But her blissful life doesn't last long. When her ex boyfriend is found poisoned with cupcakes from her bakery, Lexy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation headed up by her hunky neighbor detective Jack Perillo.
With the help of a gang of iPad toting, would-be detective grandmothers, Lexy decides to take it upon herself to find the real murderer in order to clear her name and get her bakery back in business.
As things heat up on the murder trail, in the kitchen and between Lexy and the hunky detective, it's a race against time to put the real murderer behind bars and get back to baking.
Will Lexy get her man?
***
I've been on a bit of a hiatus - my brain was in summer vacay mode and I just didn't feel like doing anything. But now that summer is coming to an end, and fall weather is sneaking up on us (yay), the urge to read is growing. Killer Cupcakes was the perfect read to jump back into things.
It's a cozy mystery which is right up my alley these days (already getting in the Halloween mood) and it wasn't long - about 150 pages. It's the first book in the Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery series but I feel like it also works as a standalone book.
We're introduced to Lexy, who recently moved into her Nan's house - who is now living it up in the senior retirement home - and has opened up her own bakery. Lexy is a bit quirky. A little dimwitted in my opinion, but she's cute, funny, and determined. Lexy is very likable, even if at time I got frustrated with thing things she did or didn't do.
Aside from Lexy, we are also introduced to some secondary characters. Cassie, is Lexy's best friend. Detective Jack Parillo, Lexy's hunky next door neighbor. And Lexy's Nan, Mona, who along with some of her senior pals have started the Ladies Detective Club. All of these secondary characters were written very well - they came alive for me. All except for Cassie. I don't know why, but her personality didn't come through like the others. But there was a hint of it at the end of the book, so there's hope for her yet.
As I stated before, even though this book is part of a series, I feel comfortable suggesting it as a standalone as well. I feel like you get a pretty decent story, with a good resolution. There's closure by the end so you can walk away after this book.
I myself don't know whether or not I'll continue with the series. Even though I really enjoyed the first book, I felt as though Lexy was a bit incompetent in solving the mystery. I don't see her doing a better job with future mysteries, especially if they're not about her. I can see her getting herself into deep trouble and complicating things for Jack who would have to clean her messes up.
That being said, if all the mysteries revolve around Lexy (being framed for murder, using her baked goods to do the deed, etc) like this first one, then it would work better. And if the Ladies Detective Club have a more active role, it would work even better! So out of curiosity as to which direction the author decided to take this series in, I will (at some point) read the second book in this series. Plus I am a bit curious if Cassie's character gets better developed - especially with the googly eyes she was giving Jack's partner, and vice versa.
Uncensored Comments Straight From Kindle:
- ...she's gonna wear heels to work...at a BAKERY!?
- Worse, stilettos!
- My first guess is the best friend, Cassie. It's always the best friend.
- *Gasps* OMG, what if it was the grandma!?! LOL naw...
- Damn. Those old broads are more hooked up than I!
- Hmm, maybe the brother did it. Thinking he could somehow "rescue" Lexie from being framed for Kevin's murder and that then she would finally fall in love with him - making the brother the winner of the rivalry.
- Loving her eye twitch!
- Uh, HELLO! Grungy booze guy...like the one that threatened you...somebody give this lady a lightbulb.
- THAN.
- GOT.
- Really feel like brother Jason is behind this. He probably made that part up about Kevin mentioning Lexy...ooor maybe he did, to throw Jason off. Then again, he may be fishing to see if Lexy has something.
- Pendeja, you dont omit things to the old ladies trying to solve the crime! Oy.
- Dude, call your neighbor!
- Jason is definitely behind this and it definitely has to do with embezzling.
- Uh, probably his partner or sister - don't run, give him the book!
- Wait, how does she have a smartphone, if she flipped it close earlier in the book?
- Oh my god, give the book to the cop!
- And I bet you aren't going to give it to the detective.
- Nan, please call the detective.
- Snapping the smartphone shut again...are there flip smartphones in existence that I don't know about???
- WHAT? WHAT? WHAT!? YOU TURNED YOUR CELL OFF!?! EFFING MORON. Sabes que, I won't even be sad if you get killed. That's what you get for being dumb.
- Thank you Nan. I'm glad somebody in that family has brains.
Killer Cupcakes is currently FREE on Amazon, so check it out!
