The Crime Brûlée Bake Off - Claire Walker #1

 

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off is a fun closed suspect cozy mystery series starter by Rebecca Connolly. Released 4th Feb 2025, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. Large print library bound edition due out from Thorndike in May 2025. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The vibe here is classic stately home and estate, with a reality cooking show twist. Readers who enjoy cooking contest shows and lightly campy mystery will be in raptures. The characters run the gamut and feel in some cases more sketched in, than deeply rendered. There is, however, a rogues gallery of suspects and the author has fun drawing readers in along the way.

It's competently written throughout, albeit occasionally unnecessarily snarky, sarcastic, and with somewhat overwrought prose but with a nicely engineered mystery as compensation. There's a strong romance subplot, so readers who require romance-free murder mysteries might want to pass on this one. The language is clean, and it's a cozy, so there's little on-page violence or objectionable content.

Three and a half stars. Well written. Definitely worth a read for fans of stately home mysteries with a little lighter feel, like Clue and Knives out (though less bonkers than either). The author has included some recipes referenced in the story at the back of the book as a bonus.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.   

The Everything Restaurant Copycat Recipes Cookbook: 200 Easy Recipes to Re-Create Your Favorite Restaurant Dishes at Home

 

The Everything Restaurant Copycat Recipes Cookbook by Kelly Jaggers is a cookbook and recipe collection with 200 famous restaurant copycat dishes to recreate at home.  Due out 18th March 2025 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 272 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. According to the publishing info, some of the content is compiled from earlier Adams "Everything" series publications.

The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introduction covers the basic tools, supplies, appliances, and pantry lists. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast & brunch, appetizers & snacks, soup & salad, sandwiches & burgers, beef chicken & pork, seafood & vegetarian, pasta & noodles, sides, desserts, and drinks.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) measurements only.  There's a conversion chart for metric measures in the appendices. The nutritional information is not included.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple and should be well within the abilities of the average reader.

The photography is not abundant; most of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done.

This is a huge collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep fast food/restaurant lovers going for ages. 

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes  

Design For Your Mind

Design For Your Mind is a soothing and well arranged design guide by Annie Guest aimed at helping readers make simple (relatively budget friendly) choices to reduce stress and make their homes more relaxing and serene. Released 4th Feb 2025, it's 186 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The author relates her personal experiences as a caregiver for her aging parents and their own healthcare struggles as an introduction to the logic and necessity of transforming home spaces into something restful and restorative. She provides examples of projects by room/area. They range from very small spare time do-able to more comprehensive makeovers.

The chapters are arranged logically and include both the philosophy of planning and arrangement to specific areas (exterior, interior, other spaces (a guesthouse or annex). Although the book is quite personal and reflects the author's own remake and house redesign, there are some good takeaways to find for most readers.

Four stars. It would be a good and engaging read for fans of design and handy house projects; there are lots of instagram worthy pictures throughout. She has a very relaxed, light formal/classic sensibility, and the interiors would suite most lovers of traditional spaces and design.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes