Murder Is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns (Baker Street Mystery #2) * * * *
The story takes place in New Bison, which is a fictional small town based on New Buffalo, Michigan. It has that classic cosy mystery atmosphere. Close knit community, familiar faces, and just enough secrets under the surface to keep things interesting.
This is the second book in the Baker Street Mysteries series. I had already read and enjoyed the first one, so I decided to continue with the series. That turned out to be a very good decision, because the first book leaves a few threads open, and this one continues to build on them rather than resetting everything.
The plot follows Maddy, who is still settling into her new life as a bakery owner. Her development is one of the strongest aspects of the series. You can actually see her growing. Not just as a businesswoman, but also as a baker and as a dog owner. Her English Mastiff is not just there to look cute. He actively participates in the story, sometimes even influencing the direction of the investigation. That gives the book a bit more personality, and it makes the scenes feel more alive. You can picture him there, big and slightly clumsy, but very present.
The supporting cast continues to expand in a natural way. We learn more about the people in New Bison, their relationships, and their pasts. These details are not dumped all at once. They come out in conversations and small moments, which makes them feel earned and believable.
As for the mystery itself, the victim is quite obvious early on even if you haven't read the synopsis. You can almost predict who is going to die within the first few chapters, simply based on how they are presented. The real intrigue is not the setup, but what follows. The investigation gives answers, but at the same time, it creates new questions. The more things seem resolved, the more it feels like something bigger is still hidden underneath. It is difficult to explain without spoilers, but there is a sense that the series is building toward something that has not fully surfaced yet.
The pacing is another strong point. The book is slightly shorter than the first one, which works in its favour. It moves quickly, keeps the tension light but constant, and never drags. I went through it in about a day without effort.
I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was a bit slow for my taste. I ended up speeding it up slightly, which made the experience much smoother.
Like the first book, this one includes baking elements and recipes at the end. One of the cakes actually sounds very doable. Not overly complicated, just something you could realistically try. The only minor inconvenience is the American measurements, which need converting.
Overall, this is a strong continuation of the series. It keeps what worked in the first book and builds on it without losing momentum. The characters remain the highlight, the mystery is engaging even when predictable in parts, and the underlying threads give you a reason to keep going.
I would definitely recommend this, especially if you enjoy cosy mysteries with a strong sense of place and character. And I will be continuing the series, because it is very clear that there is still more going on beneath the surface.
And right now, we are only seeing pieces of it.
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