Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am delighted to share my thoughts today about
Night of the Living Bread by Mary Lee Ashford
Night of the Living Bread (Sugar & Spice Mysteries)
by Mary Lee Ashford
About Night of the Living Bread
Night of the Living Bread (Sugar & Spice Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Iowa
Publisher : Oliver Heber Books (May 27, 2025)
Print length : 223 pages
ASIN : B0F17HPMMT
Sugar Calloway and Dixie Spicer are up to their aprons in community cookbook projects, but Sugar can’t resist when the Jameson County Historical Society asks for their assistance with a cookbook featuring bread recipes. But they’ve barely begun when suddenly troubles are on the rise. Marla, the board’s president is stabbed with a bread knife, her best friend, Mame, is a suspect & some dough (of the money kind) is missing.
As Sugar and Dixie try to save the cookbook project and help Mame, things take a twist with a second body. But what’s the connection? And who in St. Ignatius has been keeping secrets? And, mostly importantly, will Sugar and Dixie be able to figure out whodunnit before the killer catches up with them and they are toast.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Sugar & Spice Community Cookbooks is busy with several cookbook projects. Still, Sugar Calloway and Dixie Spicer are excited to take on the bread recipe cookbook for the Jameson County Historical Society. The talks have just been preliminary, so Sugar goes to meet the society’s president, Marla Mercer, to firm up the details. When she arrives, she finds a young docent and Marla’s dead body, a bread knife stabbed into her back. It isn’t long before Marla’s best friend Mame is the sheriff’s prime suspect.
St. Ignatius is also being plagued by a “Cash Burglar”. And to add to the fun, Dino Diner Dinelli is in town to feature the local Red Hen Diner on his television show. Oh, I can’t forget the 2nd body found in an unusual place.
Are all these things connected? Can Dixie and Sugar get all the cookbook projects done while trying to clear Mame’s name, catch the Cash Burglar, and keep Dino from dumping on Red Hen? Or will the killer grind everything to an alarming halt?
I am happy to see this series has found a new publisher!
Ms. Ashford has created a fabulous cast of core characters. They are so genuine and people you want to have your back, whatever arises. Best friends Sugar Calloway and Dixie Spicer are partners of Sugar & Spice Community Cookbooks. Dixie is the baker who tests all the recipes before they appear in a cookbook. Sugar handles the logistics, working with the clients, and setting up the books. Max Windsor, who is more than a friend to Sugar, takes all the fantastic photos for the cookbooks. Sheriff TerryGriffin stops by often for a cup of coffee and to taste whatever Dixie is baking. He likes to check in with them, too, about his current case, even though he tells them to stay out of it. Real estate agent Tina Martin arrives daily with the latest St. Ignatius news and gossip, heavy on the gossip. At home, Sugar has a handsome, demanding six-toed tabby feline roommate named Ernest. He is “proficient in glares and eye rolls, and an Olympic napper who she loves very much.
I enjoy the way the author tells a story. Her details set each scene and the people involved. Her food descriptions make my mouth water. The murder takes place early in the story, so there is ample time to introduce different suspects and theories. Sugar and Dixie report anything they learn to Sheriff Terry. In this story, though, Sugar’s A-ha moment and her discovery occurred before she could loop the good sheriff in. The confrontation that occurred was heart-stopping. The killer was on my radar, but I didn’t understand why until everything was wrapped up.
Night of the Living Bread was a sweet read. So well-plotted, the story moves at a lively pace. A fine mystery, entertaining characters that feel like good friends, set in an Iowa small town, complete with yummy recipes, delivered everything I needed for A Perfect Escape. With a nod to Aunt Cricket and an old family friend of mine, this book left me “feeling finer than frog hair.” I hope we don’t have to wait too long for the next book in this fun cozy mystery series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC.
About Mary Lee Ashford
Mary Lee Ashford is a national best-selling author, a lifelong bibliophile, an avid reader, and a supporter of public libraries. In addition to writing the Sugar & Spice series for Oliver Heber Books, she also writes the Pampered Pets mystery series as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey. Prior to publishing, Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest and Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest.
She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., and Sisters in Crime Guppies.
She loves encouraging writers and is a frequent lecturer and workshop presenter for writers’ groups. Mary Lee has a long-time interest in creativity and teaches a university-level course on creative management. She also presents workshops and blogs about creativity and the writing craft.
She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband, Tim, and Zoey, her feline coworker. When she’s not writing, her passions are reading, travel, and time with her family, especially her six grandchildren.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.”
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Sounds like a fun cozy.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
This sounds like a good story. I really want to check this series out.