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Death by Chocolate Mystery #7

Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone

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Summer guests are eager to sink their teeth into the tantalizing desserts Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White serve at their bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine. But attracting the wrong kind of attention can be deadly . . .

With the August heat strong enough to melt solid chocolate into syrup, Jake and Ellie crave a break from the bakery ovens, despite tourist season promising a sweet payday. But they never envisioned spending the last weeks of summer drifting around Passamaquoddy Bay searching for pirate’s treasure—and a dead body.

Sally Coates believes her husband was murdered off the coast, and begs Ellie, a trusted childhood friend, to locate his remains. It’s unusual that a skilled fisherman would vanish along with the gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. And Sally isn’t the only one coveting the valuable heirloom for her own.

As Jake and Ellie’s island-hop for answers, they find themselves caught between hungry sharks and hungrier suspects. Can the duo tempt fate and dodge danger before there’s blood in the water—or are they destined to fall into the jaws of a killer’s trap?

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2024

136 people are currently reading
4785 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Graves

33 books790 followers
Sarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she's not writing Jake's adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Profile Image for Phrynne.
4,012 reviews2,704 followers
April 18, 2024
A little disappointing really. The deaths, because there were several, had absolutely nothing to do with chocolate, raspberries or scones. Still, the story was fun and the characters entertaining so I will forgive the deception for the sake of a fair review.

The main character is Jacobia Tiptree, known as Jake and she, along with friend Ellie White, owns a bakery. The husband of one of their friends goes missing, murder is suspected and Jake and Ellie begin an investigation. There was a lot of action - maybe too much actually. Each boat trip was a massive drama and those poor sharks were badly maligned.

The very best part of this book is the characters. Jake and Ellie are not simpering heroines waiting to be saved, and Jake's extended family are just wonderful. Not that I would want to live in that house with only one bathroom but still. The ending was effective if expected.

My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Profile Image for BonnieM☂️.
310 reviews
February 16, 2024
Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone was a fun read. I enjoyed it veriy much. Jacobia Tiptree (Jake) is the main character along with her best friend, Ellie White. They are both part owners to a bake shop called The Chocolate Moose. The story take place in the town of Eastport, Maine.

Jake lives in a large house that she is restoring with her husband, Wade, her father and step-mother, Jacob Tiptree and Bella Diamond, Her son, Sam and his wife, Mika along with their children also live there.

Jake and Ellie are working at their bakery when their friend, Sally comes to them and asks them to help her find out who killed her husband and if he is truly dead. They tell her that they will look into it. Lizzie Snow, the new police chief who they both know from when they were younger comes in and asks them to help her as she is new to the town and they both know the people. Her old boyfriend, Dylan Hudson is also in town.

Peter Waldron was also in town as his boat was damaged by a shark and is being fixed. He is a professional shark person.

Ellie, Jake and Lizzie go out on a boat with Captain Carl who tells them he thinks he knows where Paul's body might be. While out their boat is attacked by a shark. This is where the reader is taken on an adventure with all kinds of twist and turns that I will let the reader enjoy to the surprising ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,907 reviews284 followers
April 19, 2024
This is book 7 in the “Death by Chocolate Mystery Series” and I haven’t read the others but still greatly enjoyed this story. I listened to the first bit on audio, but switched fairly quickly because for a cozy mystery this one was a bit more action packed and I didn’t want to wait. I really liked the main character and amateur sleuth Jacobia “Jake” and her partner in their bakery business Ellie. the two of them are known for being nosy (as all good amateur detectives are) so when a local fisherman is missing and presumed dead both his wife and the new police chief ask Jake and Ellie to see what they can find. The fisherman’s wife let’s them know he had a gold coin on him and while she doesn’t know what it would be worth she needs that money to take care of her kids and asks if they can try to find it and return it. But the sleuthing becomes more dangerous as sharks, additional body, and a missing child raise the stakes. I really liked this mystery, but I like the whole gambit. It felt a little more intense than a typical cozy, but it was clean and free from gruesome details with the deaths. Overall I gave it 4.5 stars which I rounded up because the last part of the book gripped me so much I couldn’t put it down at all.
Profile Image for Laura.
415 reviews80 followers
May 14, 2024
The first I’ve read in this series. This was not a cozy. This was an adventure story on boats that I had no interest in. I have a hard time believing all the five star reviews. The chaotic house and lives they lived also gave me such stress. It wasn’t relaxing at all. I skimmed the last 30 pages.
2,515 reviews46 followers
April 4, 2024
This is a new to me author. I listened to the audiobook which was pretty well done. I've read a lot of cozy mysteries and found this one to be a lot less "cozy" than the ones I typically read. The body count kept going up as the book went along. Maybe this isn't even considered a cozy mystery and I was thrown off by the cover and title or something. I don't know. I thought it was going to be cozy for what ever reason but it was probably too violent to be so.

Having not read any of the other books in the series I was confused by the title and now wonder if it is the same with each book. I assumed that the murder came about by someone eating a tainted scone but it was nothing like that. The scones exist in the book but no one dies because of them. Thus my confusion. The series is death by chocolate. Do any of them have someone who actually dies from the chocolate?

There are a lot of characters in the plotline and since I'm not very good with names even in real life, sometimes I had a hard time remembering who was who. I also had a hard time believing that there would be so many sharks every time they were on the water. I started to wonder if the shark was mechanical and controlled remotely by the villain to try to scare them away.

I'm afraid that I figured out early on whodunnit. So the rest of the book was just to see the how and why. And sometimes I found that confusing as well. I maybe should have read the book instead of listening to the audiobook so I could go back easily to review as needed?

I liked the main character and loved their unconventional family set up. It must have added to the stress levels though. Crowded home, construction noise, construction mistakes, busy at work etc... Lots of stressors. I thought the missing coin/missing husband plot was an interesting idea.

There is a small element of the mystical which is centered around one character and I think the reader is left wondering if she really is a witch or if she is just a little bit crazy.

In a nutshell, I wanted to like this story more than I actually did but it was interesting.
Contains language and violence
* I received a complimentary audiobook through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.
Profile Image for Karen Stallman .
871 reviews92 followers
February 8, 2024
“ Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone” is the 7th instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves. Summer guests are eager to sink their teeth into the tantalizing desserts Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White serve at their bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine. But attracting the wrong kind of attention can be deadly . . .

I enjoy this series set in the village of Eastport, Maine and really like protagonist Jake and her BFF Ellie. Plus I love her family especially Bella. There was lots of excitement this go around with shark invested waters, a gold doubloon and missing fisherman.

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. I did suspect the killer early on but then second guessed myself. The book was engaging from start to finish, grabbing your attention from the very start.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for LORI CASWELL.
2,849 reviews326 followers
June 1, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts

August in Eastport, Maine is HOT! But the tourists just keep coming, which is good for business but the desserts at The Chocolate Moose may melt before they can be consumed.

To add to the heat issues a skilled fisherman is missing and his wife,  Sally Coates believes her husband has been murdered. She begs her friend Ellie to find his body and the person responsible for his death. He was said to be in possession of a gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. Sally needs it to provide for her family but someone may have wanted it bad enough to kill.

Can Ellie and Jake catch the killer or will they die trying?

_____

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree's life is full of chaos before you add a murder. She is juggling a house filled with 4 generations of family with only 1 bathroom. An addition to the house has begun but it hits a new frustrating snag every day. Her family keeps rolling with the punches better than I think most people could. Ellie's home life is quieter but with her husband away a lot she spends a lot of time at Jake's. I enjoy catching up with all of them with each new story. 

This story was action-packed with spine-chilling adventures. This book pushed the cozy mystery norms to the limits but I loved it. Treacherous boat rides, sharks, sharks, and did I mention sharks, a floating body, and more had me at the edge of my seat repeatedly. A kidnapping had me reeling. The showdown was intense and scary. I had an inkling about what was going on but I was truly so caught up reading the story on the pages that were swiftly flying I didn't firm up any guilty party. I was able to vividly imagine all the happenings thanks to the author's detailed descriptions. Jake and Ellie were tested. They were brave.

The subplots of what was happening at Jake's house and Ellie trying to come up with the perfect Chocolate Raspberry Scone recipe for a "really big" order, although I wouldn't call an order for 4 dozen big for a shop like The Chocolate Moose, gave readers a little break from the bedlam on the water.

Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone takes readers on some heart-pounding adventures with the people we have grown to care for over the course of this series. I was delightfully entertained even though had I been around those sharks like Jake and Ellie I would have died of a heart attack on the spot. Thankfully my heart handled reading about it all and I can't wait for more adventures with Jake and Ellie.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Profile Image for Trio.
3,577 reviews204 followers
April 6, 2024
I read Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves as a stand alone and it worked just fine! Graves does a nice job explaining who all the characters are so I was never guessing. This is Book 7 of A Death by Chocolate Mystery series.

Somewhere between a cozy mystery and a thriller Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone is one wild ride. An avenging grannie takes to the seas to rescue her abducted grandson. Between baddies and sharks, with some interesting relationships adding loads of charm, I really enjoyed this one.

The audio version is nicely performed by Suzie Althens who does a good job keeping up with the fast pace of this one. Very well done.

an audiobook copy of Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone was provided by Dreamscape Media for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Profile Image for Jenna (readinginjennaland).
951 reviews31 followers
April 22, 2024
I didn't find myself drawn to any of the characters or the mystery. I didn't know who any of the characters were and kept getting confused as to who was who. Since this is the seventh book in the series it's probably best to read in order. This book just wasn't my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Tracy Wood.
1,256 reviews26 followers
February 12, 2024
The clear blue skies of Eastport, Maine, mean Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White, owners of the Chocolate Moose Bakery, are battling the heat as summer reaches its peak. With boat loads of tourists, a new Chief of Police, and a report of unusual shark activity in the area, they are busier than ever!

When Ellie’s friend Sally begs them to find out what happened to her missing husband, how can they refuse? She also tells them her husband had a rare and valuable coin in his possession when he disappeared, which she needs to bring their kids up without him. As the investigation heats up alongside the temperature and the danger they find themselves in moves closer to home could they have finally met their match?

Book seven in Sarah Graves Death by Chocolate Mystery Series is a fast-moving, easy read, unless, of course, you're afraid of sharks! With one of the most chaotic homes in all of cosydom as the regular secondary storyline, there is a normalcy that reduces some of the tension at times but increases it at others. Just like real life, but without the deaths, hopefully! The title recipe is also included.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much and happily recommend it.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,163 reviews116 followers
December 26, 2023
#DeathbyChocolateRaspberryScone is the latest book in this series, featuring a favorite character, Jake Tiptree.
When a sudden death creates chaos for her home town, Jake and Ellie look into the disappearance of a friend's husband, but unfortunately, things aren't what they seem.
I usually love these books, but this one was a bit confusing, and I found myself having to re read some parts to see if I might have missed something.
It's still a great book and I love catching up with this cast of colorful characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
Profile Image for Boyschool.
579 reviews3 followers
May 11, 2024
I got to page 56. And then I DNF’d it. After the second description of engines that left me completely bored, I decided this book just wasn’t for me. “A blue, 22 foot vintage Bayliner with an open deck, a sweet little cabin, and a new Tohatsu 180 outboard engine on the transom, Sea Wolf was half the Frinch’s size”. This type of stuff just doesn’t interest me, and since this was the second such description, I just gave up. I wasn’t really invested anyway.
Profile Image for Dawn Marie.
591 reviews9 followers
April 8, 2024
I chose this because the title, cover and premise screamed cozy mystery to me and I love cozies. Unfortunately, this missed the mark for me. There's very little to do with the bakery or anything chocolate which I expect from a cozy. This is my first time reading this author so not reading the previous books I didn't know what to expect. The story isn't bad but the story drags and there are so many characters that I'm confused. Stopping at 74%. I tried to push through but I'm no longer invested in what happens. I wanted more of the cozy mystery feel but instead got just a small-town mystery, which doesn't interest me. I'll chalk this up to "it's me not you". One plus...I liked the narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Regina the Constant Reader.
396 reviews
June 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook 🎧

I’ve read every book in this series and this was my least favorite. I did give it four stars because I didn’t guess who the killer was until almost the end. The way it ended I have to wonder if there will be any more books in this series.
Profile Image for Angel.
546 reviews58 followers
April 21, 2024
"Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone" by Sarah Graves is Book 7 in her Death by Chocolate cozy mystery series. I liked this book. This is a pretty exciting thriller! It isn't gory, per the cozy mystery aspect, though. It has several likable characters.

And it has ...
SHARKS!! SHARKS!!! SHARKS!!!!!!!! YIKES!!

OK. Back to the review.
The main characters are Jacobia (Jake) and Ellie, proprietors of the Chocolate Moose bakery in Eastport, Maine. The new police chief is Lizzie Snow.

This is my first read of this series. It works well as a stand-alone, but there are a lot of other characters that would be more familiar with prior reading. Jake lives in an old house with her husband, her parents, and her son and his wife and kids. There is an old woman, Glenna, that many people think is a witch, and we are left wondering.

Jake and Ellie are investigating the disappearance of the husband of their friend, Sally Coates. He was a fisherman, and no body had been found. While they are searching, they also have to create a recipe for Chocolate Raspberry Scones for a big order. There is quite a bit of humor as Jake repeatedly gets in trouble from her clumsiness and her big mouth.

There are several dead bodies that turn up here and there. Near the end, a young child goes missing. I don't think Jake slept at all during the story, and certainly not once the boy is missing!

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 5/5
Narration - 5/5, Suzie Althens
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 5/5

I really liked this book. I recommend it to those who love cozy mystery and thrillers alike. It is exciting and entertaining! I'll read more of this series for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Sarah Graves for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
2,199 reviews28 followers
June 23, 2024
Princess Fuzzypants here: Sometimes when I read one of the books in this series, I have felt the two main characters, Jake and Ellie, go to extremes and get into more trouble than is justified. This time they get into as hair raising scary trouble as ever before but it did not seem like they were tottering on the edge of the Darwin Award. In fact, while the action was in places quite nail biting, it was never over the top or straining on my credulity. I really like it when a story can grip and excite but not be beyond my imagination. And this one did it.

Clearly the favourite in the series, the two are asked to investigate the disappearance of the husband of one of their friends. His boat is found but there is no sign of him. He happened to have a gold coin in his possession so it is possible foul play might be at work. This book has it all. Pirates and treasure, things that appear and disappear according to the tides and sharks. Hungry and determined sharks. Jaws has nothing on these guys.

It was a romp, beginning to end to figure out who was a good guy and who was a bad guy and to what degree they were both. There are daring rescues and near misses galore. This is a great book for summer reading…maybe not too close to shark infested waters. Five purrs and two paws up.
Profile Image for kathy.
1,430 reviews
June 17, 2024
I really enjoyed the author’s first mystery series called, “home repair is homicide”. Jake is slowly renovating her home and her son is growing up! I really enjoyed reading about the home repairs and things she did throughout that series.

Once she moved to a second series with all the same characters with Jake, her son, her dad, housekeeper Bella, and best friend Ellie whom I have enjoyed from the previous series, things seem to change for me in terms of enjoyment of her second mystery series. I just did not make the transition to the Chocolate Moose Bakery very well.

Her mysteries have a bit of a edge to them and some action. I found myself not enjoying the shark that kept following them every time they went out on the water. It was a little hard to stomach what happened to her grandson. I know the author likes to keep things interesting with the flow of the characters in each book facing challenges.

I found myself losing interest in the core mystery. It seemed like too many extraneous things were going on rather than the focus on the mystery of Sally’s husband and his disappearance.

I do enjoy all the individual characters and have been enjoying them from the very beginning with her murder is homicide mystery series.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews163 followers
May 4, 2024
A very lively and entertaining cozy mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Lovely setting, likeable characters and a solid mystery.
I liked how the narrator told the story even if I found a bit too fast at times.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Profile Image for Leah.
1,972 reviews
May 20, 2025
August

This story has sharks and scientists, pirates and treasure, and kidnapping and murder. The mystery was fun and interesting. The family drama was a lot less than in the last few books. It made this book much more enjoyable.
Profile Image for Melissa  P..
279 reviews29 followers
June 28, 2024
🍽 I'm very excited to pick up this series again!🥛
Well, this one wasn't my favorite. Maybe it's just me. The beginning was pretty good. Most of it toward the end was action-packed and entertaining, but a big chunk of the middle bored me. A lot of that reading dragged on and is easily forgettable. I really do like this series I wanted to give this more stars. If she writes another, I'll give the next book a try. That's all I'm really going to say for this review. Just had higher hopes of keeping me engaged throughout the book. I won't give up on the series though. Still love my cozy mysteries. Happy reading. 😘
Profile Image for Ellen.
362 reviews8 followers
April 22, 2025
I love the series, but this one was a but convoluted
Profile Image for Teresa.
2,245 reviews16 followers
April 28, 2024
I have enjoyed the books I have read so far in the Death by Chocolate series. In fact, so much so that I bought audiobook versions of the earlier ones and can’t wait to get the background information on some of the characters. Though I am sure it will be beneficial, you can actually read this one as a standalone and still enjoy it immensely. The characters are well developed and some of them are quite quirky. There are a lot of people to keep up with as you get settled in with the people of Eastport, Maine. This story will have you turning the pages quickly as you travel along with Jake and the rest of the inhabitants and tourists trying to solve a murder, find a missing 4-year-old grandson, and dealing with shark attacks. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat and biting your nails as you anxiously work to figure out who is guilty. I can’t wait for the next adventure with Jake and her family; her boyfriend, Dylan; and best friend, Elle. I’m sure it will be another grand adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!
Profile Image for Barbara Schultz.
4,124 reviews297 followers
April 4, 2024
Audiobook Title: Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone
Series: Death by Chocolate Book #7
Author: Sarah Graves
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narrator: Susie Althens
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Pub Date: April 23. 2024
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 202

This is Book #7 in this series. If you are new, here is some back ground~
Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and her BFF Ellie White are co-owners of the bake shop ‘The Chocolate Moose’. In Eastport, Maine
Jake lives in a large house that she is restoring with her husband, Wade, her father Jacob Tiptree and his wife Bella Diamond, Yes it is a big house as additionally Sam, his wife, Mika along and their children also live there.

Jake and Ellie are working at their bakery when their friend, Sally Coates, whose husband Paul has disappeared while out fishing. Sally begs Jake to find out what happened. Additionally her husband had a rare and valuable coin that he keeps with him for fear it will be stolen; Sally has concerns about its disappeared.
Although Jake and Ellie are super busy with the summer crowd they assure her they will talk to Lizzie Snow, the new police chief.

Jake and Ellie’s investigation leads them to quite an adventure. They are attacked by sharks and confronted by treasure hunters. Then there is Gilda the ‘Sea Witch’ – who has found a life vest and a boot!

However, when danger is close to home
I was with Jake and her worry and stress over finding her 4-year-old grandson who loves banging on xylophones, pots, anything that causes noise.

I did enjoy this – loved the narrator Susie Althens. Her voice made it even more enjoyable.
I look forward to read next in this series.

I am a psychological thriller fan as well as a Cozy mystery fan. I love and enjoy both and have different expectations from each.

Cozy Mystery link - https://cozymystery.com/authors/sarah...
There are several reasons a story is labeled as a “ Cozy Mystery” – no it isn’t that it will include a recipe! However this does! One stipulation is - “Little to no profanity’. I did love this story and true the profanity was little but to me it wasn’t necessary from the main characters. I get that the bad guys are nasty and speak – nasty!


