Review and Giveaway: Dying for a Cupcake

Dying for a Cupcake (Devereaux Dime Store Mystery - Book 4)

Publication Date: 03/03/2015
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 272
ISBN-10: 0451418891
ISBN-13: 978-0451418890

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Denise Swanson on the WEB: website, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series:

Devereaux Dime Store Mystery

1. Little Shop of Homicide
2. Nickeled and Dimed to Death
3. Dead Between the Lines
4. Dying for a Cupcake

Coverart:

Excerpt from Dying for a Cupcake, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature

Synopsis:

When Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair hosts a cupcake contest at her five-and-dime store, she discovers that someone is just dying to win... 

Kizzy Cutler finds it so delicious to be back in her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri, that she seems to have forgotten why she fled twenty years ago. For now, she’s excited to kick off her new line of cupcakes with a competition, which Dev has agreed to host in her shop. But before the first yummy cupcake is even baked, Kizzy's assistant Fallon dies from a mysterious ailment.

While the medical examiner attempts to discover what killed Fallon, Kizzy declares that the show must go on. However after Kizzy escapes several near misses, Dev is convinced that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for the Cupcake Queen. Is the secret from her past so dark someone still wants to kill her for it?

With a list of not-so-sweet suspects, Dev’s in a race against the timer to solve the murder before someone else gets iced…

Thoughts:

Denise Swanson is a pro when it comes to cozy mysteries. Her, latest book, Dying for a cupcake is the fourth book in her Devereaux's Dime Story Mystery series with features a strong female lead character that is looking for more than your average clue. Dev Sinclair has a keen eye when it comes to solving crime and in this latest installment of the series, it's all in the cupcakes. With a mouthwatering theme and a little bit of murder, this a great addition to the series!

Swanson never disappoints when it comes to a good mystery, but in this case readers get that and a whole lot more. Not only is there mystery and suspense in Dying for a Cupcake but readers get the added bonus of a little romance and a whole lot of amazing cupcakes. Yummy, yummy! I liked the premise of the story and since my daughter wants to own and operate her own bakery one day, this one hit a sweet spot for me. Swanson set up the novel carefully and allowed the theme to permeate the book. A great idea for a cozy.

Dev is once again, a very clever heroine. I loved watching her get down to the business of investigating. She looks at all the possibilities and draws so much from those around her and clues that maybe most sleuths would never find. I always feel with her that readers are getting a much different perspective than in most cozy heroines. Much like Swanson writing, Dev is unique and surprising. I liked the touch of romance in her life this time and can't wait to see where that goes.

Kizzy is back in town but apparently not everybody is glad to see her. I liked the whole bad girl returns to town after a long hiatus, theme Swanson has going on. Readers are instantly trying to figure out what she did. Why she left. And most importantly, why she came back? There were questions on top of questions but Swanson did a good job of keeping her writing on point. The suspects start to mount and things really get out of hand, but I loved every minute of the chaos.

Bottom Line:

If you haven't tried Denise Swanson's writing, what in the world are you waiting for? Swanson's unique style and flippant sense of humor give this book and the others in the series, a refreshing and lightness that isn't often found in the genre. I like a little romance with my mysteries and I got that too, with this one. There's a lot to like for many different kinds of readers. Swanson does a great job with her latest offering!

Dying for a Cupcake is available NOW from your favorite bookseller

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Denise Swanson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Scumble River Mystery series and Devereaux’s Dime Store Mystery series. She worked as a school psychologist for twenty-two years before quitting to write full-time. She lives in Illinois with her husband, classical composer David Stybr, and their cool black cat, Boomerang.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Dying for a Cupcake by Denise Swanson.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, April 7th.

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