DYING FOR DEVIL'S FOOD is the eleventh book in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery cozy mystery series. I love this series, but I think DYING FOR DEVIL'S FOOD may be my favorite. School reunions are often a source of fear and fantasy for many people. For Mel Cooper, her fifteen-year high school reunion ends up being a little of both. Cassidy Havers-Griffin was a lifelong "mean girl" who made many enemies over the years, which translate into a cavalcade of suspects when she's murdered. As one of Cassidy's frequent targets, Mel becomes a suspect and is highly motivated to find the real killer. This story is an intriguing mystery but also, strangely, very funny.

Although Cassidy was mostly a jerk to everyone in her life, Jenn McKinlay tries to give her some depth to show that she wasn't all bad. Mel struggles to reconcile the nasty things Cassidy did with the varying portraits of her from people who knew her. There are a few surprises and some genuinely scary moments as Mel and her crew investigates the murder. Like Mel, readers will have the suspects they think might be incredibly likely murderers along with those they really hope are not the killer. The supporting characters are a fascinating and quirky bunch and almost as interesting as the case itself. It's nice seeing Mel's fiancé Joe in a stronger role in this mystery than he has been in the past few books.

DYING FOR DEVIL'S FOOD has a murder motivated by obsession and a vicious tangle of lies for the good guys to sort out. As always, I love the strong friendships and family relationships in this book. Mel's friends not only help her hunt clues but act as fierce defenders against old foes from high school. I eagerly await Jenn McKinlay's next Cupcake Bakery mystery.