more about a different culture. I look forward to continuing on with this series.

Despite truly enjoying this author's work in another of her mystery series and liking the first book in this series ok enough, I found this novel held both prose and dialogue in low levels of intrigue, intelligence, or fun. This unfortunately led me to stop reading to stop reading this book about 65% in. I would return to this series and the author's work if I were to find the next book in the series put deeper stakes, more mystery, and less crime procedural into the mix.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second book in Olivia Matthews's Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries series. This cozy mystery picks up where Against the Currant left off. In this story, we find Lyndsay, her parents and grandmother all working hard to grow their business in Brooklyn. She feels swamped with that and having to prepare for a retirement dinner when a presumed murder occurs at the bakery.

I enjoyed the intergenerational and cultural aspects of this story and love to learn more about the foods and customs of other cultures. I did not read the first book in this series, but this book can stand alone because the author starts the book out with a repetitive and clunky recap of what happened in the first book along with the introduction of a lot of characters. This caused confusion for me in keeping everyone straight. I would prefer for a book to focus on allowing fewer characters to shine instead of knowing a little bit about so many characters. Streamlining those aspects of the story would also help with the pacing as I found it to develop slowly.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the ARC.

Overall this was book was good & entertaining even though 2 murders in 2 months seems a bit much. I love the setting and the characters in this book, but really wish they wouldn’t use mommy and daddy SO much.

As a fan of cozy mysteries, my favorite series usually are set in an English village or along the New England shore. However, the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries series takes place in the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn. These books appeal because of several elements: family relationships, a bakery, potential romance with an inspector, and a strong heroine. In the second book of this new series, Lyndsay Murray is just getting her new bakery back up and running after having been accused of murdering a rival baker in book one when an offer to provide a private dinner proves too tempting to refuse. Her mother's former nemesis is retiring and want to hold the celebration at the bakery. Murray lets the prospect of a cash infusion influence her decision with disastrous results. I look forward to more books from Matthews in this series to find out what kind of trouble Murray and her family and friends get into next.

The world of cozy mysteries is becoming saturated and I was excited for the unique spin of this series. Spice Isle bakery is set in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood- the culture is well described and this is my favorite aspect of the book. Lyndsey is a majority owner but her family is the backbone of the business. After clearing her name in book one of this series another murder occurs at the bakery (technically the despised victim died at the hospital) Lyndsey once again finds herself investigating the murder but this time to clear her Mother's name. To me it read similar to the first (just a different victim and a different means of murder). This series would read better with some editing, the repetitiveness took away from an otherwise good story. I received an advance review copy of this book for free thanks to Netgalley and StMartin's Press and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #HardDoughHomicide #OliviaMatthews #Netgalley #St.Martin'sPaperbacks #Spice Isle Bakery

Hard Dough Homicide is book 2 of the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery Series. Lindsay finds her bakery once more in the middle of a murder investigation. This time, the principal from the school her mother taught at dies at a catered dinner in the bakery. Lindsay’s high school crush is the lead detective on the case. She is still attracted to him and the feeling seems mutual. But since Bryce continues to think her mother is a suspect, romance is not on the menu. The same characters appear in this book. The family is close knit and work together to solve the murder. I did find the book slow paced. But all in all, a cozy mystery. The recipes at the end are a great touch.

Lindsey Murray and her family are back at it again. This time a person collapses at a celebratory dinner at the restaurant. Lindsey isn’t a suspect this time, but her mother is. Lindsey and her family band together to figure out what happened. I love how they all get along and work together using the strengths of each person. Quite enjoy these stories.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series and I loved it just as much as the first!

Lyndsay and her tight knit family are back! They are making delicious Caribbean pastries and more in their bakery and, once again, close to a murder. This time, the top person of interest is someone very close to Lyndsay and it is a very challenging situation for the entire family to face. The attractive detective is back too! Lyndsay's grandma is brilliant as usual and her brother, Dev, pulls at your heart strings in this story. It was fun and entertaining to be back with Lyndsay as she investigated and stood up for her family's safety, their bakery, and their reputation in the community. I just adore the feeling of continuing to love a series and knowing I will be reading more about these characters in the future!!

Hard Dough Homicide released May 23 so it is out now! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!

HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE by Olivia Matthews, the second book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries, continues the adventures of amateur sleuth Lindsay Murray. Starting just after the events of the first book, this story tackles another murder mystery which impacts the family and the newly opened bakery. Lindsay agrees, reluctantly, to host the retirement dinner for local school principal Emily Smith, but during the dinner, Emily convulses and drops dead. Unfortunately, Emily is Lindsay’s mother’s former boss and the two never really got along well, so it is not surprising when the police come knocking. Yup. Lindsay’s mother is the prime suspect. Of course, to clear her mother’s name, Lindsay investigates and uses her amateur skills to discover the identity of the real murderer.

My immediate reaction to this new murder was to wonder how the new bakery was going to survive the scandal of another murder. Of course, the bakery starts to lose customers. But Lindsay, our amateur sleuth, is up to the task. She must solve the case because the detectives seem to be focused on Lindsay’s mother. In this book, Lindsay has grown. She is no longer the cautious, unsure individual of the first book but seems stronger and more confident. I love how her family continues to support her; even with the investigation to clear her mother’s name.

The mystery plot is well thought out with enough twists and turns to keep the avid reader engaged. There were several times, I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. Ms. Matthews kept me guessing until the very end.

In HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE, I loved all the elements I enjoyed in the first book and more. I love the strong sense of the Little Caribbean community. The Marshall family is vibrant and boisterous but there is no doubt they love each other. I love Lindsay’s grandmother. She embodies the island of Grenada, and her memories of the islands add a richness to the story. HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE is a worthy addition to this series. I recommend it to readers who love a great cozy mystery.

The Murray's Spice Isle Bakery is just getting in their new business groove after Lyndsay was a suspect in the murder of a competing baker, when murder strikes again. The business is pressed into catering a special retirement dinner for a former supervisor of Lyndsay's mother, who promptly has a seizure at the table and dies at the hospital. Not good for the store's reputation even though she never had a bite. But then Lyndsay's mother comes under suspicion and Lyndsay and family have to put their detecting hats back on.
I don't know how the author will keep this up, but it is certainly believable so far. Reasonable actions by smart people. Families working together for the common good (and isn't that refreshing). Even the detectives act like, well, normal detectives. I actually think Lyndsay is a little hard on them; it's their boss that's the meany. But I digress. Good characterizations. Nice plot. A very nice cozy series. Highly recommended.

Hard Dough Homicide, the second installment in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series by Olivia Matthews, serves up a tantalizing blend of mystery, family dynamics, and cultural exploration. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood in New York City, this novel combines a delectable array of baked goods with a murder investigation that hits close to home for protagonist Lyndsay, resulting in an engaging read.

Spice Isle Bakery and its owners are once again implicated in a murder when a universally disliked principal, who was her mother's former supervisor, drops dead in their family bakery at the dinner they are catering for her retirement. As Lyndsay investigates, she uncovers a web of secrets and hidden motives within the school where the principal worked.

The author's ability to interweave the mystery seamlessly with the cultural aspects of the Little Caribbean neighborhood enhances the overall reading experience, offering a unique and refreshing take on the genre. The family dynamics and the sense of community in Hard Dough Homicide are particularly praiseworthy. The interactions between Lyndsay, her mother, and other family members are relatable, adding a layer of authenticity to the story. The secondary characters, including members of the Little Caribbean community, are well-rounded and contribute to the immersive atmosphere of the novel.

While Hard Dough Homicide is an enjoyable read, I do hope that the next installment won’t find the Spice Isle Bakery family members yet again as the primary suspects. Overall, Hard Dough Homicide is a satisfying mystery. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own) If you appreciate a well-crafted mystery with a strong sense of place and relatable characters, this book is a delectable treat for your reading list

Hard Dough Homicide is the second of Olivia Matthew's Spice Isle Bakery Series. In it, the Murray family is finally doing a good business in their new bakery when someone is murdered in the bakery. Lindsey's mom is one of the prime suspects, and Lindsey and her family are determined to find out who the killer is. I thought it was cute. I liked the first one more, although I did like this one as well. I did think some of the descriptions were unnecessary, but other than that, it was well written and enjoyable. Thanks NetGalley and the publishing company.

Another great cozy mystery in the Spice Isle Bakery series. Great amount of suspense and a good amount of characters/suspects. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.