Sally Donovan has promised her husband, Mike, that her amateur sleuthing days are done after the recent birth of their daughter, affectionately called Cookie. The transition to parenthood hasn’t been easy for Sally and Mike as the lack of sleep on top of their full schedules is exhausting them both. Unfortunately, Sally’s father, Domenic Muccio, begs for Sally’s help to find his missing friend and funeral parlor owner, Eddie Phibbins. Sally tries to say no, but how can she resist her dad’s pleas, especially after Eddie is found dead in one of his own caskets?

ICING ON THE CASKET is the 9th book in the Cookies and Chance series but can easily be read as a standalone. Catherine Bruns gives readers all the necessary back story on the reoccurring characters and their relationships so that new readers can jump right in and enjoy themselves. I suspect, however, that readers will want more of Sally, Mike, Josie, and especially Sally’s crazy but completely lovable family after getting a taste of their wackiness.

Yes, Sally’s family is over-the-top crazy, and that’s part of the fun of the Cookies and Chance series! Sally’s father specializes in all things death-related and has a huge following on his blog where he writes about, you guessed it, death. Never mind that Domenic sleeps in a casket in his own home! I love how Mike tolerates the wackiness that is Sally’s family. And what could be a better mystery plot for Domenic to pull Sally into than one involving a mortuary owner?

And speaking of Sally, her genuineness and loyalty, along with her very authentic voice, make her exactly the kind of friend you wished you could get to know. She’s a bit impetuous but frankly, compared to the rest of her family, she seems downright normal! Catherine Bruns does an excellent job showing us Sally’s strengths as well as her faults, making her both realistic and likable.

ICING ON THE CASKET is sheer fun! Catherine Bruns has a knack for writing humorous cozy mysteries and ICING ON THE CASKET is yet another stellar example of her talents. ICING ON THE CASKET has it all: quirky characters, a twisty murder mystery, and some yummy recipes (including the coffin cookies!). I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Sally, Mike, Josie, and the rest of the Cookies and Chance characters!