WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE is the tenth book in Jenn McKinlay's Cupcake Bakery series. This book can be read as a standalone story, but because two of the main characters get married, there is greater significance if the reader has enjoyed one or two previous stories in the series before trying this one. As usual, Jenn McKinlay writes a mystery that's rife with danger and death but with a few laughs thrown in. Melanie Cooper, Tate Harper, and Angie DeLaura have been friends for forever. In the past few books, the friends have been preparing for Tate and Angie's wedding and now the event is just around the corner. Unfortunately, a few mysterious deaths complicate things. When a few of the wedding vendors have been murdered makes Melanie jump in to untangle the mysteries before the big day.

Because of the impending wedding, everybody's under a lot of pressure and Melanie is a bit more intense than she normally is. The first victim is the wedding photographer and it casts a dark cloud over the happy atmosphere and gives a little foreshadowing. In addition to all the wedding craziness is a book tour by an author of a sensational tell-all that's unhinged a few locals. When the author is soon murdered as well, Mel and friends try to figure out if there's any connection between the murders, who is behind it, and who the next victim might be. As usual, the bakery crew and the DeLaura clan provide much needed comic relief as well as help with Mel's amateur detective work when requested.

WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE is a mystery that's tawdry, terrifying, and tremendously fun. Friendships play a big role in WEDDING CAKE CRUMBLE and Jenn McKinlay nicely contrasts the good, the bad, and the ugly. The minor mystery involving Mel's mom's mystery man is amusing and breaks up the suspense over searching for a killer. I look forward to Jenn McKinlay's next book--whether it's a fun cozy mystery, or a sweet and sexy contemporary romance.