Sugar & Spice Mysteries Series: Book 4
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
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 and 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.
When the Jameson County Historical Society’s board president is stabbed with a bread knife, her best friend is blamed, and Sugar and Dixie jump into the fray to solve the murder in Night of the Living Bread.
Author Mary Lee Ashford brings to life protagonists Sugar Calloway and Dixie Spicer, two baking friends who double as amateur sleuths. I love the name Sugar for the main protagonist, and I appreciate that the setting is in a small town. I love small towns where everyone knows each other. It feels homey, like a warm hug.
The path to discovering whodunit was fun and engaging, and the secondary characters effectively moved the story along and kept it interesting. Sugar and Dixie weren’t looking for trouble, nor did they make other characters angry with their probing questions to get to the truth of the murder.
The book is entertaining and will keep the reader on their toes. The recipes at the end are a nice addition and a great way to bring the story to a close.
Baking is at the heart of Night of the Living Bread, but even non-bakers will enjoy this cozy mystery.
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.
May 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
May 27 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW
May 28 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 28 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
May 29 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
May 30 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
May 31 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE POST
May 31 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
June 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
June 2 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 3 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
June 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
June 5 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
June 6 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR GUEST POST
June 7 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW
June 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST
June 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
Thanks for being a part of the blog tour/launch for Night of the Living Bread! I’m glad you enjoyed the book!