- Title: Deadly Delights
- Author: Laura Jensen Walker
- Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
- Release Date: 6/8/21
- Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery
- Age Range: Adult
- Rating: ★★★★
In Laura Jensen Walker’s second Bookish Baker Mystery, writer and amateur baker Teddie St. John enters a baking contest in her small town of Lake Potowatomi, Wisconsin. Teddie discovers the body of one of the contest judges, womanizing Les Morris, murdered by her grandmother’s rolling pin. Of course, Teddie and her dog, Gracie, have to investigate to clear Teddie’s name from suspicion.
I was bound to enjoy this book as it features two of my favorite things: baking and books. As an avid fan of The Great British Bake Off, I appreciated the frequent allusions to the show and its judge, Paul Hollywood. The first book in the series goes more in depth into Teddie’s experience working as an author, and I look forward to reading more about her writing career as the series continues.
Teddie is an absolutely delightful heroine. It is clear that she is imperfect and has a tendency to put her foot in her mouth, but she has a big heart and is devoted to her family and friends. She is a cancer survivor who has accepted her body post-treatment, which is admirable. Her devotion to her American Eskimo, Gracie, also endears her to this dog owner. She had me rooting for her to solve the case throughout the story.
Walker does an excellent job creating the community of Lake Potowatomi. The reader is drawn into the small town and gets a strong sense of the many different personalities in the town including the town gossip, Wilma, and Jeffrey, an artist who does a nude sculpture of Teddie’s mom.
The mystery kept me engaged as well. I was trying to figure out the murderer’s identity as I read, and Walker both included foreshadowing and deliberate misleading clues to the ending.
Deadly Delights was a fun and quick read that reminded me why I love cozy mysteries so much. I am excited to read the continued adventures of Teddie and Gracie.
Bubbling up with Helena 