As you know, I've read many a Jenn McKinlay romcom and hat shop mystery. So when I was looking for fall books and found Pumpkin Spice Peril, I thought, why not start reading her cupcake shop mysteries too?
Bestie bakers Melanie Cooper and Angie Harper are busy at their beloved, Scottsdale-based Fairy Tale Cupcakes when they're met with a most unhappy ending. Their dear friend, glass artist and pumpkin spice cupcake enthusiast Rene Fischer-Klein, has been murdered. Never content to let the cops do their thing -- even when one of them is her uncle -- Mel delivers condolence cupcakes to Rene's studio in hopes of obtaining intel. What follows is a mix of confections and complications as Mel works to separate the lies from the truth.
I enjoyed the arts angle in this book, especially McKinlay's descriptions of Rene's breathtaking work. Also, unlike in most murder mysteries, Rene seemed genuinely missed as opposed to being a baddie who had it coming. Finally, this cozy includes a tempting recipe for root beer float cupcakes that I'll probably never break my box-mix-only rule to attempt. But I like that it's there if I get gutsy.
So it's safe to say that I'll be returning to Fairy Tale Cupcakes.
Even if safe is the last word I'd use to describe an RIP bakery.
