January Online Book Club: Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbott

Cruel Candy by Mildred Abbott

A quick, fun read and a photogenic dog.

A fitting beginning to a new year, Cruel Candy is about Winifred “Fred” Page who resets her life by moving home to scenic Estes Park, Colorado and opening a bookstore. Accompanied by her smart, chubby corgi, Watson, she discovers a dead body before the ink is dry on her new store lease.

When the local police zero in on her hippy stepfather, Fred follows the trail of baked goods and clues to solve the mystery and keep her stepfather out of prison. The touristy main street shops are filled with suspects and interesting shopkeepers, one of whom is probably a killer. One by one, she narrows down the possibilities while we get to know the cast of this series.

After spending a lot of time at home the past months talking to my dog, I especially enjoyed the relationship between Fred and Watson. Fred’s internal reactions and conversations with him add to the story and help us learn more about her background. 

I look forward to visiting her bookstore often in this long series and getting to know the townspeople all better. There’s a bonus lemon bar recipe at the end of the book!

I found out about these books first by admiring the author’s photos on Instagram. There’s an entire Mildred Abbott account featuring corgis with seasonal props and imaginative settings that crack me up. They also post lots of delicious dessert photos. 

There are 21 books in this series. The first one is 99 cents to try, or free on Kindle Unlimited. Or if you’re an Audible member, it’s available in audiobook, too.

Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.

Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.

A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.