Just Desserts and Murder: A Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery
(Little Bakery Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 14, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 378 pages

Synopsis

In Oak Hollow, every recipe comes with a dash of mystery…

Temperance Matthews thought opening her dream bakery in Oak Hollow—with her mini dachshund, Hank, at her heels—would be a sweet start to her new life. Instead, her shop goes up in flames, and a body is found among the ashes.

When her quiet assistant Louise shows up bruised, with twigs in her hair, and missing a shoe, Temperance’s data-analysis skills from her FBI days suddenly feel like the only hope of untangling the mystery. But the plot thickens: Jonah, the bakery’s former owner, is stabbed while trying to reach Temperance. The frosting on the cake? Louise’s boyfriend is the victim of the fire. Surveillance footage shows him entering through a locked back door—yet only three keys exist, and Louise doesn’t have one.

With threats mounting and the police closing in on a suspect, Temperance must follow a trail of half-baked clues before the real culprit turns her cozy little town into a crime scene… and who becomes the next target.

Just Desserts and Murder is book 1 in the exciting new Little Bakery Cozy Mystery Series featuring Temperance Matthews. Each book can be read as a standalone.

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Guest Post

Author Interview: Getting to Know Temperance Matthews and the Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery Series

Q: What inspired you to create Temperance Matthews and Just Desserts & Murder?

Temperance arrived in my imagination fully formed — carrying equal parts intelligence, resilience, and vulnerability. She’s a former FBI data analyst who relocates to the small town of Oak Hollow after inheriting her aunt’s Victorian home in need of a fresh start. I loved the idea of someone trained to see patterns in criminal behavior now measuring flour and sugar instead of crime statistics.

At its heart, the Little Bakery Cozy Mystery series is about a fish out of water reinventing herself and, in the process, maybe even the town. Temperance appreciated her former career, but she’s chosen something sweeter. Opening a bakery is her way of reclaiming control over her life — until murder walks through her back door.

Because in cozy mysteries, trouble always finds the heroine.

Q: What makes this series different from your paranormal cozies?

Temperance doesn’t have magic. No spells. No familiars whispering snarky comments, no reminders to read a book of magic, and definitely no ghostly guidance.

What she has is training, confidence, and instinct.

She understands motive in a way most small-town residents don’t. She reads people. Notices the millisecond expression that flits over a face or a tiny hand gesture, and she files away inconsistencies until the puzzle pieces fit. That background creates a different kind of tension. Instead of magical reveals, readers get logic and psychological breadcrumbs.

But even without the paranormal element, the sense of community remains. Oak Hollow is filled with layered friendships, local gossip, loyal allies, and is more like your hometown, well, except for the murderer lurking. J

Cozy readers want to sink into a story where the town has an authentic feel, a place you might want to visit and make friends. That’s something I always strive to create — whether magic exists or not and I adore my sleuths in all my cozies.

Q: Oak Hollow feels like a character in its own right. Tell us about the setting.

I live in a small town, and the people who choose to live in it fascinate me. They are warm and comforting… it can also be claustrophobic at times. Everyone knows everyone. News travels faster than social media. Secrets rarely stay buried.

Oak Hollow has charm — seasonal festivals, Main Street shops, loyal customers who swing by to get that loaf of bread for dinner, and chat. But it also has tension simmering beneath the surface. When Temperance’s original bakery burns down in Just Desserts & Murder, that devastation shakes the entire community. It’s not just property damage. It’s personal.

That’s what I love about writing small-town cozy mysteries. The stakes are emotional. When something happens, everyone feels it and pulls together to help fix the problem.

Q: Temperance owns a dachshund. How important are pets in your stories?

Incredibly important.

Hank, the dachshund, isn’t just loveable window dressing — he grounds her. Animals in cozy mysteries, like in life, often provide both comic relief and emotional balance. They remind us that even during chaos, life continues in small, steady rhythms.

There’s something comforting about a dog who still needs a walk, even when you’re solving a problem.

A little-known secret, my Jasper was a long-haired doxie. He was the best pup, and Hank is based on Jasper.

