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Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop

(Beacon Bakeshop #1)

Darci Hannah (Goodreads Author)

4.40 · Rating details · 184 ratings · 112 reviews

In the first of a new series, after Lindsey Bakeswell catches her celebrity chef fianc� sizzling in the arms of another woman, Lindsey leaves big city Wall Street for small town Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her own passion as a pastry baker--and gets mixed up in someone's sweet taste of revenge...

More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey's breakup i ...more

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Kindle Edition, 280 pages

Published February 23rd 2021

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Average rating 4.40 ·

Rating details

· 184 ratings · 112 reviews

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Jan 09, 2021 Chatting About rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-arc-netgalley, contemporary, netgalley, ghost, 2021-cozies-read, cookbook, dog, humor, kindle, cozy-mystery

The Beacon Bakeshop is open for business! Author Darci Hannah has assembled a fantastic group of characters in a cozy mystery filled with savvy plot twists taking place in a dreamy beach setting.

When protagonist Lindsey Bakewell purchases an old, rundown lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, MI, she has no idea it comes with a pirate ghost. Many townspeople wanted it torn down, while others wanted it preserved for its historical significance. Lindsey leaps forward with her plans to open a Bakeshop and Ca ...more

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Feb 10, 2021 Gloria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: cozy-mystery, reviewed, read-arc, rated, netgalley-2021

I kept seeing this book pop on Goodreads and decided to read it and am glad that I did. The story includes some great, interesting and likable characters in a fun setting and murder mystery plot. After discovering her celebrity chef and fiancé with his pastry chef, Lindsey Bakewell left her successful Wall Street career behind her to pursue her dream of opening a bakeshop and café in an old lighthouse on the shores of a lake in Beacon Harbor, Michigan. Her grandparents had a bakery in a nearby c ...more

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Feb 02, 2021 Tina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Murder at The Beacon Bakeshop was an exciting adventure from the start. It had quirky characters. Suspenseful from beginning to end. A thrilling start. I would have never guessed who the murderer was. It was a surprise to me. A picturesque setting that I would love to visit again in the second book.

I received this book ARC from Netgalley. This was a honest review.

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Feb 18, 2021 Nancy Baker rated it it was amazing

This story is sure to make you hungry. Lindsey Bakewell leaves New York City and her cheating fiance to a quaint small town on Lake Michigan to open her own bakeshop. Little did she know she was going to be in more danger than she ever experienced in NYC.

A charming setting with interesting characters and a well plotted ending make this a well rounded cozy. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

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Jan 21, 2021 Lisa Morin rated it really liked it

Shelves: coffee, cookies, culinary, sweets, bakery, first-in-a-new-series, netgalley, dogs, pet-lovers, new-to-me-author

This is a great addition to the cozy mystery genre. Lindsay is a good character, she’s independent, loyal and her good attitude are excellent qualities in a protagonist.
With the opening of her own bakery in a lighthouse, Lindsay has everyone in the little community talking. Some residents are excited and some are livid, and someone is out for revenge.
A gruesome death casts a shadow over Lindsay’s grand opening, landing her directly at the top of the suspect list.
Refusing to give up, Lindsay and ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Peggy R rated it really liked it

Shelves: culinary-cozy, cozy-mystery-books, netgalley, 2021-goodreads-challenge, arc, michigan-setting

After a few disappointing reads by new to me cozy mystery authors, I was hesitant to try another. Darci Hannah has been on my TBR list with her previous series, so I thought I would take a chance. I'm happy to say that I found Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop to be a delightful debut in this new series. The reasons I was drawn to this series were the culinary aspect and because it is set in my home state. I always think it is fun to read a book set in my home state, especially when the author also ...more

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Feb 20, 2021 Kim rated it it was amazing

I am so excited to share the first book in A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series with you! It truly was a pleasure reading Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah.

