Sugar and Sliced - Maple Lane Mysteries, #0.5

A Manhattan bakery. A deadly competition. And a murder too close for comfort.

When a body literally drops at her feet, baker Maddie Flynn knows this isn't a tragic accident—it's murder. With her sharp instincts, a dash of courage, and a few secret skills up her sleeve, she's determined to uncover the truth.

But danger is rising fast. A furious baking contestant, a baffling kidnapping, and a crime that refuses to add up put Maddie right in the crosshairs of a killer who won't hesitate to strike again.

Even Big Red, her oversized Maine Coon with an uncanny nose for trouble, is restless. And if Maddie doesn't solve the case soon, she might be the next victim on the menu.

? The Maple Lane Mysteries blend baking, small-town sleuthing, and cat-loving charm—perfect for fans of Murder, She Wrote, culinary cozies, and whisker-twitching feline sidekicks.

5* "This story was a quick, easy read with a good pace, crime with a taciturn police detective trying to hold Maddie in check, and a baking competition that turns triumph to terror! Big Red, Maddie's Maine Coon cat companion, is a mighty protector prowling the streets of NYC and a key player. I love a cozy with a sassy pet."

The Maple Lane Mysteries

Sugar and Sliced - The Maple Lane Prequel

Book 1 Apple Pie and Arsenic

Book 2 Bagels and Blackmail

Book 3 Cookies and Chaos

Book 4 Doughnuts and Disaster

Book 5 Eclairs and Extortion

Book 6 Fudge and Frenemies 

Book 7 Gingerbread and Gunshots 

Book 8 Honey Cake and Homicide

C. A. Phipps is a USA Today best-selling author from beautiful New Zealand. Cheryl lives in a quiet suburb with her wonderful husband, whom she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts). With three married children and seven grandchildren to keep her busy when she's not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed-breed dog who stole her heart! She enjoys family times, baking, rambling walks, and her quest for the perfect latte.