At first glance, cooking and solving crimes don’t seem like they belong together.
One is about comfort. Warm kitchens. Butter melting into something wonderful.
The other… well. Let’s just say it doesn’t usually end with dessert.
But the more time I’ve spent working on my Cooking Club Murder Mystery series, the more I’ve realized they have something very important in common.
They’re both about paying attention to the little things.
A missing ingredient.
A flavor that doesn’t quite belong.
A step skipped… or changed… or tampered with.
In the kitchen, those details can ruin a recipe.
In a mystery?
They can solve a murder.
And when you gather a group of people together in a cooking club—add in a little friendly competition, a few secrets, and just enough tension simmering under the surface…
Well.
Things don’t stay sweet for long.
Because every good mystery should come with a treat (preferably one that isn’t suspicious), here’s something simple, fresh, and perfect for this time of year:
Strawberry Shortcake Cups
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup whipped cream
Pound cake, cubed
Instructions:
Toss strawberries with sugar and lemon juice. Let sit for 10–15 minutes until juicy.
Layer cake cubes, strawberries, and whipped cream in small cups or jars.
Repeat layers and top with extra cream (because we don’t do things halfway here).
Cooking Club Note:
If someone insists on bringing store-bought whipped cream… keep an eye on them. That’s how secrets start.
💌 A Little Note from Me
This new series has been such a joy to work on—combining food, friendship, small-town secrets, and just enough danger to keep things interesting.
And maybe that’s why it works.
Because at the heart of both cooking and mysteries… it’s about bringing things together.
Ingredients. Clues. People.
And sometimes, when everything mixes just right… you get something unforgettable.
(Or at the very least, something worth talking about over tea.)
Now for a note from your favorite Small-Town Detective Dog (from the Cooking Club Murder Mysteries)
Tango’s Paw Prints 🐾
Hello!
Tango here with my Detective Tip of the Week: Trust Your Nose
While everyone else is busy measuring ingredients and following recipes, I focus on something much more important.
What doesn’t belong.
A scent that’s out of place.
A change in the air.
Something that shouldn’t be there… but is.
Humans tend to overthink things.
You look for complicated answers when sometimes the truth is simple:
If something feels off… it probably is.
Whether you’re in the kitchen or solving a mystery, don’t ignore that instinct.
Also, for the record, if you drop a piece of cake on the floor, I will handle it. Efficiently.
You’re welcome.
—Detective Tango 🐾
Happy sleuthing,
💙 Emmie
P.S. Thank you for being here—whether you’re reading for the mystery, the food, or just a cozy escape. It means more than you know.
Preorder this book in author R. A. Muth’s new cozy crime series and save a $1!
“Nobody wants Death on their doorstep. Ask me how I know.”
(click on the image)
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.