The Wedding Cake Conundrum

An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 15

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798340155962; 9798340154934

Clean Tales Publishing

193 Pages

$18.99; $9.99; $2.99 Amazon

September 27, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

As wedding bells chime in Ivy Creek, amateur sleuth and baker extraordinaire, Lucy Hale, should be reveling in marital bliss.  She's looking forward to changes in her life and the political landscape in her small town.

However, when a charismatic politician turns up dead, the town's tranquility crumbles faster than a poorly baked souffle.

With her fiance, the deputy sheriff, under the spotlight as a prime suspect, Lucy takes it upon herself to sift through the floury mess of clues.  But as she follows the trail of breadcrumbs, she discovers a rival far closer to home -- her soon-to-be sister-in-law, vying for the title of wedding cake baker, despite a dearth of baking prowess.

Caught between solving a murder and thwarting her sister-in-law's meddling, Lucy must tread carefully.

Will she untangle the twisted threads of deception in time to salvage her happily ever after, or will she become the killer's next target, her dreams of wedded bliss crumbling like a poorly constructed cake.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale owns her late parents' bakery in the small town of Ivy Creek.  After some years away, she's finally found what she's been looking for, and is finally happy.  Especially since she's marrying her high school boyfriend, Taylor, who's a police deputy running for sheriff.  Only two things stand in her way of true happiness:  Taylor's sister Kayla, who took some cooking classes and thinks the perfect gift would be to cater their wedding.  Although Lucy is horror stricken, she can't let on and hopes that maybe her Aunt Tricia and herself can steer the woman away.

The second is that Taylor has a rival, an out-of-towner who is also running for sheriff, and isn't above pulling dirty tricks to get the job.  While Taylor doesn't seem too concerned, an incident occurs that angers him and is, unfortunately, causing a problem.

When Lucy stumbles across a dead body, it suddenly amplifies their problems, and Taylor must step away from it, confined to desk duty.  But Lucy, being who she is, decides to try and figure out who the killer is, because she's determined that her wedding will occur on time.  If she can stay alive long enough to be part of it...

This is the fifteenth book in the series, and I have read them all.  The reason I gave four stars instead of five is because of a scene where the news shows a story that has obviously been edited.  No news outlet would do this unless they wanted to get sued.  Details are important.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this tale, finally seeing that Lucy is going to tie the knot with Taylor.  There is enough going on in the backstory to keep you interested.  But just like Lucy, I don't really care for Kayla.  I love cats, and cats know!...

The mystery is woven well into the story, and the plot was very well done.  I enjoyed this one more than the others, and that's saying a lot, since I enjoyed the others as well.  I would definitely recommend this tale to anyone.

https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Cake-Conundrum-Creek-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0CXF5TWRJ/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6885606634

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Tasty Edibles, Nasty Rumblings (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 13)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Hardcover Also Available)

ISBN #:    9798856516790

Clean Tales Publishing

198 Pages

$9.99; $2.99 Amazon

August 13, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Excitement courses through Lucy as she receives an exclusive invitation to a televised bake-off competition, set on a secluded private island off the enchanting coast of Georgia.  A charismatic celebrity will play host to this culinary showdown, where Lucy's unwavering confidence in her culinary skills fuels her ambition to claim the coveted grand prize.

Stepping onto the island, Lucy finds herself amidst an intriguing cast of characters, each concealing ulterior motives beneath their smiles, all vying for victory to further their personal agendas.

Surrounded by the lush island backdrop, a sudden tragedy strikes as one of the enigmatic characters meets an untimely death.  Whispers of their demise echo through the island, intertwining with tales of a mythical beast lurking within the dense woods.

In this unsettling atmosphere, Lucy battles confusion and fear as tensions surge among the contestants.  Isolated from her familiar surroundings, she observes the ruthless lengths to which people will go for their selfish gains.

Despite being cautioned to stay uninvolved, Lucy's curiosity propels her to delve into the intricate connections between the deceased and the remaining competitors.

As she pieces together the puzzle, she grapples with a choice: should she maintain her focus on winning the tantalizing cash prize, or should she follow the breadcrumbs of clues, risking her safety to unveil a malevolent scheme?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale returned to Ivy Creek after her parents were unceremoniously killed in an accident, to run her family's bakery.  She's made it a success, and even expanded, which has made her content.  But unfortunately, her oven has finally died, being there since her parents opened.  Now she needs a new one, but doesn't know where the money will come from.

