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Ice Cream Shop Mysteries #2
Mint Chocolate Murder
Riley Rhodes returns in the second delicious cozy set in a New England ice cream shop, Meri Allen's Mint Chocolate Murder!
When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it’s the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.
As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing – she was a CIA librarian – are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.
But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull’s dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted put the malicious photographer on ice.
When Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop manager Riley Rhodes is summoned to Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle, it’s the cherry on top of a successful summer season. The gothic pile built by an eccentric New England Gilded Age millionaire has been transformed into a premiere arts colony by Maud Monaco, a reclusive former supermodel. As part of Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival, Maud is throwing a fantasy ice cream social and hires Riley to whip up unique treats to celebrate the opening of an exhibit by Adam Blasco, a photographer as obnoxious as he is talented.
As Penniman fills up with Maud’s art-world friends arriving for the festival, gossip swirls around Blasco, who has a dark history of obsession with his models. Riley’s curiosity and instincts for sleuthing – she was a CIA librarian – are piqued, and she wonders at the hold the cold-hearted photographer has over the mistress of Moy Mull.
But when Adam is found dead behind the locked door of Moy Mull’s dungeon, Riley realizes there’s more than one suspect who’d wanted put the malicious photographer on ice.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 26, 2022
41 people are currently reading
4404 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 309 reviews
July 28, 2022
Riley Rhodes loves her job managing Udderly Delight, an ice cream shop her best friend, Caroline Spooner, recently inherited from her late mother. Riley often works with Betsy Bittman at Creative Caterers to make delicious desserts.
When contacted by Maud Monaco, a wealthy, former model, who asks Riley to provide dessert at a special exhibit at the medieval castle, Moy Mull, where Maud lives; Riley becomes involved in a locked room mystery with layers of twists revealing in the author’s plot.
Skillfully using eclectic characters and clever clues, Author Allen dishes up a cool plot with a hard-to-figure-out killer and surprising twists and turns. I was impressed as the different suspects were brought front and center in scenes, then shuffled around as their alibis led away from the main murder mystery; however, there is more than one mystery at stake in “Mint Chocolate Murder.” Riley and her employees are fun and likable. Cozying up the storyline are two cats, Rocky—Riley’s rescue, and Sprinkles—Caroline’s diva cat who provides humor in the story! There are great ending action scenes, plus all loose ends to the mysteries are wrapped up nicely. I highly recommend this cozy mystery.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.
When contacted by Maud Monaco, a wealthy, former model, who asks Riley to provide dessert at a special exhibit at the medieval castle, Moy Mull, where Maud lives; Riley becomes involved in a locked room mystery with layers of twists revealing in the author’s plot.
Skillfully using eclectic characters and clever clues, Author Allen dishes up a cool plot with a hard-to-figure-out killer and surprising twists and turns. I was impressed as the different suspects were brought front and center in scenes, then shuffled around as their alibis led away from the main murder mystery; however, there is more than one mystery at stake in “Mint Chocolate Murder.” Riley and her employees are fun and likable. Cozying up the storyline are two cats, Rocky—Riley’s rescue, and Sprinkles—Caroline’s diva cat who provides humor in the story! There are great ending action scenes, plus all loose ends to the mysteries are wrapped up nicely. I highly recommend this cozy mystery.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2022
What could be a better combo - a dreary & rainy day, a cozy mystery featuring a former librarian who just happened to have worked for the CIA, a gorgeous but spooky castle, the murder of an unlikable photographer, a delicious ice cream shop that will make you want a cone (trust me) and two adorable felines - well, one adorable cat and one cat who is slightly homicidal! Mix that together with greed, broken promises and anger and you have a perfect mystery!
Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian and now ice cream shop manager & flavor developer, is a relatable and slightly mysterious character. At the CIA, Riley also worked as an "asset" and has a unique skill set. There were "red herrings" all over and I fell for each one! The felines have such different personalities but you'll love them both. The mystery was fast-paced and I enjoyed it!
I had not read the first book, but had no trouble keeping up with this book. Settle in for a cozy mystery you'll love! I'm hoping the next book comes out soon!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian and now ice cream shop manager & flavor developer, is a relatable and slightly mysterious character. At the CIA, Riley also worked as an "asset" and has a unique skill set. There were "red herrings" all over and I fell for each one! The felines have such different personalities but you'll love them both. The mystery was fast-paced and I enjoyed it!
I had not read the first book, but had no trouble keeping up with this book. Settle in for a cozy mystery you'll love! I'm hoping the next book comes out soon!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 30, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Riley Rhodes has been given a unique opportunity to provide ice cream treats for Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival at the medieval Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle. The castle has had its share of owners but Maud Monaco turned it into a premier arts colony. She has invited famous photographer Adam Blasco to be the first exhibit at the festival.
Maud is excited as all her art-world friends start to arrive but Riley hears plenty of gossip about Adam Blasco. Her CIA librarian skills kick in as she wonders what the truth is about the photographer. His history is pretty dark but then why would Maud have invited him to exhibit his art?
When Blasco goes missing Maud does her best to follow through on her programs. Then Adam Blasco is found dead in the castle dungeon. After all Riley’s heard she knows there is quite a list of people who could have done the deed including someone close to her. She just needs to follow the clues and get the scoop on the killer before they strike again.
First, I have to address the elephant in the room. That’s a really cool cover, right? Sadly, it has nothing to do with this story and neither does the title. I love cozy mysteries with punny titles and how they are woven into the story but this title is pretty straightforward – Mint Chocolate Murder. Well, the word MINT is not found once in the text of this story and the word CHOCOLATE is just mentioned 6 times. But PUMPKIN SPICE is mentioned 29 times. Either the title should have been Pumpkin Spice Murder or everywhere “pumpkin spice” is used should have been changed to Mint Chocolate. I know sometimes the titles are out of the author’s control but this should have been fixed in editing. Even the recipe at the end of the book is for No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream! It truly looks like the wrong story was matched with the wrong cover.
Riley Rhodes is a great amateur sleuth, especially with her CIA librarian background. It feeds her need to research and investigate while handling her day job of managing the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop. There her creative juices can flow as she comes up with some fantastic ice cream flavors. Riley is surrounded by a wonderful group of family and friends who can all pitch in to help so she has time to do a little sleuthing. It is a large quirky cast and they all feel true to life.
I really enjoyed the castle setting. It almost became a character on its own. All its secrets, the nooks, crannies, staircases, dungeon, and hidden features made an excellent place for a cozy mystery to take place. I was entertained following along as Riley tried so hard to find what she was looking for and finding something she wasn’t looking for at all. I was working on a couple of theories of my own. I had the guilty party in my sights very early on but that sure did not take away from the big reveal that was compared to a Mission Impossible movie.
While Mint Chocolate Murder has nothing to do with mint or chocolate it was an appealing read. Terrific characters including two frisky felines, an intriguing setting, and a stirring mystery make this book a fine successor to Rocky Road to Ruin. I am looking for to the next book in this series.
Riley Rhodes has been given a unique opportunity to provide ice cream treats for Moy Mull’s Fall Arts Festival at the medieval Penniman’s Moy Mull Castle. The castle has had its share of owners but Maud Monaco turned it into a premier arts colony. She has invited famous photographer Adam Blasco to be the first exhibit at the festival.
Maud is excited as all her art-world friends start to arrive but Riley hears plenty of gossip about Adam Blasco. Her CIA librarian skills kick in as she wonders what the truth is about the photographer. His history is pretty dark but then why would Maud have invited him to exhibit his art?
When Blasco goes missing Maud does her best to follow through on her programs. Then Adam Blasco is found dead in the castle dungeon. After all Riley’s heard she knows there is quite a list of people who could have done the deed including someone close to her. She just needs to follow the clues and get the scoop on the killer before they strike again.
First, I have to address the elephant in the room. That’s a really cool cover, right? Sadly, it has nothing to do with this story and neither does the title. I love cozy mysteries with punny titles and how they are woven into the story but this title is pretty straightforward – Mint Chocolate Murder. Well, the word MINT is not found once in the text of this story and the word CHOCOLATE is just mentioned 6 times. But PUMPKIN SPICE is mentioned 29 times. Either the title should have been Pumpkin Spice Murder or everywhere “pumpkin spice” is used should have been changed to Mint Chocolate. I know sometimes the titles are out of the author’s control but this should have been fixed in editing. Even the recipe at the end of the book is for No Churn Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream! It truly looks like the wrong story was matched with the wrong cover.
Riley Rhodes is a great amateur sleuth, especially with her CIA librarian background. It feeds her need to research and investigate while handling her day job of managing the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop. There her creative juices can flow as she comes up with some fantastic ice cream flavors. Riley is surrounded by a wonderful group of family and friends who can all pitch in to help so she has time to do a little sleuthing. It is a large quirky cast and they all feel true to life.
I really enjoyed the castle setting. It almost became a character on its own. All its secrets, the nooks, crannies, staircases, dungeon, and hidden features made an excellent place for a cozy mystery to take place. I was entertained following along as Riley tried so hard to find what she was looking for and finding something she wasn’t looking for at all. I was working on a couple of theories of my own. I had the guilty party in my sights very early on but that sure did not take away from the big reveal that was compared to a Mission Impossible movie.
While Mint Chocolate Murder has nothing to do with mint or chocolate it was an appealing read. Terrific characters including two frisky felines, an intriguing setting, and a stirring mystery make this book a fine successor to Rocky Road to Ruin. I am looking for to the next book in this series.
April 2, 2024
Review coming soon.
July 14, 2022
Riley Rhodes is creating unique ice cream flavors for an event at Moy Mull Castle owned by Maud Monaco, a former model. As part of the Moy Mull Arts Festival, there will be an ice cream social. Maud is also featuring Avant Garde photographer, Adam Blasco at the festival. When it is time for Adam’s talk on the first day of the festival, he is MIA. Adam is later found dead in the castle’s locked dungeon. Riley can think of several individuals who were disgruntled with the insufferable photographer. Unfortunately, one of the suspects is Willow’s boyfriend, Luca. Riley dons her sleuthing cap and works to expose the killer. Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen is the second novel in An Ice Cream Shop Mysteries. It can be a standalone if you have not read The Rocky Road to Ruin. I like Riley Rhodes who is a former CIA librarian (and spy) who now managing Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, Connecticut. Riley creates ice cream flavors that have lines out the door at the ice cream shop. The setting of Moy Mull Castle is unique. An eccentric millionaire recreated a medieval castle in Connecticut. It was a hotel for a time. Maud has brought back the Scottish charm and the antiques found in the attic. The festival seemed like it was fun with plenty of delicious treats. I did feel the pacing was slow. We follow Riley through her day-to-day routine leading up to the festival. The author’s detailed descriptions further bog down the story (do we have to know what each person is wearing along with hair color). The murder does not occur until almost a quarter of the way into the book. By the time the victim was killed, I already knew who would die and who committed the crime. I am baffled as to how the title tied into the story. Mint chocolate ice cream is not a flavor mentioned in the book (pumpkin spice is mentioned several times). There are a number of characters in the story. It is challenging trying to keep track of all of them (just like in the first book). There are delectable ice cream flavors including the colorful unicorn ice cream (you will find yourself heading to the freezer for a pint). Mint Chocolate Murder is a colorful cozy with a fun fall festival, a modish ex-model, a disrespectful photographer, appetizing ice cream, a curious crime, a striking castle, and a sharp-eyed sleuthing librarian.
August 25, 2022
This is definitely an interesting mystery. I love the setting, the ice cream, the kitties! This time the murder takes place in a locked room in a castle, which was definitely intriguing but I have to say I was a little uncomfortable with some of the things Riley pulled, really not too smart things for a smart lady, some of these things were also on the edge of unethical and that bothered me. I really hope the author pulls back from that edge because I really liked Riley more in the first book.
May 5, 2022
Castles with rumors of a weeping ghost, locked door mysteries, ice cream, royalty, bees, and, oh, yeah, a murder. In the locked room. And that somehow just scratches the surface. There's also ice cream.
Riley Rhodes may be the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop but she's also a former CIA librarian, one who did the occasional covert mission. I found her rather nervous and a bit impulsive to have had such training but, shrug, what do I know? Anyway, hired to create a Scottish inspired dessert featuring ice cream for an art show, she finds herself at Penniman's Moy Mull Castle when the pretentious, manipulative photographer appearing at the show is murdered. In a locked room, no less. The only known key was still tucked away in the cabinet it is stored in. Security cameras show no one entering the dungeon, er, conference room, other than the victim. Nor do old blue prints handed over to the police show any hidden rooms or passageways. Who killed Adam Blasco? Equally puzzling, how?
The whys seem to be numerous. His photographs are unsettling and he seems to treat everyone with scorn....unless he sees a way to use them. Riley's young friend Willow is seemingly targeted, which is upsetting to not just Riley but Willow's boyfriend Luca. Could Luca have killed Adam in a fit of jealousy? What evidence is found that puts him on the suspect list? Why does Adam's assistant Vye go missing when the body is found? What are Max and Bree up to? What happened to the missing photo called 'Dallas'? Again, how? Could the castle, made from stones brought from Scotland, really be haunted? Is the Weeping Lady real or just a figment of imagination? And, can jovial, personable Prentiss be hiding a secret? Like, he killed Adam? What startling discovery is made about hostess Maud's brief marriage to Adam? And, oh, so much more. Seriously, the twists and turns had twists and turns. Multiple suspects, so many in fact that I had difficulty keeping who was who straight, and surprises at every turn.
Despite my initial confusion keeping the multiple characters straight, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Once we got past the initial background introductions, the pace was quick and I found it hard to put the book aside. Okay, who am I kidding? I stayed up way too late reading last night. Like Riley, I wanted to know "whodunit" and how. Locked room mysteries are a favorite of mystery readers and this one did not disappoint. And, oh, did I mention that there is a spoiled diva of a cat, Sprinkles, who gets her own side story? Lots to like as well as ponder. I'm betting you'll like this one but, well, don't stay up too late reading.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for giving me an all access pass to Moy Mull Castle. Having Riley as my guide was intense but fun.
Riley Rhodes may be the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop but she's also a former CIA librarian, one who did the occasional covert mission. I found her rather nervous and a bit impulsive to have had such training but, shrug, what do I know? Anyway, hired to create a Scottish inspired dessert featuring ice cream for an art show, she finds herself at Penniman's Moy Mull Castle when the pretentious, manipulative photographer appearing at the show is murdered. In a locked room, no less. The only known key was still tucked away in the cabinet it is stored in. Security cameras show no one entering the dungeon, er, conference room, other than the victim. Nor do old blue prints handed over to the police show any hidden rooms or passageways. Who killed Adam Blasco? Equally puzzling, how?
The whys seem to be numerous. His photographs are unsettling and he seems to treat everyone with scorn....unless he sees a way to use them. Riley's young friend Willow is seemingly targeted, which is upsetting to not just Riley but Willow's boyfriend Luca. Could Luca have killed Adam in a fit of jealousy? What evidence is found that puts him on the suspect list? Why does Adam's assistant Vye go missing when the body is found? What are Max and Bree up to? What happened to the missing photo called 'Dallas'? Again, how? Could the castle, made from stones brought from Scotland, really be haunted? Is the Weeping Lady real or just a figment of imagination? And, can jovial, personable Prentiss be hiding a secret? Like, he killed Adam? What startling discovery is made about hostess Maud's brief marriage to Adam? And, oh, so much more. Seriously, the twists and turns had twists and turns. Multiple suspects, so many in fact that I had difficulty keeping who was who straight, and surprises at every turn.
Despite my initial confusion keeping the multiple characters straight, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Once we got past the initial background introductions, the pace was quick and I found it hard to put the book aside. Okay, who am I kidding? I stayed up way too late reading last night. Like Riley, I wanted to know "whodunit" and how. Locked room mysteries are a favorite of mystery readers and this one did not disappoint. And, oh, did I mention that there is a spoiled diva of a cat, Sprinkles, who gets her own side story? Lots to like as well as ponder. I'm betting you'll like this one but, well, don't stay up too late reading.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for giving me an all access pass to Moy Mull Castle. Having Riley as my guide was intense but fun.
July 25, 2022
It was fun spending time again in Penniman, CT with Riley and all her ice cream crew and friends. I'd forgotten what a stinker that cat of Caroline's was, but someone in this story managed to tame the beast or at least make her more tolerable, lol. There were sure plenty of suspects, so I honestly never settled on just one but had random reasons myself for different people.
I really enjoy the Fairweather sisters' characters! They're both so different but I like both these ladies who're fun and crazy in their own ways. Vye was an interesting character introduced and I did find myself hoping she'd stick around town, although you'll have to read for yourself to see if she did!
The castle setting was so cool with all its rooms and creepiness but not super creepy since Maud was trying her best to get it looking nice again. From reading the author's newsletter, I know there's a castle in Connecticut she based this from and of course added some extra fun of her own to it. But it was totally picturable. Now I wouldn't mind going to see that castle she used for inspiration!
I loved how Riley came to the answer she did and the showdown was as Flo put it, very worth of a Mission Impossible movie! The ending was just so very Riley and now I'm eager to see what happens next! This book releases tomorrow, July 26, 2022.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I really enjoy the Fairweather sisters' characters! They're both so different but I like both these ladies who're fun and crazy in their own ways. Vye was an interesting character introduced and I did find myself hoping she'd stick around town, although you'll have to read for yourself to see if she did!
The castle setting was so cool with all its rooms and creepiness but not super creepy since Maud was trying her best to get it looking nice again. From reading the author's newsletter, I know there's a castle in Connecticut she based this from and of course added some extra fun of her own to it. But it was totally picturable. Now I wouldn't mind going to see that castle she used for inspiration!
I loved how Riley came to the answer she did and the showdown was as Flo put it, very worth of a Mission Impossible movie! The ending was just so very Riley and now I'm eager to see what happens next! This book releases tomorrow, July 26, 2022.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
August 30, 2022
Can't wait for book 3!
Excited to see what's brewing for Riley and the handsome vet!
Excited to see what's brewing for Riley and the handsome vet!
July 19, 2022
In this second installment of the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series, Riley is asked to help cater events at a local artist retreat owned by Maud, a famous model once married to a prince. Like the first book, there are a lot of characters to keep straight. There is also a lot of build up to the murder which doesn’t happen until the end of chapter 12, but our patience is rewarded. It’s a locked door murder in a recreated castle with secrets that Riley does a good job of uncovering. She actually solves a total of three mysteries in this book. She doesn’t receive official police assistance but Tillie the police department secretary is always willing to share what she knows. Riley is a smart amateur sleuth (she’s a former librarian who worked for the CIA), she shares her findings with the police, and she doesn’t put herself in ridiculous situations (until the unavoidable ending). Sprinkles the cat and former stray Rocky are up to more mischief, but are a fun addition to the story. The ice cream and desserts mentioned throughout sound great and there’s a recipe at the end. I’ve read both books in the series and look forward to reading more.
I received an ebook from the publishers to review. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.
I received an ebook from the publishers to review. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
#MintChocolateMurder #NetGalley.
This is the second book in this fun series set in New England.
Riley Rhodes is an ice cream genius, she churns up mouthwatering recipes that make you want a bowl or cone immediately.
Riley is asked to cater an artistic event, and she needs to come up with an exclusive recipe.
Adding honey and whiskey to her ice cream sounds like a winner, but Riley doesn't expect to become caught up in another murder investigation.
This story was well done and I was kept guessing until the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
This is the second book in this fun series set in New England.
Riley Rhodes is an ice cream genius, she churns up mouthwatering recipes that make you want a bowl or cone immediately.
Riley is asked to cater an artistic event, and she needs to come up with an exclusive recipe.
Adding honey and whiskey to her ice cream sounds like a winner, but Riley doesn't expect to become caught up in another murder investigation.
This story was well done and I was kept guessing until the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
April 23, 2023
Riley Rhodes is busy creating fall flavors at Udderly Delightful while her friend Caroline works back in Boston. Caroline's cat, Sprinkles, went with Caroline causing Rocky, Riley's rescue cat, to miss his buddy. As if work and dealing with cat issues wasn't enough, Udderly has been asked to create some special flavors and serve at an arts festival at the Gilded Age Moy Mull Castle. The host, Maud Monaco, is a reclusive former model turned princess turned beekeeper/ beauty product maker. Maud hires only the best of the best and Bitsy Bittman, caterer to the elite, is in charge of coming up with creative ways to serve Riley's ice cream. Riley, a former librarian, is eager to explore the castle and curious about the castle's history. Not so exciting is meeting famed photographer Adam Blasco, who has come to take photos of Riley and staff for Maud's new cookbook. Riley's young employee Willow is drawn to Adam's charm and eager to accept his offers to help further his career, angering both Willow's Italian boyfriend Luca and Adam's assistant Vye. At the castle, Adam manages to run afoul of more people and when he turns up dead of a bee sting in the castle's "dungeon", Riley is suspicious. She doesn't see how a bee could even get into the room with three foot thick walls and no windows. Who else knew about Adam's bee allergy and did they murder him? Caroline's boyfriend, the police detective, seems to concur with Riley. She knows she shouldn't get involved but when Luca becomes the chief suspect, Riley has to snoop for answers to protect those she cares about. There are other mysterious happenings as well at the castle when a priceless photo is stolen and longtime rumors of ghostly activity in the castle are revived. Is Moy Mull cursed?
First of all, who chose the title of the book because the flavor is not even in the story. It's fall, not spring. The most popular flavor is pumpkin spice! Mint chocolate is for spring. It's a weird title. The cover image could be better too. I'd like to see one of Bitsy's ice cream creations. Anyway, the plot is pretty good. I figured out whodunit right away but I wasn't quite sure why. All of the suspects were a little too obvious and a lot likable. There was a lot going on in this story though and I felt like I missed some conclusions that were told after the fact. I figured out the past mystery pretty quickly and one of the other present mysteries was not so hard to figure out either. I loved the local history. I laughed a lot because I live nearby and I know where the castle and artist colony are, my parents live nearby and Rhode Island Design University is a funny reworking of Rhode Island School of Design, in my own backyard. I LOLd a lot at that one because I went by campus just yesterday.
I'm not super crazy about Riley. Ice cream is not her passion. I can relate to her love of books and travel, being a librarian myself. She's good to help out her friend but I think she's not really into it. Riley is a good manager though and cares about her employees like family. She's also a good cat mom to Rocky and allows him to roam freely when he needs to. He's a good boy to know when Riley needs him to be there for her. Riley does a lot of dumb stuff in this novel and she does it knowing it is wrong. She comes up with a solution to the murder and then doesn't share her theory with the police, instead NEEDING to investigate on her own. Caroline is sweet but not such a great ice cream shop owner or friend. She's passionate about her job but her work is in Boston. She really wants to save her family's business but she can't work there. I don't think she's tough enough to manage a shop on her own either. Caroline is too clingy with her cat, Sprinkles. Caroline needs a boyfriend who can be there to support her so she doesn't have to cling to her cat. Sprinkles is a horrible kitty. A former show cat, she's a diva and a demon. Sprinkles is spoiled and babied and rewarded for bad behavior. Yikes! She does seem to get along with Rocky though, surprisingly, in spite of being complete opposites. He's a rescue, black with a missing ear and she's a pampered pedigreed Persian. There was too much time spent on cat antics for my personal enjoyment.
The staff at Udderly are great. I like sweet Willow. She's just 18 and naïve. She's lived in this farming community her whole life and doesn't know anything about the big, bad world. She's in love with Luca, an Italian apprentice who has come to work on the farm keeping bees. The two of them are in their own bubble. Luca is a good kid. He has a bit of a temper but it takes patience and quietness to deal with bees. Their relationship is very sweet until the evil city smart photographer comes and ruins everything. I love Gerri and Flo, sisters and complete opposites. Gerri was a school principal and firm but kind. Flo was a kindergarten teacher and kind. They both love genealogy and Flo shows compassion and concern when she discovers secrets in the records. They're both fun and eager to participate in the art festival. Both sisters are shrewd and manipulate Riley!
Benjamin Franklin Clitheroe was a Gilded Age millionaire obsessed with Scotland. He imported stones to recreate a medieval Scottish castle in Connecticut and then imported a beautiful bride. They were said to be madly in love until Oona Clitheroe ran off with the chauffeur. The genealogy and history enthusiasts aren't as sure as the local gossips are of what actually happened. I think this guy was a piece of work. Benjamin Clitheroe wanted what he wanted. He sounds demanding and pompous to me. A typical robber baron. I don't think it sounds like Oona was very happy. Maybe the chauffeur helped her escape back to Scotland or maybe she never left at all! The castle is really cool, minus the cheesy later hotel details.
At the castle, Prentiss Love reigns supreme. He's Maud's majordomo and deals with everything for her. He's enthusiastic and fun. His enthusiasm is catching and I really got on his side with all the exciting things he's planned for this event. While Riley thinks Prentiss secretly loves Maud, I got the impression he was not interested in her or any other woman that way. He shows the most interest in ice cream and sneaking around the castle. Unfortunately, being one of the few with access to the castle puts him in a prime position to know how to kill someone in a locked room. I hope he's not the killer. Maud Mull is enigmatic and exotic. She doesn't take no for an answer and thinks nothing of tossing more money at people. Her current hobby is beekeeping and she prepares beauty products using bee venom. Uh-oh! Maud's history is a little sad and her reaction to Adam's death makes me think she's nervous about something but I don't think she's the murderer. I kind of like her. She's eccentric and wealthy but she seems nice enough.
I love Bitsy, the caterer. She's a lot of fun and very creative. I want to try her ice cream creations even though I don't care for the flavors Riley has come up with. Bitsy is energetic and devoted to coming up with creative ways to serve food. She's happily in love with her partner, Barry, who treats her like a queen and helps out with the business. His teenage son, Travis, is also working for Bitsy at the festival. They keep it all in the family. I don't entirely trust Barry. Travis seems sketchy. I want to like Barry for Bitsy's sake. They seem like a loving, happy couple. Maybe it's just Travis who is problematic and the parents don't know what he's up to?
Adam Blasco, a famous New York photographer, has photographed models and invented a unique way of blending his photography with texture. He's highly sought after and his photos are desirable collectibles. So what's he doing photographing a cookbook? I think he's broke. I think he spent all his money on drugs/alcohol/both and he's resorted to menial work to make money. He's hoping his photos will sell at his gallery show during the festival and then he can shake the dust of small town CT off his feet. Adam is moody. He's not very friendly or nice until he gets behind the camera. Once he finds his muse, he's all charm and that is not a good thing. He makes Willow feel relaxed and happy. He makes her feel special and seen. I think that's not good and Riley understands that as well. I suspect he seduced his assistant Vye in much the same way. Vye was a promising art student and then became an assistant. There's a story there and I think their relationship is more than professional. Vye has a good motive for wanting Adam dead but her reaction to his death seemed genuine. She was too shocked, too upset and nervous to be acting. I think. I hope. I like her.
Other people at the castle are Tony Ortiz, the historian working on a new exhibit on the history of the castle. He's nice enough and willing to share his research. He doesn't seem to like Adam though and the two share some history Tony won't admit. I don't want the historian to be the murderer and he does have an alibi but I don't think it's solid. Dree Venditti, a model and former muse of Adam's, is after him for some reason. Adam keeps dismissing her and arguing with her. Dree is a poseur. She's rude, unfriendly and treats the castle like a hotel. Riley catches Dree flirting with a married man and doing the walk of shame afterwards. I don't trust Dree and want her to be the murderer. There's also Max, the gallerist for Moy Mull, in charge of exhibiting Adam's works and selling them as well. He's poised to make money this weekend but if Adam is dead, Adam's photos will go up in demand and Max can raise the prices. He'll make a lot MORE money if Adam is dead. That seems a cold reason to kill someone though and only more money short term.
I liked this book well enough but I didn't remember anything about the first one which says a lot. It's not my favorite of the ice cream mysteries I have read but I would be open to reading another one.
First of all, who chose the title of the book because the flavor is not even in the story. It's fall, not spring. The most popular flavor is pumpkin spice! Mint chocolate is for spring. It's a weird title. The cover image could be better too. I'd like to see one of Bitsy's ice cream creations. Anyway, the plot is pretty good. I figured out whodunit right away but I wasn't quite sure why. All of the suspects were a little too obvious and a lot likable. There was a lot going on in this story though and I felt like I missed some conclusions that were told after the fact. I figured out the past mystery pretty quickly and one of the other present mysteries was not so hard to figure out either. I loved the local history. I laughed a lot because I live nearby and I know where the castle and artist colony are, my parents live nearby and Rhode Island Design University is a funny reworking of Rhode Island School of Design, in my own backyard. I LOLd a lot at that one because I went by campus just yesterday.
I'm not super crazy about Riley. Ice cream is not her passion. I can relate to her love of books and travel, being a librarian myself. She's good to help out her friend but I think she's not really into it. Riley is a good manager though and cares about her employees like family. She's also a good cat mom to Rocky and allows him to roam freely when he needs to. He's a good boy to know when Riley needs him to be there for her. Riley does a lot of dumb stuff in this novel and she does it knowing it is wrong. She comes up with a solution to the murder and then doesn't share her theory with the police, instead NEEDING to investigate on her own. Caroline is sweet but not such a great ice cream shop owner or friend. She's passionate about her job but her work is in Boston. She really wants to save her family's business but she can't work there. I don't think she's tough enough to manage a shop on her own either. Caroline is too clingy with her cat, Sprinkles. Caroline needs a boyfriend who can be there to support her so she doesn't have to cling to her cat. Sprinkles is a horrible kitty. A former show cat, she's a diva and a demon. Sprinkles is spoiled and babied and rewarded for bad behavior. Yikes! She does seem to get along with Rocky though, surprisingly, in spite of being complete opposites. He's a rescue, black with a missing ear and she's a pampered pedigreed Persian. There was too much time spent on cat antics for my personal enjoyment.
