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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Catering to the Dead by Kim Davis is the eighth book in the Cupcake Catering Mystery series. Emory is the cupcake caterer everybody wants for their party, which is how she ended up working the Día de los Muertos party, where she ends up dealing with a decades-old tragedy. Despite the joy and delicious cupcakes, Emory still manages to stumble upon a dead body, which gives her the great misfortune of being a prime suspect. She teams up with her future grandma-in-law and looks to her friends for guidance as she dips into a world of blackmail and uncovers shocking secrets. But as she races after the truth, the real killer may be playing their own game, willing to do whatever they can to stay hidden, which could prove dangerous for Emory.
Emory is a delightful sleuth whose curiosity and cleverness drive her forward, putting her in the middle of another case. Her personality pairs nicely with the other characters, specifically her future grandmother-in-law. Every moment between them is always a touch comedic, and you never quite know what to expect. Emory’s relationship with Brian continues to be a fun element of the series, with the hype for their upcoming wedding continuously built up. The Day of the Dead creates a delightful theme for the story, both for her catering and for the mystery. This comes with a few details, such as Emory running into a skeleton in the beginning. But the story isn’t about the festivities, it’s about the family hosting the celebration. Kim Davis always manages to humanize the supporting characters in a way that makes it easy to understand them. For this family, a tragedy that happened in the past still haunts them in the present. This is where we find Emory diving into blackmail and secrets, which puts her once again potentially squaring off with danger. Despite the danger lurking around her, the story remains upbeat throughout and has the same attitude as the previous installments in the series. Catering to the Dead is a charming read that is absolutely perfect for cozy lovers, as Davis once again delivers a fun and engaging mystery.
