This is the first book in a brand new series that released on January 30, the Death by Chocolate series by Sarah Graves. I’m a little late reviewing this but better late than never, right? I think it’s a fun start to the series, I love this little town and hope the author decides to write about Halloween and Christmas eventually!
My Goodreads review:
Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake by Sarah Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a whirlwind of a mystery! I definitely never saw the solution coming, lots of clever plot twists and schemes too as well as murder.
Jacobia better known as Jake, owns a specialty bakery with her friend Ellie. Imagine her surprise at finding a dead guy in her shop with his face planted in melted chocolate, chocolate that had been melted to use on the dozens of chocolate cherry cheesecakes she and Ellie had promised the 4th of July fireworks committee for their annual auction. All fingers point to Ellie, especially when she was there and did have the motive that the dead guy, who turned out to be health inspector Muldoon, was harrassing her about fake health code infractions.
Jake knows she has to clear her friend’s name, there’s a big hurricane storm coming, she’s not heard from her grown son in days and there are all these cheesecakes that need baking. Everything of course works out in the end but boy was it a fun ride getting there.
I loved the humor and banter between Jake and Ellie as well as their friend Bob, the police chief who always managed to look the other way when they were investigating but still gave them his usual “don’t go around snooping” line. It was awesome that there were a couple of abandoned dogs that found homes, one with Jake and her family (its owner was in the hospital) and another with a local challenged man who picked up odd jobs here and there.
It was pretty fun reading about the fourth of July in the middle of winter! I’m anxious to see what the next installment brings!
NOTE: Image used was listed on Google as licensed for reuse.
Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery 