Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jenn McKinlay (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 4, 2011 | Series: Cupcake Bakery Mystery (Book 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 killer or they may lose more than the contest- they may lose their lives.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425244059
• ISBN-13: 978-0425244050
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #229,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jenn is the New York Times
bestselling author of the
Cupcake Bakery mystery series
and the Library Lover's mystery
series. She will be debuting
the London Hat Shop mysteries in
2013. She also writes the
Decoupage mystery series under
the name Lucy Lawrence and the
Good Buy Girls mystery series
under the name Josie Belle.

Her main interests are reading,
writing, baking, knitting and
skateboarding. She lives in
sunny AZ in a house overrun
with kids, pets and her husband's
guitars.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SCRUMPTIOUS!!! October 7, 2011

By Lori Caswell TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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 she will need to use all her culinary skills to create the best dish using the daily mystery ingredients if they are going to take home the grand prize.

Shocked when Vic doesn't show up to judge the girls know something is amiss. They are just planning to search for him when a dead body is found in a freezer truck on the festival grounds. Someone had put Vic on ice, permanently. Now they not only have to ice their competition with their fabulous cupcakes they also need to find a cold blood killer.

My Thoughts
This is a scrumptious series and the latest installment is absolutely delicious!!

Two strong women, some hunky men and frosting how can you go wrong, lol!!!!

Truthfully the characters are lovable and becoming more defined in each story. I love Oz, the newest face at Fairy Tale Cupcakes. The plot is timely and clever. The mystery ingredients competition reminded me of the mystery box challenges of Master Chef on Fox. There were assorted "red herrings" to divert us and lead us astray. Plus cupcakes, lots and lots of cupcakes!!! (recipes included)

WARNING: You will be craving cupcakes while reading this so be sure to have some handy!!...

Jenn even gives us a taste of the next temptation, Red Velvet Revenge, and I can't wait to get my sticky hands on it. For now just be sure to get your copy of Death by the Dozen today and enjoy!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Berkley Prime Crime. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasty Cozy Mystery November 3, 2011

By drebbles TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

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 murder or put her and Angie in danger?

"Death by the Dozen" is the wonderfully done third book in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery cozy mystery series. There is a lot to like about this book (and series) starting with the main characters - Mel, Angie, and Tate. The book is written from Mel's point of view but the ongoing Angie/Tate storyline is well done, well paced, and romantic (even if the two can't quite get their act together), and I can't wait to see what happens to the two of them in the next book. McKinlay is adept at adding interesting new characters to the series - in Buttercream Bump Off (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) it was Marty, in this book it is Oz. The cooking competition is a nice creative idea - the competitors have to use a unique ingredient that is unknown to them until the last minute - and there are several recipes with those ingredients at the back of the book. The mystery aspects of the book are as well done as the characters and bakery setting. There is a real sense of danger throughout the book as Mel gets a little too close to figuring out who the killer is.... The book is deftly plotted - after finishing it you may want to go back to a conversation Mel had with the killer early on and realize what danger she was in throughout the book. There are plenty of suspects to pick from and more than a few surprises. Besides the tension, there is some sadness in the book (Mel was close to the victim) and as always some nice humor (Olivia is as annoying as ever but thankfully not quite as over the top as she was in Buttercream Bump Off (Cupcake Bakery Mystery)).

"Death by the Dozen" is another great entry in a cozy mystery series that gets better and better with each book. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Winning Recipe! June 11, 2012

By A Writer

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Loved this book!!! I swore I knew who the killer was but the author kept me guessing until the very end. Great characters, great setting, funny movie references, a little bit of love and great storytelling. Love this series, can't recommend it enough.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Delectably Entertaining December 31, 2011

By D. Love

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Mel and Angie is representing their business in a cooking challenge when Mel's mentor is found dead in a freezer. When the clues point to something sinister and others are harmed, the tag-team of Mel and Angie are on the case to defrost a killer. This is such a fun series where the preparation of cupcakes is included in the telling of the story. The plot is enticing; the tone is easy flowing and I love the trio's banter with their family and friends. This was the best book yet in this delectably entertaining and amusing series and I can't wait for one romance to find their true course.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Death by the Dozen December 24, 2011

By Melissa A. Palmer VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This is the third book in a cozy mystery series set in a cupcake shot. In this book, Mel and Angie enter a baking competition. Their arch enemy, Olivia, is in the competition as well. Mel's mentor is one of the judges--until his body is found in a walk in freezer. Heart attack or murder? That is the question and Mel wants to find out the answer. Meanwhile, Angie and Tate are still trying to figure out their relationship, Mel and Joe are moving along in their relationship and the addition of a cute cat named Captain Jack make this a great read. I love the characters in this series and enjoy the setting of the cupcake shop. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries.

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