Chocolate Can Kill

Emily Harris Mystery #1

by Annie Acorn

Chocolate always makes things better, or so Emily Harris believes until even a dozen boxes of her favorite chocolates can’t put her world back together. Returning home from a trip to New Orleans, she is pushed down the airport’s arrival escalator, and despite evidence to the contrary, she believes the push was deliberate. If this weren’t enough her lawyer husband begins to act strangely, her oldest son brings a tramp home as his girlfriend, and two friends are murdered. Simple sayings from her childhood thread their way through her thoughts as she struggles to identify the common denominator, even as she is confined to her home, munching on chocolates. Filled with the warm southern ambience and gentle humor that author, Annie Acorn, has made famous, you won’t want to miss this cliffhanger!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Annie Acorn is the pseudonym of a prolific, internationally published author, whose readership recognizes her mainly for her women’s fiction, cozy mysteries and richly woven stories with a warm southern flair, such as Chocolate Can Kill and her Luna Lake Cabins romantic women’s fiction series. She writes her romantic women’s fiction/family saga Captain’s Point series as Charlotte Kent. She is a founding member of From Women’s Pens – A Cooperative of Women Writers.
Annie is the mother of two sons. She lives in the Washington, D.C. area, where she has done extensive technical writing as a contractor.
She owned a tri-state medical outsourcing business for a number of years and was the Director of a behavioral healthcare firm. She once flipped a comic book and collectible retail company comprised of five stores, and she has managed cemeteries and funeral homes. She is the owner of Annie Acorn Publishing, LLC.
Ms. Acorn has published in The Inspirational Writer, and she edited an in-house publication for the State of Mississippi. She is a contributor of ezine articles.
In her spare time, Ms. Acorn enjoys reading, writing mysteries and romantic women’s fiction, listening to classical music, playing cards, and spending time with her family and friends – often at a restaurant serving delicious food.
Annie is the author of the blog at annieacorn.com. You can friend her on Facebook and tweet her at @Annie_Acorn. She will respond to your email sent to annieacorn11@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Sabine · Rating 1 out of 5]

The narration was fine for me but the story was hollow and repetitive. I gave up after only 15%.

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely a surprising find one that keeps you in suspense until the end.

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the writing style of this book; it rarely used the characters' names so you're lost in a sea of he and she with no idea who's talking or thinking. I think the author used the technique to increase suspense but it was just confusing and frustrating. Also, I'd suggest that the title and design of the cover of this book is misleading. It's not a cozy mystery. It's a poorly written regular mystery.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept thinking this book was old, with all the sexism and the maids and people to “do” for you and the casual calling women tramps. And then they mentioned cell phones a few times and no, not old, just gross.

[Lawanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook performed by Meredith Mitchell

[Mary Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated is the word of the week

Believable characters with lives and problems of their own. Sadness, joy, discovery of dishonesty, explained by pain. A great story

[Susan Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time

[Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delicious mystery full of twists and turns. The only negative was some odd choices of words (doorbell rang forth, disembarked from car,…)

[Amy Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

I could have never figured out this mystery. Good descriptions of everyone's thoughts. I'm glad for the good kids they had.

[Mary Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Characterization seemed irratic. The little interludes from the killer's point of view was just intrusive, and not well done. I didn't find the characters very believable, quite frankly, and didn't enjoy the inner dialogue of the characters really. I thought it all to be quite odd, and honestly thought the setup was lame - I mean, pushed down an escalator? Maybe since I don't read many mysteries, this one seemed simplistic and too...trite. IDK. So Emily's constant monologue on the whole thing (I was really getting sick of Uncle Whatshisface) - the author trying to create intrigue with other characters - the whole Honey/Heather thing - seriously? I honestly thought that her son was using this Honey/Heather person as a beard. I thought, any minute now, this boy is going to come out to his parents (or, rather, that he already had to his father, and was just trying to ease into telling Emily). When the explanation was given, it reakly wasn't much of a believable explanation - pretty f***ing ridiculous, actually. I almost quit reading right there. What kind of stupid humor is that - who really thought that was credible? If I were an editor, that part would never have made the final cut. Not reading anymore of hers, the Emily Harris series.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually finished this book a few weeks ago but am just writing my review. I love a good cozy mystery and Annie Acorn delivers with "Chocolate Can Kill." Solid writing, likeable characters and enough chocolate references to satisfy my sweet cravings.

Emily Harris is a sweet character with an underlying layer of grit and strength. I really liked this character and it was fun watching her wind her way through the mystery that begins with poor Emily getting pushed down the arrival escalator at the airport --- not a great way to arrive home. Annie Acorn writes deliciously fun dialogue, solid characters and an intriguing plot that will keep you guessing to the end.

Give "Chocolate Can Kill" a read while snuggled up with a cozy mug of coffee or tea and of course a few pieces of decadent chocolate.

[Shelly]

HORRIBLE!!! NO stars for this one - it was BEYOND not liking. Clunky, disjointed writing, terrible formatting, despicable editing! There was way, way, way, way, (getting the picture?) way! too many characters, WITH descriptive paragraphs, and far too many pronouns! What disheartens me the most is that the author bio states this is a well known writer creating this series under a pen name! No wonder they're hiding - this was an abysmal effort for anyone not in a creative writing 101 class! In fact, that's a little what it seemed like - a bunch of cw assignments written at separate times all crammed together in a book with a couple of abridgement paragraphs here and there!
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY!

[Sara Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the overall story and I really liked all the little detail, for this book it seemed to slow it down a bit. I feel like this mystery could of been about half the length. I would find myself wanting to keep reading and then I would feel a lull. I have enjoyed some other books by Annie Acorn. I enjoy her has an authour, but this story just did not do it for me in the way some of her other books have.

Meredith Mitchell did a good job narrating and has an easy voice to listen to. I would have liked a little more distinction in her voices and her guy voices were still a little too girly for me.

I received a copy of this book at my request, and I have voluntarily left this review.

[Kristin Kinman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out a little slow. I wasn't sure I was going to like it and several times contemplated putting it away but I got involved with the story and held on until the end.
I still wouldn't say this was a great book for me. Perhaps it's a little more gritty and "real" than I like my books. The main character was very insecure and paranoid which made me a little impatient. The author quite skillfully wove insinuation and doubts into the story to give some credence to the main character's paranoia.
Obviously, since I stuck with it, and considered reading the next book, it wasn't horrible but it won't ever be my favorite book.

[Kasia James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed by the way this book started off - I found it a bit stilted. It did pick up pace, ease and complexity towards the middle though.
I confess I found myself getting quite irritated with 'old uncle Reuben' and his wise sayings! He is a minor part of the story though.
The conclusion had energy and action, but I found that I was left a little unconvinced by who did it: not quite the same 'Ah - now it all makes sense' feeling as when you read (for example) and Agatha Christie.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wouldn't recommend wasting time with this one. It's poorly written, has grammar problems (one of my pet peeves) that editing should have caught. Her attempt to suggest motives to nearly all characters was thinly drafted. Also annoying, was her tendency to throw in an action or event later in the story to fill in a pertinent detail--as though she realized, "Uh oh, I need to explain that. I'll stick it in here," which made the story line disjointed.

[ChrisGA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the other reviews for this book, I have to agree that the inner dialogue of sometimes unidentified characters was confusing. I assume an atmosphere of unknown menace was being created and I must say that it was. Emily's role as sitting duck with other characters referring to but not not explaining their secrets was frustrating. However, death by expensive chocolates---say it is not so!

[Diane Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily Harris is pushed down an escalator at the airport, an event that starts an investigation into a series of accidents occurring to the partner's wives. Then one wife dies after she is given a box of chocolates meant for Emily, and the investigation changes focus onto Emily's work! Good but e-book pagination is a mess...1414 pages...not!

[Sheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I read the whole thing and it wasn't a short book, so I can't say it was horrible. But I will say I was sort of desperate for a book to read and it was only $.99, so that's about as far as I'll go for redeeming qualities.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

It jumps around too much. It was difficult to keep track of who was speaking and parts just go on and on until i caught myself skimming for something interesting. By the time I found out who done it, I really didn't care.

[Marcella · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book drags on and on and on and on. So much that I lost interest in the characters and the story. Since putting this book down, and not picking it back up to finish, I decided not to select other books by this author. I might add, there are very few books I do not finish.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit different to the type i normally read and i did find the begginning and the end very long and drawn out, but i enjoyed the middle, and the storyline was a good one, i will read more Annie Acorn..xx

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was painful to read, dry.. dull and jumbled. The reader fighting to keep track of the story and the characters. After trying for the first seven chapters, I had to give it up and go straight for the epilogue. The title catches your eye but the story is lost.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at some of the extremely harsh reviews on this book. I thought it was quite enjoyable and everything I expected from the title. It was a light, easy to read mystery.

[Michelle K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the characters and the setting. I read it quickly because I was intrigued and wanted to know who did it!

[Lizziebee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful!

[Donna Cook]

I like quick and easy and I think this is both. I'll let you know if it's any good when I'm finished.

[Sallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another mystery for free for my Nook from BookBub. It was interesting, somewhat repetitive at times, but it kept my interest.

[Davita Egeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story, really gripping. The ending was a little forced, but still excellent book, story, character and plot!

[Sally Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sweet (no pun intended) easy read. The title appealed to me.