Welcome to Whipped & Sipped—where the pastries are guilt-free, the coffee is strong, and the gossip might just get you killed. Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes. In the second Whipped and Sipped Mystery, café owner Alene Baron isn’t exactly grieving when the neighboring business owner is found dead in his office. Stanley Huff was shady, sloppy, and smug about his dubious food supplements—and his watery smoothies didn’t help. He also never cleaned up his trash in their shared alley. Stanley had plenty of enemies. Unfortunately, one of them may be Alene’s own employee—who has now vanished. The real surprise isn’t who wanted him dead—it’s how many people did. Drawn into the investigation, caterer and reluctant sleuth Alene uncovers a snarl of family drama involving a missing will, bitter heirs, and long-buried financial secrets. Every lead contradicts the last, red herrings pile up, and resentments simmer just beneath the surface. As the mystery deepens, Alene juggles more than suspects. Between running her café, caring for her family, and protecting her staff, she finds herself relying on sharp instincts, quiet observation, and a steady supply of inventive vegan dishes. Food and detection go hand in hand, adding warmth, humor, and heart to every turn of the case. With its cozy charm and relatable heroine, Smothered is more than a clever whodunit. It explores family ties, the corrosive pull of greed, and the small truths people reveal under pressure. Rich in character, culinary flair, and emotional insight, this mystery delivers satisfying twists—and leaves a lasting aftertaste. Distinguished Favorite of the Independent Book Awards What a delicious start to a series-literally! This cozy mystery was a treat from page one, with lovable, slightly messy characters and a main character who's refreshingly imperfect (just like my baking attempts). My only complaint? I spent half the book drooling. Warning: do not read on an empty stomach unless you're okay with raiding your kitchen between chapters! -Valerie Biel, Beyond the Cemetery Gate, Circle of Nine Series An involving, fast-paced mystery with compelling characters, twists, turns, and food-oh, the food! I want to be a regular at the Whipped and Sipped Cafe and hang out with the lo-cals. -Laurie Buchanan, Sean McPherson Crime Thriller Series I just discovered this deliciously delightful mystery series set in Chicago, one of my favorite cities. . . Great characters and a compelling plot that kept me guessing to the end. G.P. has also included all thirty recipes mentioned in Battered. - Kathleen Kaska, author of the Sidney Lockhart Mysteries If you are looking for a slightly different take on a culinary cozy mystery, this is the debut to read. -Carstairs Considered Warm and cool, sassy and savvy, GP Gottlieb has written a murder mystery that is as interesting as the family dynamic itself - exploring its alliances, intrigues and the possibility of how people can protect, surprise, and, quite literally- kill each other. A fun, delicious read! -Marcy Heisler, theatrical lyricist The generous collection of recipes at the end was a nice surprise. Good thing, too, because reading this book made me hungry. If you like reading about food, family, friendships, and the occasional dead body, this book is for you! -Cayce Osborne, Author of Bestselling Novel, I Know What You Did I would read this book just to spend time with the characters in the cafe and learn about vegan pastries, but the compelling mystery had me glued to the page. -Sharon Lynn, author of the award-winning Cotswold Crimes Mystery series G.P. Gottlieb (https: //gpgottlieb.com) has performed, taught, and administrated, but she's happiest when writing recipe-laced murder mysteries. Battered: A Whipped and Sipped Mystery, was published in 2019 after she won the contract in an online competition. Smothered, the second book in the series, launched in 2021, and Charred, the third Whipped and Sipped Mystery launched in 2023. You can hear Gottlieb's podcast interviews as host for New Books in Literature, a channel on the New Books Network (https: //newbooksnetwork.com/search?+q...) or read some of her sharp-tongued essays on Medium (https: //medium.com/@gpgottlieb). When not reading or writing, she loves walking along the lake path, attending concerts and plays, and travelling.