Another wonderful mystery set at the Spice Isle Bakery. I love the setting and the constant mention of the food makes my mouth water. The main character, Lindsey, is strong (not a pushover) and professional when it comes to her bakery. Where I get annoyed, however, is her treatment of the detective/her high school crush. There are several conversations where she tells him she can’t date someone investigating her family. As an avid mystery reader (which she also mentions a few times), she should know that they have to investigate everyone. I get it’s a gut reaction but it’s tiresome to mention it repeatedly. The mystery itself is well-plotted and had me guessing until the very end. This is quickly becoming a favorite series for me.

This is the second book in the spice isle bakery mystery series but this can be read as a standalone.

This is now the second murder connected to the spice isle bakery in Brooklyn. The first murder was not due to the bakery, and neither was this one. They both just happened to be in the bakery.

Lyndsay and family host a retirement party for a local high school principal on the day the bakery is usually closed making it a private event. During this party the principal is murdered.

I enjoyed the mystery of trying to find out the murder mystery. I loved how the family came together as one to support and try to figure out the murder. They were a great support system.

However, I cringed many when times when Lyndsay who owned the bakery would call her parents “mommy and daddy”. It was almost every sentence and I just found it to be way too much at times.
The overall mystery was good and kept me interested despite some of the character flaws that bothered me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved returning to Spice Isle Bakery with Lyndsay and the rest of the Murray family. Their relationships with each other, the culture, the food. This is only the second book in the series and I enjoy them so much.

In this one, the Murray family is once again at the center of an investigation when a retirement party goes south. Emily Smith begins convulsing at the table shortly after beginning to eat and there are so many possible suspects, including Lyndsay’s mom who used to work with Emily.

This family has each other’s backs always. They even get themselves in trouble trying to protect each other. The banter, especially with Lyndsay’s grandmother is one of my favorite parts of this family. I am definitely looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

There is a lot of family and business stuff happening in this book. I enjoyed getting to know Lyndsey’s parents better and seeing the extended family work together. I liked hearing some different things they were making.
However, it didn’t leave a lot of time for investigation and it seemed to take a while for some Lyndsey to ask some important questions. So the mystery moved a little slower than I would have liked.
Part of the solution was obvious, but there was still a part that surprised me. I was pleased to guess part of it and also be surprised. I enjoyed the book and I enjoyed seeing Lyndsey grow more confident.

I really love Lyndsay and her awesome family! Granny just cracks me up with how she wants to help sleuth, and Lyndsay's always having to worry about keeping her feisty little granny out of trouble, lol. I really like how this family loves one another unconditionally and always has each others' backs. Even any bickering done is always good-naturedly, and I also think it's pretty awesome how Lyndsay and her family start each day at the bakery with a prayer.

This was a really baffling mystery, but with the help of her family going over motives and possible means, Lyndsay and Granny set off to solve this once and for all. Lyndsay's always been super gracious and again credited her entire family with solving the case (her kickboxing training came in handy again too!). And to top off being declared completely innocent, the fam got a nice surprise at the end of the book. I can't wait to see what mystery adventures Lyndsay and crew get into in the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Paperbacks) via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I love cozy mysteries. And this was such a cute cover, and the punny blurb just immediately sold me.

Lyndsay Murray‘s Caribbean bakery is once again embroiled in a murder when a client ends up dead at a retirement party. To protect her business & her family, Lyndsay is going to get to the bottom of this mystery.

This was a delightful read. It's a sequel, but it really stands well on its own. You get enough background information to understand what's going on, but not a complete rehashing of the plot.

My absolute favorite part of this book was Lyndsay's family. The characters are well defined, and we get to see the love and support they all have for each other as they deal with the stresses of their bakery being in the spotlight again. The entire family, even the characters that only show up for moments, are delightful. And Lyndsay's determination to solve the mystery makes perfect sense within the context of the story.

There were plenty of twists, and so many possible suspects for the murder, that I was actually surprised. And I was really amused that every little thing we learned about the victim made her worse and worse and opened up so many more motives for her murder.

I'm personally not a big fan of the two men being put forward as possible love interests for Lyndsay, but I'm definitely interested in seeing where this series ends up going. And there are recipes to be tried at the end of the book!

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advance reader's copy.

