Winnie Archer has given life to her Bread Shop Mystery series. The protagonist, Ivy Culpepper, a self-employed photographer, is back in her hometown of Santa Sofia with her pug Agatha. She has arrived to give support to her brother and father after her mother’s passing. Ivy finds solace in a local bread shop and decides to take a bread class there. While there she begins to foster a friendship with the proprietor of the bread shop, Olaya Solis. She also begins a friendship with octogenarian Penny Branford who also becomes her partner in crime when trying to investigate murders. I love the strength of Penny and her sharp mind and drive. Ivy’s best friend growing up, Emmaline, the sheriff, is still living in town and their friendship is as strong as ever. There can not be a cozy mystery without a love interest. Emmaline and Ivy’s younger brother are in a relationship and we will see what happens between Ivy and Miguel who were in love in high school before “someone” tore them apart. Miguel never married and Ivy is divorced after having pined for Miguel during her marriage.
The books flow beautifully with a scenic town and interesting characters. Each story is different keeping the interest going throughout the series. This is a must read series if you like cozy mysteries.
Short synopsis of books:
Kneaded to Death: Book 1
The book is set up as it states above , with Ivy coming home after the death of her mother. Her father is totally distraught and Ivy and her brother try to be a calming presence in his life. There are a couple of directions this book goes. Ivy’s mom’s death ends up questionable and then there is the surprise death of a student from the bread shop, Jackie. Ivy gets involved when Olaya becomes a suspect. She goes on stakeouts with Mrs. Branford and together with Olaya and Emmaline, try to collect as many clues as they can. Then of course there is Ivy’s old flame, Miguel, who is mourning the loss of his father while running his local restaurant. He is there to be Ivy’s rock. Given the turmoil that is forever around her, she needs one. It is interesting how the writer wound two different plots together and yet it worked flawlessly.
Crust No One: Book 2
Another great book in the series! The series continues as Ivy gets involved in yet another mystery. Ivy is now working at the Olaya’s Bread shop as an apprentice. I love this bread shop! I can imagine sitting with a cup of coffee and delicious chocolate croissant, reading a book or meeting with friends. My favorite part of the bake shop are the skull cookies hidden among the bread for the kids. What a great idea! I also love that the people believe that Olaya’s bread is infused with magic.
In this story, the Blackbird ladies were a nice edition to the story. Mustache Hank became the main character who the story was about. Hank disappears and Ivy, Miguel, Mrs. Branford, and Olaya get involved with Emmaline trying to track him down. The group works on tracking him down for the majority of the story. Once he turns up dead, a missing person hunt turns into a hunt for a murderer.
The Walking Bread, Book 3
The Walking Bread is the 3rd book in the series. Again, a good story to try out your sleuthing skills. It is time for the Art Car and Ball in Santa Sofia. Billy Culpepper, Ivy’s brother, had always entered the car show competition but regularly lost to local Max Litman. This year, Billy built a car that he was certain would win. When Ivy was photographing the cars, at the airport hanger where the cars were staged for the show. While taking photographs, she found legs sticking out of a a zombie car. The sheriff has his sights on Billy as the murderer and given that Emmaline is Billy’s girlfriend, she has been taken off the case. This story flows well and provides a strong relationship between friends.
Flour in the Attic, Book 4
Flour in the Attic is just as entertaining as the other books written by Winnie Archer. There are many twists and turns as Ivy’s ex husband shows up, Emmaline is about to propose to Billy, and a body washes ashore. If this is not enough, the body belonged to one of Miguel’s long time waitresses. The characters work together to try and solve the mystery of Marisol’s death. If it is a little slow in spots, keep reading, this is a good book that makes you realize the importance of good friends.
Dough or Die, Book 5
This book was very special. I loved the fact that the Bread for Life program was brought into the book making it so interesting that women from different backgrounds were able to come together to share their culture through bread. When a T.V. crew wants to film the Bread for Life program, there will be many interesting new personalities and problems to deal with. Olaya, poor thing, gets sick leaving Ivy to run things. To Ivy’s dismay there is a hit and run and a murder. Mrs. Brandford is always up to a challenge and never disappoints the reader.
Death Gone A-Rye, Book 6
I was so excited when Emmaline and Billy got married! I was more excited reading about the breads for the wedding especially the Van Dough focaccia. I have been making this bread for a while and it gave me goose bumps to actually read about it especially since I have been using the same recipe! I read with bated breath waiting to see if something was going to happen to stop the wedding. There was a death but it occurred after the vows! So. Emmaline and Billy go off on their honeymoon leaving the new police captain in charge. Emmaline, being a little skeptical, asks Ivy to keep an eye on things. It is unfortunate that the new captain wants to pin the death on Miguel. This book kept me interested from the beginning to the end!
A Murder Yule Regret, Book 7
It is a Dickens Christmas costume party given by young actress Eliza Fox in Santa Sofia. Olaya has been hired to cater the bread for the party and Ivy has been hired to provide the photography. Renee from a past book was the caterer. There are many new characters and one, a tabloid reporter, ends up dead. You may not figure this one out. The characters work together to figure out how the reporter ended up on the rocks below the cliff behind Eliza’s house. This is a real “cliff hanger”!
Bread Over Troubled Water, Book 8
Of all the books in this series, this was not my favorite. That being said, It was an interesting read and I love the relationship between Ivy and Miguel. It is wonderful that they are now engaged. They had been high school sweethearts, a deceitful sister broke them apart but they found each other again realizing that they were always in love. There is hope for lost love! Anyway, I was sad that a regular, Josh, dies. The story ends up portraying him as a devious person. I did stick with this story all the way through and I am glad I did.
