Sugar And Vice A Cookie House Mystery By Eve Calder Review

I received a digital advanced reader’s copy of Sugar and Vice from NetGalley. This review may contain minor spoilers. 

Sugar and Vice by Eve Calder is the second book in the A Cookie House series. When I read the synopsis for this book I wanted to read it, so I ran out and bought the first book And then there were Crumbs. I devoured that book and immediately started Sugar and Vice.

In Sugar and Vice Kate McGuire is settling into her new life in Coral Cay. Kate has made friends and her partner in the Cookie House Sam has warmed up to her. When Kate and her new BFF Maxi discover a skeleton of a pirate in Maxi’s flower shop yard, it ignites a mystery and pirate fever.  

Kate has a lot going on. She is trying to solve a murder and the mystery of a famous pirate Gentleman George. Make a custom treat for Coral Cay’s new vet Jack Scanlon’s welcome party. All while dispelling rumors started by her ex-fiance Evan. Kate has a lot going on. 

What I liked about this cozy is, for once the killer wasn’t obvious from early on. The book flowed well and quickly. The characters were all likeable and fun. You felt the characters, and the plot was all real and enjoyable. 

I have no legitimate complaints. Which lately is rare as a lot of cozy series have been challenging my suspension of disbelief. In many of my recent reads there is a plot element at some point that makes you think that is not logical. I did not feel that with Sugar and Vice. I have one minor concern. 

There was a subplot however, I felt was unnecessary. While it did not spoil the plot for me, I just felt it made one subplot a little over the top. Mainly it detracted from the positive flow of the book. Despite being a murder mystery, the residents of Coral Cay were all positive and happy people. It felt like a community you could imagine being a part of. 

The part I felt took away from the book involved Kate’s sister and it just added a negative tone. Until that point, the book’s tone was light, and the book was flowing well. It halted that for me. I wish there was a half star rating system on Goodreads. While I did not like this enough to detract a full star Goodreads would not allow me to give the book 4.5 stars. 

If that chapter had not been so brief, the book would have truly been a 4 star book for me. Before that chapter, I was ranking the book at five stars. I hope Kate’s sister is not in the next book, perhaps other than in a passing mention. I rated the book 4 stars, though it is truly a 4.5 star book. 

Sugar and Vice is a fun and easy read. Kate is a realistic protagonist, and her friendship with Maxi makes the series lighthearted and fun. Which is necessary to counterbalance the seriousness of a murder. I really enjoyed this offering in the series and cannot wait to read the third book. I recommend you read Sugar and Vice.