Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate

Whisper Hollow #3

by Laura M. Drake

(This book can be read on its own, but it does contain spoilers for books 1-2.)

Murder is in the air.

In Whisper Hollow, love comes with a dangerous twist. When someone is killed at the nursing home, Harper Coleman’s plan to enjoy a scavenger hunt organized by her boyfriend crumbles faster than a stale sugar cookie.

Her search for candy hearts turns into a hunt for a killer as Harper digs into the town’s secrets. An anonymous note at the bakery, rumors at the nursing home, and secrets at the Valentine’s Festival have people acting suspicious, but is it because of the scavenger hunt—or the murder? Either way, the town’s nosy residents are eager to help because they know Harper doesn’t just sell murder mysteries, she solves them.

Can she crack the case in time, or will Valentine’s Day end with something worse than heartbreak?

Check out the third Whisper Hollow Cozy Mystery where the sweetness of Valentine’s Day blends with a touch of suspense.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Cozy Mystery

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2025

About the author

My name is Laura M. Drake, and I'm the youngest of five kids. I grew up in Arkansas and moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University. After spending three summers abroad in France, Japan, and China, I graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and began teaching 4th grade near Salt Lake City. A few years later I moved back to Japan to fulfill a life-long dream of living there. When Covid got bad, I came back to America and have been living in Arkansas and writing full-time ever since. I'll soon be moving to UT and look forward to the new adventures that await me there. When I'm not writing (which isn't very often--I should probably get a life haha) I love playing ultimate frisbee, board games, writing in my journal, and spending time with friends and family.

Reviews

[Kylie ve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun murder mystery with the most adorable romance in it!
I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a cozy mystery with a dash of romance and a cat who likes to get into trouble.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Each book gets better, and I loved the scavenger hunt.

[Spiced Tea Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate was a sweet little cozy mystery with just a hint of darkness. The twist was a bit obvious, but honestly, I didn’t mind. I’m here for the charming town of Whisper Hollow and its quirky residents. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to curl up under a blanket with a mug of Nancy’s dark chocolate cocoa and stay awhile.

[Susan Reads Cozies · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only I could live in Whisper Hollow…. I absolutely love Harper and Sebastian as a couple!. With this series, I come for the mystery but stay for the romance. The quest was so much fun. It was almost like a treasure hunt. The mystery was done well. I almost thought it was just a regular death, but I should have known better. Once again, I was distracted by Sebastian.

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Jill Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and cozy just like the other two books in this series! Perfect little mystery/romance for love month!

[Susan B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This may have been my favorite out of the series ~ I loved the progression of Seb & Harper's relationship, as well as the crime! I would love to see this story continue!

[Amber Grube · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Drake does it yet again. I was so excited for this as I loved the first two books. This was perfect for Valentine's and I loved the murder mystery and scavenger hunt. I was immediately thrown back into the small town and all the amazing characters. It was fun how they have all come along.

Thank you Laura for an ARC copy!

[Emma Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚨Call the Dr, Emma read something that wasn’t fantasy and absolutely LOVED it 👩🏻‍⚕️🩻

These little books are exactly what I needed right now! I haven’t been able to pick up a book since my Nan passed away, then I got Covid and forgetttttt it. My brain decided it couldn’t read anymore. But these, these amazing books were the thing to pull me back to the light.

@lauramdrakebooks sent me this series last year as ARCs and while I read book one straight away (murder with a hint of pumpkin spice), I never got around to finishing the rest.

Since they’re short novels, I decided to reread book one yesterday (which took me half a day!) and jumped into book two (Murder with a hint of peppermint) yesterday and today I’ll start book three. Laura’s writing is hilarious and so easy to digest. No overthinking required. My tired, Covid-fogged brain didn’t need to decode fantasy maps or figure out intense magic systems. Instead, I got a cozy murder mystery that felt like Gilmore Girls with a splash of Nancy Drew 😂

I mean… moody MMC? Bookstore FMC? And the neighbour runs a bakery café hybrid?? It’s like this series was written for me. You know I’m sick if I’m voluntarily reading something that isn’t fantasy, but I’m also a true crime girlie at heart, so this is my perfect exception. Laura is honestly a literary genius 🥰

If you’re after something cozy, sweet, seasonal, and a little murdery (without the chest pains) this series is for you. I’ll be saving my favourite nerdy quotes and posting them over the next few days as I continue devouring these!

[Tonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for this book! Returning to Whisper Hollow for more romance and another Murder.
Harp and Seb's relationship is the absolute best. Even though they gave both through a lot and have trust issues, they trust each other rightfully. They are not only the perfect couple but the best team when it comes to investigating murders. For such a small town, they have had too many, but this one hit way too close to home. Losing Sal upset everyone, and with Seb being gone for a business trip, Harper took it upon herself to investigate, with the town's subtle gossip giving her clues, of course. Crazy suspicions being tossed at Sal's daughter, the nurse.. Harper was determined to figure it out, all while having a little fun on the scavenger hunt Seb planned for her (with the town's help) for while he was gone.
I love the balance between romance and mystery. Harper is so relatable, Sebastian is the perfect example of a golden retriever. The side characters, including Nancy, Maria, and the star, Jiji really make this story come together.
Loved the ending, so much! Perfect for Valentine's Day!

[Natasha sebuwufu · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

As book three in the Whisper Hollow Mystery series, I was super excited to get my hands on an early copy of Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate! This cozy Valentine’s-themed mystery is packed with small-town charm, a dash of romance, and, of course, a puzzling murder to solve.

Synopsis:
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, the sweet scent of chocolate and romance fills the air in Whisper Hollow. But when a local chocolatier is found dead under suspicious circumstances, our amateur sleuth is back on the case, untangling secrets hidden beneath the town’s picture-perfect surface. As love is in the air, so is danger—and solving this case might just come at a heart-stopping cost.

I absolutely loved being back with these characters and seeing their relationships continue to grow. The story is a super quick and engaging read, with well-paced chapters and a wonderfully seasonal feel—something I always enjoy in cozy mysteries! And that ending? Perfect! If you’re looking for a cute, charming mystery to curl up with this Valentine’s season, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Terri Van Steen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well no surprise here but Laura Drake has knocked another one out of the park!!!

Before I started reading this book I was thinking, how much more could she possibly have to write about with such a small town. Let me tell you, she had PLENTY!!!

Not only do we get to continue watching Harper and Sebastian’s relationship develop we of course get to go on another murder mystery ride. We get to meet some more side characters and characters they are lol. We of course get plenty more of the wonderful Nancy in our lives as well.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers but what I will say is a really loved the mystery within the mystery that this book has and it has a special place in my heart as I’ve had a similar experience in real life!

If you’re a fan of Gilmore girls, the good witch or the pumpkin pie cafe series then this series is for you.

I can’t wait to see what happens next in Whisper Hollow!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute story in this small town! I really wondered how another murder was going to happen, but this one felt like a very realistic scenario. I loved how this one played out and I thought the romance with Seb and Harper was adorable once again! I do wish they had more scenes together but I think it added a cute dynamic to see them apart and for Seb to create a whole scavenger hunt for her. Loved how involved the whole town was with that as well! As much as I want to see where the stories in the town lead, I do wonder if any more murders will happen for that to be the case for this series. Hard to continue stories with that theme, but maybe the author will surprise me!! Looking forward to hearing what may happen from here. I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Whispering Hollow series and as with the other two, it was a delightful read. The main character, Harper, is written so well and fun. She loves her new hometown and has a thing about getting into the mystery of investigating murders. Her boyfriend Sebastian, is one who everyone would like to have as a boyfriend. He also is well written and certainly likeable. The storyline was good with the death of a nursing home patient but also a scavenger hunt for Harper created by her boyfriend since he was out of town. So once again, Harper investigates the murder which gives us a good feel of all the other people in the town of Whispering Hollow. I hope the author continues this series.

[Josie Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

"With the killer in custody and Seb in town, things were the most right they’d been all week. So why did it feel like I was still missing something?" 🤎

Another cute cosy mystery in this series and another really enjoyable read. I really love the cosy mystery style of book and even better that it has some cute clean romance in it too.

This was such a fun read, I loved trying to follow the clues and try and work out who the murderer was. There were some parts I thought I'd worked out really quickly, then there were a good number of red herrings thrown in to put me off the scent.

Great story, pretty speedy read and a selection of twists and turns to keep it interesting. I have enjoyed this whole series so far and I definitely recommend them all 🍫

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard there’d be another book in the Whisper Hollow Series, I couldn’t wait to read it! You’re immersed once again in the little town of Whisper Hollow, with Valentines Day just around the corner! Not only with another murder but with more romance! You see the relationship between Seb and Harper continue to grow and flourish. They’re so adorable together! And Sebs scavenger hunt for Harper is so sweet and thoughtful! And Nancy, with a secret admirer! I simply enjoy these and all of the characters! Especially cute and mischievous Jiji!

Another great, cute and cozy mystery to read! This one though hits close to the heart. A very engaging and captivating read with such a beautiful ending. I absolutely loved it and look forward to reading more!

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Harper's sweetie gone over Valentine’s Day, what was a girl to do except try and solve someone's murder, right? It was sad that the person who was killed was a super nice person everyone liked and I do remember her from the other books. Seb had made the coolest scavenger hunt for Harper and the only bad thing was that he had to be away while she was enjoying it.

But he had a few cards up his sleeve as the book went on. Meanwhile Harper was investigating the murder and getting pretty discouraged that everyone was alibiing out—I could feel her pain. The showdown was really good once she and the sheriff had things figured out. Then the actual book ending was the absolute best! I've come to love these characters a lot and hope the series continues.

[Tanya Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate is the perfect Valentine’s Day cozy murder mystery read.
-Scavenger hunt
-Secret admirer
-Small town
-Mysterious cat strikes again
-Quotes from famous books
-And a twist you won’t see coming
This is the third book in the series and I’ve been dying for a certain couple to get together permanently, but this book didn’t disappoint. There were so many things going on I was entertained until the very end. Great read to get you in the V. Day spirit. And can someone please tell my husband to do a scavenger hunt for me that involves the whole town?
CW: Murder mild and not gory. Sweet kisses
TW: Loss of loved one

[Momma T's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seb and Harp are at it again. 💋In our 3rd visit to Whisper Hollow, it becomes apparent that the owner of Whispering Pages 📚 needs a new job title. Detective.

A very cozy and sweet murder mystery and romance. While Harper is trying to figure out the mystery, Seb is putting together the greatest mystery of all. A Treasure Hunt and the Valentine's Festival.❤️

How does it end? With several Gigi 🐈‍⬛️ moments of mayhem. 2 puzzles solved. And a moment that we have been waiting for since book 1. The plot thickens and gets better with every visit to Whisper Hollows. A couple more people to get to know as well. I can't wait to see what the next one brings.

[PlotTwist_Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three of in the Whisper Hollow Mystery series, I have come to love so much. I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of Murder with a Hint of Dark Chocolate

This is such a cute, fun and cozy little Valentine’s-themed mystery, with the absolutely prefect ending to this book. It wrapped it up in a sweet little Valentine’s day gift for her readers.

This cozy Valentine’s themed mystery is packed with the small town charm we have all come to love. It has so much with a scavenger hunt for Harper to solve to get her valentines gift. At the same time she’s is also searching for clue to solve a puzzling murder at the nursing home.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I've got so much praise for this story I don't know what liked more: the continuous bookish references, or the Zelda reference (since I'm a fan of both lol.)

But seriously, this was an excellent story, with an amazing flow and written well. I love how the mystery was crafted and the sub-mysteries/quests that ran alongside it. I love the twists and turns, and the suspense that keeps me turning pages. I love how although romance is involved, it didn't overtake the whole story and was a clean read.

This is the third book I've read in this series, and if you haven't read any of them yet, I personally would highly recommend it.

