MY THOUGHTS:
Francesca Eve is so happy the Christmas season has arrived. She has been selected as a participant in a baking competition. Shortly after her arrival, trouble is brewing. Miranda Appleby, the famous presenter turned chef is receiving some peculiar and unusual threats. And when a contest unexpectedly quits the competition, Miranda jumps in to fill the empty spot. Fran has problems of her own when her mince pies burn and not to mention her runny cranberry sauce. Fran finds Miranda in the kitchen with a cake slice through her heart. Who would do such a horrible thing and, at what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Who could the murderer possibly be? Is it the contestants, the crew or the producers themselves? The police arrive and take over the investigation and everyone is a suspect, and no one is allowed to leave. But Fran begins her own investigation of the suspects, knowing that she has to find the culprit before it’s too late.
This was such a fabulous addition to the Adam and Eve Mystery Series. The setting of this story was brilliant. I love the idea of a Christmas cooking competition and haveing to solve a murder. I loved the twists and turns of the story and I was so captivated by the characters. They were so quirky and I could not figure out who-dun-it. I liked all the characters and I didn’t want any of them to be the culprit. This rapid and festive read was so entertaining and a rapid page-turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was completely surprised at the ending as it was totally unexpected. What a wonderful escape this book was. This installment to the series can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a stand-alone novel. I highly recommend this must read for every cozy mystery fan. It is a lovely series.
Thank you Emma Davies for a wonderful addition to the series. This cozy mystery was an absolute delight. I loved it and I highly recommend it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
DESCRIPTION:
Author: Emma Davies
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: December 7, 2022
Pages: 333
Buy on Amazon
Francesca Eve, chef, caterer, and baker extraordinaire, has never desired the limelight. But when she’s accepted onto the country’s favourite cooking competition, she can’t help but wonder – what would it be like to win? The one thing she’d never imagined, though, was sharing the kitchen with a killer…
When Francesca Eve arrives for the Christmas special of the country’s most popular baking competition, she knows she’s out of her depth. For not only is she there undercover, reluctantly investigating strange threats to Miranda Appleby, the famous presenter-come-chef, but she swiftly gets roped into competing herself when another contestant can’t cut the mustard and quits.
Cooking may be bread and butter to Fran, but under the bright lights her cranberry sauce won’t set and her mince pies burn. When the real reason she’s there ends in total failure and Miranda is found with a cake slice through the heart - ‘lights, camera, cook’ becomes ‘lights, camera, murder…’
Miranda may have looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but looks can be deceiving… From her harassed PA to the rakish producer and even the disappointed contestants, everyone on set seemingly had reason enough to want to bump her off. But who would be nuts enough to cook Miranda’s goose in such an obvious way?
As the police arrive to take over the investigation, Fran can’t help but continue her own lines of enquiry. She’s come to know the crew and contestants and can’t believe that any one of them would be guilty. But Fran must harden her heart to her new friends and focus her mind.
Someone may have thought Miranda was justifiably given her just desserts, but what Fran uncovers takes things to a whole new tier. Can Fran uncover the truth before another death occurs, and before the spirit of Christmas (cake) is ruined forever?