About the Author: I have only read one of Sarah Graves stories but I love Cozy mysteries so I was sure I could catch on Jake’s adventures.
Sarah and her husband John, a musician and luthier, along with black Labrador Retriever live in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine.
When Sarah isn’t writing Jake's adventures, she works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.

Want to thank NetGalley and Dreamscape Media and Kensington Cozies for granting me this early audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 23, 2024.
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,047 reviews2,863 followers
July 22, 2024
Book Review: Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves

Rating: 3 Stars

I recently picked up Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone by Sarah Graves, and I have to admit, my experience was a bit of a mixed bag. Set in the charming little village of Eastport, Maine, we follow Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and her friend Ellie White as they whip up delectable desserts at their bakeshop while navigating the chaos of summer tourist season. Sounds sweet, right? Well, it starts off promising, but things take a dark turn that left me feeling a bit disappointed.

The plot kicks into gear when Sally Coates, a childhood friend of Ellie’s, believes her husband has been murdered at sea. She enlists Ellie’s help to find out who murdered him. As Jake and Ellie island-hop around Passamaquoddy Bay, they find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue filled with shady characters and a rising body count that feels more like a horror movie than a cozy mystery.

Now, here’s where I found the story lacking. With multiple deaths occurring throughout the book, it felt like the stakes were raised just for shock value, especially since none of them had anything to do with the chocolate, raspberries, or scones that the title promises. I’ve read my fair share of cozy mysteries, and usually, they give me that warm, fuzzy feeling alongside the whodunit element. This one, however, felt much less cozy. The body count kept climbing, and it started to feel like I was reading a thriller rather than a light-hearted mystery.

Another challenge I faced was keeping track of the numerous characters in the story. There were just so many plotlines and people involved that I often had to pause and remember who was who. It made the reading experience more cumbersome than enjoyable.

And let's talk about the boat talk. Oh boy! There were moments when my eyes glazed over from the endless nautical jargon. I appreciate that some readers might enjoy that level of detail, but for me, it felt excessive and detracted from the overall pacing of the story.

In conclusion, while Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone had its moments of intrigue and a fun premise centered around a bakeshop, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. It was more chaotic than cozy, with a plot that strayed too far from the delightful desserts promised by its title. If you’re looking for a light mystery with some culinary charm, this might not be the one for you. I’d give it three stars for its potential and setting but wish it had delivered a bit more sweetness instead of so much bloodshed.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Profile Image for Lghiggins.
1,026 reviews11 followers
August 7, 2025
Ellie and Jake (Jacobia) are best friends and business partners in the Chocolate Moose, a small bakery in Eastport, Maine. Death by Chocolate Raspberry Scone finds the pair dealing with a complex web of murders in the middle of a sweltering summer and hectic tourist season. There isn’t a body, just an abandoned boat and a non-grieving widow left with three children and a mystery. Her husband has shown her an antique gold coin which is missing too.

On the home front, Jake’s large old house is bursting at the seams with extended family lined up outside the only bathroom. An expansion is not progressing according to schedule and winter is closing in.

Sharks play a huge role in this mystery from attacks on the investigators to the possibility that they are involved in several deaths or at least the “disposal” of the remains. A group of shark scientists are having a convention in the town, and Ellie has promised three dozen Chocolate Raspberry Scones. Ellie is a creative genius when it comes to her baking, but she has yet to perfect a recipe for this treat.

Jake’s sweet grandson Ephraim plays a big role in this cozy mystery. This four year old loves making music on a variety of noisy instruments from a kazoo to a toy trumpet, and this interest leads to a discovery that is critical to the plot.

Another intriguing character is Glenna LaFarge, known locally as the “witch of Walk Island.” Despite all the somewhat scary legends that have emerged around her, Ellie and Jake embark on one of many boating adventures in the book to confront Glenna and try to uncover some of the many secrets surrounding murders, a kidnapping and theft in the small tourist town. Jake and Ellie both show their daring and brave side as they track down the murderer. There is a fair amount of tension in this mystery, but there is also some humor sprinkled in as Jake knows how to laugh at herself and the crazy situations she finds herself in.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
877 reviews41 followers
April 7, 2024
I love a little cozy mystery and I just found this series by Sara Graves. This is book 7 in the series and can be read independently from the first 6 books.

Jacobi Tiptree "Jake" and her best friend Elle White own a bakery in Eastport Maine called the Chocolate Moose, Jake is married to Wade. Her son Sam, wife Mika and their two children along with Jake's father Jacob Triptree and. his wife Bella Diamond all like with Jake and Wade in an large old house, Jake also loves to restore old houses and is currently working on the one she lives in, Sally comes into the bakery asking Jake and Elle to help her find out what has happened to her husband Paul as he is missing. Sally asked Jake and Elle for help as the are sometimes ametuer detectives. Lizzie Snow is the new Police Chief in town and and old friend of Jake and Elle's from when they were young.
Lizzie's "boyfriend" Dylan Hudson, a detective himself, shows up in town to try to rekindle his relationship with Lizzie. Things in town have been on edge for a bit as it seems that Eastport is in the middle of a heat wave. Sally is very distraught about Paul's disappearance and she ends up telling the ladies that Paul had a rare coin worth a bit of money and this may be why he has disappeared. Which is also why Sally thinks Paul may actually be dead. There are many tourist in town and the bakery is very busy. There is also a "shark convention" in town which also seems to create more business for he bakery. Peter Waldron is one of these shark specialist who shows up with a fancy research boat,
As Jake and Elle investigate along with Lizzie there are so many twist and turns to the plot that it keeps the reader wanting more, As time goes by Elle and Jake work the case eventually all is revealed and the town of Eastport Maine returns to normal, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now I want to read the others too,
Profile Image for Vicky.
Author 26 books59 followers
February 12, 2024
Thoughts: There are a lot of characters in this story — and some of them are real characters! Like a fisherman who chews his cigars and has raised two handsome twin boys. Or a 4-year-old who loves banging on xylophones, pots, anything that causes noise. And an old hermit woman who lives in a shack made of driftwood. And then there’s Jake. I didn’t *get* that she was a woman at first, but that became evident as I read—and no, I hadn’t read other books in the series so might have missed that fact— but how she retains her sanity in a household that is utterly insane is amazing. And I love that she’s not only an older woman (the 4-year-old is her grandson), but a klutz of the biggest order. She’s always falling or tripping, or stumbling, or having trouble climbing up and down ladders. Set on an island off the coast of Maine, the story spends a lot of time on the water — and in the water — with sharks (which I found interesting). And there are more dead bodies that Jake want’s to deal with. But she does, along with her friends.

This is a fun story with quirky characters and a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Profile Image for Carla.
7,529 reviews176 followers
July 2, 2025
The Chocolate Moose, owned by Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White’s bakeshop in the island village of Eastport, Maine is as busy as ever. They have a special request for chocolate raspberry scone, but need to come up with a new recipe. Their experimenting is interrupted by Sally Coates who asks for their help. She believes her husband has been killed and dumped off the coast. She wants Ellie, her childhood friend to find his body, and if not that, the gold doubloon he inherited from his grandfather. She needs it to support their family. With the help of the new Police Chief, Lizzie, they spend time on Passamaquoddy Bay searching for a body and some treasure. But they aren't the only ones trying to find the coin.

This book had shades of Jaws. There was a shark that seemed to be dogging them and besides bashing their boat, at one time ended up partly on the deck. Although Jake was petrified of some of the things they were doing, they made me giggle at times. I enjoyed the new characters we meet in this one. Dylan, Lizzie's boyfriend is also a police officer so they had lots of help in this one. Jake and her husband Wade are renovating a house so living with their son and his family and that adds another interesting storyline. Jake's grandson is in danger at one point and I could feel her distress. I had a feeling about the killer and I was partially right. There were some scary moments along the way, some twists and some laughs that kept me invested in this story. At the end, they finally get the scones made and we get the recipe at the end of the book.
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