Best friends Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura run Fairy Tale Cupcakes in Scottsdale, Arizona. The series is lighter and funnier than many cozies, with a strong emphasis on the friendship between Mel and Angie. The supporting cast — especially Angie's large, boisterous Italian family and Mel's love interest, Joe DeLaura — provides plenty of comedy and warmth.
Each book features cupcake recipes, and the descriptions of the cupcakes are mouth-watering. The Arizona setting is a nice change from the New England and Southern settings that dominate the genre. Jenn McKinlay has a gift for witty dialogue and slapstick humor that keeps the tone light even when the mystery is serious.
Back to all reading orders. Learn more about Jenn McKinlay.