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36th out of 66 books
—
71 voters
Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Bakery Mystery #3)
Melanie and Angie are determined to win the Challenge to the Chef to promote their Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, may be one of the judges, but Mel and Angie will have to win fair and square. But, when Vic's dead body is found inside a freezer truck, Mel and Angie will need to use their best judgment to find the cold-blooded ki...more
Mass Market Paperback, 276 pages
Published
2011
by Berkley Prime Crime
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Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura would like to win the chef's challenge at the Scottsdale Food Festival for a number of reasons: the prize money is good; it would be great publicity for their Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery; and they have a chance to beat their archrival Olivia Puckett. Their enthusiasm is dampened however when the body of one of the judges, Vic Mazzota, is found. Mel is devastated by the death of her mentor and wants to find out who killed him. Will her investigation solve the murde...more
This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery Series, and it was as well written andenjoyable as the first two!
I have enjoyed the characters, Tate, Mel, Angie, Uncle Stan, Joyce and all the DeLaura brothers! In this book, the Bakery gets an intern, Oz, that looks nothing like a baker, but turns out to have some mad skills!
The Scottsdale Food Festival is in town, and the Challenge to the Chefs is upon them. Mel and Angie entered the pastry division, and of course Olivia Puckett is entered and tryi...more
I have enjoyed the characters, Tate, Mel, Angie, Uncle Stan, Joyce and all the DeLaura brothers! In this book, the Bakery gets an intern, Oz, that looks nothing like a baker, but turns out to have some mad skills!
The Scottsdale Food Festival is in town, and the Challenge to the Chefs is upon them. Mel and Angie entered the pastry division, and of course Olivia Puckett is entered and tryi...more
This series is one I am so comfortable with that I know the next in the series will be equally as good. Yummy cupcake/dessert recipes are a bonus to an delectable murder mystery crime.
In "Death by the Dozen," we move to the streets of Old Town Scottsdale, where Melanie cooper and Angie DeLaura, enter a yearly competition for the Scottsdale Food Festival. It is one of those competitions by where a 'mystery ingredient' is introduced daily as the competitors dwindle down until there is the Best of....more
In "Death by the Dozen," we move to the streets of Old Town Scottsdale, where Melanie cooper and Angie DeLaura, enter a yearly competition for the Scottsdale Food Festival. It is one of those competitions by where a 'mystery ingredient' is introduced daily as the competitors dwindle down until there is the Best of....more
Mel and her baking partner, Angie, are entering a local bake off contest with the chance to win ten thousand dollars and a lot of publicity for their cupcakery. But when one of the judges is found murdered and frozen in a trailer, Mel finds herself not just baking but also investigating the murder. Hopefully she can catch the killer before s/he comes after her, too!
I loved this cozy! The plot was fantastic as was the diverse cast of characters. Early on the novel Mel gets an intern from the loca...more
I loved this cozy! The plot was fantastic as was the diverse cast of characters. Early on the novel Mel gets an intern from the loca...more
I have raved and raved about how much I adore the Cupcake Mystery series by Jenn McKinlay. It's not going to come as a surprise that I absolutely loved DEATH BY THE DOZEN, the third book in this series.
