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Chocolate, Lies, and Alibis: Traditional Cozy Mystery
(Previously published as Sweet Revenge (2016) by Morgana Best. This version has been extensively rewritten.)
Murder, Chocolate, and Garden Gnomes - What Could Go Wrong?
Narel Myers returns to her small Aussie town of Brambly Vale to open a chocolate shop and start fresh. What she doesn't expect is to find herself in the middle of a murder spree targeting her former high school classmates.
Armed with her best friend Lettie's investigative whiteboards, an alarming amount of chocolate, and one thoroughly antisocial rescue cat, Narel must navigate small-town secrets, peculiar laws, and a mysterious real estate agent who might not be who he claims to be.
But when the killer sets their sights on her, Narel discovers that sometimes the most unlikely hero comes with claws,
A delightfully quirky culinary cozy mystery perfect for fans of chocolate, cats, and small-town mayhem.
This culinary cozy mystery includes two chocolatey recipes!
Murder, Chocolate, and Garden Gnomes - What Could Go Wrong?
Narel Myers returns to her small Aussie town of Brambly Vale to open a chocolate shop and start fresh. What she doesn't expect is to find herself in the middle of a murder spree targeting her former high school classmates.
Armed with her best friend Lettie's investigative whiteboards, an alarming amount of chocolate, and one thoroughly antisocial rescue cat, Narel must navigate small-town secrets, peculiar laws, and a mysterious real estate agent who might not be who he claims to be.
But when the killer sets their sights on her, Narel discovers that sometimes the most unlikely hero comes with claws,
A delightfully quirky culinary cozy mystery perfect for fans of chocolate, cats, and small-town mayhem.
This culinary cozy mystery includes two chocolatey recipes!
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2025
About the author
Morgana Best
208 books431 followersUSA Today best-selling author Morgana Best survived a childhood of deadly spiders and venomous snakes in the Australian outback. Morgana Best writes cozy mysteries and enjoys thinking of delightful new ways to murder her victims.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 18, 2025
I got this book as an ARC reviewer and having read Ms Best books before, I started reading it inmediately and found myself at the begining chapter, as I read the first 5 pages on my kindle, I couldn't stop reading! It was't because of a corpse or a killing, but because of the depth of the emotions and amusing description of the caracters life that were shown in the first pages that had nothing to do with the book's title. So, I was so intrigued, I kept reading.
Narel Myers was at the hospital because she had a car accident that had her face and body" "reconstructed". She now was unrecognizable with a lovely make over. A great deal because of the accident. This also helped her return to her town to buy real state and open a Chocolate Shop.
Her Best friend Letty, went to school with her and went to the hospital to take her home.
Once they were in town Narel went on a date with a school classmate that didn't recognize her, and ended up dead.
From that momento on, deaths started to happen, and Narrel was suspect of them, but she and Lettie started investigating their classmates, because something was not right with them and while they were investigating, she gets saved by Narell's cat.
Loved this book. This has been a great one and Ms Best did a great story.
Narel Myers was at the hospital because she had a car accident that had her face and body" "reconstructed". She now was unrecognizable with a lovely make over. A great deal because of the accident. This also helped her return to her town to buy real state and open a Chocolate Shop.
Her Best friend Letty, went to school with her and went to the hospital to take her home.
Once they were in town Narel went on a date with a school classmate that didn't recognize her, and ended up dead.
From that momento on, deaths started to happen, and Narrel was suspect of them, but she and Lettie started investigating their classmates, because something was not right with them and while they were investigating, she gets saved by Narell's cat.
Loved this book. This has been a great one and Ms Best did a great story.
August 7, 2025
Chocolate, Lies, and Alibies is the first book in the Chocolate Shop Mystery series by Morgana Best.
This was such a fun traditional cozy mystery that I really enjoyed.
Narel Myers goes back to her small town of Brambly Vale to open her dream chocolate shop after having suffered a terrible accident.
She ends up in the middle of a murder spree, and it turns out they are all former classmates.
Her best friend Lettie helps her sort through the clues as the police think she is the prime suspect. I love her rescue cat "mongrel". The side story with the Gnomes and the law are hilarious.
