Amish Cupcake Cozy Mysteries – Ruth Hartzler

Speak With Confection, Book Four

Matilda and Eleanor have entered Gigi the Wild Goat in a goat show.  While Gigi is busy making a meal of the Show Judge’s beard, someone discovers a dead body.  The owner of the multiple times grand champion of the show has been murdered.  Matilda and Eleanor seem to be Stirling’s only suspects; and Damon has been taken off the case!

Well of course Jane and the ladies have to investigate!

An entertaining tale as we spend a few hours in the company of Hartzler’s amusing characters.  Unlikely scenarios abound as these intrepid sleuths concoct their suspect list based on motive and opportunity.  The Amish Cupcake Mysteries never disappoint and volume four is no exception.  A good fun read I enthusiastically recommend!

[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book.   I was not required to write a review.  This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. ]

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Confection is Good for the Soul, Book Three

Five of five stars given

Rebecca has been accused of stealing an original recipe by a cookbook author.  Except the Amish Spice cupcake is one that Rebecca has been selling in her shop for years.

Since she threatened Rebecca to stop selling the cupcake or she would “reveal” something about Rebecca at her book launch, Jane and her roommates go under cover.  But  the only thing unveiled at the cookbook launch is a dead body.  Of the author! 

And Jane is once again the reluctant associate of Matilda & Eleanor Investigations!

What ensues is another frenzied round of visits, questions, and yummy Amish food being shared.  I love these characters and the way they always seem able to embroil Jane in their cloak and dagger shenanigans! 

Hartzler has once again penned a humorous adventure, complete with disguises and stake outs.  A great addition to this series, I’m am looking forward to reading the next entry!  I happily recommend this series!

[Many thanks to the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book.   I was not required to write a review.  This is my honest review, the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own. ]

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Previous Confections, Book Two

Four of five stars given

Jane and the ladies are pressed into service again!  And this time it’s a most unlikely character they’re trying to prove innocent;  Jane’s ex husband Ted.  Because his 20-something new wife begs them to help.

How it all comes about, and how Jane, Matilda, and Eleanor stumble their way to the real killer is another entertaining tale.  Get your sleuthing tools out and test your theories against these somewhat reluctant sleuths.  How do you stack up?   I was far off!  But I did enjoy Book Two in this charming series.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review of the book.   The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]

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True Confections, Book One

Four of five stars given

“We’re getting a divorce and that’s final.
“I’m going to marry my mistress. We’re going to have a baby.
“I’d like to give you some money, but I won’t be able to . . . And I need the house. “

And so Jane’s thirty year marriage was ended.   In an expensive French restaurant.   On the day of her fiftieth birthday.

Once the dust has settled, Jane has returned to the Amish community where she was born.  Although not Amish – having left the community after her Rumspringa without being baptised – she rents part of the apartment above her sister’s bakery, and spends her days baking for their customers.

Until the local bad guy drops dead in the bake shop.  When it seems that she and / or her sister might be in police sights as the culprits, Jane and her two elderly roommates set to the task of finding the real killer.  The amateur sleuths take a few false steps and u-turns along the road to their inadvertent discovery, but that’s what makes this an interesting tale; imbued with humour and imagination.  A quick read, that I really enjoyed.

[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review of the book.   The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]