Criminally Ungrateful

A Seasonal Sweet Mystery #2

by Courtney Flagg

The enchanting aroma of freshly baked treats drifts through the streets as Emma Marsh and Lilly, the dynamic duo behind Candyland Confections, prepare for a Thanksgiving Day unlike any other. As the town eagerly anticipates the annual Thanksgiving Day parade, Emma finds herself entangled in a delectable mystery in Criminally Ungrateful.

With the candy shop adorned in autumnal hues and scrumptious holiday delights, Emma and Lily eagerly await the arrival of locals and visitors alike. But when the float's centerpiece, a giant turkey-shaped piñata filled with luscious candies, goes missing just hours before the grand event, panic ensues. Determined to save the day and preserve the spirit of Thanksgiving, Emma dons her sleuthing apron and sets out to uncover the truth

ebook

First published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the town of Woodsville, everyone is excited about the upcoming Thanksgiving Parade, Candyland Confections are chosen to enter a float, things keep going missing from the communal areas provided to fix up the floats then the local handyman is found dead! Detective Kennedy is investigating but Emma and Lilly her sister ,the owners of Candyland Confections take up the case . Well Emma does as Lilly has her thoughts on a certain new detective …It’s a brilliant cosy short mystery read, captivating the essence delightfully. I read a free copy and my review is voluntary and my own words

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short murder mystery story built around the Thanksgiving Parade in Woodsville. Emma and Lilly, who own Candyland Confections, are chosen through a drawing of local businesses, to have a float in the parade. But while working on their float in the provided warehouse, some odd things happen - people start noticing that the items for their float stored in the communal room are missing and the handyman is found dead. Although reported to Detective Kennedy from the Sheriff’s office, who is looking into it, Emma decides to also investigate. A story just in time for Thanksgiving! I received a free copy and write this review voluntarily.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma and her sister Lilly are at it again. Their candy store is chosen to do a float for the Thanksgiving parade and the handyman has a fatal accident while working on their float. Emma starts investigating between making candy and float building while Lilly finds a possible new boyfriend with the new detective in town. Quick, fun read.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanksgiving cozies are rare and with it being my favorite holiday, combining it with a mystery is right up my alley.  Creating a float for the local Thanksgiving Day parade, sisters Emma and Lilly have their hands full to meet the deadline.  However, when the handyman helping with the floats is found dead after working on theirs and a part of their float ends up missing, sabotage seems possible.  Now whether murder is too, is yet to be determined.  

I loved the premise and setting for this cozy, but the reveal is too sudden and the motive a little anticlimactic.  But overall, still an enjoyable mystery to get you in the mood for the holiday.  

I received a complimentary ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Bonnie J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author.
This is one of my favorite new series. Emma and Lilly are decorating a float for the town's annual Thanksgiving parade when the electrician winds up dead, but was it an accident or murder? There's a cute new detective in town and, together, they will get to the bottom of this. Lots of candy, a creepy clown and a turkey pinata are involved. A fun seasonal mystery.

[Carol Gadient · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly?! After the first one this one moved way too fast and made you feel like there were huge sections of missing information that could've taken this from a short story into a novel and it could've worked beautifully but this one whilst a good read was less fun and entertaining than the last one I enjoyed by this author. I think her short stories work but not when they have full story inclinations. Still enjoyed for sure!

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thanksgiving Day parade is coming up. Everyone is busy preparing their float. And then the handy man gets killed. Emma and her friends dive into this new mystery. Just as the first story this is again a sweet short read that is very enjoyable and easy to read. I recommend this series.
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute series and after reading the first book before Halloween, I didn’t quite make reading this one by Thanksgiving but I’m gonna binge right into the next book set at Christmas. I wasn’t sure about whodunit until the clues started falling into place and never would’ve figured the why. Another fun and quick little holiday read!

[Joslyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first book sometime last year and remember it being pretty good but I just couldn't get into this one, unfortunately.