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Theft By Chocolate
Mystery, Mayans and Mayhem: Looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places.
Chocolate addict Kalena Boyko wasn't prepared for this. Heading to work at Canada's largest museum as an administrator, she hoped for quiet and uninterrupted access to her secret chocolate stash. Instead she's assigned to manage the high-profile Treasures of the Maya exhibition with her loathed former boss Richard Pritchard.
With no warning, her life is turned inside out and propelled into warp speed as she stumbles across an insider plot that could jeopardize the exhibit and the reputation of the museum.
After hearing about a recent botched theft at the museum and an unsolved jewel heist in the past from security guard and amateur sleuth Marco Zeffirelli, Kalena becomes suspicious of Richard and is convinced he's planning to sabotage the Treasures of the Maya exhibition. Her suspicions, and the appearance of the mysterious but charming Geoffrey Ogden from the London office, don't help her concentration. The Treasures of the Maya seem cursed as problem after problem arises, including the disappearance of a key artefact - the world's oldest piece of chocolate.
Chocolate addict Kalena Boyko wasn't prepared for this. Heading to work at Canada's largest museum as an administrator, she hoped for quiet and uninterrupted access to her secret chocolate stash. Instead she's assigned to manage the high-profile Treasures of the Maya exhibition with her loathed former boss Richard Pritchard.
With no warning, her life is turned inside out and propelled into warp speed as she stumbles across an insider plot that could jeopardize the exhibit and the reputation of the museum.
After hearing about a recent botched theft at the museum and an unsolved jewel heist in the past from security guard and amateur sleuth Marco Zeffirelli, Kalena becomes suspicious of Richard and is convinced he's planning to sabotage the Treasures of the Maya exhibition. Her suspicions, and the appearance of the mysterious but charming Geoffrey Ogden from the London office, don't help her concentration. The Treasures of the Maya seem cursed as problem after problem arises, including the disappearance of a key artefact - the world's oldest piece of chocolate.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
210 people want to read
About the author
Luba Lesychyn
2 books88 followersLuba grew up in the Hamilton, Ontario area. Soon after finishing her graduate studies at McMaster University in history, Luba landed on the doorstep of Canada’s largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto where she worked for more than 20 years.
Moving from positions in the Education and Programs Departments to the Museum’s consulting branch, she concluded her career at the institution in the office that managed the Renaissance ROM renovation project.
After leaving the Museum, Luba worked for several years in an administrative and research capacity for a private museum consulting firm with offices in Toronto and London (UK) and concurrently completed a program in Creative Writing at the Humber School for Writers completing her first novel, Theft By Chocolate, about a woman looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places. It was published by Attica Books in 2012.
She subsequently worked in the educational sphere and private sector, but currently focuses on her writing. Luba published her second novel, Theft Between the Rains, in 2019. The protagonist from her first book, Kalena Boyko, returns to find herself pulled into international art theft intrigue when masterpieces missing since WWII start appearing on her doorstep.
Moving from positions in the Education and Programs Departments to the Museum’s consulting branch, she concluded her career at the institution in the office that managed the Renaissance ROM renovation project.
After leaving the Museum, Luba worked for several years in an administrative and research capacity for a private museum consulting firm with offices in Toronto and London (UK) and concurrently completed a program in Creative Writing at the Humber School for Writers completing her first novel, Theft By Chocolate, about a woman looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places. It was published by Attica Books in 2012.
She subsequently worked in the educational sphere and private sector, but currently focuses on her writing. Luba published her second novel, Theft Between the Rains, in 2019. The protagonist from her first book, Kalena Boyko, returns to find herself pulled into international art theft intrigue when masterpieces missing since WWII start appearing on her doorstep.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 8, 2012
This book makes me giggle helplessly at times and also keeps me completely absorbed - the pace is just right. Even non-chocoholics would be swept along (and perhaps tempted) and for anyone with the slightest susceptibility, well, I hope you have some in the house.
I defy anyone to read this book and not feel better and more cheerful for having done so, even if they do also feel fuller ;) I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
I defy anyone to read this book and not feel better and more cheerful for having done so, even if they do also feel fuller ;) I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
October 8, 2012
The perfect anecdote to yet another cloudy wet Sunday afternoon. Mystery, intrigue, a quirky heroine and a love of chocolate....deliciously good fun!
February 2, 2021
Suspense, Humor, Mystery, A Dashing Englishmen, A Flattering Younger Man, the Wonder of a Museum's Backstage, and Chocolate... what's not to love about this story!
Luba Lesychyn is an extremely talented writer. She understands how to dangle details in ways that have you looking forward to more excitement, without anxiety. She's a comfort writer. Pull up a cozy blanket and dive right in. I immersed myself reading her pages at night, after a day of work... shunning the rest of the real world, and allowing myself to get lost in her imaginative Toronto. I regret nothing.
Theft By Chocolate is an amusing and spirited read. The story eavesdrops on the days of a chocolate addict, who is also sleuthing her way through an irresistible mystery. At every new chapter, I was impressed by Luba's expressive writing style. When her characters walk through hallways filled with anxiety, sit quietly in a cathedral, or collapse on the bed in sheer exhaustion, you experience every moment as if that character's reality was your own. Luba entices you to step into her world and live it fully.
Through the intrigue of the story, she shares valuable reminders of some of life's most important lessons, in ways you'll never forget. Yes, a spoonful of powered chocolate does affect us in exactly THAT way! Secrets are often hidden in (nearly) plain sight, so you should be keenly observant. Public humiliation doesn't always have to be the precursor to a doomed life. And most importantly, Librarians can indeed be seductively charming, in their own bashful way.
Luba Lesychyn is an author who clearly understands how to bait her literary fish and then reel them in for the vigorous PLOP on the sandy shore. But not to worry, she'll tuck you back into the water again, safely returning you to the comfort of characters you are sure you know, and environments that you wish you could visit, without ever revealing the entire mystery. And that's exactly what we want from an author.
Thank you, Luba Lesychyn, you will continue to have a place in my TBR pile!
Luba Lesychyn is an extremely talented writer. She understands how to dangle details in ways that have you looking forward to more excitement, without anxiety. She's a comfort writer. Pull up a cozy blanket and dive right in. I immersed myself reading her pages at night, after a day of work... shunning the rest of the real world, and allowing myself to get lost in her imaginative Toronto. I regret nothing.
Theft By Chocolate is an amusing and spirited read. The story eavesdrops on the days of a chocolate addict, who is also sleuthing her way through an irresistible mystery. At every new chapter, I was impressed by Luba's expressive writing style. When her characters walk through hallways filled with anxiety, sit quietly in a cathedral, or collapse on the bed in sheer exhaustion, you experience every moment as if that character's reality was your own. Luba entices you to step into her world and live it fully.
Through the intrigue of the story, she shares valuable reminders of some of life's most important lessons, in ways you'll never forget. Yes, a spoonful of powered chocolate does affect us in exactly THAT way! Secrets are often hidden in (nearly) plain sight, so you should be keenly observant. Public humiliation doesn't always have to be the precursor to a doomed life. And most importantly, Librarians can indeed be seductively charming, in their own bashful way.
Luba Lesychyn is an author who clearly understands how to bait her literary fish and then reel them in for the vigorous PLOP on the sandy shore. But not to worry, she'll tuck you back into the water again, safely returning you to the comfort of characters you are sure you know, and environments that you wish you could visit, without ever revealing the entire mystery. And that's exactly what we want from an author.
Thank you, Luba Lesychyn, you will continue to have a place in my TBR pile!
June 30, 2012
Kalena is a fun main character to follow. At times she presents as a ditzy woman who's love for chocolate stands in the way of everything else in her life. At other times she is the strong museum administrator who is able to handle all the problems thrown at her as the Mayan exhibit comes to her museum.
Throughout it all Kalena is surrounded by men that love her and hate her. Geoffrey is a rich, sexy administrator from the London office. Kalena spends a glorious few days with him in London only to later see a picture of him in the newspaper with another woman the very same week. Then there is Marco, the new, much younger, security guard. He quickly works his way into her world by being a great friend and by hinting at the future. Finally we have Richard, Kalena's former boss and the cause of all the trouble with the Mayan exhibit.
I found some of the details surrounding the chocolate in the story to be excessive and a little over the top. Kalena is constantly eating chocolate in all forms throughout the book though manages to maintain her figure. Her focus waives from the important whenever a piece of chocolate enters the room. Other then that I found the book to be a fun, light read. The mystery surrounding the theft of museum pieces gets tense and the ending has a twist I didn't see coming.
Throughout it all Kalena is surrounded by men that love her and hate her. Geoffrey is a rich, sexy administrator from the London office. Kalena spends a glorious few days with him in London only to later see a picture of him in the newspaper with another woman the very same week. Then there is Marco, the new, much younger, security guard. He quickly works his way into her world by being a great friend and by hinting at the future. Finally we have Richard, Kalena's former boss and the cause of all the trouble with the Mayan exhibit.
I found some of the details surrounding the chocolate in the story to be excessive and a little over the top. Kalena is constantly eating chocolate in all forms throughout the book though manages to maintain her figure. Her focus waives from the important whenever a piece of chocolate enters the room. Other then that I found the book to be a fun, light read. The mystery surrounding the theft of museum pieces gets tense and the ending has a twist I didn't see coming.
May 28, 2012
I loved reading Theft By Chocolate! It was well written, funny, and a good mystery. The author's descriptions of Toronto and London were wonderful and I felt like I was there with Kalena, the heroine, as she chased suspects by taxi or walked miles in spiked heels with heavy suitcase in tow. There is also a little romance that happens (all closed door), enough to satisfy this romance reader.
And did I mention the chocolate? Kalena is addicted and we share that addiction with her throughout the story. Be prepared! I ended up eating two pieces of chocolate cake at dinner. I figured if Kalena could do it, why couldn't I? :-) Now I'm off to the gym. . .
And did I mention the chocolate? Kalena is addicted and we share that addiction with her throughout the story. Be prepared! I ended up eating two pieces of chocolate cake at dinner. I figured if Kalena could do it, why couldn't I? :-) Now I'm off to the gym. . .
October 5, 2013
I love museums, a good mystery novel, especially one about an international art heist and chocolate, not necessarily in this particular order. A difficult request to fulfill, I know, but I got it all in Theft by Chocolate! While the book is mainly fiction the heist reference at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is real. The thief was never apprehended and the stolen gems (opals) appeared many years later in Hong Kong on the black market. Hmmm...with every page the mystery darkens and so does the chocolate! My only recommendation on reading the book will be to make sure you have lots of scrumptious chocolate surrounding you! Believe me, you will need it!
July 15, 2012
This book was funny and light a fun read for Summer. I found that I wanted to eat more chocolate when I was reading tho. I review the book on my blog here if you want to read more and get a good brownie recipe.
http://www.you-made-that.com/chocolat...
http://www.you-made-that.com/chocolat...
October 15, 2019
I really thought this was going to be a slam-dunk read. I mean, first off - chocolate?! Hello?? I love chocolate. Second it's set in a fictionalized version of the museum in my city - the Royal Ontario Museum, which I also love. And yet . . . it just didn't work for me. I didn't end up finishing this.
I gave the book to page 100 which is nearly a third, so I feel I was more than reasonable in giving this the chance to grab me.
Re: the chocolate-loving main character; the constant mentions of chocolate, and the ridiculous lengths to which main character Kalena goes in having chocolate constantly to hand was cute at first, but very quickly became a joke that just wasn't that funny any more, and actually detracted from the story. If you're going to insert a gimmick into your story, at least try to make it feel like an obvious, natural aspect of your book, rather than references rammed in everywhere even when they make no sense.
I also found myself a bit irked at how the people working at the museum were portrayed as a bunch of bumbling or nasty individuals. I get that a mystery needs a villain, but there was just nobody in this book that I could really connect with. Instead I found myself either annoyed with, or rolling my eyes at all of them.
This was just a miss for me and I am moving on.
I gave the book to page 100 which is nearly a third, so I feel I was more than reasonable in giving this the chance to grab me.
Re: the chocolate-loving main character; the constant mentions of chocolate, and the ridiculous lengths to which main character Kalena goes in having chocolate constantly to hand was cute at first, but very quickly became a joke that just wasn't that funny any more, and actually detracted from the story. If you're going to insert a gimmick into your story, at least try to make it feel like an obvious, natural aspect of your book, rather than references rammed in everywhere even when they make no sense.
I also found myself a bit irked at how the people working at the museum were portrayed as a bunch of bumbling or nasty individuals. I get that a mystery needs a villain, but there was just nobody in this book that I could really connect with. Instead I found myself either annoyed with, or rolling my eyes at all of them.
This was just a miss for me and I am moving on.
October 9, 2019
I live in Toronto, near Yorkville, and spend time at the museum this is based on so when I saw the author at Word on the Street I had to buy her books. I have to say that I did find Kalena a little annoying with her chocolate obsession, evn though I am myself a chocoholic, but over all the book was fun.
I thought I had things figured out and although I did know Richard Pritchard was a bad guy I did not figure out what he was up to.
This was a fun book and I will read the next in the series.
I thought I had things figured out and although I did know Richard Pritchard was a bad guy I did not figure out what he was up to.
This was a fun book and I will read the next in the series.
November 24, 2018
I read this book for a book club and I look forward to the food at our meeting with great anticipation. If the book hadn't been chosen by a good friend, I would not have finished this book. However, the author does write well, I learned some things about museums, and I craved chocolate for several weeks.
January 17, 2021
A fun little read. It was neat to see settings around the ROM that I have a passing familiarity with. I enjoyed it enough I'll read the next one as well. As an added bonus, while Googling something I'd read in the book I learned that the ROM has an online visual database of its collections. I'll be looking into those in the future too.
January 22, 2021
More like a 2.5. Figured it would be fun with the ROM and chocolate, but I found Kalena more irritating than amusing, though there were some good bits.[ETA] Figured out the problem last night—most of the humour is physical, slapstick even, which I’ve never been fond of...
August 4, 2019
A bit like a w network movie, cute but unreal. The fact that it’s based in Toronto was interesting to follow along with.
March 26, 2024
This was a very fun read. The mystery kept me guessing the entire book. The characters were fun and realistic.
July 5, 2012
4.5 stars.
Theft By Chocolate is a hilarious romp through Canada and London as we follow the adventures of Kalena Boyko, museum consultant, as she tries to unravel the suspicious actions of her colleague, Richard Pritchard. Is he really trying to steal from the Treasures of the Maya exhibit, or is he just a soulless jerk? Along with her (dare I say) sidekicks, Marco and Geoffrey, Kalena is determined to find out and save the Museum's reputation.
Luba Lesychyn creates a perfect mix of humor, romance, and suspense that any fan of chocolate, art or mystery will adore. I giggled, sighed, and gasped my way through this one, and didn't want to put it down! There's supposed to be a sequel in the works (*wink*), and I certainly can wait to read more about Kalena's further adventures. I totally root for Team Marco.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
Theft By Chocolate is a hilarious romp through Canada and London as we follow the adventures of Kalena Boyko, museum consultant, as she tries to unravel the suspicious actions of her colleague, Richard Pritchard. Is he really trying to steal from the Treasures of the Maya exhibit, or is he just a soulless jerk? Along with her (dare I say) sidekicks, Marco and Geoffrey, Kalena is determined to find out and save the Museum's reputation.
Luba Lesychyn creates a perfect mix of humor, romance, and suspense that any fan of chocolate, art or mystery will adore. I giggled, sighed, and gasped my way through this one, and didn't want to put it down! There's supposed to be a sequel in the works (*wink*), and I certainly can wait to read more about Kalena's further adventures. I totally root for Team Marco.
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
July 11, 2012
I don't read cozy mysteries so don't know where these fall in the spectrum... All I do know is that I enjoyed this story. Still days later, the main character Kalena talks in my head. And I wonder what she's up to next. Hope the author has another story about Kalena and her museum capers on the works! I should add that I also enjoyed the setting of Toronto and the rarified air of a national museum. Also loved the European angle. I could relate to Kalena's 40 year old body issues and digged her chocolate obsession. Now I have more chocolates to taste. I recommend this book, if you like fun stories with humor and a little mystery. My only critique is that I would have like less active verbs, sometimes. I know -- less! I needed a little breathing room while reading. But that may be just this reader's preference. :)
September 19, 2012
I received this book through the first-reads program. Kalena is a museum worker with an addiction for chocolate so one can imagine her excitement when her museum is going to show the world's oldest piece of chocolate and her terror when it ends up going missing. She is the main character- sassy, smart, and spontaneous.
There is plenty of good mystery in this book as the reader learns of characters' secretive back-stories and obscure current actions, the different men vying for Kalena's attention, and most of all who stole the chocolate.
The book was a good mainly fast-paced read the only part that bugged my as I read it was the "OMG" and other "text-speak"
There is plenty of good mystery in this book as the reader learns of characters' secretive back-stories and obscure current actions, the different men vying for Kalena's attention, and most of all who stole the chocolate.
The book was a good mainly fast-paced read the only part that bugged my as I read it was the "OMG" and other "text-speak"
July 2, 2013
Since I work in a museum myself, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it was a fun read. It is fast-paced and entertaining, and gives the reader a glimpse "behind-the-scenes" in a big museum. The main character is someone you would like to meet, and her obsession with chocolate adds to her quirky personality. By the end of the book, you are hoping that the story will be turned into a movie. You can imagine it up on the big screen. Looking forward to a sequel.
February 16, 2014
I wanted to give it a three star rating but settled on a two. The story was a bit spastic for me and well I felt some plot lines were good but others were introduced and dropped or interrupted the flow. I did enjoy the museum setting.
August 19, 2013
3.5 stars. A fun mystery with a quirky protagonist. Her obsession with chocolate caused me to raid my own dark chocolate stash more than a couple times. I enjoyed reading a book that takes place in Toronto in a museum that is obviously modeled after the ROM, one of my favourite places in the city.
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September 18, 2013A funny light read that reminded me of all things Toronto- Ontario. It was a great read and enjoyable for a summer afternoon.
I would give it as a gift with toblerone and other chocolate delights As a read you want some it handy..
I would give it as a gift with toblerone and other chocolate delights As a read you want some it handy..
July 22, 2025
Really bad self published drivel.
January 12, 2014
If you like quirky characters, and really love chocolate, you will enjoy this book!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews