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Ice Cream Shop Mysteries #1
The Rocky Road to Ruin
Justice will be swirled by amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes in the first in Meri Allen's brand-new mystery series!
Riley Rhodes, travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, makes a bittersweet return to her childhood home of Penniman, Connecticut - land of dairy farms and covered bridges - for a funeral. Despite the circumstances, Riley's trip home is sprinkled with reunions with old friends, visits to her father's cozy bookshop on the town green, and joyful hours behind the counter at the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It feels like a time to help her friend Caroline rebuild after her mother's death, and for Riley to do a bit of her own reflecting after a botched undercover mission in Italy. After all, it's always good to be home.
But Caroline and her brother Mike have to decide what to do with the assets they've inherited - the ice cream shop as well as the farm they grew up on - and they've never seen eye to eye. Trouble begins to swirl as Riley is spooked by reports of a stranger camping behind the farm and by the odd behavior of the shop's mascot, Caroline's snooty Persian, Sprinkles. When Mike turns up dead in the barn the morning after the funeral, the peace and quiet of Penniman seems upended for good. Can Riley find the killer before another body gets scooped?
Riley Rhodes, travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, makes a bittersweet return to her childhood home of Penniman, Connecticut - land of dairy farms and covered bridges - for a funeral. Despite the circumstances, Riley's trip home is sprinkled with reunions with old friends, visits to her father's cozy bookshop on the town green, and joyful hours behind the counter at the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. It feels like a time to help her friend Caroline rebuild after her mother's death, and for Riley to do a bit of her own reflecting after a botched undercover mission in Italy. After all, it's always good to be home.
But Caroline and her brother Mike have to decide what to do with the assets they've inherited - the ice cream shop as well as the farm they grew up on - and they've never seen eye to eye. Trouble begins to swirl as Riley is spooked by reports of a stranger camping behind the farm and by the odd behavior of the shop's mascot, Caroline's snooty Persian, Sprinkles. When Mike turns up dead in the barn the morning after the funeral, the peace and quiet of Penniman seems upended for good. Can Riley find the killer before another body gets scooped?
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 27, 2021
87 people are currently reading
5799 people want to read
About the author
Meri Allen
9 books254 followersMERI ALLEN lives in a quiet corner of Connecticut, where she haunts libraries, used book stores, and vintage shops.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
July 15, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the first book in the new cozy Ice Cream Shop Mysteries series. As with most cozy mysteries this first book does contain it’s own mystery that is fully solved so it could be read as a standalone without a cliffhanger for the next book.
On the outside Riley Rhodes may seem like a mild mannered librarian who does a little travel blogging on the sides. However, Riley’s job as a librarian happens to be at the CIA and that last trip of hers was an assignment that went a bit off the rails so Riley is in need of a little time off.
When Riley’s long time friend Caroline let’s her know that Caroline’s mother passed Riley knows she needs to head to Penniman, Connecticut where she grew up for the funeral. Caroline and her brother, Mike, have inherited their family’s business and seem to be at odds over how to handle things. However, when Mike is found murdered Riley knows Caroline had nothing to do with it and she vows to help find the murderer all the while helping out in the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.
Most that follow my reviews know that the cozies at the top of my favorites are ones that are overly humorous and quirky. The Rocky Road to Ruin wasn’t quite as humorous as I normally gravitate too however I did enjoy it regardless. This one had another like of mine with the protagonist having something in her background in the law enforcement area with working for the CIA so it wasn’t as big as a stretch as a lot for her to be crime solving. This one also had that lovely small town setting that I enjoy with a nice mystery to solve along the way so I will be interested in coming back for more of this series in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
On the outside Riley Rhodes may seem like a mild mannered librarian who does a little travel blogging on the sides. However, Riley’s job as a librarian happens to be at the CIA and that last trip of hers was an assignment that went a bit off the rails so Riley is in need of a little time off.
When Riley’s long time friend Caroline let’s her know that Caroline’s mother passed Riley knows she needs to head to Penniman, Connecticut where she grew up for the funeral. Caroline and her brother, Mike, have inherited their family’s business and seem to be at odds over how to handle things. However, when Mike is found murdered Riley knows Caroline had nothing to do with it and she vows to help find the murderer all the while helping out in the beloved Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.
Most that follow my reviews know that the cozies at the top of my favorites are ones that are overly humorous and quirky. The Rocky Road to Ruin wasn’t quite as humorous as I normally gravitate too however I did enjoy it regardless. This one had another like of mine with the protagonist having something in her background in the law enforcement area with working for the CIA so it wasn’t as big as a stretch as a lot for her to be crime solving. This one also had that lovely small town setting that I enjoy with a nice mystery to solve along the way so I will be interested in coming back for more of this series in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 29, 2022
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the first book in this ice-cream inspired cozy mystery series! While this one did start off slow for me, I found myself enjoying it more and more as I read it. I think it took a little while for the characters to grow on me, but they did! Now I can’t wait to start the next book which releases on July 26th! Just be warned, once you start reading this, especially on a hot summer day, you’ll be craving ice-cream!
As with all cozies this is a fast paced and fun read. I didn’t guess the killer which is a major bonus and I enjoyed learning about ice-cream and the varied flavors you can make. I never would have thought sunflower would be a flavor but now I want to try it! If you’re interested in culinary cozies, then this is a great series for you!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Culinary (ice cream) Cozy Mysteries
• Amateur Sleuths
• Summery Cozies
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As with all cozies this is a fast paced and fun read. I didn’t guess the killer which is a major bonus and I enjoyed learning about ice-cream and the varied flavors you can make. I never would have thought sunflower would be a flavor but now I want to try it! If you’re interested in culinary cozies, then this is a great series for you!
𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:
• Culinary (ice cream) Cozy Mysteries
• Amateur Sleuths
• Summery Cozies
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 29, 2025
Ice cream, mystery, and small-town charm prove a winning recipe in Meri Allen’s suspenseful new cozy mystery novel, The Rocky Road to Ruin.
Riley Rhodes, travel blogger and CIA librarian (yes, that CIA!), is coming home to Penniman, Connecticut, for the funeral of her best friend Caroline’s mother. Though the small town welcomes her back with open arms, it’s not long before the peace and quiet of this rural setting is disrupted by a shocking murder; it’ll take someone with a particular set of skills to get to the bottom of this, and Riley’s never been one to shy away from helping a friend.
Meri Allen really has written something quite special here. Endearing from the first page, The Rocky Road to Ruin is full of characters that I dare you not to love—Penniman is full of individuals, unique and slightly quirky, but all in a very realistic and believable way. The writing brings it to life for the reader, conjuring early-summer landscapes that were vivid in my mind’s eye, and bringing just the right touch of humor to keep things light.
It’s impossible to talk about this novel without touching on the food, too. Do not go into this book with an empty stomach! Whether it’s the sunflower ice-cream, the tomato sandwiches, or an afternoon tea with the local gossip, the descriptions of food in this book are mouth-wateringly gorgeous. It’s a thread that winds through the whole novel, not just focused on the central ice-cream shop, and one that helped it stand out from the crowd—even if I will need to chase down some recipes as a result.
An excellent start to what promises to be a very special series, The Rocky Road to Ruin will enchant and surprise you—I’m looking forward to seeing plenty more of Riley Rhodes.
This review originally appeared at mysteryandsuspense.com - thank you to them and the publishers for a review copy provided in exchange for an honest review. I rarely read cosy mysteries, and had such a fun time with this one - not to mention I now have a recipe for a hell of a frozen margarita!
Riley Rhodes, travel blogger and CIA librarian (yes, that CIA!), is coming home to Penniman, Connecticut, for the funeral of her best friend Caroline’s mother. Though the small town welcomes her back with open arms, it’s not long before the peace and quiet of this rural setting is disrupted by a shocking murder; it’ll take someone with a particular set of skills to get to the bottom of this, and Riley’s never been one to shy away from helping a friend.
Meri Allen really has written something quite special here. Endearing from the first page, The Rocky Road to Ruin is full of characters that I dare you not to love—Penniman is full of individuals, unique and slightly quirky, but all in a very realistic and believable way. The writing brings it to life for the reader, conjuring early-summer landscapes that were vivid in my mind’s eye, and bringing just the right touch of humor to keep things light.
It’s impossible to talk about this novel without touching on the food, too. Do not go into this book with an empty stomach! Whether it’s the sunflower ice-cream, the tomato sandwiches, or an afternoon tea with the local gossip, the descriptions of food in this book are mouth-wateringly gorgeous. It’s a thread that winds through the whole novel, not just focused on the central ice-cream shop, and one that helped it stand out from the crowd—even if I will need to chase down some recipes as a result.
An excellent start to what promises to be a very special series, The Rocky Road to Ruin will enchant and surprise you—I’m looking forward to seeing plenty more of Riley Rhodes.
This review originally appeared at mysteryandsuspense.com - thank you to them and the publishers for a review copy provided in exchange for an honest review. I rarely read cosy mysteries, and had such a fun time with this one - not to mention I now have a recipe for a hell of a frozen margarita!
July 23, 2021
Riley Rhodes has returned home to Penniman, Connecticut, for the funeral of her best friend’s mother. After the service, she sees that Caroline and her brother, Mike, are fighting over what to do with the property that the two of them were left, including Udderly Delicious, the ice cream shop where Riley worked as a teen. The next morning, Riley finds Mike dead. Knowing that Caroline will be a prime suspect, Riley tries to figure out what happened. Can she do it?
Riley has a fun background for an amateur sleuth – CIA librarian. And yet this is definitely still a cozy, and the warmth pulled me in right away. This book has a bit of a bittersweet vibe. We get the wonderful characters and setting we love in a cozy, but the beginning is appropriately somber. It really works well. The pacing was a little uneven in the middle, but the book had a strong beginning and ending that make up for it. I had a hard time putting the book down the closer I got to the climax. There is more than enough talk to ice cream to make you drool, and two recipes inspired by the more creative contributions are in the back of the book. Now’s the time to enjoy this debut. Me? I’ll be having a second helping of ice cream while I wait for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Riley has a fun background for an amateur sleuth – CIA librarian. And yet this is definitely still a cozy, and the warmth pulled me in right away. This book has a bit of a bittersweet vibe. We get the wonderful characters and setting we love in a cozy, but the beginning is appropriately somber. It really works well. The pacing was a little uneven in the middle, but the book had a strong beginning and ending that make up for it. I had a hard time putting the book down the closer I got to the climax. There is more than enough talk to ice cream to make you drool, and two recipes inspired by the more creative contributions are in the back of the book. Now’s the time to enjoy this debut. Me? I’ll be having a second helping of ice cream while I wait for the sequel.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 29, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin is the first book in the new Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by author Meri Allen (a pseudonym for author Sherri Randall). One of the first things that drew me to this book was the profession of the protagonist. Yes, she is a librarian, but she is a librarian for the CIA and a travel & food blogger. I thought that was an interesting twist. Riley Rhodes has returned home for the funeral of her best friend's mother. However, once home things don't go well and soon her Riley finds the dead body of her best friend's brother in a barn of the family farm. The characters in the series are very diverse in age and experience. The relationship between Riley and her best friend Caroline is at the heart of the story, but Riley is also looking for a change, which makes her open to returning home. There are some feline secondary characters that have great personalities and add to the story. I loved the parts of the story that involved the family Ice Cream Store and the ice cream-making process.
I like the mystery. The author provides a lot of twists and turns as Riley tries to figure out who killed Mike and why. As she asks questions, the mystery takes some turns and looks at some events that happened years ago and how they impact the recent murder. There is a police presence in the story - a detective who is attracted to Caroline. Unlike other cozy mysteries, I didn't feel they played a prominent role in solving the murder mystery. Usually, you have a police detective who is admonishing the amateur sleuth to stay out of police business.
This was a strong and entertaining start to a new series. I liked the main character and the mystery kept me guessing. I will be certain to check out future books in the series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I like the mystery. The author provides a lot of twists and turns as Riley tries to figure out who killed Mike and why. As she asks questions, the mystery takes some turns and looks at some events that happened years ago and how they impact the recent murder. There is a police presence in the story - a detective who is attracted to Caroline. Unlike other cozy mysteries, I didn't feel they played a prominent role in solving the murder mystery. Usually, you have a police detective who is admonishing the amateur sleuth to stay out of police business.
This was a strong and entertaining start to a new series. I liked the main character and the mystery kept me guessing. I will be certain to check out future books in the series.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 18, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this first book from Meri Allen’s Ice Cream Shop Mystery Series, we meet Riley Rhodes. Riley has a cool job working as a CIA librarian using being a travel food blogger as her cover. Her last undercover mission was in Italy and it ended badly. She now has two reasons to return home to Penniman, Connecticut. She needs to regroup after what happened in Italy but also her friend Caroline’s mother has passed away. She has so many great memories of spending time with Caroline on her family’s farm and working at the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. She always ate her share of ice cream too.
Now she wants to help Caroline in any way she can as she and her brother Mike make plans regarding the farm’s and ice cream shop’s future. Those two rarely agree on anything so Riley is not surprised they have totally different ideas about what to do with their newly inherited assets. After a bit of a blow-up Mike takes off to a cabin on the property with his girlfriend vowing the hash things out with his sister another day.
But that day doesn’t come. Instead, the next day, Riley finds Mike’s dead body in the barn and his girlfriend is missing. Knowing the argument between the siblings is going to have Caroline on the hot seat with the police Riley delves into her own investigation. She hopes to get the scoop on the killer before someone else gets creamed.
Riley is a very likable protagonist. I love that she has a CIA connection and that she is a librarian. Librarians are so knowledgeable and know how to ask the right questions. I am sure her CIA training has built upon those skills. Skills a great amateur sleuth needs. I admire her dedication to her friend Caroline who has to deal with so much. First her mother’s passing and then her brother’s. She also has a regular job she just can’t drop to handle the farm and ice cream shop. Riley doesn’t think twice, she jumps right in and volunteers to help with no time limits.
Caroline’s mother was beloved by so many and revered for all she had accomplished. We learn this from a variety of supporting characters who work and volunteer on the farm and at Udderly Delicious. Riley’s dad and stepmom are also introduced. Her dad owns a bookstore. That is just so perfect. It is a large group but the characters are clearly defined and easy to keep straight. That being said the author has left plenty of room for growth. There are also a couple of feline characters. One who thinks her royal highness rules the roost and everything around her. The other is a little ragged but cute and is given a great name.
Ms. Allen has done a fine job of world-building. It’s almost time for the Sunflower Festival and all the fields around the farm are filled with sunflowers setting up some great photo ops. The ice cream shop even has sunflower ice cream. As the characters travel up and down Farm Lane there are two farmhouses face to face across the lane. One is the family home behind the ice cream shop where Caroline’s mother lived. The other is teamed up with a large barn where the farm manager and his family live. Down the road, there is a cabin that was sometimes rented out called the Love Nest. Keep going and there are more sunflower fields, apple orchards, other neighbors’ homes, a cemetery, and a winery. I could picture everything so easily. I could almost taste the ice cream too.
The author has crafted a very intriguing mystery. I had a grand time following along with Riley as she split her time making ice cream and trying to put a killer on ice. She found herself in some heated and scary situations but she kept pressing on. With some marvelous twists, I was drawn deeper and deeper into the story. The final twist was perfect. I was so absorbed in the story I know I missed a clue or two but at least I was in the ballpark with my guess.
The Rock Road to Ruin is a twisty mystery with a leading character that I want to know better and follow wherever she goes. The ice cream theme is just plain sweet and the sunflower backdrop at the farm has me longing for all the sunflower fields close around me that will be blooming and picture-perfect soon.
I am looking forward to reading Mint Chocolate Murder next month! Mint Chocolate Chip! YES!
In this first book from Meri Allen’s Ice Cream Shop Mystery Series, we meet Riley Rhodes. Riley has a cool job working as a CIA librarian using being a travel food blogger as her cover. Her last undercover mission was in Italy and it ended badly. She now has two reasons to return home to Penniman, Connecticut. She needs to regroup after what happened in Italy but also her friend Caroline’s mother has passed away. She has so many great memories of spending time with Caroline on her family’s farm and working at the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. She always ate her share of ice cream too.
Now she wants to help Caroline in any way she can as she and her brother Mike make plans regarding the farm’s and ice cream shop’s future. Those two rarely agree on anything so Riley is not surprised they have totally different ideas about what to do with their newly inherited assets. After a bit of a blow-up Mike takes off to a cabin on the property with his girlfriend vowing the hash things out with his sister another day.
But that day doesn’t come. Instead, the next day, Riley finds Mike’s dead body in the barn and his girlfriend is missing. Knowing the argument between the siblings is going to have Caroline on the hot seat with the police Riley delves into her own investigation. She hopes to get the scoop on the killer before someone else gets creamed.
Riley is a very likable protagonist. I love that she has a CIA connection and that she is a librarian. Librarians are so knowledgeable and know how to ask the right questions. I am sure her CIA training has built upon those skills. Skills a great amateur sleuth needs. I admire her dedication to her friend Caroline who has to deal with so much. First her mother’s passing and then her brother’s. She also has a regular job she just can’t drop to handle the farm and ice cream shop. Riley doesn’t think twice, she jumps right in and volunteers to help with no time limits.
Caroline’s mother was beloved by so many and revered for all she had accomplished. We learn this from a variety of supporting characters who work and volunteer on the farm and at Udderly Delicious. Riley’s dad and stepmom are also introduced. Her dad owns a bookstore. That is just so perfect. It is a large group but the characters are clearly defined and easy to keep straight. That being said the author has left plenty of room for growth. There are also a couple of feline characters. One who thinks her royal highness rules the roost and everything around her. The other is a little ragged but cute and is given a great name.
Ms. Allen has done a fine job of world-building. It’s almost time for the Sunflower Festival and all the fields around the farm are filled with sunflowers setting up some great photo ops. The ice cream shop even has sunflower ice cream. As the characters travel up and down Farm Lane there are two farmhouses face to face across the lane. One is the family home behind the ice cream shop where Caroline’s mother lived. The other is teamed up with a large barn where the farm manager and his family live. Down the road, there is a cabin that was sometimes rented out called the Love Nest. Keep going and there are more sunflower fields, apple orchards, other neighbors’ homes, a cemetery, and a winery. I could picture everything so easily. I could almost taste the ice cream too.
The author has crafted a very intriguing mystery. I had a grand time following along with Riley as she split her time making ice cream and trying to put a killer on ice. She found herself in some heated and scary situations but she kept pressing on. With some marvelous twists, I was drawn deeper and deeper into the story. The final twist was perfect. I was so absorbed in the story I know I missed a clue or two but at least I was in the ballpark with my guess.
The Rock Road to Ruin is a twisty mystery with a leading character that I want to know better and follow wherever she goes. The ice cream theme is just plain sweet and the sunflower backdrop at the farm has me longing for all the sunflower fields close around me that will be blooming and picture-perfect soon.
I am looking forward to reading Mint Chocolate Murder next month! Mint Chocolate Chip! YES!
July 21, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the first book in a cute new cozy mystery series. Riley Rhodes is a travel blogger and a librarian for the CIA. Unknown to her friends and family, she was sometimes given undercover assignments by the CIA as well. She returns to her hometown to support her best friend, Caroline, whose mother just passed away. When tragedy stirkes Caroline’s family again, Riley ends up helping run Caroline’s family ice cream shop as well as investigating a murder. This is a cozy in which Caroline’s sleuthing makes perfect sense given her background and she is quick to report her findings to the local police detective who is leading the investigation even if he doesn’t always act on the information she gives him.
There are some really original elements and complexity in this book. I was pleasantly surprised that the author avoided the obvious by having the local detective and Riley to have an attraction and instead has him wanting to get closer to Caroline. Sometimes there is a little too much going on, so all the various characters and their backstories can be hard to keep up with. A list of characters at the beginning would have been helpful. There is room for more development to several of the characters in future books since we don’t learn a lot of details about some of the supporting characters. However, I enjoyed the book and the way things are wrapped up to avoid loose ends while still building interest for future books in the series. There are recipes for two of the ice cream flavors that are featured in the story at the end of the book. I would definitely read further books in this promising new series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
There are some really original elements and complexity in this book. I was pleasantly surprised that the author avoided the obvious by having the local detective and Riley to have an attraction and instead has him wanting to get closer to Caroline. Sometimes there is a little too much going on, so all the various characters and their backstories can be hard to keep up with. A list of characters at the beginning would have been helpful. There is room for more development to several of the characters in future books since we don’t learn a lot of details about some of the supporting characters. However, I enjoyed the book and the way things are wrapped up to avoid loose ends while still building interest for future books in the series. There are recipes for two of the ice cream flavors that are featured in the story at the end of the book. I would definitely read further books in this promising new series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
June 12, 2021
A charming mystery with a delightful cast of characters that cozy mystery readers won't be able to put down!
I immediately fell in love with the quaint town setting and found the mystery itself absolutely enthralling.
This is book one in what is certain to be a fan-favorite series in the cozy mystery genre. I can't wait to devour more books from this author...along with a generous scoop of ice cream.
I immediately fell in love with the quaint town setting and found the mystery itself absolutely enthralling.
This is book one in what is certain to be a fan-favorite series in the cozy mystery genre. I can't wait to devour more books from this author...along with a generous scoop of ice cream.
January 22, 2025
3.75 🌟
Mood Reader Season/ Vibes: Summer
This was a confusing one.
It was interesting enough to keep me entertained but I found it confusing with too many characters to remember. I’m glad it doesn’t follow the exact same cozy mystery tropes I often see but I did find that by the end the mystery was wrapped up in a confusing way. So many things get thrown at you it’s hard to keep up. That being said I think it was cute and well written and I will continue with the series.
Mood Reader Season/ Vibes: Summer
This was a confusing one.
It was interesting enough to keep me entertained but I found it confusing with too many characters to remember. I’m glad it doesn’t follow the exact same cozy mystery tropes I often see but I did find that by the end the mystery was wrapped up in a confusing way. So many things get thrown at you it’s hard to keep up. That being said I think it was cute and well written and I will continue with the series.
March 7, 2025
A great debut cozy mystery! The characters are easy to like, and the ice cream flavors yummy! Enjoy!
July 25, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen has Riley Rhodes returning home to Penniman, Connecticut for the funeral of her best friend’s adoptive mother. Riley is a CIA librarian as well as travel food blogger and sometimes undercover spy. Unfortunately, something happened in Italy that has Riley wondering about her future. The day after the funeral, Riley finds Mike Spooner, the deceased adoptive son, dead in the barn and his tennis star girlfriend is missing. Riley’s curiosity has her digging into the case searching for answers. The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the debut of An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Meri Allen is a descriptive writer. She provided detailed word images of the town, the characters, Buzzy’s farm, and, most importantly, the ice cream. Riley Rhodes is a unique character for cozy mysteries with her occupation. I like that the author took the time to establish Riley and the town. I did feel that we are introduced to a few too many characters in this first book. There are just too many to keep straight (neighbors, relatives, employees, reporters, visitors). We also get to meet Sprinkles, Buzzy’s prima donna cat, and Rocky, a rescue cat. I enjoyed reading about their attitudes and antics. I can tell the author has been around cats. The mystery is multifaceted with multiple suspects and misdirection. There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit before the reveal (if you are an avid cozy mystery reader, you will have no problem unraveling this whodunit). There are delicious descriptions of ice cream that will have you running out for a cold creamy confection. I did feel the pacing was a little slow with the detailed descriptions and the number of characters. I also wanted a little more cozy. I was hoping for a cozy small town with the story focusing around the ice cream shop. I think the author is trying to give us something different. Some things worked and others did not. An example is Riley being a CIA librarian, travel food blogger, and secret spy. I would have been happy with travel food blogger because the CIA aspect seems out of place (except for Riley’s attention to detail). The Rocky Road to Ruin is a good start and I do wish to read the next installment in An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. The Rocky Road to Ruin is a sweet treat with cat capers, land wrangling, prying reporters, creamy confections, sunflower festival fun, a curious cowboy, and a mysterious murder.
August 5, 2022
Book 1. This book in series introduces Riley and Caroline. Riley went back to her hometown for her friend Caroline adopted mom Buzzy funeral and to visit her father and her stepmom. When she got there her friend Caroline and her real brother Mike were there with Mike' s famed girlfriend Angelica. He had moved with the rollers and shakers with Real Estate trying to make Caroline and the whole neighborhood of Buzzy' s to make them sign over their deeds so he and his best friend Keith his business partner ( and Emile a girl that Riley and Caroline went to school with) make an industrial out of homes and such. But Mike and co workers did not tell the people that he told them they would be able to keep houses and businesses and they would build around them. When Mike talked to Caroline about doing this to their Adopted mom's shop Udderly Delicious ( an Icecream Shop) and her land. Caroline became furious. And Riley heard her say that she was going to kill Mike. Well after that something terrible happened. Mike was murdered right around Buzzy home and Riley was worried it was Caroline who did it. Mike' s girlfriend Angelica was nowhere to be found. So when Riley sometime later in book found Angelica in a ditch unconscious after about 3 days. People were questioning if Angelica killed him. Riley stayed there to help with Buzzy' s life and joy her Famous ice cream Shop. This book was long to me it kinda kicked back on the same thing. About all these people dying from awhile ago.. Especially with the straggily black kitten the cute goats and mini horses that were there for people to visit. Of The Udderly Delious shop. I don't know I thought book 1 would be totally different than what the story was about. But it was good.
May 10, 2022
This was a great setting for a cozy mystery albeit a little busy – an ice cream shop with a petting zoo. Riley is an interesting character: a travel blogger/librarian/secret spy. It’s as if the author was trying to check every box for a cozy mystery. There was just too much going on that it was hard to get invested in the story. Plus, how many spies tell you they’re spies?!!! The mystery was interesting enough but with all the different things going on, it was hard to keep up and things seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Bonus points for mentions of the Washington Capitals (#ALLCAPS).
I rarely post anything negative about audiobooks, but this has the worst Jamaican accent ever. Also, the chapters abruptly ended, as if the narrator didn’t know it was the last sentence.
I will continue with the next one to see where it goes but hope that the author has narrowed down the scope of the series.
I won a copy through Goodreads, but this did not influence my review.
I rarely post anything negative about audiobooks, but this has the worst Jamaican accent ever. Also, the chapters abruptly ended, as if the narrator didn’t know it was the last sentence.
I will continue with the next one to see where it goes but hope that the author has narrowed down the scope of the series.
I won a copy through Goodreads, but this did not influence my review.
June 3, 2024
I didn't really enjoy this one.
It was extremely repetitive and could have used another edit before being released.
Everything felt like it went on longer than necessary since the thoughts and conversations were repeated so much.
And with entirely too many characters to keep track of, nearly all of them unimportant to the story, they were just taking up space in my brain for no reason. That irks me.
The FMC is supposed to have all this experience with the CIA and she doesn't really have the knowledge or common sense that would have been applied with that sort of training/experience.
The book was just kind of sloppy, but it has ice cream & recipes, so up to you if you wanna read it.
Thanks to Goodreads and Minotaur books for my giveaway win.
It was extremely repetitive and could have used another edit before being released.
Everything felt like it went on longer than necessary since the thoughts and conversations were repeated so much.
And with entirely too many characters to keep track of, nearly all of them unimportant to the story, they were just taking up space in my brain for no reason. That irks me.
The FMC is supposed to have all this experience with the CIA and she doesn't really have the knowledge or common sense that would have been applied with that sort of training/experience.
The book was just kind of sloppy, but it has ice cream & recipes, so up to you if you wanna read it.
Thanks to Goodreads and Minotaur books for my giveaway win.
July 19, 2022
4.5 Stars
Pretty good start to a new series! Riley and Caroline are a good duo. Riley's background as a spy/librarian made for an interesting lead. I don't think I've read a series with someone like that before. While there were many people that were suspects in Mike's death, I didn't guess who it was or the main why.
My husband and I like to check out ice cream shops when we visit different towns so I think we would've liked this place. I hope this series has many more stories for us to read!
Pretty good start to a new series! Riley and Caroline are a good duo. Riley's background as a spy/librarian made for an interesting lead. I don't think I've read a series with someone like that before. While there were many people that were suspects in Mike's death, I didn't guess who it was or the main why.
My husband and I like to check out ice cream shops when we visit different towns so I think we would've liked this place. I hope this series has many more stories for us to read!
January 30, 2023
I’m in love with this cozy mystery series. I actually read the second book (Mint Chocolate Murder) before the first one (this one). While I liked the second a smudge better, it was only because it took place in a castle!
The book starts out with our main character Riley going back to her hometown for her best friend Caroline’s mom’s funeral. Caroline’s brother Mike ends up dead the night after the funeral and of course Riley investigates as well as helps run the ice cream shop.
I already loved this cast of characters but it was fun to meet them as Riley did since she already knew them in the second book.
There was a lot to this mystery and it was fun following Riley as she stuck her nose into the case. I really can’t wait for the next book!
The book starts out with our main character Riley going back to her hometown for her best friend Caroline’s mom’s funeral. Caroline’s brother Mike ends up dead the night after the funeral and of course Riley investigates as well as helps run the ice cream shop.
I already loved this cast of characters but it was fun to meet them as Riley did since she already knew them in the second book.
There was a lot to this mystery and it was fun following Riley as she stuck her nose into the case. I really can’t wait for the next book!
October 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. Meri Allen did an excellent job setting up the characters, their dynamics, and the town setting. It didn’t take me long to get invested in the mystery. I can’t wait for book 2!
November 2, 2022
So much to love about this cozy mystery! From the small Connecticut town setting to the...gasp...decadent ice cream shop (some creative ice cream making raises the selections high above the norm.) They set the stage for an eclectic mix of characters, all (well most) loveable despite their quirks. And our CIA librarian heroine brings all kinds of tenacity to the sleuthing. A layered mystery with a good selection of suspects kept me on my toes the entire reading. Such a great start to the series that I immediately dived into the second book and it was just as good. Now I have to wait until next spring for the third book to come out. The perils of being current with a fave series.
I listened to both on audible narrated by Senn Annie who did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life.
I listened to both on audible narrated by Senn Annie who did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life.
March 20, 2024
It was fine. Definitely laid the ground work for other books but some of it dragged because it was so much extra detail. However I did like that the main character and the detective were not love interests
December 8, 2025
This cozy has it all -- interesting and likable characters, an appealing setting, and cats that help and hinder the sleuthing in a believable way. 4.5 stars, can't wait to read the next one
August 20, 2021
Returning to her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, Riley Rhodes wants to support her good friend Caroline Spooner after her mother dies. Caroline’s mother owned the ice cream shop Udderly Delicious and Riley jumps right in to help keep it open. It’s the perfect place for Riley to be at the moment. She’s a travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, but things didn’t go well on an undercover mission and she needs to do something else right now.
As Caroline and her brother Mike disagree on dividing their mother’s assets, Riley tries to be there for her friend. When Mike winds up dead, the police turn their attention towards Caroline as the number one suspect. Riley has no intention of seeing her friend blamed for a crime she didn’t commit. She starts her own investigation and uncovers Mike’s many secrets. She learns there are quite a few other suspects. She has help from a spoiled cat named Sprinkles and their new feline friend named Rocky.
The is the first book in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Summer is a great time to read a book set in an ice cream shop. Unfortunately, it had me craving ice cream throughout the entire book, especially my favorite Rocky Road.
I liked Riley right away. I think she’s a strong character and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Her devotion to Caroline is admirable. I liked their best friend relationship. The supporting characters are interesting and quirky. There’s even a dachshund named McGillicuddy.
The story moved along at a nice pace. There were several red herrings thrown in and it kept me off track. I didn’t start to realize who did it until I was at the end of the book. I could not put this one down and stayed up way too late reading.
It’s always fun to start a series from the beginning and I’m looking forward to another visit to Penniman and seeing what Riley is up to next.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
As Caroline and her brother Mike disagree on dividing their mother’s assets, Riley tries to be there for her friend. When Mike winds up dead, the police turn their attention towards Caroline as the number one suspect. Riley has no intention of seeing her friend blamed for a crime she didn’t commit. She starts her own investigation and uncovers Mike’s many secrets. She learns there are quite a few other suspects. She has help from a spoiled cat named Sprinkles and their new feline friend named Rocky.
The is the first book in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Summer is a great time to read a book set in an ice cream shop. Unfortunately, it had me craving ice cream throughout the entire book, especially my favorite Rocky Road.
I liked Riley right away. I think she’s a strong character and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Her devotion to Caroline is admirable. I liked their best friend relationship. The supporting characters are interesting and quirky. There’s even a dachshund named McGillicuddy.
The story moved along at a nice pace. There were several red herrings thrown in and it kept me off track. I didn’t start to realize who did it until I was at the end of the book. I could not put this one down and stayed up way too late reading.
It’s always fun to start a series from the beginning and I’m looking forward to another visit to Penniman and seeing what Riley is up to next.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 11, 2022
I really liked reading The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ve already ordered book # 2 Mint Chocolate Murder: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery due out in July 2022.
There are some really great characters, some adorable but spoiled rotten pets and Murder. Oh yeah, and ICE CREAM 🍦!
I wasn’t sure who committed the murder because every chapter, sometimes every paragraph I changed my mind. Lots of viable suspects.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ve already ordered book # 2 Mint Chocolate Murder: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery due out in July 2022.
There are some really great characters, some adorable but spoiled rotten pets and Murder. Oh yeah, and ICE CREAM 🍦!
I wasn’t sure who committed the murder because every chapter, sometimes every paragraph I changed my mind. Lots of viable suspects.
July 26, 2021
Caroline and her brother Mike never saw eye to eye and their mother's death brought about their biggest disagreement. However the problem is soon solved by her brother's murder. Now Riley, CIA librarian plus, food blogger and Caroline's good friend needs to find the real murderer to prove Caroline is innocent.
A pleasant new series with a charming setting. I liked the characters though I did not feel very attached to them but that could come as the series progresses. This story will definitely make you hungry for ice cream. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
3.5 stars
A pleasant new series with a charming setting. I liked the characters though I did not feel very attached to them but that could come as the series progresses. This story will definitely make you hungry for ice cream. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
3.5 stars
September 13, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is first in a new series starring Riley Rhodes as a CIA Librarian and sometimes operative who is helping out an ice cream shop in her hometown, when she gets pulled into a murder investigation. This book is udderly delightful and left me craving more of this character just like chocolate ice cream!
November 2, 2024
Very intriguing mystery!
September 25, 2021
Riley Rhodes is a travel food blogger, librarian for the CIA and sometimes spy and always on the go. After a misstep in Italy, she's on leave from her job and frankly, that's fine with Riley. She's happy to return to her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut even if it's for a sad occasion. Her best friend Caroline's mother, Buzzy, a fixture in the community, passed away peacefully in her sleep leaving a harried Caroline and her brother Mike to pick up the pieces of Buzzy's scattered, eclectic life. Caroline and Mike don't see eye to eye on what to do about the family farm. Mike wants to sell but Caroline feels Buzzy would want them to at least preserve the land. One thing is for certain, the family ice cream shop must open to feed the tourists and ice cream craving locals during these hot summer days. Riley is happy to roll up her sleeves and help. Waking early the next morning, Riley heads out for a jog, discovering a stray black kitten who leads her to the barn where Mike's dead body lies. His girlfriend, tennis star Angelica Miguel is missing. Did the killer take her or did she kill Mike and take off? Riley is terrified the police will suspect Caroline because Caroline's scarf was found with the body. Riley is certain her friend didn't really mean she could kill her brother but what about the farmer, Darwin or better yet Emily, who went to prom with Mike and who was VERY eager to see him again. Or was it one of the neighbors involved in the property development scheme or some random person unknown to Riley? She SHOULD let the police handle it but what if they arrest the wrong person? What if they never figure it out and justice isn't done? Riley can't let that happen!
I enjoyed this new mystery a lot. Warning: You WILL crave ice cream after reading this. I loved the local color setting. I live nearby, in an urban/suburban metro area, so I can easily picture this little Ct. town with hills and farms. We sure do love our ice cream, especially ice cream made with cream from a local dairy! Plus ice cream shops with petting zoos and cows on the premises are popular too. There was an artist's colony on the Connecticut shore 100 years ago but I think that part of Penniman is fiction. It was fun to read about even if I didn't get to armchair travel to another place. All that ice cream made me glad the freezer was stocked- don't ask how much I ate today! I loved seeing Riley and friends make their special ice cream flavors although the only one that appealed to me was the brownie one and I'm not entirely sure that a small shop with small batch craft ice cream would continuously remake the flavors that sold out all day. In my experience, once it's gone, that's it for the day. I also heard on TV that Ben & Jerry's brownies are a special recipe formulated for ice cream. They bake dry and take awhile to soften in the ice cream but I don't know if the soft and chewy brownies of this book would work or not.
I appreciated the police detective was not an idiot or an arrogant jerk. He seemed fair and kept an open mind even though it sure looked like Caroline was guilty and Riley was impeding the investigation. Even when someone close to Caroline seemed the most likely suspect, the police didn't make an arrest. However, they didn't really try very hard to find clues. Sure Riley broke a lot of rules but I suspected that person for that reason RIGHT AWAY! I also wondered whether Buzzy's death and Martha's long ago accident were connected. I was partly right about the murderer and their motive. It was kind of obvious but then it seemed like it might be about something else and then the murderer had to be someone else. The solution was actually quite complicated as there was a lot going on in this novel. It feels a little long and characters are randomly introduced at the beginning of the novel. It felt confusing to meet these people with no explanation of who they were. I also didn't like how two characters had a first name beginning with the same initial which made it confusing.
I liked Riley well enough. I can relate to her librarian brain needing answers. I'm the same way. I like how she shows her actual library using skills (microfiche) and not just Googling for answers or browsing social media for any clues. I didn't like how she took advantage of the gossipy police secretary and the other person to gather information. I don't think any of that will hold up in court. She's a little bit naïve for someone who has worked for the CIA. I wouldn't have made the same mistake she did in Italy and I picked up on something shady a character was up to long before Riley. I love her compassion and how she's willing to drop everything and do the arm-breaking work of scooping ice cream to help out a friend. I admire her tenacity in trying to see justice done and how she calls the police when she sees trouble.
Buzzy sounds like a real character and someone I would have liked to have known. It was impressive of her to take on motherhood, and motherhood of an 8 year old and 13 year old when she was already a middle-aged widow! It shows what kind of person Buzzy was. Buzzy was kind, generous, loving and devoted to her community. Sure she was eccentric and needed help managing the practical end of things but I think her big heart endeared her to the community as much as her blue blood did. Her death is a real tragedy but her spirit lives on. She raised two very different children. Caroline is lovely. She's a bit shy and hesitant at times and of course she's overwhelmed right now but Caroline shares her mother's big heart. Caroline is artistic and passionate about her job as an art restoration specialist but also wants to do the right thing and honor her family's heritage by continuing to run the farm and ice cream shop. She is at odds with her brother. In high school he was a jock, a BMOC and hard-partying. He had a string of girlfriends and never bothered with his sister and her friends. It doesn't seem like he changed much over the years. He comes across as sleazy and deceitful, yet who was he really? We get differing accounts from different people. He was quite successful and could have helped his mother out without resorting to trying to sell her property but perhaps he was only trying to help. Buzzy WAS 80 even though she only claimed 29 years LOL! Plus, his latest girlfriend, Angelica, seems so nice. She's apparently a tennis superstar, a household name, but appears humble. She's either as awful as Mike and they deserve each other or he's changed and they make a nice couple. I don't think she's a murderer but as Riley knows all too well, you can't always trust nice people. I worried a lot about her being missing the day Mike was killed.
The rest of the community is kind of an odd mix of quirky locals both friendly and hostile. Riley's dad, a bookseller with the name of Nathaniel Hawthorne, seems friendly and nice but his wife, Paulette, seems high maintenance. I get the impression Riley isn't a huge fan but since she's an adult and away from home, she wants her dad happy and taken care of. Flo and Geri, elderly sisters who work at the ice cream shop when they're not doing genealogy, are vastly different. Flo is kind and grandmotherly. It's no surprise she worked as a Kindergarten teacher. Geri is outspoken, grumpy and no-nonsense. She's PASSIONATE about preserving the open farm land and preventing changed to her ancestral town. She once taught high school and I expect she was good at it. Both sisters are devoted to Udderly and neither is above flirtation and sighing over a silver fox. Brandon, the teenage help at Udderly Delightful, means well but he isn't a rule follower. He has a creative spirit and doesn't understand that the shop has a reputation to uphold and standards. They have a recipe book of tried and true ice cream and Brandon is oblivious. He doesn't seem like a BAD kid though, just a clueless teen longing to express himself.
Tillie O'Malley, the police secretary, has the loosest lips in town. I think she's not too bright and feels like she has to be a part of everything that's going on to feel important. There's some light backstory that may influence her. The local hermit, Aaron, and his little dog McGuillicudy, are a lot of fun. Andy is rather weird and paranoid but he's devoted to his cute little dog which is sweet.
Darwin and Pru manage the farm with their daughter Willow, who is in charge of the baby goats. They seem like a lovely family. Darwin is a REAL farmer- it's in his blood and he's done it forever. It's all he knows. Pru is a midwife and well-connected in the town. She serves as a surrogate mother for Riley when Riley needs someone to talk to. Willow is sweet, with all the energy and wide-eyed innocence of her 17 years. It comes as a shock to think Darwin may have killed Mike. I really hope not. I don't think so because without him, there's no farm and without the farm, there's not much point in keeping the rest and part of the draw of the ice cream shop is the petting zoo. He does seem to be very proud and have a temper. I can see him getting angry and accidentally killing Mike so I guess that's the question- was in manslaughter or murder? Pru seems nervous about something. Is Darwin protecting HER or is she protecting HIM?
Kyle, Mike's best friend, is a lawyer and wannabe politician. A scion of a wealthy and influential family, he's always been Mike's wingman. Kyle seems genuinely sad to lose his friend but his acting as Mike's lawyer seems like a conflict of interest to me. I don't trust Kyle at all. I think he's lying about Mike's representing Buzzy's wishes. His wife Nina seems like the Stepford type of wife- pretty, perfect, stands by her man's side no matter what. Emily is another high school classmate. She sounds like she was the mean girl type and hasn't changed. She throws herself at Mike at his mother's funeral- where she shows up wearing hot pink for goodness sake! That's tacky. It turns up Emily has a motive for wanting to speak to Mike. When she learns he has a girlfriend, could she have acted out in anger and taken revenge or does it go deeper than that and have to do with her job?
Mrs. Danforth, aka Dandy, the high school gym teacher and girls' athletic coach, is rather a sourpuss. I am sure attending Buzzy's funeral brought back painful memories of losing her teenage daughter 17 years ago. Dandy was a bit intimidating as a teacher and she was even worse as a mother. Her expectations for her daughter were impossible and I wouldn't have been surprised if her daughter took her own life. She accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills and Dandy has been in the depths of grieving ever since. Dandy is standoffish and unfriendly towards Riley until Riley fakes an interest in Dandy's passion. I suspect Dandy is involved in the proposed development one way or another.
Who is Stretch, the mysterious man seemingly down on his luck? Is he the one setting the potentially dangerous camp fires? He looks like a homeless person but Riley notices a few details that don't match. Is he also undercover? I figured him out when the clues were slowly dropped, like breadcrumbs. I was kind of surprised and didn't think that belonged in the first book. Also mysterious is the silver fox ice cream fan known as "Cadillac Ranch." I suspect he may be connected with the proposed land development scheme that would destroy everything Buzzy loved. Why does he know how to rope goats if he's a developer though? I don't trust anyone from Texas!
One major character not mixed up in the mystery is Sprinkles, Buzzy's insanely spoiled pedigreed cat. Sprinkles insists on being treated like the QUEEN she knows she is. She's snooty, selective and massively spoiled. I'm not a cat fan and this one does not appeal to me. Another cat actually is involved in the mystery, a little too much if you ask me. This mysterious stray black kitten leads Riley to dead bodies and clues. It's a bit silly. Again, not a fan of cats and he failed to charm me.
There's a bit of a slow burn romance brewing between Caroline and Detective Voelker. He's a good guy just doing his job following the evidence. He's rather serious on the job but he seems kind towards Caroline when he's not interrogating her. Riley is attracted to the veterinarian, Dr. Pryce. He seems lively and fun but isn't well developed yet. Hopefully more later on in the next book as the cats get into trouble.
Since I couldn't put this one down I'm giving it a high rating and I can't wait to read the second book next summer, in time for some small batch local handmade ice cream!
I enjoyed this new mystery a lot. Warning: You WILL crave ice cream after reading this. I loved the local color setting. I live nearby, in an urban/suburban metro area, so I can easily picture this little Ct. town with hills and farms. We sure do love our ice cream, especially ice cream made with cream from a local dairy! Plus ice cream shops with petting zoos and cows on the premises are popular too. There was an artist's colony on the Connecticut shore 100 years ago but I think that part of Penniman is fiction. It was fun to read about even if I didn't get to armchair travel to another place. All that ice cream made me glad the freezer was stocked- don't ask how much I ate today! I loved seeing Riley and friends make their special ice cream flavors although the only one that appealed to me was the brownie one and I'm not entirely sure that a small shop with small batch craft ice cream would continuously remake the flavors that sold out all day. In my experience, once it's gone, that's it for the day. I also heard on TV that Ben & Jerry's brownies are a special recipe formulated for ice cream. They bake dry and take awhile to soften in the ice cream but I don't know if the soft and chewy brownies of this book would work or not.
I appreciated the police detective was not an idiot or an arrogant jerk. He seemed fair and kept an open mind even though it sure looked like Caroline was guilty and Riley was impeding the investigation. Even when someone close to Caroline seemed the most likely suspect, the police didn't make an arrest. However, they didn't really try very hard to find clues. Sure Riley broke a lot of rules but I suspected that person for that reason RIGHT AWAY! I also wondered whether Buzzy's death and Martha's long ago accident were connected. I was partly right about the murderer and their motive. It was kind of obvious but then it seemed like it might be about something else and then the murderer had to be someone else. The solution was actually quite complicated as there was a lot going on in this novel. It feels a little long and characters are randomly introduced at the beginning of the novel. It felt confusing to meet these people with no explanation of who they were. I also didn't like how two characters had a first name beginning with the same initial which made it confusing.
I liked Riley well enough. I can relate to her librarian brain needing answers. I'm the same way. I like how she shows her actual library using skills (microfiche) and not just Googling for answers or browsing social media for any clues. I didn't like how she took advantage of the gossipy police secretary and the other person to gather information. I don't think any of that will hold up in court. She's a little bit naïve for someone who has worked for the CIA. I wouldn't have made the same mistake she did in Italy and I picked up on something shady a character was up to long before Riley. I love her compassion and how she's willing to drop everything and do the arm-breaking work of scooping ice cream to help out a friend. I admire her tenacity in trying to see justice done and how she calls the police when she sees trouble.
Buzzy sounds like a real character and someone I would have liked to have known. It was impressive of her to take on motherhood, and motherhood of an 8 year old and 13 year old when she was already a middle-aged widow! It shows what kind of person Buzzy was. Buzzy was kind, generous, loving and devoted to her community. Sure she was eccentric and needed help managing the practical end of things but I think her big heart endeared her to the community as much as her blue blood did. Her death is a real tragedy but her spirit lives on. She raised two very different children. Caroline is lovely. She's a bit shy and hesitant at times and of course she's overwhelmed right now but Caroline shares her mother's big heart. Caroline is artistic and passionate about her job as an art restoration specialist but also wants to do the right thing and honor her family's heritage by continuing to run the farm and ice cream shop. She is at odds with her brother. In high school he was a jock, a BMOC and hard-partying. He had a string of girlfriends and never bothered with his sister and her friends. It doesn't seem like he changed much over the years. He comes across as sleazy and deceitful, yet who was he really? We get differing accounts from different people. He was quite successful and could have helped his mother out without resorting to trying to sell her property but perhaps he was only trying to help. Buzzy WAS 80 even though she only claimed 29 years LOL! Plus, his latest girlfriend, Angelica, seems so nice. She's apparently a tennis superstar, a household name, but appears humble. She's either as awful as Mike and they deserve each other or he's changed and they make a nice couple. I don't think she's a murderer but as Riley knows all too well, you can't always trust nice people. I worried a lot about her being missing the day Mike was killed.
The rest of the community is kind of an odd mix of quirky locals both friendly and hostile. Riley's dad, a bookseller with the name of Nathaniel Hawthorne, seems friendly and nice but his wife, Paulette, seems high maintenance. I get the impression Riley isn't a huge fan but since she's an adult and away from home, she wants her dad happy and taken care of. Flo and Geri, elderly sisters who work at the ice cream shop when they're not doing genealogy, are vastly different. Flo is kind and grandmotherly. It's no surprise she worked as a Kindergarten teacher. Geri is outspoken, grumpy and no-nonsense. She's PASSIONATE about preserving the open farm land and preventing changed to her ancestral town. She once taught high school and I expect she was good at it. Both sisters are devoted to Udderly and neither is above flirtation and sighing over a silver fox. Brandon, the teenage help at Udderly Delightful, means well but he isn't a rule follower. He has a creative spirit and doesn't understand that the shop has a reputation to uphold and standards. They have a recipe book of tried and true ice cream and Brandon is oblivious. He doesn't seem like a BAD kid though, just a clueless teen longing to express himself.
Tillie O'Malley, the police secretary, has the loosest lips in town. I think she's not too bright and feels like she has to be a part of everything that's going on to feel important. There's some light backstory that may influence her. The local hermit, Aaron, and his little dog McGuillicudy, are a lot of fun. Andy is rather weird and paranoid but he's devoted to his cute little dog which is sweet.
Darwin and Pru manage the farm with their daughter Willow, who is in charge of the baby goats. They seem like a lovely family. Darwin is a REAL farmer- it's in his blood and he's done it forever. It's all he knows. Pru is a midwife and well-connected in the town. She serves as a surrogate mother for Riley when Riley needs someone to talk to. Willow is sweet, with all the energy and wide-eyed innocence of her 17 years. It comes as a shock to think Darwin may have killed Mike. I really hope not. I don't think so because without him, there's no farm and without the farm, there's not much point in keeping the rest and part of the draw of the ice cream shop is the petting zoo. He does seem to be very proud and have a temper. I can see him getting angry and accidentally killing Mike so I guess that's the question- was in manslaughter or murder? Pru seems nervous about something. Is Darwin protecting HER or is she protecting HIM?
Kyle, Mike's best friend, is a lawyer and wannabe politician. A scion of a wealthy and influential family, he's always been Mike's wingman. Kyle seems genuinely sad to lose his friend but his acting as Mike's lawyer seems like a conflict of interest to me. I don't trust Kyle at all. I think he's lying about Mike's representing Buzzy's wishes. His wife Nina seems like the Stepford type of wife- pretty, perfect, stands by her man's side no matter what. Emily is another high school classmate. She sounds like she was the mean girl type and hasn't changed. She throws herself at Mike at his mother's funeral- where she shows up wearing hot pink for goodness sake! That's tacky. It turns up Emily has a motive for wanting to speak to Mike. When she learns he has a girlfriend, could she have acted out in anger and taken revenge or does it go deeper than that and have to do with her job?
Mrs. Danforth, aka Dandy, the high school gym teacher and girls' athletic coach, is rather a sourpuss. I am sure attending Buzzy's funeral brought back painful memories of losing her teenage daughter 17 years ago. Dandy was a bit intimidating as a teacher and she was even worse as a mother. Her expectations for her daughter were impossible and I wouldn't have been surprised if her daughter took her own life. She accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills and Dandy has been in the depths of grieving ever since. Dandy is standoffish and unfriendly towards Riley until Riley fakes an interest in Dandy's passion. I suspect Dandy is involved in the proposed development one way or another.
Who is Stretch, the mysterious man seemingly down on his luck? Is he the one setting the potentially dangerous camp fires? He looks like a homeless person but Riley notices a few details that don't match. Is he also undercover? I figured him out when the clues were slowly dropped, like breadcrumbs. I was kind of surprised and didn't think that belonged in the first book. Also mysterious is the silver fox ice cream fan known as "Cadillac Ranch." I suspect he may be connected with the proposed land development scheme that would destroy everything Buzzy loved. Why does he know how to rope goats if he's a developer though? I don't trust anyone from Texas!
One major character not mixed up in the mystery is Sprinkles, Buzzy's insanely spoiled pedigreed cat. Sprinkles insists on being treated like the QUEEN she knows she is. She's snooty, selective and massively spoiled. I'm not a cat fan and this one does not appeal to me. Another cat actually is involved in the mystery, a little too much if you ask me. This mysterious stray black kitten leads Riley to dead bodies and clues. It's a bit silly. Again, not a fan of cats and he failed to charm me.
There's a bit of a slow burn romance brewing between Caroline and Detective Voelker. He's a good guy just doing his job following the evidence. He's rather serious on the job but he seems kind towards Caroline when he's not interrogating her. Riley is attracted to the veterinarian, Dr. Pryce. He seems lively and fun but isn't well developed yet. Hopefully more later on in the next book as the cats get into trouble.
Since I couldn't put this one down I'm giving it a high rating and I can't wait to read the second book next summer, in time for some small batch local handmade ice cream!
August 2, 2021
I’ve always assumed the most stressful part of writing the first book in a cozy mystery series is that it has to stand on its own while perfectly setting the stage for any subsequent books. Cozy authors have to balance creating a winning main character who readers root for while plopping them in a niche that separates them from other series—to say nothing of all the murder and mayhem that has to surround them in a semi-plausible way. It’s an awful lot to balance in a crowded genre.
Well, if Meri Allen (author Shari Randall’s pseudonym) struggled with any of this, none of it shows in the pages of The Rocky Road to Ruin, which marks a terrific beginning for her and her newest sleuth, Riley Rhodes.
A CIA librarian and food blogger with a complicated past, Riley returns to her hometown to attend a funeral. Unfortunately for the denizens in this otherwise idyllic Connecticut community, that’s not the only corpse Riley sees in this book. Soon she’s out tracking a killer all while reconnecting with her past and even helping out at her former job, the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.