I rarely laugh at cozy mysteries and when people say in their reviews that they couldn’t stop laughing, I wonder if I really am that jaded from reading so many thrillers and horror books. While I wasn’t LOLing at Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop, I was amused by some of the dialogue and scenes, which for me is basically rolling on the fl ...more

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Feb 10, 2021 Maria rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, netgalley, 2021, mrd-s-2021-netgalley

What a great start to a series - I loved this book! The setting was imaginative, the characters were strong yet quirky, and the mystery kept me guessing until the end. I also enjoyed the light paranormal aspect.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#MurderattheBeaconBakeshop #NetGalley

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Feb 17, 2021 Darci Hannah rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Why did I give this book a 5 star review? Because I wrote it, and I loved writing it, and I love it even more because you amazing Goodreads reviewers are enjoying it too. Thank you for reading this first Beacon Bakeshop mystery. I promise to write more, and I promise to make them just as fun for you to read. You all deserve a 5 star review! Hugs and donuts for you all!

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Dec 11, 2020 Lisa Morin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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Jan 21, 2021 K.A. Davis rated it it was amazing

MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP is the first book in the brand new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah. First off, I adore the location… who can resist a small-town Michigan lighthouse turned bakery and home? However, protagonist Lindsey Bakewell, newly arrived from New York, finds the lighthouse she purchased (sight unseen!) doesn’t even come close to living up to the description provided by the town’s real estate agent. The author’s humor, given the situation, captured my attention an MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP is the first book in the brand new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah. First off, I adore the location… who can resist a small-town Michigan lighthouse turned bakery and home? However, protagonist Lindsey Bakewell, newly arrived from New York, finds the lighthouse she purchased (sight unseen!) doesn’t even come close to living up to the description provided by the town’s real estate agent. The author’s humor, given the situation, captured my attention and had me eagerly turning pages to find out how Lindsey recovers from her setback. I enjoyed how the reader gets to follow Lindsey from her first arrival into town and through the setup of the bakery. I felt like I got to know her better rather than read bits and pieces of backstory before she had a successful bakery. Another unique thing with this series is that Lindsey is quite wealthy instead of a struggling business owner. This gives her a lot of leeway when it comes to dealing with the setbacks.

I found the characters well-developed and love the small core group that surrounds Lindsey, including her Newfoundland, Wellington. I especially hope to see more of her quirky social-influencer best friend, Kennedy, who brings lighthearted humor to the story. When someone murders Lindsey’s ex-fiancé’s girlfriend in the bakery, during the grand opening, Lindsey realizes she has to search out the truth or lose her business and most likely her freedom. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and some twists that got me off track. And in amongst the murder and mayhem, Lindsey finds she just might be living and working in a haunted lighthouse. With a surprising reveal, the threads of the story were wrapped up into a cohesive conclusion and makes me wish the next book was releasing already!

Lindsey’s bakery offers many delectable dishes and treats, and the author has thoughtfully included several recipes, both sweet and savory, at the back of the book.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ...more

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Feb 24, 2021 Brenda Feinen rated it liked it

Shelves: 2021-netgalley

I want to visit Beacon Harbor! A vintage lighthouse renovated, a bakeshop and a ghost? Count me in!
Lindsey leaves behind a lucrative financial job after finding her chef fiancé and his pastry chef naked on his desk. She buys a lighthouse in desperate need of a renovation with the dream of opening her own bakeshop - using the internet.
Opening day - her bestie, Kennedy, a trendsetter with thousands of followers, has inspired not only New Yorkers to attend the grand opening, but also Jeffery with ...more

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Jan 20, 2021 Rima Aiello rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A strong start to what promises to be a deliciously written series. Full of charming characters, a solid mystery, and a setting one can only dream about being in, this is a book the reader will not be able to put down. I cannot wait to see what else the author has in store!

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Jan 31, 2021 Caryn - iam.caryn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2021, read-cozy-mystery, read-earc

Bring your appetite and your thinking cap when you dive into this story.

I pretty much wasn’t able to put this book down when I was reading it... only when the food descriptions were so heavenly that I had to stop and make myself a snack (this may have happened more times than I care to admit).

The plot and mystery were perfect for the cozy mystery genre. Likeable narrator, quaint town, suspicious about everyone else, precious pooches, a possible haunting ... wait what?! Yes! A possible haunting! ...more

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Feb 17, 2021 Mary Brown rated it it was amazing

Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop
Beacon Bakeshop, Book 1
Darci Hannah
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the first of a new series, after Lindsey Bakeswell catches her celebrity chef fiance sizzling in the arms of another woman, Lindsey leaves big city Wall Street for small town Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her own passion as a pastry baker--and gets mixed up in someone's sweet taste of revenge...

More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey's breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wa ...more

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Jan 29, 2021 karen wescott rated it really liked it

Shelves: give-aways

Thank you for another Goodreads Giveaway! Really liked this book. More depth than a typical cozy mystery due to multiple storylines. Reminiscent of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Felt a bit cheated on the bad guys - not sure of the fit. Would make for good TV as well.

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Dec 02, 2020 Bobbie Kirkland rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of MURDER AT THE BEACON BAKESHOP (Book 1 of the Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries) by Darci Hannah in exchange for an honest review. Lindsey Bakewell is a successful and therefore, wealthy, New York financier. On her birthday, she finds her celebrity chef fiancé in flagrante delicto with his pastry chef on a cooking surface in his restaurant. Yuck! A good bit of wine and some computer surfing later, Lindsey finds herself the owner of a lighthouse in Beacon Harbo ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Noreen Trotsky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021, cozy, fiction, mystery

What a great start to a new series. A cheating fiancé, a sweet drooling dog, a BFF with a cool British accent, a hunky neighbor and a new dream career as a bakery owner in a gorgeous setting. What more can one ask for?
Well, if you are Lindsey Bakewell you can ask for a smooth opening day for her new bakery set within a lighthouse. That, unfortunately, is not going to happen for her as a certain someone dies right on her lawn after taking a bite of one Lindsey's donuts along with a sip of her cof ...more

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Dec 10, 2020 Lacey Harrington rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a great start to a fun series! Lindsey and her Newfoundland Wellington are a fun pair. She leaves New York, high profile job, and cheating fiancé. On a whim and after drinking to much she bought a old light house with plans to open a bakery. Beacon Harbor was like coming to a different world from New York. Things are moving along until opening day when her past shows up to ruin her opening day. Two murders, fun characters, beautiful setting and a great ending!
#MurderattheBeaconBakeshop ...more

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Feb 25, 2021 Bridget rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, peach-vanilla, cosy-reads, netgalley-arc, series

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is the first in Darci Hannah's new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series following Lindsey Bakeswell and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

In this book, I was pleased to meet Lindsey who has always dreamed of owning her own bakery. After finding her fiancé in a compromising situation, covered in icing sugar along with his tarty pastry chef, Mia, she heads off to small-town Beacon Harbor, Michigan and sets up a bakery cafe in a former lighthouse, leaving New York Cit Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is the first in Darci Hannah's new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series following Lindsey Bakeswell and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

In this book, I was pleased to meet Lindsey who has always dreamed of owning her own bakery. After finding her fiancé in a compromising situation, covered in icing sugar along with his tarty pastry chef, Mia, she heads off to small-town Beacon Harbor, Michigan and sets up a bakery cafe in a former lighthouse, leaving New York City behind. There is a problem, though; the Beacon Point Lighthouse Preservation Society aren't keen on Lindsey's lattes, donuts and pastries. They wanted the lighthouse preserved for its historical importance, whilst others believed the local lore about ghosts and hauntings and would have liked it demolished. In spite of the obduracy of some of the locals, the opening event of 'The Beacon Bakeshop & Café' is a success, until her ex-fiancé shows up with Mia in tow and Rory Campbell, Lindsey's new neighbour discovers that one of the customers isn't breathing; it's Mia.

It is wonderful to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and I jumped into Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop with feverish excitement! This super new series has a fabulous, engaging main character. Darci Hannah's new sleuth, Lindsey, is smart, caring and determined. With a compelling plot, drama aplenty, a great bunch of characters, and oodles of mayhem added to the mix, this was a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. Darci Hannah's writing style was a good fit for me. Trying to unravel the mystery in the pockets of Lindsey, with the aid of her BFF, Kennedy Kapoor and her handsome neighbour, Rory was lots of fun and I welcomed the comfortable pace as well as the surprising, neatly packaged ending. I thoroughly enjoyed Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop and I'm game to see what adventures befall Lindsey and the Beacon Harbor crowd, next. The book includes recipes that pastry and donut lovers will salivate over, and I'm keen to try out the Carrot-Raisin Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion. ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Missi Martin (Stockwell) rated it it was amazing

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah is the first book in her new Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series and it will capture readers attention hook, line and sinker !!

