As the first book in the Spice Isle Bakery series, it was amazing how fast I fell in love with this book. Between her dedication to her family and the little glimpses into who she was before the novel took place, Lyndsay was immediately likable. Furthermore, these glances into her past and who she used to be really solidified the strong woman that she was in the book. I was emotionally invested not only in the case and seeing her clear her name, but also the bakery itself.
While the Investigation itself moved rather slowly, I appreciated that there were still so many other aspects of the story to fill the gaps. It was lovely to see inside the lives of Lynsay’s mother, father, granny, and brother. Knowing that I would get to learn more about the characters that were so close to Lyndsay’s heart helped smooth over any problems I had with the pacing and slightly repetitive nature of the mystery.
The ending was absolutely perfect given all the information that I had been able to piece together throughout my reading. I appreciated that while I had my guesses, it never took away from the story. There was never a moment where my emotional investment wavered.
This is the perfect cozy mystery for anyone who is prepared to be very hungry after reading. The descriptions of the food were incredible and left me wanting to try so many new foods. I cannot wait to see how all of the loose ends and potential future plot points turn out in future books!
4.5/5 Stars
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Novel Llama 