Culinary Mystery

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is back with a fun and funny romp in Holiday Hills! Competition is one thing, but murder is another. When Page Turners, a new bookstore in Holiday Hills, opens its doors, it’s not just books flying off the shelves—accusations are too. Constantine Fairbanks, the tech-savvy owner of the shop, claims Bessie, the heart of The Enchanted Bookstore and Cafe, and Holiday Hills itself, is trying to sabotage her competition, his business. With glitchy e-readers and talk of other crazy events, the town is buzzing with gossip. Things heat up when...

Her sourdough is to die for... but someone took that literally. Caroline Baker thought she'd left the cutthroat world of professional baking behind when she transformed her grandmother's café into Milburn's most beloved gathering spot. But when her former boss—celebrity chef and notorious food critic Sophia Montgomery—arrives to judge the town's bicentennial baking competition, old wounds are reopened faster than a warm oven. After a very public argument where Sophia threatens to reveal a secret that could destroy everything Caroline has built, the critic is found face-down in a bowl ...

It’s been over three years since Sienna’s fresh start in her new hometown in Middle Tennessee. Her culinary gifts were equally praised with her keen ability to solve mysterious crimes. Today she finds herself at the most charming wedding venue in Columbia, for the unexpected wedding of…. When her dearest friend Aurelia Simpson seeks Sienna’s help when her nephew Riley is accused of attempted murder, the strangest of circumstances unfold. The next brief lull in Sienna’s amateur’s sleuthing is interrupted by a notorious copycat killer making his way to her cozy hometown. Perhaps ...

Sophie Winston is busy handling the first ever convention of the Association of Ghost Kitchens—restaurants that do delivery only—but she's taking a little time out for a lunch meeting organized by A Healthy Meal. The group is dedicated to providing meals for children in need, and as a bonus, it'll give Sophie the perfect opportunity to ogle the lavish Old Town home of socialite Geraldine Stansfield. Gerrie's dining room is impeccably furnished, the table laden with gleaming crystal and prized china. If it weren't for the dead man lying on the floor, everything would be perfect.

Local innkeeper and vineyard owner, Avery Parker, is having a blast with her friends during the annual grape stomp in their small town of Los Robles, California. The air is filled with laughter, cheers, and the pulsating rhythm of stomping feet, creating an atmosphere that crackles with contagious energy. But the good times come to a sudden end when a corpse is discovered in the vineyard. Avery is stunned to learn that the motley collection of suspects includes a member of her own staff, who she had never considered a possibility. As Avery uncovers the secrets behind the mystery, the stakes...

Returning to her sleepy hometown in Pennsylvania is the last thing Julia “JJ” Kamaras thought she’d ever do. So was solving a murder. Alone in Florida and working a dead-end job at a local gym, JJ’s career and love life weren't exactly on fire. But when disaster struck, her Greek-American father convinced her to come home to the safety of Jim Thorpe, PA, and their family restaurant, the Kamaras Grill. Though initially happy to be back cooking souvlaki with her father, family tension festered, and JJ’s ex, police officer Ryan, showed up still bitter about their breakup. Making ...

When her friend Penny confesses she’s struggling to finance the restoration of the historic Wentworth farmhouse, Annie is instantly inspired. The beautiful property has stood empty since the 1970s, but rumors still swirl about the eccentric Wentworth family and their hidden fortune. It’s the perfect setting for a spooky, immersive dinner party, and the evening is a roaring success—until neighboring landowner Curtis Wright drops dead at the dining table…

A Cupcakes-and-Crime Caper When Paul Alwes, a "life coach" is murdered, Tiffany and Rosie are asked to investigate. But who would want to kill a popular life coach? Unfortunately, as they look into Paul's life, the harsh truth is revealed: Paul was a fake. Suddenly, it seems as though many in his life would've wanted him dead - including Tiffany's clients - and Tiffany and Rosie must race time to uncover the killer before they strike again...

Sienna has taken a break (or so she thought) from her amateur sleuth work in her new small hometown in Tennessee, south of Nashville. While on “break” she’s focusing on her boutique bakery & community service for the homeless…until she accidentally uncovers something sinister at the Columbia Inn. Sienna realizes it’s time to dust off her crime-fighting skills to get to the bottom of this, and to the odd correlation with the tensions that are suddenly heating up between the local police & homeless. Growing affection & connections with a local fellow bakery owner (Pierre Delacroix),...

Gelato. It can be the start of something deadly. As Christmas approaches, amateur sleuth Julia JJ Kamaras finds herself growing restless working in her family’s Greek restaurant in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania and dreams of an exotic adventure. When a twist of fate from the Natale family allows her the chance to work in a world-famous Italian restaurant, JJ packs her bags, grabs her two besties, and heads to Florence. Immersing themselves in the richness of Italian culture, JJ, Rebecca, and Gwen Q are blissfully unaware that they’re about to be thrust into a series of scandalous family ...

When a vineyard accident during harvest season leaves Lucie Montgomery without a valuable employee, it's her worst nightmare. But before she can search for a replacement, there's more bad news: Paul Merchant, her winery manager's husband, is found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool. Police rule Paul's death an accident, but his wife insists he was murdered because of his leadership of Don't Pave Paradise, a conservationist group lobbying to keep the region's beautiful country roads unpaved. And six weeks ago, Paul's predecessor also died under mysterious circumstances.

In the charming coastal town of Harbor Cove, renowned for its picturesque beaches and vibrant culinary scene, excitement buzzes in the air as celebrity chef Gordon Masters announces plans to open a new restaurant. Amidst this whirlwind, Emma Turner, owner of the beloved bakery "Sweet Escapes," finds herself in the heart of a baking competition designed to showcase local talents against the culinary prowess of Chef Masters. However, as Emma prepares to prove her baking skills, a series of mysterious incidents begin to unfold. These sinister events threaten not only her chances in the ...

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. But their first big client is a nightmare. She's a bridezilla who wants 500 custom cupcakes for her wedding. When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead - by cupcake - Mel becomes the prime suspect. To save themselves and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer, before the cupcake killer ices someone else.

In The Salsa Sabotage, Luna Ramos’s biggest challenge isn’t her spicy salsa—it’s clearing her name of murder. When a food critic dies at the Sunset Street Food Festival, all eyes turn to Luna’s taco truck. With her loyal brother, a curious coffee vendor, and plenty of small-town charm, Luna follows a trail of secrets and sabotage. Cozy, clever, and full of flavor, this mystery is a recipe for danger—with a dash of heart.

Death by devil's food—but was it really the cake? Savannah Stanton thought she was finally settling into small-town life in Spring Grove. But when a prestigious judge drops dead during the town's annual Dessert Festival—right after sampling Holly's signature devil's food cake—Savannah finds herself kneading through far more than just dough. With the bakery's reputation at stake and whispers of sabotage rising like badly proofed bread, Savannah must sift through a cast of colorful suspects: a fiercely competitive rival baker, a resentful estranged brother, and a host of other townsfolk...

Set in the biggest small town in the country, Susan and Mike travel to St. Louis for their son’s Match Day ceremony. At the reception, the dean of the medical school drops dead under mysterious circumstances. Susan smells foul play. Teaming up with the detective’s mother, it's double trouble as she and her new bestie uncover secrets worthy of murder in Murder is Medical. In Murder is Universal, Susan and Valerie are on a flight when they discover the passenger in the middle seat dead on arrival. The dynamic duo is convinced it was murder. The dead passenger, owner of a successful ...

In The Poisoned Pastry, baker Fiona Turner’s new gourmet doughnut was meant to save her family bakery—until a food critic dies after tasting it. With Sweet Blessings Bakery shut down and her dream in jeopardy, Fiona trades her apron for detective work. Someone’s mixed murder into her recipe, and she’s determined to uncover the truth. Armed with baking instincts, loyal staff, and town gossip, Fiona must catch a killer before her future is left in crumbs.

Christmas in the close-knit community of Balsam Dell promises to be especially festive for Carly Hale this year when a prominent theater company comes to town to stage A Christmas Carol. But it turns out that Scrooge is not the most ill-tempered character in the production, as blowhard actor Prescott Lennon proves when he begins berating everyone else in the cast for their poor theatrics. When his arrogant behavior threatens the production, someone decides to resolve matters with a fatal solution—and frames Carly’s friend Gina for the murder.

Middle-aged Meredith’s husband is getting on her last nerve! Suddenly being an empty nester and getting a mysterious postcard has left her wondering what’s next for her. But, it’s hard to focus on her own troubles when something weird is going on next door. Is her latest bad dream a clue to follow or just the result of too much Law & Order?Note: This is a short story prequel to Brownies & Betrayal in the Merryville Mystery series. This story stands alone and can be read before or after other books in the series.

In the charming coastal town of Seagrove Harbor, the annual Harvest Festival is a celebration of community, food, and friendship—until tragedy strikes. When beloved organic grocer, Maria Alvarez, collapses after sampling her famous salsa, the idyllic atmosphere shatters, leaving everyone questioning the innocence of their cherished traditions. Lila McAllister, owner of the Seagrove Bakery & Café, can't shake the feeling that something sinister lurks beneath the surface. Teaming up with Maria's niece, aspiring detective Izzy Alvarez, the duo dives into a web of secrets, jealousy, and ...