DEATH BY THE DOZEN sees Angie and Melanie entering the Challenge to the Chef competition, with Melanie's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, as one of the judges. Of course Melanie and Angie find themselves in the middle of a murder, soon enough, and are caught trying to find out who killed Vic, before the kil...more
DEATH BY THE DOZEN sees Angie and Melanie entering the Challenge to the Chef competition, with Melanie's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, as one of the judges. Of course Melanie and Angie find themselves in the middle of a murder, soon enough, and are caught trying to find out who killed Vic, before the kil...more
I enjoyed this book in this series by Jann McKinlay. Romance with District Atty, Joe DeLaura is moving along nicely, and her partner, Angie is dealing with her heart issues also. In this book there is a baking contest, similiar to Top Chef. This is held at a park and TV known chefs are the judges until they start turning up dead. How they were murdered and by who gets Mel into investigative mode as the first chef to die was a much beloved mentor of hers and a close friend of her father. Profres...more
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 s...more
Even with Mel's mentor, Vic Mazzotta, Food Channel celebrity chef, sitting in one of the judge's chairs, Mel knows s...more
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"Death by the Dozen" is the third book in the cupcake bakery mystery and is back up to the standards of the series debut. In this installment, best friends Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura have entered the Scottsdale Food Festival, but one of the judges and Melanie's former ventor Vic Mazzotta is murdered during the competition. I love the two women's friendship as well as Melanie's budding romance with Angie's brother Joe. I don't like the cat and mouse games between Angie and Tate, but hopeful...more
Stepping into book 3 of the series was a little jarring for the first few chapters. This was mainly because I was having a mental Character-mageddon in my head and couldn't remember who was who. Seriously, sometimes I worry that I consumed too much sugar and/or caffeine and all my brain cells are fried beyond belief and I'm never going to be able to get these years back.
Yeah. So, the point I'm trying to make is that there are a lot of characters that put in appearances (or are mentioned in passi...more
Yeah. So, the point I'm trying to make is that there are a lot of characters that put in appearances (or are mentioned in passi...more
What I liked: I liked how Melanie always seems to get herself tied up in solving the murder. I also liked the addition of Oz - I think I am going to like him. Jenn's writing style seems to flow to me and makes me not want to put the book down.
What I didn't Liked: I miss the old man from the second book, I hope he returns in the next book.
Overall Impression: Well Melanie and Angie seem to have found themselves mixed up in a murder again with finding Vic on ice. I enjoy the Melanie and Angie work...more
What I didn't Liked: I miss the old man from the second book, I hope he returns in the next book.
Overall Impression: Well Melanie and Angie seem to have found themselves mixed up in a murder again with finding Vic on ice. I enjoy the Melanie and Angie work...more
This is the third book in the entertaining Cupcake Bakery series. It would be best to read these books in order. Mel and Angie are likable and interesting main characters. The two enter a chef competition in an effort to get some publicity for the bakery. Unfortunately, it isn't long before one of the judges is dead and Mel is investigating another murder. The plot is fun and entertaining overall. The mystery is interesting, though it could be a little stronger. Some of the recipes that are incl...more
I was glad to see Mel and Angie veer back into likeable territory after their last outing.
What I enjoyed:
* Mel and Joe's relationship.
* Oz.
* Seeing a character remain affected by a death for more than a few pages.
* Angie's family.
What could have been better:
* It seemed unfair that Mel had a relationship with 3 of the 4 judges since it wasn't a blind tasting.
* Olivia is too over the top and needs to be made more realistic or given a good reason for acting like she does.
* The clues were pretty obv...more
What I enjoyed:
* Mel and Joe's relationship.
* Oz.
* Seeing a character remain affected by a death for more than a few pages.
* Angie's family.
What could have been better:
* It seemed unfair that Mel had a relationship with 3 of the 4 judges since it wasn't a blind tasting.
* Olivia is too over the top and needs to be made more realistic or given a good reason for acting like she does.
* The clues were pretty obv...more
Another awesome one in the Cupcake Bakery Mysteries by Jenn McKinlay. I love this series. I love the characters and I love the setting. Funnily enough, I am not a sweets person. I definitely prefer savory treats but for some reason, this one has me craving sweets, chocolate and cupcakes!
This time, the mystery was more complex than in the 1st 2 books. I loved that. It was complex yet made sense. Again, I hate it when these books become very complex and the ending makes no sense at all!
Also, I lo...more
This time, the mystery was more complex than in the 1st 2 books. I loved that. It was complex yet made sense. Again, I hate it when these books become very complex and the ending makes no sense at all!
Also, I lo...more
In this year's Scottsdale's Food Festival, Angie DeLaura and Mel Cooper, owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery, are bound and determined to beat out their rival, Olivia Puckett. Olivia, not one to play nice, runs a rival bakery and has been a thorn in their side since they opened the doors to their own bakery.
