Book Review
Self-Serve Murder by D.E. Haggerty
Book 3: Death By Cupcake Series
Publisher: Independent Self Publishing
Publication Date: December 4, 2016
Format: Paperback - 130 pages
Kindle - 1111 KB
Nook - 227 KB
ISBN: 978-1540620712
ASIN: B01M8K0RYR
BNID: 2940153788715
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy The Book:
Buy The Series: Death By Cupcake Series
Book 1: Never Trust A Skinny Cupcake Baker
Book 2: Bring Your Own Baker
Book 3: Self-Serve Murder
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book blast and tour events hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours and Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
Kristie is kind with a capital K, so it’s quite the surprise when she wakes up next to a dead man with no recollection of the previous night. Even worse? She’s naked. Kristie may be a sweetheart out to save the world, but sticking her nose into an investigation of rapes across campus makes her the target of a murderer. Before she knows it, Callie is smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation with her colleagues Callie and Anna. If that’s not enough to drive a sane person up the wall, a friend has decided he’s going to keep her safe whether she wants him to or not. And, oh yeah, he’s her man and that’s that.
Come join us at Callie’s Cakes, where murder investigations are on the menu. You are most welcome, but you may need to serve yourself as our barista Kristie is busy trying to save the world.
Warning: Although there are plenty of moments that will make you shake your head and laugh at the antics of the ladies of Callie’s Cakes, the subject matter – rape on college campuses – is very real and somewhat darker than your usual cozy mystery.
Book Excerpt:
I’m wiping down the counters when I get ambushed by Callie
and Anna. Callie grabs my arm and together with Anna she pushes me into the
corner furthest from the students. “What in the world of coffee beans are you
guys up to now?” I cross my arms over my chest to make it perfectly clear that
I’m not okay with whatever cockamamie scheme they’ve cooked up now.
Anna looks at me and smiles in an obvious but unsuccessful
attempt to look innocent. “It’s just that we think it’s time we see the Youth
Center where you spend all your time.”
Yeah, right. I roll my eyes at her. “You don’t really expect
me to believe that you want to see the Youth Center to check out my life’s
work.”
Callie bobs her head. “We’ve been meaning to go down there
for ages.”
“Yeah,” Anna jumps in. “Logan always made it sound like the
first circle in hell.”
I raise an eyebrow at the troublemaking pixie. Of course,
she would want to jump into the first circle of hell. “Most people try to avoid
Dante’s Inferno.” I don’t know why I bother trying to dissuade her. She
obviously has no fear of things ‘normal’ people avoid like gangs and violence
and such. She even admits to starting to fall for Logan before she realized he
was an undercover cop.
“We just need to make sure we can eliminate anyone from the
Youth Center as possible suspects. You know – up close and personally – then we
need to find this rapist before he strikes again. It’s time to get to the
bottom of this.” Callie makes an impassioned speech. I look down but, to my
surprise, no soap box has magically appeared under her feet.
“I thought you guys promised not to go to the Youth Center.”
I make one last ditch effort to keep Callie and Anna safely away from this
investigation.
“I promised to not go running around. I will definitely not
be doing any running.” Anna shakes her head and points at her feet. As if those
high-heeled boots would ever stop her from running head-on into turmoil.
Callie shrugs. “I never actually said the words ‘I promise’.
There’s definitely some kind of loophole there.”
“Fine!” I throw my hands in the air in defeat. “We’ll head
over in my car after the bakery closes this afternoon.”
The dynamic duo immediately jumps up and down before rushing
back into the kitchen giggling. And I’m the young one?
My Book Review:
In Self-Serve Murder, the third book in the Death By Cupcake Series, author D.E. Haggerty continues to weave a delightful cozy mystery series that follows the amateur investigative adventures of Kristie, Callie's Cakes twenty-three year old barista and social work grad student.
Kristie is a social work grad student who works part time at the local youth center and part time as a barista at her friend Callie's bakery, Callie's Cakes. Kristie wakes up naked and next to a dead guy in bed, and she has no recollection of what happened the night before. Kristie has been conducting a secret investigation the past few months into a string of college rape incidents where all the female victims have the same MO, they were all drugged (roofies) and woke up in their dorm rooms not remembering what happened, but having been sexually violated. As the latest victim (but not violated), Kristie is determined to find the rapist/murderer, so with the help of Callie, Ben (Callie's detective boyfriend), Anna, and Logan (Anna's detective boyfriend), they embark on a murder investigation adventure that is sure to stir up the pot on the college campus.
Self-Serve Murder is a thoroughly entertaining cozy mystery that will keep the reader in stitches. Written in the first person narrative, the reader follows the humorous trials and tribulations of Kristie, Callie, and Anna on their latest amateur investigative adventures.
This was such a fun book to read! The reader can't help but get drawn into the quirky trials and tribulations and intriguing suspense that Kristie and friends encounter during the college rape and murder investigation. I really enjoyed Kristie's sassy humor and wit, you can't help but feel compassion for her determination to bring the rapist to justice, and when you add in the hilarious antics that follows these three cheeky chicks and their detective boyfriends Logan and Ben, you get a delightful cozy mystery that will leave you wanting more!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I really loved how the author used clever coffee facts and quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
Cozy mystery fans, I would highly recommend that you read the entertaining Death By Cupcake Series, you won't regret it!
RATING: 5 STARS
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Thanks for taking time to read & review Kristie's book. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for helping me spread the word about the Cupcake series.
ReplyDeleteHi D.E.! Thank you for the opportunity to feature Self-Serve Murder on my blog. I really enjoy reading this series, keep em coming! :)
DeleteWhat intrigues me most is the pure chutzpah of these ladies as they get involved in one mess after another yet always manage to help catch the bad guy/girl.
ReplyDeleteHi Nora, thank you for stopping by my blog. I completely agree with you, these three ladies have a lot of chutzpah. lol :)
DeleteIt's a good thing the ladies have some hot, detective men at their backs ;-) Thanks for stopping by
DeleteI liked the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita! Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you put the book on your TBR list. This is a fun cozy mystery series to read. :)
DeleteThanks! Finding an excerpt that doesn't give away too much of the mystery is always a challenge.
DeleteThank you for posting
ReplyDeleteThese look fantastic! 💙👍💯
ReplyDeleteHi Tara! Thank you for stopping by my blog. This is a really fun cozy mystery series to read. :)
DeleteThanks Tara!
Delete