Much Ado About Muffin

Much Ado About Muffin by Victoria Hamilton is the fourth book in A Merry Muffin Mystery series. Merry Wynter has been in Spain for the last two months. Her mother-in-law is dying and asked to see Merry (she treated Merry horribly when she was married to her son). After her passing, Merry decided to stay for a spell. It was nice to get away from life and have things done for her. Merry even quit talking and writing her friends back home in Autumn Vale, New York. But she realizes that it is time to return to reality and heads home. Merry arrives at Wynter Manor to find out that Pish has invited a guest to stay (awfully nervy). The guest is none other than Roma Toscano, the opera singer who hit on Merry’s deceased husband, Miguel (right in front of her). Pish states that Roma needs his help (he could have asked first). Merry agrees to let her stay, but she will definitely regret it. Merry soon finds out that Roma has antagonized most of the townspeople (which is hard to do). Merry has her own amends to make for neglecting her friends for so long including her best friend, Shilo (and Merry’s romantic interest, Virgil Grace). When postmistress, Minnie Urquhart ends up dead, Roma becomes the number one suspect. Roma recently had an argument with her (at the house in front of witnesses) and the murder weapon belongs to Roma. This sends Roma into another round of hysterics. Merry sets out to clear Roma’s name and hopes it will get Roma out of her house and Autumn Vale. But Merry has some other matters that need attending as well. Emerald seems to be under the influence of an unscrupulous woman, and she will not listen to reason. Merry is determined to help Emerald whether she wants the help or not. Come join Merry in Autumn Vale in Much Ado About Muffin. Much Ado About Muffin is a well-written story with a nice, complex mystery. I found, though, that there is a little too much going on and quite a few characters (it is hard to keep them all straight). The book goes at a good pace (steady) with quite a bit of action. The setting of Autumn Vale sounds so lovely that I want to live there. The book has some quirky, but friendly characters. There is some romance in the novel, but it is just the right amount so that it enhances (not distracts) the storyline. I give Much Ado About Muffin 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There are some recipes included at the end of the book. I look forward to reading the next book in A Merry Muffin Mystery. I hope that Merry finally figures out what to do with the castle in the next book. Merry needs to find a way for the house to earn money for her (host gathering, make it into an inn or a restaurant, host mystery dinners). I received a complimentary copy of Much Ado About Muffin from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.