The Rocky Road to Ruin

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 show more 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. show less

A cute New England town, a homemade ice cream parlor, a mysterious murder, and cute cats. What more can a reader want?! Well maybe a bit more of a plot that doesn't have a million threads, lol. I love a good cozy mystery - but this one was a bit of a struggle for me. I feel like the author tried to introduce far too many characters, and every single quirky trope that she had ever encountered. Plus the plot has a lot going on and is all over the place. Riley Rhodes, librarian, spy and travel blogger (the travel blogger thing - NEVER came back up) comes back to her hometown for her best friend's mother's funeral. Buzzy was a legend in her hometown - she had a huge sprawling farm and a fun ice cream parlor - everyone is sad when dies. What show more will happen to the property? To the ice cream parlor? Her daughter doesn't want to sell, but the son sure does. When he is found murdered with a pitchfork Riley and her friend have to make some hard choices. Dear read - be prepared to suspend your disbelief for the whole dang novel. It's entertaining but COME ON! show less

Riley Rhodes has returned to her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, to attend the funeral of Caroline’s mother, Elizabeth "Buzzy" Spooner. As friends since childhood Caroline and Riley share so many memories, but working together at the ice cream shop was the best of times. Caroline and her brother Mike have decisions to make about their inheritance. Riley has decisions of her own after her last assignment in Italy. What happens to the farm and ice cream shop now? Will any of their decisions change their relationships?

I loved this intriguing cozy mystery. Characters of a diverse mix of ages and backgrounds gave interesting interactions. They added to the twists for means, motive, and opportunity for the crime leading CIA librarian and show more travel food blogger Riley to become an amateur sleuth. The charm is abundant in the small-town country setting, the friendships, and the images of the ice cream flavors from the standard to the unique. The names of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop and The Penniless Reader, Riley’s Dad’s bookshop are charming. Caroline’s cat, Sprinkles, 🐾 and the little furry face 🐾 that captured the attention of Sprinkles add to the charm and humorous moments.

Recipes for Buzzy’s Ultimate Frozen Margarita and Sunflower Ice Cream are available at the end of the cozy.

As Meri Allen is a pen name used by Shari Randall, I look forward to reading more of her writing in all available series. show less

Ooh, I always love meeting new characters in a new mystery series. All of the ice cream flavors they kept talking about made me crave a giant ice cream cone. This series could be dangerous for my waist line, hahaha.

I thought this mystery was well written, I enjoyed all of the hints that were dropped throughout the story. I didn't guess who the killer was until shortly before the reveal, I totally thought it was a different character for the better part of the story. Can't wait to see what book #2 brings, good thing I don't have to wait long.

The ice cream flavors alone are a reason to check out this book! Riley Rhodes heads home to Penniman, Connecticut for the funeral of her best friend's mom. Unbeknowst to her own family and friends, she is at loose ends--a mishap as a CIA librarian on a courier like mission has resulted in a parting of ways. Riley's friend Caroline and her brother Mike (with a tennis star girlfriend in tow) have returned for Buzzy's funeral. Mike is particularly interested in continuing his mission of selling off Buzzy's farmland, perhaps leaving the Ice Cream Shop as is. When he is found bludgeoned, with girlfriend Angelica missing, the town is thrown for a loop. There are many good suspects peppered throughout the story and it makes perfect sense when show more Riley steps up to run Udderly Delicious for the family. This was a well paced mystery for a first in a series, I forward to reading more! show less

cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, neighbors, family-dynamics, friendship, inheritance, greed, Connecticut, small-business, small-town, rivalry, secrets*****

Just reading about all the flavors of ice cream had my addiction in full swing! Riley has come back to her home town to give support to her best friend, gets involved in murder, works hard in her friend's late mother's ice creamery, decides to leave her old jobs, and learns to sleuth. Oh, and adopts a very useful kitten, and saves a dachshund from a fire. The characters are very engaging, the plot is solid and moves along quickly, there are just enough twists and red herrings, and not a few laughs. I loved it and am glad that there will be show more more!
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! show less

A highly enjoyable beginning to a new series with plenty of twists, turns and backstory to keep you guessing until the very end.