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Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum #4
Chocolate à la Murder
Maddie gets rattled by a candy-coated murder.
It's Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto, and paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie visits the town's new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie's determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her fate bittersweet?
It's Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto, and paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie visits the town's new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie's determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her fate bittersweet?
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2019
72 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Weiss
110 books1,302 followersKirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
January 17, 2019
Chocolate a la Murder by Kirsten Weiss is the fourth book in the cozy A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series. Each book in the series features a new murder case to be solved so they could be read as a standalone if one chooses although some character/setting building would be missing if not starting at the beginning.
In this installment of the series we pick back up with Maddie Kosloski who owns the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum in San Benedetto. The museum is a local town tourist attraction that exhibits artifacts that have a paranormal or haunted history attached to them. Maddie’s latest artifact is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
As Maddie jumps in and gets involved in Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto she finds that she is missing the key chocolate to make her Magic of Chocolate exhibit a success. Maddie decides to just head over to the chocolate shop and pick up the delivery herself but when she walks into a quiet business only to discover the owner in the back covered in chocolate and an apparent murder victim so Maddie again finds herself hunting down a murderer in her small little town.
I have been following the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series since the beginning and really enjoy picking up each new installment. This would be one that definitely has that quirkiness to it that I enjoy and a great cast of character returning from book to book, along with GD the ghost detecting kitty cat. It’s not overly heavy on the paranormal but that little touch just gives it a bit of something extra fun. Already looking forward to the next visit with Maddie and friends.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In this installment of the series we pick back up with Maddie Kosloski who owns the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum in San Benedetto. The museum is a local town tourist attraction that exhibits artifacts that have a paranormal or haunted history attached to them. Maddie’s latest artifact is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
As Maddie jumps in and gets involved in Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto she finds that she is missing the key chocolate to make her Magic of Chocolate exhibit a success. Maddie decides to just head over to the chocolate shop and pick up the delivery herself but when she walks into a quiet business only to discover the owner in the back covered in chocolate and an apparent murder victim so Maddie again finds herself hunting down a murderer in her small little town.
I have been following the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series since the beginning and really enjoy picking up each new installment. This would be one that definitely has that quirkiness to it that I enjoy and a great cast of character returning from book to book, along with GD the ghost detecting kitty cat. It’s not overly heavy on the paranormal but that little touch just gives it a bit of something extra fun. Already looking forward to the next visit with Maddie and friends.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
May 15, 2019
Chocolate a la Murder is book four in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss. I’d suggest reading in order, but it’s not necessary.
I’ve enjoyed this cozy mystery series from the very first book. What has kept me coming back for more is the paranormal museum which is our main location. It adds this spooky atmosphere. Then there’s a lot of detail and history with the museum as well. The other thing I like about this series is Maddie, her cat GD “Ghost Detector”, and her girlfriends. The friendship these ladies have is strong and makes them a well-rounded unit.
In Chocolate a la Murder we find Maddie stumbling on another dead body. She always seems to find herself stumbling on things she shouldn’t. She try’s to stay out of the investigation this time, but in the end she can’t stay away and so we see her looking into who the killer might be. Besides that she’s got to get ready for the Wine and Chocolate Days and help her friend Adele plan her wedding. Their’s a lot happening!
On the romance front: Maddie is dating the cop, Jason. He’s ok. Kinda bland, but I’m glad she’s not with Mason anymore. Though I will say I’m not happy the author brought Belle and Mason back into the picture. I had thought we where done with the ex-boyfriend and that storyline, drama. With them hoping back in the author added some awkward moments. I really hope he doesn’t show up in the next book.
Chocolate a la Murder was an enjoyable read. I had fun with the mystery and didn’t see who it was until the reveal. I’m also glad that the relationships are cleared up and stronger by the end. This was a nice cozy mystery with a little paranormal element added in.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
I’ve enjoyed this cozy mystery series from the very first book. What has kept me coming back for more is the paranormal museum which is our main location. It adds this spooky atmosphere. Then there’s a lot of detail and history with the museum as well. The other thing I like about this series is Maddie, her cat GD “Ghost Detector”, and her girlfriends. The friendship these ladies have is strong and makes them a well-rounded unit.
In Chocolate a la Murder we find Maddie stumbling on another dead body. She always seems to find herself stumbling on things she shouldn’t. She try’s to stay out of the investigation this time, but in the end she can’t stay away and so we see her looking into who the killer might be. Besides that she’s got to get ready for the Wine and Chocolate Days and help her friend Adele plan her wedding. Their’s a lot happening!
On the romance front: Maddie is dating the cop, Jason. He’s ok. Kinda bland, but I’m glad she’s not with Mason anymore. Though I will say I’m not happy the author brought Belle and Mason back into the picture. I had thought we where done with the ex-boyfriend and that storyline, drama. With them hoping back in the author added some awkward moments. I really hope he doesn’t show up in the next book.
Chocolate a la Murder was an enjoyable read. I had fun with the mystery and didn’t see who it was until the reveal. I’m also glad that the relationships are cleared up and stronger by the end. This was a nice cozy mystery with a little paranormal element added in.
Rated: 3.5 Stars
February 7, 2019
I enjoyed reading this fun cozy murder mystery set in San Benedetto, California. Maddie Kosloski is the protagonist and is the owner of the Paranormal Museum. She has some interesting items in her museum and there is kind of a side mystery about one of the items, a molinillo (a Mexican chocolate stirrer), that is haunted and rattles when someone lies. Maddie discovers a body at a local chocolate maker's shop and she pursues the investigation of the homicide like a bulldog to try to solve the case. Some quirky characters in this light read but nothing too deep. There's a fun cat named GD who likes to attack on the police officers.
Thanks to Kirsten Weiss and Midnight Ink through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Kirsten Weiss and Midnight Ink through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2019
This book was OK. I still really like Maddie, and her friends, and the mystery was enjoyable. However, I am SO over Mason and Belle being injected into every book. I hated that storyline from the beginning because it was too "romance" angsty, and honestly...Mason was/is a douche IMO. Although I am glad Maddie has a new love interest, Jason is about as exciting as milk toast and kind of an a$$hole. And don't get me started on Laurel. She is a complete caricature at this point and there is NO way someone that treats another human being as she does Maddie would ever be a detective on a police force. Her a$$ should have been canned AGES ago, and Jason defending her...NO. So obviously this was a mixed bag for me. I may give the next book a try, but I still undecided as of now.
September 22, 2021
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December 20, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Midnight Ink for providing me an advanced digital read copy of Chocolate a la Murder by Kirsten Weiss in exchange for an honest review. This is the fourth book in A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series and my first read in the series. While there are some relationships between Maddie Kosloski, museum owner and central protagonist, the mystery is self-contained and there is no requirement to have read the earlier books to follow the action in this novel.
In this book, Maddie has obtained a haunted Mexican molinillo that rattles whenever a lie is told. There are some references to this effect, however this doesn’t play a role in Maddie’s unmasking the murderer in this case. There were some opportunities when the phenomenon could have been incorporated into the action, however that wasn’t done. Instead, there was a brief reference to some action that was possibly caused by the ghost of the former owner of the molinillo which is resolved when Maddie intuits the correct answer to who killed this woman. However, that was not a central part of the mystery, and played no part in solving the main murder.
The primary focus is Maddie being drawn into who killed the chocolate co-owner in his chocolate shop. She meets resistance from her mother and her boyfriend, who is a police officer, as they both want her to stop her investigations. Although she implies she is walking away from the investigation when talking with them, she is constantly drawn back into it, voicing her rationalizations for what she is doing until she finally decides she needs to be honest with them and with herself about her decision to continue investigating.
Secondary stories include a former boyfriend who keeps dropping by the museum, a contentious relationship between Maddie and her boyfriend’s police partner, and her best friend’s upcoming wedding. While these side stories are woven throughout the story, they didn’t add much interest or depth to the story itself.
There are some clues given throughout, as well as some misdirection, however the primary information for the armchair detective may actually be the personalities of those involved. I found Maddie somewhat irritating, in that she came across as fairly shallow with no solid reason for feeling compelled to solve the murder. The secondary characters also seemed to have little depth to them, so it was difficult to ever feel part of the action or the community. That may be a result of not having read the earlier books in the series.
If you are looking for a book with a strong paranormal element, this is probably not going to provide what you want. If, however, you are looking for a light read with some opportunity to solve the mystery on your own, this might be a book you will enjoy. It is easy to pick up and put down, so may be the perfect read for a plane ride, a beach trip or something similar.
In this book, Maddie has obtained a haunted Mexican molinillo that rattles whenever a lie is told. There are some references to this effect, however this doesn’t play a role in Maddie’s unmasking the murderer in this case. There were some opportunities when the phenomenon could have been incorporated into the action, however that wasn’t done. Instead, there was a brief reference to some action that was possibly caused by the ghost of the former owner of the molinillo which is resolved when Maddie intuits the correct answer to who killed this woman. However, that was not a central part of the mystery, and played no part in solving the main murder.
The primary focus is Maddie being drawn into who killed the chocolate co-owner in his chocolate shop. She meets resistance from her mother and her boyfriend, who is a police officer, as they both want her to stop her investigations. Although she implies she is walking away from the investigation when talking with them, she is constantly drawn back into it, voicing her rationalizations for what she is doing until she finally decides she needs to be honest with them and with herself about her decision to continue investigating.
Secondary stories include a former boyfriend who keeps dropping by the museum, a contentious relationship between Maddie and her boyfriend’s police partner, and her best friend’s upcoming wedding. While these side stories are woven throughout the story, they didn’t add much interest or depth to the story itself.
There are some clues given throughout, as well as some misdirection, however the primary information for the armchair detective may actually be the personalities of those involved. I found Maddie somewhat irritating, in that she came across as fairly shallow with no solid reason for feeling compelled to solve the murder. The secondary characters also seemed to have little depth to them, so it was difficult to ever feel part of the action or the community. That may be a result of not having read the earlier books in the series.
