Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496734570
Kensington Publishing
304 Pages
$8.99; $6.99 Amazon
November 29, 2022
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When the Deadly Desserts Bake-Off lives up to its name, Val and Granddad turn up the heat on a killer...
The Maryland Mystery Fan Fest sounds like exactly the fun getaway café manager Val Deniston and her grandfather could use. Granddad will even compete in a dessert competition in which contestants assume the roles of cooks to famous fictional sleuths. Playing Nero Wolfe's gourmet cook Fritz is an exciting challenge for Granddad. A restaurant manager is playing Lord Peter Wimsey's valet and cook Bunter. But Granddad is steamed to learn who will be playing Sherlock Holmes's landlady, Mrs. Hudson -- his nemesis Cynthia Sweet, who he believes ripped off his five-ingredient theme from his column "Codger Cook" to use in her own recipe column.
Apparently, he isn't the only one who has a beef with his not-so-sweet competitor. When she's found dead in her room with the teakettle whistling, it's up to Val and her grandfather to sort through the festival goers to find out who was most definitely not a fan of Cynthia Sweet...
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Val Deniston and her grandfather Don Myers are attending the Maryland Mystery Fan Fest; Don as a contestant in a dessert contest, and Val as a volunteer to go where needed. When they receive their welcome packages, Granddad receives a note that seems ominous, and they both wonder if they need to keep an eye on Cynthia Sweet, who has a history of not being so sweet at all.
At night after a full day, Val hears a teakettle whistling, and gets the security guard to open Cynthia's door, where they find her dead. At first it seems an accident, but then is discovered to be a murder by the police. Now Val feels she needs to do a little research to find out who had a real grudge against the woman -- enough to kill...
This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all. I will admit that at first it started out slower than the previous books, but then reading on, I began to see that it is much different. This book is almost like those old classic movies where someone in a dark house is murdered, and then the rest of the guests staying there are all suspects; finally, the protagonist discovers the murderer. Yes, it is just like that.
The 'guests' in this story are people that are attending the fest. There are several that might have a grudge against the dead woman, and yet all of them seem to have alibis (such as in a movie). Now it is up to Val and Granddad to disprove the alibis -- at least of one of the guests; the murderer.
It's a fun tale that keeps you wrapped up in the story, and working right alongside Val to figure out who the killer might be. With red herrings everywhere, and so many people to talk to, you need to keep an eye on the prize: who the killer might be. And when it's finally discovered, it's strange enough to be true, and sad enough to make you wonder what goes through a killer's mind.
As always, Ms. Corrigan weaves a tidy tale that has has enough action and sifting through peoples' statements to finally come to a completely satisfying end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Maya Corrigan's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/c/maya-corrigan/
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