Q: There’s also a hint of romance in this series. Can readers expect that to grow?

Absolutely. I’m a firm believer that cozy mystery characters should have an arc. We want to watch them grow and evolve, not just in their sleuthing ability but in their personal lives, too. Just as Temperance rebuilds her bakery with the contractor’s help, their relationship is grounded in respect and friendship. I think that kind of love is deeply appealing — especially in a world that often feels uncertain.

I love weaving in slow-burning romance that feels earned and rooted in mutual respect. Temperance isn’t looking to be rescued. She’s capable, intelligent, and independent. But she’s also human. After everything she’s experienced, allowing someone to step closer requires trust.

The romance in this series is layered gently beneath the mystery. It enhances the emotional journey without overshadowing the puzzle. And it’s not just for Temperance watch as Josie becomes smitten too.

Q: Book One includes arson and betrayal. How do you balance darker themes with cozy tone?

Cozy mysteries promise justice. They promise hope. Even when darker elements appear — arson, betrayal, murder — they are handled without graphic detail. The focus remains on the puzzle and on emotional stakes.

In Just Desserts & Murder, the fact that one of Temperance knows the responsible party adds a personal sting. Betrayal hurts. But resilience is the key. Temperance rebuilds, which is an important character arc, as she catches the killer.

Q: What themes do you explore through Temperance’s journey?

Fish out of Water. Starting over. Trust. Community. Discovery of self.

Temperance is more than her FBI background. She’s more than a baker. She’s discovering who she is as a best friend, a business owner and someone who becomes an important part of a community. She’s no longer a faceless analyst who goes home at night and bakes cookies to push the darkness away.

I think readers might relate to Temperance, and like her, we’re not defined by our difficult chapters. We pivot and change and choose to enjoy the sweetness of life. There’s hope on every page, just like in real life.

Q: You’ve written many books. Does writing Temperance feel different?

Yes — and in the best way but she was the hardest character to write to date.

In my paranormal series, I’ve layered whimsy throughout the books. With Temperance, the tension is grounded in reality. She can’t conjure up a bit of magic to get herself out of a tight spot; she must rely on her wits.

What’s consistent is my love for banter. I adore sharp dialogue between friends. Temperance’s best friend, Josie, provides warmth and levity. Officer Casey Butler adds another dynamic — professional, cautious, respectful of Temperance’s instincts, and an unexpected friendship between the women. These relationships are just as crucial as the mystery.

Q: What do you hope readers feel when they close a Temperance Matthews book?

Pleased they didn’t waste hours of their precious time reading and excited for the next book in the series.

I want readers to feel like they’ve visited Oak Hollow. That they’ve enjoyed a sweet treat and shared coffee with a friend.

And I want them to believe that even when life burns down — sometimes literally — it can be rebuilt stronger than before.

The heart of the Temperance Matthews Cozy Mystery Series is that justice is served with an order of blueberry muffins.

Excerpt

“How many people have keys to the bakery?”

“I have four master keys that unlock both the front and back doors: one on my key ring, one hanging next to my back entrance, and one in the safe. You have a master key, as do Gina and Louise, but their keys only open the front door.”

I jumped to my feet and rushed to where the pink key should be hanging on the rack. “It’s gone.”

About the Author

Award-winning and best-selling author Lucinda Race is a lifelong fan of fiction who fell in love with cozy mysteries and romance novels as a young girl.

Though her writing journey began with nonfiction, her passion for storytelling never wavered. She returned to her true calling—creating the beloved McKenna Family Romance series and the Paranormal Cozy Nook Bookstore Series—writing the kinds of stories she loves to read. Whether she’s weaving a heartwarming romance or a cozy mystery, her fingers practically fly across the keyboard.

Lucinda lives in the rolling hills of western Massachusetts with her little dog— a shih tzu mix rescue—who is always by her side. When she’s not immersed in writing mystery, suspense, or romance, she’s wandering in her garden or curled up with a book, devouring everything she can get her hands on.

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