By Susan A. King
Pages: 207
Publication Date: 18th January 2021
Publisher: Lightning Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Cozy Crime
Follow on from Marrow Jam
Rating: 🐻🐻🐻🐻/5
It’s a bank holiday weekend and I have a truly delicious treat for you today. I really enjoyed cake themed hunt for answers and want to thank Rachel’s Random Resources for arranging another amazing tour. I would also like to thank Lightning Books and Susan A. King for the chance to review Banana Devil Cake.
But first, here’s a little about the book.
Synopsis
A NEW BEATTIE BRAMSHAW MYSTERY
With the murder of last year’s fête judge now but a hazy memory, the village of Elmesbury has retired to its former tranquil existence. That is, until a mysterious newcomer sets in motion a series of events that will see members of the W.I. crossing wooden spoons at dawn.
In the midst of preparing for her long-awaited engagement party, redoubtable village busybody Beattie Bramshaw not only finds herself embroiled in a one-woman campaign to save the elm tree from which the village gets its name, but also having to contend with an outbreak of unrest within her beloved W.I. group. Rivalry to win favour with the judge of this year’s fête has fuelled dissent within the ranks and, when two members are found dead in mysterious circumstances, suspicions run rife.
Confident the devil is not only in the cake but in the detail, Beattie determines to uncover the clues that will ultimately lead to the killer’s conviction. But can she solve the mystery before another member of the W.I. is picked off?
Banana Devil Cakeis a comedy crime caper in the style of Agatha Raisin and one that is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Prepare yourself for a tale of tea, cake and riotous goings-on from the author of Marrow Jam.
Bookish Thoughts
This story was a delight. It was deliciously written and left you starving and craving cake. Banana Devil Cake is a funny crime adventure full of coffee mornings, bake offs and a woman not to be messed with. The story centres around Elmesbury and its Women’s Institute.
But there’s one particular character that the fun always seems to follow and she is everything you could expect from the Elm warrior Bettie Bramshaw. With the annual Village fete on the horizon, placing is the only thing on a lot of the WI members minds. That is until members start dropping and not from accidents. But who will discover the killer and can they be stopped before any more members are at risk.
I did enjoy this novel, it was fun, full of personality and rememorable characters. It was well written and entertaining. I loved the cast and would move to Elmesbury in an instant. The story was full of hidden clues and I did enjoy the hunt for the truth.
My downfall with this novel was that I found it took a little too long for the crime arc to start. I would have loved some snippets a little bit sooner but it didn’t make me not enjoy the novel, it still got me addicted and wanting more. So if you haven’t tried Cozy crime, why not give this taster a try. Both books are delights worthy of a best in show.
About the Author
Susan A. King lives with her husband in a quiet suburb in leafy Hampshire. The inspiration for her debut novel, Marrow Jam, came from her long experience and observation of competitors at the local Romsey Show where she regularly aspires to win Best in Show with her floral arrangements. Unsuccessful to date, she has been tempted to investigate more underhand methods by which to acquire the trophy, but has yet to sink to the depths described in her novel. Or so she would have you believe! Marrow Jam, was shortlisted for the Write Here, Right Now novel competition, Bradford Literature Festival and is published by Eye/Lightning Books.
Mama-Bears Book Hour 