loribonesscaswell

With her mother’s death, Toni Ryder returns home to OilTop, Kansas bringing her gluten-free bakery business with her. But Toni has never felt at home in her hometown and cooking wheat-free in the middle of wheat country isn’t making her any less a fish out of water. When Toni becomes a suspect in OilTop’s first homicide investigation in twenty years, she must count on her crazy family and follow the clues to solve the mystery and clear her name.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

A Fine Debut!

Parra has created a very interesting protagonist in Toni. Her gluten free bakery in the heartland adds drama and also informs about an allergy that has come to the forefront in recent years. Celiac Disease (those who are sensitive to gluten) is said to affect 1% of the U.S. Population. Her mystery shines the light in a fun and entertaining way with recipes too!

She also introduces some great supporting characters. Chain smoker Grandma Ruth was my favorite. She really has Toni’s best interests at heart and she constantly butts her way into every situation. Toni’s friend and taste tester Tasha tries to keep Toni calm but she has someone new in her life that is making her a bit crazy. Toni also has not 1 but 2 men who would like to be more than just friends.

The author makes the story current and real by blending in true life issues like farms changing how they do business today and the dangers of foreclosures in the rough economic times. Her plot is believable and has plenty of twists to keep those pages turning.

OilTop seems like a great place full of quirky people. Perfect for a cozy mystery series. I look forward to returning again soon!