"Sifting Through Secrets" By Catherine Bruns: Review/Giveaway

Review by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it. 

Culinary cozy mystery fans will be delighted with Sifting Through Secrets, book 16 in the“Cookies & Chance mystery series by Catherine Bruns. Readers new to the series can jump in now and know they have 15 backlist titles waiting!

Mother of two and bake shop owner Sally Muccio has agreed to cater a baby shower at Trudy Delvecchio’s lavish home. Trudy is pretentious and demanding and not anyone’s favorite, but Sally’s not one to turn down a job. However, when Trudy pulls Sally to the side after the baby shower to offer her $50,000 to find out who’s trying to kill her, Sally is speechless. While the money may be tempting, Sally turns down that job and encourages Trudy to talk to the police.

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Image Source Gemma Halliday

Sally is guilt ridden, though, when Trudy turns up dead the very same evening of the shower. While it appears it might be a death from natural causes, something just doesn’t add up, and Sally goes into sleuth-mode.

I’m happy to report that this latest entry in one of my favorite cozy mystery series is just as delightful as past stories. Readers will find a well-plotted mystery with lots of red herrings. When a victim is so unlikable, it’s easy to suspect almost everyone. Thankfully we have Sally on the case. She’s a busy lady with a lot of balls in the air, but she’s thoughtful and brave despite some rather intense moments. (That ending! Lots of fast page turning!)

While I love the mysteries in each entry in this series, I think my favorite part is the wonderfully developed characters. Each time I open a Cookies & Chance mystery I feel like I’m visiting old friends. I especially love Sally’s family and am so glad when family dinner scenes are included like they were in book 16. I wish I could pop over for dinner just to listen in – Sally’s grandma is hilarious.

And it wouldn’t be a Cookies & Chance mystery without recipes included! I know I’ll be trying to bake the strawberry lemonade cookies before summer’s end.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Sifting Through Secrets, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "sifting,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 15, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter.  If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!

You can click here to purchase this book.

Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director, and then a stay at home mom. Currently, she is working part-time in a local elementary school library and loving being back with kids and books. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband, two dogs and a cat. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.