A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns: Book Review

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns is the latest in the Baker Street Mystery series. Anticipated to be released on July 23, 2024, it takes readers back to the shores of Lake Michigan. Maddy is busy preparing for Easter when she crosses paths with her former nemesis, Brandy Denton. And who is the stranger claiming to have something for Maddy from her dead aunt?

I want to thank Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death. All opinions presented here are my own.

Synopsis from Goodreads

On the shores of Lake Michigan, influencer Maddy Montgomery has turned the bakery she inherited from her great aunt Octavia into a destination. There’s just one thing she won’t, the body in the freezer . . .

Thanks to Maddy’s social media savvy, Baby Cakes Bakery is becoming a huge success—so much so that she’s attracted the attention of her former nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Brandy Denton. When Brandy blows into New Bison like an ill wind and disrupts a vlog Maddy’s filming, their argument goes viral. After Brandy’s body is found in the freezer at Baby Cakes, Maddy instantly goes from viral sensation to murder suspect.

As Maddy is still reeling from the murder, a stranger shows up in the bakery, claiming to have been a friend of Octavia. He believes Maddy is in danger. When a second body washes up on the lake shore, it seems clear someone’s out to kill to keep a secret—and it may have to do with her great aunt.

Maddy rallies her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, Sheriff April Johnson, and her veterinarian boyfriend Michael—not to mention her English mastiff Baby—to do some digging and root out whoever’s behind the killings . . .

My Opinions

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death is a fantastic addition to the Baker Street Mystery series from Valerie Burns. While this is part of a cozy mystery series, this one leans a bit more into the romance side of things. Yes, there are a couple of murders, but a couple of romances are being cooked up. (Sorry for the pun, but I couldn’t help myself!)

This is one of the few cozy mystery series I recommend starting with the first one and reading them in order. If you don’t, you may not understand some of the interactions between characters. And you will also find yourself with spoilers for the earlier books. But don’t worry, this is only book three, so you aren’t too far behind!

While I knew who was behind everything, I wasn’t 100% sure about their motives. But the more you learn about them, the more you understand their motive.

Another thing I didn’t like about this book was the fact it felt like it was the end of the series. Please tell me that we are getting more about Maddy and Baby! And what about Baby and Daisy? Don’t they deserve their happy ending?

Do you enjoy reading books set in small towns? What about books that feature food, especially baked goods? Or nods to classic literary detectives? Then you should read the A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death! Or better yet, just read all of the Baker Street Mysteries! I, for one, can’t wait to return to New Bison soon.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.