A Mold for Murder

Soapmaking Mystery #3

by Tim Myers

While hosting a celebratory event to boost sales, Benjamin finds himself in a slippery situation when his guest, soapmaking queen and author Contessa New Berne is murdered and a startling link between the victim and his girlfriend is revealed. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

225 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 3, 2007

About the author

Also writes under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Bright, Melissa Glazer, Chris Cavender, and Jessica Beck.

Tim Myers is the author of dozens of short stories published in mystery magazines and anthologies. He lives with his family near the Blue Ridge Mountains he loves and writes about. He is the award-winning author of the Agatha nominated Lighthouse Inn mystery series as well as over seventy short stories. Tim has been a stay-at-home dad for the last twelve years, finding time for murder and mayhem whenever he can.

Series:
* A Lighthouse Inn Mystery
* A Candlemaking Mystery
* A Soapmaking Mystery

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the previous ones in this series, but this one just didn't have the same appeal.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the third installment in the soap making Mysteries by cozy mystery author Tim Myers. in the third book in the series, Ben Perkins and his family are getting ready for a celebration their soap shop. bringing soap-making Queen and author, Contessa New Berne. the shop is packed for the big event, waiting for the soap making Diva to show. that is until Ben trips over her body in the back room of his shop. after she's killed, some Secrets let loose in Ben's current girlfriend becomes the prime suspect. Ben decides to put back on his sleuthing hat and get involved in the investigation yet again. this is a great book with a great setting and also a great cast of interesting characters. I enjoy murder mysteries very much, in the Whodunnit in this book doesn't disappoint.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Soapmaking Mystery and this series gets better and better. Benjamin has decided to have a celebrity do a soap making demonstration and a book signing but just before she goes on stage she is murdered. Benjamin's girlfriend's parents were killed by this celebrity so she is the prime suspect. Benjamin races to solve the crime and keep Molly the police officer and friend from arresting her and save the family business from the bad press. The suspect pool is large. The characters in this book are wonderful and the story line is great. I can't get enough of this series. The only complaint I have is the revolving door around Benjamin's love life. A great read and a great mystery.

[R.B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the three books, which I believe is the complete series, I didn't like it very much.

I was intrigued by the theme, I like cozy mysteries about unusual crafts/professions, but I didn't like the writing. It felt rushed, with no real character development, missing hints, and blunt endings.

I originally intended to continue on his other series, but after this I don't think I will.

[Mary Newcomb]

Not quite sure how this got on my list of books to read. It was OK, at best. The setting of a large family making soap (and making a living at it) was not realistic. I thought the relationships were trite and the mystery was not compelling. Guess I should re-check my list for any more books in this series.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - Light read with an interesting mystery and information details about soapmaking.

[Brittany Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️
I just didn’t really care for any of the characters

[Amy Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sad to see that this series is over! I really enjoy Ben and his loving, relatable family. The soapmaking aspect is fascinating to me.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this author has written under a number of different names, and as always I enjoyed their book. It was refreshing to have a male sleuth; I don't think I've read any like that since the Cat Who books, and I will fully admit to Qwill maintaining his status as my favorite male 'detective' in cozy mystery. This book follows the theme idea, in that the sleuth and his family make soap. I have honestly never thought of that as a profession/career, probably because I just buy whatever soap is on special at the time!

The mystery takes many twists and turns, leaving you breathless by the end. Ben is a little blunt, and does damage to his friends and relationships by the end of it all. Still, he ferrets out the murderer, and that's the main thing.

I only have this book so far in this series, but I'd definitely like to know more about Ben and his soap making family. Four stars.

[Michelle Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third in the Soapmaking Series, and starts with Where's the Soap hosting a craft author for a book signing, and soap making celebration and display, but although the author is right behind Ben, when he goes to introduce her, she doesn't come out, much to Ben's dismay, he goes to the back to find her dead on the floor. This is bad for business, so you know that Ben is going to have to dig into the murder, if for no other reason than the sake of family.

Another great crafting mystery by Tim Myers! Now I need to get ahold of his Lighthouse murder series, because I have got to read some more by this author.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery about a family who makes soap. They decide to have a woman who has written a book about soap making come and do a demonstration and book signing. However, just before she is to speak, she is murdered in the back room of the business. She wasn't exactly a likeable person, so there are many suspects.
Most of the cozy mysteries I have read have women was the main character. This book has a man as the main character.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable, breezy little cozy which features a man instead of a woman as the nosy parker.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good entry in the series. I like it when there is more soap making in the story. #readforkimberly

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben is just as blunt and determined as ever in this book. He's not much for the subtlety of tact, but the story does have an interesting plot that keeps me reading more.