Peppermint Pudding Peril

by Tammy Beck

Francis Desmarais, a spirited baker with a passion for tradition, finds her world turned upside down when a Christmas parade ends in tragedy. The mysterious murder of Eleanor Wells, a cherished local and friend to Francis, unveils a labyrinth of long-buried secrets, simmering feuds, and a hidden heirloom with the power to change everything.

Francis must whisk together her love for baking and her knack for sleuthing as she delves into the past, unearthing stories of forbidden love, familial strife, and ancestral ties that bind and break. With the townspeople eyeing her every move and the future of her beloved bakery hanging in the balance, Francis finds an unlikely ally in Isaac Fulton, a local teacher with secrets of his own. Together, they navigate cryptic clues, cryptic conversations, and the shadows of yesteryear, determined to solve the mystery and save Francis’ culinary haven.

Can Francis sift through the layers of the past, find the murderer, and protect her legacy? Or will the shadows of Harmony Bay swallow her dreams whole? Baking has never been this perilous, and Francis is about to discover that in this town, every recipe has its secrets, and every family has its skeletons. Welcome to Harmony Bay, where the pies are sweet, the mystery is rich, and the danger is just heating up.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

116 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2023

About the author

📖 Welcome to my cozy corner of the mystery world!

I write feel-good mysteries filled with small-town charm, relatable heroines, and the kind of friendships we all wish we had. My books are for readers who love a little intrigue, a lot of heart, and maybe a touch of mischief.

💔 If you’ve ever had to start over, my stories are for you.
🍩 If you believe that coffee, donuts, and a great mystery can fix almost anything, we’re already friends.
🔎 If you love uncovering secrets, solving crimes, and watching heroines find their strength, welcome home.

Let’s solve some mysteries together. 📚✨

Reviews

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

a little Christmas

"Peppermint Pudding Peril (Mysteries à la Mode #1)" by Tammy Beck is a smidge Christmas with a family feud at the root of a big mystery. However, I didn't quite get enough of the 1960's vibe that the time period of the story is supposed to be. Also, there was a secret I felt was revealed that the main character just didn't seem to understand until the 3rd time it seemed to be revealed to her. I felt it was clear the first time it was revealed. It wrapped up on Christmas with the reveal that didn't really surprise me but wrapped up well.

[Neia Quaintance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town mystery

This is a good book bout a small town murder mystery, and it kinda reminded me of clue the game cause ur lost on who the murderer is. This book had me hooked from beginning to end. And I really liked at the end u get recipes of what Francis made in the story.

[KimMacs]

Peppermint Pudding Peril is a cozy mystery by Tammy Beck that quickly draws you in and takes you on a who-dun-it mystery when one of the staples of the community is found dead. The author paints a perfect picture of this small coastal town of Maine and its many quirky characters.

Francis Desmarais moved to Harmony Bay after her divorce to make a fresh start. Through happenstance, she ends up inheriting a bakery. When our story begins, she is preparing for her grand opening, but things do not go as planned. When she discovers that she is a suspect in the murder, she decides to take matters into her own hands which takes Francis on a journey to uncover the details surrounding the long time feud between the Desmarais and the Wells families. This feud has raged on for several generations in this town, but does it have anything to do with the murder?

This is a light hearted mystery that unravels many secrets that have been hidden in Harmony Bay for many years. This town is full of lovable characters, rich family histories, and so much more. This book is perfect to cozy up by the fireplace on a cold winter afternoon and immerse yourself in this delicious little mystery with so many twists and turns.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis is living in Harmony Bay and building her dream of owning her own bakery. It's 1959 and she's ready to see what the new decade will bring. Her friend Isaac has been her staunch supporter and cheerleader. One day before opening her friend Eleanor gives her an envelope and tells her to put it away until it's time to open it. Francis is mystified but promises to do as instructed. The town is having a parade to celebrate the season and the opening of her bakery. As people are enjoying their treats a scream sounds out. When Francis goes to see what happened she finds Eleanor on the floor. The supposition is that it was the peppermint pudding she ate that caused her death. Now Francis is the number one suspect. Between what was in the letter and the poisoning she knows it's going to be about family. Now she's on the path to find the person who took her friend's life. Will she succeed before she's accused of the murder.
A mystery that will grab the reader till the last page.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising Culprit
Francis must whisk together her love for baking and her knack for sleuthing as she delves into the past, unearthing stories of forbidden love, familial strife, and ancestral ties that bind and break. With the townspeople eyeing her every move and the future of her beloved bakery hanging in the balance, Francis finds an unlikely ally in Isaac Fulton, a local teacher with secrets of his own. Together, they navigate cryptic clues, cryptic conversations, and the shadows of yesteryear, determined to solve the mystery and save Francis’ culinary haven.
The culprit was a total surprise. After being the only person suspected of the murder of her friend she was the one to solve the issue. I borrowed this book from KindleUnlimited. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story. Francis Desmarais has been given a bakery by Eleanor Wells Desmarais, because she is a true Desmarais. Francis & her helper Dottie have everything prepared for the grand reopening of the bakery. It had been burnt in a fire that Eleanor was certain had Ben set by someone from the Wells family. A long running feud! Sadly, Eleanor dies whilst eating a pudding made by Francis. This sets Francis on a trail, trying to find out lots of the past & the feud & the in & outs of her family in Harmony Bay. Naturally things do get sorted out & she finds some true friends & relations along the way.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is the start in a series and if book 1 is any indication, I will be reading each and every book! I loved the twists and turns along with the family involvement, mixed in with a touch of history and feuding! On top of all of that throw in a priceless necklace and you have the recipe for a binge read!
Speaking of recipes, this book kept making me hungry with all the baking and the recipes at the end where a awesome and fun touch.
So if you want a quick, cozy read that keeps the pages turning, this one if for you!
I received a ARC copy of this book in return for this honest review.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis returns to Harmony Bay after her divorce hoping for a fresh start. However, she soon uncovers a historic family feud between her family when her dear friend Eleanor who gave her the means is murdered. Is it related to the feud or someone much closer to home? Although a holiday cozy, this is one mystery that may not leave you warm and fuzzy.

