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Death by Chocolate #2

Murder, Lies and Chocolate

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Rodney Bradford comes into Lindsay's restaurant, offers to buy her small house for double its value, eats her brownies, and drops dead on the sidewalk in front. Then someone breaks into her house and tries to dig up her basement. Next her almost-ex-husband offers to sign the divorce papers, but only if she'll give him her small, old house and take his big, new house instead.

Suddenly everybody wants Lindsay's house. Is there oil under the basement, plans to bring the railroad through, pirate treasure buried in the basement? A second break-in occurs and causes her cat, King Henry, to launch into full attack mode, taking a few chunks out of the intruder.

Lindsay enlists the aid of her enigmatic neighbor, Fred, to help solve the mystery while trying to keep her police detective boyfriend, Trent, from getting in their way with his insistence on all those silly cop rules.

On the positive side, sales skyrocket for the special dessert Lindsay calls Murdered Man's Brownies. Prisoners, murderers, crazy relatives and strippers are all part of the chaos in this second book of the Death by Chocolate series.

BONUS! Chocolate recipes at the end of the book. Poison optional.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2012

309 people are currently reading
509 people want to read

About the author

Sally Berneathy

35 books285 followers
“Write what you know,” they said. I’d been married three times. I wrote romances.

Fast forward ten years.

“Write what you know,” they said. I’d been divorced three times and fantasized about murdering my ex. Only massive doses of chocolate kept my finger off the trigger.

Now I write about murder and chocolate and the occasional ghost.


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5 stars
738 (49%)
4 stars
511 (34%)
3 stars
214 (14%)
2 stars
24 (1%)
1 star
13 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,107 reviews3,022 followers
June 11, 2017
Lindsay Powell’s dream of owning a shop had come to fruition – she was the proud owner of Death by Chocolate and working by her side was her best friend Paula. Lindsay was in the process of trying to get her soon to be ex-husband to sign their divorce papers but she wasn’t happy to see him arrive with a “client” that morning to try to persuade Lindsay to sell her house which Rick half owned. And when said client dropped dead in front of the Death by Chocolate sign, after eating her famous chocolate cookies… well…

Detective Adam Trent was Lindsay’s soon to be boyfriend (once the divorce became final) and when someone broke into Lindsay’s home late at night, with her cat King Henry alerting her to the intruder, he became concerned for her safety. And so began a string of break-ins, bodies, breaking of rules (by Fred and Lindsay), strippers and arson in Lindsay’s life – she was traumatised; but chocolate and Coke always remedied that.

What was going on? What had Rick become involved in now? And would she ever find out how Fred accessed his information?

Murder, Lies and Chocolate by Sally Berneathy is the 2nd in the Death by Chocolate series and I loved it! Laugh out loud moments, with the wry humour and dry wit lacing the story making it a fun and entertaining read. Even though there’s some editing needed, it didn’t detract from my level of enjoyment. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Kylie H.
1,209 reviews
August 24, 2019
Without the recommendation of others, I think the cover would have put me off this series of books, but as the saying goes...
This is the second book and it was just as entertaining as the first. Lindsay finds her house to be of great interest to people who are starting to meet an unfortunate end. Her ex-husband Rick is the real estate agent trying to convince Lindsay to sell to these people. How much is he involved?
This is a whodunnit with a lot of humour, a lot of chocolate and some great characters. A great antidote if you have been reading something that is very macabre or heavy.
1,383 reviews20 followers
February 1, 2021
Lindsay, Fred, Paula and Henry continue their adventures. When a man dies right outside of Lindsay's restaurant, Death By Chocolate, Lindsay, her friends and her cat, get involved in trying to solve the mystery. The fact that the man was offering to buy Lindsay's house for twice its value adds to her need to be involved. Of course, Trent, her detective boyfriend is not happy about her involvement. Her soon-to-be ex is still inserting himself into her life and Fred is as mysterious as ever.
Lots of humour, a delightful cat and a good mystery. I enjoyed this book very much.
Profile Image for Anastasia.
2,286 reviews101 followers
April 12, 2016
Murder Lies and Chocolate by Sally Berneathy is book 2 in the Death by Chocolate series. Lindsay Powell, owner of Death by Chocolate, turns down a generous offer to buy her house, only to have the man drop dead outside her cafe after eating one of her brownies. another fast paced and fun book with plenty of action and chaos. Great characters. Everyone needs a neighbour like Fred and an attack cat like King Henry and of course plenty of chocolate. Chocolate recipes are included.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
October 7, 2017
Much like the first book there was all sorts of mayhem going on with Lindsay at the center. It's a good thing that Lindsay surrounds herself with good people to help her out, even as they end up in situations that are a bit unbelievable. It is fun to see Lindsay talk her way in and out of things with Trent, as well as their romance heat up. I do like the secret that Lindsay kept from Trent at the end.
Profile Image for Mettesknit .
1,165 reviews6 followers
September 22, 2019
Such a fun, light and cozy story.
Made me laugh out loud - a lot..!
Sally Berneathy is going on my 'Favourite Authors' list 🤩
Profile Image for Leiah Cooper.
766 reviews96 followers
January 27, 2014
There are a lot of what I call “Bakery Mysteries” out there. There is a whole list at: http://cozy-mysteries-unlimited.com/b... that are, well, delicious. Some are quite yummy, some not. In this case, Sally Berneathy’s Murder, Lies and Chocolate was my first taste, and I found it quite creamy and with a pleasant mouth feel. (Grin)

This isn’t the first in the series, but I did not feel out of place starting my taste of Berneathy here. The story was well paced and I never felt that I was missing parts by not having started at the very beginning. Lindsay runs “Death By Chocolate” a restaurant featuring not only lunch, but luscious chocolate desserts (yes, there are recipes in the back, and they sound marvelous!!!!) She runs the restaurant with her friend Paula who lives next door to Lindsay with her son, two and a half year old Zack. Lindsay’s other best friend, Fred, lives in the house on the other side of her. Fred is a day trader. Or maybe a hacker. Or maybe an undercover agent for MI-6 or the CIA or something. Who knows? Lindsay doesn’t, but that doesn’t keep her from trying to find out!

Rounding out the cast is King Henry, Lindsay’s huge white and yellow “Attack Cat,” Trent the police detective and maybe boyfriend to Lindsay – that is, if she can ever get rid of her useless, self centred, spineless “I want him to be ex if he will ever sign the damn papers” husband, Rick the dirty real estate agent. And boy, is he ever a piece of work!

Lindsay’s day starts off with the unctuous Rick showing up in the restaurant with a criminal wanting to buy Lindsay’s house for twice it’s value. Things go downhill from there when the man drops dead in front of the restaurant, leading to a chain of break-ins, arson, and homicide. Lindsay herself is smart, snarky, and impatient, but not as dumb as some of the other “bakery mystery” characters, and nowhere near as self centred and irritating as, say, Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen. I had to put those down after the first few. The whole ‘love triangle’ and acting like she was some kind of puffed up, ‘real live detective’ just didn’t do it for me. Lindsay sits on the edge – not quite dumb enough to think she can do it all by herself. Besides, she has Fred the Superhuman Next Door Neighbor to back her up. Whets not to like about a guy who shows up with a machine gun he “found in his attic” to run off the smarmy ex?

Overall, this was a 99 cent investment I was happy to pick up from Amazon. I just looked, this is number two in the series, the first one is Death By Chocolate and features Paula. In the blurb about that one, Paula dyes her blond hair brown, hides from everybody and insists on always having an emergency exit from any room. Secrets from Paula's past have come back to put lives in jeopardy. I will admit it is kind of a bummer to know the outcome of the Paula edition because I read the second one first, but I have no doubt I will enjoy reading the book anyway.

This is recommended for anyone who likes a good, solid cozy mystery who also loves and adores CHOCOLATE! Yep, that’s me!
1,216 reviews10 followers
August 12, 2012
Lindsay Powell can not help herself, she is sarcastic, loves chocolate and nosy even when it gets her in trouble.In the second book in the series, Rick, Lindsey's ex husband is always scheming refusing to sign the divorce paper unless he can make a deal with her. Fred, Lindsay's next door neighbor and friend, has secrets. He can find out things the ordinary citizen doesn't need to know. Paula, Lindsay's friend and co worker, finally is rid of her abusive cop husband and can raise her son without fear or repercussion, always helps Lindsay on her escapades. Trent, the local cop and future love interest of Lindsay, always finds Lindsay in the middle of his cases. King Henry, Lindsay's cat gets high on catnip and claws intruders who enters her house uninvited. The murder mystery can be figured out quickly but the sarcastic humor keeps you turning the pages. Lindsay is trying to learn who is breaking into her house and why. Her ex husband suddenly wanting to buy the house from her and will sign the divorce papers if she does has Lindsay and Fred uncovering the truth about what's in her house that everyone is after. Of course Lindsay butts heads with Trent along the way and King Henry saves Lindsay from the killer. Lindsay is similar to the Evanovich's Stephanie Plum but can actually do her job and know what man she wants in her life.
3 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2015
Absolutely top notch "cozy" with all the elements necessary to qualify for: "do not put down!" Berneathy's great, feisty, hysterical heroine continues with the high jinks established in Book One: "Death by Chocolate," and takes it to a whole "nother level with a reliable cast of lovable side-kicks, including a very large, very loyal feline who establishes his presence with nary a word. Total escapism at its best, with laughs galore and a plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. Ex-husband, strippers, cops, scoundrels and miscreants all interact under skillful writing, cagey plotting, and familiar cozy settings all adding up to a score of FANTASTIC for Sally Berneathy! Bring on the next. And the next! AND THE NEXT! Lindsay rules!!!
Profile Image for Betty.
2,004 reviews74 followers
January 29, 2014
The preview of story attracted me and I decide to read it. It one of the best I have recently read. Lindsay and Paula have opened a restaurant that features chocolate in the their dishes. Lindsay wants a divorce from ex -husband. Rick brings a client to the dinner wanting to buy her house. She turns him down. After Rick and client leaves the client collapsed in front Death By Chocolate, the name of the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised to meet King Henry, a large stray white cat who has adopted Lindsay. His actions added much to the book. He comes to Lindsay aide at times. We meet Fred, a neighbour who has secrets. The romantic interest a cop.
Profile Image for Sue Ross.
610 reviews11 followers
January 14, 2013
Sally Berneathy's series Death by Chocolate is as addicting as chocolate. In this, the second book of the series, Lindsey suspects her ex of murder and arson among other crimes. Is he really guilty? Is there really a pirates treasure in her basement and who did Henry steal the earring from? You'll find out all the answers in Murder Lies and Chocolate.
Profile Image for Karen.
112 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2015
i finished this book awhile ago, just decided to have a little break from reading but i did enjoy this book, murder, mystery, intrique and a fair bit of comedy..loved it will look out for this author again..5 stars from me.
Profile Image for Cindy Sample.
Author 28 books207 followers
February 13, 2014
Sally Berneathy is one of the best humorous mystery authors around. I laughed out loud throughout this book while also enjoying the twists and turns of the plot. I highly recommend this series.
5 reviews
October 11, 2014
Great read

Great story enjoyed reading this book Hope to see more of this series.I read two others in this series from this line of stories
Profile Image for Ellen Parker.
2 reviews
June 24, 2015
Must read. It's not a Novel it reads fluently and I couldn't stop and got the whole series .
Profile Image for Nancy.
1,121 reviews29 followers
June 22, 2022
I jumped right from finishing #1, Death by Chocolate, to reading #2, Murder, Lies and Chocolate. A quick, fun read. So much chocolate and Coke, you can almost gain weight just sitting around reading it! Definitely a cozy mystery; deaths without gory detail, police investigation, and Lindsay trying to figure out what is going on.
Lindsay still owns the bakery that specializes in chocolate pastries. Her friends Paula and Fred are around, as well as her cat Henry, her soon-to-be ex-husband Rick, and her new boyfriend Trent the policeman. Same characters as in the first book in the series. Love them!
Paula's ex is in prison, so he is no longer a threat. But someone else is. Someone who is digging up and breaking into Lindsay's house, and scaring her and enraging her. Who could it be, and what are they looking for? Will her huge attack cat be able to protect her? Will she be able to with her cast iron skillet by her bedside to bonk them? Hilarious.
The killer and mystery are revealed at the very end. Light, fun entertainment, and a very quick read. #3 to be read soon.
3,099 reviews13 followers
July 27, 2025
“Murder, Lies and Chocolate”, second the 'Death by Chocolate' series, takes place almost immediately after the events of the first book.
It has to, because otherwise Lindsay would have finally forced Rick to sign the divorce papers.
Rick brings a client, Rodney Bradford, to her restaurant and says that he is willing to give her twice what her house is valued at.
She tells them to shove it where the sun don't shine (in different words as this is very much a cosy mystery).
Then Rodney drops dead just outside her premises.
The good news is that the death draws the crowds and business is booming.
Someone breaks into Lindsay's basement and has obviously been searching for something.
But what?
Lindsay, of course, conducts an investigation (right under the nose of her almost boyfriend, police chief Adam Trent.
There's another death, a repeat burglary, a visit to a strip club and the local prison.
It's a fairly frothy read with a good dash of humour.
3 Stars.
37 reviews
May 1, 2019
Entertainment throughout

There is a group of main characters who make up a wide spectrum of personalities. One uses sarcasm much of the time but has trouble shutting her mouth and thinking before she speaks. She is funny, though. One is shy and quiet yet very stubborn. Another is an all around sleazy person. One is a happy go lucky toddler. One is a detective who totally sticks to the rules. And the last has obsessive compulsive behaviors and is very secretive about himself but is a good person. This is another murder mystery in the series. The author keeps the reader engaged throughout the book. Nice job! Better than the first book which was also good. I figured out part of this one before the end.
61 reviews
March 26, 2023
nice

I had read Sally Berneathy’s The Ex Who Wouldn’t Die, and I really enjoyed it. Death By Chocolate and Murder, Lies and Chocolate are also entertaining, but follow many, many other similar cozy mysteries. The almost inevitable “main character owns a bakery,” “main character dates the police detective,” “cat is almost humanly intelligent.” BUT unlike other books by less talented authors , Lindsay is smart and while she butts in to the investigation, she’s not nosy to the point that you want to slap her. I get lots of laughs from Sally Berneathy’s books. Also few, if any misspelled words or wrong words. I think I saw vice when she meant vise, but that could have been the first book.
7,768 reviews50 followers
June 25, 2019
Lindsay and Rick, still no divorce. His latest scheme is the house she is now living in. Guy wants to pay more than it is worth, saying it was his grandparents, With Rick and the salesman he is what is really true. The man asks for a glass of water, and then collapses on to the sidewalk in front of her business . He ate a brownie she is nervous that he may have been allergic to nuts. Calling 911 and saying she killed a man. Fred now asking why she said that..Mix up stories about the house, who was in prison. Was there an intruder or a mouse in Lindsay basement. It is filled with numerous lines and one enjoys the Mayhem with Lindsay.
18 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2020
Lindsey never meant for the name of her shop "Death By Chocolate" to be quite so literal. But when a man drops dead on the sidewalk in front, she panics for a moment and thinks that he was allergic to nuts or whatnot in her brownies. But of course, his death had another source.
Lindsey can be very stubborn and at times her stubbornness only puts her in harms way, fortunately she has a cop for an (almost) boyfriend, a loyal guardcat, and a neighbor who may or may not be undercover for the CIA, physic, or both (and more!)
But her stubbornness and rash actions don't account for everything that happens to her, some of it is plain bad luck, but such is the way of cozy mysteries.
Profile Image for Natelle.
690 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2020
When your husband refuses to divorce you, suddenly everyone wants to buy your house, and one of the would-be-purchasers dies in front of you, what do you do? Linday Powell chooses to eat more chocolate and dig into that mystery. Luckily for Lindsay, she has kindly neighbors, a police detective, and a fierce cat are looking out for her because this investigation gets a little dangerous. I can't say more or I might hinder the investigation...

