Laura Jensen WalkerBesprekingen

Irish, WW2, PTSD, nursing-care, exhausting, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-romance, historical-setting, history-and-culture, engrossing, murders, local-law-enforcement, military-law*****

After D-Day there were thousands of wounded soldiers needing flight transport back to England for more restorative care and the Flying Nightingales were there to provide care. They were all called orderlies (now trained practical nurses of either gender). This was as strenuous and exhausting calling then as now. One night the group of Nightingales on their way to a dance came upon one of their own strangled and left at the side of the road. This is where the mystery is added to the personal stories of the young women and it is very well done. The characters are so well done and engaging that it is easy to identify with them and the varied branches of the tale held my interest strongly. I await the next one!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Level Best Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via NetGalley. Thank you!
#NightingaleMysteryBk1of3 Available Sep 10, 2024

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I loved this book, especially with all of its movie references and the charming setting. I find it awesome that Hope is a pastor and that she, along with her dog Bogie, are so relatable. I am truly excited for the second one to come out and plan on pre-ordering it when I can. I highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone who loves cozy mysteries with a twist and a bit of fun sprinkled in. (and there is a movie guide at the end of the book. How cool is that?)

Theodosia St. John, known to her friends as Teddie, is a breast cancer survivor who rather than having reconstructive surgery, regularly goes flat wearing only scarves to hide her lack of breasts. She took early retirement and is now a mystery writer. While at a book signing for one of her favorite authors, Tavish Bentley, her scarf is stolen and found wrapped around the throat of Bentley's former fiancée. So was Teddie involved or a victim as well.

The writing as crisp, the characters need a bit more fleshing out, but for a first installment, definitely a good one!

A cooking contest goes awry when one of the judges is found dead, with his face in a pie. Well, they decide to go on with the contest, and, (drum roll, please), there is another death. It’s just not a good year for contests! Teddie embarks on her usual sleuthing with the help of her bestie, and they get in trouble, as expected, with their local sheriff, who just happens to be her bestie’s boyfriend. It’s a cute cozy, with other minor problems and mysteries thrown in to keep the story interesting. The characters are likable, if a bit quirky, and there is some romance in the air, which, no doubt, will be more fully explored in the next book. Also included are several tempting recipes for those inclined to bake.

Deadly Delights by Laura Jensen Walker has readers returning to Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin in August where it is time for the annual baking competition. Teddie St. John finds herself a murder suspect when her grandmother’s rolling pin is used to murder Les Morris. With help from her friends, Teddie works to prove her innocence. Deadly Delights is the 2nd book in A Bookish Baker Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in Murder Most Sweet. It contains good writing with varied pacing. There are some slow sections due to lack of action. Most of the activity takes place near the end of the book (the last fifty pages or so). Teddie St. John is a developed character. Teddie is a cozy mystery writer and baker who has had a double mastectomy. She chose not to have reconstruction surgery and makes light of her figure. It is great that Teddie is comfortable in her own skin. I like that the author is addressing the issue of breast cancer (in a compassionate way) and how a woman deals with the aftermath. Each woman must choose her own path. I wish the secondary characters were as fleshed out as our main one. There are mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods (some of the recipes are at the end of the book including one for Peanut Butter Blossoms). The mystery starts off on a humorous note with Les Morris being found face down in a contestant’s pie. There are several good suspects along with misdirection. I like how Teddie’s friends help to clear her name. They get themselves into some noteworthy situations that will have readers laughing. The author decided to add in what Teddie’s dog was thinking which I found odd since this is not a paranormal novel (it just did not go with the book). I enjoyed the sweet and touching ending that will have readers smiling. Deadly Delights is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a lecherous Les, sweet treats, caring chums, a ruined rolling pin, and a chocolate cake conundrum.

Deadly Delights is the second book of the Bookish Baker Mystery series by Laura Jensen Walker.

Teddie St. John is an amateur baker, mystery, and thankfully a breast cancer survivor.

Teddie has decided to enter this year’s Lake Potawatomi Baking contest. As she is getting ready for the first day’s judging, cookies, her rolling pin rolls off the table, and when she bends over to retrieve it, she feels her butt being pinched and instinctively swings around strikes the lecherous Les Morris with her rolling pin. Les, known as “Les the Letch,” has a reputation for sexual harassment. Particularly the younger ladies. Les is president of the Chamber of Commerce and one of three judges for the contest, and Teddie feels her chances have gone in the garbage.

But she makes it to the next round and goes home to bake a cherry pie for the next round. While making the pie, her neighbor, Sophia, comes over to ask they can over and set up their tables as she has to take her grandmother to an appointment and wouldn’t have time to set up the next day. When a storm comes up, Teddie goes to the tent where the contest is being held to see if the site has been damaged. When she enters, she finds Les face down in a coconut creme that would have been Sophia’s entry and her bloody rolling pin on the floor near the body. As the police begin investigating and collecting evidence, Les’s wife begins shouting to arrest Teddie.

Teddie, Char, and Sharon were known as the “Three Musketeers” in high school, as they always had each other’s back. Now is the time for them to learn who the killer was so that Teddie can clear her name. It will prove to be quite a job because of the number of women he has harassed or has his wife gotten tired of his behavior. Or possibly his son is looking to collect his inheritance now rather than later. Then there is the pole dancer in nearby Racine.

Teddie and her mother don’t see eye-to-eye on everything in a subplot, which causes, at times, tension. It seems that her mother frequently leaves her home, dressed to the nine and late at night. Teddie has found that her reasons are a complete fabrication. But they will start to put their differences aside.

I really like the character, Teddie. There is an old saying when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And after a double mastectomy. Teddie could have turned into a recluse, but instead facing every day as a positive step forward. She makes light-hearted comments about her “new” body.

The story is well-written and plotted with enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end who the killer was.
I enjoyed all the characters, and they are well developed and believable.

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Teddie is a multi-talented person who switched careers and became a successful mystery writer. When one of her signature scarves is found knotted around the neck of a very dead woman, Teddie has explaining to do. When it happens again, she is definitely under suspicion. She seeks the help of her two best friends to do some reconnaissance work to find the real killer. This cozy has a lot going for it. Teddie is a breast cancer survivor, and her upbeat and open acknowledgement of her missing breasts is refreshing. The characters are delightful, the dialogue flows, and the plot is intriguing. Teddie comes off as a real person, not perfect but still soldiering on despite the problems in her life. Her friends are terrific, her mother is complex but likable, and a budding romance speaks of more wondrous things to come Teddie’s way. What a great start to the series!

Hope is beginning a new chapter in her life. A 42-year-old widow, she is now an Episcopal priest in a small town in California. And it is a rough beginning when she stumbles across a dead body on the church grounds on her first day at work. Now, she is not only determined to convince the old timers to accept their first female priest, she has to convince them she is not a murderer. This book, first in the series, was a delight from the first page to the last. The characters are well developed and likable, and the plot is fast moving. There is much humor sprinkled in, as well as references to old time movies. The solution to the murder will keep you guessing and engrossed in the story. There are secondary mysteries and problems to solve along the way, just to add some spice to the story. It’s a very well-written tale, and a great start to the series. Hope is a wonderful character, and I can’t wait to see where her path as a somewhat nonconventional priest takes her in future books.

Faith, Hope, and a Corpse by Laura Jensen Walker is the charming first installment in in A Faith Chapel Mystery series. We are transported to Apple Springs, California where Hope Taylor is the new associate pastor at Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. Discovering a murdered parishioner and being found holding the murder weapon while standing over the victim is not the best first impression. With parishioners looking at her askance and not wanting Hope’s services, she has no choice but to prove her innocence. I enjoyed reading this charming new cozy mystery. Hope Taylor is an entertaining protagonist. Her movie references are delightful, and I liked her quirky sense of humor. She has an adorable dog named Bogie which adds humor to the story. I liked that Hope is a woman starting over after enduring tragedy. She has such a good outlook on life. I thought the story was well-written with steady pacing. There are a variety of secondary characters that enhance the story. We get to know some of the attendees of the church. I liked the tea the group put on that had a Downton Abbey flair. The author’s word imagery allowed me to visualize the town with its shops, homes, and townspeople. The mystery was a fun one to solve. There are several good suspects, a red herring, and well-placed clues. It was fun watching Hope play a mature Trixie Belden. The author did a great job with the mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a sweet story that has friendship, secrets, hope, lies, humor, and murder. I am looking forward to the next A Faith Chapel Mystery. Faith, Hope, and a Corpse is a pleasing cozy mystery with big dog named Bogie, an offensive victim, shocking secrets, tea party planning, a spirited sister-in-law, and a positive pastor.

This second Bookish Baker cozy, set in southeast Wisconsin, is another outstanding book in the series. In this one, baker and cozy mystery author, Teddie is entered into the small town's baking contest and, of course, there's a dead body.

The best part of this series is the terrific cast of characters. Two books in and they feel like old friends. I'm looking forward to reading many, many more in this series.

I would definitely recommend this series to any cozy mystery fan.

(I received a copy from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)½

Hope, Faith, And A Corpse is the first book in the A Faith Chapel Mystery series.

I love this series; at first, I had my doubts, but it didn’t take long to get into the story and its lovely characters. The story is humorous and, at the same time, seriously deals with those members of the congregation that feel that a woman shouldn’t be a priest. I would like to add, don’t be put off that the main character is an Episcopalian priest, as religion doesn’t enter into the story.

