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The Golden Spoon
The Golden Spoon: A Novel | Jessa Maxwell
A killer is on the loose when someone turns up dead on the set of a hit TV baking competition in this darkly beguiling debut mystery that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Nita Prose, and Anthony Horowitz. Soon to be a limited series on Hulu. Production for the tenth season of Bake Week is ready to begin at the gothic estate of host and celebrity chef Betsy Martin, and everything seems perfect. The tent is up, the top-tier ingredients are aligned, and the crew has their cameras at the ready. The six contestants work to prove their culinary talents over the course of five days, while Betsy is less than thrilled to share the spotlight with a new cohostthe brash and unpredictable Archie Morris. But as the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, its merely sabotagesugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to highbut when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect. A deliciously suspenseful thriller for murder mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon will keep you guessing until the very last page.
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review
TamTracy
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Pickpick

The only things I watch regularly on tv are sports, true crime docs, and cooking shows. So clearly this was a book that kept my attention. I enjoyed it even if it was a little predictable at times. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

43 likes2 stack adds
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Bookwormjillk
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Pickpick

The Great British Bake Off meets Christie‘s And Then There Were None. This mystery was a ton of fun to listen to on my drive back from Massachusetts today.

atenelli I felt the same way and really enjoyed the audiobook. 6mo
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LeahBergen
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I‘ve had some sort of flu bug (not Covid) for the past few days and this book is the extent of what my brain can handle.

It‘s like watching a season of The Great British Bake Off with the foreknowledge that all the contestants have a secret and are unreliable narrators. Hmm, let‘s call them “unreliable bakers”. 😆

Cathythoughts Get better soon 😘 Unreliable bakers !!! 🙈😂😂 7mo
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts Thanks, Cathy! I‘m a bit of an unreliable baker myself at times. 😆 7mo
Ruthiella Hope you feel better soon! 🤒❤️ 7mo
See All 26 Comments
TheBookHippie Hope you‘re tip top soon!!! 7mo
Tamra 😆 Good one! Wishing you speedy recovery with your book. 7mo
mabell Take care! I hope you‘re feeling better soon! 7mo
Librarybelle Hope you feel better soon! 7mo
jlhammar I thought this was kind of fun. Might have helped that I happened to be watching the last season of Bake Off around the same time. Hope you‘re feeling better soon, Leah! 7mo
Jas16 Get well soon 💐 7mo
TrishB Hope you‘re on the mend soon! 7mo
vivastory Hope that you feel better soon 💙 7mo
quietjenn Sorry you've been under the weather, but hopefully you're on the mend. 7mo
Leftcoastzen Hope you feel better soon! At least you are confident even when sick to do crosswords in pen! 😂 7mo
MemoirsForMe Take good care and feel better ❤️ 7mo
LeahBergen @jlhammar It was totally fun! I had wanted to read it but then saw several unenthusiastic reviews… and then I picked it up for $2 at a sale. My expectations were very low and it ended up as a perfect “flu read”.😆 7mo
LeahBergen @Leftcoastzen I am an unrepentant inker of NY Times crosswords. 😆 Well, with the odd scribbling out, of course! 7mo
Hooked_on_books Do unreliable bakers use baking powder instead of baking soda? Or cold butter instead of room temperature? 😉 7mo
Bookwomble Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery 😊 7mo
batsy Glad you're feeling better! 💜 7mo
sarahbarnes Sounds lovely. Glad you‘re feeling better! 7mo
Suet624 Glad to hear you're feeling better. 7mo
LeahBergen @Hooked_on_books I bet they do, those sneaks! 😆😆 7mo
kspenmoll I hope you feel better soon- the flu is tough, we all weathered it in February in my house. 😍 7mo
LeahBergen @kspenmoll Thank you! My husband and I were all, “Who gets the flu in MAY?” 7mo
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Yenya1954
Pickpick

This was a cozy/type mystery. The location as well as the baking show aspect was the reason I chose this book. The contestants were unique. They arrived at the Grafton House, in Vermont where the cook off was to take place. Chapters focused on one player at a time. Of course, there was a murder. Contestants were sabotaged. There were twists and turns. It you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I think you will enjoy it.

Soubhiville I love a book set in VT! 8mo
4 likes1 comment
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Jen2
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Mehso-so

Just okay.

