I love cozy mysteries and this one was such a sweet book. I found this is more appealing to younger adults and it is an easy read. It took less than a full day and I was enthralled in the mystery. I did not like though how focused the details were on somethings, such as the Rivian R1S. It seemed an odd page to include in the book. I do love that she highlights her past life of social media to now a baker and the changes she has underwent. It made her have a more layered character. It was definitely cheesy, and I felt the mystery was not too over the top. I do adore this genre specifically. I did not absolutely love the military reference as much more when two male characters saluted each other in a time they normally would not. It was cute and lighthearted so for those who want to read this for sweet mystery I would recommend it. I give it 3.5 stars.

This was a good conclusion to the who was the “spy in the camp?” plot that connected the first three books. Maddy finally has some answers and hopefully both she and New Bison will be able to move forward. There is some significant character development in this book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

#ACupofFlourAPinchofDeath #NetGalley is another fun addition to this series.
Maddy and her side kick Baby are up to their elbows in another murder investigation and this time, Maddy is a suspect once again.
The appearance of ex friend and fiance stealer Brandy rocks Maddy's world, especially when she is found dead, and all evidence points directly to her.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this arc. I received this arc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.

I love this series. Valerie Burns does it again with her third book in this cozy mystery series. I have read her last book in this series through Kensington publishing and this author has officially become an auto buy author for me. Maddy Montgomery is back!! Maddy’s ex best friend Brendy comes to New Bison for revenge after ruining Maddy’s wedding and causing her to move to New Bison in the first place. They have a few altercations that also include Maddison’s boyfriend Michael and a baby cat. Brendy ends up dead inside Baby Cakes and Maddy becomes the main suspect. A mysterious man with blue eyes has also been stalking Maddy but later finds out that he was a friend of her great aunts and had figured out who was trying to hurt her great aunt Octativa. The lawyer Chris ends up being our murderer who bribed Brendy into coming and trying to frame Maddy for her murder so that he can gain control of her land. It is also revealed that he killed her Great Aunt Octavia and confessed it to Maddy and Michael. At the end of the novel Maddy and Michael get engaged while Maddy is on medication for her shoulder injury after trying to save Michael from Chris and gets shot instead. They both propose to each other and Michael tells Maddy and that the reason he didn’t invite her to Chicago was because he was going to Tiffany’s to get her an engagement ring. What an amazing cozy mystery and I can’t wait to see what adventure Maddy, Baby, and the gang get into next. Sign me up for whatever books come out next from this author. I’m hooked.

“Valerie Burns’ A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death offers a masterful blend of intrigue and authenticity that captivated me from start to finish. Unlike many mysteries where the perpetrator’s motive feels forced or illogical, this novel presents a twist that is both surprising and plausible, enhancing the reading experience significantly. The protagonist, Maddy, navigates her new surroundings and a fledgling bakery with a realism that speaks authentically to the challenges faced by a young woman in her situation. Her mastiff, Baby, adds a delightful touch to the story, bringing warmth and humor.

However, the book is not without its flaws. The persistent military references can feel overly repetitive, and certain scenarios seem to recur a bit too frequently. Despite these minor distractions, the core narrative remains engaging, making these issues easy to overlook. Overall, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it highly to readers seeking a mystery that keeps them guessing until the very end.”

An unexpected ex-friend shows up in New Bison to cause havoc in Maddie’s life. When she is found dead in Baby Cakes, Maddie tops the suspect list and is on the hunt for the person responsible. Then another and another of her past arrives and Maddie finds herself looking at them as potential suspects who may have a stronger motive for the killing. But a second murder takes the case up a notch because the two victims are not known to each other and then the little strategically placed twist tells a different story and wow, what a story. We also get a visit from the Admiral and what an honor it was to see him interact and appreciate the person Maddie has become and I also enjoyed his interaction with her friends, especially Michael.

The mystery was staged to perfection with a solid multi-plot story, visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, and a comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author intended. There was the aha moment when I had an inkling of who was behind the murder, and I enjoyed watching it play out with several characters having pivotal roles that would lead to the killer’s identity, apprehension, and motive. Overall, this was the best book in this delightfully entertaining series, and I look forward to more adventures with Maddie and her friends, and hopefully more Admiral visits.

This was a cute, cozy mystery. This can easily be read as a standalone which I love. I had no idea this was a #3 in a series until after I finished and didn't feel like I was missing any information.

We follow Maddy as she adjusts to her life in small town Michigan, a new boyfriend, new friends, running her late aunt's bakery, and a new pup named Baby. Her aunt passed away in maybe suspicious circumstances and then others show up dead in or around the bakery. The local police don't seem keen on doing a thorough investigation so Maddy and her new friends have to pick up some of the slack.

Burns does an amazing job of giving each character such perfect depth and personality. There were multiple interpersonal relationships happening between characters that keep every page interesting and Burns writing makes all the mini story lines easy to follow within the main plot.

I will definitely read more from Burns.

recipes, pet-dog, Michigan, unpleasant-victims, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, local-politics, family-by-choice, family-dynamics, relationships, relatives, amateur-sleuth, multigenerational, murder, murder-investigation, English-mastiff, situational-humor, verbal-humor, art-fraud, veterinarian, ex-military, wealthy, influencer, surprises, bakery, friends, friendship, small-business, small-town, Mitten-State, dementia, cozy-mystery*****

The state deputy is a caricature of a bumbling law enforcement officer but the bakery owner who was an LA fashionista and influencer and her 250 pound English Mastiff named Baby are on the case. A very nasty competitor from LA shows up in the small Michigan town to do things to embarrass Maddy but winds up dead and stuffed in the bakery's cart after a rather public row. Who else could have done it? and how? This fun (except for all those annoying #) cozy mystery is a great stressbuster with engaging characters and some baffling twists. Loved it
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you! Available Jul 23 2024