Main character Lindsey Bakewell moves from New York City to the small lakeside town of Beacon Harbor, Michigan to get as far away from her cheating ex-fiance and his tart of a girlfriend as she possibly can. She bought an abandoned, rundown lighthouse sight unseen except for pictures on the internet and works at turning it into a ...more

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Feb 22, 2021 Cozy Cat Reviews rated it it was amazing

This is a fun charming cozy debut. Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in the mystery series " Beacon Bakeshop Series". The series is set in picturesque town on the coast of Maine, Beacon Harbor. I love the description of the small coastal town and the culture of Maine.

Our protagnist is Lindsey Bakeswell ( love the name !) who is home from wall street to pursue a career baking which is her joy. She has converted a charming old lighthouse into her bakery cafe and her home. The descri ...more

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Feb 19, 2021 Lori Leaf rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-books, netgalley, cozy-mystery

In short: On the day of her Bakeshop grand opening, Lindsey’s ex fiancé’s girlfriend shows up to sabotage it but then chokes on a donut and dies.

Synopsis from publisher: In the first of a new series, after Lindsey Bakeswell catches her celebrity chef fiancé sizzling in the arms of another woman, Lindsey leaves big city Wall Street for small town Beacon Harbor, Michigan to pursue her own passion as a pastry baker--and gets mixed up in someone's sweet taste of revenge.

My thoughts: I really enjoye ...more

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Jan 19, 2021 Fred rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in the A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah.

Lindsey Bakewell, I love her last name, having caught her fiancee, Jeffery Pank, a renowned chef, in a compromising position with his pastry chef, Mia Long, has decided to leave her high-paying job in the financial district of New York City. Googling real estate properties, Lindsey found a lighthouse and keeper’s house for sale and bought it sight unseen. When she arrives in Beacon Harbor and Murder At The Beacon Bakeshop is the first book in the A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah.

Lindsey Bakewell, I love her last name, having caught her fiancee, Jeffery Pank, a renowned chef, in a compromising position with his pastry chef, Mia Long, has decided to leave her high-paying job in the financial district of New York City. Googling real estate properties, Lindsey found a lighthouse and keeper’s house for sale and bought it sight unseen. When she arrives in Beacon Harbor and sees her lighthouse, she wonders if the purchase was a mistake, as the condition is not attractive as the pictures on the internet. Lindsey soon decides it will make an excellent bakery.

As she is getting the renovation underway, she meets her neighbor, Rory, when her Newfoundland dog, Wellington, enters Rory’s yard and eats the fish he had caught that morning. Rory is happy with Lindsey’s repurposing of the lighthouse and enjoys Lindsey’s company.

Renovations are completed, a staff in place, and Lindsey is ready to open her bakery. The day before the grand opening learns that her barista has sustained an injury, and Lindsey recruits Rory to fill in. Shortly after the doors open, the bakery is packed with customers. Lindsey is thrilled until she looks up and sees her ex and his girlfriend, along with an entourage of Mia’s friends. Mia begins to make a scene in the bakery and takes a coffee cup out of another customer’s hand. Mia takes a dring and exclaims how terrible it is, and collapses. Rory immediately begins to perform CPR on her. Shortly after arriving at the hospital, Mia is pronounced dead. An autopsy will show that Mia died from poisoning.

Lindsey will become a person of interest due to her history with Mia and Rory. As will Rory, as he was the one preparing the coffees. Kennedy, Lindsey’s best friend from NYC, has joined Lindsey for the grand opening to help Lindsey and Rory clear their names.

The book is an excellent beginning to this fascinating new series. The book is well-written and plotted. The book has an enjoyable cast of believable characters. I particularly enjoyed the antics of Wellington. There plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
...more

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Feb 22, 2021 Monica Zapata rated it it was amazing

Very Entertaining!! It keeps you wanting to know more; a masterful mixture of mystery and funny anecdotes. Rich and flawless descriptions that take your mind away of everything.

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Mar 06, 2021 QNPoohBear rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: clean-romance, cozy-mystery, kisses-only

DO NOT purchase this book! A key piece of the story is missing and replaced by a chunk of another author's story!

After catching her fiancé, celebrity chef Jeffery Plank with that tart of a pastry chef Mia Long, Lindsey Bakewell got a leeetttllle tipsy and bought a lighthouse in Michigan on the internet. Arriving in Michigan to find a run-down lighthouse next to the keeper's cottage she had arranged to have renovated, Lindsey almost turns and runs back to her high-powered Wall Street job. Baking ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Jeanie rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-foodie, cozy-dogs, first-reads, cozy-michigan

There were many things I loved in this first in a new series. Overall, the mystery itself is fabulously plotted and executed. The characters, who are well defined, are very likable, and love the setting. There were also a couple aspects a little edgier than I usually prefer.

On Lindsey’s thirty-fifth birthday, she went to her fiancé Jeffery’s trendy Manhattan restaurant and found him with his pastry chef, Mia. She broke their engagement, gave up her lucrative investment banking career, and moved There were many things I loved in this first in a new series. Overall, the mystery itself is fabulously plotted and executed. The characters, who are well defined, are very likable, and love the setting. There were also a couple aspects a little edgier than I usually prefer.

On Lindsey’s thirty-fifth birthday, she went to her fiancé Jeffery’s trendy Manhattan restaurant and found him with his pastry chef, Mia. She broke their engagement, gave up her lucrative investment banking career, and moved to Beacon Harbor, Michigan. She found, and bought, an old, partially renovated lighthouse in which to open a bakeshop café. It is a short drive from Traverse City, the cherry capital of the world, and has wonderful childhood memories of her grandparents. Lindsey arrived with her huge, loveable, furry Newfoundland, Wellington. They live in part of it, with the café in another part.

Lindsey continues to make new friends, hired capable staff, and met Rory, the handsome retired SEAL. She also met Fiona, who with her gang of seven, is set on driving Lindsey out of the lighthouse. They want the lighthouse turned into the historic landmark it once was. Lindsey also learns that the lighthouse may be haunted by the first lighthouse keeper murdered in the 1800’s.

Opening day arrives, with Lindsey’s best friend Kennedy in town to help market the grand evebt. The bakeshop is full, and they can’t pull lattes and fill the bakery case fast enough for the amazing crowd of locals and tourists. Fiona and her friends begin to protest outside, then a hotel bus arrives with guests from the Big Apple. Jeffrey, Lindsey’s ex-boyfriend, is in the group, as is Mia, the pastry chef who she caught with him. Mia grabs pastries from customers’ plates and throws them against the cases, tastes some and complains. Fiona and her crew of protestors come in and do the same. Amidst the melee, Mia grabbed someone’s latte; she and Fiona make a bigger mess. After Rory escorts Mia outside, she collapses…and dies. The cause is found to be cyanide in the latte she sipped from. The latte wasn’t prepared for her, however, it was for Betty, the local Realtor and everyone’s friend.

Rory is the first suspect until a second person dies by cyanide, and Lindsey moves to the top of the list. With her dream shop shut down and possible arrest pending, Lindsey is determined to find out who was set to do people in and frame Lindsey before she has to serve coffee in prison orange. Betty doesn’t have any enemies in town with the possible exception of the second person who died after drinking a soda intended for Betty.

This fabulously fun and intriguing mystery is very well executed! There is nothing easy about this mystery, and I certainly couldn’t figure it out. The mystery and the setting are amazing! While I couldn’t bake to save my life, living in a lighthouse in my home state would be a dream come true! The characters are defined well through actions and realistic conversations. Whodunit was a total surprise, and everything was resolved. It is a little edgier than I prefer regarding some language and sexual discussions and innuendo. Other than that, I highly recommend this to cozy mystery lovers who appreciate historic settings, baking and recipes, and lovable dogs.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from Goodreads First and Amazon, and this is my honest review.
...more

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Jan 09, 2021 Jane rated it really liked it

Former Wall Street banker Lindsey Bakewell decides to move from New York to Beacon Harbor, Michigan after catching her fiancé and his pastry chef, Mia Long in the act in his office. Her ex-fiancé Jeffery Plank is a celebrity chef 👨🏻‍🍳

Lindsey has always had a passion for baking but she put that aside to pursue her career in investment banking. She bought an old lighthouse, sight unseen on the shores of Lake Michigan. Locals call it the Old Beacon Point Lighthouse. She’s only baked for pastries a Former Wall Street banker Lindsey Bakewell decides to move from New York to Beacon Harbor, Michigan after catching her fiancé and his pastry chef, Mia Long in the act in his office. Her ex-fiancé Jeffery Plank is a celebrity chef 👨🏻‍🍳

Lindsey has always had a passion for baking but she put that aside to pursue her career in investment banking. She bought an old lighthouse, sight unseen on the shores of Lake Michigan. Locals call it the Old Beacon Point Lighthouse. She’s only baked for pastries and cakes for friends who nudged her to start a new venture. So she decides to open a Bakeshop café situated below her bedroom in the lighthouse.

Lindsey makes the acquaintance with her neighbor Rory Campbell after her dog, Wellington snuck into his cottage and ate his fish.

Lindsey plans on launching her shop on Memorial Day weekend and her friend, Kennedy Kapoor, a social media influencer would be there to help promote her bakery shop.

While getting things ready to open her bakery a woman named Fiona Dickel and her friends storm in and accuse Lindsey of debasing her lighthouse with her pastries. Then she threatens to sabotage Lindsey’s business.

On the day of the bakery’s grand opening, however, Fiona shows up at Lindsey’s bakery with seven protesters behind her and forcefully orders an entire tray of donuts 🍩 for her friends and a latte. Even weirder, her ex Jeffery and Mia Long, the pastry chef with whom Jeffery was having an affair both show up at the opening, trying to sabotage Lindsey’s business by making a show of sampling Lindsey’s donut and a latte and making disparaging remarks.

Soon after, Mia Long collapses and is rushed to the hospital. They soon discover she overdosed on diet pills. Later that day, however, Lindsey learns from the police that Mia’s dead, supposedly from cyanide poisoning after sampling one of Lindsey’s donuts 🍩 and Lindsey becomes the prime suspect.

Shortly after that, Fiona is found dead in her home allegedly from poisoning. Earlier she threatened to file a lawsuit against Betty Vanhoosen, the real estate agent who sold the lighthouse to Lindsey. Right before Fiona stormed out of Betty’s office she grabbed Betty’s lunch off her desk. Betty claims Lindsey sent her the lunch, making Lindsey a suspect a second time in a row.

As Lindsey tries to clear her name and uncover the identity of the real killer, she begins to suspect that dear Betty may not be who she appears to be... or is she?

A very good read. I was surprised by the identity of the killer and their motive. A great start to a new series. Definitely recommend.

Included are delectable recipes from the Beacon Bakeshop such as Delicious Raised Donuts 🍩, Easy Cake Donuts, Donut Glazes, Chicken Marsala🍗, Garlic Mashed Potatoes🥔, Bacon, and Spinach Quiche 🥧 , and so on.

Thank you to Darci Hannah, NetGalley, and Kensington Books for the ARC of this book. ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 theliterateleprechaun rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

The first in a new series, Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop, by Darci Hannah, is a breath of fresh air for cozy mystery lovers. Hannah’s success can be attributed to the perfect recipe; delectable humour, unique plot and fantastic characters.

Leaving her ex-fiance and his midtown New York restaurant in her rearview mirror, Lindsey Bakewell heads off for Beacon Harbour on the shores of Lake Michigan to begin a new life. Shocked to hear that her celebrity chef fiancé, Jeffrey Plank, was having an ong The first in a new series, Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop, by Darci Hannah, is a breath of fresh air for cozy mystery lovers. Hannah’s success can be attributed to the perfect recipe; delectable humour, unique plot and fantastic characters.