If you are looking for a book with a strong paranormal element, this is probably not going to provide what you want. If, however, you are looking for a light read with some opportunity to solve the mystery on your own, this might be a book you will enjoy. It is easy to pick up and put down, so may be the perfect read for a plane ride, a beach trip or something similar.
March 9, 2019
This is my first read by Kristen Weiss and I was interested in trying out this series because of its paranormal aspect. I’ve read quite a few Cozy Mysteries but the majority of them have been Contemporaries. So when I saw that this one had a paranormal twist to it, I was excited to read more.
First off, I really like the concept of this series. It has a paranormal museum as the main location and in addition to the spooky atmosphere, there’s a lot of detail and history with it as well. I thought that this added a lot of intrigue to the series, making it far more unique than other books in its league.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book were the characters. I really grew to love Maddie and her friends. Their friendship was so fun to read about and also, I love how the several personalities worked together to create a more well-rounded unit. It just made the book more fun because you have a strong connection to the heroine. That being said, I’m very excited to read the other books in the series.
If you’re a fan of Laura Childs Scrapbooking Mystery series, I think that you might end up liking this one too. There’s a balance of plot and fun antics as well, which I think is hard to come by and why this series makes me very excited for more.
January 11, 2019
I liked this addition to the series but not as well as the others. This one seemed a little drawn out further than needed and had many different paths that could've been taken to make the story a bit better in my opinion but weren't.
In this one Maddie displays a "haunted" molinillo that supposedly rattles when a lie is told. It is also Wine and Chocolate Days in the town. Things take a deadly turn when Maddie finds a dead body at the local chocolate shop. Of course she can't help but stick her nose in and ask a few questions which gets her in trouble and leads to more danger.
All in all it was a good addition to the series and is easy to put down and pick up without too much trouble. I was given a eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
In this one Maddie displays a "haunted" molinillo that supposedly rattles when a lie is told. It is also Wine and Chocolate Days in the town. Things take a deadly turn when Maddie finds a dead body at the local chocolate shop. Of course she can't help but stick her nose in and ask a few questions which gets her in trouble and leads to more danger.
All in all it was a good addition to the series and is easy to put down and pick up without too much trouble. I was given a eARC by the publisher through NetGalley.
March 8, 2019
Maddie Kosloski is the owner of a paranormal museum in San Bendetto. She is busy preparing for her Magic of Chocolate exhibit at the museum when she accidently finds the body of one of the owners of the chocolate store Reign dead, smothered in chocolate.
In the meantime her latest haunted museum piece is keeping her very "rattled".
As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. As for her newest paranormal find, she needs to investigate its history to figure out why (and if) it is haunted.
She has assistance from her friends Adele and Harper as well as her boyfriend Detective Jason Slate. She perhaps gets her "extra sensory" help from her cat GD who keeps her on her toes.
This book 4 of the series and although there were references to the previous books (naturally) which went over my head, it was not a problem in understanding the story.
Chocolate a la Murder is a funny, cozy read on a snowy day (which I did) with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
The book has just come out. Thank you #NetGalley #Midnight Ink #Chocolate a la Murder #Kristen Weiss for the advanced copy.
In the meantime her latest haunted museum piece is keeping her very "rattled".
As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. As for her newest paranormal find, she needs to investigate its history to figure out why (and if) it is haunted.
She has assistance from her friends Adele and Harper as well as her boyfriend Detective Jason Slate. She perhaps gets her "extra sensory" help from her cat GD who keeps her on her toes.
This book 4 of the series and although there were references to the previous books (naturally) which went over my head, it was not a problem in understanding the story.
Chocolate a la Murder is a funny, cozy read on a snowy day (which I did) with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
The book has just come out. Thank you #NetGalley #Midnight Ink #Chocolate a la Murder #Kristen Weiss for the advanced copy.
March 8, 2019
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is my first read by Kristen Weiss and I was interested in trying out this series because of its paranormal aspect. I’ve read quite a few Cozy Mysteries but the majority of them have been Contemporaries. So when I saw that this one had a paranormal twist to it, I was excited to read more.
First off, I really like the concept of this series. It has a paranormal museum as the main location and in addition to the spooky atmosphere, there’s a lot of detail and history with it as well. I thought that this added a lot of intrigue to the series, making it far more unique than other books in its league.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book were the characters. I really grew to love Maddie and her friends. Their friendship was so fun to read about and also, I love how the several personalities worked together to create a more well-rounded unit. It just made the book more fun because you have a strong connection to the heroine. That being said, I’m very excited to read the other books in the series.
If you’re a fan of Laura Childs Scrapbooking Mystery series, I think that you might end up liking this one too. There’s a balance of plot and fun antics as well, which I think is hard to come by and why this series makes me very excited for more.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Annie❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
March 8, 2019
Maddie Kosloski is the owner of a paranormal museum in San Bendetto. She is busy preparing for her Magic of Chocolate exhibit at the museum when she accidently finds the body of one of the owners of the chocolate store Reign dead, smothered in chocolate.
