Cupcakes and Conspiracy: The Cupcake Capers

By Polly Holmes

A cozy mystery prequel about family ties, friendship and juicy town gossip. Who will attempt murder to protect their idyllic way of life?

Armed with an over-zealous love for her town and unlimited tenacity, Betty Brookson takes no prisoners when she openly challenges a construction tycoon at an emergency town meeting. No-one wants to see the nursing home turned into high-rise apartments in the name of progress, least of all Betty.

The arrival of her broken-hearted granddaughter peps her up. Charlotte McCorrson, an award-winning master baker and passionate soul was just like her grandmother. But she arrives amid the cops questioning her grandmother. And she doesn't like what they were saying.

Derek Pantell is found floating unconscious in the nursing home pool with a horrific head injury, all evidence points to Betty. She soon becomes the number one suspect.

Betty's stellar reputation is on the line and with the help of her trustworthy granddaughter, they set out to uncover the truth. Will they find the person responsible, or will they become the next victims in their master plan?

Cupcakes and Conspiracy is the exciting prequel to The Cupcake Capers Series by Polly Holmes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gumnut Press
• Release date: Feb 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648674139

Book preview

Cupcakes and Conspiracy

Acozy mystery prequel about family ties, friendship and juicy town gossip. Who will attempt murder to protect their idyllic way of life?

Armed with an over-zealous love for her town and unlimited tenacity, Betty Brookson takes no prisoners when she openly challenges a construction tycoon at an emergency town meeting. No-one wants to see the nursing home turned into high-rise apartments in the name of progress, least of all Betty.

The arrival of her broken-hearted granddaughter peps her up. Charlotte McCorrson, an award-winning master baker and passionate soul was just like her grandmother. But she arrives amid the cops questioning her grandmother. And she doesn’t like what they were saying.

Derek Pantell is found floating unconscious in the nursing home pool with a horrific head injury, all evidence points to Betty. She soon becomes the number one suspect.

Betty’s stellar reputation is on the line and with the help of her trustworthy granddaughter, they set out to uncover the truth. Will they find the person responsible, or will they become the next victims in their master plan?

Cupcakes and Conspiracy is the exciting prequel to The Cupcake Capers Series by Polly Holmes.

Cupcakes and Conspiracy kicks off our story. Then five years later Cupcakes and Cyanide continues Charlotte’s journey. Join us as we meet Charlotte’s sisters and the town folk of Ashton Point as they juggle murder, mayhem and lots of yummy delicious cupcake treats.

The Cupcake Capers Cozy Mystery Series

Prequel – Cupcakes and Conspiracy

Book 1 - Cupcakes and Cyanide

Book 2 - Cupcakes and Curses

Book 3 - Cupcakes and Corpses

Book 4 - Murder and Mistletoe

Book 5 - Dead Velvet Cupcakes

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Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organisations is entirely coincidental.

Published by Gumnut Press

Copyright © 2020 Polly Holmes

ISBN: 978-0-6486741-3-9

Edited and proofed by Nas Dean (www.nasdean.com)

Cover by Mariah Sinclair (www.thecovervault.com)

All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or any other device now known or invented hereafter without permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the internet, any web address or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

Chapter One

The sickly sweet scent of jasmine pierced the thick layer of tension coating the Town Hall. Betty Brookson leant back in her chair and gazed at her friends, her family, her home. Most only get one chance at happiness in life. She was blessed. She had two. The Ashton Point community welcomed her with open arms when she and Bob married all those years ago and now, their peaceful seaside town was under threat of destruction. She swallowed hard as nausea kept rising in the back of her throat.

Over my old decrepit dead body.

Running her sweaty palms down her slacks, she held on to her control. Just. Bob would turn in his grave at the injustice that lay before them. A concrete high-rise apartment block where the nursing home stands. How could they?

Mr Collins stood at the lectern visibly shaking. He looked frazzled by the continuous holler of questions and abuse directed his way.  He held his trembling hands up in a placative manner. N...now, if you would all calm down, I’m sure I can answer all your questions in due time.

Silence was no longer an option. Betty’s belly twisted and turned. Rising from her chair, her exterior projected a picture of serene calmness. Her gaze zeroed in on the big wig corporate executive