Author: Kitt Crowe
Series: A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (October 12, 2021)
Description: Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Joanne Fluke, a bitter discovery is made in a sweet-as-candy town, in Kitt Crowe's Sweet Fiction Bookshop series debut.
Life is sweet when you live in Confection, Oregon. Or, at least, that's how it's supposed to be. But on a summer day, when tourists and locals alike gawk at the majestic mountains, quaint Craftsman houses, and lovely flowers--particularly the renowned Confection Rose--the last thing anyone has come to see is a dead body, unearthed from a shallow grave by a curious dog.
A bathrobe-clad Lexi rushes next door to her neighbor's backyard to find her pooch, Cookie, stalwartly sitting watch over a body in the vegetable garden. Cookie, encrusted in dirt, grips a copper pipe between her teeth. Was this the murder weapon? And was Lexi the murderer? It sure looks that way, seeing as she was spotted squabbling with the victim just the day before. The case becomes all the more perplexing when the real murder weapon turns out to be a garden stake. Then where does the copper pipe fit in? And might a more likely suspect let Lexi off the hook?
All the volumes in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop, and all the specials at Eats n' Treats, prove of little help in jogging Lexi's brain to find a solution. Fortunately, Cookie is not finished digging up clues. As the fur flies, can this trusty border collie mix save sweet Lexi from a bitter end?
My Thoughts: After a hectic career as an editor in Seattle, Lexi Jones is back in her hometown of Confection, Oregon, running Sweet Fiction and taking care of her rescue dog Cookie. She's surrounded by family and friends and life would be great if her dog wasn't a digger in a town with too many competitive gardeners getting ready for the annual garden contest. Cookie has drawn the attention of new police officer Chad Berg who keeps threatening to give Lexi a citation if she can't keep Cookie on her leash.
Lexi's next door neighbor is a cranky old gardener who complains about everything Lexi and Cookie do. So when Cookie gets out in the yard and climbs under the fence into Gil Cloutier's yard, Lexi is quick to try to get her back. But Cookie has made an interesting discovery; someone has murdered Gil and buried him in his yard.
Lexi looks like the perfect suspect since she's a beginning author who wrote a death scene starring Gil after their last argument. Lexi recruits her best friends Cat and Teri along with the Macaroons - the book club at the store - to help her clear her name and find out who really murdered Gil.
Finding Gil's enemies isn't hard. It seems he's angered quite a number of people in town including his three grown sons and the other members of the Confection Garden Club. While Lexi investigates, against Detective Chad Berg's strong advice, she learns a number of town secrets. She also finds herself the target of someone who doesn't want her looking into Gil's death.
I liked the interesting group of characters and the small town setting of this story. Lexi is the narrator of the story and I really like her voice and style. I liked her two potential love interests, Detective Chad Berg and her best friend's older brother Dash who might finally be seeing Lexi as someone other than his little sister's best friend.
This was an entertaining start to a new cozy series. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Favorite Quote:
Favorite Quote:
What?" She put a hand on her chest. "I would never betray a confidence.""Please." Stefanie huffed. "You tell Dex everything, and he spills his giblets like a holiday turkey pooping out stuffing."
I do so like the excerpt quote!!!! Thank you for the review.
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