Another great book by Ms. Washburn ( )

This was just okay for me. I had expected more about a bake off and less about the neighbors. Also I guessed who did it almost from the beginning which kind of spoils the book. ( )

It is nearing Christmas time in Weatherford, Texas. Phyllis Newsom is hosting the annual neighborhood cookie exchange. When she decides to bring a plate of cookies to her home-bound elderly neighbor, Agnes Simmons, Phyllis has no idea a murder is about to occur. Mrs. Simmons asks to borrow some cookie cutters from Phyllis, and when Phyllis returns to her neighbor's house, it is to find Agnes lying dead on the floor, strangled with the belt of her own bathrobe. Before Phyllis can try to help Agnes, Phyllis is hit on the head and sustains a slight concussion.

It is not long before the police set their sights on Randall Simmons as the murderer. Randall is Agnes's grandson, but he has warrants out on him for failure to appear and possessing drugs with intent to sell. Randall had been secretly hiding out in his grandmother's attic, and it is possible she could have threatened to turn him in to the police herself, causing him to turn on and kill his own grandmother.

However, Agnes doesn't believe Randall is a killer. As she investigates Agnes's death, Phyllis learns many people had motives to want Agnes dead, including her children. Many people in the neighborhood are harboring secrets of their own, and Agnes, housebound and watching through her picture window, could have learned someone's secret and threatened to expose them.

With Christmas just a few days away, can Phyllis solve Agnes's murder and enjoy the holiday once again?

I've already read a couple of books in this series and enjoyed them. I nearly figured out the murderer in the book but didn't figure out the motive until it was revealed at the end of the story. The descriptions of food brought to mind many past holiday celebrations of my own. The recipes are sure to delight any foodie out there. I definitely want to read the next book in this series. ( )

Great series, I almost had it figured out. I really like the pace these characters are developing. ( )

I felt a lot of good things about this book. None of them new things, but that's not a complaint, but it defines the experiences of a fan of cozy mysteries and defines the element of the genre. For once, I'd not like to focus on ratings, and I'd rather say that The Freshly Baked Mystery series are up to my taste. The writing is slightly pedantic and dry, but there's some character progression for some. The writer took great care to describe Sam. He does not walk, he ambles. The doesn't speak, but 'drawls'. The murderer was very satisfactorily found out. I'm at peace with the world and this book played its part in it. ( )