Mayhem on the Marzipan Express

Rebecca Connolly

Book - 2025

"A romantic getaway through the Scottish Highlands turns deadly when a passenger on the train is murdered--and a famous chef is the prime suspect. Amateur baker and part-time sleuth Claire Walker may not have won Britian's Battle of the Bakers cooking competition, but she still went home with a grand prize: Jonathan Ainsley's heart. The happy couple boards the famed Scottish train, the Mallaig Steam Express-temporarily renamed "The Marzipan Express" in honor of famed chef Alan Gables, who is hosting an exclusive culinary experience for his most devoted fans. Claire is delighted to serve as Alan's sous-chef for the trip, hoping to learn some baking tips from the master. The trip has barely begun when the train s...creeches to a halt. The engine has malfunctioned and must be repaired. While Claire and Jonny explore the train, they discover a dead body in one of the dining cars. It appears to be an accident, but Claire can sense something is wrong as easily as she can sense an overbaked soufflé. When the clues all point to Alan as the culprit, Claire and Jonny decide to investigate on their own. Unfortunately, Alan doesn't have an alibi, his assistant is oddly nervous around him, and a shadowy figure keeps appearing at all the wrong times. Could it be someone from Alan's past trying to frame him? Or could Alan be trying to cover his tracks? Claire had hoped for a delicious, romantic getaway, not investigating a mysterious death while stress-eating trifle in the kitchen car and trying to not be jealous of a magazine reporter who is flirting with Jonny. It's mayhem in more ways than one. "--

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1 copy ordered
Subjects
Genres
Detective and mystery fiction
Published
Salt Lake City : Shadow Mountain [2025]
Language
English
Main Author
Rebecca Connolly (author)
Physical Description
pages cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9781639935000
Contents unavailable.
Review by Library Journal Review

In this sequel to The Crime Brûlée Bake Off, amateur baker Claire Walker, a former finalist on the TV show Britain's Battle of the Bakers, boards a Scottish steam train with her boyfriend, Jonny Ainsley. She is there to assist chef Alan Gables, one of the show's judges, as he hosts a railway tour and exclusive culinary experience. All the train passengers are devoted fans of Alan who have paid to meet him and enjoy his gastronomic delights. Soon after the trip begins, the public address system asks if there are any doctors on board the train. Claire and Jonny follow on the doctor's heels and discover that a man is lying dead in the dining car. Making matters worse, the train then malfunctions and comes to a stop in the middle of the remote Highlands. The deceased turns out to have been Alan's business partner, who was plotting to ruin Alan's career. When a second murder occurs, again with links to Alan, he becomes the prime suspect. In an effort to clear Alan's name, Claire and Jonny begin to investigate the other train passengers and crew. Can they trust Alan, or are they helping him get away with murder? Connolly's novel uses the stalled train to create an atmosphere of isolation, but the cuteness of the writing (for instance, baking terms become placeholders for swear words) can detract from the plot. VERDICT Recommended for fans of culinary cozies.--Jean King

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