Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns

A Baker Street Mystery Book 4

Kensington Cozies (July 29, 2025)

Influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder . . 

Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.

Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.

While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before  wedding bells start to chime.

REVIEW

“…I learned that making decisions isn’t hard if you follow your heart.”

Fun cozy mystery read. I liked the characters, their personalities and their banter. I liked the plot. You can tell it’s part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. My first book by this author and won’t be my last!

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (May 28, 2025)

ARC paperback provided by publisher via Kaye Publicity

#IcingOnTheMurder #ValerieBurns @vmburnsbooks @kayepublicity #cozymystery #ARC #advancereadercopy #bookmail #summerrelease #bakerstreetmysteryseries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Valerie (V. M.) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently resides in the warmer region of the country with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. As V.M. Burns, she writes the Next Generation Indie Finalist, RJ Franklin Mysteries, Dog Club Mysteries, and Agatha award-nominated, Mystery Bookshop Mysteries. She is also an Edgar award-nominated short story author.

Whether writing as Valerie Burns, V.M. Burns, or Kallie E Benjamin, Valerie is always most at home spending time with her beloved poodles, Kenzie and Chloe (who are often featured in her cozy mysteries).

Valerie Burns is a prolific writer of cozy mysteries, and an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Indie Award finalist.
As V.M. Burns, she is the author of the Mystery Bookshop Mystery, Dog Club Mystery, RJ Franklin Mystery, and Baker Street Mystery series.
As Kallie E. Benjamin, Valerie also writes the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series.

Follow Valerie (V. M.) Burns at vmburns.com

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns

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