Mint Chocolate Murder

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

I hadn't read the first book in this cozy mystery series, but I had no trouble slipping into this cozy New England setting with ice cream galore and a man found dead in a locked room. Lead character Riley is a former CIA librarian who comes across as smart, savvy, and compassionate. When she's hired to cater ice cream for a nearby art exhibit opening at an imported Scottish castle, she finds a lot of drama among the guests, and soon, the dead guy--the man whose art was on exhibition. He was a creep, and a lot of people have reason to want him dead.

What sets this apart from other recent cozies I've read is that there are layers here. There's more going on that the dead dude. The ending had several show more twists I didn't see coming, and I loved that. I'm definitely curious about reading more from this author! show less

This is a terrific cozy mystery filled with interesting characters, a well-developed storyline, an intriguing mystery to solve, a great setting for the story to take place, and its made all the better by the addition of ice cream!🍦 Reilly Rhodes is co-owner of Udderly Delicious Ice Cream and has been hired by local celebrity, former model, and widow of a real life prince, Maud Monaco, to provide decadent ice cream for the grand opening of an exhibit of work by famous photographer, Adam Blasco. Of course the grand opening is being held at Maud's castle ... you read that correctly ... her castle.🏰 The event goes off well, although with a few upsets because the artist is not everyone's cup of tea, or I suppose cone of pumpkin spice show more ice cream would be more appropriate. There are more suspects than ice cream flavors and Reilly wants to put her experience from her former job to work trying to figure out whodunnit. She doesn't want to step on the toes of the police chief who happens to be the boyfriend of her friend and co-owner of Udderly but she just has to get to the bottom of what happened and why. This was a really great read and I look forward to another big scoop of mystery by Meri Allen. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Why was this book titled "Mint Chocolate Chip" when it was about Pumpkin Spice and takes place in the fall? Oh well.

If you can get over the eye-rolling "Ex-CIA librarian who was also a spy" silliness, and that Riley doesn't have much of a personality, these are pleasantly atmospheric cozies. Both of her cats have more defined personalities than the main character, not that I'm complaining about that. Actually, all of the other characters have more complex characters than Riley.

Maybe that's why she was supposed to be a good spy. She blends into the woodwork and I can't envision what she looks like. LOL.

If you will allow Poirot to offer you a piece of wise advice: the pursuit of revenge is rarely a good idea.

Another murderous visit to Penniman and Udderly Delicious Ice Cream shop run my former CIA librarian Riley Rhodes. We venture up to Moy Mull Castle, now an artist retreat, owned and operated by America’s Princess Maud. When Maud’s ex husband ends up dead in the dungeon Riley’s former operator’s cap goes back on before a new friend of hers can be framed for murder. Thoroughly enjoyable!

photographic-art, bees, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, murder, murder-investigation, castle, Connecticut, small-business, small-town, rivalry, friendship, culinary, ice-cream-flavors, law-enforcement*****

All those wonderful flavors of ice cream! The story is good as is the sleuthing and all, but the ice cream flavors!
It seems to be a locked room mystery with the (very deserving) victim being an unscrupulous photographic artist. 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 (that demonic cat!). I loved it and am glad that there will be more!
I requested and received a temporary digital ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in show more exchange for an honest review. Thank you! show less

Book #2 in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I have got to give it to Meri Allen, I had no idea who the killer was until that last clue was dropped. I love the idea of a Scottish Castle in Confection, Oregon. I also love how popular the ice cream shop flavors are becoming at events. I love Brandon's ice cream inventions, they sounds disgusting but my daughter would have ordered them for sure.

This is a fun and interesting mystery series and I am looking forward to reading more of these books in the future.