Chocolat Chaud Murder

Patisserie Mystery #9

by Harper Lin

Includes Hot Chocolate Recipes Not only is it the busy Christmas season in Paris, but Clemence Damour has a wedding to plan. When she goes wedding dress shopping at La Belle, a small boutique in the 6th arrondissement, the dress designer is found dead. Inspector Cyril St. Clair thinks it is the designer’s ex-boyfriend, but as usual, he’s wrong. Can Clemence find the murderer and the perfect wedding dress, as well as create new holiday-inspired French desserts for the family patisseries?

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the final book in a culinary cozy mystery series set in France, featuring delicious recipes of French pastries and desserts.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2015

About the author

Harper Lin is the 3x USA Today Bestselling Author of several popular cozy mystery series—8 and counting!

When she’s not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga class, hiking, and baking with friends and family. 


Be the first to hear about early bird discounts and new book releases by signing up for Harper's Newsletter: https://goo.gl/R7XmFR

www.harperlin.com

Reviews

[Valentina Markasović · Rating 4 out of 5]

2016 reading challenge - a murder mystery

My first review in 2016! I got this book a couple of weeks ago because I'm on the author's review crew. I'm sorry I haven't had the time to read it up until now.

Ninth in the Patisserie Mystery series, Chocolate Chaud Murder picks up right where the last book left. Clemence is getting married and is currently looking for the perfect wedding dress in an obscure but elegant boutique. Instead, she finds a corpse.

I liked the mystery, it wasn't as predictable as I always fear it would be. My suspicions were confirmed in the end, though. The food in this food mystery isn't as accented as in previous books (and that may be just as well, since I believe we've all been gorging ourselves on holiday food and delicious descriptions just make me hungrier). I also liked the appropriate Christmas setting of the book.

Overall, I liked the book and I can't wait for the next one.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chocolat Chaud Murder by Harper Lin is the ninth book in A Patisserie Mystery series. Clemence Damour is looking for the perfect wedding dress in Paris, France for her wedding to Arthur Duboil. Clemence is trying on dresses at La Belle which is co-owned by Adine (who designs the dresses) and Jennifer Moss. Clemence may have found the perfect dress, but a scream rings out. Perrie, Adine’s assistant, found the body of Adine in her apartment. Inspector Cyril St. Clair is the head inspector and warns Clemence to stay out of the investigation. Of course, Clemence has no intention of listening to him. Clemence sets out to find the killer. She is determined to solve the crime. Will Clemence be able to figure out who killed Adine?

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the first book I have read in A Patisserie Mystery series. It is a short book (really it is too short) and easy to read. I found it lacking though. It seemed a little superficial. We are not given much information on any of the characters (last names seemed to be lacking). There were also no clues. I like to follow the clues to solve the mystery. We are given a clue just before the killer is revealed. I had already figured it out (it was very simple), but I like the investigation and the bread crumbs that lead us the murderer. I felt that the crime happened to early in the book. I wish authors would not have someone killed in the first chapter. The book does have a good flow which makes it easy to read and enjoy. I give Chocolat Chaud Murder 3 out of 5 stars. I do recommend if you read you start at the beginning of the series. I think it would be beneficial (and helpful to understand the main characters).

I received a complimentary copy of Chocolat Chaud Murder from the author in exchange for an honest review.

http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogs...

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the first book I have read in the Patisserie Mystery series even though it is the ninth book Harper Lin has written in this series. The main character is Clemence Damour. She is the executive of the Damour Patisserie of Paris. But it seems that she is always finding herself involved in solving local murders. In this story, Clemence is planning her upcoming wedding to Arthur Duboil. That is what brings her to Let Belle boutique to try on wedding dresses. Adine, the La Belle dress designer, is found dead in her third floor apartment by her assistant.  I did not feel that the characters were given much depth. Of course the first suspect is the ex boyfriend.  However Clemence first wants to talk to the co-owner, Jennifer Moss. Here she finds the next murder victim. We do not have very many clues as to who might be committing the crimes. But mingled between dinners with friends, wedding planning and holiday activities with family, Clemence is able to solve both murders. This was a quick, easy, enjoyable read. Look forward to future work by Harper Lin.

[Penny Marks]

This is the 9th book in the Patisserie Mystery series. I have loved everyone of them. What is not to love, you have murder,mystery,romance, and the most important chocolate!
The city of love, Paris is an amazing place full of romance. So it comes as a surprise to Clemence, who is looking for the perfect wedding dress at the famous La Belle to find one of the owners dead. Actually, murdered in her own apartment over the store. Perrie, Adine's assistant and Clemence call the police and her favorite detective,NOT!!! Cyril shows up. First thing he does is start accusing Clemence and her family's business, Damour as cursed because there have been products from their company at all the murders. Ridiculous or is it??? Now not only is Clemence placed in the middle of another murder she has a wedding dress to find, a wedding to plan and Christmas coming. Yikes!
I love all of the characters in these books and can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the 9th book in the series about French Patisserie maker, Clemence Damour. She has an uncanny ability to uncover murders and solve them.

It is a pleasant and fast paced story, with enough bakery talk to make you hungry for a special treat! The murder she solved didn't seem very complex, and she had a lot of help and support from her fiancee and friends. You did get a good sense of Paris and what the city is actually like. The book ends with a couple variations of hot chocolat recipes.

I have not read the entire series, and it did not diminish my enjoyment or understanding of Clemence or her pursuits. You can start right here or go back and read the whole series...

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a delightful series! I enjoyed catching up the characters and seeing what was going on in their lives. This is a novella that is easy to read, the story is not too complex so it can be read in one sitting. I liked the quick flow of the story, it was nice to have something to read that I could finish in one sitting. I think this can be read as a stand-alone if you don't want to start at the beginning though I think you will get more information about the main characters if you do. I look forward to reading more books from this author.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Lots of Fun to Read!

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the 9th book in the Patisserie Mystery series. It takes place in Paris, the City of Love, during the Christmas season. Clemence, the main character, is shopping for her perfect wedding dress in a small boutique called La Belle. Not only does she find what appears to be the perfect dress, but she also finds the dead body of the boutique's head designer. I love the relationship that Clemence shares with her good friends, family, & employees. Despite the murders, this is a quick breezy read, that is endearing & just plain fun to read!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chocolat Chaud Murder is the 9th book in the Patisserie Mystery series. This series is new to me, but I found it easy to follow the characters. This book is set in Paris during Christmas. Clemence is shopping for her wedding dress and has decided to try out the small boutique La Belle. Clemence thinks she has found the perfect dress, but then finds herself investigating the murder of the shop's designer.

This book has a lot of Paris flavor and is a fun and quick read.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy mystery as Clemence is getting ready for her wedding. She is looking for a wedding gown but the designer is murdered. Clemence helps the police although the Inspector is less than thrilled with her and her theories. I liked how Clemence and Cyril spar whenever they meet at a scene. I did not figure out who the murderer was until the end. This can be read as a standalone but I want to read the earlier books because I have to know what caused Cyril to dislike Clemence. I am definitely going to try the French Hot Chocolate as the end of the book. It sounds devine!

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder would really spoil the fun of wedding dress shopping. The dresses sounded fabulous. I liked that the book was a quick read that was finished in one sitting. Clemence and Arthur don't seem very romantic. But she is the one marrying him, not me. The whodunit was a good read. I enjoyed it. This is the first book I have read from this series.

I did receive an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a new Harper Lin fan, I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, but it wasn't required to enjoy this novella. I'm partial to stories with a wedding themed background story and this didn't disappoint. Wonderful references to current times. More of a 3.75. I look forward to reading more titles from this series.

[Donna K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. It was easy to follow and a fun mystery.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris at Christmas time! Love it! Another fun, fast-paced mystery by Harper Lin that I highly recommend!

[Sue Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Highly recommend. Another fan story I just hope that this isn't the last one in this series. As I want more.

[Tunde Molnar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

Clemence is an heiress to a patisserie in Paris whose signature item is macarons/macarones/macaroons. Author and editor can't decide. Clemence is caught up once again in a murder in which she is the only one who can solve it. This girl/young woman/woman - engaged to be married to her boy/young man/man - again the author and editor can't decide - finds herself in ridiculous situations and conversations that are pointless.
The premise is good. Character development is not. So many better written murder cozies with far more engaging characters and story line.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although these aren't the best written novels or most intriguing mysteries, I will miss being immersed in Parisian life with Clemence and all of my friends at Damour :)

[Christiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice roundup of the series. Think it would be alright for young readers to get into some sleuthing