Courtney Archer Mystery

Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . . Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer's Daughter . . . despite the fact that she's actually a pediatrician's daughter. Now she's signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself-and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn't part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . . During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it's Mick's body that's cooling-right next to Courtney's pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .

Hosting a friendly competition reality cooking show could be the perfect career boost for chef Courtney Archer-but when her cohost is found murdered, Courtney must work through layers of deception to find the real culprit. Despite a few early hiccups, Courtney is thrilled with her starring role on The American Baking Battle, filmed at a grand resort in the Pocono Mountains. The icing on the cake? The new season has a wedding theme-complete with formalwear. But the first day on set, the producer seems to care more about profits than pastry-and the topper comes when her cohost Skylar falls ill. Little does she know things are about to end in tiers . . . When a barely coherent, blood-covered Skylar is discovered at the doorway of his room, Courtney is horrified to walk inside and find a towering wedding cake-thoroughly smashed by the body of a woman in a bridal gown. Now suspicion is filling the studio and falling on Skylar, and Courtney has to look at coworkers and contestants, working through layers of deception to find the real culprit . . .

Christmas has come early to the beautiful Poconos resort that's the setting for the American Baking Battle's holiday special, where chef Courtney Archer is on hand to sample festive fare-and lift the lid off a killer... Six ambitious bakers are competing for glory and a grand prize, showcasing their most delicious candies, cookies, and desserts. Courtney detects some on-set grinchiness from her coworkers, especially judge Shannon Collins, but she's hoping the sweet treats will restore everyone's festive spirits. That Christmas wish swiftly fizzles when assistant director Kinzy Hummel is found strangled-with an apron from Shannon's new product line... Shannon insists she's innocent. Meanwhile, Kinzy had been under pressure from a disgruntled attorney to settle her late grandfather's estate. But could that be a motive for murder? The show must go on even as Courtney sifts through competitors and crew for likely suspects. But unless she can quickly get to the truth, there'll be another helping of homicide amid the pinwheel cookies and fruitcakes...