by: Kim Davis
Series: Aromatherapy Apothecary Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: September 23, 2025
Publisher: Harbor Lane Books
After a scandalous arrest in San Francisco, Carissa Carmichael has moved back to her small Southern California hometown to start over as she opens her Aromatherapy Apothecary shop and reflexology services. A tourist destination, Oak Creek Valley, seems the perfect place to put the past behind her, but it seems no one will let her forget, especially her high school nemesis, Lacie. When Carissa finds her frenemy murdered after having a public altercation at the town’s playwright conference and festival, she becomes the primary suspect. It doesn’t help that the tarot cards she drew earlier in the day foretold the nature of the murder weapon. Despite her father’s position as Oak Creek Valley’s chief of police, the detective assigned to the case assumes she’s guilty.
When tarot death cards begin turning up to taunt her, Carissa not only has to prove her innocence to keep her freedom, she has to make sure death doesn’t come calling for her or those she loves. With the suspects acting as slippery as the essential oils she distills, it’s up to Carissa to apply pressure and sniff out the truth before it’s too late.
Includes essential oil and reflexology tips.
Lavender Shortbread
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender*
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
Optional:
Coarse sparkling sugar for topping cookies
1 teaspoon lemon zest if you’d prefer to make Lavender Lemon Shortbread Cookies (if using, add to sugar and butter mixture)
Instructions:
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, the lavender, and the vanilla extract in a mortar and grind lightly with the pestle. Place the mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add the butter and the remaining sugar to the lavender mixture and beat on medium-speed for 2 minutes.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low just until incorporated.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees (F). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll a portion of the dough out to 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie-cutter shapes or slice into rectangles. Place on prepared baking sheets and sprinkle each cookie with coarse sparkling sugar if desired.
Refrigerate cookie shapes for 10 minutes before baking.
Bake for 10 – 12 minutes for thinner cookies and 13 – 16 minutes for thicker cut cookies. The edges should barely turn light golden. Don’t brown the cookies.
Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Note:
*You can use dried lavender from your yard as long as it’s pesticide-free. Otherwise, purchase culinary lavender online or from a specialty shop.
Kim Davis writes the Aromatherapy Apothecary cozy mystery series and the award-winning Cupcake Catering cozy mystery series.
She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder as well as Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, or baking up yummy treats to share.
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Instructions:
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.
Place 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, the lavender, and the vanilla extract in a mortar and grind lightly with the pestle. Place the mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add the butter and the remaining sugar to the lavender mixture and beat on medium-speed for 2 minutes.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat on low just until incorporated.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees (F). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll a portion of the dough out to 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with cookie-cutter shapes or slice into rectangles. Place on prepared baking sheets and sprinkle each cookie with coarse sparkling sugar if desired.
Refrigerate cookie shapes for 10 minutes before baking.
Bake for 10 – 12 minutes for thinner cookies and 13 – 16 minutes for thicker cut cookies. The edges should barely turn light golden. Don’t brown the cookies.
Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Note:
*You can use dried lavender from your yard as long as it’s pesticide-free. Otherwise, purchase culinary lavender online or from a specialty shop.
Purchase Essentials of Death from:
(Affiliated Links Used)
The Aromatherapy Apothecary Series:
She lives in Southern California with her husband and rambunctious mini Goldendoodle, Missy, who has become an inspiration for several plotlines. When she’s not spending time with her granddaughters or chasing Missy around, she can be found either writing on her next book, working on her blog, Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder as well as Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, or baking up yummy treats to share.
Kim Davis is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Places to find Kim Davis:
You can follow the Essentials of Death Blog Tour here.
Thanks so much for featuring Essentials of Death today! I truly appreciate the opportunity to introduce my new release to your readers... I just wish I could share a plateful of the cookies with everyone!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by. This sounds like a really yummy recipe. I'm going to have to try it. Though I'm afraid my cookies won't look like the picture.
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