Kristina A. reviewed on 4/12/2023 + 1528 more book reviews

A Half-Baked Murder is the debut of A Cannabis Café Mysteries. It is the first cozy mystery to have a cannabis theme. Chloe Barnes is a trained pastry chef who has dreamed of working in a Michelin star restaurant. When Chloe's Aunt Dawn suggests she open a cannabis café, Chloe has trouble giving up her dream. Chloe is in her late twenties. I expected her to be more mature after her years in Paris. Chloe's love for her Grandma Rose is evident. Grandma Rose is a sweet woman with a great group of friends. Aunt Dawn is a quirky, fun woman with a hippie vibe. I enjoyed the descriptions of Azalea Bay. It sounds like a charming town. We get to learn about cannabis. It helps people with their pain, their nausea, anxiety, and sleep. There are different types sold in dispensaries along with a variety of edibles. A recipe for cannabis butter is included (used for baking). The whodunit was straightforward. An unlikeable man is killed, a relative of the protagonist is the main suspect, misdirection, an amateur sleuth, a chief of police and a detective who repeatedly tell the protagonist to quit investigating. Chloe has all the subtlety of a bulldozer. She does pick up some helpful information along the way. Chloe receives a couple of warnings from the killer (not that they stop her). The reveal explains the who, how, and why. I found A Half-Baked Murder to be an okay story. I could not get into the book. It is written in the first person which allows readers to be privy to all of Chloe's rambling thoughts. There is repetition of key details. I felt there was too much romance especially for someone who just had a bad breakup. There are a couple of cute furbabies in the story. I thought Antonio was a cutie. A Half-Baked Murder is a carefree cozy with a slain slimeball, a discerning detective, an inkling for a cannabis café, baked brownies, and a prying pastry chef.

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