Marshmallow Malice
With Juliet Brody and Reverend Brook tying the knot in Ohio’s Amish Country’s most anticipated nuptials of the year, Bailey King is determined to do everything in her power to make the event a sweet candy success. Except that midsummer heatwaves and outdoor ceremonies don’t mix, and an exasperated Bailey soon finds herself struggling to fulfill bridesmaid duties and keep her stunning marshmallow-frosted wedding cake from becoming a gooey disaster. Then much to everyone’s shock, the entire ceremony crumbles when a guest drops dead, and the cause isn’t sunstroke.
Turns out, the uninvited victim came equipped with lots of dirt on the devout reverend’s hidden past. As Reverend Brook tops the murder suspect list on what should have been the happiest day of his life, Bailey and her sheriff’s deputy boyfriend vow to clear his name. Can the duo boil down a series of baffling clues before Juliet considers her marriage a bad mistake, or the killer whips up another deadly surprise?
Series: An Amish Candy Shop Mystery – Book #5
Author: Amanda Flower
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 336
Rating: 
The “An Amish Candy Shop Mystery” series written by Amanda Flower has quickly become one of my favorite cozy series on the market. The latest book in the series, Marshmallow Malice, is delightful.
The characters are good, down-to-earth people who work hard, keep busy, and try to be helpful to their fellow man. These are wholesome country folk who want people to be happy and eat Bailey’s wonderful candy; this makes for some of the most lively and entertaining characters in a series. The setting is in the heart of Amish country; although all places have issues, this one has as few as possible, aside from the occasional murder, that is.
Readers will find themselves not just liking the quirky characters, especially Juliet and her pet pig, but loving many of them as if they were a part of their own family. Bailey and her grandmother are always there to lend a hand when the big wedding day arrives; even members of the Amish community show up to be a part of the festivities. But everyone knew Juliet’s big day couldn’t possibly go off without a hitch or two. It doesn’t take long for things to spiral, and before you know it, murder becomes a guest. No amount of cake or candy can stop this wedding disaster.
The victim is a magnificent casualty of the past and how communities shape our lives. The suspects are all equally capable and believable. No one is spared this time around; everyone from the small town, even the Amish, becomes suspects. Bailey uncovers the real killer almost unexpectedly, and the unveiling is filled with real-world consequences for everyone involved.
I am happy to recommend the fifth book, Marshmallow Malice, in this tasty confectionery and Amish-driven series to readers who love small-town politics, mystery with delightful characters, a torrent of suspects, twists and turns that will keep them guessing, a smattering of mouth-watering candy, and copious amounts of intrigue.
Readers may enjoy authors and their delectable series, such as Amy Patricia Meade‘s “A Tish Tarragon Mystery.” or Sarah Fox’s yummy “A Pancake House Mystery.”
About the Author:
Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over twenty-five cozy mystery novels. She started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth-grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. In addition to being an author, Amanda is a former librarian with fifteen years of experience in Northeast Ohio.
Represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.
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