Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop
The Blurb
More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey’s breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wanted in a place that always made her happy. She’d spent many childhood summers near this beach community and converting the old run-down lighthouse into a bakery café, and home offers a perfect fresh start for Lindsey and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.
But not everyone in town has a sweet tooth. The preservation society won’t have the lighthouse’s history sugar-coated by lattes and cakes, and a protest group crashes Lindsey’s Memorial Day opening. Then her ex-fiancé Jeffrey Plank and his girlfriend Mia Wong arrive to trash the place. In the ensuing chaos, Mia chokes on a donut and dies.
An autopsy reveals cyanide in Mia’s bloodstream, and Lindsey is the police’s prime suspect. To clear her name, she’s going to need to combine ingredients found in the town’s checkered past to uncover the identity of a desperate killer.
The Details
Series: A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery – Book #1
Author: Darci Hannah
Genre/Category: Cozy – Culinary/Paranormal
Publisher: Kensington Books
ISBN: 1496731727
Page Count: 352
Rating: 
The Review
Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in a new culinary-based series with hints of paranormal. It features a bakeshop in an old lighthouse that may or may not be haunted. Lindsey, the main character, is young, a bit immature, and at times, doesn’t stop to think before she jumps in. These can be good and bad traits. Other characters, such as Lindsey’s friends and neighbors, all have issues that blend well with Lindsey. The location is enjoyable and easy to picture.
The murder of Lindsey’s ex’s new girlfriend is a bit unexpected, especially as it takes place in a crowded room. Unfortunately, the blame is placed squarely on Lindsey. Some of the storylines are questionable. For instance, how would Lindsey have planned to murder her ex’s girlfriend when she didn’t even know that she would be at her shop’s grand opening? Why her ex and girlfriend showed up in the first place is never really explained, or why they brought other people with them. I question if the people who are in the shop at the time of the murder could even fit in a lighthouse all at the same time. And, if you are going to introduce a ghost into the story, why wasn’t he at the opening wreaking havoc along with everyone else? There are suspects, and evidence that readers will follow, but the killer’s identity will surprise most.
Lindsey’s dog is a nice addition to the cast, and a few other characters help the story progress and make it interesting. The love interest, however, is too soon, and he may not be the best choice. The lighthouse is an excellent backdrop for a bakeshop. The ghost would be a great character as long as the character can be given a more defined role. Lindsey needs to do some growing up, and her friends may not be the best people for her to take advice from. Overall, I liked most of Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop, the mystery was done well, but I did find that the book, in general, had some issues. This is not, however, unusual in a new series. Characters will grow and deepen, plots will tighten, and the stories will become more attractive. I will be reading the next book in the series to see where the author takes these unusual characters.
The Author
Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn’t baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should. In addition to cozy mysteries, Darci’s other passion is writing historical fiction.
Another book by Darci Hannah readers will enjoy is Cherry Scones & Broken Bones from the “A Very Cherry Mystery” series.
Represented by: The Spencerhill Literary Agency
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