The characters are quirky and funny. The mystery was well written.
I appreciate the LGBT representation with Lettie's character.
The recipes at the end of the book sound fantastic!
Can't wait to read the next book in this series!
This was such a fun traditional cozy mystery that I really enjoyed.
Narel Myers goes back to her small town of Brambly Vale to open her dream chocolate shop after having suffered a terrible accident.
She ends up in the middle of a murder spree, and it turns out they are all former classmates.
Her best friend Lettie helps her sort through the clues as the police think she is the prime suspect. I love her rescue cat "mongrel". The side story with the Gnomes and the law are hilarious.
The characters are quirky and funny. The mystery was well written.
I appreciate the LGBT representation with Lettie's character.
The recipes at the end of the book sound fantastic!
Can't wait to read the next book in this series!
August 9, 2025
Chocolate, Lies, and Alibis is the first book in the Chocolate Shop Mysteries.
After being involved in an auto accident. Narel Myers is no longer recognizable after multiple surgeries to repair the damage (normal, corrective, and plastic).
She gets out of the hospital just in time for her class reunion in which all of the "Populars" (the ones who were the IN group, otherwise known as those who bullied everyone they didn't think lived up to their expectations) has returned. Now someone is targeting them, and killing them off one by one. Starting with the one who humiliated Narel the worsts. Not recognizing her, he asked her on a date. When it didn't end the way he wanted it to, he storms off to his car. Which promptly explodes with him in it.
A fun story with a good bit of the humor and unusual twists from Morgana Best
After being involved in an auto accident. Narel Myers is no longer recognizable after multiple surgeries to repair the damage (normal, corrective, and plastic).
She gets out of the hospital just in time for her class reunion in which all of the "Populars" (the ones who were the IN group, otherwise known as those who bullied everyone they didn't think lived up to their expectations) has returned. Now someone is targeting them, and killing them off one by one. Starting with the one who humiliated Narel the worsts. Not recognizing her, he asked her on a date. When it didn't end the way he wanted it to, he storms off to his car. Which promptly explodes with him in it.
A fun story with a good bit of the humor and unusual twists from Morgana Best
August 14, 2025
Cocoa returns home following a lengthy stay in the hospital. She spent months recovering from a serious car accident and had enough facial reconstruction that she’s not recognizable. She’s returned home to open a gourmet chocolate shop. It’s high school reunion time and Narel’s friend talks her into attending. The Populars are out to continue their abuse of the class but not only Narel has changed. As The Populars are killed one by one, Narel must find the killer or be charged herself. She may also find herself charged with not naming her gnomes or giving them inappropriate names. Who knew? Fun Story!
September 15, 2025
I hadn’t realized when I first started reading this that it was basically the same book I’d read four or five years ago. Then I noticed it in the description but it’s definitely correct. The story wasn’t changed drastically as far as who was killed and who the perp was, but just updated nicely and gave Narel a female bestie who was a hoot at times. I honestly hadn’t remembered whodunit, and some other stuff I hadn’t remembered I just assumed were the new parts like those silly yard gnomes lol. I’m definitely reading the next book since I never got any farther than the first book in the original series.
August 15, 2025
Chocolate, Lies and Alibi s: Chocolate Shop cozy mystery book 1
After surviving a terrible crash a several survived she returns to her small town.. Her and her best friend get involved in trying to solve murders. A down to earth story of dreams of success, and living through high school with bullies.
After surviving a terrible crash a several survived she returns to her small town.. Her and her best friend get involved in trying to solve murders. A down to earth story of dreams of success, and living through high school with bullies.
August 19, 2025
My review for Chocolate, Lies, and Alibis
I absolutely loved it! I love Mongrel, what an awesome cat! I can’t wait to see how else he helps. A must read! I look forward to the next book.
I absolutely loved it! I love Mongrel, what an awesome cat! I can’t wait to see how else he helps. A must read! I look forward to the next book.
September 6, 2025
I enjoyed the first book in this series. I looking forward to book #2.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews