In the mood for a heart-warming cozy mystery to dig into alongside your freshly-baked, gooey batch of cinnamon rolls? Look no further than these five baking-themed reads to kickstart your heart and inspire your sweet tooth this fall season!
Filled to the brim with suspense, quirky, lovable sidekicks, and enough baking inspiration to make your whisks spin, these cozy suggestions will warm up your TBR faster than your conventional oven!
Prepare your aprons and ready your recipe book, because these five cozy baking mysteries are guaranteed to whet your appetite for the cozy baking season!
If you’re a fan of Joanne Fluke, Jenn McKinlay, and Ellie Alexander, then A Case for the Cookie Baker by Candace Havens is perfect for you!
It’s all fun and games until the last cookie crumbles…
Ainsley McGregor and the entire town of Sweet River, Texas, are preparing for the annual summer celebration. And thanks to the extra tourist traffic, Ainsley’s shop, Bless Your Art, has never been busier. Good thing her new friend, Lizzie, has opened a bakery nearby and provides Ainsley and her staff with tasty treats and daily sugar rushes. It’s all cookies and fun, until someone ends up dead in the bakery and her new pal is the prime suspect.
Ainsley is convinced Lizzie is innocent. Unfortunately, her brother, the town sheriff, and her boyfriend, Jake, have some not-so-secret suspicions. With a town full of strangers who just might be suspects, Ainsley finds herself targeted by a killer. Even as her world crumbles faster than a cookie, she’s determined to prove her friend’s innocence—if she can stay alive long enough.
Emmie Lyn’s Cookies and a Killer combines delectable desserts, magic, adorable pet sidekicks, and murder for a perfect seasonal cozy mystery.
The launching of a new bakery and fundraiser in town should be cause for celebration, not a murder investigation. Just when Nikki Knight thinks things might be getting back to normal in Frog Hollow, her friend Carla’s business manager is found dead at the scene of her new, year-round Christmas bakery.
When Dale, the gourmet grocer next door, suggests that the cookie fundraiser be held at his place, Nikki and the Accidental Ghost Detective team suspect foul play.
But all signs are pointing to Carla and some strange magical happenings. Can Dash and Nikki sniff out this case before the cookie crumbles?
Every family has secrets, especially the sweet ones…
When talented baker Rosie Hart delivers cakes and cookies to her newest clients, The Sweet Treat candy store, she finds herself embroiled in yet another murder case. Will she ever catch a break?
Her elderly clients, The Percival sisters, are shocked when their long-lost great nephew appears with no warning. The sisters have never met nor heard of the man, but he’s family so they accept him with open arms. He immediately begins to tear up his aunts’ home, so when he turns up dead, Rosie feels only a sense of relief. Until she realizes the police suspect the sisters.
Rosie is as convinced of their innocence as she is of the deliciousness of her popular salted caramel cupcakes. But as the body count begins to rise and new secrets are unearthed, she begins to wonder if the sweet artisan candy makers are hiding more than their family recipes.
Ginger Danger by Emmie Lyn is perfect for readers who love small-town, idyllic settings, a budding romance, lovable animals, and mystery-solving!
It’s no secret that I, Sunny Shaw, am a magnet for mayhem right here on beautiful Blueberry Bay.
So, when a woman goes missing just before the grand opening of Shakes and Cakes, I think…it could be worse. And of course that’s exactly what happens when missing turns into dead. It’s hard to cry over a disastrous opening when there’s a murderer running around and things aren’t about to get any easier!
Oh my, Jasper, how will we ever juggle my nasty neighbor, a stalker, a murderer, finding homes for kittens AND serving the best shakes and cakes in Pineville?
The answer to that million dollar question might save my business but can we shake things up to keep my friends out of jail and me alive to see another day?
A small town surely can’t have any more skeletons in its garden, can it?
I’m Aubrey Rose, and after solving a decades long cold case in Willow Cove, I was ready to hang up my amateur detective hat. But when Willow Cove’s oldest and most revered resident, Edith Thomas, is found dead—everyone is suddenly looking to me for answers.
I didn’t plan on getting involved, but how can I say no when even Edith’s son is asking for my help? Now, I need to discover who would want to kill a sweet little lady whose worst offense was baking deliciously addictive chocolate chip muffins.
With handyman Gavin, and his terrier sidekick at my side, we’ll need to dig into Edith’s past and discover if this lovely senior had any scandals in her past.
Like many authors, I am often asked why I “became” a writer. The short answer is that I was born that way. As far back as I can remember, I was able to look at a situation, remove myself, and think about the “story” that was unfolding before me, no matter how mundane. I was always making up stories to keep my brother entertained when I was charged with babysitting him. I didn’t know that not everyone saw the world as I did until I was in college.
In English class one day the professor told us to write a short paragraph about a flower. We needed to make the description so vivid that anyone could picture it, see it. There were about twenty of us in the class. One girl raised her hand and asked, “what do you mean?” The professor repeated the assignment, but the girl shrugged and shook her head and said, “I still don’t know how to do that.” Something must have clicked for my professor as he turned to her and said, “Oh, you can’t make something from nothing, can you?” There are some people who can’t create something that doesn’t exist, don’t worry about it.” I feel sure I was not the only person in class who never knew such a thing existed. It was then I realized that is what writers do constantly—they make something from nothing.
Here is a rough idea of how I come up with story ideas and characters. I may be moved by a feeling, a look, a line of dialogue I overhear, or read, or a scene from a movie, and it lodges in my brain for use later. One day, it rises to the top and demands attention. No matter how long I ignore it, it is there, often growing, changing, and connecting with another idea. I always feel as if there is a separate part of my brain working on what I need to write next that I’m not totally aware of—yet. A friend of mine calls it the writing elves. These little creative brain elves are busy building the framework for a new book.
No two writers create in exactly the same way. All creative people can’t write a book, or have no desire to write. But most everyone will find their creative outlet. I found out later that the girl who could not envision a flower, couldn’t “build it in her mind” was a very talented quilt maker.
Why do I write? I can’t not write. It’s how I see and understand the world. Besides, I like creating something from nothing.
Thanks for stopping by the blog and congratulations on the release of your book, Retirement Can Be Murder!
The beginning of fall has officially arrived, and you know what that means—it’s time to brew your favorite warm beverage, curl up with your softest throw blanket, and finally crack open those cozy, autumnal reads you’ve had on your TBR since the beginning of summer.
To achieve that perfect fall mood of crisp, pine-scented air, freshly-baked pumpkin cookies, and warm apple cider, leave your to-do list at the door and check out these five cozy mysteries that you’re guaranteed to fall for this autumn!
A Bittersweet Murder by Kaz Delaney
“Captivating, entertaining and a truly delightful read” —Goodreads Reviewer
For one brief hour on a sunny Texas morning, amateur baker Rosie Hart glimpses the life she’s always dreamed about—thanks to a surprise inheritance from the late Miss Alice. But her benefactor is barely cold in the ground when Rosie is accused of her murder.
As the only stranger in the tight-knit Airlie Falls community, and the only person with an obvious motive, all eyes turn to Rosie. Especially when more bodies begin to pile up and mysterious letters from the grave start circulating faster than Rosie can pull a tray of cherry nut clusters out of the oven.
When Rosie begins to suspect the murders have links to a sixty-year-old suspicious death on the very property she’s just inherited, town locals become uneasy. But how can Rosie prove the two are related—and prove her innocence—before the killer strikes again?
In High Spirits by Beth Prentice
“A classic ‘Murder, She Wrote’ mystery, but with a heavy dose of spirits and magic” —Starred Goodreads Review
Daisy Montgomery was living her best life until she was attacked by a force so powerful that it separated her body from her soul. Now neither living nor dead, her spirit form lacks ghostly abilities like walking through walls, and she can’t communicate with anyone. Except one.
Luckily her connection to her little dog, Alfie, led her to super sexy Charlie O’Sullivan, a man who can not only see her spirit and open doors for her but someone who makes her question everything she thought she knew about her life, love, and almost death.
The more she, Charlie, and his merry band of spirit helpers uncover, the longer her suspect list grows. But when someone else she knows dies, Daisy must use her newfound knowledge to discover who the killer is before they strike again. If she can’t, not only are her loved ones at risk but the killer could come back to finish the job they started the night of her attack. And Daisy’s not ready to rest in peace.
If you’re a fan of magic, some good, old-fashioned mystery solving, and the paranormal, then Louise Marvin’s The Hellebore Haunting is perfect for you!
Pax Hawthorne (née Thatcher) has inherited a new name and a legacy she isn’t sure she wants. And now her deceased mentor’s herb shop belongs to her too.
It’s a lot to process, so when the opportunity arrives to escape for a day and check out an exhibit of ancient plants, Pax and her best friend, Sam, jump at the chance for a little R&R.
When they arrive, however, instead of cool flowers, they find a lonely ghost in need of their help. She’s been haunting the Gilded Age mansion on the property for over a century, unable to remember how she died. Hoping that discovering the answer will let their new friend rest in peace, Pax and Sam start digging for clues.
But the more truth they uproot, the more it seems there’s something much darker that would prefer the past stay buried. And when this dark force proves it isn’t afraid to play dirty to stop the investigation, Pax must call upon her loral friends for help, or else she may join her ghostly friend in the afterlife.
Black Cat Comes Back by Emmie Lyn
“A fun, whimsical read…A great set up to the series” —Goodreads Reviewer
I’m Audrey Fernsby, just a ghost of my former self floating around Moonlight Mansion in Frog Hollow, Georgia.
My death was ruled accidental… but nothing is farther from the truth.
When my precious black cat, Mocha, returns on the same night that two friends, Tilly and Sunny arrive from Maine, I plan to out my ghostly self and enlist their clever sleuthing capabilities.
Mocha knows the truth but can she help catch the killer before someone else ends up dead in my rose bushes?
If you’re a fan of The Thursday Murder Club series, then you’ll definitely like The Magician Card by Vickie Carroll
When Harper Kagel receives word that her cousin had taken a deadly fall, she drops everything and returns to her hometown of Steepwick, Maine.
She’s avoided the odd town with a witchy past for decades, and only planned to stay long enough for the funeral. But her cousin had other plans. Now Harper’s the new owner of her cousin’s home, café-bookstore, and opinionated Westie named Einstein.
The town’s residents welcome Harper’s return with open arms, including her ex. The secret crime solvers’ society even inducts her into their Cold Case Club.
But when Harper finds herself the target of a killer, she’ll need the Cold Case Club’s help to solve an ancient family mystery. If they can’t figure it out, Harper will follow in the footsteps of her dearly departed cousin.
Fall and Halloween go hand in hand, but at Tule Mystery, we believe this duo works better as a trio. That’s why we add readers to the mix, too!
So bring out your pumpkins, your colored leaves, your ghosts, your costumes, your hot cider and s’mores to celebrate September and October with these crisp mysteries:
You are cordially invited to the Halloween Tuxes and Tails fundraiser, complete with a one-eyed pirate, a flirty waitress, a real live scarecrow—and a murder at the dance. But Sunny Shaw and her cat, Jasper, will untangle the lies from the truth alongside of you, so bring your heels to this Mind Chocolate Chip Mystery installment.
College classes have started, making it the perfect time for Angel Warren to build up local tourism for her curiosities gift shop in Stonebridge, Pennsylvania. But a walk in the woods uncovers a body and a murder that leaves the town buzzing. A cozy Shop ‘Round the World mystery that will leaf you guessing.
Ah, something to cheer about: a fall carnival to raise funds for the local high school drama club. What’s not so fun for Rainbow Falls newcomer Annie Abbott: stumbling across the body of an unpleasant teacher. She really needs these clues to add up because the police have pinned her as the suspect!
The past becomes a haunting place for Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow when the notorious rivalry between York’s iconic ghost walk tour guides spirals out of control this Halloween. Shadow finds the body of one guide hanging from a tree, a la highwayman Dick
Turpin, and the assistant is killed by an explosion of gunpowder just like Guy Fawkes. Are the murders a business feud or the work of a madman?
It’s chilling déjà vu for Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit when her department is called in on a copycat murder from 25 years ago, when the victim was Benoit’s best friend. It’s time to finally nail the crooked ex-sheriff up to his elbows in these young women’s blood—but only if Benoit can keep her emotions under control after her sister, too, goes missing …
We asked our cozy authors what made them tuck tail and run, and their answers might surprise you. From heights, to bugs, to footsteps in the dark, let’s find out which author you just might share a fear with. Happy Summerween!
Jody Holford
“I don’t like having people follow me up the stairs, I don’t like people in my space in public places, I dislike walking into a dark room especially if the door has been closed.”
Jody Holford is the author of the Wannabe Sleuth series. You can find her books here.
Geri Krotow
“When I get injured or am bleeding. I can handle yours, no problem. Mine, not so much.”
Geri Krotow is the author of the Shop Round’ The World series. You can find her books here.
J.C. Kenney
“I’m not a fan of heights. Six-legged bugs creep me out, too. The weird thing is that spiders don’t bother me. I don’t know what to make of that off factoid, other than maybe I watched too many horror flicks with cockroaches in them when I was younger.”
J.C. Kenney is the author of the Elmo Simpson Mysteries series.You can find his books here. His first book, Panic in the Panhandle is releasing next month! Don’t miss out! Pre-order it today!
Kaz Delaney
“Footsteps echoing on the pavement behind me if I’m walking down a dark street (obviously at night) alone. That’ll do it. But then again, I think as mystery/crime writers, any situation can appear dangerous because our heads are always on the job. My occasionally eccentric husband once decided to bring me a cup of tea in bed, and brough two for himself. Crazy I know. His argument was that he knew he’d want a second, so made it in advance. (Don’t ask – the male brain is tricky to decipher). Anyway, I was convinced (very big tongue in cheek here) MY tea was poisoned because then he’d still have two cups beside the bed. He could get rid of mine containing the vestiges of poison and the police would find two perfectly innocent cups. No dregs of poison. He still tells people, thirty years later. Actually, I’m wondering who comes out worse in this story? The crazy husband or the paranoid mystery writer? (Caveat – obviously I didn’t really believe I was being poisoned but it was fun watching him splutter his innocence and yes, with more than a touch of the frustration that I have caused in his life. Good thing he loves me.)”
