Book 28, 2021

Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies by Addison Moore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Juuuuuuust before bedtime last night, I finished reading Cutie Pies and Deadly Lies by Addison Moore. This is the first book in the "Murder in the Mix" series. Main character is Lottie Lemon, a baker who can see people's dead pets, usually when that person is about to suffer some misfortune.

Lottie isn't having a good day. She must appear in court to face charges brought against her by her landladies: twins Merilee and Mora Ann. On the way, she literally runs into a hot guy, only to learn he's the judge. Once the court case is settled, Lottie is handed an eviction notice. Afterward, when she goes to visit a loan officer, she tears a strip off of him for not even considering her request...whereupon she later learns he's not a loan officer at all, but a PI. It isn't until Lottie finds Merilee's body that things really get bad. Lottie had seen a spectral cat twining around Merilee's ankles, but she never imagined the result would be so dire! Now Mora Ann is pointing the finger at her, and Lottie feels compelled to do some sleuthing of her own. Too bad the handsome judge and the hottie PI seem bent on thwarting her.

This was a lighthearted, funny cozy. Lottie is a hoot, and some scenes left me crying with laughter. I sussed out the connection between Judge Exeter and PI Noah before she did, but the identity of the murderer came from out of left field. I'd prefer to have some subtle clues to build on and enable me to (maybe) figure out whodunit, along with the MC. Characters came through well, from Lottie to her sister, friends, ex-boyfriend, and the two hotties. The plot could have been more cohesive.

Favorite lines:
♦ It's the least I could do after giving the front and back of his crotch such an enthusiastic hello with my face of all things.
Nearly died laughing at this scene!
♦ The way Naomi is tossing it out there tonight you'd think she were having a fire sale on her lady bits and pieces.
♦ I'm pretty sure there is not a more hideous sight in the world than sitting next to someone whose head spontaneously bursts into flames.
♦ "I bet she sleeps upside down in her closet at night."

This was so hilarious I hate to give it a four, but it could have been written better. Four it is.