Back to Key West for this cozy mystery. Hayley and Nathan have been enjoying married life and Hayley’s career continues to thrive. But it wouldn’t be a cozy mystery without a murder. So when a local B&B host dies it creates chaos for Hayley’s company and the baking contest. Included in this novel is a wonderful recipe for Irish Soda Bread that I found is best served with butter and a bit of strawberry jam.
This is book #13 in the Key West Food Critic Mystery Series. Time has passed since A Dish to Die For, but 2 of the ladies from Scotland have decided to not only visit Hayley and Miss Gloria, but bring a baking contest to Key West, The UK Bakes!
A Clue in the Crumbs by Lucy Burdette
Irish Soda Bread
from a cozy mystery novel:
A Clue in the Crumbs
by Lucy Burdette
Book Outline and Tone:
A little over a year has passed since we joined Hayley and Nathan on their honeymoon to Scotland. Friends made on that trip, Violet and Bettina Booth have arrived in Key West to host a baking contest. These Scottish sisters are the ladies who eventually gave Hayley their prize winning recipe for cinnamon scones. Miss Gloria is so excited to see them again that as soon as it is revealed that the sister’s Air B&B has burned down, Miss Gloria invites them to stay on her houseboat. Hayley finds herself watching over all three elderly ladies, acting as chauffeur, and writing columns for the Key West ezine.
The baking contest storyline is entertaining because of the 3 contestants, two of them are clearly above their heads trying to bake. It is fun to read how Violet and Bettina use clever euphemisms with the contestants so they don’t feel too discouraged.
Shortly after the contest begins, one of the owners of the Air B&B that burned down is found dead. This makes the fire less likely to be an accident. All four ladies; Hayley, Gloria, Violet, and Bettina instantly delve into investigation mode.
The Best Quote:
“Opinions were not always welcome at the Key West Police Department, so if I could keep the ladies distracted, Nathan would be grateful.”
“I’m telling you– go taste what I have set out, and you’ll see for yourself. He’s replaced my sugar for the key lime pie with salt. He wants me to fail. As if his disgusting leaden baked goods would ever win any contest anywhere. I’ve seen your faces when you taste them. Tell him, tell him!”
Point of View:
First person from Hayley Snow’s perspective.
The Author: Lucy Burdette
Like so many cozy mystery authors, Lucy Burdette is a pen name for Roberta Isleib; she is a clinical psychologist and author of three book series. She has written 12 books in the Key West Food Critic series and book 13 is due to be released in 2023. She is also the author of a Golf Mystery Series and the Advice Column Mysteries. Many of her books have been on the short lists for awards and The Key Lime Crime won a bronze medal in the Florida Book Awards. She is active on many social platforms such as X, Facebook, and Instagram. She also has an active Pinterest account. On Goodreads, she does a great job answering questions. Be sure to reach out to her on some platform to let her know you enjoyed her book.
What is not to like?:
I want more Nathan and Hayley storylines. This is a pairing that could get very interesting if placed in dire circumstances.
The verdict:
Author Lucy Burdette had me second guessing my predictions several times. For me, that is a sign of a good mystery. Read and enjoy. And trust me when I recommend that you serve the soda bread with a little bit of jam.
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).
Irish Soda Bread
Assemble the Ingredients
Mix the dry ingredients-the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and caraway seeds-together in a big bowl,
OXO Good Grips 3- Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set LInk
Grate the frozen butter and add to dry ingredients.
Cut butter into the dry ingredients. The colder the butter, the lighter the batter.
Stir in the raisins.
When the butter is pea sized, whisk the buttermilk or milk together with one egg.
Cook’s note: If you want to use buttermilk, please do. If you have none on hand and would like a substitute, squeeze half a lemon into a two-cup measuring cup and fill to the 1 3/4-cup mark with whole milk. Set that aside to come to room temperature.
Easy to read measure marks on inside of cup. Dishwasher safe.
Fold the egg-and-milk mixture into the dry ingredients.
Move the batter to a floured surface. (Parchment paper with a little flour sprinkled on it works well.) Dust your hands with flour and knead the dough briefly into a round. Again, the shorter the time, even as little as 30 seconds, the better.
Move the batter to a prepared greased pan. (This can be a pie plate, cake pan, or cast-iron skillet.) Those round pans help the bread keep its shape. Make a cross in the batter with a sharp knife.
Bake in a 400-degree oven for about 25 minutes. You can check the bread halfway through to see if the top is getting too brown. If so, cover with foil for the second half of baking.
Let the loaf cool for ten minutes or more before you slice it.
Serve warm with more butter and possibly raspberry jam, or breakfast, maybe with peanut butter?
Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for your hands and the counter
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp caraway seeds
- 1 cup raisins
- 5 Tbsp very cold unsalted butter
- 1¾ cups buttermilk (or milk with 1 tablespoon lemon juice added)
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients-the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and caraway seeds-together in a big bowl.
- Cut butter into the dry ingredients. The colder the butter, the lighter the batter.
- Stir in the raisins.
- When the butter is pea sized, whisk the buttermilk or milk together with one egg.
- Fold the egg-and-milk mixture into the dry ingredients.
- Move the batter to a floured surface. (Parchment paper with a little flour sprinkled on it works well.) Dust your hands with flour and knead the dough briefly into a round. Again, the shorter the time, even as little as 30 seconds, the better.
- Move the batter to a prepared greased pan. (This can be a pie plate, cake pan, or cast-iron skillet.) Those round pans help the bread keep its shape. Make a cross in the batter with a sharp knife.
- Bake in a 400-degree oven for about 25 minutes. You can check the bread halfway through to see if the top is getting too brown. If so, cover with foil for the second half of baking.
- Let the loaf cool for ten minutes or more before you slice it.
- Serve warm with more butter and possibly raspberry jam, or breakfast, maybe with peanut butter?
What would I do differently next time?
Next time I will sprinkle some turbinado sugar on top and lean in to the sweetness more.
Try these other bread recipes. You will love them!
Maple Curry Biscuits from Biscuits and Slashed Browns by Maddie Day
Cheesy Biscuits from Flipped for Murder by Maddie Day