Our main character, Hope Taylor, arrives at the church where she will be the new pastor. While looking for the rector, Father Christopher, she enters the columbarium and soon discovers Stanley King’s body, an elder and significant donor. She unknowingly picks up the murder weapon, an urn that has blood on it. A couple of parishioners are ready to accuse Hope of murder. Hope needs to clear her name and soon finds that King was not well-liked and that there are many suspects. Hope will get help from some church members, the owner of a diner, and her neighbor in finding the killer.

The story is well-written and moves at a comfortable pace. The characters are well-developed, engaging, and very enjoyable. The community, Apple Springs, seems to be a nice place to live, and I look forward to learning more about the town.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this intriguing new series.

This is a sensational debut in the Bookish Baker series set in a fictional southeast Wisconsin small town (always a plus for me as so few seem to be set there). The book features breast cancer survivor, cozy mystery author, and baker, sleuth Teddie St. John.

Terrific characters, both the sleuth and the secondary characters and a wonderful plot leave me eager to read many more from this author.

Highly recommended!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)½

Wisconsin, Norwegian Americans, murder, murder-investigation, family-dynamics, friendship, relationships, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, pets, dogs, mastectomy, cancer-survivor, situational-humor, verbal-humor, recipes, cozy-mystery*****

Good cozy with lots of twists, misdirection, great characters, and humor.
Theodora (Teddy) has returned to her home town after surviving mastectomies and chemo and has entered the area Baking Contest. Little did she know that a confrontation with the local lecher would get her accused of his murder! It's a real laugh fest and roller coaster ride of a cozy complete with awful puns. Amidst all this is a long distance romance with another author and a problematic issue with her widowed mother. Excellent read and there are recipes.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books vi a NetGalley. Thank you!
The review of the mystery is as honest as a Norwegian-American from Southeast Wisconsin with close ties to the bakeries can get while sending Kringles to Brooklyn, Cleveland, and Indianapolis.

First of all, let me just say that Laura Jensen Walker is great with humor!! I had already read one of her novels, Dreaming in Black and White, prior to reading this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! She has a great knack of using just the right words to make you laugh and smile.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Gets Ice Cream is a collection of personal stories that Laura has put together about different events in her life. I could definitely identify with her college experiences, especially with not knowing what I want to do with my life (choosing a major is not an easy thing). But I loved reading about her travels in Europe, whether it was because of work or going over there for pleasure. The stories weren’t always about the good times. She talks about her struggles with breast cancer and deaths in her family. But through it all, there was always a bowl of ice cream nearby.

I typically don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but the title and book cover alone compelled me to read this book. It was wonderful, light reading that gave me a good laugh at the end of some of my crazy days lately.

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance readers copy of this story.

Murder Most Sweet, by Laura Jensen Walker, is available at booksellers on 9-8-2020. This is book 1 of 2 in Ms Walkers A Bookish Baker Mystery series. I'm afraid that this is the end of the line for me. I have had a hard time with the characters, I never managed to get involved with them. The story is ok but the mystery is buried in the leads angst. She's so hung up on having no breast after cancer that it's all she thinks about. After all this time she's still hiding behind scarves & making wisecracks that are not funny but are awkward. Her breast cancer took over the main spot in the story and I wanted more mystery. I did manage to kind of like the new British boyfriend. I'm a sucker for an accent.

#Netgalley #LauraJensenWalker #MurderMostSweet # ABookishBakerMystery #CrookedLaneBooks #Mystery #Romance

Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is the debut novel in A Bookish Baker Mystery series. Teddie St. John is a strong female protagonist who is an author, avid baker, and breast cancer survivor. Teddie writes a cozy mystery series set in a town similar to her own of Lake Potawatomi, Wisconsin. She is a likeable and relatable protagonist who is going through early menopause (from chemo). We get to see how the breast cancer has changed Teddie’s body and life. There are some humorous moments. There are a variety of secondary characters that includes her fashionista mother, Sheriff Brady Wells, and her two close friends, Char and Sharon. Teddie has an American Eskimo dog named Gracie who is such a sweetie. Two women die in this whodunit after famous author, Tavish Bentley comes to town. Teddie becomes a suspect because she has no alibi and her scarf was used as the murder weapon. The evidence is circumstantial, but the police must follow procedure. The clues, like the killer, were obvious. I would have liked a more challenging mystery. Despite two murders, romance is in the air for Tavish and Teddie. At times, Murder Most Sweet felt more like a romance than a mystery. Teddie likes to bake and does so frequently especially when she is stressed. She whips up treats for friends and for bribes to get information. It was interesting learning about the pastries native to Teddie’s ancestry and Wisconsin like the Kringle. To my disappointment, there foul language present throughout the story (mild). I preferred it when these type of words were taboo in cozies. There is a scene involving Gracie that dog lovers will find upsetting. I loved the Lord Grantham reference. Murder Most Sweet is a lighthearted cozy mystery with a bevy of baked goods, an attractive author, modish mother, a concerning contract clause, and one worried writer.

I may be a bit biased, having been born and raised in Wisconsin, but Murder Most Sweet by Laura Jensen Walker is a fantastic start to A Bookish Baker Cozy Mystery series!

I think everyone will enjoy the book, but those from the Midwest will find all the local nods super fun. Yous Guys (not you guys, yous… yes, that’s how some folks around here talk), Kringles (a delicious Danish pastry with lots of flakey layers), Pabst Beer (the first beer I drank and probably the reason I don’t drink beer… you either love Pabst or hate it), and Walker even ended the book with a nod to Accordions and Polka Music… you really can’t get more Wisconsin than that.

There were so many great characters too. I often find myself liking the sleuth’s friends or sidekick better than the protagonist, but Teddie is awesome. I love her sense of humor and that she is very forthcoming about her double mastectomy. And the way Teddie is with her American Eskimo, Gracie-girl is adorable, and so true to how people are with their fur babies. I had never heard pee-mail before, when a dog is checking out what other dogs have been in their territory, but loved the image… if we had a dog instead of three cats, that’s what I would say, “Are you ready for pee-mail time?!?”

And Teddie’s friends and love interest are wonderful too. First, I just love the love interest’s name, Tavish, and he really does seem lovely. ;) He brings her flowers, helps out when he can, and loves dogs too… as a bonus he’s a writer too and rich. Yes, please!
Sharon and Char really do act like people who you’ve been friends with forever, they don’t put up with any of Teddie’s bull and push her towards a relationship. I was a bit concerned with Teddie’s mom at first, I’m so over mom’s being horrible to their daughters in cozies, but by the end of the book, Claire is a more enjoyable character.

As for the mystery there were plenty of suspects and some red herrings. I did know who the killer was early on, but that’s just because I read a lot of mysteries, and it was more of a gut feeling.

Already looking forward to book two in the series, Deadly Delights, coming out later in 2021, and I’m excited to read Walker’s other new cozy mystery series coming out January 2021, with the first book being called Hope, Faith & A Corpse.

clergy, small-town, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, cozy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, law-enforcement******

Widowed Hope moves to a small upstate town to become assistant rector in a parish that has never had a woman priest before. Tough enough, but soon she comes upon the recently dead body of the town's most thoroughly despised resident and goes right to the top of the suspect list even before she's had a chance to make friends! But she does make friends and her sister-in-law comes up from the city to be her support and comic relief. And so the sleuthing begins! Add in lots or movie trivia, a fine English Tea a la Downton Abbey hosted by by the parish ladies then opened to the rest of the town's residents, a skeleton in the garden, and more. I absolutely loved it and hope to read more!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley!!!

A bit of cooking, a bit of romance and a couple of murders what could be better. A nice cozy mystery set in Wisconsin complete with smattering of regional dialect.. This book is witty, charming and has crazy capers that keep the reader smiling and guessing until the end.

post-mastectomy, dogs, murder, murder-investigation, amateur-sleuth, author, cozy-mystery, small-town, family-dynamics, friendship*****

Retired from government cubicles after defeating breast cancer twice and becoming disgusted with cosmetic implants, forty something Teddy skips the fakes and wears fancy scarves or Knitted Knockers (TM) and bakes for stress relief and writes cozy mysteries.
The local bookstore is happy to have a famous British mystery author have an unplanned book signing until his fiancee is found in the alley strangled with Teddy's scarf. And that's only the first murder! It's also a first for the town. Great characters and lots of misdirections, plot twists, and red herrings. I loved it! Well done!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

So many great ideas to make the holiday even more special.

I marvel at Laura Jensen Walker’s ability to find humour in situations I would want to break down and weep.
If you are over 50 there is plenty in this short book that will have you nodding along and chuckling to yourself.

Hot flushes, night sweats, age spots, arm flaps, bifocals, brain fade, chin hair, crows feet, double chin, nothing escapes Walker’s witty sense of humour.

The book closes with a list of 60 things to rejoice and live by, no matter your age. Read the list or make your own. Keep it close as a reminder each day to be good to yourself and relax and learn to be comfortable in your middle-age skin; saggy as it may be.

Very long and very dry in 60% of it. While it was a nice story it could have been told in less pages. 2.5 Stars

A whole book trying to be funny about menopause. Either I've been in it too long, or the author's humor doesn't sync with mine, because it sounds more whiny and complainy than funny. I applaud her for trying, but this wasn't for me. To think of finishing this makes me ill, so I quit, but your mileage may vary.