Much Ado About Muffin

Much Ado About Muffin is the 4th book in the Merry Muffin Mystery Series by Victoria Hamilton. In this book Merry has gone to Spain to make peace with her mother-in-law who is on her deathbed. Merry takes her time in Spain enjoying being pampered and taken care of until her late husband’s brother proposes to her. This proposal makes Merry really look at her life and she quickly decides she needs to go home to Wynter Castle and resume her life there. Once home Merry finds a lot has changed in her two month absence. One morning she and a friend are going shopping but first they decide to stop at the post office to see if Merry’s luggage has arrived from Spain yet. Finding the front door locked the two friends decide to go around back to see if they can Minnie the postmaster. What they find is a dead Minnie. Will Merry be able to adjust to all the changes? Can Merry help solve the murder before something else bad happens? Is the murderer someone that is close to Merry or someone new to Autumn Vale?

I really enjoy this series. What I liked about this book is there Merry has decided to put her past behind her, not to forget about her late husband but to finally stop mourning the loss of a husband and allow herself to live and love again. Merry has to smooth a lot of hurt feelings because she didn’t keep in touch with her friends during her two month absence. She finds out that she has a lot of people who love and care for her and consider her family. This book really promotes that family comes in all forms and you should always try to keep family close to you even when you’re not. It also shows that family and true friends will always forgive you when you have hurt them and will always have your back when you need them.

This is a great cozy mystery (no bad language, graphic violence or sex) with a touch of romance. Great storyline and strong realistic characters. There is also a bonus of some recipes for any Muffin Lovers out there. I would definitely recommend not only this book but the series.

Much Ado About Muffin by Victoria Hamilton is the fourth book in A Merry Muffin Mystery series. Merry Wynter has been in Spain for the last two months. Her mother-in-law is dying and asked to see Merry (she treated Merry horribly when she was married to her son). After her passing, Merry decided to stay for a spell. It was nice to get away from life and have things done for her. Merry even quit talking and writing her friends back home in Autumn Vale, New York. But she realizes that it is time to return to reality and heads home. Merry arrives at Wynter Manor to find out that Pish has invited a guest to stay (awfully nervy). The guest is none other than Roma Toscano, the opera singer who hit on Merry’s deceased husband, Miguel (right in front of her). Pish states that Roma needs his help (he could have asked first). Merry agrees to let her stay, but she will definitely regret it. Merry soon finds out that Roma has antagonized most of the townspeople (which is hard to do). Merry has her own amends to make for neglecting her friends for so long including her best friend, Shilo (and Merry’s romantic interest, Virgil Grace). When postmistress, Minnie Urquhart ends up dead, Roma becomes the number one suspect. Roma recently had an argument with her (at the house in front of witnesses) and the murder weapon belongs to Roma. This sends Roma into another round of hysterics. Merry sets out to clear Roma’s name and hopes it will get Roma out of her house and Autumn Vale. But Merry has some other matters that need attending as well. Emerald seems to be under the influence of an unscrupulous woman, and she will not listen to reason. Merry is determined to help Emerald whether she wants the help or not. Come join Merry in Autumn Vale in Much Ado About Muffin.

Much Ado About Muffin is a well-written story with a nice, complex mystery. I found, though, that there is a little too much going on and quite a few characters (it is hard to keep them all straight). The book goes at a good pace (steady) with quite a bit of action. The setting of Autumn Vale sounds so lovely that I want to live there. The book has some quirky, but friendly characters. There is some romance in the novel, but it is just the right amount so that it enhances (not distracts) the storyline. I give Much Ado About Muffin 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There are some recipes included at the end of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in A Merry Muffin Mystery. I hope that Merry finally figures out what to do with the castle in the next book. Merry needs to find a way for the mansion to earn money for her (host gathering, make it into an inn or a restaurant, host mystery dinners).

I received a complimentary copy of Much Ado About Muffin from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.