An Interview with Valerie Burns by E. B. Davis

 

Thanks to Maddy’s social media savvy, Baby Cakes Bakery is becoming a huge success—so much so that she’s attracted the attention of her former nemesis, the fiancé-stealing Brandy Denton. When Brandy blows into New Bison like an ill wind and disrupts a vlog Maddy’s filming, their argument goes viral. After Brandy’s body is found in the freezer at Baby Cakes, Maddy instantly goes from viral sensation to murder suspect.

As Maddy is still reeling from the murder, a stranger shows up in the bakery claiming to have been a friend of Octavia. He believes Maddy is in danger. When a second body washes up on the lake shore, it seems clear someone’s out to kill to keep a secret—and it may have to do with her great aunt.

Maddy rallies her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars; Sheriff April Johnson; and her veterinarian boyfriend Michael—not to mention her English mastiff Baby—to do some digging and root out whoever’s behind the killings . . .

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The third book into the Baker Street series with A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, Valerie Burns wraps up so many backstory-plot questions that I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Throughout the first two books, there was a question as to Aunt Octavia’s state of mind when she died. Was she paranoid? Main character, Madison, or Maddy is finally able to answer that question.

 

It’s no wonder that Sheriff April Johnson and Maddy are friends. Both suffer from a lack of self-trust. April has no confidence in her intellect. Maddy can’t make decisions easily. When both are backed by Aunt Octavia—April before Octavia’s death—Maddy—after Octavia’s death—together they support one another. But on the case, April is sidelined due to her relationship with the main suspect—Maddy.

 

Please welcome Valerie Burns back to WWK.                            E. B. Davis

Why does Maddy assume she’s under attack when she hears an explosion? As the daughter of a navy admiral, Maddy has spent a lot of time on military bases. So, when she hears loud noises that sound like gunfire, her first instinct is to drop and take cover.

 

Have you ever lived in a place such as New Bison, Michigan? I have lived in a place almost exactly like New Bison. In fact, I spent several years in Southwestern Michigan just down the road from the town that New Bison is based on. Now, I live in a small town in Northern Georgia which is actually smaller than New Bison, but I do miss the beauty of Lake Michigan.

 

Although Maddy has wondered if Aunt Octavia was paranoid before her death, Maddy is now wondering if her heartthrob veterinarian Michael is bored with her. Can paranoia be an inherited trait? Hmm. Good question. Maddy has trouble making decisions and is indecisive. Much of her indecision stems (I think) from insecurity. She’s the only daughter of a navy admiral who makes lots of decisions without hesitation. The Admirals decisions are often decisions of life and death that impact not only the men and women under his command, but the millions of people in this country and others. Her decision to marry Elliott ended badly, which didn’t help her confidence. However, both Maddy and Great Aunt Octavia were mystery lovers who are always looking for clues and red herrings to solve a puzzle. Sometimes, a sleuth can misread or misinterpret a clue, which was the case when it came to Michael.

 

Why does Michael call Maddy “Squid?” Michael is a veteran of the U.S. Army, while Maddy is the daughter of a Navy admiral. There’s a frenemy kind of relationship between all branches of the military. The slurs have no ill-intent, but are representative of the competitive brotherhood shared between the military. ‘Squid’ has become Michael’s pet-name for Maddy.

 

Is a Rivian an electric vehicle, like a Tesla? Yes. The Rivian is an all-electric vehicle that has some dog-friendly features like their Pet Comfort Mode. Pet Comfort allows the driver to establish a comfortable temperature for pets left in the vehicle for short time frames.

 

Are there really some ego-driven people who will do anything for revenge? Sadly, yes.

 

Maddy’s fiancé left her at the altar (literally during a live internet video shoot). How long does it really take to put life-changing events, even if in the long-run positive outcomes, behind? How long has it been since the aborted wedding? Each person is different and the time it takes to recover from life-changing events will differ for each person. Maddy recognized fairly early that she never loved her ex-fiance, which probably helped her recovery. There is no time limit on grief.

 

Baby sounds like a wonderful dog, but how does Maddy deal with all the drool (yuck!)? Maddy has learned to come equipped with a towel for cleaning up the drool. Each breed of dog has pros and cons (excessive shedding, drool, high energy, etc.). Before getting a dog, always do your research.

