Ivy Culpepper hadn't intended to return to her hometown
of Santa Sofia, but the unexpected death of her mother in
a hit and run accident has brought her back to help her
dad deal with the aftermath. A local bread shop, Yeast of
Eden, offers Ivy some solace as she struggles to recover
the inspiration that fueled her photography career. Bread
making appeals to Ivy but it is the owner who draws her
in and welcomes her. However, Ivy soon finds herself
caught up in a mystery as someone has murdered one of the
women from their bread making class. Can Ivy uncover the
identity of the murderer?
Ivy's grief over her mother's death is palpable, maybe
even a bit overwhelming, but it makes her reason for
returning home seem all the more realistic. I love how
Winnie Archer creates a sense of warmth and bonding
between Ivy and two older women, Olaya Solis and Penny
Branford. In fact, it is the relationships that are the
heart and soul of KNEADED TO DEATH.
And oh, the atmosphere of Yeast of Eden draws the reader
in! I want to sit in the warmth of the store and smell
the fresh aroma of bread baking. Winnie Archer does a
marvelous job at crafting an atmosphere that is both
homey and comforting. You feel like you are among friends
in Yeast of Eden.
KNEADED TO DEATH is the first book in A Bread
Shop
Mystery series, but I'm already hooked on it! Winnie
Archer crafts likable, albeit slightly quirky characters
that immediately draw you into the story line. The
mystery itself has all sorts of intriguing twists and
turns as I kept envisioning all sorts of possible
scenarios. KNEADED TO DEATH is the perfect start to a
cozy mystery series and easily recommended!
Everyone swears by Yeast of Eden, the Mexican bread shop
in town. But tonight, the only thing on the menu is la
muerte . . .
Struggling photographer Ivy
Culpepper has lots of soul-searching to do since returning
to seaside Santa Linda, California. That is, until the
thirty-one-year-old enters a bread making class at Yeast of
Eden. Whether it’s the aroma of fresh conchas in the
oven, or her instant connection with owner Olaya Dias and
her sisters, Ivy just knows the missing ingredients in her
life are hidden among the secrets of Olaya’s bakery . .
.
But Ivy’s spirits crumble when a
missing classmate is suddenly discovered dead in her car,
riddled with stab wounds. Even more devastating, the prime
suspects are the Dias sisters themselves. Doubting the women
could commit such a crime, Ivy embarks on a murder
investigation of her own to prove their innocence and seize
the real killer. As she follows a deadly trail of crumbs
around town, Ivy must trust her gut like never before—or
someone else could be toast!