It’s hard to narrow down the suspects when the murder victim is disliked by so many people. But Ivy is determined to do so when her boyfriend Miguel becomes the number one suspect. It’s not until Ivy figures out Nessa’s secret that the clues begin to fall in place. It’s a well-written and intricate mystery with an unexpected ending. This series just keeps getting better, with characters that are starting to feel like friends who just happen live in another town. ( )

Death Gone A-Rye by Winnie Archer has Ivy Culpepper enjoying the wedding of her best friend and her brother in Santa Sofia, California. She notices Capt. Craig York looking at his phone and then consult with the bride, Sheriff Emmaline Davis. It turns out that Santa Sofia school board president, Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Unfortunately, Capt. York narrows his sights in on Miguel Baptiste, Ivy’s boyfriend. It turns out that Miguel dated Nessa over ten years ago and saw her the week before her death. Ivy knows that Miguel did not harm Nessa. Thankfully, there are plenty of suspects. Ivy with help from Penelope Branford, retired schoolteacher, and Olaya Solia, owner of Yeast of Eden, set out to sift through the clues and uncover the killers’ identity. Death Gone A-Rye is the 6th tale in A Bread Shop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or if you have missed a book or two. The story is well-written with developed, likeable characters. There is a diverse cast of characters. I especially love Mrs. Penelope Branford. I hope I am like Mrs. Branford when I am in my 80s. It is always pleasant to visit Santa Sofia. The pacing is a slow for my taste. A little action would have helped. It was wonderful to see Billy and Emmaline get their happily ever after. I enjoyed the descriptions of the bread offered at the reception. The Vincent Van Dough focaccia sounded beautiful (you should look them up online). The mystery was multifaceted. There are several good suspects in the death of Nessa. I am surprised the list was not longer after learning more about the victim. Ivy questions a number of people in her quest for the truth. There are good clues (if you pay close attention to the details) to help you identify the killer. I like everything tied together and the complete resolution. The ending will leave a smile on your face. I do feel that the story needs more humor. That is the one thing lacking for me. There are recipes at the end for Van Dough Focaccia Bread Art along with helpful bread making tips. Death Gone A-Rye is an appetizing cozy mystery with fancy focaccia, a bothered bride, a surplus of suspects, a framed fella, curious clues, and a cantankerous captain. ( )

Ivy Culpepper is busy helping bake for the upcoming Spring Fling but when School Board President Nessa Renchrik is murdered, Ivy, who has investigated murder cases in the past, quickly gets involved. She has to reasons to do so – Emmaline Davis, who runs the Sheriff’s department is on her honeymoon with Ivy’s brother and Captain Craig York, who is in charge of the investigation thinks Ivy’s boyfriend Miguel may be the killer. Ivy, along with her friends Olaya Soles and Penelope Branford, sets out to clear Miguel’s name and fond the real killer.

“Death Gone A-Rye” is the very nicely done sixth book in Winnie Archer’s Bread Shop cozy mystery series. I love the characters in this book – Ivy, Miguel, Olaya, and especially Penelope who uses her age (86) to full advantage. I also love the description of food in the book – I swear I gained ten pounds just reading the book! The mystery itself is a bit of a different set up – the victim is murdered at the very beginning of the book and readers never meet the character while she is alive but neither did Ivy know her. It is an interesting concept as both Ivy and readers learn together what Nessa was like and Archer does a wonderful job with the setup. There are plenty of suspects and surprises in the book with lots of twists and turns and ultimately the truth behind the murder made me sad. Very well done by Archer.

“Death Gone A-Rye” is a nicely done cozy mystery. ( )

Santa Sofia is abuzz with the news that Nessa Renchrik, the School Board President was murdered. Ivy Culpepper listens to the chatter at Yeast of Eden but when she finds that her boyfriend Miguel Baptista may be a suspect because he had an affair with her 11 years ago. The new town detective is trying to solve the murder before the Sheriff, his boss and Ivy's BFF/SIL, returns from her honeymoon. Ivy knows Miguel had nothing to do with it and sets her mind to clear him from police suspicion ASAP.

Love the main characters as well as the background. Recipes sound yummy! ( )

relationships, politics, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, cozy-mystery, small-business, small-town, murder, murder-investigation, family, friendship*****

The good news is that you won't seem to miss a thing if you haven't read earlier books in the series. On the other hand, it made me want to hunt up and read others in the series. Ivy is a character I can relate to as she is pointedly curious, not perfect, and has a sense of humor. The victim is a conniving political aspirant and the police detective has a decent track record but is new to town (the sheriff is on honeymoon with Ivy's brother). So guess who is more than motivated to (once again) do the kind of sleuthing that only she and her Senior Sleuth neighbor can. Solid mystery with more than enough motives and suspects, plot twists, red herrings, and suspense. Loved it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )