Good characters, well written. Worthwhile to read more from author. ( )

It's autumn in Weatherford, Texas. Retired schoolteacher Phyllis Newsom and her boarder Sam Fletcher are looking for a dog for the house. The dog is more for Sam than for Phyllis. At the animal shelter, a worker brings in a Dalmation with an injured leg who is a likely stray. Sam decides to adopt the dog and takes the dog to the vet recommended by the shelter, Dr. Hank Baxter. It is obvious Dr. Baxter is good with animals, but Phyllis and Sam overhear a heated argument between Hank and his wife Susan, a surgeon. Later, Susan is found dead in her office, her head bashed in. Hank's fingerprints are on one of the medicine cabinets in Susan's office, and he is arrested for her murder. Sam cannot believe that Hank Baxter would kill his wife and begins looking into the murder, soon dragging Phyllis with him. The two discover illicit affairs and shady dog breeding practices. Will they uncover Susan's murderer in time to save Hank and his veterinary practice?

This book made for a quick cozy read. It was pretty clear to me who the murderer was, but this story had a better conclusion than some of the other books in this series. I liked reading about the recipes Phyllis and her boarder Carolyn Wilbarger were entering for the "A Taste of Texas" recipe contest. ( )

Trick Or Deadly Treat is the ninth book of the A Fresh Baked Mystery series.

Sam Fletcher, Carolyn Wilbarger and Eve Turner, three retired teachers, all live with Phyllis Newsom in her big house in Wetherford, Texas. Carolyn and Phyllis enjoy having some friendly competition and Sam and Eve are the lucky recipients.

Sam has convinced Phyllis that it might be nice to have a dog, so they are at a local rescue looking over the dogs that are available for adoption. While they are looking a volunteer brings in a Dalmatian that was just hit by a car. Sam takes one look and says that is the dog that he wants, signs the necessary paperwork and heads up the road to Dr. Baxter to have the dog examined. When Phyllis and Sam return to get their dog, they find the police arresting Dr. Baxter for the murdering his wife. Sam feels he's innocent and takes and begins to investigate who else might have murdered Baxter's wife. Phyllis has had more experience with the amateur sleuthing and is soon helping Sam

The book has a wonderful and believable cast of characters. The book focuses more on Phyllis and Sam, but Carolyn and Phyllis' politely trying to outdo each other with the banter while cooking is also enjoyable.

This is the first book that I have read in this series, but will be looking forward to reading more. ( )

Synopsis: The local vet seems like a good guy, particularly when he's working on animals. However, his wife is less than pleasant. A doctor herself, she belittles her veterinarian spouse and generally creates havoc when she comes to the clinic. Her sister, equally unpleasant, and her slimy husband arrive at the vet clinic demanding the records and keys when the vet is accused of murdering his wife. It's a complicated mystery that Sam intends to solve with or without the help of Phyllis.
Review: This is an overly complicated story with a rather odd ending. It is nice that Sam gets a dog. ( )

My decision to forsake cozy mysteries,for at least one year, couldn't have come at a more opportune moment. I really need to stay away from these type of books since, either they are getting worse, or I have been noticing the duds more now. Or, more simply, there are other books, even entire genre out there that are promising a higher % of enjoyable books.

I had enough confidence going in with Trick or Deadly Treat. I had the book for some time. I was waiting for December to read it. I knew that the coziness of the book would coincide with the festive month. Well, the book had its moments, but it's a rehash of its immediate predecessor, as far as the plot goes. Too many times in this series the murderer commits a faux pas, and hey presto, Phyllis can solve the mystery. I admit that I didn't solve it myself, but I knew enough to remember that there were no new ideas in book 9 of the series. I know what you'll say; all criminals have a lapse. That's how they get caught right? Well here, the device often employed is that the criminal outright says something he or she is not supposed to say. Here it was something she was not supposed to know. Before that it was something of the like, a mismatched testimony or something. Bottom line is I think Livia J. Washburn has run out of ideas, and until she is inspired or plagiarizes another better work, I'll stay away from the genre. I'm going to read two more cozies this month and they will be the last ones until 2016.

I know that writers can't keep coming up with good ideas, especially brilliant solutions to puzzling and baffling murders. Hell, most of the immortal Agatha Christie books were written in the 30's, after which she had to change her priorities. That's what Washburn didn't do well. I would have been satisfied with a decent B-plot or side story. But the author demonstrated her laziness with the way her secondary characters were dealt with. Eve and Caroline. What gives with them? They had nothing to do. I could think of one or two things for them. Surely the author could have too, if she were motivated enough. Eve could have been at her catty self again, only to withdraw her claws at the last moment. And Caroline could have been more competitive - would she ever win a contest again? - or been at odds with Sam in the beginning about the dog. But we got a poor book without the kind of thought that used to go in them. This is one of the books that has steered me away from cozies. PS - I have no love for dogs, but I'd like to think that had no impact on my final rating. I do hate stories involving pets but this subject was treated well enough, so it didn't bother me. ( )