The staff at Udderly are great. I like sweet Willow. She's just 18 and naïve. She's lived in this farming community her whole life and doesn't know anything about the big, bad world. She's in love with Luca, an Italian apprentice who has come to work on the farm keeping bees. The two of them are in their own bubble. Luca is a good kid. He has a bit of a temper but it takes patience and quietness to deal with bees. Their relationship is very sweet until the evil city smart photographer comes and ruins everything. I love Gerri and Flo, sisters and complete opposites. Gerri was a school principal and firm but kind. Flo was a kindergarten teacher and kind. They both love genealogy and Flo shows compassion and concern when she discovers secrets in the records. They're both fun and eager to participate in the art festival. Both sisters are shrewd and manipulate Riley!
Benjamin Franklin Clitheroe was a Gilded Age millionaire obsessed with Scotland. He imported stones to recreate a medieval Scottish castle in Connecticut and then imported a beautiful bride. They were said to be madly in love until Oona Clitheroe ran off with the chauffeur. The genealogy and history enthusiasts aren't as sure as the local gossips are of what actually happened. I think this guy was a piece of work. Benjamin Clitheroe wanted what he wanted. He sounds demanding and pompous to me. A typical robber baron. I don't think it sounds like Oona was very happy. Maybe the chauffeur helped her escape back to Scotland or maybe she never left at all! The castle is really cool, minus the cheesy later hotel details.
At the castle, Prentiss Love reigns supreme. He's Maud's majordomo and deals with everything for her. He's enthusiastic and fun. His enthusiasm is catching and I really got on his side with all the exciting things he's planned for this event. While Riley thinks Prentiss secretly loves Maud, I got the impression he was not interested in her or any other woman that way. He shows the most interest in ice cream and sneaking around the castle. Unfortunately, being one of the few with access to the castle puts him in a prime position to know how to kill someone in a locked room. I hope he's not the killer. Maud Mull is enigmatic and exotic. She doesn't take no for an answer and thinks nothing of tossing more money at people. Her current hobby is beekeeping and she prepares beauty products using bee venom. Uh-oh! Maud's history is a little sad and her reaction to Adam's death makes me think she's nervous about something but I don't think she's the murderer. I kind of like her. She's eccentric and wealthy but she seems nice enough.
I love Bitsy, the caterer. She's a lot of fun and very creative. I want to try her ice cream creations even though I don't care for the flavors Riley has come up with. Bitsy is energetic and devoted to coming up with creative ways to serve food. She's happily in love with her partner, Barry, who treats her like a queen and helps out with the business. His teenage son, Travis, is also working for Bitsy at the festival. They keep it all in the family. I don't entirely trust Barry. Travis seems sketchy. I want to like Barry for Bitsy's sake. They seem like a loving, happy couple. Maybe it's just Travis who is problematic and the parents don't know what he's up to?
Adam Blasco, a famous New York photographer, has photographed models and invented a unique way of blending his photography with texture. He's highly sought after and his photos are desirable collectibles. So what's he doing photographing a cookbook? I think he's broke. I think he spent all his money on drugs/alcohol/both and he's resorted to menial work to make money. He's hoping his photos will sell at his gallery show during the festival and then he can shake the dust of small town CT off his feet. Adam is moody. He's not very friendly or nice until he gets behind the camera. Once he finds his muse, he's all charm and that is not a good thing. He makes Willow feel relaxed and happy. He makes her feel special and seen. I think that's not good and Riley understands that as well. I suspect he seduced his assistant Vye in much the same way. Vye was a promising art student and then became an assistant. There's a story there and I think their relationship is more than professional. Vye has a good motive for wanting Adam dead but her reaction to his death seemed genuine. She was too shocked, too upset and nervous to be acting. I think. I hope. I like her.
Other people at the castle are Tony Ortiz, the historian working on a new exhibit on the history of the castle. He's nice enough and willing to share his research. He doesn't seem to like Adam though and the two share some history Tony won't admit. I don't want the historian to be the murderer and he does have an alibi but I don't think it's solid. Dree Venditti, a model and former muse of Adam's, is after him for some reason. Adam keeps dismissing her and arguing with her. Dree is a poseur. She's rude, unfriendly and treats the castle like a hotel. Riley catches Dree flirting with a married man and doing the walk of shame afterwards. I don't trust Dree and want her to be the murderer. There's also Max, the gallerist for Moy Mull, in charge of exhibiting Adam's works and selling them as well. He's poised to make money this weekend but if Adam is dead, Adam's photos will go up in demand and Max can raise the prices. He'll make a lot MORE money if Adam is dead. That seems a cold reason to kill someone though and only more money short term.
I liked this book well enough but I didn't remember anything about the first one which says a lot. It's not my favorite of the ice cream mysteries I have read but I would be open to reading another one.
July 27, 2022
MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen. I, for one, can’t resist a locked room murder set in an American Scottish castle rumored to have a weeping ghost. Throw in tubfuls of pumpkin spice ice cream amid a Fall arts festival hosted by a reclusive former supermodel turned royal and you’ve got yourself an entertaining and mouthwatering read. The author expertly crafts twists and turns with topsy-turvy secrets thrown into the plot for good measure. It kept me thoroughly mesmerized as I followed the protagonist, Riley Rhodes, in her investigation. An ex-CIA librarian and now manager for her friend’s Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop, Riley uses her training to get to the bottom of who might have killed the famous photographer, Adam, during his exhibit at the castle. The investigation on how Adam even got into the dungeon (now conference room), much less how he was locked in when security cameras show no signs of entry, is only the tip of the complex puzzle. With plenty of suspects—more people hated him than liked him—I found it difficult to narrow it down to even two or three. As the reveal unfolded, I was even more impressed with the cleverly plotted clues and the intricate way they fit together.
With unique characters such as an ex-CIA librarian (or could Riley more than that?!), a supermodel turned royal, a diva in fluffy cat form, and a bad boy photographer, I couldn’t help but be entertained. Each person (and animal, especially Sprinkles the diva cat), was well-developed with individual characteristics that made them come alive. Ms. Allen has a strong descriptive voice that made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and especially the tastes of all Penniman, Connecticut has to offer. It’s always a pleasure reading a book that has equally strong characters and plots to keep me glued to the pages, and Mint Chocolate Murder fits the bill!
Running an ice cream shop, Riley has her hands full mixing up ice cream in between investigating. Pumpkin Spice ice cream is the tourists’ and town’s flavor de jour, and she can barely keep up with the demand. Luckily for us pumpkin spice lovers, the author has included a recipe at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With unique characters such as an ex-CIA librarian (or could Riley more than that?!), a supermodel turned royal, a diva in fluffy cat form, and a bad boy photographer, I couldn’t help but be entertained. Each person (and animal, especially Sprinkles the diva cat), was well-developed with individual characteristics that made them come alive. Ms. Allen has a strong descriptive voice that made me feel like I was right there, experiencing the sights, sounds, smells, and especially the tastes of all Penniman, Connecticut has to offer. It’s always a pleasure reading a book that has equally strong characters and plots to keep me glued to the pages, and Mint Chocolate Murder fits the bill!
Running an ice cream shop, Riley has her hands full mixing up ice cream in between investigating. Pumpkin Spice ice cream is the tourists’ and town’s flavor de jour, and she can barely keep up with the demand. Luckily for us pumpkin spice lovers, the author has included a recipe at the back of the book.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 26, 2022
This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop cozy mystery series by Meri Allen. In the delightful first book of this series we met Riley, a former librarian with the CIA, who has returned home to New England to help her best childhood friend run her family‘s ice cream shop. While catering an ice cream social at a local castle featuring a famous photographer Riley stumbles across a murder. She put her sleuthing hat on and starts her own investigation. With the large number of guests at the exhibit there are plenty of suspects and Riley uses her connections to solve the crime before a young friend is wrongly accused.
I liked this book as much as I did the first one in the series. Riley is such a likable character and she is smart as well. No one in the community knows that she worked for the CIA and that only works to her advantage. This has all of the ingredients to make a successful cozy mystery series. The quaint little town is full of charming and quirky characters and the ice cream shop is the perfect backdrop. Who doesn’t love ice cream?! There were more than a few red herrings in this installment which kept me guessing until the end. There’s also a handsome detective who is finally warming up to Riley. He is dating Riley‘s best friend which sometimes makes things awkward. Riley is careful to stay out of his way while still conducting her own investigation.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is one you should not miss. There’s also ice cream recipes in the back of the book and though I’ve never made my own ice cream, the recipes are so simple I think even I could do it. I’d like to think #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my digital copy for an honest review.
I liked this book as much as I did the first one in the series. Riley is such a likable character and she is smart as well. No one in the community knows that she worked for the CIA and that only works to her advantage. This has all of the ingredients to make a successful cozy mystery series. The quaint little town is full of charming and quirky characters and the ice cream shop is the perfect backdrop. Who doesn’t love ice cream?! There were more than a few red herrings in this installment which kept me guessing until the end. There’s also a handsome detective who is finally warming up to Riley. He is dating Riley‘s best friend which sometimes makes things awkward. Riley is careful to stay out of his way while still conducting her own investigation.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is one you should not miss. There’s also ice cream recipes in the back of the book and though I’ve never made my own ice cream, the recipes are so simple I think even I could do it. I’d like to think #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for my digital copy for an honest review.
July 18, 2022
I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to finish this book, the second in a new-to-me cozy mystery series, but the story picked up about halfway through, and then I enjoyed it enough to finish it. The story takes place in a small town in Connecticut, and the main character, Riley Rhodes, is back in her home town, running the local ice cream shop. It seems she’s there temporarily, helping out her friend whose mother had recently died and left everything to the friend. Riley is on leave from her job as a librarian for the CIA and a sometime operative - it’s not made clear exactly why she’s on leave, but it has something to do with a “job” gone wrong in Italy. Perhaps it’s explained better in the first book, which I haven’t read. At any rate, the book felt really slow to me, with the murder not even happening until quite a ways into the book. The author spent too much time describing the decor of everything and what everyone was wearing, which slowed down the pace for me. I wound up skimming some of that and it didn’t seem to impact the mystery aspect at all. Essentially we have a locked-room mystery and the solution is pretty clever. Riley does some things that I hate about amateur sleuths, including being overly nosy and putting herself in danger.
There’s very little about the ice cream shop in this book, with most of the action taking place in a nearby castle, one that was built by bringing over stones from former castles in Scotland. In addition to the murder, there’s a subplot about a series of thefts.
I’m a former runner (injuries!) and I found it extremely annoying that the author kept calling Riley’s running “jogging.” For runners, that’s a bugaboo; most people won’t care. On the positive side, I loved the two cats, one of whom, Sprinkles, is a haughty former show cat and her antics are pretty funny.
I’m still puzzled about why the title of the book is Mint Chocolate Murder, as there is absolutely nothing in the book about mint chocolate! Perhaps it should have been called something like Pumpkin Spice Surprise, because there’s a lot of talk about pumpkin spice ice cream.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
There’s very little about the ice cream shop in this book, with most of the action taking place in a nearby castle, one that was built by bringing over stones from former castles in Scotland. In addition to the murder, there’s a subplot about a series of thefts.
I’m a former runner (injuries!) and I found it extremely annoying that the author kept calling Riley’s running “jogging.” For runners, that’s a bugaboo; most people won’t care. On the positive side, I loved the two cats, one of whom, Sprinkles, is a haughty former show cat and her antics are pretty funny.
I’m still puzzled about why the title of the book is Mint Chocolate Murder, as there is absolutely nothing in the book about mint chocolate! Perhaps it should have been called something like Pumpkin Spice Surprise, because there’s a lot of talk about pumpkin spice ice cream.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 26, 2022
When a mystery comes my way with mint chocolate ice cream in the title, in the cozy genre, set in New England, and has a Gilded Age connection I need to get my hands on a copy. It checked all of my boxes and added a cat with attitude named Sprinkles. On top of that I had enjoyed the first in the series, The Rocky road to Ruin. I was not disappointed.
Riley is a former CIA librarian and has changed her career to managing the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. Located in the town of Penniman, CT it's her homecoming. Her father owns a bookstore and her friend Caroline and her brother Mike own a dairy farm and the creamery. Her new life taps into her CIA days when murders intrude. This time Riley is being asked to create some special ice creams for a fancy upscale ice cream social to be held at Moy Mull, the Gilded Age mansion now owned by a former model, Maude Monaco. She has turned it into an arts colony and this event will be part of an exhibit opening. It will certainly be good business for Udderly Delicious. Things will take a turn for the worse when the photographer who's work is the exhibit, is found murdered in true locked room fashion....in a locked dungeon. Will Riley be able to unmask the killer? I was hooked start to finish and this series has a place on my TBR shelf.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Riley is a former CIA librarian and has changed her career to managing the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. Located in the town of Penniman, CT it's her homecoming. Her father owns a bookstore and her friend Caroline and her brother Mike own a dairy farm and the creamery. Her new life taps into her CIA days when murders intrude. This time Riley is being asked to create some special ice creams for a fancy upscale ice cream social to be held at Moy Mull, the Gilded Age mansion now owned by a former model, Maude Monaco. She has turned it into an arts colony and this event will be part of an exhibit opening. It will certainly be good business for Udderly Delicious. Things will take a turn for the worse when the photographer who's work is the exhibit, is found murdered in true locked room fashion....in a locked dungeon. Will Riley be able to unmask the killer? I was hooked start to finish and this series has a place on my TBR shelf.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 26, 2022
Review to follow.
November 11, 2022
Couldn’t get into this at all sadly
June 18, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I went into this hoping that I was going to like this better than book 1, which I read about a month ago, and had to reread this month, since I didn’t retain much from the read. While this wasn’t a bad read, it wasn’t a fabulous one either, leading to my middle-of-the-road 3 star read.
I did love the setting of the castle imported stone by stone from Scotland, and the glamorous former model who inhabits it now. It was also interesting that her hobby includes beekeeping. One thing that I especially liked was that Maud, the model, was Black, adding to the representation in the story. However, I feel like it would have been a great opportunity to include an LGBTQ character in the story, and it was a completely missed chance.
I usually love a cozy mystery because they’re quick, fun, and funny reads that capture my attention. However, I found myself putting this one down quite often, and didn’t really find it to be amusing or attention-grabbing. Also, I didn’t quite understand the connection between the title and the actual content of the book, since mint chocolate didn’t come up even once during the entire story, although pumpkin spice came up many times.
The story is rather slow-paced, and got bogged down further by extensive descriptions. In addition, there was another mystery within the original mystery, which didn’t really add much to the story. And like the first book in the series, there were so many characters. I did find it easier to keep track of them with a printed book rather than an audiobook, which was a relief. There are a lot of red herrings that kept me guessing, but I was a little disappointed with the overall story. I had been hoping that the second book would pull me deeper into the series, but unfortunately it didn’t. I guess this just isn’t the series for me.
I went into this hoping that I was going to like this better than book 1, which I read about a month ago, and had to reread this month, since I didn’t retain much from the read. While this wasn’t a bad read, it wasn’t a fabulous one either, leading to my middle-of-the-road 3 star read.
