Review: For Those Who Love Baking in Their Mysteries
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
Samantha Sweet is one busy lady. Not only is she trying to get her baking business off the ground, but as an employee of the USDA, she cleans abandoned houses for a living. Sam doesn't mind the work until she finds a dying old woman in one house and a grave in the backyard of the next. When she learns that the owner of the second house is a famous artist and quite likely the man in the grave, she finds herself wanting to learn more about him. Between her two jobs, Sam is asking questions, dealing with a new romance, and the arrival of her daughter who's quit her job and moved back home.Sweet Masterpiece is the first in a series of cozies that will have cake lovers drooling. There are many descriptions of whipping up buttercream frosting and making flowers. There is also a faintly supernatural element in the form of an old box the dying woman gave Sam. The descriptions of the Taos, New Mexico landscape and weather were vivid enough to give me a clear picture of the area. I identified with Sam's quest to fulfill her dreams, but baking isn't my thing.Sam's sleuthing quest compels her to take unnecessary risks, like breaking into a suspect's house to find evidence. It was a bit jarring since Sam appears to be a sensible woman. On the other hand, wild risk taking is as common in cozies as tea and domesticity, so fans of this subgenre probably won't mind. On the upside, both of Sam's jobs should introduce interesting people and situations for future books. In fact, subsequent installments have already been published, which means fun reading ahead, especially for those with a sweet tooth.