A review by leandrathetbrzero
A Half-Baked Murder by Emily George

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 Murder, Pastries, and Cannabis

Thank you Kensington for my gifted ARC copy of A Half-Baked Murder in exchange for this honest review!  

↓ Similar Reading Experiences ↓ 

1. Misha Popp’s Magic, Lies, and Deadly Pies
2. Tamara Berry’s Buried in a Good Book
3. Frank Anthony Polito’s Renovated to Death (on my TBR!)

Chloe Barnes was living her ideal life as a formally trained pastry chef at a Michelin star restaurant in Paris with her handsome chef fiance. It all crumbled when she heard of her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis back home and her fiance’s infidelity. Now, Chloe has moved back in with Grandma Rose in Azalea Bay, CA, attending her best friend’s D&D nights and occasionally baking her grandma a batch of “special” brownies. One thing leads to another, and suddenly Chloe’s aunt, Dawn, convinces her to open a cannabis cafe! Things finally seem to be looking up for her…until a dead body is discovered and Dawn is the police’s no. 1 suspect.
 
As soon as Kensington advertised this debut novel in the brand new Cannabis Cafe Mystery series, I couldn’t get my hands on a copy soon enough! I loved everything about this concept: 1) the protagonist is a young 28-year-old woman still figuring things out (like me!); 2) George is inviting the cozy mystery genre to keep up with the times, fighting back against the old taboo of legalized cannabis and highlighting the diverse population this product caters: cancer patients, people with chronic pain or anxiety/stress, etc.; and 3) this book still features all of the staple tropes and elements that cozy readers adore. Chloe has a warm, endearing personality with a fierce protectiveness of her family and friends, the community of Azalea Bay is tightknit but vibrant, and the murder mystery involves a lot of suspects with secrets to hide! 

I fell in love with Azalea Bay as a setting, and Chloe’s circle of friends and family had a great dynamic. The mystery was intriguing, and Chloe’s entanglement in it felt believable for the most part. It is important to note certain content warnings: childhood neglect, eating disorders, and attempted sexual assault. George handles each of these issues well and with respect. Regarding ED, I would say the characters could have been a bit more informed about the various causes for developing EDs, not just societal idolization of thinness. With that said, George does acknowledge this by the end of the novel, but I personally would have liked it highlighted more. Overall. I actually more amazed at how many current topics/issues the author was able to infuse into one novel. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
 
This is my official request to Kensington to please keep this series going!! I cannot wait to see the various adventures that Chloe will face once her shop, Baked by Chloe, is finally up and running. I am heavily invested in her family, a new furry edition to said family, and the romantic love interest who happens to live right next door. I think Emily George does a great job of creating a world that speaks to long-time cozy readers and newcomers to the genres alike.