Kneaded to Death by Winnie Archer is the first book in the NEW “Bread Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Kensington, February 28, 2017

Everyone swears by Yeast of Eden, the Mexican bread shop in town. But tonight, the only thing on the menu is la muerte.

Struggling photographer Ivy Culpepper has lots of soul-searching to do since returning to seaside Santa Sofia, California. That is, until the thirty-six-year-old enters a bread making class at Yeast of Eden. Whether it’s the aroma of fresh conchas in the oven, or her instant connection with owner Olaya Solis, Ivy just knows the missing ingredients in her life are hidden among the secrets of Olaya’s bakery.

But Ivy’s spirits crumble when a missing classmate is suddenly discovered dead in her car. Even more devastating, the prime suspect is Olaya Solis herself. Doubting the woman could commit such a crime, Ivy embarks on a murder investigation of her own to prove her innocence and seize the real killer. As she follows a deadly trail of crumbs around town, Ivy must trust her gut like never before—or someone else could be toast!

We are introduced to Ivy, who returns home upon the death of her mother. Taking solace, Ivy enrolls in a bread making class and inheriting her mother’s keen sense for ferreting out the truth, finds herself involved in a murder investigation when it looks like the owner may become the prime suspect.

I love it. The pacing and comfortable tone made it easy to follow the story as it moved from chapter to chapter. The narrative was nicely done as it put me in the middle of all the action, keeping me glued to the pages as I had to know what happens next. The author did a great job in setting the stage for this multi-plot whodunit where potential suspects kept rising to the top each with their own motive, but it was that double surprising twist that ratcheted this tale up a notch and I give kudos to the author on a job well done. Boasting a great cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a feel good atmosphere, this was a very enjoyable read and is a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre and I can’t wait to see what new adventures await Ivy and her friends in this delightfully charming new series.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.