Crust No One

Written by Winnie Archer

Narrated by Emily Durante

For once, Ivy Culpepper feels fulfilled. An apprenticeship at Yeast of Eden has opened her world to time-honored baking techniques under owner Olaya Solis’s guidance - as well as the freshest small-town gossip, courtesy of chatty regulars known as the Blackbird Ladies. Ivy even begins accepting that she and restaurateur Miguel Baptista may never again rekindle their romance - despite the undeniable tension between them. But she’s tied to Miguel again when his trusted produce supplier goes missing.

Old Hank Riviera’s financial troubles would make anyone consider running away forever. And with his relationship woes, there are plenty of people who might want to see Hank disappear. As Ivy, with the help of her octogenarian sidekick, turns to the loose-lipped Blackbird Ladies for leads, she soon finds herself caught in a web of lies stickier than a batch of Olaya’s popular pastries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media Audio
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781974952922

Winnie Archer

Winnie Archer is a middle-school teacher by day and a bestselling author by night. Born in a beach town in California, she is known for writing cozy mysteries that involve baking, crafts, and Mexican food. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, chocolate, and pumpkin-spice lattes. She currently resides with her five kids and husband in northern Texas.

Reviews for Crust No One

[cyderry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ivy Culpepper is still honing her skills at the Yeast of Eden Bread shop and when one of the patrons goes missing and her old boyfriend ask her help to try to find him, Ivy gets caught up in the mystery of what happened to Mustache Hank?I really, really enjoyed this mystery mainly I think because of the variation from the typical cozy mystery where within the first few chapters, a character that you have no connection with is found murdered and you are expected to follow the amateur detective (main character) as they try to find out whodunnit. That is not the case here. In this mystery instead of a murder we are handed a missing person - what made Hank disappear, did he run away from a messy divorce, did he leave a failing business, did he swindle a friend out of a lot of money? What really happened?I loved this story, plot and the characters, including the eventual victim because we really dug down into the personalities of those involved.I wish more cozies were atypical once in a while. My favorite book so far for 2018!!!

[nlb1050 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

another great book by Ms Archer

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Crust No One by Winnie Archer is the second installment in A Bread Shop Mystery series. Ivy Culpepper has found solace at Yeast of Eden run by her friend and mentor Olaya Solis in Santa Sofia, California. The Blackbird Ladies (as Ivy as dubbed them) come into the shop to partake in the delicious goodies and chat (gossip). Miguel Baptista calls to hire Ivy (professional photographer) to do photographs for his menus, advertising, and web site for Baptista’s (the restaurant he is remodeling). Ivy had hoped that the spark between them would flare up again, but there is something holding Miguel back. The Blackbird Ladies are worried when Mustache Hank, the local produce man, disappears. He has missed his deliveries, and no one has seen him recently. Miguel is also concerned about Hank who provides produce for his restaurant and has never missed a delivery. Ivy (who only met the man once) and Miguel team up look for Hank Rivera. They get assistance from the loquacious Blackbird Ladies who know all the local gossip. Hank had recently gone through a divorce from his high school sweetheart and he was having financial difficulties. Ivy and Olaya are also preparing for the Winter Wonderland Festival where they will have a booth. What happened to Hank? Will romance bloom between Ivy and Miguel? Crust No One is the second book in A Bread Shop Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone since the author provides the needed background information and a summary of events from the first book are included. The cozy elements are the dominant part of the book. Ivy settling into her new home, making bread, chatting, enjoying Winter Wonderland Festival, the various Blackbird Ladies, walking, eating, etc. The mystery is different with a missing person (instead of Ivy stumbling over a dead body). It is a medium level mystery and readers might not figure out all the elements (I do not want to say too much and give anything away). The issues between Miguel and Ivy were not enjoyable (I wanted to lock them in a room and tell them to talk it out). They broke up after high school and have yet to discuss the why. At the end of the book, the topic is finally addressed (but you will have guessed what happened long before then). I found the pace to be a little slow for my liking and my attention was not held by this story. The investigation consists of talking to people. These talks can provide pertinent information and vital clues. The story could have used some action and a faster pace. Ivy’s thinking/speculation and repetition of details (how many times do I need to be told Mrs. Branford’s age) along with bread making fill the book. I thought it was odd that Ivy became so invested in looking for a man she only met (briefly) once. Something else that stood out to me was when Miguel contacted Ivy for her photography services, she did not contact him back immediately. She waits two days because she will only do things on her terms (with regard to Miguel). Did she forget this is a business transaction and not personal? I preferred Kneaded to Death to Crust No One. Crust No One could have used a few tweaks.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed returning to Santa Sofia, the site of a delicious sounding shop called Yeast of Eden. The bread making takes a bit of a back seat to the investigating this time. Ivy hopes to do more of her photography on the side, with both Miguel's restaurant and one of the Mrs. Branford's friends interested in her services. When many local folk become upset at the apparent disappearance of local produce supplier "mustache Hank", Ivy dives right into her new hometown's goings on and tries to help figure out where he is. I really liked the addition of the Blackbird ladies in this story, plus there is no shortage of other good, quirky secondary characters. I look forward to learning more about Miguel and Ivy's past.

[annarellix-322425 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very good mystery, a bit darker thant the usual cozy. It is not a matter of plot but of the development and discoveries that involves charachters in relation to themselves and the other.
Even if this is the second book in the serie there is no problem in understand the character and their relationship. Well written, good plot with no hole, some interesting consideration on grief and healing that gives the reader some food for thought.
I hope to read soon the next instalment. Many thanks to Kensington Book and Netgalley.