Charred

Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes. At the Whipped and Sipped Café, Alene Baron knows how to handle a kitchen fire—but this blaze may burn far beyond her control. When a suspicious fire draws Alene, her loyal friend Kacey, and Kacey's boyfriend Kofi to a charred property in search of salvaged wood, they expect nothing more than a little trespassing and a lot of soot. Instead, whispers of arson swirl through their tight-knit community—and before long, a body turns up amid the ashes. Kofi fears the police will come knocking. Kacey fears someone saw them. And Alene is caught in the middle, torn between protecting the people she loves and telling the truth to her partner, homicide detective Frank. Shaw Because in this town, secrets don't stay buried. They smolder. As suspicion spreads and tensions rise, Alene must sift through half-truths, family loyalties, and long-simmering grudges to uncover what really happened the night of the fire. With her café bustling, her children and father offering heartfelt (if sometimes chaotic) support, and a community on edge, she'll need every ounce of patience—and every recipe in her arsenal—to keep things from going up in flames. Rich with mouthwatering dishes, sharp dialogue, and emotional depth, Charred serves up a mystery that's both frightful and fun—complete with a twist that will leave readers deliciously stunned. Book 3 in the Whipped and Sipped Cozy Culinary Mystery Series