A cooking contest goes awry when one of the judges is found dead, with his face in a pie. Well, they decide to go on with the contest, and, (drum roll, please), there is another death. It’s just not a good year for contests! Teddie embarks on her usual sleuthing with the help of her bestie, and they get in trouble, as expected, with their local sheriff, who just happens to be her bestie’s boyfriend. It’s a cute cozy, with other minor problems and mysteries thrown in to keep the story interesting. The characters are likable, if a bit quirky, and there is some romance in the air, which, no doubt, will be more fully explored in the next book. Also included are several tempting recipes for those inclined to bake. ( )

Deadly Delights by Laura Jensen Walker has readers returning to Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin in August where it is time for the annual baking competition. Teddie St. John finds herself a murder suspect when her grandmother’s rolling pin is used to murder Les Morris. With help from her friends, Teddie works to prove her innocence. Deadly Delights is the 2nd book in A Bookish Baker Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in Murder Most Sweet. It contains good writing with varied pacing. There are some slow sections due to lack of action. Most of the activity takes place near the end of the book (the last fifty pages or so). Teddie St. John is a developed character. Teddie is a cozy mystery writer and baker who has had a double mastectomy. She chose not to have reconstruction surgery and makes light of her figure. It is great that Teddie is comfortable in her own skin. I like that the author is addressing the issue of breast cancer (in a compassionate way) and how a woman deals with the aftermath. Each woman must choose her own path. I wish the secondary characters were as fleshed out as our main one. There are mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods (some of the recipes are at the end of the book including one for Peanut Butter Blossoms). The mystery starts off on a humorous note with Les Morris being found face down in a contestant’s pie. There are several good suspects along with misdirection. I like how Teddie’s friends help to clear her name. They get themselves into some noteworthy situations that will have readers laughing. The author decided to add in what Teddie’s dog was thinking which I found odd since this is not a paranormal novel (it just did not go with the book). I enjoyed the sweet and touching ending that will have readers smiling. Deadly Delights is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a lecherous Les, sweet treats, caring chums, a ruined rolling pin, and a chocolate cake conundrum. ( )

Deadly Delights is the second book of the Bookish Baker Mystery series by Laura Jensen Walker.

Teddie St. John is an amateur baker, mystery, and thankfully a breast cancer survivor.

Teddie has decided to enter this year’s Lake Potawatomi Baking contest. As she is getting ready for the first day’s judging, cookies, her rolling pin rolls off the table, and when she bends over to retrieve it, she feels her butt being pinched and instinctively swings around strikes the lecherous Les Morris with her rolling pin. Les, known as “Les the Letch,” has a reputation for sexual harassment. Particularly the younger ladies. Les is president of the Chamber of Commerce and one of three judges for the contest, and Teddie feels her chances have gone in the garbage.

But she makes it to the next round and goes home to bake a cherry pie for the next round. While making the pie, her neighbor, Sophia, comes over to ask they can over and set up their tables as she has to take her grandmother to an appointment and wouldn’t have time to set up the next day. When a storm comes up, Teddie goes to the tent where the contest is being held to see if the site has been damaged. When she enters, she finds Les face down in a coconut creme that would have been Sophia’s entry and her bloody rolling pin on the floor near the body. As the police begin investigating and collecting evidence, Les’s wife begins shouting to arrest Teddie.

Teddie, Char, and Sharon were known as the “Three Musketeers” in high school, as they always had each other’s back. Now is the time for them to learn who the killer was so that Teddie can clear her name. It will prove to be quite a job because of the number of women he has harassed or has his wife gotten tired of his behavior. Or possibly his son is looking to collect his inheritance now rather than later. Then there is the pole dancer in nearby Racine.

Teddie and her mother don’t see eye-to-eye on everything in a subplot, which causes, at times, tension. It seems that her mother frequently leaves her home, dressed to the nine and late at night. Teddie has found that her reasons are a complete fabrication. But they will start to put their differences aside.

I really like the character, Teddie. There is an old saying when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And after a double mastectomy. Teddie could have turned into a recluse, but instead facing every day as a positive step forward. She makes light-hearted comments about her “new” body.

The story is well-written and plotted with enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end who the killer was.
I enjoyed all the characters, and they are well developed and believable.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. ( )

This second Bookish Baker cozy, set in southeast Wisconsin, is another outstanding book in the series. In this one, baker and cozy mystery author, Teddie is entered into the small town's baking contest and, of course, there's a dead body.

The best part of this series is the terrific cast of characters. Two books in and they feel like old friends. I'm looking forward to reading many, many more in this series.

I would definitely recommend this series to any cozy mystery fan.

(I received a copy from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) ( )

Wisconsin, Norwegian Americans, murder, murder-investigation, family-dynamics, friendship, relationships, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, pets, dogs, mastectomy, cancer-survivor, situational-humor, verbal-humor, recipes, cozy-mystery*****

Good cozy with lots of twists, misdirection, great characters, and humor.
Theodora (Teddy) has returned to her home town after surviving mastectomies and chemo and has entered the area Baking Contest. Little did she know that a confrontation with the local lecher would get her accused of his murder! It's a real laugh fest and roller coaster ride of a cozy complete with awful puns. Amidst all this is a long distance romance with another author and a problematic issue with her widowed mother. Excellent read and there are recipes.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books vi a NetGalley. Thank you!
The review of the mystery is as honest as a Norwegian-American from Southeast Wisconsin with close ties to the bakeries can get while sending Kringles to Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Indianapolis. ( )