In the meantime her latest haunted museum piece is keeping her very "rattled".
As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. As for her newest paranormal find, she needs to investigate its history to figure out why (and if) it is haunted.
She has assistance from her friends Adele and Harper as well as her boyfriend Detective Jason Slate. She perhaps gets her "extra sensory" help from her cat GD who keeps her on her toes.
This book 4 of the series and although there were references to the previous books (naturally) which went over my head, it was not a problem in understanding the story.
Chocolate a la Murder is a funny, cozy read on a snowy day (which I did) with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
The book has just come out. Thank you #NetGalley #Midnight Ink #Chocolate a la Murder #Kristen Weiss for the advanced copy.
In the meantime her latest haunted museum piece is keeping her very "rattled".
As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. As for her newest paranormal find, she needs to investigate its history to figure out why (and if) it is haunted.
She has assistance from her friends Adele and Harper as well as her boyfriend Detective Jason Slate. She perhaps gets her "extra sensory" help from her cat GD who keeps her on her toes.
This book 4 of the series and although there were references to the previous books (naturally) which went over my head, it was not a problem in understanding the story.
Chocolate a la Murder is a funny, cozy read on a snowy day (which I did) with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
The book has just come out. Thank you #NetGalley #Midnight Ink #Chocolate a la Murder #Kristen Weiss for the advanced copy.
March 17, 2019
I jumped at the chance to read this delightful little mystery as I have come to adore cozy novels in recent months. This is the fourth book in the ‘A Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum’ series by Kirsten Weiss, the first book being ‘The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum,’ followed by ‘Pressed to Death’ and ‘Deja Moo.’
The setting for the story is a town called San Benedetto in the California wine country. In “Chocolate a la Murder,” owner, Maddie Kosloski, of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, is preparing for The Wine and Chocolate Days Festival in San Benedetto. Maddie has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie visits the town's new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie's determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her their next target?
Although I haven’t any read of the first three books of the series, Kirsten Weiss, provides plenty of back-stories, so “Chocolate a la Murder” works well as a stand-alone novel. Written in the first person, the characters in this novel were a real laugh and I especially liked Maddie’s feistiness. I even found myself asking the same questions and thinking along the same lines as Maddie when trying to work out the identity of the perpetrator. I really enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style, the plot and the pace of the book. The paranormal element helped to add intrigue to the tale, whilst making it a little different to some of the other books in the genre.
All in all, “Chocolate a la Murder” is a light-hearted, lovely read, that combines mystery, thrills and murder and mayhem and I'm looking forward to reading the first three books of the series.
[Thanks to #NetGalley and Midnight Ink Publishing for the free ARC of #ChocolateAlaMurder in exchange for an honest review]
The setting for the story is a town called San Benedetto in the California wine country. In “Chocolate a la Murder,” owner, Maddie Kosloski, of the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum, is preparing for The Wine and Chocolate Days Festival in San Benedetto. Maddie has sweet dreams about her new Magic of Chocolate exhibit. Her latest attraction is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie visits the town's new boutique chocolate shop, she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted cocoa. Maddie's determined to catch the killer, and she soon uncovers deadly dealings in the world of artisan chocolate. But the deception surrounding those dealings are enough to make the molinillo rattle all night. Will Maddie have to temper her passion for sleuthing before a killer makes her their next target?
Although I haven’t any read of the first three books of the series, Kirsten Weiss, provides plenty of back-stories, so “Chocolate a la Murder” works well as a stand-alone novel. Written in the first person, the characters in this novel were a real laugh and I especially liked Maddie’s feistiness. I even found myself asking the same questions and thinking along the same lines as Maddie when trying to work out the identity of the perpetrator. I really enjoyed the easy-to-read writing style, the plot and the pace of the book. The paranormal element helped to add intrigue to the tale, whilst making it a little different to some of the other books in the genre.
All in all, “Chocolate a la Murder” is a light-hearted, lovely read, that combines mystery, thrills and murder and mayhem and I'm looking forward to reading the first three books of the series.
[Thanks to #NetGalley and Midnight Ink Publishing for the free ARC of #ChocolateAlaMurder in exchange for an honest review]
April 24, 2019
4.5 Stars: I really enjoy the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series. There is enough of a backstory in each book that you can read them as standalone stories, but I don't understand why anyone would not want to read the full series. The trio of Maddie, Adele and Harper are great friends who have reconnected and are there for each other. Maddie and Adele own businesses that are connected by a secret door and are often involved in mysteries together. Maddie's is the paranormal museum, Adele owns a tea shop. San Benedetto is celebrating Chocolate and Wine days and Maddie prepares a Magic of Chocolate exhibit, to take part. When she heads to the local chocolate shop to pick up the chocolate she ordered, she gets more than she bargained for. One of the owners of the store is dead, covered in chocolate. That is not the only mystery in the book for Maddie to solve. Her latest acquisition, a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo, rattles if someone lies. Maddie wants to find out the history of this interesting piece.
I always enjoy the mysteries in these stories, the murder investigation, as well as the history of the various museum pieces. Maddie is a great MC and with the help of her boyfriend, Detective Jason and Slate and her ornery cat "GD", a ghost detecting cat, she is able to solve both mysteries. I love the various characters in San Benedetto, many quirky, but all interesting. As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. I changed my mind many times regarding the killer with all the red herrings and twists. I like when I can't figure out the killer until the reveal. There is just the right amount of personal storyline to make it interesting and get the reader invested in the characters. This is a series that I will continue to follow. If you enjoy a quirky cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal and great characters, then you will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I always enjoy the mysteries in these stories, the murder investigation, as well as the history of the various museum pieces. Maddie is a great MC and with the help of her boyfriend, Detective Jason and Slate and her ornery cat "GD", a ghost detecting cat, she is able to solve both mysteries. I love the various characters in San Benedetto, many quirky, but all interesting. As Maddie searches for clues as to who would want to kill the chocolatier, the suspects keep adding up. I changed my mind many times regarding the killer with all the red herrings and twists. I like when I can't figure out the killer until the reveal. There is just the right amount of personal storyline to make it interesting and get the reader invested in the characters. This is a series that I will continue to follow. If you enjoy a quirky cozy mystery with a touch of paranormal and great characters, then you will enjoy this one. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon my request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
February 27, 2019
Maddie has a new magic chocolate exhibit just in time for the Wine and Chocolate Days being held in her hometown of San Benedetto. She was able to purchase a whisk that is said to be haunted and has the ability to tell when someone is lying. The whisk rattles when someone lies, Maddie doesn't know everything about it though and hopes to do more research so that she can share with her patrons. When her chocolate order doesn't arrive when it is suppose to and she can't get through with a phone call Maddie decides to drive to the chocolate shop to find out what is going on. She comes across a disgruntled former employee outside but doesn't let that stop her from going in. Things don't get any better when she goes inside, not being able to find anyone she heads to the back of the store and come across a body covered in chocolate. The dead man happens to be one of the owners of the store, but who would have wanted him dead and why? Could it have been an accident? Maddie decides she must look into things herself even though there are so many people against the idea of her doing just that. Along the way she is almost run over by a crazy driver and then later someone tries to drown her. Is she getting to close to the truth? Follow along and see just what all Maddie gets into and the different ways she beats death in this fun mystery series. If you like things that are a little wacky, a touch magical, and a bit haunted this is truly the series for you. I love the characters and the different things that Maddie brings to her museum, I can't wait to see what she brings in next.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 17, 2021
Okay, I'm not an avid reader of Cozy Mysteries. I don't read that genre that much and this was a book for a project. That being said, these are always very formulaic and predictable. I called the murderer from the first time they were introduced. Also, I was very disturbed by the fact that there were some very fatphobic comments in it. Just because you eat a piece of chocolate, does not mean that your jeans suddenly won't fit... Eyeroll...
For a cozy mystery this was fine. It's just not the preferred genre for me and it just felt a little ridiculous at times.
For a cozy mystery this was fine. It's just not the preferred genre for me and it just felt a little ridiculous at times.
April 8, 2019
Without a doubt this is the most well written cozy mystery I have ever read. Weiss has mastered all of the beloved elements of a cozy while delivering believable dialogue, a unique setting, and an intelligent sleuth. I am 100% going to backtrack and read the first 3 in the series. (Thanks B!)
June 15, 2020
Review was originally posted on The Writer's Inkwell
It was nice to return to the paranormal museum after such a long hiatus (mine, not the authors). It amazes me how Kirsten Weiss comes up with all of these spooky-themed settings for the museum in every book. Who would ever think of a haunted molinillo? To be honest, I didn't even know what a molinillo was until it was explained more than halfway through the book. I love how the author uses different cultural influences and ideas. It's a refreshing take on a classic cozy mystery.
Maddie once again finds herself finding the local newly deceased in this latest installment. It's getting to the point where people are going to start thinking she's cursed, because if I lived in her small town, I'd avoid her like the plague. On top of finding dead people, Maddie continues to have run ins with Laurel. I'm not sure what constitutes a "good cop", but ignoring leads from a potential witness and then hauling them in for questioning for an entire night is illegal. I'm really hoping Kirsten takes the plunge and puts Laurel as a potential murderer, even if it just knocks her down to size for one.
I'll admit, I was a bit confused by Maddie's relationship with Jason. He treats her like a child and basically ignores her for a large part of the book. However, it's been some time since I read the series and I completely forgot about Maddie and Mason's relationship and why it deteriorated.
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series is a fantastic cozy mystery with a paranormal undertow that doesn't overwhelm the reader. I enjoy how Maddie is always on the search from the true history of her museum pieces and yet, can't help but get herself spooked from time to time. It's relatable, relaxing and entertaining!
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
All opinions of the book are my own.
