A routine cake delivery becomes a culinary nightmare when a small-town baker discovers her first client’s dead body in this irresistible new mystery series.
It’ll take more than a little sugar to convince folks Daphne Martin’s freshly baked spice cake was not to blame for the mysterious death of town gossip Yodel Watson. Getting her new cake decorating business, Daphne’s Delectable Cakes, off the ground is hard enough now that Daphne’s moved back to her southern Virginia hometown, but orders have been even slower since she found Yodel’s body. She soon realizes, however, that just about everybody in town had a reason to poison the cantankerous busybody, from the philandering pet shop owner, to Yodel’s church potluck nemesis, to the Save-A-Buck’s cranky produce manager-turned-bagger. Now, to help prove she’s no confectionery killer, Daphne recruits her old flame, Ben Jacobs, editor of the local newspaper, and quickly stirs up a long-hidden family scandal that just might hold the secret ingredient she needs to solve the case. All she’s got to do is roll up her sleeves and get her hands a little dirty before the real culprit decides that taking sweet revenge on Daphne will be icing on the cake. (Details taken from the back of the book.)
Murder Takes The Cake is written in first-person narration, which isn't my favorite angle, but that's ok, I've worked with it fine before. There were times when I thought to myself though, 'wow I am really getting bored'. There were some moments though that picked up some.
There was quite a bit of time spent going on about making cakes and references to cakes. That's just fine and dandy if you want to talk of them for a moment or two throughout the book; the woman is supposed to have a cake business after all. However, I was bored with all of the references and the time spent of the cakes. The one thing I liked though about the whole cake processes is that at the end of the book, Trent gives you a few of the recipes that her character makes. And, you can get more of her recipes on her website, which is nice.
The story line was rather skeletal and blah. It definitely could have been spiced up to give it some life. The suspense was lacking (this is supposed to be a mystery, cozy or not!) As far as the murder case that Daphne is suppose to solve, well, there really wasn't much of a case. The 'mystery' lacked the tension, the 'oh what will happen next', it lacked drama as well, something a good mystery should obtain.
Characters were ok, nothing too special. There was some unexplained bits though. Like why some of Daphne's odder neighbors had their quirky traits, and why did Daphne have a strained relationship with her mom? These are just a few examples to let you understand what I mean when I say this.
Overall- I cannot give this book praise. It lacked quite a bit and needs a major facelift. Although, I do like the cover, it's cute.
Rating- Don't Bother
**I was sent a free copy of the book in order to write a real and honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.**
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