 

Is there such a thing as “pet comfort mode” for autos? YES! The actual feature may have different names, but the premise is the same. It’s a feature that allows pet owners to set the temperature of their vehicle so that pets remain comfortable when the owner has to run inside for short periods of time and their fur baby has to remain in the car. Some manufacturers include cameras so the owner can watch their dogs on their phones. Others include music to keep your pet company.

 

You mentioned a cortado, a term I had to look up. It’s a coffee drink. Were coffee terms old world or has someone made them all up in the last twenty years since the Starbuck’s craze happened and gourmet coffee places sprang up everywhere? Coffee has been around for a long time. There’s a legend that a goatherder in 850 CE noticed his goats behaved differently after eating berries from an evergreen bush. After sampling the berries, the goatherder experienced “exhilaration.” Coffee plants were brought from Ethiopia to Arabia and cultivated around the 15^th century. As coffee consumption spread across the globe, baristas have found different ways to brew and serve coffee. I suspect the fancy names are a result of gourmet coffee houses and experimentation. From cold brews to red eyes, the possibilities are endless.

 

New Bison has at least one old family of an oil tycoon. Carson Law owns the Carson Law Inn, but she is also a milliner. How does she balance those businesses? Did the oil come from land around New Bison or was it transported from there? Carson Law is the daughter of New Bison’s oil baron, Beauregard Law. The oil wasn’t discovered in New Bison. He was, however, the owner of the company that produced the oil. Carson isn’t involved in the day-to-day management of the business her father started. The Carson Law Inn was her childhood home. Thanks to her dedicated staff who take care of the daily management of the inn, she can focus on her other interests including her millinery business and philanthropy.

 

Maddy does actually make hard-boiled eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt for the Sheriff’s (April’s) department. April is learning how to dye the eggs organically. Why is that important? No one eats the dye—although the recipe at the back of the book looks intriguing. There are several good reasons to use natural dyes rather than chemicals. Chemical dyes may contain ingredients or allergens that some children are sensitive or allergic to. Some of the colors included in dyes available in the US have been banned in other countries. It’s true that children don’t eat the shells, however if the eggs crack during the boiling process the dye can get inside. Natural dyes are also good for the environment.

Which church does Maddy attend and why? Maddy attends First Baptist Church of New Bison. It’s the church that her boyfriend, Michael Portman and his grandmother, Hannah attend. Miss Hannah believes that it’s important for Maddy to be seen with her and Michael, so she can “stake her claim.”

 

Why would Michael partner with his old flame? Did he really expect that Maddy would be fine with it—like not uncomfortable at all? Living in a small town, often doesn’t provide a lot of choice, especially where pet care is concerned. Michael’s ex, Dr. Alliyah Howard, is a good vet. She is highly skilled and brings a lot to the table. She is a canine ophthalmologist, which is rare and would benefit the residents of New Bison who wouldn’t have to take pets with eye problems to Chicago for treatment. She is not only a veterinarian, but is also a human doctor. Michael and Aliyah’s relationship is over. From his perspective, he can’t imagine why Maddy, the love of his life, would be insecure about him or his love for her.

 

We get to know the Admiral better in this book. He seems to have a softer side and knows he messed up Maddy’s upbringing. Have Maddy’s recent life changes brought him relief? After the death of his wife, Admiral Jefferson Montgomery was so deep in grief that he threw himself into his work. He was ill-equipped to raise a small girl. As Maddy has grown up and become more independent, he is able to see his mistakes. He realizes that simply throwing money at his daughter was not providing the love and support she needed. Maddy owns a successful business. She has solved several mysteries and proven that she doesn’t need a husband or her father to take care of her. Although Maddy’s transformation is still in process, she has grown tremendously, which would be a relief to any parent.

 

Are tobacco-chewing men the worst? YES!

 

Will we be seeing more of the Admiral? Will he retire? Will he drive Maddy nuts just when she’s starting to be more decisive? The admiral is finally able to see Maddy as independent woman who is fully capable of taking care of herself. He also likes her boyfriend, Dr. Michael Portman. I think the admiral will enjoy visiting New Bison. He also seems to have gotten along well with Carson Law. I think more visits to New Bison may be in the admiral’s future.

 

What’s next for Maddy and her Baker Street Sleuths? I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but events at the end of A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death, play a major factor in next steps for Maddy and her Baker Street Irregulars. So, please keep a look out for the fourth book in the series.