Happy book birthday to Mayhem on the Marzipan Express, by author Rebecca Connolly releasing today from Shadow Mountain Publishing.
On tour January 5 – 19, 2026 with Great Reads Book Promotion.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A romantic getaway through the Scottish Highlands turns deadly when a passenger on the train is murdered—and a famous chef is the prime suspect.
Amateur baker and part-time sleuth Claire Walker may not have won Britian’s Battle of the Bakers cooking competition, but she still went home with a grand prize: Jonathan Ainsley’s heart. The happy couple boards the famed Scottish train, the Mallaig Steam Express—temporarily renamed “The Marzipan Express” in honor of famed chef Alan Gables, who is hosting an exclusive culinary experience for his most devoted fans. Claire is delighted to serve as Alan’s sous chef for the trip, hoping to learn some baking tips from the master.
The trip has barely begun when the train screeches to a halt. The engine has malfunctioned and must be repaired. While Claire and Jonny explore the train, they discover a dead body in one of the dining cars. It appears to be an accident, but Claire can sense something is wrong as easily as she can sense an overbaked soufflé. When the clues all point to Alan as the culprit, Claire and Jonny decide to investigate on their own. Unfortunately, Alan doesn’t have an alibi, his assistant is oddly nervous around him, and a shadowy figure keeps appearing at all the wrong times. Could it be someone from Alan’s past trying to frame him? Or could Alan be trying to cover his tracks?
Claire had hoped for a delicious, romantic getaway, not investigating a mysterious death while stress-eating trifle in the kitchen car and trying to not be jealous of a magazine reporter who is flirting with Jonny. It’s mayhem in more ways than one.
PUBLISHER | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | GOODREADS
AUTHOR BIO
Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She’s always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master’s degree from West Virginia University.
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY
In celebration of the release of Mayhem on the Marzipan Express, author Rebecca Connolly and her publisher Shadow Mountain Publishing are generously offering a giveaway contest, open to US residents.
- Grand Prize Winner — one print copy of the first book in the series, The Crime Brulee Bake Off, one $25.00 Barnes & Noble gift card, one Baking Lover Canvas Tote Bag, one Baking Themed Potholders and Silicone Spatula Gift Set, and a 4-Piece Plastic Mixing Bowl Set with Lids.
- Runner-Up — one print copy of the first book in the series, The Crime Brulee Bake Off.
TO ENTER THE CONTEST PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO INSTAGRAM
Good luck to all that enter!
As always, thank you for your continued support of the authors and publishers that we work with and their new books
Great Reads Book Promotion
Book cover, description and author bio compliments of Shadow Mountain Publishing © 2026; text Great Reads Book Promotion © 2026, greatreadsbookpromotion.com, an Amazon affiliate. No AI: material on greatreadsbookpromotion.com may not be used in datasets for, in the development of, or as inputs to generative AI programs.
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What a great book and a super giveaway.