Do you believe in ghosts? Could there be a ghost haunting a widow? Libby and Bernie are skeptical. In fact, they are skeptical about a lot of things in this mystery. Why is someone in the wrong grave? Who was in the car accident. This delightful cozy mystery doesn’t just revolve around a murder, there are many mysteries that Libby and her sister Bernie have to solve.
This is book #4 in the A Mystery with Recipes series. Libby and her sister Bernie run a bakery/catering business and are gaining a reputation for solving mysteries. The local funeral director hires them to solve the mystery of why the wrong person is in a recently dug up grave. The sisters balance keeping their business going with keeping their dad cared for as well as keeping up with the mysteries.
A Catered Valentine’s Day by Isis Crawford
Cozy Mystery Novel with Recipes
Book Review
Murder Mystery Books🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Book Review Outline and Tone:
Like many people, Libby is a stress eater, that is, she eats chocolate when she is stressed out. I admit I keep some individually wrapped chocolates in my desk drawer at work. In the plot of this book, the reader can quickly see why Libby is so stressed. Her boyfriend’s dad pulls Libby and her sister Bernie out to the back of the cemetery that he manages just to show them a recently dug up grave that has a dead body in it that doesn’t belong there. As if that is not bad enough, Clayton (the funeral director) wants Libby and Bernie to investigate this murder in secret. Of course Clayton is just thinking of his reputation, but when your boyfriend’s dad asks for something, it is hard to say no.
The book does a great job of bringing in all the characters that were great in the previous books. Bernie is still more obsessed over her looks than their business. Sean, their dad, is ever intrigued by the mystery and wants to get involved as much as possible. Marvin, Libby’s boyfriend, keeps trying to make a good impression on Sean.
The book contains enough twists and turns that the reader can’t race through the story but must make sure they are following the movements of each character to better understand the book. Just when one twist is revealed and you think you have the mystery solved, watch out, there is another mystery in the next chapter!
The author:
Isis Crawford is the pen name for Barbara Block. Isis’s family were in the diplomatic corps which means she traveled as a child. She was born in Egypt and her family moved back to the US when she was five. Barbara has been around food service all her life as her mom opened a restaurant when Barbara was young. Ms. Crawford has a great interactive website that showcases her books and her recipes. She also has a Facebook page that highlights her books.
What is not to like?:
Maybe the plausibility. When the twists get revealed one after the other, at one point I questioned the plausibility of the plot. However, given creative license that all authors are allowed, the plot was entertaining enough that the many twists ended up just adding to the enjoyment.
The verdict:
There is at least one character for whom my judgment on their honesty has not yet been decided. When you read the book, you will probably agree. Because Ms. Crawford does a great job of developing her characters, I am looking forward to the next book to learn more about this character.
Book Club Recommendation: 4/5 Books 📚📚📚📚
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Chocolate Orange Poppy Seed Cake Recipe
Assemble the Ingredients
Easy to make dessert: 4/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 2 round layer pans.
I have come to love baking with silicone pans like these.
And while using silicone usually means you don’t need to add butter and flour, I did add this awesome shelf stable Pan Coat
This recipe comes from a Joanne Fluke novel. All you need is flour, Crisco and oil. I keep it in a canning jar in my cupboard. Find the recipe HERE.
Combine dry ingredients, flour, sugar, cocoa powder.
Poppy seeds, salt, and baking soda.
GThen add wet ingredients.
This measuring beaker set is wonderful when baking and the recipe calls for several liquids.
Mix until well combined.
Divide between prepared pans and bake 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool and remove from pans.
Spread orange marmalade on top of one layer.
Combine glaze ingredients.
Put other layer on top and spread glaze over top and sides.
Taste: 4.5/5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sarah's Chocolate Orange Poppy Seed Cake
Ingredients
- 2¼ cup unbleached flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup baking cocoa
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 3 Tbsp poppy seeds
- rind of 1 orange, grated
- 1½ cup orange juice
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp orange extract
- 1½ tsp apple cider vinegar
Glaze
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
- 1½ Tbsp orange juice
- ½ tsp orange extract
Filling
- Orange Marmalade
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Butter and flour 2 round layer pans. OR use Pan Coat
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Grate orange
- Add wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
- Divide between prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean
- Cool and remove from pans
- Spread orange marmalade on top of one layer.
- Combine glaze ingredients.
- Put other layer on top and spread glaze over top and sides.
What would I do differently next time?
I found this recipe to perfect. I was worried about adding so much extract, but it did not taste fake or like chemicals. It was spot on!
Will I make it again?: Yes! 😋😋😋😋
Here are some more cakes to try.
Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake from Raspberry Danish Murder by Joanne Fluke
Cherry Cola Sheet Cake from The Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee
Dreamy Orange Dreamsicle Cake from Death of a Cupcake Queen by Lee Hollis
Ultimate Butterscotch Bundt Cake from Christmas Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
