Valerie Burns is back with a sweet addition to her Baker Street Mystery series. I recently spoke with her about Icing on the Murder.
Tell me about your latest release.
Icing on the Murder is the fourth book in the Baker Street Mystery series featuring fashionista and social media influencer, Madison Montgomery. Maddy’s engaged to the love of her life, Dr. Michael Portman. Even though she‘s a successful bakery owner, she struggles with making decisions, and planning a wedding involves a lot of decisions. A bridal expo is coming to New Bison, Michigan. Maddy learns that world-famous wedding planner, Seraphina, will be there, and one lucky couple will win her services for their special day. Determined to win, Maddy puts all her social media skills to work. But, when Seraphina is murdered, it’s up to Maddy to figure out Whodunit.
Why did you decide to write it?
I love cozy mysteries. I fell in love with this genre when I was a kid and read a TON of cozies. I noticed that very few of them included people who looked like me. I wanted to read more books that included people of color. I didn’t see those books on the shelves and thought maybe I should try my hand at writing the books I wanted to read.
What was your most memorable experience writing this book?
Writing is a very solitary experience. I spend a lot of time sitting alone at my computer, but I also spend a lot of time researching. Icing on the Murder takes place at a casino and is based on the Four Winds Casino in Southwestern Michigan, which is owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Nation. During my research, I learned a lot about the Potawatomis and challenges faced by Native Americans, and jurisdictional issues. It was enlightening.
Which character in the book would you like to have as a best friend and why?
I would love to have Maddy Montgomery as a best friend because she’s good at things that I am not. Maddy is a fashionista and social media influencer, and I am not good with either fashion or social media. Fortunately, I can live vicariously through my characters because I would love to know as much about fashion and social media as Maddy does.
What’s something readers would be surprised to learn about you?
All of my books involve dogs. I love dogs. Unlike Maddy Montgomery in the Baker Street Mystery, I do not own a 250-pound English Mastiff. I own two toy poodles who are both under 10 pounds.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love to read. My to-be-read pile is monstrous. I also enjoy baking and spending time with my two toy poodles, Kensington and Chloe.
What’s the most difficult part of being an author?
The most difficult part of being an author is remembering that publishing is a business. Being an author is not a hobby. It’s not just an artistic outlet, but being an author is a business that involves making tough decisions that may be opposed to your creative side. For example, deciding when to end a book series that you love but isn’t making money in favor of focusing your time and energy on another series that will enable you to pay the bills.
Who are some of your favorite authors, and what are some of their books you love?
I have a lot of favorite authors and favorite books. When it comes to cozy mysteries, I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie, Victoria Thompson, Emily Brightwell, Rex Stout, and Alexia Gordon. I also love Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Her Name is Knight by Yasmin Angoe, and Esme Addison’s Enchanted Bay Mystery series.
What’s next for you?
In addition to the Baker Street Mystery series, I also write the Mystery Bookshop mystery series. Samantha Washington and her late husband always dreamed of one day quitting her job as a high school English teacher and opening a bookstore that specialized in mysteries. She also dreamed of writing British historical cozy mysteries. Each book in this series features two mysteries, the mystery Samantha is solving and the book she is writing. Murder From A to Z, the 11th book in this series will release on January 27, 2026.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
Icing on the Murder is the fourth book in the Baker Street Mystery series, but I have a number of other books that I write using various pen names.
Writing as Valerie Burns
Baker Street Mystery series (4 books)
Writing As V. M. Burns
Mystery Bookshop mystery series (10 books)
Dog Club mystery series (5 books)
RJ Franklin Mystery series (3 books)
Writing as Kallie E. Benjamin
Bailey the Bloodhound mystery series (2 books)
Valerie (V. M.) Burns /Kallie E. Benjamin is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Award finalist. She is also the author of the Mystery Bookshop mystery, Baker Street Mystery, Bailey the Bloodhound mystery, Dog Club mystery, and RJ Franklin Mystery series. To learn more about her, visit her website or connect with her on social media.
Blue Sky: @vmburnsbooks.bsky.social
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/v-m-burns
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmburnsbooks/
Threads: @vmburnsbooks/
Website: vmburns.com
Use the Black Fiction Addiction affiliate link to purchase your copy of Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns.