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Today’s book recommendation is “Lemon Tart,” a murder mystery novel! Typically, in a murder mystery novel, the reader follows the perspective of the detectives or perhaps a family member of the victim. This novel has a fun twist: the case is investigated — and solved! — by the victim’s nosey 50-year-old neighbor.

Plot Review:

On a perfectly normal morning, Sadie Hoffman is busy doing what she does best: canning and minding her own business (of course!). Sadie’s attention is drawn away from the apples when multiple police cars pull up in front of her neighbor’s home. She considers it to be her civic duty to be the first to check in on the neighbor (and maybe pick up some gossip to share with her best friend). Upon arrival, she proudly assists the officers in accessing the home and giving insider information on the family that lives there. However, the game comes to an unexpected and horrible end when the investigators find a deceased woman in the backyard. Sadie’s young friend and neighbor, Anne Lemmon, has been found strangled to death.

Sadie is sent home after identifying the body as Anne’s, but her mind can’t stop racing. Where is Anne’s two-year-old son? Is he hurt? Who could have possibly wanted to kill Anne?

Using her sharp wit and keen observation skills, Sadie inserts herself into solving Anne’s murder . The police can solve this case (of course!), but Sadie knows she can get people talking; it only takes a plate of her mouthwatering desserts.

Why I recommend Lemon Tart

You’ll fall in love with Sadie’s spunk and tenacity to solve crimes. There are enough plot twists to keep the suspicion on multiple characters. This novel is certainly a “cozy up and read” type of novel, and not one that will keep you haunted at night. And as a fun little aside: each book contains tried and true recipes relating to the story from the author’s kitchen.