ARC Review: Hard Dough Homicide by Olivia Matthews

Hard Dough Homicide
Author: Olivia Matthews
Series: Spice Isle Bakery Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 23, 2023)

Description: Someone in Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean neighborhood has an appetite for murder in Olivia Matthews' Hard Dough Homicide.

Spice Isle Bakery owner Lyndsay Murray is always looking for new ways to grow her family’s business. But she already regrets agreeing to host the retirement dinner for local high school principal Emily Smith. The tyrant used to be her mother's boss and they did not get along. Six guests arrive for the celebration, but only five survive. Emily starts convulsing―right after eating the curry chicken―and dies soon after. It’s not long before the police are knocking on Spice Isle’s door, bringing the Murray family back into the heart of another murder investigation―driving away customers in the process. Lyndsay can't help but wonder if this is the end of the bakery, even though it's just begun. She must put aside her reservations about investigating another crime, because the Murrays refuse to go down without a fight.

My Thoughts: In the second Spice Island Bakery mystery, Lyndsay and her family need to clear her mother's name when the principal who was the cause of her retirement dies in the bakery. The Murrays had been hired to cater Emily Smith's retirement party which they reluctantly agreed to do since Della disliked the woman. 

Their first surprise came when they found out how few people had been invited to attend. The second surprise was the animosity that filled the air when the guests assembled. The third surprise was when Emily suffered a medical emergency and later died. 

Rumors spread that the food was poisoned which didn't do anything to build the clientele of the new business. Even after the food was tested and proven not to be the source of the poison, rumors were still flying since Della Murray was declared a person of interest in the crime. 

Lyndsay needs to clear her mother's name in order to save the business that all the family had invested in. She decides to investigate herself when she learns that the cops, including the hot guy she had a crush on in high school, aren't investigating fast enough or paying attention to the clues she uncovers and shares with them. 

This was an entertaining mystery filled with Caribbean culture, fashion, and food. 

Favorite Quote:

"Do you know what you mean?" Irritation bubbled in my weins. This time, I stepped forward. "Let's be clear. You can't lose me because you don't have me. I don't get involved with people who're trying to put members of my family in jail."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.