When it's been a while since I checked in with a series, sometimes I forget just how much I enjoy that series. Case in point with the Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series. It is almost a guarantee that I will get sucked into the case (there have really only been a couple that haven't hooked me in), and even the cases that don't fully engage me, I always get some laughs because the cast of characters are hilarious. I will admit that, going in, I was a bit skeptical, because I am not a class reunion sort of girl -- never been to a single one -- and high school drama is not something I am yearning to revisit. However...

What I liked about Dying for Devil's Food:
The setting - Talk about a setting that is ripe for opportunity and motives. Even with so many old classmates with reasons to knock off the ultimate mean girl, it was never so many that I couldn't keep track.
Our typical cast - I really just adore this group of friends. I love Angie and Mel's friendship. I love Angie and Tate's relationship. Joe is swoon-worthy in all the best ways. And Oz and Marty make me laugh til I weep. And we might have added in a new group member who I wasn't initially certain I approved, but by the end, I think I was won over.
A good twisty case - I did not have any clue whodunnit until pretty close to the reveal when I started to get a weird vibe and the motive was a complete surprise for me. I especially liked the way the high intensity scenes were handled too.
Cliffhangers - I love that the personal stories of the characters have little threads left hanging out for the next installment to pick up and kick the can a little further down the road. (I would not be a fan of this if the series were not being extended though! So I fully acknowledge that's a dangerous game to play in a series if you aren't sure there will be another book ordered by the publisher.)

What I didn't care for:
High school drama - Ugh and double ugh. So much angst over stuff that happened so long ago. I didn't have time for it when I was in high school, much less decades later.
Mel's mom and uncle - Cringe. This feels icky to me.
Uncle Stan's new partner - Darned if I can remember her name (and I've already returned the library book) but I'm over the whole personal vendetta thing already.

What left me conflicted:
Scandal - I wasn't a fan of all the secret affair stuff attached to the case. That kind of thing is a turnoff to me in general, but it felt like it maybe went a step too far? However, it definitely added a twist to the case.

All in all, this was a satisfying case -- a pleasant surprise for me, given my initial uncertainty -- and some great potential for where our characters go next in their personal story arcs.