What is your favorite
type of cupcake? I love all types, but
probably anything chocolate would be my favorite.
Phaedra Brighton is an
English professor at a local college in Laurel Springs. She lives with her sister Hannah who is starting
a new bakery in town. Everything seems
to be going well at the grand opening of Tout de Sweet, until someone is
poisoned by one of the dark chocolate cupcakes.
Phaedra investigates to help save the reputation of Hannah’s
bakery. Who was the actual target of the
cupcake and why?
I greatly enjoyed this
book. I loved Phaedra and all the other
characters in this charming town. Sometimes
cozy mysteries can be too slow and drag for me.
This did not happen in Cyanide and Sensibility and the book kept me
engaged throughout with its great writing, plot, and characters. I read it very quickly.
This is the third book in
the “A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.”
I have purchased the first two books on my kindle, but I have not read
them yet. I read this as a
standalone. I think I would have known
the characters better if I had read the first two books, but it did not decrease
my enjoyment of the novel. It works
great as a standalone read.
How is this related to
Jane Austen? Names of characters,
places, and pets are from the works of Jane Austen. My favorite was Wickham the cat. Pheadra seemed to be an Elizabeth Bennet type
character with Hannah as Jane. Otherwise,
this was not a modern retelling of an Austen novel.
I enjoyed reading this in
December as it is set during the Christmas season. I loved how the holiday was woven throughout
the novel.
I did not guess the
ending of this cozy mystery, which delighted me. It had a great climax and conclusion. I also enjoyed that the author referenced other
mystery books and authors, and classic literature that I enjoyed. That was a great benefit of the main
character being an English professor with parents who own a bookstore!
Overall, Cyanide and
Sensibility by Katie Oliver is a delightful cozy mystery that I highly
recommend. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
Book Source: Review copy from Berkley and author Katie
Oliver as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are
completely my own.
QUICK FACTS
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·
Series: The Jane Austen Tea
Society Mystery (Book 3)
·
Author: Katie
Oliver
·
Genre: Amateur
Sleuths, Cozy Mystery, Austenesque Fiction
·
Publisher: Berkley (December 12,
2023)
·
Length: (320) pages
· Format: Mass
Market Paperback, eBook, & Audiobook
· ISBN: 978-0593337653
·
Tour Dates: December 4 – 18, 2023
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Murder
is on the menu and Phaedra Brighton is called on to serve up justice in the
latest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.
While Phaedra Brighton might not have a Mr. Darcy (yet), she's quite content
with her loving family and loyal cat. Phaedra's sister Hannah is the Jane to
her Elizabeth, and Phaedra is ecstatic that Hannah has decided to move home for
her next adventure—opening a business.
All of Laurel Springs is out in full force to celebrate the grand
unveiling of Hannah's new patisserie, Tout de Sweet, including
local celebrity Rachel Brandon. Hannah is a master of her craft, with
confections so divine, one bite will make you think you've died and gone to
heaven.
Of course, you never want that to happen literally.
When one of Hannah's famous dark chocolate cupcakes sends Rachel's assistant to
the hospital with poisoning, Hannah begs for Phaedra's help to save her
reputation and budding business. But Phaedra has more questions than answers:
Who was the cupcake actually meant for? And how far is the culprit willing to
go to take their target off the menu—permanently?
PRAISE FOR CYANIDE AND SENSIBILITY
- “This is the first book I have read
in the Jane Austen Tea Society series, but it won’t be my last…If you
enjoy cozy mysteries, then this is a book you will enjoy.”— Book
Looks by Lisa
- “The book is filled with great
characters and a fun, twisty plot. Highly recommend.”— Cara Putnam,
author of Come What May
- 5 STARS— Gwendalyn’s Books
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES
& NOBLE | PUBLISHER | BOOKSHOP
| BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
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WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X
(FORMERLY TWITTER)
| BOOKBUB | GOODREADS
I like the title too.
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