It was nice to return to the paranormal museum after such a long hiatus (mine, not the authors). It amazes me how Kirsten Weiss comes up with all of these spooky-themed settings for the museum in every book. Who would ever think of a haunted molinillo? To be honest, I didn't even know what a molinillo was until it was explained more than halfway through the book. I love how the author uses different cultural influences and ideas. It's a refreshing take on a classic cozy mystery.
Maddie once again finds herself finding the local newly deceased in this latest installment. It's getting to the point where people are going to start thinking she's cursed, because if I lived in her small town, I'd avoid her like the plague. On top of finding dead people, Maddie continues to have run ins with Laurel. I'm not sure what constitutes a "good cop", but ignoring leads from a potential witness and then hauling them in for questioning for an entire night is illegal. I'm really hoping Kirsten takes the plunge and puts Laurel as a potential murderer, even if it just knocks her down to size for one.
I'll admit, I was a bit confused by Maddie's relationship with Jason. He treats her like a child and basically ignores her for a large part of the book. However, it's been some time since I read the series and I completely forgot about Maddie and Mason's relationship and why it deteriorated.
The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum series is a fantastic cozy mystery with a paranormal undertow that doesn't overwhelm the reader. I enjoy how Maddie is always on the search from the true history of her museum pieces and yet, can't help but get herself spooked from time to time. It's relatable, relaxing and entertaining!
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
All opinions of the book are my own.
March 20, 2019
Paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski is thrilled to participate in San Benedetto's Wine and Chocolate Days. Her latest addition to the museum is a haunted Mexican whisk called a molinillo that rattles if someone lies.
When Maddie goes to Reign to pick up chocolate for her exhibit she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted chocolate. Despite being warned off by the lead detective, and her detective boyfriend Jason, Maddie starts investigating. Unfortunately it could end up with her being murdered, too.
If you found a body covered in chocolate, would it kill you love of the sweet treat? I asked myself that question a lot while I was reading this book. Maddie had that problem, too, and it hit me that I would probably think the same thing.
That question added to this series, which I love because of its quirkiness. The paranormal museum is what first drew me to this series, and I've kept going with it because of the well drawn characters and the interesting plots. I can honestly say I've never seen a haunted molinillo in a book, and I loved watching the way Maddie recovered information about its past, and how it fit into the story.
The characters grow with each book, and that keeps me interested. In this one, there is a lot of tension between Maddie and her former boyfriend, Mason, and her current boyfriend, Jason. Adele's upcoming wedding also added to the tension, sometimes making Maddie want to pull her hair out. All of these things add great emotion to this book, and made the characters come to life
Although I figured out whodunit about halfway through the book, I enjoyed the trip to the reveal very much. I love this series, and look forward to Maddie's next adventure.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
When Maddie goes to Reign to pick up chocolate for her exhibit she finds one of the owners dead and covered in melted chocolate. Despite being warned off by the lead detective, and her detective boyfriend Jason, Maddie starts investigating. Unfortunately it could end up with her being murdered, too.
If you found a body covered in chocolate, would it kill you love of the sweet treat? I asked myself that question a lot while I was reading this book. Maddie had that problem, too, and it hit me that I would probably think the same thing.
That question added to this series, which I love because of its quirkiness. The paranormal museum is what first drew me to this series, and I've kept going with it because of the well drawn characters and the interesting plots. I can honestly say I've never seen a haunted molinillo in a book, and I loved watching the way Maddie recovered information about its past, and how it fit into the story.
The characters grow with each book, and that keeps me interested. In this one, there is a lot of tension between Maddie and her former boyfriend, Mason, and her current boyfriend, Jason. Adele's upcoming wedding also added to the tension, sometimes making Maddie want to pull her hair out. All of these things add great emotion to this book, and made the characters come to life
Although I figured out whodunit about halfway through the book, I enjoyed the trip to the reveal very much. I love this series, and look forward to Maddie's next adventure.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 16, 2019
In this 4th novel in the Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum Mystery series, Maddie is working on her Magic of Chocolate exhibit, part of the town's Wine and Chocolate celebration. But when her chocolate delivery is late, she volunteers to go the the retail store, Reign, to pick up the items in person. She doesn't expect to find one of the owners dead in the kitchen. Once again, she finds herself conducting her own investigation, despite warnings from Detective Jason Slate...which is not helping their newfound romantic involvement. This is a fun series, with a touch of the paranormal, and interesting characters. Each story features an apparently haunted item on display in the museum, this time a molinillo, used for mixing Mexican hot chocolate, that rattles when a lie is told. Maddie has a great relationship with her gal friends, Adele and Harper, as well as a good one with her part-time worker, Leo. There are the usual quirky characters such as her collector, Herb, as well as the members of the Ladies Aid Society. And of course, there is her testy relationship with Detective Laurel Hammer, who apparently is still carrying a grudge from high school days. This story also featured a lot of fun facts about chocolate, and had some unique museum items, such as chocolate themed tarot cards, as well as a fortune teller who uses the dregs of hot chocolate as a substitute for reading tea leaves. I love this series, but I think this was the best so far. I can't wait for the next story. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book received through NetGalley, and all opinions are strictly my own.
January 21, 2019
Maddie is back with her paranormal museum getting ready for the town's Wine and Chocolate Days. She has a brand new haunted Mexican chocolate whisk called a molinillo and if you tell a lie, it rattles! Along with her Magic of Chocolate exhibit and lot of chocolate from the new artisanal chocolate shop,she's hoping things go well.
With Adele all a twitter over wedding plans, Maddie gives her one less thing to worry about by picking up their joint chocolate order. She finds the shop empty and one of the owners dead,covered in chocolate!
While hunky boyfriend Jason is off this case Maddie will have to hope Laurel won't lock her up just for being on the scene! And of course she is going to do what she does best. Investigate. It's just a hobby. Until someone tries drowning her, and not in chocolate!
Everyone at the chocolate company was sketchy so there were plenty of people to be suspicious of but Maddie needs a motive to find the killer before more bodies are found. And by the way her molinillo is rattling lies are plentiful.
I love the characters in this series. They are fun and quirky and just very relatable! And this one was extra good because of the chocolate and the fact I learned what a molinillo was!
Smart, quirky, and just plain fun is what this series is!
Netgalley/March 8th 2019 by Midnight Ink
With Adele all a twitter over wedding plans, Maddie gives her one less thing to worry about by picking up their joint chocolate order. She finds the shop empty and one of the owners dead,covered in chocolate!
While hunky boyfriend Jason is off this case Maddie will have to hope Laurel won't lock her up just for being on the scene! And of course she is going to do what she does best. Investigate. It's just a hobby. Until someone tries drowning her, and not in chocolate!
Everyone at the chocolate company was sketchy so there were plenty of people to be suspicious of but Maddie needs a motive to find the killer before more bodies are found. And by the way her molinillo is rattling lies are plentiful.
I love the characters in this series. They are fun and quirky and just very relatable! And this one was extra good because of the chocolate and the fact I learned what a molinillo was!
Smart, quirky, and just plain fun is what this series is!
Netgalley/March 8th 2019 by Midnight Ink
February 11, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Midnight Ink.
It is Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto and Maddie has set up a Magic of Chocolate exhibit in her paranormal museum. She plans to entice visitors with haunted chocolate implements, gourmet chocolate for sale, and fortunes read in hot chocolate. Maddie is especially excited that the chocolate she will be selling is local and artisinal.
Everything is ready to go except the bulk order of chocolate Maddie and her friend Adele went in on together has not been delivered. To save Adele some stress, Maddie offers to visit Reign to see where their order is.
Visiting Reign is where things take a turn for Maddie - she discovers the body of one of the owners. The pace and danger ratchet up until Maddie's survival is in question.
Chocolate a la Murder was a real page-turner! It is exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery: great characters, good pacing, and a mystery that keeps me guessing.
It is Wine and Chocolate Days in San Benedetto and Maddie has set up a Magic of Chocolate exhibit in her paranormal museum. She plans to entice visitors with haunted chocolate implements, gourmet chocolate for sale, and fortunes read in hot chocolate. Maddie is especially excited that the chocolate she will be selling is local and artisinal.
Everything is ready to go except the bulk order of chocolate Maddie and her friend Adele went in on together has not been delivered. To save Adele some stress, Maddie offers to visit Reign to see where their order is.
Visiting Reign is where things take a turn for Maddie - she discovers the body of one of the owners. The pace and danger ratchet up until Maddie's survival is in question.
Chocolate a la Murder was a real page-turner! It is exactly what I look for in a cozy mystery: great characters, good pacing, and a mystery that keeps me guessing.
September 9, 2019
Wine and Chocolate Days come to San Bernardino and Maddie updates her exhibits at the Paranormal Museum to focus on chocolate. Yum, except the molinillo starts rattling whenever someone tells a lie and then she finds her chocolate purveyor dead and covered in chocolate. And that's just the first murder. Maddie has her boyfriend at her side now as she investigates, but his police partner is not nearly as supportive. Another enjoyable visit to the museum!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2022
A chocolate murder! Between Adele driving everyone’s nuts with her incessant wedding plans, Harper keeping secrets, Mason hanging around for some mysterious reason, Maddie really does not have time to find another dead body covered in chocolate! With her new relationship with Jason working out the kinks, Maddie has to tread delicately as as she investigates the the death of the chocolatier, uncovering deceit, lies, affairs, and deadly chocolate. Hopefully, she can solve it before she’s the next victim or her world implodes.
July 21, 2019
This is book four of this “Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum “Mystery Series set in San Benedetto . The main character of the series is Maddie Kosloski , she is the owner of this unusual museum where this book centers around . In this book Maddie is getting prepared for the Wine and chocolate days in the town when her plans get a little sidetracked upon finding a very distressing chocolatey sight.
This was a very enjoyable story with a quirky museum filled with intriguing artifacts and a fascinating history ,the characters were likable and the plot was satisfying , after all , you can’t beat chocolate and a good mystery . Would I recommend this ... you bet !
