This was a great read! I was hooked from the very beginning of the story. I am not always a fan of murder mysteries because sometimes they can be too predictable but this one kept me guessing right up until the end. I also liked that it was a light hearted story even though it was involving a murder.

I loved the dynamic of Chloe and her grandmother and her aunt. It was nice to see family members who truly cared for each other and only wanted the best for each other. I also appreciated all the little twists and turns in the story. You would think one thing about a character just to find out something different!

I was a little surprised when I realized Chloe's business would be a cannabis cafe. I should have gathered that from the title and the cover but when it was first mentioned I was like "wait, did I hear that right?" Not that it was a bad thing, it just was unexpected. I do like that this book is trying to break the stigma for it though.

I enjoyed this book! Great narration and storyline that was easy to follow! Shout out to Netgalley and publishing for the listen and review!

Chloe Barnes is a trained pastry chef who returns from Paris back to Azalea Bay when her beloved grandmother falls ill, nursing a broken heart. Chloe is looking to start over and Chloe's Aunt Dawn has just the perfect plan for Chloe's baking skills, but with a little twist concocting delicious edibles. For the most part, Chloe is excited to be back and with new prospects on new horizons, this might be exactly what Chloe needed - until she runs into a creepy past acquaintance in a confrontation that leaves him threatening Chloe. What's worse? He turns up dead the next morning, and her beloved Aunt might be one of the suspects.

To clear her aunt's name, Chloe does a little snooping of her own, with a little help from Jake.

I enjoyed this one! It was such an exciting, different, fresh new series. I love the liberties and how careful the author was about a subject that might still be sore with some people. I also love that she twined this into such a different new cozy mystery series, with a great cast of lovable characters sprinkled with some slow romance. It was such a fast and fun read that I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series because I just loved how everything was handled, the information sprinkled throughout the book, the ins and the outs, and Chloe herself was a very likable character.

The narration of the book made me feel a bit sleepy, but once sped up I did not have an issue with it.

Really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to this series. Such an interesting premise and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I’m going to buy a physical copy of this as well. Loved the narrator as well.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. This was a different murder mystery story. I am not really sure how I feel about it. But I think it was okay. The characters are somewhat likeable and the author did a pretty good job on the story plot to keep my interest most of the time.

A Half-Baker Murder by Emily George was fantastic. The Narrator did a great job. Her voice helped move the story a long and I only hope that the author continues this series. I want to see the MC store come to life and just more stories in this town. Would I recommend? Yes.
Thank you to Tantor Audio and Netgalley for the early Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

A Cannabas bakery themed cozy mystery! Welcome to the genre. This debut series has my full attention. In book one Emily created the perfect town, characters, locations and set up for the next in what I can’t wait for series! I enjoyed the facts shared throughout and the way she approached using cannabis as a medical supplement and safe ways to partake. The mystery I literally had no clue and was taken by surprise in the end! I can’t wait to sleuth more in future books with Chloe and revisit this fun community!

Thank you for @netgalley and Kensington Cozies for an ALC

A Half Baked Murder by Emily George is a warm, cozy mystery with tons of heart! The family vibes in this story were impeccable and really made everything cozy and sweet. I loved how much her aunt and grandmother supported her and how even the town's folk offered to help her get her business off the ground. The cannabis that inspired the half-baked portion of this story was very interesting. I liked learning more about how people use it in cooking and pain relief. It was very interesting to see conversations about it be so natural and undramatic. I really loved the mystery aspect of this tale as cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres. The clues and investigation were fun to follow and I think she did an amazing job with putting all the pieces together. This was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and a sweet side of romance. The audio book narrator did a great job too and I enjoyed listening to the book immensely.

3.75/5!