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RosePressedPages
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Mehso-so

I‘m a diehard GBBO fan, and I‘ve recently been reading more whodonits, so I had high expectations for this one. I think it fell short for me in terms of characters and how the plot played out. It‘s hard to explain, but I just felt disappointed in the reveal, how the competition happened, and how things ended. I will say I‘m a little suspicious there are more nefarious things going on behind the scenes of baking shows in general now lol.

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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

Low pick. Good mystery at a baking show in Vermont. I like how the audio had a full cast of narrators. Not really anything new I thought.

Finished in January.

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deirdrebeecher
Panpan

This is not cosy. I'm not quite sure if the author just did a cynical jump on the bandwagon or if their characterisaton skills weren't up to the mark. But the ratios are all off, too much unpleasantness, not enough warmth. The mystery is no great shakes either.

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RaeLovesToRead
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Mehso-so

This was an entertaining, but wholly predictable kind-of mystery in a Bake Off setting.

It was good fun, but I don't think I was truly surprised even once, and it took about 300 pages before we get a proper victim showing up.

#pop24 >3 x POV @Megabooks @jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB @KarenUK @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick @MissHel @AshleyHoss820 @Ruthiella @OriginalCyn620 @BookBelle84 @graciouswarriorprincess @WJCintron @Branwen @BarkingMadRead

⭐️⭐️⭐️

julesG I bailed, boring!! 10mo
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LiteraryinPA
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Pickpick

Thanks for the #AuldLangSpine recommendation @Librarybelle ! I‘m glad I read this one. I started by listening to it on audio and really didn‘t like the narrators, but it was better when I switched to print. This felt like somewhere between a cozy and a mystery to me, and while parts of the plot seemed rushed or glossed over, I liked the characters and the baking competition. I had fun reading it!

Librarybelle Glad it was a pick! I‘m loving Legends & Lattes so far - so not my typical genre, but it‘s delightful! I had to turn it into the library but got it back as an ebook, so I plan to finish it up soon! I also have several other titles from your list checked out from the library, so will be continuing the list into next month. 😁 10mo
Crazeedi I did enjoy this one 10mo
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deirdrebeecher

Ngl I am struggling. There is a mean spirited tread weaving through this book. It makes me ask myself does the author not understand the point of cosy and cosy adjacent mysteries.

mabell I wonder that often with cozies! They are supposed to be lighthearted and fun (despite a murder or two!) 10mo
deirdrebeecher @mabell I feel like it is a recent thing, I like it when there is a balance of light and dark, but there should always be a warmth to the characters and their community. 10mo
12 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

This is a basic mystery set around a reality baking show at an estate in VT. I was entertained.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 10mo
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TheKidUpstairs
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Pickpick

A fun and quick cozy mystery, set at a GBBO type reality competition. Nothing ground breaking or world shaking, but good entertainment nonetheless!

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BookBr
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Pickpick

I thought this was a really fun little mystery—ofc, I love GBBO, so. The setting of a televised competition is perfect for a murder, and this one did not disappoint, with a motley crew of characters, secret pasts, lies, deceptions, and neat little twists. I did see the ending coming, but not in a way that spoiled the read. The sharp little epilogue was a very nice touch. Some cutting and incisive takes on current culture, too. Would recommend!

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BookBr
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Starting the new year with a mystery…billed as a combination of Clue & the GBBO, how can you go wrong?!

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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Fun audiobook. Perfect accompaniment to my holiday baking!

#CloakandDaggerChristmas

Ruthiella Awesome. I love a good full cast audio book! 🎄💀🔪🎅🏻 11mo
merelybookish Great cover! 11mo
53 likes2 comments
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THill
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This was the most amazing package!!! Everything is so perfect!! From the wrapping to the gifts, it was all awesome!! Thank you so much @Captivatedbybooks also- Carmella loved her goodie as well, I had to throw in some actions shots!! Thank you!! 🐈 🎃 👻 #HHS23

wanderinglynn Fantastic! 🎃🖤👻🧡 13mo
Captivatedbybooks Im glad Carmella and you liked your gifts! I had so much fun picking the stuff out and wrapping it. 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Gorgeous kitten 😸 😍 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Captivatedbybooks Oh that creepy hand thing is a bookmark i dunno if it was obvious it wasnt for me at first 🤪🤣 13mo
DHill @Captivatedbybooks you are a real one. Everything in this box couldn‘t have been more perfect for @THill 🧡 13mo
Captivatedbybooks @DHill awww thank you ❣️ 13mo
18 likes6 comments
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Ericalambbrown
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Pickpick

What a fun little page turner! Total ‘cozy murder‘ brain candy. The British Bake Off meets Clue comparison is pretty accurate only with less zaniness than Clue. I had to keep reminding myself this is set in the US because it felt so British. There‘s not much else I can tell you that wouldn‘t be considered at least a minor spoiler. I recommend it if you are needing something quick and entertaining.

Librarybelle I just finished this too and liked it! Good review! 14mo
Ericalambbrown @Librarybelle thanks! So you know what I mean about there being so little you can actually say about it without being spoilery. 🙃 14mo
Librarybelle Yes, exactly! 14mo
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Librarybelle
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Pickpick

I stayed up a bit later than usual to finish this one - imagine murder and mayhem during the Great British baking show…Maxwell unravels the story from the perspective of each character. There are a few twists in this, and while I figured out a couple of them, there were still surprises for me. I liked the setting of this more so than the characters; I didn‘t really like any of them. But, the last third definitely had me at the edge of my seat.

Librarybelle Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an #ARC in exchange for an honest review. 14mo
Librarybelle And, it took some time for me to get to this, but this was my April #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks 14mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 14mo
65 likes3 comments
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SassyBookworm
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Today our book club met at a local vineyard/winery & we had this beautiful charcuterie to go with a wonderful mango wine slushy! We had a wonderful discussion about the tagged book (which I still haven‘t finished, thanks to my Fourth Wing hangover 🤷🏼‍♀️). But lots of laughs, bookish things and of course book suggestions! Excited about our next months book None of This is True by Lisa Jewell.

#SassyBookworm😏 #BookClubReads #SummerEndReadathon

TheSpineView 😎😎😎 1y
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SayersLover
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Mehso-so

This was one of those rare cases where I struggled to read a physical copy but enjoyed it in audiobook. Trying to keep track of all the characters was easier with different voices. A fun mystery with cute baking accents. Definitely a slow burner with a slightly open ending. Mostly I enjoyed it while driving. I think the cover is my favorite part of this book. ☺️

SassyBookworm This is my book club‘s September book. I may look into the audiobook now ☺️ 1y
SayersLover I‘d definitely recommend it @SassyBookworm 1y
23 likes2 comments
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lynneamch
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#Audiobaking today. Just happen to be listening to this fun mystery taking place at a baking competition show. They're in the middle of Pie Day as I'm prepping my blueberry/nectarine filling.

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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

The Great British Baking Show is my relaxation/comfort show (besides Friends). This was like a super condensed version of the show with 6 contestants & people leaving after 1 day. It was a good audiobook listen, with each character being narrated by a different person. I enjoyed the storyline, nothing groundbreaking but a fun listen. #bookspin book

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
LiteraryinPA I love GBBS and mysteries, so this sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the review! 1y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Tara
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Pickpick

Haven‘t been on Litsy in 5(?) years! I‘m not sure anyone I follow is even still active anymore, lol. Wouldn‘t mind doing some casual book posting again, so! GBBO + murder, a fun cozy mystery. Anyone else get the feeling the author hates Pa*l H*llywood?

The_Book_Ninja Always interested in reading peoples‘ reviews🙌🏼 1y
slategreyskies Oh, I haven‘t seen this book yet! I love GBBO, so I‘ll have to look into this one! 😎 1y
DGRachel I agree about PH. I definitely don‘t look at competition shows the same way after reading this one. 1y
10 likes3 comments
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Karisa
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Pickpick

Bake Off + Cozy Mystery = Fun, fast read that‘ll make you hungry 😂

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wen4blu
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I liked the murder in the midst of a reality baking show story, but something about the ending just didn‘t work for me.

Gissy Love your photo👌 1y
DivineDiana Agree with @Gissy ! Fun photo! 1y
36 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bookandbedandtea
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Pickpick

I've decided to take up watercolor & got some #audiopainting done while listening to this delightful book yesterday.
Told through the POVs of 6 contestants & the longtime host of a popular baking show, we're given a story of betrayal, friendship, ambition, sabotage, self-discovery, a historical mystery, & a current murder. It's very character driven, with good backstory on each character, rather than a fast paced thriller, which worked for me.

bookandbedandtea The friendship which developed between Pradyumna and Lottie was a joy. Teeny quibble: I would have loved more time with Peter as he's such a good person. But I get that he didn't bring enough drama to the plot. 1y
dabbe If I could paint like that, I'd take up watercolors, too! Wow! 🤩🤩🤩 1y
See All 14 Comments
bookandbedandtea @dabbe Thank you! I've been watching tutorials. These two were a lot easier than I expected. 1y
TheBookgeekFrau Wow!!! You've got some talent; those are gorgeous 😍😍 1y
bookandbedandtea @TheBookgeekFrau Thanks Nicole! I'm trying to find new ways to be creative and I'm enjoying this so far! 1y
TheBookgeekFrau @bookandbedandtea It shows!! They're beautiful, keep sharing 😊 1y
slategreyskies I love the paintings! Check out #LitsyCrafters hosted by @Catsandbooks for more posts by fellow artists and crafters here on Litsy! ✨ 1y
bookandbedandtea @slategreyskies I'm off to check out that hashtag. Thanks! 💜 1y
Catsandbooks @bookandbedandtea #LitsyCrafters is a casual group for creative and crafty people. We share things we're working on and support one another with projects. Each month I post a theme if you want inspiration on craft ideas, but it's not necessary to participate. We welcome any and all creative hobbies! 🌈✨If you're interested I can add you to the tag list. 1y
Catsandbooks @slategreyskies thanks for sharing and spreading the word about #LitsyCrafters Sarah! 🩷 1y
bookandbedandtea @Catsandbooks Yes, please add me to the list! Sounds lovely. 😊 1y
32 likes14 comments
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DGRachel
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Pickpick

This was good, but not great. If it wasn't for the rather unique setting, I'd probably forget it by the time I finish my next book. Some parts were fun, others were annoyingly predictable. However, I will never watch The Great British Bake Off the same way, and that alone makes this worth picking up.

The full cast audiobook narration is good and I did enjoy the multiple POVs, it‘s just not particularly memorable.

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Kshakal
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this but not as much as I thought I would… a solid cozy with a twist!

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Kshakal
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My view for the rest of the day… I did something to my knee and I am hoping with some rest and ice that I won‘t end up at the doctor…

dabbe Hope you heal quickly! 🤗 1y
Texreader Best wishes to heal soon! 1y
30 likes2 comments
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BeththeBookDragon
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Pickpick

Almost done! Enjoying this one 😊

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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

Maxwell spun quite the tale - setting a murder at a baking show was a super fun concept and the food side of this was more appealing to me than the murder side. But the murder and how a few key stories played into it unravelled nicely with a couple of small gasps along the way. A good listen while I finished up this super cute bookend model

TheBookHippie Ohhhh lovely model!!! 1y
Hooked_on_books Love the model! 😍 1y
37 likes2 comments
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Twainy
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Pickpick

🎧 This was a fun story. Early on I was imagining The Great British Bake Off. You get the 2 judge‘s & each of the 6 contestant‘s POV in alternating chapters & a history of the estate where they are staying & filming.

There are two timelines, multiple issues with the contest and 2 deaths but I was really there for the characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Jenken1998
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Pickpick

This was pretty good. 4 stars. Cozy mystery so didn't take much brain power and the characters were not too complicated. Which is good because there were a lot to keep track of. Some nice little twists in the plot. Plot is a murder mystery at a baking competition. Think The Great British Bakeoff meets Clue! I listened to it on audio while out and about today. Narration (a cast) was decent with only one annoying narrator. Lol

Jenken1998 triggers - sexual assault .. heads up. 2y
54 likes1 comment
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RainyDayReading
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Pickpick

Great British Bake Off but make it murdery. Very quick read and relatively entertaining. I think fans of Bake Off would enjoy this more than murder mystery fans. There are some good plot pieces but I think the book was too short to really give them any sort of weight. Feels a little more like a cozy mystery than anything else. Overall not amazing, but entertaining for a lazy day. Low Pick.

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Ncostell
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Pickpick

As a fan of the Great British Bake Off, I found this Murder mystery set at a similar baking competition in the U.S. to be right up my alley. They‘re always so nice and pleasant on the GBBO which is one of the reasons that I enjoy watching it. The author turned it in its head, with sabotage, secrets and murder. It was a fun, quick read.

kspenmoll Great review. Stacked. 2y
Ncostell @kspenmoll Thanks! Hope you enjoy it too! 2y
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Nessavamusic
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Mehso-so

This is a very meh murder mystery. It has a fun premise, basically murder happens at an American Baking show at an estate (aka Great British Baking Show). It was interesting enough to finish and I enjoyed some of the contestants, however, there is nothing new here. 3⭐️
#24in4 #Readathon

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RamsFan1963
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Pickpick

37/150 I've always enjoyed cooking shows, so for that, I'll give this a soft pick instead of a so-so. Six contestants come to Grafton Manor to compete in Bake Week, each with their own reasons and agendas. I would have like more baking and less melodrama. 3 ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

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NikkiKey94
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Pickpick

I love cooking competitions so when I found this book I knew I had to read it! I listened to the audiobook and I really think that helped with the different characters in the story. This sucked me in from the very first chapter and I loved every bit of it. This was a true murderous competition!

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BookLineNSinker
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this. It was almost like a cozy mystery but had a little more depth. I loved the descriptions of the desserts. There were a few interesting twists and turns, my only issue with this one is that the end was a bit lackluster. It felt like the ending was just whipped together lol. No pun intended. It was a fun read though so solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Preciouz29
Mehso-so

The description said Clue meets GBBo, so how could I not read this? Unfortunately, while it was much like both, the whole thing just didn't resonate with me. I kept reading it hoping that I'd get more into the storyline as it went along, but it just wasn't the case. I can't quite pinpoint what the problem is, but I didn't connect with any of the characters. Still, it was a reasonable fun read.

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BookLineNSinker
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I am living this book so far! I love the descriptions of the delectable desserts that the contestants are baking and the mystery unfurling behind the scenes! This is a really easy read and I'm really interested to see what happens. I have no doubt this will be a solid pick for me.

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Aims42
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I‘m not going to finish my current read before tomorrow so…. “Golden Spoon” is my March pick! 🎉🥳👏 This was such a fun read!

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PathfinderNicole
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Headed into Dearborn today to visit The Henry Ford to see the visiting Scooby Doo exhibit! I‘m ridiculously excited since I‘ve been a pretty hardcore Scooby fan since I was a kid 😂. A good mystery is the perfect read for the ride there!

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Christine
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Pickpick

This was fun! My favorite part was the baking competition setting - loved every detailed recipe/ingredient/technique description. I might have preferred to read via print, as I was not a fan of a couple of the audiobook performances and, knowing this was a murder mystery, kind of started hoping those characters might meet untimely ends. 😜

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Aims42
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Pickpick

I finished this up this with my morning coffee and breakfast, and it was *chef‘s kiss* AND a five star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The quote on the cover says it‘s like ‘The Great British Baking Show‘ and Clue coming together and that wasn‘t false advertising. A perfect blend of mystery, thriller (definitely recommend reading while listening to some rain & thunderstorm ambience sounds ⛈️) and easy on the “cozy” vibe. I eagerly await Maxwell‘s next book 😍

LeahBergen This sounds fun! 2y
46 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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julesG
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Bailedbailed

#UnpopularOpinion

Six contestants on a baking show. Two judges. A manor. A storm. A murder.

The different POV of the characters sounded too similar, though the narrators did their best to give them some individuality.

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PatriciaU
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Pickpick

I‘ve heard a lot of buzz about this debut and I wasn‘t disappointed. The plot is well-constructed and slick in it‘s blending of the baking competition show and a semi-locked-room mystery. The format featuring short sections channeling the thoughts of the characters might put off readers who like their mysteries complex, but I found it a pleasant change from lengthy prose. Overall, a fun read. Out in April.

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DogEaredBooks
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Pickpick

This book was amazing and one of the best mysteries I have read in a while. With multiple POVs and a cooking competition turned locked room mystery this book is not the average mystery. It walks the line of cozy mystery and thriller, and I enjoyed every second #netgalley

26 likes2 stack adds