Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay

Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) 

3rd in the Series

A Berkley Prime Mystery

Published by The Penguin Group

The Food Channel comes to Scottsdale, Arizona, by way of the Scottsdale Food Festival.  Mel Cooper and Angie DeLaura are determined to win top prize for the Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery or may die trying.  They have to "beat" their arch rival Olivia Puckett first just to get entered into the competition and beating her with their delicious desserts will just be icing on their cupcakes.

Even with Mel's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, Food Channel celebrity chef, sitting in one of the judge's chairs, Mel knows she will need to use all her culinary skills to create the best dish using the daily mystery ingredients if they are going to take home the grand prize.

Shocked when Vic doesn't show up to judge the girls know something is amiss. They are just planning to search for him when a dead body is found in a freezer truck on the festival grounds. Someone had put Vic on ice, permanently.  Now they not only have to ice their competition with their fabulous cupcakes they also need to find a cold blood killer.  

My Thoughts

This is a scrumptious series and the latest installment is absolutely delicious!!

Two strong women, some hunky men and frosting how can you go wrong, lol!!!!

Truthfully the characters are lovable and becoming more defined in each story. I love Oz, the newest face at  Fairy Tale Cupcakes. The plot is timely and clever. The mystery ingredients competition reminded me of the mystery box challenges of Master Chef on Fox.  There were assorted "red herrings" to divert us and lead us astray.  Plus cupcakes, lots and lots of cupcakes!!! (recipes included)

WARNING: You will be craving cupcakes while reading this so be sure to have some handy!!

Jenn even gives us a taste of the next temptation, Red Velvet Revenge, and I can't wait to get my sticky hands on it.  For now just be sure to get your copy of Death by the Dozen today and enjoy!!!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”