Mystery with Recipes #19
Isis Crawford’s latest addition to her “mystery with recipes” series is A Catered Bake Off. The owners of A Little Taste of Haven Catering, sisters Libby and Bernie Simmons, have a knack for solving mysteries. So much so that they are now sought out by those in need of a little amateur sleuthing expertise. Libby and Bernie each have very distinctive personalities and methods that allow them to play off each other, approaching the same clues and problems from different angles. It also helps that their father is a former detective and can advise them on how to proceed with whatever they find. Often the sisters and their father ruminate over cases and cake, a combination that often results in progress in culinary master pieces, or a break in the case. Their catering business has taken off in popularity recently, and it’s becoming difficult to keep up with the orders, which is a very good problem to have.
Due to their local small business’ popularity, they have been selected to participate in a baking competition. The contest is called the Longely Bake Off, and it draws direct inspiration from The Great British Baking show. The competition is taking place on the spacious Kenmore Estate, and the Simmons sisters cannot wait to not only compete but win – not an easy prospect with so many diverse and talented bakers present. Things go from bad to worse as ingredient mishaps and wayward goats escalate to malfunctioning equipment, and then threatening notes are delivered to everyone involved in the show, from contestants to judges. None of that gives production real reason to pause, until a Judge falls victim to an exploding espresso machine. The Simmons sisters eagerly take up the case, wanting to ensure the competition can proceed safely and the murderer is caught. With everyone suspecting each other, asking fellow contestants and staff members questions can get a little difficult, and Libby and Bernie must get creative with how they get their answers.
Longtime readers of Isis Crawford’s series will enjoy A Catered Bake Off. As always, the Simmons sisters keep an eye on each other and their minds open to any possible interpretation of the information they gather. Their back-and-forth banter creates a companionable dialog that longtime readers have come to enjoy most about the series. New readers will find it easy to follow the plot and characters, as Isis Crawford makes sure to catch them up without disrupting the plot or over explaining. I enjoyed how the sisters each have their own unique take on everything and yet still manage to work together, being willing to listen and hash out even the most outlandish theories and chase them down to figure out what the truth might be. They also listen to reason and common sense, not going anywhere alone or taking unnecessary risks that would put them in danger. Be it finding that perfect cake recipe or the suspect, the Simmons sisters are relentless in their methodical search. – Carla Schantz