When a spice cookie meets an oatmeal raisin cookie, the result is the perfect soft cookie recipe found in this cozy mystery. Main character, Teddie St. John, is an author with a signature style. When a murder victim is discovered with the same style, Teddie finds herself accused a murder.
The first book of the Bookish Baker cozy mystery series. This is a contemporary novel. The main character does share recipes but she also deals with current issues like breast cancer and being a mom to a fur baby.
One outstanding highlight of the novel is the main character’s running inner monologue with herself. It is realistic and entertaining!
Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies
from a cozy mystery novel:
Murder Most Sweet
by Laura Jensen Walker
Book Outline and Tone:
Spunky. The main character is spunky, independent and self assured. The main character writes cozy mysteries and has had some success. What a great character! This spunky attitude comes from life experience. She is a breast cancer survivor and has decided not just to survive but to thrive. One of her personal signature pieces is that she always wears scarfs. They make her feel more secure. Unfortunately it is also a downfall, when a gorgeous lady is found strangled by what everyone knows is one of writer Teddie St. John’s scarves. While that looks bad, it doesn’t stop there. Her scarves show up at other crime scenes. Fortunately for Teddie, she is smart and has great friends who help her unravel the mysteries.
One of the best features about this book is the inner dialogue of the main character. This inner dialogue goes far beyond a first person narration or even an omniscient story telling. Author Laura Jensen Walker provides us with relatable and sometimes humorous back and forth dialogue from Teddie’s inner thoughts. We all do it, we all talk to ourselves in our heads, Laura Jensen Walker perfects it with entertaining flourish!
About the Recipe:
I thought I had the best recipe for Oatmeal Raisin cookies, until I tried this recipe. Now I know this recipe is for the best Oatmeal Raisin cookies anywhere! The cookies are not plain but as if a spice cookie met an oatmeal raisin cookie and the result is this perfect soft cookie with layers of flavor that will make your taste buds celebrate. (Really! They are that good!).
Point of View:
First person. We know not only her thoughts but her inner conversations.
The Author: Laura Jensen Walker
Laura Jensen Walker is a creative author who writes in many genres. Her website lists her historical fiction, nonfiction, chick lit, and cozy mysteries. She wrote a deeply revealing autobiography titled Good Girl. This memoir reveals her tragedies of rape and breast cancer and her personal experiences in fundamentalism. She can be contacted on her website and see her posts on Facebook, and Instagram.
Her newest release, Death of a Flying Nightingale is a mystery set during WWII. This novel was just released September, 2024.
What is not to like?:
I believe I figured out the mystery before the big reveal. Maybe I am just that good, or maybe the novel could have hid it better. I guess that depends on which style of mystery you like.
The verdict:
What a great first book for a cozy mystery series. The main character is a fantastic independent woman. I may not be able to relate to all she has gone through, but I’m in for the ride.
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).
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies
Assemble the Ingredients
The secret to excellent Oatmeal Raisin Cookies is to soak the raisins in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Then drain liquid before adding to the dough.
Cream together butter, both sugars,
and molasses.
Beat in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla extract and orange extract.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk
Slowly mix dry ingredients into creamed mixture.
Stir in oats and raisins or dried cranberries.
Cover and chill cookie dough for at least an hour.
Then…
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or better yet, use a silicone baking mat.
Using a melon ball scoop, drop slightly rounded balls of dough onto cookie sheets.
Slightly flatten cookies with the back of a tablespoon. (As needed, dip the spoon in flour or turbinado sugar.)
Optional: Sprinkle a little turbinado sugar atop each cookie.
Bake for about 10 minutes (depending on the size of the cookies) until lightly golden.
They’re best when they’re slightly undercooked. Cool on wire racks -if you can wait that long.
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup molasses
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp orange extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup raisins (or dried cranberries if you prefer)
- optional: turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Cream together butter, both sugars, and molasses.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time
- then vanilla extract and orange extract.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Slowly mix dry ingredients into creamed mixture.
- Stir in oats and raisins or dried cranberries.
- Cover and chill cookie dough for at least an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Using a melon ball scoop, drop slightly rounded balls of dough onto cookie sheets. Slightly flatten cookies with the back of a tablespoon. (As needed, dip the spoon in flour or turbinado sugar.)
- Optional: Sprinkle a little turbinado sugar atop each cookie.
- Bake for about 10 minutes (depending on the size of the cookies) until lightly golden.
- ool on wire racks -if you can wait that long.
What would I do differently next time?
The orange extract and molasses make these outstanding cookies! Next time I will try using cranberries instead of raisins and adding some orange peel.
Lemon Tea Cookies from Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes by Karen Rose Smith
Red ‘N White Strawberry Cookies from The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis
Cocoa Snaps from Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke.
