Against the Currant transports readers to the Little Caribbean neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, where Lyndsay Murray is ready to open her own bakery. She just needs to clear her name first.

Lyndsay and her family have worked hard on Spice Isle Bakery. But on opening day, another local business owner, Claudio Fabrizi, visits the bakery and threatens Lindsay. He wants her store shut down before it can eat into his profits. Shaken but ready to fight for her business and family, Lyndsay kicks Claudio out. When he is found murdered the next day, police believe Lyndsay may be involved. To clear her name and ensure Spice Isle Bakery can stay open for business, Lyndsay begins investigating Claudio’s murder.

Readers will enjoy following Lyndsay as she navigates an increasingly dangerous situation. She’s smart, funny and hardworking, but it’s her dedication to her family and bakery that make her truly shine. The Murray family opened Spice Isle Bakery to celebrate their life and success in America, while also honoring their Grenadian heritage. Lyndsay knows all too well how her family poured everything they have—time, resources and money—into Spice Isle Bakery. She’s committed to clearing her name so that her parents, grandmother and brother won’t suffer. Lyndsay’s grandmother is a particularly memorable character: Fashionable Granny is equal parts wise and witty, and unconditionally supportive of her granddaughter’s dreams.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Against the Currant is how author Olivia Matthews brings Brooklyn’s Little Caribbean to life, immersing readers in the tightknit, bustling community. Matthews is a pen name for romance author Patricia Sargeant, who grew up in Little Caribbean herself and whose family history inspired Spice Isle Bakery. 

Cozy mystery fans will devour the fast-paced and exciting Against the Currant.

You May Also Like
Book Riot’s Deals of the Day for July 26, 2025

Book Riot’s Deals of the Day for July 26, 2025

Book Deals This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these…
Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

Vantage Point by Sara Sligar

Subterfuge, deep fakes, grisly deaths and a family curse. Californian writer Sara…
How One Man’s Quest for Love Took Him Across the Country to 29 Palms

How One Man’s Quest for Love Took Him Across the Country to 29 Palms

Hawke Smith is your average 20-something American who embarked on a life-changing…
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

With only one sleep left before Christmas Eve, Dasher can’t contain her…