Kaz Delaney is the author of the Hart of Texas Murder Mysteries series. You can find her books here.
Candace Havens
“Parking garages late at night freak me out. I am not a fan. I’ve seen far too many television shows and movies. Nothing good ever happens late at night in a parking garage.”
Candace Havens is the author of the Ainsley McGregor series. You can find her books here. Her first book in the series, A Case for the Winemaker, is coming to screen October 5th and you won’t want to miss it! Read the first book now to get ready for it!
So, dear readers, what is the one thing that gives you the creeps?
*Feel free to email your responses to jaidencolling@tulepublishing.com to be featured in one of our articles!
Even occasional television viewers have caught an episode or two of NCIS since it began airing in 2003. Yep, that’s 21 years of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service digging into criminal cases and bringing the bad guys to justice.
So if you love these characters, you’ll definitely relate to these Tule mysteries, too:
Leroy Jethro Gibbs:
He’s the tough, no-nonsense leader of the NCIS team, a former Marine with a strong sense of duty and justice. But he also struggles with personal tragedies, finds it difficult to open up emotionally and is known for his gut instincts.
If he’s your guy, you don’t want to miss Can’t Go Home by Melinda Di Lorenzo. Detective Trinity Calhoun joined LEO to make a difference after her best friend was killed — but now someone wants her to relive the experience.
Abby Sciuto:
Ah, the upbeat forensic scientist who’s also into goth. Her childlike enthusiasm is a breath of fresh air in a serious profession, but don’t confuse quirky with careless. Abby is highly intelligent and brings the skills!
Rebecca Cuthbert is certainly comfortable with quirky as she consults with a talking cat to clear herself from the suspect list when the town’s shady antiquities dealer is found dead in Deanna Drake’s Paws, Claws, and Curses.
Timothy McGee:
This tech-savvy agent has grown from an insecure probie to a confident senior agent due in large part to the fact that he’s often the voice of reason. He’s also by the book—literally, as one of his nerdy interests is writing.
True crime writer Dougal Lachlan, the hero in C.J. Carmichael’s Buried, understands. Lachlan finds himself needing answers to a cold case and ends up working with a local librarian to unearth the secrets buried in small-town Twisted Cedars.
Ziva David:
As a former Mossad officer turned NCIS agent, she’s highly trained in combat and interrogation. Even though her playful side emerges a times, her complex relationship with her past makes her an intriguing character.
Agent Heather Slade in The Package by Kimberley Troutte is as badass as you expect from a highly trained government asset with no memory and no home. But this mission to smuggle a package from the oppression’s leader challenges all of that.
Donald “Ducky” Mallard:
The medical examiner may be known for his rambling stories, but there’s a method to his storytelling. He knows people, and that along with his war experiences make him an excellent profiler, too.
Kate Tessler of Something Shady at Sunshine Haven by Kris Bock can relate. A war injury has sidelined this news correspondent back home, where she finds a new purpose for her observation skills by investigating suspicious deaths at a nursing home.
Jenny Shepard:
She has solid connections that helped her become NCIS director, but she struggles to balance her personal need for revenge on her father’s killer with her professional duties—and that obsession ultimate leads to tragic consequences.
If only Sheriff Elizabeth Benoit of Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin had taken a page from Jenny’s book. But she’s not about to turn down the opportunity to finally nail the former sheriff for his sins, regardless of what it costs her.
Caitlyn Todd:
She’s one of NCIS’s dedicated profilers who is a whiz at counterfeit bill analysis and protection detail. But her compassion can sometimes be a fault, as she tense to get emotionally attached to victims and lets her personal believes and emotions influence her judgment.
She has a kindred spirit in KB Jackson’s Charlotte McLaughlin. In A Matter of Life and Depths, Charlotte finds herself being asked to find evidence that clears her late husband’s former mistress from murder charges—and there’s more on the line than just karma.
Ellie Bishop:
As a profiler, she’s top-notch. But NCIS fans know and love her for her knack of remembering details by connecting them to what she was eating at the time.
Ms. Bishop has a doppelganger in Ellie Hart, the heroine in Emmie Lyn’s Sprinkles and a Situation. She’s all about walking dogs with a donut in her hand, but murder and mystery manage to find her on these jaunts.
