Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen

 Mint Chocolate Murder

Book Summary

Riley Rhodes returns in the second delicious cozy set in a New England ice cream shop, Meri Allen's Mint Chocolate Murder!

When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it’s the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.

As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing – she was a CIA librarian – are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.

But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull’s dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted to put the malicious photographer on ice.

My Thoughts

Riley Rhodes is creating unique ice cream flavors for an event at Moy Mull Castle owned by Maud Monaco, a former model.  As part of the Moy Mull Arts Festival, there will be an ice cream social.  Maud is also featuring Avant Garde photographer, Adam Blasco at the festival.  When it is time for Adam’s talk on the first day of the festival, he is MIA.  Adam is later found dead in the castle’s locked dungeon.  Riley can think of several individuals who were disgruntled with the insufferable photographer.  Unfortunately, one of the suspects is Willow’s boyfriend, Luca.  Riley dons her sleuthing cap and works to expose the killer.

Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen is the second novel in An Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.  It can be a standalone if you have not read The Rocky Road to Ruin.  I like Riley Rhodes who is a former CIA librarian (and spy) who now managing Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, Connecticut.  Riley creates ice cream flavors that have lines out the door at the ice cream shop.  The setting of Moy Mull Castle is unique.  An eccentric millionaire recreated a medieval castle in Connecticut.  It was a hotel for a time.  Maud has brought back the Scottish charm and the antiques found in the attic.  The festival seemed like it was fun with plenty of delicious treats.  I did feel the pacing was slow.  We follow Riley through her day-to-day routine leading up to the festival.  The author’s detailed descriptions further bog down the story (do we have to know what each person is wearing along with hair color).  The murder does not occur until almost a quarter of the way into the book.  By the time the victim was killed, I already knew who would die and who committed the crime.  I am baffled as to how the title tied into the story.  Mint chocolate ice cream is not a flavor mentioned in the book (pumpkin spice is mentioned several times).  There are a number of characters in the story.  It is challenging trying to keep track of all of them (just like in the first book).  There are delectable ice cream flavors including the colorful unicorn ice cream (you will find yourself heading to the freezer for a pint). Mint Chocolate Murder is a colorful cozy with a fun fall festival, a modish ex-model, a disrespectful photographer, appetizing ice cream, a curious crime, a striking castle, and a sharp-eyed sleuthing librarian.

Mint Chocolate Murder comes out Tuesday, July 26 and it can be preordered from Amazon*.  The first An Ice Cream Shop Mystery is The Rocky Road to Ruin.  You can follow Meri Allen on Amazon and you will receive an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Love Blooms in Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard.  It is the fourth book in The Maidels of Mornings Star series.  I hope that your day is filled with sunny smiles.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen

 The Rocky Road to Ruin

Book Summary

Justice will be swirled by amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes in the first in Meri Allen's brand-new mystery series!

Riley Rhodes, travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, makes a bittersweet return to her childhood home of Penniman, Connecticut - land of dairy farms and covered bridges - for a funeral. Despite the circumstances, Riley's trip home is sprinkled with reunions with old friends, visits to her father's cozy bookshop on the town green, and joyful hours behind the counter at the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It feels like a time to help her friend Caroline rebuild after her mother's death, and for Riley to do a bit of her own reflecting after a botched undercover mission in Italy. After all, it's always good to be home.

But Caroline and her brother Mike have to decide what to do with the assets they've inherited - the ice cream shop as well as the farm they grew up on - and they've never seen eye to eye. Trouble begins to swirl as Riley is spooked by reports of a stranger camping behind the farm and by the odd behavior of the shop's mascot, Caroline's snooty Persian, Sprinkles. When Mike turns up dead in the barn the morning after the funeral, the peace and quiet of Penniman seems upended for good. Can Riley find the killer before another body gets scooped? 

My Thoughts

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen has Riley Rhodes returning home to Penniman, Connecticut for the funeral of her best friend’s adoptive mother.  Riley is a CIA librarian as well as travel food blogger and sometimes undercover spy.  Unfortunately, something happened in Italy that has Riley wondering about her future.  The day after the funeral, Riley finds Mike Spooner, the deceased adoptive son, dead in the barn and his tennis star girlfriend is missing.  Riley’s curiosity has her digging into the case searching for answers. 

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the debut of An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.  Meri Allen is a descriptive writer.  She provided detailed word images of the town, the characters, Buzzy’s farm, and, most importantly, the ice cream.  Riley Rhodes is a unique character for cozy mysteries with her occupation.  I like that the author took the time to establish Riley and the town.  I did feel that we are introduced to a few too many characters in this first book.  There are just too many to keep straight (neighbors, relatives, employees, reporters, visitors).  We also get to meet Sprinkles, Buzzy’s prima donna cat, and Rocky, a rescue cat.  I enjoyed reading about their attitudes and antics.  I can tell the author has been around cats.  The mystery is multifaceted with multiple suspects and misdirection.  There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit before the reveal (if you are an avid cozy mystery reader, you will have no problem unraveling this whodunit).  There are delicious descriptions of ice cream that will have you running out for a cold creamy confection.  I did feel the pacing was a little slow with the detailed descriptions and the number of characters.  I also wanted a little more cozy.  I was hoping for a cozy small town with the story focusing around the ice cream shop.  I think the author is trying to give us something different.  Some things worked and others did not.  An example is Riley being a CIA librarian, travel food blogger, and secret spy.   I would have been happy with travel food blogger because the CIA aspect seems out of place (except for Riley’s attention to detail).  The Rocky Road to Ruin is a good start and I do wish to read the next installment in An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.  The Rocky Road to Ruin is a sweet treat with cat capers, land wrangling, prying reporters, creamy confections, sunflower festival fun, a curious cowboy, and a mysterious murder.

The Rocky Road to Ruin is available from Amazon*.  You can follow Meri Allen on Amazon so you will get an email when she has a new release.  Thank you for visiting today.  Next time I am featuring Two Wicked Desserts by Lynn Cahoon.  It is the latest A Kitchen Witch Mystery.  I am off to get some housework done.  With cats and dogs, there is always dusting and sweeping needing to be completed.  I hope that you have a sweet day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.