Maddy inherited Baby Cakes Bakery and an English Mastiff named Baby from her great aunt Octavia. She also inherited a great group of supportive friends. In this novel, Maddy is called upon to be a strong friend to April whose estranged husband shows up for the sole purpose of causing disruption.
This is book #2 in the Baker Street Mystery series. Maddy has grown as a character and she is less a fish out of water in this novel and more an independent entrepreneur that the reader wants to see succeed.
Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
Book Review
Murder Mystery Books🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Book Review Outline and Tone:
Secrets have a way of revealing themselves. Maddy’s friend and New Bison sheriff April has been keeping what was seemingly an innocuous secret; she and her estranged husband aren’t actually divorced. But when he shows up in New Bison wanting to start a bakery in order to put Baby Cakes out of business, it’s time for April to deal with him once and for all. When the first murder victim is discovered, that puts an end to April’s plans for dealing with her estranged husband.
Not only does this novel involve secrets being revealed, but murder, fake identities, complicated wills, and a new antagonist, Trooper Bob. I’m certain readers will see him again in future books. It’s not that Trooper Bob is a bad guy, but he comes in and takes charge of everything, leaving Maddy in opposition to him.
There are 2 sub plots in this novel. One involves a love sick Mastiff and the other involves Maddy’s love life. Baby, an English Mastiff, is acting love sick over another Mastiff named Daisy. I can’t imagine managing one English Mastiff, let alone 2! But, Baby is as loyal to Maddy as he is slobbery with everyone.
I really love these characters. Maddy is young and the novel is filled with her social media posts as she promotes her bakery. These elements give the book life and relevance.
Why are soul cakes called soul cakes?
These were called soul cakes. Soul cakes date back to the medieval period and they would be given to the poor as they went door-to-door begging during the Hallowtide period. Each cake is said to represent a soul in Purgatory and with each cake eaten, a soul would be released and allowed into Heaven. Oct 29, 2021
From: Hampshire Cultural Trust
To be honest, before I researched the history of Soul Cakes, I thought they were related to African American Soul Food. And while it turns out, they are not originated in Soul Food, this blog post by Black Foodie does a great job explaining the origins of African American Soul Food.
The author:
Valerie (V. M.) Burns is the author of 3 other mystery series as well as the author of the new Baker Street Mysteries. She is not only an acclaimed author but also an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University as part of the Writing Popular Fiction Program. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime, Crime Writers of Color, and International Thriller Writers organizations, to name a few. Ms. Burns can be contacted on her website. As well as social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can find a more extensive biography on Goodreads.
What is not to like?:
The only thing that seemed a little implausible is Maddy’s baking skill improved significantly from book one to book two. She claims she is still not a good baker, but everything she makes is a success now.
The verdict:
Read it and enjoy it! While you are at it, bake the Soul Cake and enjoy a slice with a cup of coffee while you read the book.
Book Club Recommendation: 4/5 Books 📚📚📚📚
Read It!
Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
Chocolate Soul Cake
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy to make dessert: 4/5 on the easy as pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
Butter, or spray with a non-stick vegetable spray, two 9-inch cake pans. Then line the bottoms of the parchment paper.
Or use silicone pans and Pan Coat
I use these silicone cake pans for baking and simply love them. They are oven safe to 450 degrees and dishwasher safe.
I used the Pan Coat recipe from a Joanne Fluke novel and did no like the bottoms with parchment paper but still the cakes came out without sticking even a little.
Whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. This will be the bowl that you add the rest of the ingredients so use the large bowl.
I use the OXO mixing bowls because they have non slip grips on the bottom and spouts for pouring.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
Whisk together the eggs, coffee, milk, oil, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Use the smallest bowl. Save the medium size bowl for the frosting.
Remember to use the liquid beaker style measuring cups.
When you need to measure liquid over one cup, use the angled measuring cup because it is so easy to read the number while you pour.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. (The batter will be runny.)
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for about 27-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Then remove the cakes from their pans and cool completely on a greased wire rack before frosting.
Now make the frosting!
Assemble Frosting Ingredients
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute).
Add the sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is smooth and glossy (about 2-3 minutes).
Add the sour cream and mix until smooth and combined.
This makes plenty of frosting. Add a generous amount on top of the bottom layer and then at the top layer and frost entire cake.
Taste: 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delicious Cake Recipe 🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Chocolate Soul Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup coffee (f you're feeling brave, try espresso)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
For the frosting
- 6 oz coarsely chopped semisweet chocolate
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cups confectioner sugar
- 1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Butter, or spray with a non-stick vegetable spray, two 9-inch cake pans. Then line the bottoms of the parchment paper.Or use Pan Coat and Silicone Baking Pans
- Whisk together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the eggs, coffee, milk, oil, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined. (The batter will be runny.)
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for about 27-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Then remove the cakes from their pans and cool completely on a greased wire rack before frosting.
For the frosting
- Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Beat the butter until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute).
- Add the sugar and beat until it is light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the chocolate and beat on low speed until incorporated.
- Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the frosting is smooth and glossy (about 2-3 minutes)
- Add the sour cream and mix until smooth and combined.
What would I do differently next time?
This cake is perfect. The dark chocolate of the cake is perfectly paired with the light and fluffy frosting. I would not change a thing!
Will I make it again?: Absolutely Yes! 😋😋😋😋😋
Are you a fan of all things chocolate? Try these recipes too.
Chocolate Mint Cookies from Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
Scout’s Brownies from Dying for Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson
Hot Fudge Pie from Death in Four Courses by Lucy Burdette
Red Velvet Crunchies from Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell
