Peppermint Paws Plot

by Sue Hollowell

SNIFF OUT A KILLER? THAT'S A PIECE OF CAKE.

Between frosting cookies and dodging sabotage, baker Isla Northgate's holidays turn deadly when Belldrift Cove’s Christmas topper, and her reputation, plummet from the town spruce.

Armed with peppermint instincts and a nose-for-trouble dog named Fizz, Isla races to catch a culprit sprinkling malice into the season’s cheer.

6 days. 500 cookies. 1 sugar-coated killer.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

About the author

Get a free cozy story at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nn1op4cew3

Sue Hollowell is a wife and empty nester with a lot of mom left over. Finding a lot of time on her hands, and as a lover of mystery novels, she began telling the story of a character who appeared in her head.

The Chemical Bond is a book about Meredith Markette, a young woman who reluctantly enters into the field of law enforcement when her police officer father is killed in the line of duty. Her quest is to discover his murderer and in the meantime come to terms with a tragedy of her youth.

Will this book ever see the light of day? Maybe. Sue really likes the story and character. And writing that book taught her a ton about the publishing industry. Through this experience she has discovered a love of writing stories, and especially mysteries. She hopes you enjoy her books as much as she enjoys writing them.

She and her husband are on the search to adopt a dog, really missing her spaniels that passed a couple of years ago.

Get a free cozy story at https://dl.bookfunnel.com/nn1op4cew3

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in series! It’s a well written, entertaining holiday whodunnit. Great characters who get a little mystery solving help from an adorable canine foster. If you like a little chaos, mystery and murder with your cozy holiday reading, give this one a try!

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy from the author and even though I wasn’t required to post a review, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression I had after reading it.

This is a new short series just in time for the Christmas season. Isla Northgate operates a bakery in Bell Drift Cove and has sponsored the tree topper for the annual Christmas Tree celebration but the night before the festivities, she hears a commotion and looking out the window she sees the tree topper missing and as she goes to investigate, a man falls from the top of the tree and dies. Rumors start she had something to do with it. The animal shelter asked her to sponsor a dog hoping to generate interest in adopting dogs so she and her new doggie companion Fizz investigates the disappearance with the help of the local detective in town. What starts out as simple theft with one perpetrator dead escalates into sinister ramifications as Isla, Fizz and detective Greyson uncover a shocking scandal with far reaching implications!

Follow this thrilling tale of a corgi with a nose to sniff out clues and a baker determined to prove her innocence and a detective who believes in her and the web of deceit lies and corruption that will rock this small town!

Sue has once again written a story that will engage her readers from the start and will have them turning the pages to find out just who and how far this scandal spreads and find those responsible when innocent people are arrested and the guilty seem to slip away!

I heartily recommend this book as one I enjoyed and if you’ve read any of Sue’s other books then I know you’ll also love this one too. It has it all- mystery, a determined heroine and a corgi who does what any good dog would do- sniff out and find clues that humans have missed!

Pick up this book and enjoy the coming holiday season but be warned- there are two more stories in this series that will all come out together so get all three and have a season of sleuthing involving humans and dogs who solve mysteries just before Christmas!

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla Northgate is the owner and baker of Belle Drift Coves' local bakery and has sponsored the Town Christmas Tree Topper. A great business decision. She foster's dogs in hopes of customers will adopt them. She is presently fostering a Corgi names Fizz who is very smart. While on a walk with Fizz, she comes upon a crime in progress where one of the criminals dies and the other gets away with the tree topper. She decides to look into the murder and theft along with Detective Greyson and her clue finding Corgi, Fizz. If course things are never what that seem. Isla definitely has her hands full since she has 500 cookies to bake for the festival the next day. This is a short, but fast paced read that keeps you turning pages totally engaged to the very end. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next two in this series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Javon50 · Rating 5 out of 5]

From inside her bakery Isla Northgate spots someone climbing the town Christmas tree and is startled when she sees the figure plummeting and left hanging from a low branch before running away and disappearing. Looking down she sees a body under the tree. Soon the police arrive, and Isla finds herself giving a statement as to what she saw. When a young man is taken in for questioning, Isla knows deep in heart that he is innocent. Along with foster dog Fizz who has a nose for solving mysteries, Isla is soon investigating the death and discovering that someone is attempting to sabotage her business. What she discovers will shock her and send shockwaves throughout the community. This is my honest and voluntary review of an advanced copy of this book.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla Northgate operates a bakery in Bell Drift Cove and has sponsored the tree topper for the annual Christmas Tree celebration but the night before the festivities, she hears a commotion and looking out the window she sees the tree topper missing and as she goes to investigate, a man falls from the top of the tree and dies. Rumors start to spread that she had something to do with it.

The animal shelter asked her to sponsor a dog hoping to generate interest in adopting dogs so she and her new doggie companion Fizz investigates the disappearance with the help of the local detective in town.

What starts out as simple theft with one perpetrator dead escalates into sinister ramifications as Isla, Fizz and detective Greyson uncover a shocking scandal with far reaching implications.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peppermint Paws Plot (North Star Paws Mysteries Book 1), my fiftieth well-written & enjoyable read from author Sue Hollowell, the first book in her new North Star Paws Mysteries. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book am reading it & voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with The Greatest Waffle Show (Witchy Waffle Wagon Mysteries Book 5) next on my TBR list and Mousse and Mayhem (A Belle Harbor Cozy Mystery Book 11) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 1st book in the North Star Paws mystery series.

This story follows Isla, baker extraordinaire, during the Christmas season in Belle Grove. Isla discovers that the town's tree topper is missing and someone is trying to sabotage the tree festival. Isla, her doggie foster-Fizz, and the town detective are on the case. Will they be able to find the topper and save the tree lighting in time before anything else happens?

I received a copy of this book, and these are my own opinions.

I LOVE Sue Hollowell--her writing style, characters, plot development. This book/series is no exception, and if you love a quick mystery, you will really enjoy this one. Highly recommend!

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful cozy mystery for those looking for a festive escape. I'm a fan of holiday-themed stories and love a good whodunit. This novella is a charming treat with a cute foster dog who sniffs out clues before the culprit strikes again. The twists and turns of who is behind the chaos become clear, and it is a matter of stopping them, no matter the cost, despite being exhausted from baking 500 cookies in a day!!! This book captures the ups and downs of the season—and it's a little reminder that even in chaos, there can be sweetness and dogs make the world a better place!

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent cozy mystery featuring bakery owner and amateur sleuth, Isla Northstar and her corgi foster dog, Fizz. Isla helps deputy, Grayson Holt, investigate
the death of a young man whose body she found by the town Christmas tree. Local youth Tanner Gleam, comes under suspicion, but Isla doubts his guilt. There is more to the case than meets the eye. Who killed the young man and why? Find out by reading this engrossing book, which I highly recommend to other cozy mystery readers. I received an ARC of this book, and the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s after midnight in Belldrift Cove when the baker, Isla hears metallic clicks from the town’s Christmas tree. Someone falls off it and someone else climbs down quickly & runs away & the large star is gone. Sadly the one who fell, is dead. Isla has a Corgi, Fizz, who is a wiz at uncovering mysterious things, clues abound when he’s near them, even when covered in cocoa. Read this amusing book on how come there’s cocoa everywhere.

[Don Lentz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peppermint Paws Plot what an exciting book. Written by Sue Hollowell. This book has so much excitement, murder, mystery and the plot thickens as you get into the story. There is baking for a fair, police chases, and flower flying everywhere, and thief. This book will grip you until the end and leave you wanting more. I just love this book and I give it a big 5 star rating. Yes I have this book.

Written by
Edith L
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[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect Christmas mystery! A special baker, her assistant and their Corgi foster-dog save Christmas by investigating a murder and assisting a detective in rounding up all the bad guys! There’s also a little Christmas romance. Easy to read with storylines that keep you wanting to know what happens next. I highly recommend this Christmas - Doggy treat!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla is busy with her Pets Paw bakery which is sponsoring the star at the top of the town Christmas tree. It gets stolen and to find what happened and to clear the name of the volunteer that was helping she and Detective Holt find that most of the town officials are not what they seem and they find out with the help of Fritz the corgi!
I received an arc and this is my review.

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five star

Peppermint Paws Plot is one book in a cute series of three Christmas stories featuring Isla, Detective Grayson and an amazing rescue dog.  Each book in this series features a different rescue who is the star of the book who is intelligent and very lovable.

I read the books in this series as part of an advance reader team.  I am voluntarily writing this review.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a murder mystery with many false trails. There is a cute corgi who is always getting into trouble and finding clues. I liked that at the end the dog gets adopted, I was disappointed that you don’t find out how the murder victim was killed. It was a good read. I received an arc and the views and opinions are my own.

[Stacey L. Clifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book especially for Corgi lovers

If your looking for a quick read during holiday chores & are a Corgi lover this book is for you. Read how little Fitz saves the town and his humans too. Sue Howell captures Fitz's personality perfectly. So grab a cup of your favorite hot beverage & A Xmas cookie too while read this book.

[Smiley De Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

A short but very cute read. Bakery owner Island and her detective foster dog, Fizz, set out to deliver some peppermint justice after the town's star is stolen. Trusting her gut instincts and her puppy sharp senses, they uncovered a twisted trail of conspiracy and corruption helping detective Holt crack the case along the way.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla gets involved when there is a sabotage to the star she sponsored for the town Christmas tree. During this someone falls and dies. Isla helps investigate. Fun characters. I love that Isla's bakery fosters a dog for adoption all the time.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy Coastal Culinary Christmas Crime
Baker Isla helps Deputy Grayson investigate a death st the town tree Chistmas tree and the following mysteries with the aid of a rescue corgi. Good friends, villains, humor and mystery.
I received an ARC gratis and offer my opinion in the same

[Phthon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww. Corgis are cute. Fizz, the corgi in question, captures hearts and criminals. Isla helps just a bit. LOL. This was a fun mystery to read. Great characters, villains, and world building. I look forward to reading the next book!

[Lauren Heiy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peppermint Paws Plot: North Star Paws Mysteries book 1

This is a delightful cozy and Fizz the Corgi is especially talented. Its close to Christmas and the special star is gone and a volunteer falls to his death. But this book has a lot of upbeat vibs.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It was a great quick story. I loved Fizz, he was a cute addition to the story. I liked how Isla let nothing stand in her way. I look forward to reading more stories by this author.

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable story of a courageous Corgi and his indomitable spirit. Fizz and Isla, two wonderful characters who save the day and make Christmas brighter. Highly Recommended.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read and entertaining. The characters are fun and the pup adds a bit of spice and excitement. Story is well told and keeps you entertained and guessing.

[Irena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story crafting with clues as to guilty parties but no confirmation until the big reveal. I wish the wonderful sounding cookies were available near me 😊

[Maxence · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Really cute