Gumdrops, Ghosts, and Graveyards: A Pumpkin Hollow Candy Store Mystery

by Kathleen Suzette

In the charming town of Pumpkin Hollow, where every day is Halloween, sisters Mia and Christy run the beloved Pumpkin Hollow Candy Store, filling it with treats that delight residents and tourists alike. With ghostly streets, quirky shops, and jack-o'-lanterns glowing throughout the year, it's no surprise that the town also hides a few mysteries behind its picturesque façade.

Mia, married to police detective Ethan Banks, enjoys a peaceful life filled with candy, family, and Halloween fun. But when someone digs up the graves at the town's old abandoned graveyard, Mia and Christy find themselves wrapped up in a spine-chilling mystery. The graveyard caretaker, Ed Robinson, is discovered dead amidst the age-worn tombstones, just days after trying to ward off the mysterious gravedigger who has been unearthing the resting places of Pumpkin Hollow's ancestors.

With Detective Banks officially on the case, Mia and Christy decide to conduct their own investigation. Armed with determination, sisterly intuition, and a handful of candy for sustenance, they delve into the town's mysteries to catch a killer. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in. The mysterious gravedigger might not be the only one with a dark secret in Pumpkin Hollow.

Can Mia and Christy unwrap the mystery before the shadows of the past come back to haunt them? Indulge in a bewitching blend of cozy mystery, family bonds, and delicious candy.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2023

Reviews

[Alexa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second in the series. I also read this one in one evening - clear, easy-to-follow text in a comfortable modern setting that flows quickly and easily, like eating a bag of gumdrops or bingeing a favorite tv show.

Only, wait. It's still "almost Halloween" and the kids are the same ages from the last book and there's ANOTHER murder in their very small town and no one says, "Hey, we just solved a murder LAST week!" ??? this is starting to feel kind of Cabot Cove-y to me.

But still a fun little morsel before bed, nothing more. The ending was kind of anti-climactic because they had set up several possible suspects/explanations and the denouement was kind of just - oh, it was this person. Nothing clever or witty or hidden that made you go back and think OH that's why that happened in chapter four!

So nothing here to really puzzle out. This was not a crunchy, get-your-brain-in-gear mystery. Just something cozy and simple and light. It's fine for what it is and fun to read at Halloween.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun Halloween read and included plenty of good times with Mia and Christy’s cute families. Their kids crack me up! Charlie’s like five going on fifteen, lol. Christy’s two girls remind me of the two youngest girls from that fun little nineties show all about a (without naming titles) very crowded but loving home. 😉

I was never positive about whodunit because there were a few suspects that made sense. The showdown was good, quick and fairly safe. I’ll be borrowing the next book and hoping to read it before Halloween, but if not, I really enjoy Halloween so reading it later isn’t a biggie.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so excited for this new series!

It's wonderful to go back to Pumpkin Hollow and back to the characters that we know and love. I also love that this series is just in time to feed my need for more fall-themed cozies!

As always, these books are well-written (and I would argue that the newer ones are even better written than the earlier ones, since you can see the clear growth of practice). I love the characters, and the dialogue is well-done. (That's an odd thing to mention, perhaps, but it's a big deal to me.)

I highly recommend these for cozy mystery lovers!

[Sheila Penwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, Mia and Christy are running the candy shop and they are the amateur sleuths in this series and they are good . They get themselves in some dangerous situations but it always works out in the end. This time Ed , who takes care of the old graveyard is found there . A murder victim, of course. So Ethan is busy trying to figure it out. Halloween. is a busy time. They are all busy but always find time for family. A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY SERIES

[Jillian Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the cozy murder mystery vibes. I think these books are boring af but they can be cute sometimes. I really liked Mia and Christy's family. Charlie was so sassy and it was cute.
I would not recommend these books because they are not wreck your brain to figure out the mystery, but if you want to read a cozy mystery with little twists or memorable plot, this would be a good pick.

[Susan Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gumdrops, Ghosts and Graveyards

This was a cute cozy mystery with a lot of no good going on!
Mia and Christy get themselves in some dangerous situations but luckily enough one of them have the foresight to know what to do!
I really like this story!!!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

I am so glad that the author brought back these wonderful characters for this new series. I hope there are many more.