That is until she receives information asking if she wants to join a televised culinary show where the winning baker will receive $10,000.  So Lucy and her friend and fellow baker Hannah venture to an isolated island in Georgia, where they are surprised to find that they will be staying at an old mansion that has been reserved for the project.

Also unfortunately, Lucy finds that a couple of rival bakers aren't as nice as she is, and will do anything to win.  But when the body of someone involved with the competition is found on the grounds by Lucy, she also wonders how far will someone go?  Will they kill?  Now with everyone on the island as suspects, Lucy and Hannah set their own investigation in place-- but will it get her killed as well?...

This is the thirteenth book in the series and I have read them all, but I do think that I liked this one the best.  We have Lucy in unfamiliar territory as she attempts to solve a murder at a mansion that is occupied only by the owners and people involved with the cooking competition.  She wonders if one of her fellow contestants is to blame, but if so, which one?

With few clues and needing to stay under the radar, she and Hannah try their best to work stealthily while still managing to try and come out on top in the investigation.  It's an interesting combination, and it works.  (The recipes are very good, too).

But it seems that someone else is interested in what Lucy is doing -- the killer -- and they're not about to let her get away with finding them out.  In the climax, we see that Lucy is capable and even though she didn't figure it out as soon as she should have, everything comes together nicely and the ending is satisfying all around.  I look forward to the next in the series.  Recommended.  

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Tasty-Edibles-Nasty-Rumblings-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0C7CRJKGP/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6178619186

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Poisoned Freebies at Phoebe's (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 12)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0BZ8FVXGL

Clean Tales Publishing

124 Pages

$2.99 Amazon

June 30, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lucy Hale is excited about a new bridal shop in town, like the rest of the citizens in Ivy Creek.  Perhaps the buzz about this new entity on the high street has to do more with the appearance of a famous person at its launch.

When the day of the grand opening of the bridal shop arrives, the invited guests are looking forward to gazing at stunning bridal dresses, basking in the presence of a celebrity and enjoying free food!  Everything seems to be going as planned until a sudden commotion leads to the death of the celebrity's assistant.

In time, it's revealed that there were diabolical forces at play in the murder of this person.  But who would have wanted them dead?

Lucy has a feeling of deja vu as this latest murder in her small-town casts a dark shadow over it.  As she delves deeper into solving this murder mystery, she realizes a few people stood to gain from the deceased's demise.

Will Lucy help to find a cunning killer who appears to have covered all their tracks?

Or will her sleuthing lead her directly into the killer's web of deception and become their next victim?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale, an ex-food blogger, returned to town to run her late parents' bakery.  Sweet Treats has taken off, and summer is just around the corner.  While she and her employees are always looking for new sweets to offer, they're also happy to be part of the town.

When a woman named Phoebe visits, she informs them that she's opening a new bridal shop, which is exciting for one of Lucy's employees, who is engaged to be married.  Even more, the grand opening will have an ex-hometown girl who went to Hollywood and made good.  But Vanna Verity isn't what they expected; she won't even make eye contact with anyone.  In fact, Lucy is completely unimpressed by her.

But when Vanna sends her assistant to her car to retrieve something, the woman never returns.  When Lucy goes to find her, the woman is dead -- after eating a sweet that was made specifically for Vanna.  Now Lucy wonders who wanted to kill the celebrity, and if they might try again...

I have read all of the books in this series and enjoyed each one more than the last.  While Vanna is completely unlikable, you almost wish she were the victim!  But Lucy does what she does best, and that's unveiling a killer.  Unfortunately, in this case, the killer might not be done, and someone else is on their list.

The plot is well written, and the characters are down to earth.  While I guessed the antagonist early on in the book, it was still interesting to see how everything played out.  Of course, the climax was intriguing, and the book is a lot of fun to read.  Recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher but it in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZ8FVXGL?tag=amberstone81-20

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5611593662

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Southern Fried and Grief Stricken (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 11)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798388064974

Clean Tales Publishing

184 Pages

$14.99; $2.99 Amazon

March 23, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a former classmate, known for their bad manners and outsized ego, walks into Lucy's bakery and asks for a job days before their high school reunion, Lucy is a bit wary.  Against her better judgment, she decides to hire this person.

The good vibes from the reunion spread to the whole town, and all is well until Lucy finds a local business owner, who was heavily involved in the reunion event, stone cold in their pawn shop.

Lucy is terrified and puzzled by this latest murder in her small town.  It seems a dark cloud has settled over her town as rumors abound about why the killer did it and when they did it.

Eventually, the prime suspect is identified as the former classmate Lucy hired at her bakery.  Many people witnessed an altercation this person had with the deceased and they've been judged guilty in the court of public opinion.

But Lucy knows there's more to this murder mystery than meets the eye.

Will she piece together all the clues that seem to lead to the unlikeliest suspect and solve this case?  Or will she allow her heart to overrule her head and become the killer's next victim?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale owns Sweet Delights Bakery ever since her parents passed away in a car accident.  Now she, along with help from her Aunt Tricia and two employees, Hannah and Betsy, have made it the place to go for sweets and bread.  Lucy and Hannah's high school reunion is coming up, and they've been tasked with making desserts for the reunion which will keep them busy.  But with Betsy being on vacation for two weeks, it's going to be nothing but work.

When an old high school acquaintance shows up -- Luann Pell -- she acts as if she and Lucy were best friends, but they didn't even run in the same circles.  After some backhanded compliments, Lucy can't wait to see the end of her.  But when Luann starts crying and tells her a sob story, Lucy's good heart melts and she offers her a temporary two-week job to take over for Betsy, much to the dismay of Tricia and Hannah.  But the deed's been done, and all they can do is make the best of it.

When someone turns up dead, Luann is the main suspect as she was seen yelling at the person shortly before.  She begs Lucy to believe she didn't do it, and Lucy thinks she just might be innocent.  Against the wishes of her Deputy boyfriend, Taylor, she sets about trying to find a killer.  The only problem is that she might not find them or time, or they just might find her first...

I have read all of the books in this series and enjoyed them one after the other.  Lucy is extremely likeable, although I do wish she'd develop a bit more of a backbone.  Saying no doesn't make you mean, any more than saying yes makes you nice.  It's a matter of circumstance.  However, I do enjoy her kindness toward others, and the fact that she wants the best for everyone and always makes time for her family and friends.  Now if Taylor would just get off his duff...(read the book and you'll know what I mean).

There is plenty of action going on, and Lucy has her work cut out for her, as it seems there isn't anyone who really likes Luann.  But does that alone make her guilty?   Lucy isn't sure.  Still, she continues searching for clues.  When she has her 'aha' moment, we are right there with her as she figures everything out.  The climaxes are always the best of these books, as we wonder how Lucy is going to put everything together and get out of trouble.  It makes the book worth reading, and this one is no different.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Fried-Grief-Stricken-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BV5C6PNW/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5444301760

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Deadly Bites On Winter Nights (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 9)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback. Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798367089240; 9798637087109

Clean Tales Publishing

169 Pages

$15.99. $9.99; $3.99 Amazon

December 9, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

With Christmas just around the corner, Lucy can't wait to indulge in all the festive traditions with her family and friends.  One of those traditions includes picking a Christmas tree at a local farm.  She's delighted to be sharing this activity with the handsome detective in town wo she's recently begun a relationship with.

When she discovers a dead body among the fir trees while looking for the perfect Christmas tree, she's left shocked and shaken at witnessing such a horrific sight at this most wonderful time of the year.

Things only take an almighty turn for the worse when the remainder of some fruitcake from Lucy's bakery is found in the deceased's home...and is laced with poison!

Lucy knows someone has intentionally used her dessert to cover their tracks and draw all the negative attention to her.

But she knows her desserts were created with love and made to add to the seasonal joy of everyone who walked into her bakery.  It seems what was designed to bring joy has been used to take it away from the deceased's family and Lucy's small town.

Will she help to solve another mystery in Ivy Creek or settle for a blue, blue, blue Christmas?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale, owner of Sweet Delights bakery, is getting ready for the holiday season, turning out Christmas delights with her baker, Hannan, employee Betsy and her Aunt Tricia.  She's also looking forward to celebrating Christmas with her beau Taylor, and they've planned an outing to find the perfect tree.  But while looking through the local tree lot, they come across the body of the owner, and now Taylor has another murder that needs to be looked into.  Suddenly, Lucy's perfect Christmas has taken a very dark turn...

But with the man being killed, there's the question of who did it?  Was it the ex-husband of his fiancée?  A disgruntled ex-associate?  Another local businessman?  Or someone else?  With so many suspects, and so little time, Lucy is determined to help Taylor figure out who they're looking for, even as he warns her to stay away.  But will Lucy listen?  Or will her kindness only turn into trouble itself?

This is the ninth book in the series and I have read them all.  While the mystery itself is very good, this book makes one realize that family and friends are the things that bind us together, especially during the holidays.  Lucy's kindness and love shows through as she tries to find a gift for her aunt, and even as she tries to help Taylor.  There are also other scenarios that show this, and they are just as vital to the story line.

In the case of the mystery, the suspects abound, and we watch as each one is removed from the list.  One must watch for the clues that are there in order to find out the truth, and it's an interesting tale that keeps us reading in order to discover it.  When Lucy figures it out, we watch as she must extricate herself.  It is a worthy read, and I enjoyed it highly.  A lovely cozy for the holiday season.  Merry Christmas!

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Bites-Winter-Nights-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BHT46H3V/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5160694501

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Dough Shall Not Murder (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 8)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    B0BB8Q8GG1

Clean Tales Publishing

114 Pages

$2.99 Amazon

October 31, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As Halloween draws close, Lucy is excited about some yummy treats she'll be sharing with the customers at Sweet Delights Bakery.  She's always been a fan of this time of year as she loves being scared out of her wits and expecting the unexpected.

She is therefore thrilled when she's invited to visit a popular Halloween attraction in town with some close friends.

They're left petrified and speechless by what they encounter at the Haunted Forest attraction that includes real life monsters, a foreboding forest, spooked animals, and a dead body!

Lucy and her friends are horrified when one of the gang is identified as a prime suspect due to the strained relationship they had with the deceased.  Things only take a turn for the worse when Lucy's name is disparaged in the local press because of her involvement with previous murders in Ivy Creek and a conspiracy that she might be involved with the present one.

Lucy is left frustrated and appalled as she sees the killer making the police department chase their tails and go down several rabbit holes.

Will she outwit the killer and bring them to justice or is it time to be afraid....very afraid as the killer begins to hunt her?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale is living a happy life: she's taken over her parents' bakery after their death, has loyal employees, is living with her Aunt Tricia and her Persian cat Gigi in her family home, and has recently reconnected with her former boyfriend, Taylor, who's a chief deputy in the police department.  As they say, life is good...

...or at least it was, for a little while.  One of her employees, Betsy, is dating the local theater manager, Joseph Hiller.  His younger brother Derek, a theater major at college, is visiting, and hoping to get the lead in The Sword and the Stone.  But when the part goes to a rival, Tony Newton, he's not so much crushed as merely disappointed; at least until Tony starts spreading it all over social media what a loser Derek is.  But Derek does manage to get a part as a monster in the new Haunted Hayride exhibition, which everyone plans to visit.

But on the night they do, there's a murder, and Derek is a likely suspect.  To make things worse, there's a freelance reporter in town who specializes in salacious stories, and Lucy wants no part of him.  He turns up everywhere, and is hounding townspeople.  But she tries to stay positive, since she's sure Derek is innocentt

Meanwhile, her other employee Hannah is looking to care for a stray cat who doesn't seem to want to be found.  She's sure the kitten needs a home, and she wants to be the one to provide it.  Right now, that seems the easiest thing to focus on, as Derek's problems are much bigger.  Will Lucy be able to stay away from this latest murder?  Or will she find that she inadvertently puts herself in the line of fire once again?...

This is the eighth book in the series and I have read them all.  I find them quick, easy, cozy reads that make you feel good when they are finished.  The characters are becoming endearing to me, and their personalities grow with each book.  I love the fact that Lucy's finding her life becoming stable and just what she wants it to be.  I enjoy these so much that I wish I could visit her bakery; if for nothing else than to sit on the veranda and drink coffee!

The mystery is done very well, with enough red herrings thrown in to keep us busy throughout the story.  While we are led in one direction, is it the correct one?  Or are there others that we are not seeing?  I guarantee that when you read this book you will find it a lovely book to read, and with just enough going on to keep you interested.

When the ending comes and the murderer is revealed, it's not so much as a surprise as the reason for the murder is.  Try as I might, one can never see into the mind of a killer.  In the end, this was just as delightful as the others in the series, and I cannot wait to read the next.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Dough-Shall-Murder-Creek-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BB8Q8GG1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5037564562

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/

Cookie Dough and Bruised Egos (Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 6)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book (Hardcover Also Available)

ISBN #:    9798840246047 

Clean Tales Publishing

168 Pages

$9.99; $2.99 ($14.99) Amazon

July 12, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Lucy's asked to provide the treats at the book launch for a popular author, she's excited about the opportunity to be in the presence of this author who might just give her tips on becoming an author herself.

Things take a drastic turn for the worse when this popular author goes missing at her book launch...and is eventually found stone-cold dead.  It seems this tragedy was caused by an allergic reaction...or was it?

As Lucy begins to under the relationships this author had with several people in her life, she realizes that many people had a lot to gain by her demise.  Lucy feels her life is in danger as she pokes further into the affairs of the people closest to this author.