[Arleigh Salerno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than the part where some people are dropping... I still find myself wishing I could live in a town like Whisper Hollow. The way I picture what is happening as I read never changes, so the author does so great with not straying from desptions. As with the other books in the series, this book had the perfect mix of emotions. I would love to visit one of the festivals this town puts on... and Jiji... still my favorite character. Her and her sassy little self.
Oh, and that ending? My heart melted, and I may have jumped up and down in my chair at work.

[Miranda Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous story in this series!
Harper and Seb (and Jiji too of course!) are back at it again in Whisper Hollow as another murder unfolds.
This adorable love story certainly keeps the mystery alive.
The numerous thrilling discoveries during the murder investigation, a secret admirer, and a scavenger hunt make this must read fly by!
Clean cut, and just adorable in general, this is the perfect read for Valentine's Day... Or the day after if that's your thing 😉

[Aryel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the Whisper Hollow series, and I cannot get enough of it! We follow up with Seb and Harper about a year after they started dating and things are getting hot (chocolate 🤪). When another resident is, you guessed it, mur dered and Sebastian out of town, Harper must continue her crime solving streak and solve the mystery! We continued with many characters we already know and love! And speaking of love, romance is in the air for more than just our main pair 😉

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

😭😭😭 the feels I freaking lived this book so much!!!! From the scavenger hunt and murder mystery to the beautiful ending I just about cried at the end it was so good I never wanted to put it down which I unfortunately had to cuz of work 🥲 finally could finish it today though. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next murder mystery 🤗 perhaps some wedding planning 👀👀 book 4 can't get here soon enough!!!

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series so much! These perfect feel good story. A mystery with a cute romance in the mix!

I loved the scavenger hunt that was set up for this one & of course the ending of the hunt was perfect!

I was not expecting who turned out to be the murder to be that person.

The stolen ring?! Phew 😮‍💨 thank goodness for the outcome!

I want to say thank you to Laura for sending me another ARC copy from the Whisper Hollow Mysteries.

[Elizabeth Snow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the cozy Whisper Hollow Mysteries wasn’t as satisfying to me as the others. It takes place a year later, which seemed appropriate, and still follows the holiday motif (Halloween, Christmas, and now Valentine’s Day.) While Seb and Harper are a great couple who enjoy a sweet and romantic relationship, with Seb away on business for a large part of the book, the sparks didn’t seem as bright.

Dark Chocolate? Good choice. Believable scenario for a third local murder? Well done. But all the people in this town – aside from the murderers! – seem too sweet, and the decorations too plentiful. Still, this book is still a good pick if you’re looking for something simple and cozy. Or if you need ideas for amazing desserts to enjoy.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

MURDER WITH A HINT OF DARK CHOCOLATE BY LAURA M DRAKE.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This is my 2nd time reading this series and it's amazing.
Love the cozy Valentines vibes of it.
♥ Sebastian and Harper ♥
I still just want to visit Whispering pages and have a sweet treat and hot drink at Superplum Delights 🎂🫖🍰☕️🥧
This is my 4th book by Laura in a row and im Looking forward to checking out her other books ☺
Highly recommend this book

[beccy clish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

I’ve been on Laura’s arc team since the beginning and I’m fully into the whisper hollows story. As always it’s a light hearted small town murder mystery with romance thrown in. All your favourite characters are back with the two main characters - harper and seb continuing their relationship whilst also determined to solve the new murder.

[Jessica Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these cute books. To continue into Harper's life in Whisper Hollow, we are into a new holiday- Valentine's Day! And what's a new holiday without a new murder? The lighthearted parts of H&S's relationship gets cuter by the book and the who done it makes this book easy to read in a short time frame. Loved it, can't wait for more!

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know this is a mystery, but Seb and Harper are just so cute together! I loved every scene they have together and honestly wish there could have been more. Not only is the romance cute, but the mystery was intriguing as well! There were good twists and turns that drew me in while balancing well with the light-hearted moments. I look forward to future books by Laura M. Drake!