I really enjoyed this book. A little bit more fluff than your regular run-of-the-mill murder mystery! The author did a great job at keeping me guessing on who the actual murderer was, I thought it could've have been so many different people throughout the entirety of the story. Closer to the end I did figure it out before the actual reveal but I was left guessing a lot longer than I expected. Also really enjoyed the cannabis aspect of the story as well, it was something new that I don't read in these types of stories often and this new change was enjoyable without being overdone. Chloe was also just the right amount of sleuth without being so consumed with clearing her aunts name that the story strayed away from her actual job. My only downside was how slowly the love story progressed. I really wished we got to read more about Chloe and Jake as a couple even if it was as an epilogue. Their story seemed forgotten, as well as Grandma Rose's health. Alas, I did find out that this was the beginning of a series so hopefully we'll be reading more about Chloe, Jake and the rest of the Azalea Bay crew! All in all it was a great debut (under this pen name & in this genre) and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

Thanks to Netgalley & Kensington for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This cozy mystery was really great! I absolutely loved Chloe, the protagonist, and was rooting for her to solve the murder, even though she did some pretty dumb things throughout the novel. However, those actions that made me give her the side eye just made Chloe seem more realistic. Your average cozy mystery sleuth will make mistakes as they usually do not have any legal training. Readers may be wary about picking up this title as it deals with cannabis baking, but don’t let that scare you! George, the author, does a great job highlighting the benefits of and dispelling the taboos around cannabis use.
(PUB DATE: 02/21/2023)
(I received an audio recording of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)

I'm a big fan of legalizing Marijuana, would love to see more bake shops too lol so this book title felt so right! and boy am I glad I requested it because this book was fantastic. Formally trained pastry chef Chloe Barnes is opening a cannabis bakery (my dream job LOL). That's not at all what the twenty eight year old envisioned while living the dream in Paris with a hot fiancé and a Michelin star restaurant gig around the corner. But the rising "it girl" of choux puffs rethinks everything after a scathing food review and humiliating breakup make her long for home in sunny California. When her beloved grandmother falls ill, Chloe returns to quaint Azalea Bay to start over in the most satisfying way possible concocting delicious edibles with her quirky Aunt Dawn.
Combining French luxury and THC, Baked by Chloe will take pot brownies to another level. That is, until a creepy past acquaintance rehashes old drama and shockingly turns up dead landing Aunt Dawn as the number one murder suspect. Now, alongside her closest confidants, a stunned Chloe must alternate between budding entrepreneur and amateur sleuth to clear her aunt's name, open the best bakery in town, and weed out the real culprit from a list of unsettling suspects!
Totally enjoyable read and totally recommend

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARCC

Thank you so much for this ARC.

I've never read anything in the cozy mystery genre and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, what I totally understand now. This was a fun mystery, that was much lighter than a typical thriller mystery. I'd recommend this to anyone new to the mystery genre or anyone that likes bubbly protagonists.

Chloe was relatable, witty, talented, and all-around fun. I loved the sincerity in her character. She cared tremendously for her family (aunt and grandma), for friends, and for her craft. The idea of opening a canna-cafe was such a fun twist on a common trope. I really enjoyed the discussion on the medicinal and recreational uses of cannabis.

Both of Chloe's family members brought levity, that helped the mystery have that cozy feel. In fact, all the supporting characters were likable. The least likable was the murder victim, which made sense for the way the story was written. Overall, I enjoyed the story so much that I wasn't as concerned about the whodunnit aspect, which is different than how I typically react to mysteries.

This first-in-series by Emily George is an interesting addition to the cozy mystery genre. Pastry Chef Chloe Barnes returns from Paris, with shattered dreams and a broken heart, to care for her beloved grandmother who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Inspired by her unconventional Aunt Dawn and her desire to help her grandmother with the side effects she is suffering, Chloe is persuaded to enter into a unique business venture - a cannabis cafe. Utilizing her skills as a pastry chef, Chloe doesn't just make pot brownies. She makes scrumptious pastries with THC. Then Aunt Dawn becomes a murder suspect, and Chloe's world is once again in turmoil.

I enjoyed this book. The story and dialogue flowed, and the characters are likeable, funny, and relatable. The cannabis topic is handled well. I want to see where this series goes before I give it a 5 star, but I do look forward to checking out the next book.

The narrator did an excellent job.

3.75 rounded up

If you are looking for a light, easy read and enjoy fun cozy mysteries, this book is for you.

Chloe is a pastry chef that moves back to her small town in California after her Grandmother’s cancer diagnosis. Leaving Paris was more bitter than sweet after a humiliating review from a food critic and a messy breakup. Needless to say, Chloe has a lot on her mind. While it feels good to be close to her family, re-establishing her small-town roots becomes more than she bargained for with the murder of a town bully and starting a new business—a cannabis café. And, of course, some amateur sleuthing is in order when Chloe is not creating her delectable treats. Will she find the murderer before the police do, or will the killer find HER?! ;)

I listened to the audiobook and thought it was well-produced, edited, and mastered. I enjoyed Chelsea Stephens’s narration. I do believe there is room for improvement in terms of breath control. I found it distracting sometimes, but overall I enjoyed her performance and would give her another listen. Perhaps book 2?

