Author: Meri Allen
Series: Ice Cream Shop Mysteries #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Narrator: Senn Annis
Playback time: 8hrs 56m
Publisher: Vibrance Press
First published July 6, 2022
Book description: 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 put the malicious photographer on ice.
Review:
I picked this from Anyplay- the narrator did a great job. I would highly recommend this story to be consumed in audio, especially if you are still new to the format. This is a nice easy-to-get-through story with easy-to-differentiate characters and a straightforward plotline.
This is the second book in the series, we already know Riley and have had time to come to care for her and her best friend Caroline.
We see the return of the known characters and then get a few more honorable mentions. Riley and her employees are fun and likable. We have, of course, pets taking their spotlight, the two main cats Rocky and Sprinkles- they provide humor to the story.
Maud Monaca, a very wealthy, eccentric former model has an especial exhibit at the medieval castle she just acquired. Riley gets worked up as she keeps getting more and more requirements that should not be included in a dessert request like a photo shoot of the ice cream shop and the "preparation" of the ice cream, requesting that the whole staff wears a uniform for the even- even when the small family-owned company has never had uniforms for its employees. Oh and also Maud requests a special flavor to be created to reflect the Irish atmosphere she wants to portray in her exhibit.
The way the author skillfully uses eclectic characters and clever clues to dish up a cool plot (see what I did there? I know dad puns are my forte!) with a hard-to-figure-out killer and surprising twists and turns is truly remarkable. I found myself on the edge of my seat as different suspects were brought front and center in scenes, only to be shuffled around as their alibis led away from the main murder mystery. What's even more intriguing is that there is more than one mystery at stake in this book.
The ending action scenes were so well-done and really kept me on the edge of my seat. And the best part? All of the loose ends to the mysteries were wrapped up so nicely. I highly recommend "Mint Chocolate Murder" to anyone who loves a good mystery novel.
A quick formula for this book: a cozy mystery featuring a former librarian who just happened to have worked for the CIA, a gorgeous spooky old castle, the murder of an unlikable photographer, a delicious ice cream shop, and two adorable felines. Sprinkle that with greed, lies, fake career and a whole lot of anger.
The negative side for me was that the romances portrayed were still rubbing me the wrong way. They were not the forefront but side mentions, I especially dislike Riley's. It seems she is only expected to be looking for a man, I don't know why that annoys me.
I am unsure if the series should be continued or not. I am going to make up my mind later about it. Will it get better or not? If I get the audiobook it might make it more manageable.
Used for the challenges:
Buzzwordathon: Flavors, seasoning, and herbs.
Continue/Complete series
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