Book Review: Framed and Frosted by Kim Davis (Cupcake Catering Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Characters, mystery, fun setting

Cons: Climax a bit abrupt

The Bottom Line:

Party on the 4th

Ends in another murder

A great third entry

Murder Causes Fireworks

After reading the first two books in Kim Davis’s Cupcake Catering’s Mysteries, I was very anxious to find out what would happen next to the characters, so I was thrilled when I found out that Framed and Frosted was about to come out.  Fans of the series will be as thrilled as I was with it.

Emory Martinez is once again working with her sister, Carrie, helping to cater an elaborate Blanc themed Fourth of July diner party.  However, it isn’t going well, especially by demanding Orange County client standards.  Most of the problems are coming from the host, Mr. Jorgensen, who is being a racist, sexist jerk at every turn.  If Carrie didn’t need this job to try to revive her business, Emory would have quit, and Carrie would have backed her up.

The evening is supposed to end with some of Emory’s cupcakes and champaign during the fireworks, but instead it ends with Mr. Jorgensen dropping dead after taking a cupcake from the tray that Sal, Carrie’s new server, is holding.  Sal has been the brunt of Mr. Jorgensen’s behavior several times over the course of the evening, and all the guests are ready to believe that Sal killed the host.  But Emory doesn’t buy it, and she begins her own investigation into what happened.  Can she clear Sal?

Before we go any further, I want to issue one of my spoiler warnings.  No, I’m not about to spoil what happens in this book, but this book spoils events from the first two books in the series, particularly book two.  If you are a fan of the series, you get why.  There are some interesting things going on in Emory’s life, and if this book didn’t give us the next development there, we’d be disappointed.  Know that going into the book, and you’ll be fine.

There are actually several interesting developments in Emory’s life overall in this book.  I called one of the revelations early, but I enjoyed watching the rest of them play out.  They gave us a chance to get to know Emory better and several other characters grew as a result.  Speaking of development, I am really enjoying Emory’s relationship with her mother these days.

And the mystery itself?  It is solid.  It unfolds in some unusual ways, and it kept me engaged the entire time.  The climax was a bit abrupt, but it worked and all my questions were answered.

One thing I love about this series is that it is set in Orange County, California.  It’s not the typical small-town setting of books I read, and I enjoy dreaming about living Emory’s life among the rich.  Well, she can have the murders.

Of course, there are recipes at the end of this book.  By my count, we get ten recipes, and only three of them are cupcakes.  The rest are inspired by the fateful dinner that starts the book.

If you’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series, you’ll be happy with Framed and Frosted.  And if you’ve missed these books so far, you’re in for a delicious treat.

Enjoy the rest of the Cupcake Catering Mysteries.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

 

I’m reviewing this book as part of a Great Escapes Book Tour.  I hope you’ll stop by here to find the rest of the stops.