The Silence of the Flans (An Emergency Dessert Squad Mystery)

Winnie Johnson’s business “Emergency Dessert Squad” is fairly new but flourishing as is her relationship with Professor Jay Morgan. When she hears that Jay is having issues with one of his students, Winnie gladly gives the girl an internship hoping that will help her grade and ease Jay’s mind. However, when a college student dies from poisoning, apparently after eating one of Winnie’s deliveries, both her business and relationship with Jay are threatened. Winnie knows that in order to clear her name, she has to find the real killer, but will she solve the murder in time?“The Silence of the Flans” is the enjoyable second book in Laura Bradford’s Emergency Dessert Squad cozy mystery series. I love the setup of this series – Winnie uses an ambulance and stretcher to deliver her baked goods – as well as the names Winnie comes up with for her food offerings – I D’Eclaire for example. Winnie is a great character who cares deeply for her friends – not only Renee, her business partner, but her elderly neighbors who help her in so many ways. While I am not overly fond of love triangles in cozy mysteries, the Winnie/Jay/Greg love triangle does intrigue me – I know who I would pick if I were Winnie. The mystery aspects are well done – this doesn’t happen very often when I read a cozy mystery but this time I felt sorry for the murder victim. There are just the right amount of twists and turns in this book to keep a reader guessing as to who the killer is. Finally, the ending of the book was perfect. “The Silence of the Flans” is another nice cozy mystery by Laura Bradford.

This is the second book in the series by Laura Bradford, it is a very well-written mystery and one delectable read that will satisfy your sweet tooth from murder mysteries. Winnie Johnson is back, after losing her bakery, inheriting a not so precious cat and an antique ambulance from a rich elderly neighbor, and then coming up with a decent recipe for for a business. It's been six months and she started her businesses cheering people up with desserts is the sole owner of the Emergency Dessert Squad, her made too what ales you dessert delivery service. In this case business has has been booming. Winnie's boyfriend, business professor Jay Morgan, needs a favor of her. He needs her to help a student pass his class, by offering to let her intern in Winnie's business. Then a big order comes in the college, this student is on the down and out some cheering up. When he has the right dessert for the occasion. When the student dies, Winnie and her business is blamed because the last thing she ate was for dessert. Do we need to figure out who the real killer is. This is really great mystery, with lots of interesting characters and suspects to weed thought to find the killer.

Ms. Bradford does it again, I loved this book. The whole idea of an emergency dessert squad is so intriguing, I wish there really was one.When Winnie delivers a killer dessert the town looks at her as the murderer and the phones stop ringing for orders. Winnie and friends decide that they must figure it out.I can't begin to say enough good about these characters, Winnie is real, she gets upset, she cries, she gets mad and frightened like any real person would do. Renee is so much fun and has Winnie's back at all times. Mr. Nelson and Bridget had me laughing out loud, I adore them when they get started. They are such an interesting mix of characters but they all meld nicely together and you feel like you are there right with them.The mystery was excellent, I had no idea who, I kept jumping from person to person with each new twist, but it all wrapped up to a satisfying conclusion. I will definitely continue on with this series and eagerly await the next.There is the added bonus of some of Winnie's recipes that sound fantastic.

I can't believe this series was written by the same author who gave us the wonderful Amish mystery stories.The characters are shallow and boring.

Silence of the Flans is the second book in this unique dessert delivery service. I truly wish this service was available in real life. I would definitely be a repeat customer! However, since this is just fiction I guess I will just have to be a repeat customer of the books!! I love the relationship Winnie has with her senior neighbors, how they love & respect each other. Definitely a fun whodunnit that kept me guessing till the end. The addition of some delicious recipes at the end is just icing on the cake.

I feel badly about not liking this second book in the series nearly as well as the first, because I really like the premise and many of the characters. One of my problems was with the title--those fans were definitely silent because there were no flans in the story. The title should have been saved for a different book. A second problem was the fact that Winnie held onto evidence that should have gone directly to the police and seriously endangered her life. Actually, the police were another problem--they seemed very inept at gathering evidence and allowed Winnie to look like the #1 suspect. I still will be reading Book 3 when it is delivered.

Absolutely love the Emergency Dessert Squad. Winnie offers to help one of Jay's students. A call comes in for a blueberry pie, Winnie changed it to a blackberry crisp... that's when Winnie's life changes until she can prove she didn't poison the dessert. I was completely stumped up until the very end... great story, laugh out loud moments with Mr. Nelson, yummy recipes in the back.. what more could you ask for??

When I first started this series, I wasn't sure. The more I read, the more I wanted more and this is what I got. Another great mystery. The characters in the series feel like I've known them my entire life and I find myself cheering for them. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

When I started the Emergency Dessert Squad series last year, I fell in love with the concept behind it. Winnie Johnson, the main character, has opened a mobile dessert business out of an antique ambulance she’s inherited. I mean, how fun is that? Couple it with punny dessert titles, and I couldn’t resist. Winnie and her crew are back for a second mystery with The Silence of the Flans, and it is lots of fun.As the book opens, it’s been six weeks since Winnie got her business off the ground, and things are really beginning to pick up. Word of mouth is helping her gain clients, and she is having a lot of fun seeing the delight her rescues are giving those who get her desserts.Things go horribly wrong when Winnie takes an order to deliver a Fade to Black-Berry Crisp to a senior at the nearby college. She’s horrified when her client dies and people think that her dessert was poisoned. The phone immediately stops ringing, and suddenly Winnie begins to wonder if her new business is doomed to failure. The only way to save her reputation is to find the killer. But can she do it?I mentioned earlier being hooked on the concept of this series, and it is certainly true, but I also love these characters. Winnie’s social circle includes a large number of senior citizens. Her relationship with them and the dynamic that creates adds something special to this series, and I love them. Of course, there are some characters closer to Winnie’s age that are great, and we have the strong suspects I’d expect to find in a book from author Laura Bradford.The romantic sub-plot was borderline for me in this book. With some authors, I’d find what happened here annoying, but Laura actually managed to make me appreciate what she was doing and how she grew some characters through it.I can hear you asking, but what about the main mystery. The pacing was great and the plot was strong. A couple of times, I’d be a step or two ahead of Winnie, but then some twist would come along that I wasn’t expecting. The solution at the end was completely logical, and I loved it.Naturally, we get three delicious rescues – I mean recipes – at the end of the book. I’m not going to spoil the fun of the titles, but I will say they sound delicious. Sadly, there is no actual flan recipe, but that’s just being nitpicky.Obviously, I love culinary cozies – I certainly read enough of them. The delightful concept of this series is matched by wonderful characters and a great plot. After you read the book, you’ll join me in singing the praises of The Silence of the Flans.NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Okay, so I'll be the first one to admit that I'm a slow reader, but this book kept me up for more than one night reading it because I couldn't put it down. While not all the i's get dotted and all it's get crossed, this book really kept the same pace, style, and tone that I fell in love with with the first book and I know I will really enjoy in the third book. I can't wait!!!