I did love the setting of the castle imported stone by stone from Scotland, and the glamorous former model who inhabits it now. It was also interesting that her hobby includes beekeeping. One thing that I especially liked was that Maud, the model, was Black, adding to the representation in the story. However, I feel like it would have been a great opportunity to include an LGBTQ character in the story, and it was a completely missed chance.
I usually love a cozy mystery because they’re quick, fun, and funny reads that capture my attention. However, I found myself putting this one down quite often, and didn’t really find it to be amusing or attention-grabbing. Also, I didn’t quite understand the connection between the title and the actual content of the book, since mint chocolate didn’t come up even once during the entire story, although pumpkin spice came up many times.
The story is rather slow-paced, and got bogged down further by extensive descriptions. In addition, there was another mystery within the original mystery, which didn’t really add much to the story. And like the first book in the series, there were so many characters. I did find it easier to keep track of them with a printed book rather than an audiobook, which was a relief. There are a lot of red herrings that kept me guessing, but I was a little disappointed with the overall story. I had been hoping that the second book would pull me deeper into the series, but unfortunately it didn’t. I guess this just isn’t the series for me.
August 4, 2022
Murder in a New England castle? Yes please!
Riley Rhodes is a former CIA librarian, an ice cream shop manager, and an amateur sleuth. Between concocting delicious ice cream treats and hobnobbing with the local elite, she manages to find herself embroiled in a scandal. She must untangle the clues to solve three stymying mysteries - including one that is as old as the castle itself.
There's something for every cozy fan to love in MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER: quaint New England town, lots of suspects, a castle filled with secrets, 2 cats, a fun supporting cast, a library, and of course - ice cream!
Riley Rhodes is a former CIA librarian, an ice cream shop manager, and an amateur sleuth. Between concocting delicious ice cream treats and hobnobbing with the local elite, she manages to find herself embroiled in a scandal. She must untangle the clues to solve three stymying mysteries - including one that is as old as the castle itself.
There's something for every cozy fan to love in MINT CHOCOLATE MURDER: quaint New England town, lots of suspects, a castle filled with secrets, 2 cats, a fun supporting cast, a library, and of course - ice cream!
May 19, 2022
It's a rare person who doesn't like ice cream and in this book, you will consume a lot of it. Forget your generic vanilla, strawberry, chocolate versions - these varieties will tempt your palette with the most unusual flavours. With this in mind, the main character, Riley, is well-suited for her new line of work. Riley who was a librarian for the CIA is now a manager of an ice cream store.
As we are drawn into the story, we find that Riley is a thoughtful sleuth trading on the years of experience her former profession supplies. Riley is also a skilled narrator whose words set the imagery and allow the reader to fully picture the scene. The richness of the ice cream is a metaphor for the luxuriance of words contained within Mint Chocolate Murder. Meri Allen masterfully layers description after description building a tableau in which we readers become entirely embedded.
This thoroughly enjoyable reading experience is full-on entertainment. At almost every turn there is a surprise designed to thrill the reader. The plot is well-executed and the final denouement is immensely satisfying. This is a cosy lovers' cosy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this Advance Reader Copy. As always, my opinions are my own - true and freely given.
As we are drawn into the story, we find that Riley is a thoughtful sleuth trading on the years of experience her former profession supplies. Riley is also a skilled narrator whose words set the imagery and allow the reader to fully picture the scene. The richness of the ice cream is a metaphor for the luxuriance of words contained within Mint Chocolate Murder. Meri Allen masterfully layers description after description building a tableau in which we readers become entirely embedded.
This thoroughly enjoyable reading experience is full-on entertainment. At almost every turn there is a surprise designed to thrill the reader. The plot is well-executed and the final denouement is immensely satisfying. This is a cosy lovers' cosy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this Advance Reader Copy. As always, my opinions are my own - true and freely given.
November 14, 2023
In every cozy mystery series, the second book has the hardest job. The first book has the benefit of newness, and it's fairly easy to make even the most mundane of introductions exciting by exploring a fresh world. The third book and beyond have the benefit of familiarity. As a reader, if you've made it that far, you're probably in for the long haul. The second, though? That's where a series finds out if its poison is potent. Fortunately for author Meri Allen, Mint Chocolate Murder suggests her Ice Cream Shop Mysteries series should have a long, healthy life ... murder aside.
Former CIA librarian Riley Rhodes is back on the case—of ice cream, anyway. When former model Maud Monaco needs a sweet treat for her arts festival at Penniman's Moy Mull Castle, Riley throws herself into whipping up new fall flavors as the manager of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream. However, when star photographer Adam Blasco is found dead, Riley can't help but wonder if he was murdered and just what other mysteries the castle might be hiding.
By plopping Riley and the bulk of the investigation into the castle, Allen immediately gives this second book an exciting jolt. Outside of the shop, Riley gets to explore a fun setting while stretching her sleuthing skills. Even so, she's one of the more grounded detectives in contemporary mysteries. Mostly calm and collected, she doesn't rush into danger without assessing the situation, giving this book a quieter feel.
That's not to suggest it's without thrills. A castle with a tainted history, a photographer with complicated relationships, and some slightly chaotic cats all keep Riley busy. Add in a genuinely likable cast of secondary characters, tight pacing, and a twisty mystery and altogether Mint Chocolate Murder is a solid second book in the series.
If it was ice cream, it'd be the perfect scoop.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Former CIA librarian Riley Rhodes is back on the case—of ice cream, anyway. When former model Maud Monaco needs a sweet treat for her arts festival at Penniman's Moy Mull Castle, Riley throws herself into whipping up new fall flavors as the manager of Udderly Delightful Ice Cream. However, when star photographer Adam Blasco is found dead, Riley can't help but wonder if he was murdered and just what other mysteries the castle might be hiding.
By plopping Riley and the bulk of the investigation into the castle, Allen immediately gives this second book an exciting jolt. Outside of the shop, Riley gets to explore a fun setting while stretching her sleuthing skills. Even so, she's one of the more grounded detectives in contemporary mysteries. Mostly calm and collected, she doesn't rush into danger without assessing the situation, giving this book a quieter feel.
That's not to suggest it's without thrills. A castle with a tainted history, a photographer with complicated relationships, and some slightly chaotic cats all keep Riley busy. Add in a genuinely likable cast of secondary characters, tight pacing, and a twisty mystery and altogether Mint Chocolate Murder is a solid second book in the series.
If it was ice cream, it'd be the perfect scoop.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
May 3, 2022
Back to the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in Penniman, CT. This is the authors second cozy in this series. An art exhibit is taking place at the Moy Mull Castle located in Connecticut's colorful rolling hills as part of an Autumn Arts Festival. Riley, the Manager of Udderly, is preparing some special ice cream treats for the Opening Night Exhibit. Opening night highlights the work of a famous photographer, Adam Black who has a tumultuous past with the Castle s owner, Maud.Adam is found dead after the first nights festivities, in the Castles locked door dungeon. Riley, again,uses her past CIA experiences to do some sleuthing.
This was a great locked door cozy mystery read.I immediately reconnect ed with Riley and also enjoyed seeing some of the returning characters. The location and the castle gave the book a nice ambiance. The castle itself held secrets as castles often do. I went back and forth on who I felt the murderer was and while I deducted correctly, the ending was still intense and expanded from what my thought had been. Very satisfying. I also enjoyed the side story regarding the 2 cats. And I am still craving some pumpkin spice ice cream which was a flavorite of many in the book. .....and yes there is a very tasty recipe for it!
