Death Gone A-Rye (A Bread Shop Mystery)
by Winnie Archer
About Death Gone A-Rye
Death Gone A-Rye (A Bread Shop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Publisher: Kensington (April 27, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1496733541
ISBN-13: 978-1496733542
Digital ASIN : B08F2XT38C
In the Northern California seaside town of Santa Sofia, a killer is trying to get a rise out of baker’s apprentice Ivy Culpepper . . .
Vincent van Dough focaccia is being touted on Instagram as the best thing since sliced bread. By strategically placing chives, olives, and yellow peppers to look like poppies and sunflowers, bakers create a mouthwatering masterpiece in the style of the great postimpressionist painter. At Yeast of Eden, where bread making has always been an art, they’re baking their own version for the school district’s Spring Fling.
But one person won’t be tasting the Mexican bakery’s latest specialty. Ambitious school board president Nessa Renchrik has been murdered. Like the rest of this close-knit community, Ivy is shocked. But she’s just as surprised to discover her beau—restaurateur Miguel Baptista—had his own fling with Nessa back in the day and now the police have this half-baked notion he might have killed her. It’s up to Ivy, her boss Olaya Solis, and eighty-six-years-young Penelope Branford to separate the wheat from the chaff to determine who the real culprit is . . .
EXCERPT 1
“Ivy, this is Captain Craig York. Craig, my best friend, Ivy Culpepper.”
She didn’t wait for either of us to acknowledge the introduction, instead rolling one hand in the air, telling him to keep going.
“It’s a local school board member,” he said.
Her breath hitched. I don’t think the captain noticed, but I’d known Emmaline Davis for nearly my whole life, and I knew what that response was about. The Santa Sofia school board was made up of five people. One of them, Candace Coffey, had been in high school with us.
Now she was a mother of three and served as vice president of the board. “Dead?” Em asked, and I knew she was hoping against hope, just like I was, that it wasn’t Candy.
York cupped one hand against the back of his neck before saying, “Murder.”
“Who?” Em asked.
“Nessa Renchrik. School board president.”
Em and I both sighed in relief, although only mine was audible. Not Candy, thank God.
“I’ll handle it,” York said. “I’ll keep you updated.”
I could see the internal battle Em was going through.
How could she leave town when a murder had just happened? But it was her honeymoon. She proceeded to give him precise instructions on how often he was to be in touch with her, and emphasized the high priority of the case. A school board member was a political figure in a community. The people of Santa Sofia would demand answers and justice.
“Will do,” York said. He gave one succinct nod to both of us before walking away.
The second we were alone, I took Emmaline’s hand.
“It’s going to be okay. He seems on top of things.”
She grimaced. Not the most desirable expression for a bride. “He’s new.”
“You wouldn’t have hired him if he wasn’t qualified. He can handle it.”
“It’s not Candy,” she said, hands on her hips again.
“Thank God.”
“Do you know this woman, Nessa?” I asked.
“No. But school board president. That’s not good.”
Billy sidled up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. “What’s going on, Mrs. Culpepper?”
“Murder,” she said.
His face fell. “Uh-oh.”
She put her hands on top of his. “And it’s a high-profile one.”
His hold on her tightened. “You have people to handle it, though. We have a flight to catch in the morning, and, you know, a wedding reception with all our friends and family.”
She turned to face him, tilting her head to look up at him. “And we’re going to enjoy every second of it. Captain York is handling the investigation. He’ll update me, but he’s in charge.”
Billy nodded. “Good to hear. Now, let’s round these folks up and head inside for the food.”
Craig York’s words came back to me then. I’d made contributions to the department with my sleuthing skills. There was no reason I couldn’t help out again. Miguel had told me to stay out of it, but I just couldn’t. And since I had an in with Candy, maybe I’d be able to get information York couldn’t.
The next few hours would be filled with food and dancing, but in my mind, I’d be formulating a plan on how to solve a murder.
INCLUDES RECIPES!
About Winnie Archer
The indefatigable Winnie Archer is a middle school teacher by day and a writer by night. Born in a beach town in California, she now lives in Colorado. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with both yoga and chocolate, adores pumpkin spice lattes, is devoted to her five kids and husband, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams. Visit her online at WinnieArcher.com.
Author Links Kensington: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9781496724410/dough-or-die/
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