A new mystery series debut by Emily George. A Half-Baked Murder is a perfect 1st novel for this series called A Cannabis Café Mystery. It's a cozy mystery with a twist. Pastry Chef Chloe Barnes opens a Cannabis Café back in her beachside hometown of Azalea Bay, California. She moved back to help her grandmother who has cancer. The growing acceptance of cannabis as a supplement to medical care is prevalent and this series promotes its safe consumption and even insists on designated drivers when necessary. It is a quick read full of excellent eccentric characters and a murder to solve. I will continue to follow the series. An fun and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun cozy mystery. Chloe’s imperfect sleuthing made for great comedic relief and her aunt and grandmother are quite humorous as well. There weren’t a ton of twist and turns in this mystery but it did keep me guessing (wrongly I might add) for a while! I will say this one took me a hot second to get into. I felt like there were a lot of filler characters and details that weren’t really necessary and made it hard for me to keep everyone straight. I love the idea of the cafe and am excited to see it come to life more in this series. Chelsea did an AMAZING job narrating and I will definitely be looking for more of her narrations in the future!!

A cheating fiancé, a critics bad review, and a cancer diagnosis for her grandma send Chloe from Paris to the small town where she grew up. She’s barely back in town when she gets harassed by a guy she used to know. Less the 24 hours later, he’s dead and it’s looking like her Aunt is the police’s number one subject? What’s Chloe to do except get involved?

I enjoyed this small town murder mystery. It’s got good pacing, and lots of twists. I did find myself multiple times yelling at Chloe to just call the police though. If you like headstrong female characters who find themselves in sticky situations this one is for you.

This was a fun cosy mystery with a unique twist involving a weed-infused cannabis bakery and murder. Already this has elements I've not read about before, however I found the basic murder plot and bakery to be a bit typical and had the usual MC (Chloe) butting into an investigation trying to be an amateur investigator. The general book was a nice read, I just don't think this was amazing just okay.

This was a super fun cozy mystery involving a weed-infused cannabis bakery. I will definitely keep reading more of these in the future!

This cozy mystery was done really well! It had the perfect mix of mystery and charm. The characters were great and I enjoyed learning about them. I’m looking forward to hearing more about Chloe’s cannabis cafe in future books.
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I was a provided a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe returns home from Paris with a broken engagement and when she learns about her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis. Not knowing what to do next, she uses her culinary talents to make cannabis edibles to help with her grandmother’s chronic pain and chemotherapy. Her Aunt Dawn insists she can open a bakery and sell her delicious sweets. When a past acquaintance rehashes old drama and is murdered, Aunt Dawn becomes murder suspect number one. Chloe then has to turn into an amateur sleuth to “weed” out the real killer.

This is a perfect beginning to what I hope will be a cozy series. It is suspenseful, adorable and made me want to run into the kitchen to bake up a batch of brownies with caramel. The synopsis and cover brought me in and the witty writing and story kept me intrigued. I can’t wait to see what this series has in store!

Chelsea Stephens narration was charming and perfect for this cozy mystery.

I want to thank NetGalley, Emily George and Tantor Audio for this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

This one was just okay for me, and I don't think it's going to stick in my head for very long.

The story was intriguing enough for me to finish the book, though it was more of an easy listen that I had on in the background while doing other things.

If you enjoy a cosy mystery, I'd definitely recommend this for you.

However, I didn't like Chloe as a character. She felt really entitled, forcing her way into a criminal investigation that she has no place being or skills to offer. I admire her loyalty to her family, but there would have been better ways to show that.

Also, I should definitely have read the synopsis better before requesting it on NetGalley. I didn't realise that the cafe would be so heavily focused on cannabis use, which is something I am personally not a fan of. I'm not against it's medicinal uses, but recreational use seems a step too far.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 2 stars
Rating explained: It was okay, but I had criticisms that impacted my enjoyment

A Half-Baked Murder

Chloe trained as a pastry chef in Paris. Now she's back in Azalea Bay, CA after her fiance got one of his assistants pregnant. Her Aunt Dawn encourages her to open a shop with cannabis infused baked goods. Then there is a murder, and Dawn is suspected, so Chloe decides to do a little investigating to try and clear Dawn's name. Her grandma is recovering from breast cancer and the cannabis products Chloe makes for a grandmother helps her.

Chloe then runs into Brendan Chalmers, a guy she greatly disliked in high school, and he’s just as mean and annoying as ever, and not happy when she rejects his advances. The police chief has to intervene, yet Chalmers still threatens Chloe. The next a.m., Brendan’s dead body is discovered in a park and the chase is on to find his killer. I like the quirkiness of Chloe.

I loved this cozy mystery with the theme about cannabis edibles. I am glad someone decide to tackle this topic and what makes this so good it was done in a cozy setting. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and hope that this will be one of my new favorite cozies.

Narrated by Chelsea Stephens brought this cozy mystery to life with giving each character their own voice it was easy to follow along. I recommend this cozy to anyone who loves cozies. This was a 5 star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Media for a free audio copy of A Half-Baked Murder for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions I expressed in this review are my own.

I very much enjoyed this title. The main character was very likable and relatable, at least most of the time. There was one instance where I didn't quite understand her reaction but I guess that's quite normal. The story was built very well and kept me guessing until the very end. The clues kept pointing in different directions. The main character's relatives were very funny too. And good on them for pushing Chloe towards opening the cafe.
I feel this was a very strong start to a series. Very much looking forward to reading any further installments in this universe.

Back in her small town of Azalea Bay to care for her ill grandmother, Chloe Barnes runs into the high school bully and it appears he’s not changed since then. When he ends up murdered in the local park, her Aunt Dawn is the prime suspect. Chloe, along with her handsome neighbor, Jake, set out to assist the police in finding the real murderer, because she’s convinced it’s not her aunt.

A Half-Baked Murder is a cute, cozy mystery without the normal cheesiness of most cozies. I loved the realistic and quirky characters, the quaint tourist town, and descriptions of mouth watering desserts (with recipes included.) A quick, easy, fun read for your vacation or beach bag!

Oh I absolutely adore this I love the weed bakery I love the murder. I loved absolutely everything about this book. I feel like the café could’ve had more attention on it and the romance wasn’t really explored enough for my personal liking, but I did absolutely really love the story for the murder mystery walls. I just feel like it could’ve included more romance and more about the business side of things but I still would recommend this 100% it’s funny it’s pretty the characters are great and you just fall into the story.

This was a fun cozy that embodied some tropes of the genre while skillfully avoiding others. I loved that the protagonist was in her 20s. That's more in line with the cozy crew I know, though I'm sure there are plenty of readers who identify with protagonists in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.

What a fun and entertaining read. A quick and relaxing way to spend a few hours. George has created characters who are light and interesting. The story has enough depth to keep you entertained, but not too much to make it a heavy or challenging read. Despite the topic, I mean murder can be pretty heavy, it never seems overwhelming. This cozy mystery is a perfect escape novel. The small town atmosphere makes the story seem more charming and endearing. Returning to Azalea Bay after an embarrassing review and breakup may not be exactly what Chloe planned, but the love of her grandmother and Aunt Dawn make it a little easier for her. And the idea of a Cannabis Café makes more and more sense as the story progresses. I am very interested to see what happens when Chloe and Aunt Dawn eventually open the doors. While the murder of Brendan Chalmers may be the backbone of this story, it does seem to be slightly rushed and I felt that the ends were not tied together as completely as I would have liked.

I absolutely loved this light hearted mystery! The character development was great. The story was written in a way that had you guessing who did it, but in a way that wasn’t heavy. Absolutely adored this title and have already recommended it! Thanks Emily George and NetGalley!

A Half-Baked Murder by Emily George is the first in the new Cannabis Cafe Mysteries series. When pastry chef, Chloe Barnes, returns to Azalea Bay to after a stint in Paris to help her sick grandmother she isn’t sure what is next. It doesn’t take long for Chloe to get back into life in Azalea Bay when her aunt Dawn suggests starting a Cannabis Cafe in town. Combined with starting this new venture and finding a dead body, Chloe’s life is suddenly full of excitement. When the police set their sites on someone close to Chloe for the murder, she takes it upon herself to investigate and search out the killer.

I found this to be a great start to a promising new mystery series and a quick read. This book is full or fun and quirky characters that drive the story and are exciting to get to know. The mystery held my attention from very beginning and I couldn’t wait to see what Chloe would get up to next. This is definitely a mystery series that I am going to be following from now on. I really enjoyed this read and loved the characters! I was originally not sure how I felt about the whole cannabis cafe part, but after understanding Chloe’s motivation and seeing how and why she was going this route, I fell in love with her ideas. I would definitely recommend this to any cozy mystery fans looking for something new and exciting!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook copy of this book!

This was a cute cozy but I did have a few quibbles (see below) but it was cute.
The description made the cannabis business seem like it would be a bigger part of the storyline than it actually was. I felt like it was a missed opportunity to help people realize that cannabis is a medicine they touched on it and of course had to have some haha moments but the fact that she didn’t use the edibles herself and didn’t really seem to know much about it, I felt kind of missed the mark of the cannabis café.

Chelsea Stephens narration was well done.

