Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed how Icing on the Murder switched up and contained the mystery within the bridal expo. The murder sleuthing mostly takes place in the last two-thirds of the books. Coming straight from the previous book, A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death, some parts did get repetitive, and there were information dumps.
Set nine months after Two Parts Sugar, One Part Murder, we see Maddy trying to plan her perfect wedding, putting too much pressure on herself, whereas her fiancé, Michael, just wants to marry her (and have Great Aunt Octavia's Chocolate Soul Cake). I could feel the second-hand embarrassment when she signed up for Serafina's wedding planning service without Michael knowing . Although she does realize that her community in New Bison can pull together to make a worthwhile wedding.
Valerie Burns nails what I seek in a cozy food mystery, and the formulaic arc is what I need at times. The array of personalities does give character to New Bison, and even with a wide cast, it doesn't feel too overwhelming. I hope there are more installments in this series.
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
POV: 1st Person - Single
Format: Audiobook - Single Narrator
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Bullying, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy
(Not All) Content warnings: murder (off-page), infidelity (not between main couple), bullying, blackmail, medical content/injury detail, blood, pregnancy (side character), grief, dementia, death of a parent (mentioned)
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this is a fun cozy mystery! This one had some messy drama, but somehow I enjoyed it? 😂 I love the Bull Mastiff, Baby. It seems like it’s been left open for more books. I hope it does!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.75✨ This one’s a sweet and cozy mystery featuring a bakery owner turned amateur sleuth and a larger-than-life wedding planner caught up in a very messy murder. Think Scooby-Doo meets buttercream frosting, with everyone as a suspect.
I didn’t realize until I was into it that it was part of a series, and I definitely would’ve enjoyed having more background on the characters, but it still worked fine as a standalone.
Was it my all-time fave? No.
But was it a fun, easy read I don’t regret picking up? 100%.
I’ll be going back to read the earlier books, and maybe grab a cupcake while I’m at it.
Thanks to NetGalley for this Advanced Listeners Copy
Version: Audiobook.
I didn’t realize until I was into it that it was part of a series, and I definitely would’ve enjoyed having more background on the characters, but it still worked fine as a standalone.
Was it my all-time fave? No.
But was it a fun, easy read I don’t regret picking up? 100%.
I’ll be going back to read the earlier books, and maybe grab a cupcake while I’m at it.
Thanks to NetGalley for this Advanced Listeners Copy
Version: Audiobook.
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Maddie, Baby & the Baker Street Irregulars are always a treat! I love these trips to New Bison
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Big Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
'Icing on the Murder' is the fourth book in the 'Baker Street Mysteries' series. I read the previous three books prior to listening to this audiobook. The audio narration kept the story engaging. I listened at 1.25 speed.
The book follows Maddy, a 28 year old social media influencer turned baker in the past year. The romance developed into an engagement in the previous books sets the protagonist, Maddy, on a quest to land a famous wedding planner for her nuptials. she sets up to meet a famous wedding organizer to help. However, things get complicated when organizer is murdered.
Half of characters (who are all lovable and funny)carryover and the rest are introduced as part of solving the murder mystery.
I did not find the fourth book as enjoyable as the previous three books. I didn’t find new layers to the carryover characters nor did I see them evolve. The new characters did not evolve in my opinion. The new character I liked most was the French chef, the audio performance of this chef had me laughing! focused a bit too much on Maddy's story. Was hoping for more Baby Cakes role in book. Baby Cakes and Hannah continue to be favorite characters of the series.
I look forward to reading the fifth book in the series.
Lastly,, I loved the recipes at the end of the book.
'Icing on the Murder' is the fourth book in the 'Baker Street Mysteries' series. I read the previous three books prior to listening to this audiobook. The audio narration kept the story engaging. I listened at 1.25 speed.
The book follows Maddy, a 28 year old social media influencer turned baker in the past year. The romance developed into an engagement in the previous books sets the protagonist, Maddy, on a quest to land a famous wedding planner for her nuptials. she sets up to meet a famous wedding organizer to help. However, things get complicated when organizer is murdered.
Half of characters (who are all lovable and funny)carryover and the rest are introduced as part of solving the murder mystery.