Will she discover a sinister plot motivated by greed, revenge and jealousy?  Or become the next victim of a killer who's not afraid to remove every stumbling block in their path?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

I have to first say that part of the blurb is wrong.  Lucy has no interest in becoming a writer, but she does stay for Paula Perk's book signing because she wants her bakery items to be tasted, which perhaps will bring her more business.

When Lucy Hale is asked by Clara Davidson to provide the treats for the speaking engagement, she's happy because it will bring in a large amount of money, as well as business for her bakery.  But while she is at the event, Paula goes to the bathroom and doesn't emerge.  After deputy sheriff Taylor Baker breaks the door down, Paula is found on the floor, and it's apparent a bee sting killed her.  But there was more than one bee in the bathroom, and how did it get there?  

Even with Taylor admonishing her not to investigate, Lucy is determined to find out who killed the woman and why.  Was it her apparently grieving husband?  Her anxious manager?  Or someone else in the crowd of people?  She wasn't well-liked in Ivy Creek, and Lucy is going to find her killer...if the killer doesn't find Lucy first...

This is the sixth book in the series, and I have to say that they are getting better with each book.  The characters are getting fleshed out, and we're seeing Lucy grow her business, along with her Aunt Tricia and her loyal employee Hannah.  It's nice to see that she's not struggling, as many protagonists do in cozies.

I like her character, as she doesn't overtly accuse people of murder; but studies clues and tries to come to the best conclusions.  In this book, she finds her clues in an unexpected place, and she never would have if it weren't for the inadvertent help of a new friend in town.  The ending is done nicely, with the antagonist explaining the reasons why and full of rage, and it also gives us something to look forward to in the next book.  Recommended.

I received a copy of this book from Clean Tales Publishing but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Cookie-Dough-Bruised-Creek-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0B29LNDPH/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4851692184

More on Ruth Baker's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ruth-baker/  

Which Pie Goes With Murder? (An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Ruth Baker

Genre:    Mystery

Digital Book

ASIN #:    978B09D7VCTQ5

CleanTales Publishing

77 Pages

$.99 Amazon

September 30, 2021

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Discover how Lucy Hale navigates her way through a rollercoaster of emotions as she tries to resolve a murder mystery that has her as the prime suspect.  She thought running a bakery would be a piece of cake.  But she's in for a mighty shock as her fiercest competitor is found dead...in her backyard!

Will she acquit herself in the court of public opinion or become the killer's next victim?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy Hale returned home to Ivy Creek when her parents were killed suddenly.  She's decided to stay for awhile and run their bakery, but doesn't really know for how long.  She's taken aback when a man approaches her and tells her that he owns a rival bakery and her parents were in the middle of selling their bakery to him, and that she should just complete the sale and leave.  Lucy knows they'd never do that, and tells him so.  

But he continues to hound her, and she has a verbal argument with him in her bakery, and the next morning she finds him dead in her backyard.  Now she has to figure out who's trying to frame her, because one of the deputies is her old boyfriend, and he's being aloof and won't tell her anything.  With the help of her aunt, Tricia, Lucy sets out to find the real murderer...if it doesn't get her killed, too...

I'm always up for giving new authors a chance, and I do think that Ms. Baker has promise.  Her writing is very good, and she knows how to tell a story.  Normally I don't like to read books that are "short," because they don't give us much background and I really would have liked to have had more on the lead characters.  However, I realize that in a book this length, you can only fill in so much.

Saying that, I did like the fact that Lucy didn't come home broke, or from a bad relationship, or having been fired from her job.  These are all trite plot lines, and sometimes they don't work well.  (After all, if they're broke, what did they do with their money?  Blow it all?).  So I did enjoy that she was still employed and obviously has a little money, anyway.  

The mystery itself was very good, with Lucy not knowing whom to turn to since the town wasn't very forgiving of her; and she depends on her aunt for support, and Tricia is with her all the way.  There's a good bond there, and I enjoyed it.  I also love cats, so Gigi was nice, but I'd like to see more of her in the next book.  

I did have questions, and I hope that they will be answered in the next book:  How did Lucy's parents die?  What happened between her and Taylor?  Who was taking care of Gigi before Lucy got there?  Did they just leave the poor thing to starve?  Why were the townspeople so quick to convict her of murder?  Is she really that disliked here, and if so, why? 

Yes, I know I have peppered the review with questions, but it didn't take away my enjoyment of the book.  When the ending comes it was played very nicely, and I will definitely read the next in the series.  Recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Which-Goes-Murder-Creek-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09D7VCTQ5/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4208183232