Title: Crumbs of Defeat
Author: Jo A. Hiestand
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Book Blurb:
April first. The annual bake-off contest in Beaudin Trace, Missouri. Oven temperatures and entrants' tempers are hot enough to bake most anything. And everyone there thinks if one particular participant would leave, things would cool off.
Evidently, someone's wish is overheard, for the contentious contestant is found post-contest, sprinkled with cupcakes and ready for her postmortem.The death yields a mix of suspects, all capable of cooking up the murder. The problem is, who was stirred up enough to do it?
To prove herself innocent of killing Tiffany, bakery shop owner Kate Dunbar investigates. But she quickly wonders if the bake-off was the conclusion in a series of risky events, and if her own elimination is just around the corner.
My Review:
A baking competition ends in disaster when a young baker is murdered. Can the police discover who did it or will they need to use their secret ingredient, Kate? Crumbs of Defeat is a delicious cozy mystery blending food, competition, and murder. Jo A. Hiestand whips this mystery like she’s baking a cake. Layer upon layer of ingredients mix together to create a surprise ending. So, tie on your favorite apron and dive into Crumbs of Defeat.
Jo A. Hiestand is a prolific mystery author, and her cozy mysteries are my favorite. She uses her baking experience to add a fun element to her cozy mysteries. She even includes recipes at the back so you can bake it for yourself.
The mystery unfolds slowly before the investigation starts. If you’re a cozy mystery junkie like me, your favorite part is the detecting. Jo A. Hiestand writes detailed, so you get to experience everything Kate, our amateur sleuth, does. Crumbs of Defeat has dead ends, false clues, and a shocking conclusion.
The characters are so much fun. Kate is a baker and owns a bakery for pets. She’s a relatable character with a sharp mind and a nose for solving crime. She’s also an excellent baker. What makes her such a great cozy sleuth is her calmness under pressure.
Another great cozy mystery by Jo A. Hiestand. I read this book in two sittings, unable to put it down. Don’t be fooled by imitators, Crumbs of Defeat is a brilliant cozy mystery.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
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Author Biography:
A month-long trip to England during her college years introduced Jo to the joys of Things British. Since then, she has been lured back nearly a dozen times and lived there during her professional folk singing stint.
Jo’s insistence for accuracy--from police methods and location layout to the general “feel” of the area--has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire for research. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the details filling both her McLaren mystery series.
In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors.
Jo lives in the St. Louis area with her cat, Marlowe, and way too many kilts.
Social Media Links:
Booklisti: https://booklisti.com/johiestand
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BritishandUS/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/AnglophileJo
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/joahiestand
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/JoHiestand
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoHiestand
Website: http://www.johiestand.com
Reviewed by: Nancy