A fantastic series that not only has representation of POC, but also has a main character who doesn’t fit into any stereotype. She’s young and loves social media, so maybe one stereotype, but it is not her whole personality. Maddy is a dynamic character that is a joy to see grow and change. Her bakery recipes are outstanding. The recipe I share here for Shortbread Cookies is even better than that Scottish brand.
Book 5 in the fantastic fish out of water type cozy mystery. Maddy keeps gathering more friends and now even famous Carson Law is getting involved with Maddy’s dad. With a growing cast of characters, and delicious recipes, this series is a great read for everyone.
Murder at First Slice by Valerie Burns
Shortbread Cookie Recipe
from a cozy mystery:
Murder at First Slice
by Valerie Burns
Book Outline and Tone:
Maddy was a fish out of water when she first got to New Bison. Running from a public humiliation of being left at the altar, she left California to claim her inheritance of her great aunt’s bakery. When she first arrived, she knew more about social media than baking cakes, but now she not only continues to grow in her baking prowess, the bakery is a success partly due to her social media expertise.
But that is just the surface of the novel. Digging into the relationships, we see not only is her relationship with fiancée Michael in great shape, but her dad, The Admiral is slowly revealing his feelings for Carson Law. Hopefully this will mean more romance is in store for the series.
The novel is not just about relationships. As a cozy mystery there is a murder mystery. Maddy just can’t help but insinuate herself into the investigation. All of this is happening just days before her wedding.
The Best Quote:
Miss Hannah walked in carrying a long narrow box. She stopped in the doorway and looked around. The smile on her face slid to the floor when her eyes landed on Dorothy. I clutched Michael’s arm “If looks could kill, your cousin Forothy would be sprawled out on the floor.” Miss Hannah marched up to Dorothy. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face here.”
Point of View:
First person told by Maddy, a young lady who inherited a bake shop..
The Author: Valerie Burns
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?:
Maddy and Michael fell in love and got married pretty quickly. I hope there is more personal drama so everything isn’t picture perfect in her love life and other relationships.
The verdict:
This is such a great cozy mystery series! Often the people in cozy mysteries have their lives together, but in this series the reader sees the character development from fish out of water to a person who seems to have found exactly where she belongs.
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).
Shortbread Cookies
Assemble the Ingredients
A very simple recipe with just a few ingredients, not pictured, but critically important is some salt.
Directions
- In a food processor, cut 2 sticks (1/2 lb.) butter into pieces.
- Add 1/2 cup sugar.
- Add 2 cups flour (& pinch of salt if using unsalted butter)
Sizes are easy to read on the measuring cups.
- Pulse together until the batter starts to ball together.
- Dump the batter into a large bowl.
Good Grips, no slip when mixing. Each bowl has a spout for easy pouring. Dishwasher safe.
- Knead batter with hands until it becomes smooth and the consistency of clay.
- Pat into flat disk shape and center on cookie sheet. With hands and fingers, begin patting, massaging, pushing the batter outward to spread and cover the cookie sheet, leaving 1 inch from the edge of the sheet. (This is the hard part! Yes, I’ve tried a rolling pin [marble], but only if the batter is still reasonably cool, otherwise you end with a good portion of the batter on the rolling pin!) Just keep patting and pushing-you’ll see how it starts to spread under your guidance! The spread batter should be about 1/2-inch thick all over when done.
- With a fork, poke lots of holes all over the spread batter.
- Bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hour, but start checking at 40 minutes and remove from the oven when it’s a light golden brown. Mine were done in 40 minutes.
10. Place on a wire rack and generously sprinkle sugar all over the top.
11. When slightly cooled (20-30 minutes), cut shortbread into desired square sizes. (It’s important to cut shortbread while still warm-ish-if you wait till it’s cooled it has a tendency to
break up when trying to cut it due to its crispness.)
12. While the first batch is baking, start all over-repeating the above steps and remaining ingredients-to make the second batch. OR just use half the ingredients as described above and make one set of cookies.
13. When completely cooled, using a spatula, move shortbread squares to desired plate or container.
14. Serve anytime with anything! Keep well covered/sealed-it’s best when crispy but never bad regardless of condition!!!
Shortbread Cookies from Lynna Dunn
Ingredients
- 1 lb. butter (salted or unsalted-your preference. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt)
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 cups flour
- pinch or 2 of salt
- Additional sugar for sprinkling on top (2/3 to 1 cup-ish)
Instructions
- In a food processor, cut 2 sticks (1/2 lb.) butter into pieces.
- Add 1/2 cup sugar.
- Add 2 cups flour (& pinch of salt if using unsalted butter)
- Pulse together until the batter starts to ball together.
- Dump the batter into a large bowl.
- Knead batter with hands until it becomes smooth and the consistency of clay.
- Pat into flat disk shape and center on cookie sheet. With hands and fingers, begin patting, massaging, pushing the batter outward to spread and cover the cookie sheet, leaving 1 inch from the edge of the sheet. (This is the hard part! Yes, I've tried a rolling pin [marble], but only if the batter is still reasonably cool, otherwise you end with a good portion of the batter on the rolling pin!) Just keep patting and pushing-you'll see how it starts to spread under your guidance! The spread batter should be about 1/2-inch thick all over when done.
- With a fork, poke lots of holes all over the spread batter.
- Bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hour, but start checking at 40 minutes and remove from the oven when it's a light golden brown.
- Place on a wire rack and generously sprinkle sugar all over the top.
- When slightly cooled (20-30 minutes), cut shortbread into desired square sizes. (It's important to cut shortbread while still warm-ish-if you wait till it's cooled it has a tendency to break up when trying to cut it due to its crispness.)
- While the first batch is baking, start all over-repeating the above steps and remaining ingredients-to make the second batch.
- When completely cooled, using a spatula, move shortbread squares to desired plate or container.
- Serve anytime with anything! Keep well covered/sealed-it's best when crispy but never bad regardless of condition!!!
What would I do differently next time?
I am amazed at how awesome these taste! Even so, I only made the first batch and that was enough to satisfy my family.
Here are some more cookie recipes from cozy mystery novels.
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.
