Batter Off Dead: A Southern Cake Baker Mystery

Batter Off Dead by Maymee Bell has us traveling to Rumford, Kentucky. Sophia Cummings has opened For Goodness Sakes, a bakery, in her hometown with the help of her best friend, Charlotte Harrington. It is Sunday and they are busy preparing the treats for The Heart of the Town fundraiser being held that evening at Grape Valley Winery owned by Giles Dugan. The fundraiser is to raise funds for the new library addition. This is Sophia’s first big catering gig for which she has laid out a significant amount of money, so she wants to make sure that everything is perfect. At the fundraiser, Ray Peel is making enemies left and right. He reneges on the donation he promised the library, insults Madison Ridge, and has upset the winery owners. Sophia is on her way to the winery offices to collect her check, when she trips and finds herself face to face with a dead Ray Peel. Sophia quickly calls Sheriff Carter Kincaid who races to the scene to comfort her and then takes charge of the crime scene. The next day, Charlotte requests that Sophia don her sleuthing cap once again. Their friend, Madison finds herself at the top of the suspect list and her realtor clients are dropping her like a hot potato. Sophia has her hands full since Ray had made numerous enemies and her mother is assisting her with what she has termed Operation Merlot. She also must create her baked delights for the bakery and deal with a coupon issue. Someone, though, is not happy with Sophia’s involvement and tries to dissuade her. Grab a glass of wine and settle down to join Sophia on her latest case in Batter Off Dead. Batter Off Dead is a humorous cozy mystery. There are quirky characters and a charming, small Southern town for which Tonya Kappes is known for creating. Sophia is opening up her bakery, but she has not worked out all the kinks yet. She is unsure whether to ask for deposits from catering clients (the answer is yes) nor does she have them sign a contract (every catering event should have a contract with a deposit). Catering The Heart of the Town will show clients what For Goodness Sakes can provide, but Sophia has outlaid a large amount of money for The Heart of the Town fundraiser. After Sophia makes a big deal about getting paid, the matter then gets dropped and is not resolved. Sophia’s mother, Bitsy is not happy that Sophia has stumbled over another dead body, but it tickled when Sophia asks her to keep her ears open for helpful gossip. Sheriff Carter Kincaid does not want Sophia sticking her nose into his case and repeatedly warns her (he is wasting his breath). I like Maymee Bell’s (aka Tonya Kappes) writing style. It is what I refer to as conversational or friendly which engages the reader. It makes for an easy to read story which is enhanced with the steady pacing and Southern humor. I recommend reading Cake and Punishment before embarking on Batter Off Dead. It sets the stage for the rest of the series. The mystery will have you guessing with multiple suspects who each have a good motive to kill the victim. There are recipes at the end for the yummy baked goods Sophia creates in her bakery. Batter Off Dead contains friendship, family, wine, scrumptious confectionary delights, community, murder, romance and wit.

I have loved the Country Store Mystery series from the beginning, but Batter of Dead is my favorite yet! The mysteries are great throughout the series, and the focus on Robbie's friends brings even more to the series. I appreciate that Abe is allowed to continue at the same level as before. I adore her new husband and feared that he would almost disappear as so often happens when a main character gets married. Their romance is lovely without taking over the story and he is wonderfully supportive. The introduction to Buck's dad, Roy, was perfect and I look forward to spending more time with him. He is an absolutely delightful character! The mystery, was as always, complex, intriguing, and a bit heart touching. Maddie Day build mysteries that involved character and background as well as clues so even the worst villain comes to matter. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington books for allowing me to read and ARC of another winning presentation in the Country Store Mystery series by Maddie Day. I can't wait for my friends to discover the newest in the series! #NetGalley #BatteroffDead #Kensignton #MaddieDay

Book 2 in this series and I HAVE to go back and read the first in the series. There were definitely no spoilers in this so I honestly have no idea what happens aside from the name of the Bakery. Sophia Cummings is our sassy Southern heroine who brings humor with her quick wit as well as delicious baked goods to her catering customers and all the clients of For Goodness Cakes. The character development and world building is so well done I had no idea this was only the second book in the series. Maymee Bell never fails to bring us endearing characters and dazzling worlds to lose ourselves within. The whodunit was so fantastic I had no clue as to who it was or why. I guessed so wrong. The recipes at the end made me want to dive into the kitchen but honestly, I have no hope of doing them justice. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Maymee Bell, and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.