The major flaw of this book is that is comes with recipes, featuring chocolate, which I feel compelled to try.
Profile Image for Kathy.
782 reviews
December 19, 2021
3.5
Book 2 of this series was a continuation of craziness, murder and mayhem.
As usual, Lindsay gets into some difficulties, mostly as a result of her still married husband. When they will ever get a divorce is yet to be seen. Her neighbour Fred is an interesting guy, and the reader is still unsure exactly who he is and what he does. Her relationship with Trent, the police officer is progressing. All is moving forward in their lives and Lindsay still has me chuckling throughout the book.
Ready to sink my teeth into her next book.
Profile Image for Sue Ellen.
1,008 reviews
October 22, 2023
I find it really hard to like the main character in this book. I suppose she's supposed to be sassy, but to me she's an irresponsible, mouthy, flippant, disrespectful, petulant adolescent stuck in a grown-up's body. Giving grape juice to a toddler and telling him it's wine and thinking it's cute when the kid asks for more wine is not cute or funny! It's bordering on child abuse and setting the kid up to be a future alcoholic!

I do like the other characters enough to keep reading the series, but I wish Lindsay would grow up!
Profile Image for Brianna.
386 reviews5 followers
July 16, 2017
The worst part of this book unfortunately is the main character. Everyone other character is interesting, but it's hard to move past how immature, annoying, & whiny the main character is. So why did I read two books in this series if I can't stand the main character? Blame it on Amazon and me buying the first three in the series for 99 cents. Hate it when I waste a dollar.
Profile Image for Tara.
679 reviews
February 5, 2019
Lindsey’s almost ex husband is up to something when he tries to convince her to move out of her house- offering to pay her twice what it’s with. The client wanting to buy the house drops dead outside of Lindey’s store and there is a hunt for a hidden trashy in Lindsey’s house. With Paula and Fred to help- it is a fun quick read.
Profile Image for Shirley.
Author 2 books11 followers
October 14, 2019
Second book in the series and I loved it every bit as much as the first one. Find a cozy chair, pop open a cola, and grab yourself a brownie while you immerse yourself in the story. The core cast members remain the same, so it's like visiting with old friends. Quirky, old friends. And a cat. Nice blend of mystery and almost-romance - if Lindsey can ever get rid of her soon-to-be-ex.
Profile Image for Abigail Joseph.
312 reviews9 followers
November 13, 2021
Not as good as the first book in the series but good.
This has everything I like in a book: A murder,amazinggg descriptions of food, wholesome friendships and one hot cop;)
Lemme telll you something, the book had some parts with a creepy intruder and coz I was reading this at night I had to stop and read something else😅
But overall really enjoyable.
Profile Image for Marge.
90 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2024
The more I read of this series, the more I love it! The main character is so snarky and obnoxious in her own style, you cannot help but to love her! We now know more about neighbor & friend, Paula, and we're getting to know Fred, the other neighbor better as well. I want to live in this neighborhood! There is so much afoot there!!
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