Sugar Plum Poisoned - (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay (Paperback)

Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay takes us to Fairy Tale Cupcakes where Mel, Angie, and the gang are getting ready for the holidays. I always enjoy my visits with the bakery crew. A blast from Angie’s past, Shelby Vaughn is in town to perform Christmas concerts and she wants Fairy Tale Cupcakes to provide holiday cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge. The descriptions of holiday cupcakes will have your mouth watering. Unfortunately, Shelby has a controlling manager that brings out the mama bear in Angie. When the manager ends up dead, Shelby ends up a suspect. Mel and Angie don their sleuthing caps so they can solve the crime before Santa rides into town. I was able to solve the whodunit early in the book. I did enjoy following the duo as they asked questions and searched for clues. I kept hoping, though, that there would be a twist (something unexpected to surprise me). The crime is wrapped up in time for everyone to have a happy holiday. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. I had no idea that Marty knew how to twerk, and Ray should never be allowed near the Christmas decorations. Of course, they should have known better to involve Ray. We only get to see a smidgen of Oz. I miss him being in the bakery. There is some repetition (preparing the cupcakes, the VIP lounge each night, details regarding Shelby as well as her former manager and the dead manager’s ex-wife). Of course, it would not be A Cupcake Bakery Mystery without movie quotes from Mel, Angie, and Tate. I felt bad for Mel who is going to host Christmas dinner for the family for the first time. I believe Mel understood by the end of Christmas day why her mother was willing to give up the hosting duties. Sugar Plum Poisoned is the fifteenth A Cupcake Bakery Mystery. The author provides enough background information that it can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Sugar Plum Poisoned is a sweet treat with a sociable singer, a manipulating manager, killer cupcakes, a swaying Santa, a decoration dilemma, a burgeoning dinner, and Christmas cheer.

Angie Harper is thrilled that her friend, singer Shelby Vaughn, is in town for a couple of weeks doing Christmas concerts, and Mel DeLaura quickly warms up to Shelby as well. The duo are providing cupcakes for the VIP concert goers, so Mel and Angie get a firsthand view of the drama swirling around Shelby. But then Mel finds a dead body backstage after the opening night concert. Can she figure out what is going on? This is another fun entry in the series. The plot did a good job of setting things up, so when the murder happens, we are off and running. I did find a couple of minor things got dropped and the ending was a bit rushed, but neither is a big deal since things are wrapped up. Plus, we get to spend more time with Mel, Angie, and the gang, which is always a delight. Since the series is set in Arizona, we don't get a traditional cold, snowy Christmas, but we still get a very funny subplot for the holiday. And we get recipes for five Christmas themed, drool worthy cupcakes. Fans new and old will gobble this book down as quickly as they can.