Book Review: Hard Dough Homicide by Olivia Matthews

A book that focuses on good food and a great family? Sign me up. After reading the first book in the series earlier this year, I quickly fell in love with the stories in the Murray family and their dynamics. While the mystery was incredibly important to the plot, I found myself wrapped up in learning more about each member of the family and seeing the ways that they supported one another through difficult times. It was beautiful to read a mystery that was so much more than a simple whodunnit. 

Lyndsay Murray is a wonderful protagonist that has been so fun to watch grow from the beginning of the series. Not only do readers get to see her growth through her current hardships, but there are also glimpses into her past that gives insight into how she became the strong character that is so easy to root for. I appreciated that her reasons for wanting to solve the case was to protect her family, rather than a simple desire to throw herself into danger to sate her own curiosity. There were only a few moments where I found myself doubting the realism in Lyndsay’s decision making. 

Once again, I was blown away by the descriptions of the bakery and the amazing foods that were baked there each day. Each food description had my mouth watering, leaving me with a strong urge to bake something myself. 

While the mystery itself was complex enough to remain interesting without being overwhelming, several of the motives that were focused on seemed forced to make the book longer. For most of the book, the motives for several of the top suspects felt shaky at best. However, when the mystery came to its conclusion, it was satisfying, if a bit underwhelming. 

⅘ stars 

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.