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
This was a very enjoyable story with a quirky museum filled with intriguing artifacts and a fascinating history ,the characters were likable and the plot was satisfying , after all , you can’t beat chocolate and a good mystery . Would I recommend this ... you bet !
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
September 12, 2020
Fun cozy series.
March 4, 2019
This fun paranormal cozy was just as much fun as the other books I’ve read in the series. Maddie can’t help but get involved in murders in her town, and she now has a reputation. And, yes, she is really a little too nosy. However, I do love her quirky personality and store, but sometime she does come across as a little flighty. This book, though, was a great, fun whodunit, and I will definitely read more in the series. When will she figure out there is more to her cat than she realizes? I hope soon…or maybe it’s all just my imagination! This was a good way to while away an afternoon. I recommend this book! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.
November 8, 2018
Chocolate Days are here and Paranormal Museum owner, Maddie, has a haunted molinillo on display that rattles whenever a lie is told. Someone is definitely lying about something when the new chocolate shop's owner is found dead by Maddie when she goes to check on an order. She finds herself in a sticky sweet mess trying to determine if it was his disgruntled ex-employee, his business partner or someone even closer to home.
If a murder wasn't enough to keep her occupied, Maddie finds herself wondering if her former biker boyfriend is trying to win her back. Not that she's interested since she has a new relationship with a handsome policeman.
This is a great series and one of my new favorite indulgences. Weiss does a great job combining small bits of comedic relief with the paranormal underpinnings without stepping over the line. The mystery portion is believable and I love the interplay between Maddie and her two best friends.
Recommend to readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy a quirky twist to the main character.
If a murder wasn't enough to keep her occupied, Maddie finds herself wondering if her former biker boyfriend is trying to win her back. Not that she's interested since she has a new relationship with a handsome policeman.
This is a great series and one of my new favorite indulgences. Weiss does a great job combining small bits of comedic relief with the paranormal underpinnings without stepping over the line. The mystery portion is believable and I love the interplay between Maddie and her two best friends.
Recommend to readers of cozy mysteries who enjoy a quirky twist to the main character.
October 18, 2021
I needed an easy read and was glad to find this newest edition in this series. I would recommend reading these in order, not simply because I am neurotic about reading a series in order, but because you will be able to understand the characters and situations better.
It's just silly brain bubblegum. It is enjoyable for what it is.
I think there might have been a 'statement' about social media here. The story also highlighted how becoming wrapped up in our own little lives separates us from those we love and clouds our perceptions.
The author does get stuck on phrases sometimes, using them repetitively. In this book it's Jason's shoulders 'filling his suit jacket' and Maddie 'resting a hip against' a counter/fence rail/whatever.
These are pretty clean - I don't remember any profanity. The only physical intimacy we know about is hugging and kissing. There are murders, not graphic; a near murder by drowning; some mildly spooky situations.
It's just silly brain bubblegum. It is enjoyable for what it is.
I think there might have been a 'statement' about social media here. The story also highlighted how becoming wrapped up in our own little lives separates us from those we love and clouds our perceptions.
The author does get stuck on phrases sometimes, using them repetitively. In this book it's Jason's shoulders 'filling his suit jacket' and Maddie 'resting a hip against' a counter/fence rail/whatever.
These are pretty clean - I don't remember any profanity. The only physical intimacy we know about is hugging and kissing. There are murders, not graphic; a near murder by drowning; some mildly spooky situations.
October 26, 2018
Supplied by NetGalley for an honest review.
DNF 25% in.
I love cosy mysteries and while I understand that the whole point is for the heroine to solve the mystery there are different ways to do that. I hate books like this one where the MC becomes TSTL by doing stupid things like unnecessary snooping.
This is book 4 (?) of this series which I didn't realise when I requested it. I get that you don't want to rehash everything at the start of every book, but in this one I felt like the character introductions were so short and scant that I couldn't form any connections/care about anyone.
Finally, the murderer was obvious. Like so-in-your-face obvious it was off putting.
DNF 25% in.
I love cosy mysteries and while I understand that the whole point is for the heroine to solve the mystery there are different ways to do that. I hate books like this one where the MC becomes TSTL by doing stupid things like unnecessary snooping.
This is book 4 (?) of this series which I didn't realise when I requested it. I get that you don't want to rehash everything at the start of every book, but in this one I felt like the character introductions were so short and scant that I couldn't form any connections/care about anyone.
Finally, the murderer was obvious. Like so-in-your-face obvious it was off putting.
August 25, 2024
Again, rather predictable, but clean quirky fun. These books just make me happy, they are entertaining and enjoyable, light, fluffy, and simple. I didn't mean to read it all in one day, but it just happened because I got so caught up. The characters are fun and flawed and awkward, the mysteries are intriguing. This one has a little smattering of "light" swearing, and talk of an affair, but otherwise it is a "clean read" (except for the murders, but if you don't know what to expect on that front in this series by now, I cannot help you).
2nd read: Yep, still agree with the previous review. Just fun, silly books.
2nd read: Yep, still agree with the previous review. Just fun, silly books.
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