Stars, Stripes, and Suspicion
(2025)(A book in the Fourth of July Cozy Mystery series)
A Story by Maisy Marple
Sometimes the Perfect Recipe is Murder
When former detective Frank Mitchell traded his badge for a baker's apron, he thought his crime-solving days were behind him. But when renowned chef and merciless food critic Thurston Lively is found face-down in a blueberry pie at the annual Stars & Stripes Bake-Off, the town mayor begs Frank to investigate quietly before the festival is ruined.
With his retired K-9 partner Libby at his side, Frank kneads through a batch of suspicious characters—from the humiliated avant-garde pastry chef to the local baking legend whose recipes were stolen decades ago. As the annual fireworks display approaches, Frank discovers that beneath the town's sweet exterior lies a recipe of bitter rivalries, stolen legacies, and long-simmering resentment that finally boiled over into murder.
Combining his detective instincts with a baker's attention to detail, Frank must identify the killer before they strike again. But in a town where everyone has a reason to want the victim dead, Frank will learn that justice, like the perfect pie, requires a delicate balance—and sometimes, a hefty dose of just desserts.
Genre: Mystery
When former detective Frank Mitchell traded his badge for a baker's apron, he thought his crime-solving days were behind him. But when renowned chef and merciless food critic Thurston Lively is found face-down in a blueberry pie at the annual Stars & Stripes Bake-Off, the town mayor begs Frank to investigate quietly before the festival is ruined.
With his retired K-9 partner Libby at his side, Frank kneads through a batch of suspicious characters—from the humiliated avant-garde pastry chef to the local baking legend whose recipes were stolen decades ago. As the annual fireworks display approaches, Frank discovers that beneath the town's sweet exterior lies a recipe of bitter rivalries, stolen legacies, and long-simmering resentment that finally boiled over into murder.
Combining his detective instincts with a baker's attention to detail, Frank must identify the killer before they strike again. But in a town where everyone has a reason to want the victim dead, Frank will learn that justice, like the perfect pie, requires a delicate balance—and sometimes, a hefty dose of just desserts.
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Stars, Stripes, and Suspicion