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press an the author Meri Allen for the opportunity to read and review this book which publishes on 7/26/22
This was a great locked door cozy mystery read.I immediately reconnect ed with Riley and also enjoyed seeing some of the returning characters. The location and the castle gave the book a nice ambiance. The castle itself held secrets as castles often do. I went back and forth on who I felt the murderer was and while I deducted correctly, the ending was still intense and expanded from what my thought had been. Very satisfying. I also enjoyed the side story regarding the 2 cats. And I am still craving some pumpkin spice ice cream which was a flavorite of many in the book. .....and yes there is a very tasty recipe for it!
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press an the author Meri Allen for the opportunity to read and review this book which publishes on 7/26/22
July 12, 2022
This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries and this time Riley Rhodes has created several custom flavors for a wealthy customer who is hosting a summer art festival. While investigating a murder that occurs on the grounds of the festival, Riley also ends up finding information about a crime from long ago. This secondary mystery is interesting, but takes a back seat to the current murder case.
This is a fun-to-read cozy series with a unique main character. Like a lot of cozy heroines, Riley has returned to her hometown after a failed romance and a career setback. However, Riley has a unique background. Her prior job was as a librarian and occasional undercover operative for the CIA! She doesn't need that experience to run her best friend's family ice cream shop, but it does come in handy when investigating a murder.
So far, the emphasis is on Riley’s sleuthing, ice cream, and friendship. However, there is a man in town that has caught her eye, so there could be some romance in the future. Riley is so busy with the demands of the festival that she has less time to spend in the ice cream shop. I missed that aspect, but I still really enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing to follow this series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s Press. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is a fun-to-read cozy series with a unique main character. Like a lot of cozy heroines, Riley has returned to her hometown after a failed romance and a career setback. However, Riley has a unique background. Her prior job was as a librarian and occasional undercover operative for the CIA! She doesn't need that experience to run her best friend's family ice cream shop, but it does come in handy when investigating a murder.
So far, the emphasis is on Riley’s sleuthing, ice cream, and friendship. However, there is a man in town that has caught her eye, so there could be some romance in the future. Riley is so busy with the demands of the festival that she has less time to spend in the ice cream shop. I missed that aspect, but I still really enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing to follow this series.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s Press. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
April 21, 2022
This didn't impact my rating, but I don't recall mint chocolate ice cream even being mentioned in the book. Pumpkin spice, yes, many, many times. Why name it Mint Chocolate if it had nothing to do with the story/method of murder?
I found this story a bit slow and it didn't engage my interest as much as the first book. There were a lot (A LOT) of characters, both living and dead. Surprisingly, I kept most of them straight. On the plus side, there were many viable suspects, but the storylines giving them a reason added even more to keep track of. The author then throws in a secondary mystery about the original owners of the mansion the story is primarily set at. I don't think it added anything and was quite predictable.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I found this story a bit slow and it didn't engage my interest as much as the first book. There were a lot (A LOT) of characters, both living and dead. Surprisingly, I kept most of them straight. On the plus side, there were many viable suspects, but the storylines giving them a reason added even more to keep track of. The author then throws in a secondary mystery about the original owners of the mansion the story is primarily set at. I don't think it added anything and was quite predictable.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
August 1, 2022
Mint Chocolate Murder is book two in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I did like the first book a little more, but this one was pretty good. There were a couple aspects keeping it from a 4 star read for me. I loved the mystery and had no idea who the culprit was until the end. I loved the castle setting, meeting new characters, and learning a bit more about Riley's past. The one thing that bothers me the most is the title. I like it to tie into the story, but this book mentioned pumpkin spice ice cream so many times that I think a different title would have suited it better. (There was no mention of Mint Chocolate ice cream at all.) Overall, it's a decent series, but I won't be in a hurry to pick up the next.
July 12, 2022
Second in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series by Meri Allen, this cozy mystery has it all: diverse characters, gothic elements, twists and turns, yummy foods. Riley Rhodes provides custom ice cream to an art event featuring the works of a very unlikeable photographer, who ends up dying in suspicious circumstances. A murder investigation gets underway with everyone being a suspect, causing Riley to do an investigation of her own.
What I loved:
Riley Rhodes - our lead, former CIA librarian, I mean how cool is that! Best of both words - books and intrigue, and current manager of an ice cream shop
Maud Monaco - former supermodel, royalty, supporter of the arts, owner of Moy Mull castle in New England, apiarist
This ridiculous name for the ice cream shop: Udderly Delightful Ice Cream
Moy Mull Castle - a castle with a dark past, hidden rooms, delightfully dark and gothic, imported from Scotland
What I missed:
Romance, most cozy mysteries have some romantic aspect to them
Mint Chocolate - did I miss it? There was a lot of reference to pumpkin spice ice cream (which I can't imagine being good at all
The first book - I did not read it. I think I missed out some of the critical back story here to make sense of all the characters.
My recommendation: if you like cozy mysteries, check this one out - but read the series in order, I'm going back to the first book to fill in some of the details.
Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Look for this book July 25, 2022 - you won't be dissappointed.
What I loved:
Riley Rhodes - our lead, former CIA librarian, I mean how cool is that! Best of both words - books and intrigue, and current manager of an ice cream shop
Maud Monaco - former supermodel, royalty, supporter of the arts, owner of Moy Mull castle in New England, apiarist
This ridiculous name for the ice cream shop: Udderly Delightful Ice Cream
Moy Mull Castle - a castle with a dark past, hidden rooms, delightfully dark and gothic, imported from Scotland
What I missed:
Romance, most cozy mysteries have some romantic aspect to them
Mint Chocolate - did I miss it? There was a lot of reference to pumpkin spice ice cream (which I can't imagine being good at all
The first book - I did not read it. I think I missed out some of the critical back story here to make sense of all the characters.
My recommendation: if you like cozy mysteries, check this one out - but read the series in order, I'm going back to the first book to fill in some of the details.
Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Look for this book July 25, 2022 - you won't be dissappointed.
August 1, 2022
This is the perfect cozy mystery to curl up in a blanket and enjoy some ice cream!
The setting for this book is fantastic since it takes place at a fancy party at a castle. Riley gets to serve her shop's icecream at the event, but a famous photographer ends up dead from being allergic to bees. Was it an accident or foul play?
I really liked Riley playing the amateur sleuth, since she really got character details just from being a part of the party events.
I guessed whodunit closer toward the end, so there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Overall, I was pretty engaged in the book.
I think this book should have been titled Pumpkin Spice instead of Mint Chocolate since that was the true favorite flavor if the book. All of the different treats throughout the book sounded so delicious!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
The setting for this book is fantastic since it takes place at a fancy party at a castle. Riley gets to serve her shop's icecream at the event, but a famous photographer ends up dead from being allergic to bees. Was it an accident or foul play?
I really liked Riley playing the amateur sleuth, since she really got character details just from being a part of the party events.
I guessed whodunit closer toward the end, so there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. Overall, I was pretty engaged in the book.
I think this book should have been titled Pumpkin Spice instead of Mint Chocolate since that was the true favorite flavor if the book. All of the different treats throughout the book sounded so delicious!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
September 29, 2023
The second book in The Ice Cream Shop mystery was equally as fun as the first. This time, Riley helps cater an event at the local artist retreat, which is on the grounds of a replica of a Scottish castle. A famous photographer is headlining the art festival. At the end of the night, a body is found. Of course, Riley can’t help doing some of her own investigating. Cozy mysteries are just what I need sometimes-this fit the bill.
July 28, 2022
I enjoyed this one more than the first one as it seems the issues I had have been worked out. Riley has found her place in Penniman and seems to have put down roots. I liked the addition of the castle and the yummy treats that were described throughout the book. The locked door mystery was intriguing and while I figured out who the killer was early on, it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
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