Hard Dough Homicide is the second in the Spice Isle Bakery mysteries. In this installment, Lyndsay Murray, owner of the Spice Isle Bakery, is getting ready to cater her first event. Reluctantly, her and her family have agreed to host a retirement dinner for Lyndsay’s mom’s ex boss, Emily Smith, who is not a well liked high school principal. Tension is hot as the guest arrive at the restaurant, and it gets worse when Emily falls out having convulsions after they get served their food. Lyndsay and her family know this is not going to go over well especially after they have already been involved in one murder investigation not too long ago. So with the help of her family and friends, Lyndsay seeks answers, and the truth about Emily’s incident. If the police won’t figure this out, Lyndsay will!

These stories are the perfect, cozy mysteries! Lyndsay is spunky, and will do everything in her power to protect her family and their business. The closeness Lyndsay has with her family might be my favorite part of these books. They have each other’s back, no matter what.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this title. As always all opinions on my own.

I received this novel as an ARC.
Spice Aisle Bakery is filled with Grenadian culture and delicious food. Lyndsay Murray runs the bakery with her family-Grandmother, Mother, Father, and Brother. They've only been open for a short time and are looking for ways to promote their business and make more money. They decide to take a catering job for a retirement party for the principal of the local high school and soon find themselves involved in a murder investigation, but Lyndsay is no stranger to sleuthing and she will stop at nothing to restore her family's name and clear the bakery.
I was happy to read this novel and I was slightly disappointed. There were moments when the story line was repeated and some where the story didn't mesh together. I was also looking forward to a more fulfilling ending. The cultural aspects saved this novel for me where the storyline failed it.

The characters in the Spice Isle series are definitely unique. I love cozy mysteries but some can seem to just be repeating what I've read before. Lyndsay Murray is an original, assisted whether she wants them or not, by her equally original family members. This was a fast read for me, well written books tend to be. Book #2 in the series, but easily read as a stand alone. If you love cozies, you need to try HARD DOUGH HOMICIDE.

Setting the Scene: Lyndsay Murray, owner of Spice Isle Bakery, has a business plan, but when pushed hard to host a retirement dinner for her mother's former boss and tormentor, she caves and agrees to do so. Unfortunately, the retiree doesn't survive the dinner party, and Spice Isle Bakery once again finds itself struggling to survive the publicity and neighborhood gossip, while Lyndsay's mom becomes a prime suspect.

What I Thought: This is a delightful series with engaging yet quirky characters. It is full of wit and humor and an enviable family interaction, both immediate and extended. The mystery is well plotted, and glimpses of the food and the occasional lilting language of the West Indies are charming. This series is set apart from other equally enjoyable series because of the familial and community respect that flows out to others. Even the growth and confidence that Lyndsay is experiencing are always governed by that respect. While this series will most likely always focus on Lyndsay, as it should, I look forward to more character development of other family and non-family characters (and relationships) in future books. This book makes me happy.

Happy book birthday to Olivia Matthews!

Lyndsay Murray is fresh off solving a murder, at no small risk to herself. She’s ready to get back into the groove with her business, Spice Isle Bakery. She and other family members – her parents, her granny – are working hard to build their customer base. But when her mother’s former boss, principal Emily Smith, wants the bakery to host her retirement dinner, Lyndsay is prepared to tell her not no, but HAIL, no. To her surprise, her mother – whose relationship with Emily was tense, to put it mildly – is in favor of the bakery hosting the dinner.

There were only five other guests at the dinner. When Emily has convulsions shortly after the dinner began, they all appear to be shocked. Given their acrimonious past, the detectives on the case quickly zero in on Cendella (“Mommy” to Lyndsay) as a person of interest – and apparently their only suspect. And since Emily collapsed shortly after starting her meal, the presumption is that the food was somehow tainted and perhaps the bakery is to blame. Lyndsay realizes she’s going to have to get involved and do some investigating of her own, to save both her mother and the bakery.

This is my first venture into the world of Spice Isle Bakery, but it won’t be the last. I absolutely loved this book! Olivia Matthews creates a space that’s warm and inviting, like you would expect a bakery to be. I’ll own to having pretty much zero knowledge of Grenadian culture – Caribbean culture at all, I should say – but now I want to learn more.

The characters are fantastic. I loved the lovable ones and disliked the detestable ones. Turns out Emily Smith was a real piece of work, and she was mean to everybody, not just Cendella. Like, REALLY mean. But who had she upset so much that they wanted to kill her just when she was about to retire and be out of their hair?

I loved how the family pitched in with the bakery, with investigating, with everything. They pulled together to support each other and work through challenging times. I also liked that their faith was a visible part of the story without being the least bit preachy. And I was delighted by the fact that, after an initial shock, their faithful customers not only came back, but stood up for them when a local festival tried to remove the bakery as a vendor. That made me cheer!

The mystery was intricate enough to keep me guessing, and I really liked the method the killer used. It was one I’ve never seen in a book before. (Tiny spoiler: the food wasn’t poisoned! But y’all probably figured that out already.) There are little sparks of romance between Lyndsay and one of the detectives (he was her high school crush), but she’s determined not to give him the time of day as long as he seems determined to cast her mother in the role of a murder suspect. I’m curious to see where things go with them in future books!

And just for that final kiss of perfection, the book has recipes. Y’all know I love a book with recipes. I see hard dough bread and coconut drops in my future.

Hard Dough Homicide is a warm hug of a book that almost perfectly captures what I look for in a cozy mystery. (A bookstore or library is my preferred setting, but a bakery is a close second!) I’m eagerly anticipating more adventures with Lyndsay and her family!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Hard Dough Homicide, the second installment in the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries, is a fun read. Lyndsay is a great main character, and her family adds to the charm of the series. This series stands out as it has unique elements while being in the familiar cozy mystery vibe. The storyline is great, and the mystery definitely grabs the reader's attention. I had a great time trying to guess who the culprit was. I'm looking forward to the next book!

In this second installment of this series, we once again find Lindsay Murray and her family‘s Caribbean bake shop in hot water with the police. Her mother is being targeted as the prime suspect, and a murder of her former employer. The victim collapsed and died after eating an entrée they were catering for her retirement party. Lindsay is upset that the police don’t seem to be looking for other suspects and makes it her mission to clear her mothers name and to stop the bad press. They are new bakery is receiving. A very satisfying story with believable characters . I especially enjoy all of the familial connections, and the references to their Caribbean culture, which is very fresh and unique. This foodie reader also enjoys the recipes shared in the back of the book. A definite read for lovers of cozy mysteries.

I have to first start by stating my woes. 1) the narrator is 27 years old and refers to her parents, even in conversations, as Mommy and Daddy. I just couldn’t. I almost DNFed on that alone 2) she is VERY entitled and immature. I really couldn’t stand her as an MC the only thing that kept me reading was the Agatha Christie like plot. I just wish the MC had been somehow a detective and not just a bakery owner impeding on an investigation. I also enjoyed some of the writing style. The nuggets given to readers along the way kept me totally guessing on who the murder was. I don’t think I’ll pick up another book by this author but it was entertaining even if it was in how much it annoyed me.

y Olivia Matthews)

This title is the second entry in Olivia Matthews’s new series following on Against the Currant. As readers can tell from the book’s titles, there is good food here…oh, and murder!

Protagonist Lyndsay owns the Spice Isle Bakery along with her family. She also becomes involved in a crime when her mother’s old boss does not survive a catered event. This sets the stage for Lyndsay’s investigation.

What follows is a fun and enjoyable cozy mystery. There are lots of suspects, a good Brooklyn setting in the Little Caribbean neighborhood, and a bakery with things I wish I could actually eat.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. I look forward to the next in the series. All opinions are my own.

Lyndsay Murray and her family own Spice Isle Bakery, a new business that is really starting to come into its own. That is, until the honoree at the retirement dinner they host suddenly drops dead. Now Lyndsay and her family find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation, with everything to lose.

This is an enjoyable addition to the cozy mystery genre. I really liked the exploration of the importance of culture and family, and the multiple strong female characters. The story did feel a little repetitive at times, but the mystery was an intriguing one with a lot of plausible suspects. If you’re looking for a new cozy mystery with a unique spin, this could be one to pick up.

In the second of the Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries Lyndsay finds herself involved in another murder investigation when a patron at a retirement party hosted in their bakery is poisoned. The victim Emily Smith is the former boss of Lyndsay's mother. Emily makes enemies faster than she makes friends but Lyndsay's mother is still considered a suspect by the police. Lyndsay is unable to let the investigation go until she proves her mother was not involved.

Cozy mysteries are by far some of my favorite books to read. I am always on the look out for books written by BIPOC authors in this genre. When I saw this book available I new I wanted to read it! I was so interested I got the first book in the series and read it before I read this one. But I definitely think you can start on this book and be able to pick up what is going on.

Lyndsay and her family are great. The Little Caribbean setting gives a small town feel to a story set in New York City. I'm interested to see how they move forward and will be impatiently waiting for the next installment.

Last month Lyndsay Murray solved her first homicide and she expected it to be her last one, too. She had a stake in that crime as it threatened the family bakery, her dream come true. Imagine her shock when, as the old saying goes, it's deja vu all over again. A death at the bakery means she has to test her sleuthing skills again.
If only she had very firmly said no to the request to cater the retirement party of Emily Smith. Lindsay did say it, many times and with good reason. The party is to mark the retirement of school principal, her mother's former boss and a woman much disliked. Overruled by the belief that, in the end, it would be good for their fledgling business, she agrees. Bad move as it turns out. The party is barely a party with only the guest of honor and five others at the gathering. The evening ends with Emily in early and very permanent retirement. She leaves her party bound for the morgue.
Past history gives the police the prime suspect in Lyndsay's mother. Add to that the method of murder and the hit the bakery is taking with loss of business, well nothing will stop Lyndsay from doing everything she can to track down the killer.
With her large family and her friends joining her investigation, the killer won't be at large for long. Along the way we come to know how close this family is and what they do to support each other. As for the mystery, it's well constructed with enough blind alleys to keep the reader guessing and there is also a good dose of humor in the mix. I'm ready to hang out with them again when Coconut Drop Dead comes out December 26, 2023.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just as things start to settle down at Spice Isle Bakery, another tragedy happens.  No one could have seen it coming, but could they have prevented it?  That's a question the entire Murry family is asking themselves throughout the entire book.  

Although she is once again in the center of a murder, Lyndsay Murray isn't about to give up.  She's fiery and determined to clear her family member suspected of the murder no matter what.  That spunk alone was enough to make me want to like Lyndsay.  But unfortunately, her knee-jerk reactions to every action the police take rubbed me the wrong way. No one wants their family to be investigated for wrongdoing, but if the police don't investigate they can't clear them either.  She does redeem herself with her dedication to her family and to making her dream of a successful bakery come true.  

In addition to Lyndsay, you have her parents, brother, cousin and other assorted family members filtering through the story.  Her grandmother was my favorite, reminding me often of Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur, although I don't think Lyndsay's grandmother has ever caused a commotion at a funeral home.  Her brother Devon made the biggest impact on me with the growth he had over the course of the novel.  It'll be good to see where he goes in the next installment.  

Detective Bryce Jackson has the patience of a saint.  He handles Lyndsay and her family well, even when they're at their most chaotic and never lets their attitude get to him.  On top of all that, he still has heart eyes for Lyndsay, even when she's accusing him of pinning things on her family instead of investigating.  He's a great character and I do hope he can get through to Lyndsay soon because they'd make a cute couple.  

This is the second in the Spice Isle Bakery series and, while I did not read the first, I wasn't too lost starting with book two.  There were some things that were probably explained in the first book that weren't in the second - things like what different pastries and dishes were - but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the novel.  It actually sent me down a rabbit hole exploring West Indian food, which isn't a negative in my world.  Hard Dough Homicide was a cute and quirky cozy mystery set in an interesting and colorful setting.  I love food themed cozy series so this was an instant draw for me.  Looking forward to seeing where life takes the Murray family next.

Thanks to both Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this title. This is the second book in the series, and it delivers just as the first book did.

Still recovering from the events of the first book, Lyndsay is focused on making Spice Isle Bakery a success. She & her family are working hard when they get a request to cater a retirement dinner for her mother's former boss. At the dinner, the boss collapses and dies, leaving Lyndsay'a mom as the primary suspect.. Lyndsay enlists the family to prove her mother's innocence.

Can I just say I love this series? Such an amazing sense of family and culture runs through the book. The community is part of the story. The mystery is engaging. I highly recommend this book. It's homey, engaging, comforting. The opinions expressed here are solely mine.