Review: Dessert is the Bomb

DESSERT IS THE BOMB by Catherine Bruns

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

BLURB: Baker turned sometimes-sleuth Sally Muccio has always loved Halloween, but this year she has more on her mind than ghosts and goblins. In addition to catering a party at her wacky father’s funeral home, a competing bakery has just moved in across the street from Sally’s Samples. The new owner, Celeste Delgado, seems intent on burying Sal’s novelty cookie shop into the ground with her sensational smash cake bombs. Suddenly, the homemade fortune cookies that Sal and her best friend Josie create with loving care are predicting an ominous future for their business. Before Sal can discover what’s behind Celeste’s grudge, the woman is killed by an explosion. To take the cake, Josie was heard threatening Celeste shortly before her death. A night in the slammer, another deadly explosion, and dangerous family secrets all add to Sal’s growing list of concerns. Like an oven timer, precious minutes of her life are ticking away. Can she find Celeste’s killer before everything blows up in her face?

THOUGHTS: Wow, there are a lot of bombs going on in this story – from cake bombs to the real “blow up” thing. And Sally Muccio has to figure out who’s creating the explosions before she becomes one of the victims!

This is part of the “Cookies and Chance” series and I love these stories, especially the whole Muccio family. They are kooky and fun and I want her grandmother for myself! In this one, Sally is startled to find out that a bakery that carries a lot more than cookies has opened up across the street from her. And the woman has a major grudge against Sally. But before Sally can figure out why, the woman—Celeste—is blown up – In Sally’s father’s hearse! And Sally is the main suspect. It’s up to her, her best friend Josie, and their friends to find out who is setting the bombs off and why before Sally becomes the next victim.

This is a fun cozy with all the usual things you expect from a cozy — small town, amateur sleuth, big secrets someone is willing to kill for, and more. A quirky family helps. And an interesting twist at the end that ties everything up. Nicely done!

Recommended.