Unraveling the Secret of The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
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In The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell, a murder mystery unfolds at the illustrious Grafton Manor during “Bake Week,” a prestigious baking competition hosted by the celebrated baker Betsy Martin. As six amateur bakers compete for the coveted Golden Spoon, the charming setting of this cozy mystery quickly darkens, transforming into a locked-room thriller.
Tensions erupt within the towering Vermont estate, and as secrets come to light, the competition shifts from winning to surviving. Fans of the British Baking Show will love this blend of baking drama and suspense, making it a perfect pick for book clubs craving a twisty, delicious read. Published by Atria Books, Maxwell’s captivating mystery is sure to leave readers hungry for more.
Golden Spoon Thoughts
Seven narratives tell the story of The Golden Spoon. Each of the Bake Week contestants and the host Besty Martin.
The contestants of Bake Week narrate their stories in the first person, except for Betsy, whose perspective is oddly told in the third person. The reason for this shift remains unexplained, though all the narratives are presented in the present tense.
Initially, the concoction of The Golden Spoon works well. After a while, the tone of the story leaves a less-than-desirable taste in your mouth. The book quickly removes the few likable characters in the first half, leaving it feeling off balance. They are ridiculous, creating scenarios that don’t make sense and blaming others for their actions, with no remorse.
“Baking, very much like life, is about formulating the best possible outcome with the variables you are given.”
You would think that the Bake Week competition would add to the web of motives. With the addition of sabotaging the competition, you can’t help but cogitate would anyone ‘kill’ for a chance to win the Golden Spoon? An added plus is the identity of the body remains hidden until nearly the last quarter of the book, (so I’ll keep it a secret here as well). But despite this positive, the reveal doesn’t quite fit the setup of the competition.
Then, there will be those select mystery fans who will think that the characters are complex and that there is clever sabotaging and killing. However, those primarily interested in the plot and the whodunit will find themselves craving more. At times, the story is molasses-slow, and the characters are boring. Incredibly insecure and egocentric. Their issues and backstories fail to provide convincing motives for the crimes or clarify how they were committed.
“Step by step” has become my mantra over the past year. Betsy was my guide, helping me not become overwhelmed”
Equally important, I wish there was more time for each character. The chapters are short which adds to the gratification of the story, but not the needed tension and development of the characters. Each chapter could have been expanded, and the characters could have been developed more fully. With most of them remaining underdeveloped, it in turn creates characters that you don’t quite connect with.
Moreover, while the story was nice and cozy (ultimately it is a mystery), I wish that it was more mysterious. It all felt a little too predictable. The “hidden” mystery wasn’t a mystery and as mentioned the main mystery just doesn’t flow well into the story and feels out of place.
Overall, The Golden Spoon receives 3 stars for me (rounding up). The ending is quite predictable and part of it is a surprise, which may hook both types of readers. Hulu has turned this into a limited series. I would like to see what they do to the story and see how things change. I recommend listening to the audiobook, as the full cast makes it more immersive.
Happy Reading Readers
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What’s your favorite cozy mystery? Let us know in the comments!
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