I appreciated a couple of things about this story and the author’s choices that I wanted to share…

I love how well the cannabis café was seamlessly woven into the story, which I think helps normalize the use of cannabis to assist with medical care. That isn’t something I have seen before, and I found it refreshing.

Also, one of the things we learn about Chloe early in the story is that she didn’t have the most stable start to her childhood. She never knew who her father was, and her “mother” abandoned her as a small child because “being a Mom wasn’t for her.” There are many ways this family dynamic could have been written, and we are all familiar with the often-told absentee father story. We all (or a lot of us) look for a piece of ourselves or things we can relate to in the characters and stories we read, which is different for everyone. I want to thank the author for writing something I found relatable. Even if it’s crappy childhood trauma, it makes you feel a little alone, and that’s not a bad thing.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, and Tantor Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook for an unbiased review.

Chloe is trying to get her life together when she returns to her hometown. Her aunt and she are trying to open a cannabis bakery but they get distracted as Chloe finds the dead boby of one of her old classmates. As if that wasn't enough her aunt is being accused of committing the murder. So, the protagonist tries to find the culprit of the murder and clear her aunt's name.

The story was beautiful and seeing how Chloe's life is going. The whole part of discovering the truth and how police is reacting to her careless "investigation" was quite realistic compared to similar books where a non policeman or policewoman is involved in this way to a murder investigation. However I would like more of the mystery aspect. All things considered, I think it's a worth reading book.

As predicted, this was a cute cozy murder mystery! We follow our main character as she considers opening a bakery that adds cannabis to their items. She’s looking into the logistics of such a business when a man who had accosted her recently is found murdered…but she isn’t the suspect, it’s her aunt. Chloe, our main character, is determined to get to the bottom of it and get Aunt Dawn out of the trouble she’s found herself in.

I received the audiobook through NetGalley and I loved it. It was fast paced and hilarious and I can’t say that there was a dull moment! The narrator was perfect for a cozy mystery and the vibes were on point.

The book ends with recipes which honestly just had me rolling with laughter. It’s amazing, check it out!

My cute and cozy mystery shelf has found a new member!

Meet A Half-baked Murder, a book where Chloe plans to open a Cannabis Bakery in a small town to get a fresh start from her ruined career and love life. Only it's not such a good start to have a dead body nearby. Settling back into this town is getting complicated when her key supporter is convicted as a key suspect for the murder and she is now stuck!

I enjoyed reading sassy characters that spice up the plot a bit. There aren't many twists here but did I have fun reading it? Hell yes! The coziness is full to the brim with baking, cute guys and a lot of experimentation with cannabis food products.

Genre: #cozymystery #murdermystery
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

Thankyou @netgalley @kensingtonbooks @tantoraudio @stefanielondon for the digital ARC

A Half-Baked Murder was such a cute, cozy little mystery! I went into this one expecting a little corny-ness due to the nature of these low-stakes mysteries and how cannabis is treated in most books, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a fun, well thought-out story. Chloe was fine as a main character but she felt more like a device through which we meet all of the more interesting side characters. That wasn't ideal but I understand that this book seemed to be setting up a series. I hope if there are future installments, that we get to delve more into her story and history, especially surrounding her mother and ex-fiance. I am really hope there is more to this story because I will happily pick up the next one!

Review to come on Instagram.

What a way to start off a new book series! Loved the cosiness of this book, mixed with fun, mystery and cannabis. An unusual take on a classic trope that I really enjoyed.

Loved the narration on the book too. Kept you hooked on what would happen next. Can't wait for book 2!

I think this book just got me into the cozy mystery genre. I loved this!

I came for the weed bakery but I stayed for the plot twists and new discoveries at every turn. Usually, I don't resonate with books that lack in the romance department, but this was the perfect blend of suspense, humor, and a little bit of cheesy romance and I will definitely be picking up the physical copy when it releases. I've been meaning to try and get into the suspense/mystery scene a little bit more and I think this was the perfect introduction. 100% recommend!