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Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Book Review: Dial M for Mousse by Laura Bradford (Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery #3)

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: Strong series regulars, lots of fun
Cons: Weak suspects
The Bottom Line:
More dessert rescues
Lead to another body
In fun third novel





Delivery for a Dead Retreat Owner

We are now on the third book in the Emergency Dessert Squad series, and I’m still completely hooked on the concept.  In the first book, Winnie Johnson was left an antique ambulance in an elderly friend’s will.  With a little ingenuity, she turned it into the selling point of her new business that delivers desserts to pick up someone’s spirits.  It’s such a fun concept, and the fun continues with Dial M for Mousse.

As this book opens, Winnie has just gotten a job delivering five different desserts to the people currently staying at the new retreat center outside of town.  These are creative people, including a poet, a magician, and a puppeteer among others.  She has a weekend to come up with the desserts, so she has some fun brainstorming the desserts and names with her friends.

The delivery is set for late morning on Monday when the guests are going to be in a meeting.  After leaving the desserts in their cabins, she pokes her head into the center’s main building only to find that the owners has just fallen down dead.  Only as she replays the scene later in her mind, she begins to suspect things were not as they first appeared.  Can she figure out what really happened?

One of the things I love about this series are the dessert titles.  Take the two we get at the back of the book – Your Jokes Make Me Snicker (Doodle) Cookies, and Now You See ‘Em, Now You Don-Uts.  I love a good pun, and these are fantastic.

That sense of fun carries over to the suspects in this book.  They are unique and add some humor to things.  Unfortunately, I don’t feel we spend enough time getting to know them, but that’s because the mystery is a little weak overall.  Don’t get me wrong, we do get some twists and surprises, as Winnie does her best to figure out what really happened that Monday morning.

However, the series regulars more than carry the book.  We have several good sub-plots with them, and I truly do care about these characters so I was pulled into those scenes.  I was glad with how several things turned out, in fact.

Dial M for Mousse truly is a lot of fun, which is no surprise to anyone who is a fan of this series.  And if that is you, but sure to pick up this book today.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Just leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you if you win.  I will pick the winner Friday evening January 5th (please note the earlier deadline), so please leave your comment before noon Pacific Time on 1/5.  You will have until midnight on 1/8 to get back to me, or I will choose a new winner on 1/9.

41 comments:

  1. Thanks for the chance to win & start reading this series. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. I would love to win this book! 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway. Happy New Year!

    sharonbabyme@yahoo.com

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  5. Happy New Year!! Thanks for the giveaway :)
    Livingthedream424@gmail.com

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  6. Happy New Year thanks for the giveaway. jcook22@yahoo.com

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  7. Fun to start the New Year with a giveaway, thank you.
    maforbes231@yahoo.com

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  8. This is a great series! Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
    cecilialyoung at gmail.com

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  9. This book sounds great for winter reading.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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  10. Sounds like a good book to curl up with. Thank you for the chance. Lamonicaks at gmail dot com

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  11. Enjoyed your review and love puns. ruthenixon(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  12. Dial M for Mousse sounds like a delectable, wonderful book. I love cozy mysteries and love to bake so combining them both into one great book would be something I'd very much like to read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  13. would love to read. have others in this series
    greeneyes2755(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. I do like the idea of an emergency dessert squad!!! I could use a delivery right now.
    Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  15. You had me at mystery and dessert. Sounds like an enjoyable read and a great way to start the new year.
    vernagass@gmail.com

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  16. I love this series! Thanks for a chance to win! ljbonkoski@yahoo.com

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  17. Love the cover! Happy New Year! jawdance@yahoo.com

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  18. Happy New Year! I'm excited for anther installment in this series. Thanks for the review and giveaway. Awilcox1182@gmail.com

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  19. Sounds like an interesting series.
    bookselr@sbcglobal.net

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  20. Love this series. Would really like to win a copy of Dial M for Mousse. Thanks. patwalkerp(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. I haven't read this series yet, but I enjoyed Laura Bradford's Amish series. I'm looking forward to reading to reading this series.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. I always enjoy your reviews because they are detailed and objective. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  23. I enjoy your reviews and would love the chance to win

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  24. Happy New Year Mark! Thanks for the great review. I've read the first two in this series & you're so right...they are a lot of fun! I'd love a chance in the give-a-way. sxygrndma48{at}yahoo{dot}com

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  25. I love all the dessert titles they come up with in this series too! Happy New Year and thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. I haven't read the previous two books in this series though of course they're on my list but I'm about to start this one and I'm really looking forward to it. I love cozy puns! They always make me smile.

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  27. What a great way to learn about new to me cozy mysteries!!! Thank you so much for the opportunity!

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  28. This sounds really good--I'd love to read it. Thanks, legallyblonde1961 at yahoo dot com

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  29. Sharon Baker. slpetera@yahoo.comJanuary 2, 2018 at 8:39 PM

    Looks like a really good series. Look forward to reading.

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  30. theresa_c@msn.com

    I’d love to win this. It looks interesting and fun.

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  31. This sounds wonderful! Thank you for sharing! konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. Wow would love to win. Thanks for a chance. Tinagay1212@gmail.com

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  33. I think this series sounds like great fun. Laura Bradford has such a good sense of humor. I've read one of her Tobi Tobias books and enjoyed it. suemngirl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  34. I haven't read this series yet either. But this would be such a fun way to do it. Thank you,
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  35. I cannot wait to read your next book. Great birthday giveaway.
    cathyleeclark(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  36. I noticed this book in the new releases and was hoping for a chance to read it! Millhills@aol.com. Thank you!

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  37. I do like the titles...I enjoy puns!
    LibraryLady80(at) gmail (dot) com
    Thanks for the contest. judy

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  38. Sounds like a great read. stoeser1@pie.midco.net

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  39. I really like the Tobi Tobias series and would like to try this one as well. Thankyou for the opportunity. Happy New Year! minishoes(at)msn(dot)com

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  40. It's always fun to try a new series! janetbck3@aol.com

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  41. This sounds like a really fun series! I'm sorry I missed the contest!

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