Silent Night, Unholy Bites

An Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery, Book 4

By: Ruth Baker

Narrated by: Karisa N. Yeagle

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Lucy is looking forward to a holiday season that's filled with Christmas carols, remembering, and making new holiday memories and yummy food. She's also excited about all the new festive recipes she'll be introducing to the menu at Sweet Delights bakery.

When she finds out that an obnoxious woman at an event for the homeless has stolen some of her treats for her business, Lucy gives this lady a piece of her mind in no uncertain terms.

She's left bewildered and sad when this lady is found dead. Did Lucy's harsh words, spoken in the heat of the moment, have an effect on the lady's life, or is something more sinister at play?

It seems almost everyone wants to sweep this murder investigation under carpet, but Lucy knows there's something seriously off.

With Christmas just around the corner, Lucy knows she has to find a killer on the loose or her small town will be having a blue, blue Christmas.

Book four in the Ivy Creek Cozy Mystery series! If you want to enjoy a quick lighthearted listen, with an amateur female sleuth, mouthwatering culinary desserts, and a gripping murder mystery, then you'll love Lucy Hale and all the quirky characters in Ivy Creek.

No cliff-hanger, swearing, or graphic scenes!

Treat yourself or a loved one to Silent Night, Unholy Bites to discover how events unfold in this cozy murder mystery.

©2022 CleanTales Publishing (P)2022 CleanTales Publishing

Cupcakes!

This was a cute, easy to read book. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, so maybe I have become jaded. This book was simplistically written and had some strange (at least to me) verbiage. The emphasis was more on the main character and her bakery and less on the murder mystery.

I would recommend this to diehard cozy fans, especially those who love the ones involving baking/cooking. The narrator did a pretty good job, but there were some strange background noises at different times throughout the book.

great YA mystery

This is the fourth in the series and the first I have listened to or read. This is a great YA book and works as a cozy mystery.

I was disappointed in the attitudes of some of the characters.

1. Not accepting what was being offered as a contribution. 150 cupcakes are not enough – really? I may have misunderstood this in the discussion with Hannah. On second thought, Hannah may have thought they were too many.

2. Tabitha – the bullying and not for a charity. While I thought she was in charge of the homeless shelter, then why didn’t she approach individual stores for donations and not bully Lucy. Lucy was too nice. She should have politely told her to stop by her store with the proper documentation before she would donate.

3. Lucy is a bit naïve. I’m not sure how old she is but her business acumen needs updating. She allowed Zara into intimidating her into signing a contract. Sh also is too eager to please others. She needs to dress & do her makeup as she finds pleasing, not what others think. She has some growing to do.


Tabitha was despicable. She bullied Lucy and then passed the cupcakes off as her own in her business, the Blue River Hotel.


Tabitha’s husband, the hotel employees and even Lucy herself are suspects.

I see further character growth for Lucy. Also, it seems Lucy will have a decision to make in her future. Although I am not a fan of a love triangle, Lucy will need to sort her feelings out and then move forward.

The transitions between chapters were awkward. I could hear background noises of papers & possible chairs scrapping.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and am not required to leave a positive review. These are my opinions.