2 stars It started out rough for me with excessively crude comments from a very immature character.(-1 star) Normally I would just say okay it's part of the story but these were just for crude shock value and added nothing to the characters or the story. It was just gross. Seriously saying "i smell old lady crouch" from an adult ? Unfortunately that wasn't the only name calling that made no sense in the book. The character in question toned it done after she learned her lesson. Well not completely she still name called and degraded people. She made a miraculous personality change suddenly in the book. "Poof" I'm not going to do that anymore, Yeah it went like that. It was predictable, a broken romance rekindled, ending in a HEA. None of the characters had any real depth, they read like cookie cutter people.I don't care about any of these characters or this world enough to move on i the series

**An ARC of this book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

1.5 stars. (Rounding up cause I didn't hate it.)

Okay, technically I only read the first issue of this, which was about 24 pages, since that's what was on Netgalley. I wasn't impressed with those 24 pages, however, certainly not enough to bother continuing with the series.

Full review to come closer to publication.

The Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery series was one of the first cozy mystery series I read. I’ve loved it from the first sentence of book one, COOKIE DOUGH OR DIE, and after finishing the last sentence of DEAD MEN DON’T EAT COOKIES, I love it even more!

Author Virginia Lowell has penned a series that continues to get better with every book. And this one is no exception.

I always enjoy my time spent with Olivia Greyson and her best friend and business partner Maddie at The Gingerbread House. Ms. Lowell has written these characters and the supporting cast in a way that truly makes them feel like old friends.

Ms. Lowell wasted no time getting the mystery going in this story with the discovery of the body happening almost right away. The investigation that follows has lots of ups and downs, and twists and turns, all leading up to a climatic reveal!

This book reminded me once again why adore this series and has secured its place in my favorite.

And don’t miss the yummy recipe at the back of the book!

Very imaginative world-building and a neat concept, but it fell short on character and writing and, most especially, pacing. I kinda skimmed around the boring bits (which was most of the book) and tried to pick up important plot points and I think I succeeded admirably. Mull and I just don't seem to get on great, though I'll probably give the second book a go.