<spoiler> Spoiler- ***This woman was so forwards thinking that she is opening a weed café but the aunt didn’t think she could be honest about being gay? That storyline didn’t feel right I wish it had just been stated that the aunt was gay, I get that it moved the story along but it felt wrong to me especially since they were supposed to be so close.***Spoiler <spoiler>

3 stars

I received this book from the publisher Tantor Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

AHalf-Baked Murder is the first novel in the Cannabis Café Mysteries series set in Azalea Bay, California. It follows pastry chef Chloe Barnes who has been studying in Paris for the past few years. She moved back there after her Grandma Rose began undergoing chemo for her breast cancer. As Chloe decides what to do now that she is back home, she gets help from her Aunt Dawn who encourages her to open a cannabis café in town. Once things get going for Chloe’s business, a murder of an old acquaintance, Brendan Chalmers, occurs and Dawn is suspected. Chloe begins investigating to clear Dawn’s name.

The cannabis angle for this novel was interesting as it showcased the aid it can provide to chronic pain sufferers. There were even some fun recipes at the end of the novel for the reader to try, if they wish. It was a fun and unique concept for a cozy mystery and the café provided a nice backdrop for the story. If you’re not for cannabis use, I think you can still enjoy the novel as it is mainly used in the background as part of the café. As this is the first book in the series, I can see the potential for expansion for the town and other characters. The town of Azalea Bay was lovely, and I cannot wait to see it expand in future novels. There are a lot of characters introduced in this novel, which can be a bit overwhelming at first; however, I think it will work itself out as the series moves forward.

The narrator for this audiobook did an excellent job as she kept me engaged from start to finish. The story itself is lighter than I expected, but the added fluff made it fun. There is a love story that progresses in this novel that is a slow-burn as Chloe is recovering from a recent break-up. The love interest, Jake, was interesting, although I still want to know more about him. Since all the characters were being introduced, I feel there is still a lot more to explore with them, especially Chloe. Since she is setting up her new business, adjusting to moving back home, and recovering for a break-up, the author had a lot to set up for the main character. While this was well-done, the story did not truly suck me in until the murder investigation began. It was still interesting, and I liked the pacing until the killer is revealed. For me, the murderer was easy enough to guess, but I love that it was not obvious right away. Overall, there is a lot of potential with this series, and I look forward to reading the next mystery adventure for Chloe!

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to read this enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed are completely my own.**

Release Date: February 21, 2023

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Chloe Barnes is back in Azalea Bay after 5 years in France for 3 reasons: 1. Her jerk of a fiancé cheated 2. Because of said jerk she made a bad dessert and served it to a food critic, who proceeded to call her a amateurish pastry chef but the most import reason is number 3. Grandma Rose has cancer. The chemo has been rough so Grandma Rose has been using cannabis is combat the symptoms. As a pastry chef, Chloe knows she can make more and better than Grandma Roses special brownies. The results are amazing. Aunt Dawn even proposes opening a “weed cafe” in town. The more Chloe thinks on the idea, the more she loves it. She can help people to indulge safely and deliciously. But then her high school (and now) bully is murdered and the police think Aunt Dawn did it. Can Chloe open a business, keep her aunt and business partner out of jail and solve a murder or is this plan just half baked?

This is the first book in the #canabiscafemystery series by @stefanielondon (Emily George) and I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. Chloe is a heroine you root for, the world of Azalea Bay is colorful and full of great characters. Plus there was a rumor of a surf competition coming to town…what a perfect set up for book 2! I listened on an audiobook read by @voiceofchelseas and she was the perfect fit for Chloe (and everyone else too).

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

#ahalfbakedmurder #emilygeorge #stefanielondon #chelseastephens
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Emily George’s A Half-Baked Murder is the first book in what I expect to be a fun new cozy culinary mystery series. Chloe was on her way, living the dream as they say, working in Paris as a pastry chef, then things go wrong. Her fiance cheats on her, she gets a horrible review, and then has to come back home to California to help out her sick grandmother. With her grandmother now better, it’s time for figure out what to do with her life. Her aunt has an idea, they should go into business together and open a cafe with a menu focused around cannabis. The actual mystery isn’t about drugs however but rather focuses around the death of the town sleaze bag. The day after he ‘forcefully’ hits on Chloe, he turns up dead in the park with a knife in his neck. Is Chloe the top suspect? No, but Chloe’s aunt is! Of course Chloe knows her aunt couldn’t possibly have done it and decides to stick her nose into the investigation to clear her aunt. It’s a solid mystery with fun cast and a number of twists/red herrings. While I don’t personally have any interest in weed, it doesn’t honestly have any real impact on the story and I think the cannabis aspect is just used to add a unique twist to the well loved tropes of culinary cozy mysteries. It’s a fun story and I look forward to the next adventure. For those interested, the book even includes actual cannabis infused recipes at the end. As for the audio, Chelsea Stephens does a very good job with the narration. I’d like to thank Tantor Audio and NetGalley for allowing me access to an advanced copy of the audio version of A Half-Baked Murder.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2QWMGS5NGY6SH/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv