Blurb:

One glowing honeymoon. One stolen secret. One deadly dessert.

Newlywed food critic Darcy Finnegan has waited two months for her Sydney honeymoon, harbor lights, winter romance, and pavlova under the dazzling glow of the Vivid Sydney festival. With her Interpol husband Marcus finally at her side, she's determined to keep this trip blissfully murder-free.

But trouble has a way of finding Darcy, especially when her best friend and photojournalist Lizzie turns up unexpectedly in Australia, Schnoodle Mozart in tow.

At the worst possible moment, Mozart dives beneath a nearby table just as celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom drops dead mid-event. Darcy freezes, because beneath that same table are Lizzie's unmistakable shoes, sticking out far too neatly for comfort.

Now Darcy must race through Sydney's glamorous culinary world, from elite dessert festivals to dockside sugar fraud, unraveling stolen recipes, bitter rivalries, and a deadly frame job built to destroy everything she loves, including her marriage, her best friend's freedom, and the instincts she has always trusted.

Bonus Recipe Included!

Award-Winning Cozy Mystery Author Greta Sinclair Wins Silver Medal at 2025 Global Book Awards for A Very Sticky Murder.

Each book in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series delivers a complete standalone cozy culinary mystery set in a stunning international destination, from Sydney's Vivid festival to Copenhagen's hygge-lit cafés.

No cliffhangers, no prior reading required, and no loose ends.

Perfect for readers who love culinary cozy mysteries, travel mystery fiction, foodie mysteries, and pet cozy mysteries with clever female sleuths, exotic settings, and irresistible food descriptions.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, Laura Childs, Joanne Fluke, Lucy Burdette, or Krista Davis, you'll feel right at home in Darcy's delicious, dangerous world.

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My Review:

Darcy is currently in Australia with her charming husband, Marcus Evans, celebrating their honeymoon. Meanwhile, Mozart, her Schnoodle, is at home being cared for by Darcy's close friend, Lizzie, who is dog-sitting. However, this arrangement takes an unexpected turn when Lizzie, a photojournalist, arrives in Sydney for an assignment.

As Darcy and Marcus indulge in the culinary delights of Australia, they are startled by a noise and look up to find Mozart joyfully charging towards them, leaping onto Darcy in excitement.

Later, Lizzie becomes distressed upon spotting her ex, the celebrity dessert judge Julian "Jules" Ransom. While she captures images of Jules during a competition, Mozart dashes under the table, with Lizzie in pursuit. All Darcy can see are Lizzie's shoes and Mozart's tail protruding from beneath the tablecloth just as Jules tumbles face-first into the pavlova.

Consequently, Lizzie is deemed the prime suspect in Jules's unfortunate incident. Determined to exonerate her best friend—who is undoubtedly innocent—Darcy embarks on a mission to clear Lizzie's name.

Murder by Meringue kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, despite my suspicions regarding the true perpetrator. Someone was attempting to frame Lizzie for a crime she did not commit. I had my theories about who might be behind the framing, yet the numerous twists and turns kept me guessing.

I found myself racing to the conclusion to uncover who was responsible, how they operated, and why they sought to harm Lizzie and implicate her in a crime she did not commit. Was it due to her past with the victim, or was it simply a case of being in the wrong place at the right time?

What I do know is that the suspense had me eagerly turning the pages, anxious to discover what truly transpired with Jules. What actions did Jules take against the real culprit? What motives did they harbor against him? The tension certainly fueled my desire to continue reading. I eagerly anticipate more of Darcy and Mozart's delightful escapades in future installments of the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series.

I strongly suggest that all fans of cozy animal mysteries read Murder by Meringue, the twelfth installment in the Darcy and Mozart Cozy Culinary Mystery series by Greta Sinclair! Make sure to obtain a copy of Murder by Meringue today to enjoy another thrilling adventure with Darcy and Mozart!