Fish and Chip: Nine Lives One Dead Body

Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison’s books, “…easy, frothy fun!” Humor with a side of homicide. Includes RECIPE!

You’d think hosting a fall baking symposium would be all cinnamon swirls and Instagrammable pies. But no—someone just had to go and die in a coffin cake.
After ditching my cheating ex-husband and accidentally becoming the proud owner of Huckleberry Hollow Wonderland (long story involving cats, murder, and a dollar bill), I figured I’d finally hit my stride. The rides are mostly functional, my feline mascots Fish and Chip are Instagram famous, and Detective Dexter Drake has been making my heart do loop-de-loops that put our roller coaster to shame.

This week I’m rolling out the red carpet—well, the pumpkin-spice welcome mats—for the Sweet Season Spooky Symposium, a weeklong baking event run by viral grandmas turned baking tyrants, Sugar & Sass. In exchange, they’re helping me launch our Fright & Frost Halloween merch line. Ghost-shaped mugs, glow-in-the-dark hoodies, skeleton spatulas—you name it, it’s got a price tag and probably glitter.

But when one half of Sugar & Sass turns up dead—face-first in a black velvet coffin cake—I’ve got a dead diva, a killer on the loose, and a snarky socialite trying to get me arrested. And did I mention the murder weapon came from our exclusive merch table?

Plot twist of the century? The prime suspect is Detective Dexter Drake’s ice-queen mother, who already thinks I’m about as classy as a gas station hot dog. Now she might be a murderer, which really complicates my winning over the future in-laws strategy. Nothing says family dinner awkwardness like discussing alibis over appetizers. Okay, fine so the hot detective and I are still in the shallow end of the relationship dating pool but a girl can dream. Nevertheless, his mother isn’t my biggest fan.

With a suspiciously flirty baker, a steaming pile of secrets, and a whole lot of frosting flying, I’ll need to figure out who’s behind the murder before someone ices me next.

And have I mentioned that I can read the minds of animals? Yeah, that too.

Fish: Let’s be honest—Josie’s not cracking a single case without us. We’re the brains. She’s just the opposable thumbs and the panic attacks.
Chip: And the snack dispenser. Don’t forget snacks. Speaking of which—this murder? It happens in a cake! A Coffin Cake, Fish! This is the best crime scene since the tuna truck crash of 2022.
Fish: I say we arrest the one with the pearls. She insulted Josie’s outfit and had the nerve to question my pedigree. I practically have royal blood, thank you.
Chip: I second that motion. Also, can we keep a slice of that coffin cake? Y’know, for…forensic reasons. Very official. Very nibble-y.
Fish: Your version of handling evidence involves crumbs, drool, and deeply questionable hygiene. Try not to contaminate the entire crime scene this time.