Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
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.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This reminded me of a bottle episode of TV, and I liked it!
The majority of the story took place in at a Bridal Expo and all the usual suspects are back. Maddy is getting married to Michael and has a booth at the Bridal Expo, which happens to be at the Casino on Native American land (important for jurisdictional purposes!). She's also positive that she's going to win the contest being thrown to have your wedding planned by a very well known Wedding Planner.
Like all cozy mysteries, NOTHING goes according to plan and the wedding planner is killed by cake tier stakes from Maddy's apron. Since the casino is on tribal land, no one knows who's in charge, leaving Maddy time to investigate while the LEO's wait to determine jurisdiction.
As mentioned above, this played in my head as a bottle TV episode, everything taking place at the expo. All our of suspects are there, all of them with motive, and while it was kind of obvious who the murderer was, people's reasons for wanting the wedding planner dead were one-upping each other in a way I found humorous.
This has been a steadily "good" series, but I think Icing on the Murder is the best of the bunch.
Thank you to Netgalley & Kensington Publishing for the ARC.
The majority of the story took place in at a Bridal Expo and all the usual suspects are back. Maddy is getting married to Michael and has a booth at the Bridal Expo, which happens to be at the Casino on Native American land (important for jurisdictional purposes!). She's also positive that she's going to win the contest being thrown to have your wedding planned by a very well known Wedding Planner.
Like all cozy mysteries, NOTHING goes according to plan and the wedding planner is killed by cake tier stakes from Maddy's apron. Since the casino is on tribal land, no one knows who's in charge, leaving Maddy time to investigate while the LEO's wait to determine jurisdiction.
As mentioned above, this played in my head as a bottle TV episode, everything taking place at the expo. All our of suspects are there, all of them with motive, and while it was kind of obvious who the murderer was, people's reasons for wanting the wedding planner dead were one-upping each other in a way I found humorous.
This has been a steadily "good" series, but I think Icing on the Murder is the best of the bunch.
Thank you to Netgalley & Kensington Publishing for the ARC.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
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 completely my own
'Icing on the Murder' is the fourth book in the 'Baker Street Mysteries' series.
The book follows Maddy, a social media Queen turned baker, as she sets up to meet a famous wedding organizer to help her out with her upcoming wedding. However, things get complicated when the said organizer is murdered.
First of all, I loved the characters. Maddy is fiesty and relatable, and I loved her and her fiancé, and their dynamics. The dog was adorable as well.
The story is interesting, furthermore, but it took too long for the mystery to be introduced, even though the murder case had many twists and turns. It focused a bit too much on Maddy's story rather than the actual mystery case, not that that wasn't entertaining.
The audiobook was also well narrated and gave character to the book. The production of it was well managed as well.
Finally, I loved the recipes at the end of the book.
'Icing on the Murder' is the fourth book in the 'Baker Street Mysteries' series.
The book follows Maddy, a social media Queen turned baker, as she sets up to meet a famous wedding organizer to help her out with her upcoming wedding. However, things get complicated when the said organizer is murdered.
First of all, I loved the characters. Maddy is fiesty and relatable, and I loved her and her fiancé, and their dynamics. The dog was adorable as well.
The story is interesting, furthermore, but it took too long for the mystery to be introduced, even though the murder case had many twists and turns. It focused a bit too much on Maddy's story rather than the actual mystery case, not that that wasn't entertaining.
The audiobook was also well narrated and gave character to the book. The production of it was well managed as well.
Finally, I loved the recipes at the end of the book.
As a baker who loves a cozy mystery with a good sprinkle of sass and suspense, I’ve really enjoyed the first three installments of the Baker Street Mystery series. Maddy Montgomery is fun to follow—she’s a social media star turned small-town bakery owner who’s been learning how to balance cupcakes and crime-solving. And I was glad to hear the same narrator return for the audiobook version—her voice is Maddy at this point.
But Icing on the Murder was a little slower than the others for me. While I appreciated the wedding day tension and the murder mystery that follows, the pacing dragged in spots and didn’t quite deliver the engaging punch of the earlier books. That said, the cozy vibes are still here—between the bakery scenes, Maddy’s sweet pup Baby, and her growing confidence as a business owner and sleuth, there’s still charm to enjoy.
If you’ve been following the series, it’s worth picking up, but it may not be your favorite of the bunch. I’ll still be checking out the next one, hoping it returns to the fast-paced, frosted fun of the earlier stories.
But Icing on the Murder was a little slower than the others for me. While I appreciated the wedding day tension and the murder mystery that follows, the pacing dragged in spots and didn’t quite deliver the engaging punch of the earlier books. That said, the cozy vibes are still here—between the bakery scenes, Maddy’s sweet pup Baby, and her growing confidence as a business owner and sleuth, there’s still charm to enjoy.
If you’ve been following the series, it’s worth picking up, but it may not be your favorite of the bunch. I’ll still be checking out the next one, hoping it returns to the fast-paced, frosted fun of the earlier stories.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
Dollycas’s Thoughts
#DreamWedding! The biggest bridal expo in the country is making a stop in New Bison, Michigan. Maddy Montgomery is so excited not only because Baby Cakes Bakery will have a booth at the event, but plans are underway for her and veterinarian Michael Portman’s upcoming wedding. She has entered a contest hosted by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina for an all-expenses-paid “wedding extravaganza”. There is so much to do, Maddie hopes Serafina will help her make all the important decisions.
Serafina turns out to be nothing like Maddie expected. She is mean and nasty. She has dug up dirt on all the couples entered into the competition and embarrasses them on stage in front of everyone at the expo. Her “plan” was to see how they reacted under pressure; well, they reacted all right. During a short break, the famous wedding planner’s plans went off course. She was killed using a skewer commonly used to hold layers of wedding cakes together.
Sheriff and Maddie’s maid-of-honor, April Johnson, takes charge of the scene and gathers the obvious suspects to question. Maddie assembles the Baker Street Irregulars, aka friends of her Aunt Octavia, and her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, to start their own investigation to try to catch the killer before the expo closes. With a killer on the loose, no one is safe. If Maddie wants to walk down the aisle to marry the love of her life, they need to put icing on Serafina’s murderer before they can say “I Do!”
When social media influencer Maddie’s Aunt Octavia died, her inheritance not only included her home, her bakery, and her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby, but all her aunt’s wonderful, quirky, and lovable friends. Maddie is surrounded by love and people who care about her, including her BFF, the sheriff, and her tenant, April Johnson. The icing on the cake was meeting Army veteran and veterinarian Michael Portman. The man she has fallen in love with. The community that Ms. Burns has created in this series always warms my heart. Her characters are unique and have a purpose within each story. Their dialogues ring true.
These characters are strong because of how they come together when one or more are in trouble. They are faced with a complicated mystery. They ask questions, listen to each other, throw out theories, and make plans on how to proceed. Then they go off to investigate and later gather together again to report their findings. And then they repeat if necessary. The death happened in a large venue filled with people, plus there is a time limit. I was completely entertained following along. The takedown of the killer was fierce and fantastic. It started with me holding my breath and ended with me smiling ear to ear. #CrimeDon’tPay #YouHadItComing
A subplot features Maddie and Michael’s wedding plans. Maddie is feeling overwhelmed, and Michael was very understanding. Wedding budgets are stressful, but they finally agree on their budget. Of course, winning the contest would have made everything easier. A very special item was found, and it brought back memories of not only my wedding but my daughter’s. It was so meaningful for Maddie.
It wouldn’t be a Baker Street Mystery without the awesome Baby. The English Mastiff rarely leaves Maddie’s side. He has a special talent that everyone would like to avoid, but when it happens, the mystery begins. His love for Maddie and his trust in her are heartwarming, even with all that drool.
Icing on the Murder is an excellent addition to this fun series. I truthfully cannot get enough of these characters. Their devotion to help each other fills me with all the good feels. This visit went way too fast. I can’t wait to return to New Bison and see what Ms. Burns has baked up for Maddie, Baby, and their friends next.
#IcingonaMurder #BakerStreetMysteries #ValerieBurns #bookreview #5starread #recipes #perfectescape #murder #cozymystery #babycakes #englishmastiff #somuchfun # #familyhistory #appleseason #spectacularweddingcakes
I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I began this book, an influencer turned bakery owner but I found myself laughing at the shenanigans that happened in this book. I jumped in mid series, and I was happy to discover that it can be read as a stand-alone, but I do plan on circling back to the beginning. Baby an English mastiff was literally a scene stealer! I looked forward to Baby's entrances and the trouble Baby left behind. There is a solid mystery and Maddy is on the case sleuthing to see what really happened to the wedding planner. This one had several scandalous secrets being aired and whew, get your tea ready! The narrator, Jasmin Walker did a great job portraying Maddy and many of the characters in the story. I binged on this story in one day. The only thing that took me out of the story was when the narrator spoke Spanish, she did a great job but some of the inflections were off. But the Spanish narration was only a few sentences. Overall, a very solid listen that I recommend. This one isn't just about solving a mystery. There are also deep personal conflicts that Maddy has and it makes her seem very realistic and I really enjoyed those deep personal connections. If you're a dog lover, enjoy wedding planning, and sleuthing be sure to check this one out! An entertaining listen.
A very special thanks to Kaye Publicity + Kensington Cozies + Recorded Books + Netgalley for the gifted copy.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book 4 in the Baker Street Mysteries is another fun cozy mystery.
Maddie and Michael are starting to plan their wedding, and Maddie, frazzled by all the decisions, is determined to have her wedding planned by Seraphina. Maddie enters Seraphina's competition at a bridal expo only for Seraphina to end up dead. And, once again, Maddie is a suspect.
Fast-paced and full of the fun cast of characters, I actually liked this one the least out of the series so far. There wasn't a whole lot of sleuthing done by Maddie; she mostly just tagged along while April conducted interviews. Also, there wasn't much of a resolution for the cake mystery subplot, though that could just be setting up for the next book. Baby and Miss Hannah are always my favorites, and they don't disappoint here. I loved how supportive everyone is of Maddie and Michael.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
Maddie and Michael are starting to plan their wedding, and Maddie, frazzled by all the decisions, is determined to have her wedding planned by Seraphina. Maddie enters Seraphina's competition at a bridal expo only for Seraphina to end up dead. And, once again, Maddie is a suspect.
Fast-paced and full of the fun cast of characters, I actually liked this one the least out of the series so far. There wasn't a whole lot of sleuthing done by Maddie; she mostly just tagged along while April conducted interviews. Also, there wasn't much of a resolution for the cake mystery subplot, though that could just be setting up for the next book. Baby and Miss Hannah are always my favorites, and they don't disappoint here. I loved how supportive everyone is of Maddie and Michael.
Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In Icing on the Murder, influencer-turned-baker Maddy Montgomery is living her best hashtag life: Baby Cakes Bakery (named after her enormous, lovable mastiff, Baby) is thriving; she’s engaged to hometown veterinarian Michael Portman; and New Bison, Michigan, is buzzing as the nation’s biggest bridal expo rolls into town. Maddy lands a prime slot to showcase her wedding cakes and even enters a high-stakes contest for an all-expenses-paid dream wedding planned by the famously exacting (and famously impossible) celebrity planner Serafina. But when Serafina is found spectacularly murdered, impaled on one of Baby Cakes’ own cake skewers, Maddy’s happily-ever-after gets iced.
With her Maid of Honor, Sheriff April Johnson, leading the official investigation, Maddy teams up with her late Aunt Octavia’s loyal friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and, of course, Baby the mastiff, to sift suspects hiding in plain sight amid fondant, tulle, and social-media sparkle. If they can unmask a killer before Maddy walks down the aisle, those wedding bells might still ring.
Icing on the Murder, the fourth entry in Valerie Burns’s Baker Street series, serves up exactly what I want in a cozy: light, lively reading with just the right drizzle of action and mystery. This installment leans into the sheer fun of its bridal-expo backdrop, vendors, influencers, and egos layered higher than a seven-tier cake, while keeping the pages turning briskly.
What really charmed me is how human the characters feel. Maddy and Michael aren’t painted in sugary “all good” frosting; they show little flaws, humor, doubts, and growth that make them read like real people you’d actually root for (and maybe DM for relationship advice). That grounded warmth extends to the wider New Bison cast, creating an ensemble you slip back into like a favorite sweater.
Pacing? Lightning fast. I tore through the book in what felt like a single sitting because every chapter dangled just enough new detail (and frosted snark) to keep me saying “one more.” This isn’t a twisty, puzzle-box whodunit where you’ll build a murder wall of red string; the clues are generously scattered, and most readers will spot the answer early. But that’s part of its appeal: it’s a comfort read. The pleasure is in watching the community rally, in the banter, in the delicious bakery details, and in the countdown to Maddy’s own wedding chaos. It’s the kind of weekend curl-up book you pair with tea, coffee, or, let’s be honest, a slice of something sweet.
Burns shows she has all the essentials for great cozy mystery writing: an inviting setting, a heroine with heart (and a social following), a lovable animal sidekick, and a steady hand balancing humor, small-town stakes, and murder without ever tipping too dark. Icing on the Murder is a tasty treat, and one that leaves me ready for the next course in the Baker Street series.
If you’re craving a breezy mystery that feels like spending an afternoon with friends, plus cake, this one hits the spot. Enjoy!
I love this series so much. It's like spending time with a friend, full of laughs and lightheartedness, but also passion for her friends, family, business and of course her adorable english mastiff, Baby. I am SO happy for Maddy and Michael, they are such a good match with lots of banter and fierce loyalty. I love how he lets her be herself and does not judge or hold her back. I love how proud they are of each other no matter what. This book was FULL of drama for all the characters involved in the mystery; phew it was a whirlwind of surprises and betrayal. My head was spinning with all the lies and was shocked, but also not surprised by the ending. I have so much fun following Maddy and her sleuthing crew investigate and cannot wait to return!
Note: I listened to the audiobook and usual it was perfect and really brought out Maddy's personality and all amazing side characters.
Thanks to the Kaye Publicity, Inc. for an ARC and RB digital for the ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and usual it was perfect and really brought out Maddy's personality and all amazing side characters.
Thanks to the Kaye Publicity, Inc. for an ARC and RB digital for the ALC; my thoughts and review are my own.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This review is for the audio version of the book. Wonderfully narrated by Jasmin Walker, with a rich, clear voice, it was fun to hear these characters brought to life.
The book itself is a solid cozy mystery, set in a small-town in Michigan and centering around bakery owner and influencer, Maddy Montgomery and her 250 pound Mastiff, Baby.
These characters were fun, and the plot was entertaining. The banter was silly enough to have me giggling out loud in places.
There are some deeper messages here about family, tradition, and self worth as well.
Well worth the time to read.
The book itself is a solid cozy mystery, set in a small-town in Michigan and centering around bakery owner and influencer, Maddy Montgomery and her 250 pound Mastiff, Baby.
These characters were fun, and the plot was entertaining. The banter was silly enough to have me giggling out loud in places.
There are some deeper messages here about family, tradition, and self worth as well.
Well worth the time to read.