7 of 8 copies available
"This delicious combination of Clue and The Great British Bake Off kept me turning the pages all night!" —Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Only Murders in the Building meets The Maid in this "deliciously entertaining whodunit" (Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author) where someone turns up dead on the set of TV's hottest baking competition—perfect for fans of Nita Prose, Richard Osman, and Anthony Horowitz.
Every summer for the past ten years, six awe-struck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for "Bake Week" but also the childhood home of the show's famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin.
The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as "America's Grandmother," Betsy Martin isn't as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection, and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it's merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.
A sharp and suspenseful thriller for mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon is "as addictive as bingeing your favorite culinary competition and as satisfying as a piece of your favorite cake" (Kellye Garrett, author of Like a Sister).
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
March 7, 2023 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781797153445
- File size: 248209 KB
- Duration: 08:37:06
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Starred review from February 13, 2023
Byzantine chicanery seasoned with a dash of revenge greets six contestants gathered for Bake Week on the property of a crumbling Vermont manse, in Maxwell’s outstanding debut. Tantalizing backstage backstories include those of an ex-journalist from Brooklyn, a pie prodigy from Minnesota, a Bronx math teacher, a wealthy former CEO tech from Boston, a retired Rhode Island registered nurse, and a restorer of old buildings from New Hampshire. Hosting the competition’s 10th season is the heir to the manor, Betsy Martin, joined for the first time by an award-winning baker, Archie Morris, along with regular lead coordinator, Melanie Blair. Sabotage starts slow but early. A refrigerator door is left open; salt is replaced with sugar; a burner is turned up to high; gasoline replaces orange essence in a pie. By day three, it’s clear someone isn’t playing by the rules laid out in a “behemoth spiralbound packet.” Everything escalates to an extremely dark and stormy night (including a blackout), leading to startling revelations and a jaw-dropping confession. Sweet and savory turns deadly sour in this fast-paced, entertaining romp scheduled for a Hulu miniseries. Maxwell is off to a great start. Agent: Alexandra Machinist, ICM Partners. -
June 10, 2024
Maxwell debuts with a light, traditional mystery set at Grafton Manor in rural Vermont. The mansion is home to a competitive-baking show filmed over the span of a week. The premise of the show, aptly titled Bake Week, dictates that six amateur-baker contestants live at Grafton Manor while filming, with one contestant being voted off each day until the winner is declared. In the opening scene, the manor's owner and the show's host, Betsy Martin, discovers a dead body in the show's tented kitchen. The story then flashes back to the first days of that season's filming, with behind-the-scenes sabotage, manipulative power-hungry staff, cohosts jockeying to be the star, and contestants snooping--all of which further complicate the question of whodunit. Character backstories are fleshed out and brought vibrantly to listeners through a talented ensemble of eight narrators; each gives voice to a different contestant, allowing listeners to become acquainted with their nuances and delectable secrets. VERDICT Enhanced by its grand setting, strong characters, and superb narration, this audio is a delight. With a Hulu limited series in the future, listeners won't want to pass this dish over.--Kym Goering
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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