It took me forever to finish The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly. I liked the two main characters so much that I didn’t want to leave them behind. It’s a contemporary mystery with a touch of the past, only because it’s set on an English estate where there are butlers and housekeepers and servants. And, for some of you looking for it, the publisher even calls it a “Clean & Wholesome” Romance.
Claire Walker is a history teacher who really longs to be a baker. She’s shocked when she’s picked for “Britain’s Battle of the Bakers”, the largest baking competition for amateur bakers in the U.K. And, this year, the show will feed the nerd in her. It’s being held at Blackfirth Park, a historic estate that has been in the Ainsley family for centuries.
Jonathan Ainsley, Viscount Colburn, is the seventeenth viscount. He takes his responsibilities for the estate seriously, so he agrees to host the baking show on the grounds because he can use the money for upkeep. But, he has firm rules. He’s not going to interact with the crew and cast of the show, and they are to stay in designated areas on the grounds. They also are not supposed to ask about his ancestor who was murdered on the grounds two centuries earlier.
All of Jonny’s plans fall apart when one of the bakers is killed in the same style as his ancestor. Well, actually, it’s overkill. The baker was strangled, drowned and hit on the head. And, it’s Claire and a fellow baker who find the body. So, Jonny allows the police officer, Detective Sergeant Jim Watson, to interview everyone in the house. It’s only in front of Jonny and Claire that Watson admits he’s never investigated a murder. And, to top it off, his superiors insist it was an accidental death. When he asks Jonny and Claire to assist him in the investigation, Jonny thinks it will give him the chance to get to know Claire. And, Claire thinks she owes it to her dead friend and fellow baker to find the killer.
This is Rebecca Connolly’s first mystery, but she’s written romances before. The debut mystery is polished, with two strong characters who assist the police, but don’t interfere. And, Connolly skillfully combines the mystery with the filming of the baking show. Fans of “The Great British Bake Off” will enjoy the baking elements. Fans of likable characters, a touch of romance, and a solid mystery will appreciate the strong debut. The Crime Brulee Bake Off is a delightful story.
Rebecca Connolly’s website is https://www.rebeccaconnolly.com/
The Crime Brulee Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. 313p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
