Icing on the Murder - (Baker Street Mystery) by V M Burns (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From Agatha and Edgar Award nominated author Valerie Burns, influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé's wedding, she'll have to solve a little case of murder first...

Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery--named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby--into a runaway success, and she's marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn't be better: the country's biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She's also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.

Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake--she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there's one thing the wedding planner didn't plan on--being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.

While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt's friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.

Review Quotes

Praise for the Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns

"A protagonist who juggles self-doubts, a strong sense of self-worth, and a drive to succeed." --Kirkus Reviews on A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

"This third installment of the Baker Street Mystery series wraps up the thrilling story arc that was set up in the very first book, as Maddy figures out who would go to such extreme lengths to take her out of the picture and why." --Criminal Element on A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

"A series of murders and a stranger claiming to be a friend of Octavia disrupt Maddy's newfound peace, but luckily, she's a skilled amateur sleuth." --BookRiot, Most Anticipated Mysteries for 2024 on A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death

"Books, dogs and food -- and a well-structured sense of fun -- connect almost all of Valerie Burns's cozy mysteries." --Sarah Weinman, The New York Times

"Burns proves that a girl and her mastiff can't be defeated." --Kirkus Reviews on Murder is a Piece of Cake

"I love Maddy, her fashionista, social-media lifestyle, and how she continues to integrate that into small-town life with her beloved English mastiff, Baby." --Criminal Element on Murder is a Piece of Cake

"For fans of cozy mysteries, bakeries, and dogs!" --Bookriot, Most Anticipated Mysteries of the Year, on Murder is a Piece of Cake

"Snappy dialogue, a well-drawn supporting cast and an irresistible canine companion all add delicious flavor. Gulp this book down or savor it, but consuming it will guarantee a sustained sugar high." --The New York Times Book Review on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"A lively series launch, with an edgier heroine than the baking-framed novels by Jenn McKinlay and Joanne Fluke." --Booklist on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"A sweet read." --Criminal Element on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"A great start to a series that is part poignant, part humorous, and part suspenseful while introducing a wonderful, new, African American heroine." --First Clue Newsletter on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"A Navy brat inherits a bakery in rural Michigan. Madison Montgomery carries all the baggage of a typical cozy heroine...Less common for the genre, Maddy is Black, and she's young enough to document her life on Instagram." --Kirkus Reviews on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"Everyone is a suspect in Valerie Burns's entertaining new mystery, filled with surprising twists, suspicious characters and a mastiff named Baby who will win your heart. Top that off with humor and delicious recipes and you have a delight of a cozy." --Valerie Wilson Wesley, author of A Fatal Glow on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

"All you need to read is the first chapter, and you will be enamored with Maddy Madison and the #hilarity that ensues. From this first chapter until the end, I could not put this book down, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom. This well-written and fast-paced whodunit kept me immersed in every minute detail in the reading of this drama." --Dru's Book Musings on Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder

About the Author

Valerie (V. M.) Burns is a mystery writer whose novels and short stories have been finalists for the Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Baker Street Mystery series, as well as the Bailey the Bloodhound Mysteries under the name Kallie E. Benjamin. Valerie is a member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, Mystery Writers of America, and the Crime Writers' Association. She is also an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in the southeastern United States with her two poodles. Connect with Valerie at VMBurns.com.