Devil's Food Cake: Volume 3

Sadie Hoffmiller is at it again! But of course it's not her fault she just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bestselling author, and former resident of Sadie's hometown, Thom Mortenson arrives to give a presentation for the library fundraiser. When Thom's manager is mysteriously shot while getting the microphone ready on the stage, Sadie is right there to uncover all of the clues. No, she didn't actually see the shot blast because she was savoring--eyes closed--a delicious bite of her very own Devil's Food Cake. But that fact would never deter Sadie's spry involvement. As the whirlwind night unfolds, Sadie is drawn into a complex web of information, each turn more surprising than the next. But the only caveat is that she must follow the trail of clues without the police, which takes a bit of navigation on Sadie's part. Sadie Hoffmiller is a delightful character, quirky, funny, and never fails to disappoint. Devil's Food Cake is another Kilpack classic, and like the other books in this culinary mystery series, the "whodunit" comes at a surprise. If you haven't read any of Kilpack's Sadie Hoffmiller series, you need to catch up! Previous volumes are Lemon Tart, and English Trifle, with Key Lime Pie coming Fall 2010. They are fun to read in order but not entirely necessary!

She brought cake, and all she was given for her troubles was a murder mystery. "Devil's Food Cake" tells the story of helpful community woman Sadie Hoffmiller, as she finds herself ignored by the authorities and driven to crack the case herself, despite her leading involvement to a murder was bringing a cake to the event. But this cake maker may find that she's the best for the job, making "Devil's Food Cake" a fun mystery that's offbeat and a highly recommended read.

Devil's Food Cake by Josi S. Kilpack Considering my love of both food and reading, this book seemed like a natural. The protagonist appears to be fixated on food while solving mysteries. The book included the recipes of the dishes she describes while sleuthing. The mystery is to discover who set up the shotgun trap to kill Mark. Sadie Hoffmiller is not a highly likeable character. She recognizes that many people in her community consider her a busy body, most likely because she appears to be a busy body. She does have a good heart and believes most problems can be solved with the suitable application of culinary delights. I don't know that I have ever read a book with a less likely heroine. It was a good mystery combining a love of food with an equal desire to solve mysteries. I recommend the book.

Devil's Food Cake is the best book in the Sadie series yet. This new book takes place back in Colorado and introduces the reader to some new characters. The twists were particularly well done and the romantic triangle will be fun to watch evolve in the next book. I am not sure which way I want it to play out but will be interested in seeing where Josi takes the romantic angle. A delightful clean read.

What a fantastic, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride! Sadie's adventures just keep getting better and better. In Devil's Food Cake, we meet a few new characters--and it's a trick to discover who the villain really is until the very end. At the end of the story, just when you catch your breath, you're given a delightful sneak peek at Key Lime Pie--Sadie's next adventure. I have no idea what I'll do before I get to read it!