G.P. GOTTLIEB
BATTERED, SMOTHERED, CHARRED, & POUNDED – Welcome to A Whipped and Sipped Cozy Mystery!
—where the pastries are guilt-free, the coffee is strong, and the gossip might just get you killed. “Battered” is the 1st in a delicious series! Enjoy them all.
The Whipped and Sipped Cozy Culinary Mystery Series
At the heart of a lively neighborhood café, murder is always brewing—right alongside the lattes.
In G.P. Gottlieb’s Whipped and Sipped Cozy Culinary Mystery Series, café owner Alene Baron serves up vegan muffins, community spirit, and the occasional side of homicide. At Whipped & Sipped, knitting groups gather, children crowd in for story hour, and regulars confide their secrets over wholegrain blueberry scones. But when someone in Alene’s tight-knit community turns up dead, she quickly discovers that small-town warmth can conceal long-simmering grudges.
From a murdered friend in Battered, to a shady neighboring businessman in Smothered, to a suspicious fire and a body found in the ashes in Charred, each mystery pulls Alene deeper into webs of family drama, greed, betrayal, and buried truths. Balancing motherhood, loyalty to her staff, and a complicated relationship with homicide detective Frank Shaw, Alene must rely on sharp instincts, fierce compassion, and an unwavering sense of justice to protect the people she loves.
Rich with mouthwatering recipes, sharp dialogue, emotional depth, and satisfying twists, this series blends cozy charm with high personal stakes. Perfect for readers who savor culinary mysteries with heart, humor, and a dash of danger, The Whipped and Sipped series proves that in a close community, secrets don’t stay hidden—they simmer.
Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes – RECIPES INCLUDED!
Available now! “Charred”:
At the Whipped and Sipped Café, Alene Baron knows how to handle a kitchen fire—but this blaze may burn far beyond her control.
When a suspicious fire draws Alene, her loyal friend Kacey, and Kacey’s boyfriend Kofi to a charred property in search of salvaged wood, they expect nothing more than a little trespassing and a lot of soot. Instead, whispers of arson swirl through their tight-knit community—and before long, a body turns up amid the ashes.
Kofi fears the police will come knocking. Kacey fears someone saw them. And Alene is caught in the middle, torn between protecting the people she loves and telling the truth to her partner, homicide detective Frank. Shaw Because in this town, secrets don’t stay buried. They smolder.
As suspicion spreads and tensions rise, Alene must sift through half-truths, family loyalties, and long-simmering grudges to uncover what really happened the night of the fire. With her café bustling, her children and father offering heartfelt (if sometimes chaotic) support, and a community on edge, she’ll need every ounce of patience—and every recipe in her arsenal—to keep things from going up in flames.
Rich with mouthwatering dishes, sharp dialogue, and emotional depth, Charred serves up a mystery that’s both frightful and fun—complete with a twist that will leave readers deliciously stunned.
Book 3 in the Whipped and Sipped
Cozy Culinary Mystery Series
Available now! “Smothered”: Distinguished Favorite of the Independent Book Awards
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.
Available now! “Battered”:
Alene Baron has built more than a café—she’s built a community. At Whipped & Sipped, customers linger over Ruthie’s decadent-but-healthy desserts, children flock to Saturday story hour, and knitting groups craft blankets for refugee families. Alene prides herself on knowing her patrons so well she can often place “a wholegrain blueberry muffin on the counter before the customer themselves knew” they wanted it.
But when her neighbor and close friend is murdered, Alene’s cozy world begins to unravel. Suddenly, everyone she knows could be a suspect, and she starts noticing the smallest inconsistencies, furtive glances, and unexplained comings and goings around the café. With each clue and misstep, Alene pieces together a tangled web of secrets, realizing that danger may be closer than she ever imagined—and that her own family could be in the killer’s sights.
With her sharp eye for detail, wry sense of humor, and fierce devotion to her children, Alene steps into the role of amateur sleuth. But in a community where tempers flare over hot chocolate, grudges linger for years, and secrets hide beneath friendly smiles, finding the killer may prove harder than whipping up the perfect soufflé.
Battered, the first in G.P. Gottlieb’s Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series, is a delectable blend of mouthwatering recipes, quirky neighborhood drama, and page-turning suspense. Perfect for fans of culinary cozies, it’s a tale where friendship, food, and murder are always on the menu.
Acclaim for “Battered”:
Oh man…baking and a murder mystery, my two favorite things! What an excellent read. I’m excited to read the rest of the series. Extra points for including the recipes for all the delicious sounding foods!
— Samantha Dickman, NetGalley Reviewer
I found myself trying to piece things together along with Alene, the main character. I must say – the true “whodunnit” took me by a huge surprise!
A cozy mystery with heart and bite, Battered serves up amateur sleuthing, warm community vibes, and a sprinkle of danger. Gottlieb’s writing is charming and fast-paced, making it a perfect comfort-read for anyone who loves culinary cozies with emotional depth.
— Jannat Fatima, NetGalley Reviewer
Murder is on the menu—served warm with muffins and lattes.
Alene Baron has built more than a café—she’s built a community. At Whipped & Sipped, customers linger over Ruthie’s decadent-but-healthy desserts, children flock to Saturday story hour, and knitting groups craft blankets for refugee families. Alene prides herself on knowing her patrons so well she can often place “a wholegrain blueberry muffin on the counter before the customer themselves knew” they wanted it.
But when her neighbor and close friend is murdered, Alene’s cozy world begins to unravel. Suddenly, everyone she knows could be a suspect, and she starts noticing the smallest inconsistencies, furtive glances, and unexplained comings and goings around the café. With each clue and misstep, Alene pieces together a tangled web of secrets, realizing that danger may be closer than she ever imagined—and that her own family could be in the killer’s sights.
With her sharp eye for detail, wry sense of humor, and fierce devotion to her children, Alene steps into the role of amateur sleuth. But in a community where tempers flare over hot chocolate, grudges linger for years, and secrets hide beneath friendly smiles, finding the killer may prove harder than whipping up the perfect soufflé.
Loved it. Will recommend to others
—Riley Wiederhold, NetGalley Reviewer
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
G.P. GOTTLIEB
G.P. Gottlieb (https://gpgottlieb.com) has performed, taught, and administrated, but she’s happiest when writing recipe-laced murder mysteries. Pounded, the 4th book in the series will be available Spring 2026!
A Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series began with “Battered” originally 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. The entire series will soon be available from Anamcara Press.
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).—James Benger, author of The Park