Even though one of the judges, Vic Mazzotta, is an old mentor to Mel, the competition will still be a tough one. How can one prepare for the bake off when the mystery ingredient could b...more
This is the third book in the Cupcake Bakery mystery series and has bakers Melanie and Angie entering a cooking competition with a secret ingredient in each round. They have been practicing by having Tate give them an ingredient to work with, the weirder, the better. The two are competing against their arch-rival, Olivia. Mel is surprised to find out that two of the judges are former teachers from her culinary school, now Food Network stars, one of whom was a mentor to her. When one of the judge...more
Melanie and Angie are competing in Scottsdale's food festival and are determined to win. Olivia Puckett is determined to continue holding the title.
Melanie's mentor Vic Mazzotta is one of the judges but is murdered before the competition begins.
Angie gets poisoned with an exotic plant that becomes the key to Vic's murder.
Mel and Joe continue their relationship. Mel finds kitten in the dumpster and Angie calls him Captain Jack. It looks like Mel and Joe have a pet.
Melanie's mentor Vic Mazzotta is one of the judges but is murdered before the competition begins.
Angie gets poisoned with an exotic plant that becomes the key to Vic's murder.
Mel and Joe continue their relationship. Mel finds kitten in the dumpster and Angie calls him Captain Jack. It looks like Mel and Joe have a pet.
This third entry in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series proves McKinlay has talent and has a great thing going.
I won't go into detail here, as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might read it. Suffice it to say I'm about to start book number four in the series, Red Velvet Revenge.
I find McKinlay's mysteries to be entertaining - I'm always trying to figure out who did it, and am always wrong, to my everlasting dismay.
I love Mel and Angie's friendship. The characters speak like real people and...more
I won't go into detail here, as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who might read it. Suffice it to say I'm about to start book number four in the series, Red Velvet Revenge.
I find McKinlay's mysteries to be entertaining - I'm always trying to figure out who did it, and am always wrong, to my everlasting dismay.
I love Mel and Angie's friendship. The characters speak like real people and...more
Dear cozy mystery authors: not every series heroine needs a cat or dog. Although I confess, I did not totally hate Captain Jack.
My favorite parts of this series remain Olivia Puckett, villainess and professional unhinged Scottsdale businesswoman, and the 7 DeLaura brothers, who are like Snow White's 7 dwarfs, but with airhorns.
Didn't think this particular outing came together as well as previous recipes (see what I did there? BOO YAH) because of all the dang shenanigans at the cooking competit...more
My favorite parts of this series remain Olivia Puckett, villainess and professional unhinged Scottsdale businesswoman, and the 7 DeLaura brothers, who are like Snow White's 7 dwarfs, but with airhorns.
Didn't think this particular outing came together as well as previous recipes (see what I did there? BOO YAH) because of all the dang shenanigans at the cooking competit...more
I do like this series. The characters are so likeable you find you're interested in how their personal lives turn out. I guessed whodunit, but the plot was so intricate I found it really interesting and edge-of-seat about how it was done. Their nemesis gets on my nerves because it feels a bit over-the-top, but not so much that it detracts from my enjoyment of the book. I'm thoroughly looking forward to the next one.
Meh. I like reading the Cupcakes Mystery series for light fluff, while I recharge between books of more substance. This book was the worst of the series, mainly because of the extreme overdose of cheesiness. I thought the others were light and fun, while this book was just wayyyy too far-fetched. The constant mentions of the meat-headed brothers was too much, as was Mel's ability to waltz around town and talk to anyone she pleased to try and solve the murder mystery. I get that that's the point...more
Fun light read set in Scottsdale, AZ. Mel and Angie are in a pastry baking contest and first Mel's mentor and teacher from culinary school dies or was he murdered and then his arch enemy is found dead, again simple heart attack or murder. Angie is also poisoned or was it meant for Mel? Amazingly enough I actually was able to guess the murderer before the reveal, something that doesn't happen too often.
This was a really great read and yes while I am reminded of other cozy mystery series (The Flower Shop series by Kate Collins), Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura make a great team. Throw in all those DeLaura brothers, especially Joe, and their friend Tate and you have a great collection of characters. Interesting mystery that stumped me and you have a winner. Can't wait to get the third in this series.
What is not to love about a mystery series that has a good mystery and cupcake recipes shared at the end of each book?
I love the setting of Scottsdale, Arizona for this series and the idea of a cupcake bakery like Fairy Tale Cupcakes is nifty. And the animosity between Mel and Angie and the rival bakery Olivia Puckett cracks me up. Olivia is truly off her rocker and it's fun to watch her go off.
All of this is in addition to a fab mystery to solve along with Mel and Angie. It's a wee bit like w...more
I love the setting of Scottsdale, Arizona for this series and the idea of a cupcake bakery like Fairy Tale Cupcakes is nifty. And the animosity between Mel and Angie and the rival bakery Olivia Puckett cracks me up. Olivia is truly off her rocker and it's fun to watch her go off.
All of this is in addition to a fab mystery to solve along with Mel and Angie. It's a wee bit like w...more
I do love the cozy mysteries. I tend to like them all but Jenn McKinlay's books are some of my all time favourites. Melanie Cooper's Fairy Tale Cupcakes is a place I'd love to work at or enjoy as my neighbourhood coffee shop and her friendship with Tate and Angie is so much fun - I feel like they were my friends in University days and I am reading about them.
This is a really enjoyable cozy series, and the mysteries are well crafted. Definitely one of my favorite series where I will continue with the series as long as it goes on. Sometimes I find myself reading a lot of 1st and then 2nd cozies in a series and just not liking the character development or I get tired of really formulaic writing. My only nitpick with this particular book was some of the language. Got a little tired of reading "gonna kick her in the patoot" and similar phrases. I don't e...more
Gee, no dead bodies until page 80, chapter 10!!!!!!
Mel & Angie own a successful cupcake bakery/store. They enter a week long pastry competition, using a different "secret" ingredient each day. It's an enjoyable romp through the pastry world, as well as their love loves, as dead bodies keep interrupting the week's events. Recipes at the end!!!
Mel & Angie own a successful cupcake bakery/store. They enter a week long pastry competition, using a different "secret" ingredient each day. It's an enjoyable romp through the pastry world, as well as their love loves, as dead bodies keep interrupting the week's events. Recipes at the end!!!
I love this series, and the recipes. The Fairy Tale Cupcakes Bakery owned by Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura have entered the Scottsdale Food Festival's chef's competition. They have to create a dessert using a "secret ingredient", which is different each day of the competition. They want to win, but they also want to beat their rival Olivia Puckett. They have been practicing for days and they think they're ready for anything. That is, until Mel's mentor from culinary school, Vic Mazzotta, who...more
This is the fist book I read in this series. I love the show cupcake wars and I love the Food Network so I realy enjoyed this storyline involving both. And I had no idea who the killer was until the author revealed it. LOVe that in a mystery. I plan on readng more in this series. :)
In this book for the series, the girls enter a baking competition. But when Mel's mentor who is a judge dies, she, of course, tries to find out who killed him. It becomes personal when one of the girls gets poisoned.
It was your typical mystery cupcake novel. Lots of characters and cupcake talk.
It was your typical mystery cupcake novel. Lots of characters and cupcake talk.
I'm loving this series even more as it goes on -- the characters are great, the challenges are great, and the cupcakes sound great. I loved the intern, Oz, and the twists and turns of this story. I can't wait to read the next one!
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cozy Mysteries : Giveaway: Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay | 3 | 25 | Oct 14, 2011 04:09am | |
| Free Book Giveaway: Giveaway Death by the Dozen by Jenn McKinlay | 1 | 5 | Oct 13, 2011 05:49am |
Jenn is the New York Times bestselling author of the Cupcake Bakery mysteries as well as the Library Lover's mysteries. She also writes under the names Lucy Lawrence and Josie Belle. She lives in Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets and her husband's guitars.
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