About the Book
Murder is on the menu-served warm with muffins and lattes.
Alene Baron has built more than a café-she's built a community. At Whipped & Sipped, customers linger over Ruthie's decadent-but-healthy desserts, children flock to Saturday story hour, and knitting groups craft blankets for refugee families. Alene prides herself on knowing her patrons so well she can often place "a wholegrain blueberry muffin on the counter before the customer themselves knew" they wanted it.
But when her neighbor and close friend is murdered, Alene's cozy world begins to unravel. Suddenly, everyone she knows could be a suspect, and she starts noticing the smallest inconsistencies, furtive glances, and unexplained comings and goings around the café. With each clue and misstep, Alene pieces together a tangled web of secrets, realizing that danger may be closer than she ever imagined-and that her own family could be in the killer's sights.
With her sharp eye for detail, wry sense of humor, and fierce devotion to her children, Alene steps into the role of amateur sleuth. But in a community where tempers flare over hot chocolate, grudges linger for years, and secrets hide beneath friendly smiles, finding the killer may prove harder than whipping up the perfect soufflé.
Battered, the first in G.P. Gottlieb's Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series, is a delectable blend of mouthwatering recipes, quirky neighborhood drama, and page-turning suspense. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies, it's a tale where friendship, food, and murder are always on the menu.
About the Author :
G.P. Gottlieb (https: //gpgottlieb.com) has performed, taught, and administrated, but she's happiest when writing recipe-laced murder mysteries. Battered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery, was published in 2019 after she won the contract in an online competition. Smothered, the second book in the series, launched in 2021, and Charred, the third Whipped and Sipped Mystery launched in 2023. You can hear Gottlieb's podcast interviews as host for New Books in Literature, a channel on the New Books Network (https: //newbooksnetwork.com/search?+q...) or read some of her sharp-tongued essays on Medium (https: //medium.com/@gpgottlieb). When not reading or writing, she loves walking along the lake path, attending concerts and plays, and travelling.
Review :
What a delicious start to a series-literally! This cozy mystery was a treat from page one, with lovable, slightly messy characters and a main character who's refreshingly imperfect (just like my baking attempts). My only complaint? I spent half the book drooling. Warning: do not read on an empty stomach unless you're okay with raiding your kitchen between chapters!
-Valerie Biel, Beyond the Cemetery Gate, Circle of Nine Series
An involving, fast-paced mystery with compelling characters, twists, turns, and food-oh, the food! I want to be a regular at the Whipped and Sipped Cafe and hang out with the lo-cals.
-Laurie Buchanan, Sean McPherson Crime Thriller Series
I just discovered this deliciously delightful mystery series set in Chicago, one of my favorite cities. . . Great characters and a compelling plot that kept me guessing to the end. G.P. has also included all thirty recipes mentioned in Battered.
- Kathleen Kaska, author of the Sidney Lockhart Mysteries
If you are looking for a slightly different take on a culinary cozy mystery, this is the debut to read.
-Carstairs Considered
Warm and cool, sassy and savvy, GP Gottlieb has written a murder mystery that is as interesting as the family dynamic itself - exploring its alliances, intrigues and the possibility of how people can protect, surprise, and, quite literally- kill each other. A fun, delicious read!
-Marcy Heisler, theatrical lyricist
The generous collection of recipes at the end was a nice surprise. Good thing, too, because reading this book made me hungry. If you like reading about food, family, friendships, and the occasional dead body, this book is for you!
-Cayce Osborne, Author of Bestselling Novel, I Know What You Did
I would read this book just to spend time with the characters in the cafe and learn about vegan pastries, but the compelling mystery had me glued to the page.
-Sharon Lynn, author of the award-winning Cotswold Crimes Mystery series
