More interested in kneading dough than adding it up, Lindsey’s breakup inspired her to set up the shop she always wanted in a place that always made her happy. She’d spent many childhood summers near this beach community and converting the old run-down lighthouse into a bakery café and home offers a perfect fresh start for Lindsey and her devoted Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

But not everyone in town has a sweet tooth. The preservation society won’t have the lighthouse’s history sugar-coated by lattes and cakes–and a protest group crashes Lindsey’s Memorial Day opening. Then her ex-fiancé, Jeffrey Plank, and his girlfriend, Mia Wong, arrive to trash the place. In the ensuing chaos, Mia chokes on a donut and dies.

An autopsy reveals cyanide in Mia’s bloodstream, and Lindsey is the police’s prime suspect. To clear her name, she’s going to need to combine ingredients found in the town’s checkered past to uncover the identity of a desperate killer…

I’ve been loving this cozy mystery series, so I was excited to finally read how it all started. (These books can be read as standalones. I’ve read books two and four already.) I enjoyed reading the beginning of Lindsay’s story, meeting Rory, her hunky man, and all of her local friends, and then starting her bakery at the haunted lighthouse. Of course, her dog, Wellie, was one of my favorite details.

There was a lot more setup in this story before we got to the actual murder, which had Hallmark movie vibes in the beginning. I liked the slow-paced story because we were learning more about the characters and this new area she moved to. I also enjoyed the twist of learning about the ghost she shares her lighthouse with. Usually, I don’t think of a haunting aspect in a murder mystery story.

As for the murder mystery, it was fun to follow along. There were clues dropped cleverly along the way, though I didn’t pick up on any of them. It kept me engaged and guessing the whole time. I couldn’t figure out who it was and was super surprised to learn who the killer was.

I listened to the audiobook, which had the same narrator as the other books I had already listened to, so it was nice to hear the consistency through this series. I think she does a wonderful job. I love all of her voices, especially her British accent for Kennedy.

This story, like the other two I’ve read, has those cozy feelings that I love. You see how tight-knit the community is, and I love the small town vibes. I also enjoyed the detailed food descriptions when Lindsay was in her bakery. This book takes place at the end of spring/beginning of summer, so it could be a great seasonal murder mystery for this time of year.

Overall, I loved being back with this cast of characters and seeing how it all originated. Trying to solve the murder mystery was fun and entertaining. It’s not my favorite of the series, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Highly recommend!