Simple, right? Just the kind of mystery that permeates so many cozies. And yet, Allen has crafted such an incredibly likable and strong heroine that everything around her feels fresh. Rather than feeling like the type of detective that stumbles around interrogating a foolish cast of characters, Riley comes across as a levelheaded natural—of course she’d be the one to solve the mystery. It helps that Allen has paired her against a strong group of secondary characters who more than hold their own. While she’s quick with a joke and, as the name of the ice cream shop suggests, she has no problem with a pun, Allen has carved out some really lovely characters who come across as fully realized people. There’s also a couple of cats, which for me is never a bad thing.
Of course, then there’s the mystery itself. Allen does a great job of telegraphing the potential victim while also still managing a surprise reveal. From there, it’s a wild ride as Riley tracks clues questions suspects, and, on occasion, mixes up ice cream. Allen balances the mystery with the fun perfectly, yet there hits a point about three-quarters of the way through when this book becomes unputdownable. I knew the case was on the cusp of being cracked, yet the reveal was oh-so satisfying.
The Rocky Road to Ruin is better than an ice cream sundae on a hot summer’s day.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Well, if Meri Allen (author Shari Randall’s pseudonym) struggled with any of this, none of it shows in the pages of The Rocky Road to Ruin, which marks a terrific beginning for her and her newest sleuth, Riley Rhodes.
A CIA librarian and food blogger with a complicated past, Riley returns to her hometown to attend a funeral. Unfortunately for the denizens in this otherwise idyllic Connecticut community, that’s not the only corpse Riley sees in this book. Soon she’s out tracking a killer all while reconnecting with her past and even helping out at her former job, the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.
Simple, right? Just the kind of mystery that permeates so many cozies. And yet, Allen has crafted such an incredibly likable and strong heroine that everything around her feels fresh. Rather than feeling like the type of detective that stumbles around interrogating a foolish cast of characters, Riley comes across as a levelheaded natural—of course she’d be the one to solve the mystery. It helps that Allen has paired her against a strong group of secondary characters who more than hold their own. While she’s quick with a joke and, as the name of the ice cream shop suggests, she has no problem with a pun, Allen has carved out some really lovely characters who come across as fully realized people. There’s also a couple of cats, which for me is never a bad thing.
Of course, then there’s the mystery itself. Allen does a great job of telegraphing the potential victim while also still managing a surprise reveal. From there, it’s a wild ride as Riley tracks clues questions suspects, and, on occasion, mixes up ice cream. Allen balances the mystery with the fun perfectly, yet there hits a point about three-quarters of the way through when this book becomes unputdownable. I knew the case was on the cusp of being cracked, yet the reveal was oh-so satisfying.
The Rocky Road to Ruin is better than an ice cream sundae on a hot summer’s day.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
March 3, 2022
This was sort of a sad mystery. It was really good, but there was a certain sadness to the whole reveal. Put this on your TBR list and you'll see :)
June 1, 2021
The Rocky Road to Ruin is the first in a new cozy, culinary series by Meri Allen. Amateur sleuth, CIA librarian/spy, travel and food blogger, Riley Rhodes, has returned to her childhood home of Penniman, Connecticut to attend the funeral of her best friend Caroline’s mother, Buzzy.
After the funeral, tensions are running high as Caroline’s brother, Mike, a successful real estate developer, wants to sell the family farm and ice cream shop. Caroline and others oppose the idea.
When Riley finds Mike’s corpse in the barn, there’s no lack of suspects, including Caroline. It’s up to Riley to clear her bestie’s name, keep the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop running, and find the real killer.
This ticks all of the boxes for a cozy mystery:
• Our main character is a female amateur sleuth
• Small town where the characters know each other
• But there are still decade’s old secrets to uncover
• Gentle read with no graphic sex or violence
• Animal sidekicks
• Bonus of miniature horses and goats!
• Recipes
Riley’s a likable main character who wants to help her friend. She also cares about her childhood hometown and doesn’t want to see the farm sold to real estate developers intent on turning it into McMansions.
Riley’s dad owns a bookstore in town and the book mentions that there are tensions between Riley and her stepmother Paulette – I hope we get to explore that more in future books.
There’s a hint at a romance but surprisingly it’s not between the investigating police detective and Riley but her bestie Caroline. That was a nice twist.
Meri Allen’s done a great job establishing Penniman and several of its inhabitants but left plenty to explore in future books. This was a quick, enjoyable read with two feline sidekicks – both of which are adorable – the imperious Sprinkles and the mischievous Rocky. The mystery was great – lots of layers, plenty of suspects, and puzzle pieces for Riley to put together. I’m looking forward to future books in the series!
After the funeral, tensions are running high as Caroline’s brother, Mike, a successful real estate developer, wants to sell the family farm and ice cream shop. Caroline and others oppose the idea.
When Riley finds Mike’s corpse in the barn, there’s no lack of suspects, including Caroline. It’s up to Riley to clear her bestie’s name, keep the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop running, and find the real killer.
This ticks all of the boxes for a cozy mystery:
• Our main character is a female amateur sleuth
• Small town where the characters know each other
• But there are still decade’s old secrets to uncover
• Gentle read with no graphic sex or violence
• Animal sidekicks
• Bonus of miniature horses and goats!
• Recipes
Riley’s a likable main character who wants to help her friend. She also cares about her childhood hometown and doesn’t want to see the farm sold to real estate developers intent on turning it into McMansions.
Riley’s dad owns a bookstore in town and the book mentions that there are tensions between Riley and her stepmother Paulette – I hope we get to explore that more in future books.
There’s a hint at a romance but surprisingly it’s not between the investigating police detective and Riley but her bestie Caroline. That was a nice twist.
Meri Allen’s done a great job establishing Penniman and several of its inhabitants but left plenty to explore in future books. This was a quick, enjoyable read with two feline sidekicks – both of which are adorable – the imperious Sprinkles and the mischievous Rocky. The mystery was great – lots of layers, plenty of suspects, and puzzle pieces for Riley to put together. I’m looking forward to future books in the series!
July 11, 2021
THE ROCKY ROAD TO RUIN, the first book in the brand-new Ice Cream Shop Mysteries, by Meri Allen, is a delightful start to a delicious series! As the story unfolded, I greatly enjoyed that the protagonist, Riley Rhodes, isn’t your typical, stumble through an investigation, amateur sleuth. She’s not only a librarian with great researching skills, but she worked for the CIA until an overseas misfortune sidelined her. Heading home to support her best friend, Caroline, who’d lost her mother, Riley pitches in to run Caroline’s family ice cream shop. Ms. Allen has an admirable descriptive voice and I couldn’t help but want to visit the charming setting of Penniman, Connecticut. She not only captures the beauty of the location but also the yummy tastes and aromas of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. The author has developed appealing characters – both human and animal alike – and I especially loved Sprinkles, the cat who rules the household. The quirky feline steals each scene she inhabits!
There are multiple mystery threads running throughout the book, from long ago to current day, and the author effortlessly weaves them together into a cohesive story. I was so charmed by the story, I decided to sit back and enjoy the read as it unfolded instead of playing armchair detective. Either way, the mysteries and subplots are well-paced and entertaining scenes will keep the reader intrigued with lots of suspects and well-placed clues. Cozy mystery fans will drool over this new series by Meri Allen, who also writes as Shari Randall.
There are so many mouthwatering mentions of udderly delicious frozen concoctions throughout the story and I was pleased to see that there are recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
There are multiple mystery threads running throughout the book, from long ago to current day, and the author effortlessly weaves them together into a cohesive story. I was so charmed by the story, I decided to sit back and enjoy the read as it unfolded instead of playing armchair detective. Either way, the mysteries and subplots are well-paced and entertaining scenes will keep the reader intrigued with lots of suspects and well-placed clues. Cozy mystery fans will drool over this new series by Meri Allen, who also writes as Shari Randall.
There are so many mouthwatering mentions of udderly delicious frozen concoctions throughout the story and I was pleased to see that there are recipes at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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