For someone who normally picks out the culprit early on, the reveal was surprising and unexpected.

I received a complimentary copy of an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is the start in a series with Francis finally starting the bakery of her dream only to end up with a dead body and mystery to solve. The twists of the family drama and murder mystery are blended together perfectly for a satisfying ending. The recipes at the end of the book look interesting as well but make sure you don't add any extra ingredients that can cause harm!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who Killed Eleanor ? . . .

Frances Desmarais has returned to Harmony Bay and opened a bakery she inherited to start her new life here. Learning about some kind of historic family feud, she is distracted when her friend Eleanor Wells is found murdered. Was the peppermint pudding she ate the cause of her death? Will Frances be blamed? Secrets will come out and need to be dealt with. Can Frances use her sleuthing skills to track down the murderer and clear her name?

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect beginning to Christmas season reading. And if that cover doesn't make you want to start baking, the food descriptions in the book certainly will. The editing is not great - there are grammatical errors throughout. But who minds when this is a set in a charming town in Maine, with lots of baking and foodie goodness, and a family feud mystery to solve. Looking forward to continuing the series.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis has moved to Harmony Bay and opened a bakery. Or tried to because during the opening someone was murdered. So the bakery is closed and Francis is a suspect. With nothing to do she decides to investigate. Good cozy mystery with a family feud, long buried secrets, and a valuable necklace.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie]

This is a new author for me and she took me a fantastic voyage of amazing discovery because she has all the elements that I look for in a great book which is a small town, baking, tradition, parades and a murder. I loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sherry Kilmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promising cozy series

This is a cozy mystery that delivers the small town feel and keeps your interest. Although the reason for the family feud at the center of the story is unclear this book has many of the feel good elements that keep you intrigued.

Looking forward to more from this author

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting story and even though I hadn’t read the prequels leading up to it, I never felt lost. I loved the idea of Frances wanting to reconcile the feuding families but really wasn’t sure about whodunit, although it was sad when I found out who the victim was. The showdown was good and quick but really effective. I’ll definitely be reading Frances’s next adventure!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time read

Francis moves to a small town and is given a burned out bakery. As she remodels and opens up the bakery, a close friend is murdered. Signs point to Francis' pudding being the method. Old family feuds, secrets and a hidden treasure keep her and her new friends busy, as they try to solve the murder.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peppermint Puddling Peril

A quick fun read. The feud between two families continues even after many years. Why would anyone want to ruin so many lives? A must read to discover the truth behind the feud and if it can be resolved.

[E'Who'Reads'a'Thousand'Mysteries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy

This well-written cozy mystery comes to life with lively characters, vivid scene descriptions, interesting dialogue, and delicious food. Very cozy!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Eleanor Wells and why??? Where is it??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who killed Eleanor Wells and why??? A ruby??? i enjoyed this story and recommended the gook.

[Sarah Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful cozy mystery!
I throughly enjoyed this little mystery. Not only was it exciting and filled with drama, but it was heartwarming and easy to follow.

The pacing of events was spot on. I never felt like the author was in a rush to get to the next big thing or revealed too much or to little when something did happen. The few unexpected twists were a delight and added depth to the story.

The main character, Francis, was relatable and crafted by the author to not be overly brave when things got going, which is something I found unique from other mysteries I’ve read. She, Francis, is also not obnoxiously optimistic or pessimistic which was also refreshing!

As a mom, I’m always looking for books that are family friendly, but can keep the kids attention with excitement at the same time. This book was great with that and I know I will be reading it to my little ones.