Mayhem on the Marzipan Express
A baker solves murders during a highland train tour in Rebecca Connolly’s charming cozy mystery novel Mayhem on the Marzipan Express.
Alan is the celebrity judge of a baking show. He promotes himself by hosting a trip for paying fans on board Scotland’s historic Jacobite train, rechristened here as the Marzipan Steam Express. Claire, a former contestant and mentee, helps him bake, and her viscount boyfriend, Johnny, a VIP guest, pitches in. When a man dies, Alan is a suspect.
Claire and Johnny’s fledgling relationship is fleshed out via glancing references to their past adventures as amateur sleuths, and Johnny’s analytical reserve plays well against Claire’s enthusiastic practicality. Indeed, Claire employs finesse as she investigates, avoiding raising panic among the passengers and upholding customer service standards too. A headline-seeking journalist provokes her insecurities, though, even as Alan’s jittery assistant hovers.
Offbeat gallows humor, paired with sometimes farcical side characters, keep the mystery light: Even decapitated gingerbread men are a threat. Mechanical problems, a storm, and impeded outside communication intensify the locked-room scenarios, and dessert-themed pet names and curses like “crepes alive!” appear alongside a winking reference to Agatha Christie. Delectable dishes are centered in kitchen conversations with Alan too.
As the book progresses, details regarding the case appear alongside wise relationship advice. The mystery sometimes takes a back seat to romantic concerns, though. After a second body is found, offstage help is given to confirm the identity of the unhinged killer. Claire and the others’ future plans are covered in a way that lifts the novel back into warm terrain, leading into a satisfying ending in which love and interpersonal connections are emphasized.
Mayhem on the Marzipan Express is an enticing murder mystery wrapped in the language of Scottish confections.
Reviewed by
Karen Rigby
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