I did not find the fourth book as enjoyable as the previous three books. I didn’t find new layers to the carryover characters nor did I see them evolve. The new characters did not evolve in my opinion. The new character I liked most was the French chef, the audio performance of this chef had me laughing! focused a bit too much on Maddy's story. Was hoping for more Baby Cakes role in book. Baby Cakes and Hannah continue to be favorite characters of the series.
I look forward to reading the fifth book in the series.
Lastly,, I loved the recipes at the end of the book.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’ve loved every visit to New Bison, and Icing on the Murder is another sweet and satisfying entry in the Baker Street Mystery series. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll find all your favorite ingredients back on the page: a lovable English Mastiff named Baby, swoon-worthy baked goods, a quirky group of amateur sleuths, and a cozy romance that adds just the right touch of warmth.
Some of my favorite things:
✅ A bridal expo setting that feels fresh
✅ Baby, who honestly steals every scene he’s in
But my not-so-favorite thing?
➖ Maddy’s ongoing insecurities are starting to wear thin. After four books, I was hoping for a little more growth in her confidence—especially considering everything she’s achieved.
Still, this series continues to charm with its mix of humor, heart, and just enough mystery to keep things interesting. If you love your cozies light, clever, and full of delicious distractions, this one’s a treat.
#IcingontheMurder
#NetGalley
Some of my favorite things:
✅ A bridal expo setting that feels fresh
✅ Baby, who honestly steals every scene he’s in
But my not-so-favorite thing?
➖ Maddy’s ongoing insecurities are starting to wear thin. After four books, I was hoping for a little more growth in her confidence—especially considering everything she’s achieved.
Still, this series continues to charm with its mix of humor, heart, and just enough mystery to keep things interesting. If you love your cozies light, clever, and full of delicious distractions, this one’s a treat.
#IcingontheMurder
#NetGalley
Maddie Montgomery's big day is coming soon! She's excited to marry her army vet, Michael Portman. All she needs is the perfect wedding planner, who she is hoping to snag at an upcoming bridal fair. However, not all goes to plan when wedding planner extraordinare, Serafina, is found dead and instead of planning her wedding Maddie is hunting down a killer.
I love this series so much!!!! It is easily in my Top 5 favourite cozies. I've enjoyed watching Maddie go from embarrassed, jilted bride and slightly spoiled to the business woman of Baby Cakes Bakery, fur-mom to Baby, her English Mastiff, and loving life in New Bison. Every adventure she throws herself into, and every book is just fantastic.
This one was especially good! Serafina wasn't a nice person when she was alive and Maddie and the Baker Street Gang are going to have a difficult time finding a killer!!
My favourite part of Icing on the Murder is the inclusion of figuring out which policing jurisdiction is responsible for solving the crime, which takes place at a casino, which is on Tribal land. Valerie Burns always includes a wide variety of inclusion in her books, and I just loved this. I found it really realistic that it might not be as easy as the local police finding a killer, and it's just another reason that I love her books.
I absolutely never hesitate to recommend this series. It's a perfect series to show what we all love about cozy mysteries, and if you haven't read a cozy before this is a great start. I can't wait for the next one.
I love this series so much!!!! It is easily in my Top 5 favourite cozies. I've enjoyed watching Maddie go from embarrassed, jilted bride and slightly spoiled to the business woman of Baby Cakes Bakery, fur-mom to Baby, her English Mastiff, and loving life in New Bison. Every adventure she throws herself into, and every book is just fantastic.
This one was especially good! Serafina wasn't a nice person when she was alive and Maddie and the Baker Street Gang are going to have a difficult time finding a killer!!
My favourite part of Icing on the Murder is the inclusion of figuring out which policing jurisdiction is responsible for solving the crime, which takes place at a casino, which is on Tribal land. Valerie Burns always includes a wide variety of inclusion in her books, and I just loved this. I found it really realistic that it might not be as easy as the local police finding a killer, and it's just another reason that I love her books.
I absolutely never hesitate to recommend this series. It's a perfect series to show what we all love about cozy mysteries, and if you haven't read a cozy before this is a great start. I can't wait for the next one.