I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
The country's hottest TV cooking show is coming to Cape Cod. And against her better judgment, Lily Roberts is entering America Bakes! with her charming tearoom, Tea by the Sea! Filming is already proving disruptive, closing the tearoom during Lily's busiest season. But tensions really bubble over when infamous bad-boy chef and celebrity judge, Tommy Greene, loses his temper with Lily's staff, resulting in an on-camera blowout with Cheryl Wainwright. Just as Lily thinks the competition can't get more bitter, Tommy is found dead in Tea by the Sea's kitchen . . . murdered with Cheryl's rolling pin.
Suspicion immediately falls on Cheryl, but the temperamental star has racked up plenty of culinary clashes in the past, both on- and off-screen. And nearly anyone associated with Tommy or the show could be the killer: be it one of Lily's fierce competitors, a member of the beleaguered film crew, or even one of Tommy's fellow judges--struggling cookbook maven, Claudia D'Angelo or beauty contest winner, Scarlet McIntosh. Now, while she's baking up a storm for the show, Lily must also whip up an impromptu investigation . . . before the murderer rolls someone else away. (Goodreads synopsis)
I have read all of the novels in this series by Vicki Delany as well as a few of her other novels. This is not my favorite series by her.
I have a love/hate relationship with Lily, Bernie, and Rose. I hate that Lily appears to be stubborn (other members of her family think she’s mad to be working with her grandmother, but she is determined), but when then acts as if she has no backbone when it comes to Bernie and Rose. Lily’s stubbornness also makes her believe that she doesn’t want a relationship with Simon, the English gardener, so she avoids the topic. Rose and Bernie don’t take into account how Lily feels about investigating people and mysteries, nor do they seem to care how dangerous the situations can be.
This is the third book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone. The author gives enough background from the previous two novels, however there is a slight awkward scene as far as background. It’s almost as if the author forget how the previous novel ended. She could have made a reference there, but nothing was mentioned.
The mystery and the pacing were flowed smoothly. I do wish that there wasn’t a detective that is an “enemy” towards Lily and Rose, but I have discovered that most amateur detective novels have such a person, regardless of how cliche it has become.
Overall I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
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