A Study in Chocolate by Amber Royer

A Study in Chocolate 

About the Book

Felicity Koerber’s bean to bar chocolate shop on Galveston’s historic Strand is expanding, as it has become a gathering spot for the community, despite having been the scene of multiple murders. Artists she met while doing a chocolate sculpture are now working out of the shop. So when Felicity is invited to tea by an eccentric art collector, she’s intrigued, especially when she gets asked to pose for a portrait done with chocolate on chocolate. However, when a murder takes place the next day at the same historic house where the tea was held, one of Felicity’s artist friends becomes the main suspect.

When the killer threatens that, unless Felicity unravels the murder, one of her two love interests will be the next victim, she finds herself unwittingly at the center of a puzzle, with a Sherlock Holmes obsessed murderer who wants to be the next Moriarty – and wants to cast Felicity as Sherlock.

Felicity starts finding unexpected connects between her friends and acquaintances, and has to deal with the idea that someone who knows her is a murderer. At the same time, she has to keep her business running, despite construction dust and unruly customers – and an unexpected order for thousands of truffles.

Satchmo the retired police dog turned therapy dog returns to help her sniff out a few clues, and the kidnapping of Ruffles, the quirky artist’s cat, helps lead Felicity into the puzzle. Can Felicity solve it in time to protect the people she cares about from becoming additional victims?

My Thoughts

A Study in Chocolate by Amber Royer was not an enjoyable story to read.  It is the fifth a Bean to Bar Mystery and I recommend reading the series in order.  There are numerous mentions to the past murders that Felicity helped solve.   My trouble with the story began with the first chapter.  I had trouble with the writing style. The story is told in the first person.  Felicity’s thoughts seemed to tumble around from subject to subject.  The descriptions are detailed (which slows down the pacing).  The mystery was interesting.  The killer seems to be a fan of Sherlock Holmes.  A Study in Scarlet is at the center of the puzzle.  The mystery was higgledly piggledy.  I wish the whodunit had been more of a challenge to solve.  The whodunit can be cracked before the murder takes place.  Felicity also has two love interests (my biggest pet peeve).  She cannot decide between her two beaus.  Felicity told the gentlemen that she will make a choice before her friend’s wedding.  It does not help that both men are going to be groomsmen. 

Felicity with help from her investor has purchased the shop next door.  This will allow customers to view how chocolates are created (the process from start to finish).  I am surprised that a small chocolate shop owner would invest money in such an endeavor.  I could see allowing customers to view the dipping of chocolates or the making of fudge at the front of the shop but not utilizing a whole shop for the purpose.   Especially with the shop being on an island where your income relies on tourists.  My favorite character was Satchmo, the retired police dog who is now a therapy dog.  I did enjoy the lushing descriptions of the chocolates (highlight of the book).  While A Study in Chocolate was not for me, I suggest you download a sample so you can judge it for yourself.  A Study in Chocolate is a molten mystery with a private party, a cat companion, pocketed chocolates, a book clue, a paramour predicament, and a scarlet solution.  

A Study in Chocolate is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other Bean to Bar Mysteries here.  You can follow Amber Royer on Amazon and receive an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Murder at the Bookstore by Sue Minix.  It is the debut of The Bookstore Mysteries.  I wanted to let you know how the toilet seat with rusted bolt turned out.  It helps to have a reciprocating saw in house.  Since nothing would loosen the bolt, I attached a metal blade to the reciprocating saw and went to work.  It was not easy, but I managed to cut the head off the bolt.   I now have a new toilet seat in place that has a slow close lid.  I am glad that my father taught me how to use power tools.  I hope you have a beautiful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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