Leaving her ex-fiance and his midtown New York restaurant in her rearview mirror, Lindsey Bakewell heads off for Beacon Harbour on the shores of Lake Michigan to begin a new life. Shocked to hear that her celebrity chef fiancé, Jeffrey Plank, was having an ongoing affair with his pastry chef, Mia Wong, Lindsey decides to give up her lucrative career in investment banking to pursue a life long dream of owning a bakery. Intent on thwarting Lindsey’s plans, a local protest group, spearheaded by a bitter local, makes life difficult for her as they are unhappy that the lighthouse is moving into private hands. Apparently, the folks of Beacon Harbour don’t like change. After restoring the lighthouse and hiring a team of competent locals, Lindsey is ready for opening on busy Memorial Day. Unfortunately, it isn’t the success Lindsey imagined; her barista fails to show up and a customer chokes on a donut and dies! The Beacon Bakeshop and Café gets lots of attention, just not the kind Lindsey was planning.

The perfect mixture containing all the right ingredients, you’ll want to pick up this five-star cozy mystery on February 23, 2021. The first thing you’ll notice is Hannah’s sense of humour. I was laughing within the first few pages and instantly knew I was going to love this book. Hannah has crafted the most wonderful characters; a hunky woodsman next door, a squatchy-looking and questionable Uber driver, a busy body real estate diva, a sassy camouflage wearing bakery assistant with sinister connections, a town downer with an agenda, a YouTube influencer best friend, and a fish stealing two-year-old Newfoundland. The protagonist and sleuth is a delight to hang out with because Hannah breathes so much humour and sarcasm into her that readers eagerly follow her along as she digs up dirt on the locals in an attempt to uncover who’s murdering her customers. How ironic that Lindsey's surname is Bakewell! She does bake well, she just needs to convince the locals. In addition to a unique and well-paced plot, Hannah’s timing of murders and red herrings is perfect, making reading her story an addiction. This phenomenal mystery, first in a new series, will lock you in for the long haul. After all, we need more humour, more of the hunky woodsman, more sweet delights, and more of Captain Willy Riggs. Keep writing, Darci Hannah, the world needs more of your books!

Thank you to Darci Hannah, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this 5-star advance copy in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Mar 05, 2021 Kristina rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, 2021, 2021-netgalley-books, netgalley

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah is the debut of A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. I thought this was a delightful story. It is well-written with developed characters. The author took the time to introduce us to Lindsey Bakewell and her dog, Wellington. After catching her fiancé with his pastry chef, Lindsey is given the advice to follow her dream. Thankfully, Lindsey invested well and has a solid portfolio. It allows her to purchase a rundown lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan t Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah is the debut of A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. I thought this was a delightful story. It is well-written with developed characters. The author took the time to introduce us to Lindsey Bakewell and her dog, Wellington. After catching her fiancé with his pastry chef, Lindsey is given the advice to follow her dream. Thankfully, Lindsey invested well and has a solid portfolio. It allows her to purchase a rundown lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan that she renovates into living quarters, bakery, and café. Lindsey is smart, loyal, independent, and has a good heart. She is also an excellent baker. I love Wellington. He is a large, fun, friendly dog. We are introduced to the charming town of Beacon Harbor and its friendly (most of them) residents. Unfortunately, Fiona Dickel is not happy with Lindsey purchasing a historical landmark and improving its appearance. The mystery was entertaining. A bruhaha on opening day leads to the death of Lindsey’s ex-fiancé’s lover. Lindsey finds herself at the top of the suspect list and her bakery closed. She has no choice but to investigate. With help from her bestie, Kennedy Kapoor and her new friends, Lindsey asks questions, does research, and looks for clues. There are several good suspects in this whodunit along with subtle clues (you have to pay close attention to details to find some of them). I enjoyed piecing together the clues and figuring out who is behind the poisoning. There is action that kept the book moving rapidly forward toward the conclusion. The conclusion was eventful and complete. There is a hint of paranormal in the story. It is said that the ghost of Captain Willy Riggs haunts the lighthouse. I enjoyed the ghost legends and how it was incorporated into the story. Lindsey and her neighbor, Rory Campbell hit it off from their first meeting. He asks her out to dinner right away. I did feel there was a wee bit too much romance (for a cozy mystery) and that it was happening too fast (I prefer the romance to play out slowly over the course of the series). Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop is a delightful cozy mystery with delectable donuts, a wandering Wellington, an enticing neighbor, a fashionista friend, a guileful ghost, and a busy baker. ...more

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About Darci Hannah

Darci Hannah

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Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn't baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villag ...more