Book picks similar to
Killer Caramel Cookies by Patti Benning


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Rise and Die


Ginny Gold - 2014
    For two years, she’s been the sole breakfast spot in town so when culinary rival, Tessa Doyle, moves to the small town, Kori can’t help but think she’s just there to compete. Suddenly, Tessa’s Sunrise and Shine café is under attack, with a rock through the window on Monday morning. Kori knows she’s innocent, but still doesn’t feel much empathy for her breakfast nemesis. But when Kori gets arrested and grilled by Detective Gunn and childhood friend Lieutenant Zach Gulch, she can’t help but wonder if she’s the new target. And when things escalate to Tessa’s murder, Kori comes under more scrutiny. Will she and best friend Nora Farmer be able to crack the case before she’s on the receiving end of a deadly dish? Or is she in more danger than she realizes and should skip town to avoid the heated investigation? INCLUDED: In The Kitchen with Ginny Gold—Goat Cheese Omelets and The Early Bird Café’s menu! **Rise and Die is approx. 28K words and is volume 1 in the The Early Bird Café Cozy Mystery Series.

Murder Between the Lines


Thea Cambert - 2020
    All three live in tiny apartments above their shops.The trio of friends share a charming rooftop garden, where they meet in the mornings for coffee from Franny’s coffee shop, and sweets from Owen’s bakery. When a new yoga studio, Bliss, opens up across the street, Alice reluctantly agrees to take a class to promote relaxation in her life, and it actually works, much to her relief.A fire breaks out in town, resulting in a tragic death, and Alice’s brother, Blue Valley PD Officer Ben Maguire, and newcomer, Detective Luke Evans—who has an irritating way of making Alice blush—lead the investigation. When it is determined that the death was no accident, Alice, Franny, and Owen get pulled smack dab into investigating the case.Will they solve it before you do?Find out in this fun and fast-paced Cozy Mystery!

Teepees & Trailer Parks


Hope Callaghan - 2015
    90 MINUTES). If you prefer longer cozy mysteries, be sure to check out Garden Girls and Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series of books."Teepees & Trailer Parks" - Episode 1 in the Sweet Southern Sleuths Short Stories: A Cozy Mysteries Women Sleuths Series.Loretta Sweet and her identical twin sister, Lacy, have recently inherited a home in Misery, Mississippi, from their distant relative, (Aunt) Tess McCoy. Their aunt's attorney insists that the girls meet him at the property to discuss the specifics of the will.When the sisters arrive for the meeting, they discover that there is more...much more to the will than just inheriting a home.As the attorney prepares to go over the details of the will, one of the "stipulations" makes a dramatic appearance, along with a body that is found in the bathtub.Will the Sweet sisters turn tail and run or will they stick around to help solve the murder?

A Drizzle of Murder


Constance Barker - 2019
    The guy moving her bakery items, not so much. He's a grump and rattles Coco to the core. So when he ends up dead inside her new digs, Coco finds herself smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation. Masie and Scooter work with Coco at the bakery. Scooter has a way with cakes, but is he any good at solving crimes? Masie can make a mean crumpet, but her sleuth solving skills are still questionable. Stella and Vivian are seniors, but you know the old saying, 60 is the new 40, and these gals are spry as Spring chickens. Their counterparts, Red and Henry, may not keep up with them, but they're not over the hill just yet. Unfortunately, one of them is suspected of murder. Logan, the handsome police detective, is on the case. But can he keep his personal feelings separate? Can Coco and her madcap friends discover the culprit before he strikes again? And will the handsome police detective create some heat for the gals? ***Find out in the first book in the Mad Batter Mystery Bakery Series***

Brown Bag Murder


Evalynne Shaw - 2016
    After a local foodie, Chet Hurst, is found dead, with a bag from The Fancy Food Truck on his head, truck owner Meredith Malam instantly becomes a person of interest in the case. Refusing to let this horrifying turn of events take her out of the food truck game, Meredith dives into the mystery with the same gusto she uses to attack a new recipe. But can she find the missing ingredient in this bizarre case that hits way too close to home?

Vanilla Bean Killer


Summer Prescott - 2017
    Chas and Spencer's first official case at the investigation agency hits far too close to home, and Missy begins to wonder if she might have made the biggest mistake of her adult life. County Coroner, Timothy Eckels, is haunted by the ghosts of his past, and his feisty assistant Fiona fears for her life in this first installment of the Cupcakes in Paradise series.

Death of a Celebrity


Eleanor Calder - 2015
    Full of fun, laughter, warm characters and a strong female sleuth. Its amazing twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end!” Former Bestselling mystery writer turned innkeeper, Harriet Rose arrives in Sandy Creek, Cape Cod only to find herself at the center of a world famous celebrity murder case. When her friend is accused, Harriet must uncover the clues, secrets and lies that lead to the identity of the murderer. With the help of her dog, Bentley and her crazy friend and co-worker, Libby, Harriet must race against time to catch the perpetrator before they get away with another murder. Note: You won't find any cursing, gore or sex in this book. If you are searching for a traditional cozy mystery set in a coastal town that will keep you turning pages, this is the series for you! Harriet Rose Mystery books are full novels with an enticing mystery to solve. They are all stand alone reads. The following books are best enjoyed in this order: Death of a Celebrity: Harriet Rose Mystery #1 Death of a Liar: Harriet Rose Mystery #2 Death of a Salesman: Harriet Rose Mystery #3

Truffles and Troubles: Book 1 in The Chocolate Cafe Series


Valley Sams - 2016
     After the death of her beloved grandfather, Catharine “Mac” Mackenzie opens a chocolate shop in her sleepy little New England bayside town with her best friend Sabrina. Things are going well for the daring duo, until Sabrina’s landlord, one of the wealthiest women in town, is murdered. Toss in a British detective with a wicked sense of humor, a shudder-worthy encounter with a childhood friend, and you’re in for a delectable mystery experience that’ll have you on the edge of your seat!

The Curse of Hollister House


Kathi Daley - 2019
    Callie is certain the two deaths must be linked, but Cass has a suspect in custody and the Chief of Police wants the case closed in order to get the mayor off his back, so in spite of the fact that Callie is certain that they have the wrong man, it looks like the case will be closed. Callie knows that she owes it to both victims to find the truth, so she decides to look into things on her own, giving her not only a way to fill her days, but a means of renewing her passion. Join Cass and Callie, along with Alastair the cat, as they seek out the hidden truths that will allow them to see what no one else seems to be willing too.

Books, Brownies and Murder


Lori Woods - 2018
    James is content with her life in Valley Springs and her flourishing bookstore. She’s content, not bored. And if she keeps repeating that to herself, one day it might just be true. Everything changes one snowy afternoon when a handsome stranger takes up residence next door. Tall, dark, handsome, and arrogant, he rolls into town like he owns the place. Before she can complain too much, Valley Springs is rocked by an unexpected murder of a local man. All eyes turn to Clary’s bookstore cafe when it’s revealed that lethal brownies were the murder weapon. The once revered brownies become an object of suspicion, and Clary is forced to defend her talented chef and friend, Marie. It’s a race against the clock as the evidence keeps mounting, and secrets come to light. Death by Chocolate was supposed to be a marketing scheme, not a promise. Will Clary find the truth? Is her faith in her chef misplaced? And what’s happening next door? Book 1 in the Story Tree Cozy Mystery series, which can be read in one to two hours! Perfect for a lunchtime read or if you want to enjoy a quick light-hearted read, with a book-loving amateur sleuth, set in a picturesque town with sassy characters. No cliffhanger, swearing or gory scenes!

Deadly Deals and Donuts


Cindy Bell - 2017
    They love working together and despite a few hiccups things are running along smoothly. That is until business comes to a grinding halt when the owner of the hot dog truck is found murdered. Wanting the murder solved as quickly as possible so justice can be served and business on Green Street can return to normal, the friends decide to do a little digging of their own. But things go from bad to worse when it looks like the murderer is targeting the food truck owners on Green Street. It is a race against the clock to find the killer before Joyce and Brenda become the next victims. Recipe Included: Chocolate Glazed Donuts with Sprinkles

Pelican Cove Collection


Leena Clover - 2020
    At her aunt's urging, Jenny starts working at the Boardwalk Cafe, slowly rebuilding her life. Her delicious cakes and muffins make the town famous, drawing tourists from far and wide.Jenny will form lifelong friendships with the local women. And she might even dare to love again.This collection contains three standalone stories set in Pelican Cove.HAZELNUTS AND HALLOWEENWhen an unidentified body washes up on the beach the morning after the Halloween party, Jenny is hired to solve the murder. With a town full of people dressed in costumes, it's going to be hard to narrow down any suspects.CANDY CANES AND CHRISTMASIt's Christmas time and Jenny is trying to raise money for the local children's home. When a confused old man arrives on her doorstep, Jenny takes him in without a second thought.Is he a trickster like her boyfriend suspects, or just a lost soul looking for a warm haven?SORBETS AND SAILORS***Brand New story***When a cheerful young sailor is found dead in the marshes, Jenny's favorite customer becomes the top suspect. Can Jenny find a motive in the sailor's colorful past?*INCLUDES RECIPES FROM THE BOARDWALK CAFE

Claus For Alarm


Gretchen Allen - 2019
     Charlotte Claus, not to be confused with the ever-popular Mrs. Claus, volunteers to house-sit for a friend of the family while he is out of the country on business. She arrives in Partridge Point on her own, as this time of year is a very big one for her husband, Kris, not to be confused with the even-more-popular, Santa Claus. Things heat up fast, when Charlotte finds herself in charge of the town’s prestigious cookie exchange. Baking one’s way into oblivion, while keeping track of all of the other cookie participants would set anyone in their right mind on edge. Anyone but Charlotte, that is. With the patience of a saint, she brings the Claus-doubting town of Partridge Point jingling its way right onto the nice list. Except, unfortunately, for her neighbor, Hannah, the mayor of Partridge Point, who is accused of murder. Refusing to let the sweet woman end up in jail, Charlotte promises to rein in the crowds of people that are positive that Hannah is a criminal. Partridge Point will never be the same, after Charlotte brings the joy and spirit of the season back to everyone’s hearts, even in the midst of the town’s largest scandal, and a murder that threatens to ruin the Christmas magic that she’s worked so hard to spread. Can Charlotte save the day and solve the crime of the season before the cookies burn, and goodwill goes up in smoke?

The Ginseng Conspiracy


Susan Bernhardt - 2014
    When the official coroner's report rules the cause of death to be accidental and the community accepts the judgement, Kay decides to uncover the truth for herself. Through her personal investigations, Kay exposes a complex conspiracy, woven deep within the thriving local ginseng industry, that involves some of the more prominent figures and families of Sudbury Falls. With her new friends, the free-spirited herbalist Deirdre and the untamed modern woman Elizabeth, Kay discusses new clues over tea and pastries at Sweet Marissa's Patisserie, their crime-fighting headquarters. As Kay gets closer to the heart of the conspiracy, additional murders happen in quick succession. Before long, Kay learns that the villains are gunning for her, too. Phil, her musically talented but preoccupied husband, determined to keep her safe, withholds from her the one thing she needs most: the truth.

Jacob's Coins


Gillian Larkin - 2014
     A short cozy mystery about a ghost that needs help. Following their parents’ sudden death, Frankie and Grace Abrahams are left with crippling debts and an almost empty antique shop. Frankie has watched countless TV programmes about storage locker auctions and is convinced that he has what it takes to succeed in the business. He drags Grace to a nearby auction. Frankie is excited about making his first bid, he doesn't know that Grace can see ghosts in the lockers. Frankie buys his first locker, complete with a 17 year old ghost. The ghost looks so sad that Grace can’t help but talk to him. She soon finds out why he is attached to the locker. He asks for her help. Grace doesn't know how she can help him, she’s never even spoken to a ghost before – she just knows that she has to try.