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A Chocoholic Mystery #18
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole
In this eighteenth mystery in the national bestselling Chocoholic series, a gang of crooks with a wicked sweet tooth wreaks havoc on the resort town of Warner Pier, and it's up to Lee Woodyard to rout the hungry rascals.
A frantic late-night phone call from her right-hand woman Dolly Jolly brings Lee Woodyard to the scene of a break-in at the Warner Pier jewelry store next door to TenHuis Chocolade. To her shock, the suspect being held at gunpoint by police is Dolly's boyfriend, Mike Westerly, who was recently hired as a night watchman specifically to prevent break-ins. Dolly hopes Lee can help straighten out the crazy misunderstanding.
Even crazier? The thieves took nothing of value from the jewelry store, only swiping some snacks. It's another in a series of break-ins by burglars the media has dubbed the Cookie Monsters. They've been hitting shops selling everything from sunglasses to shoes but stealing only sweets: lollipops, cookies, even chewing gum!
It all seems pretty funny--until the discovery of a dead body. With her friends and community in danger, Lee must stop one very sour killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.
A frantic late-night phone call from her right-hand woman Dolly Jolly brings Lee Woodyard to the scene of a break-in at the Warner Pier jewelry store next door to TenHuis Chocolade. To her shock, the suspect being held at gunpoint by police is Dolly's boyfriend, Mike Westerly, who was recently hired as a night watchman specifically to prevent break-ins. Dolly hopes Lee can help straighten out the crazy misunderstanding.
Even crazier? The thieves took nothing of value from the jewelry store, only swiping some snacks. It's another in a series of break-ins by burglars the media has dubbed the Cookie Monsters. They've been hitting shops selling everything from sunglasses to shoes but stealing only sweets: lollipops, cookies, even chewing gum!
It all seems pretty funny--until the discovery of a dead body. With her friends and community in danger, Lee must stop one very sour killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
17 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
JoAnna Carl
34 books434 followersJOANNA CARL is the pseudonym for the multi-published mystery writer Eve K. Sandstrom. The author writes about the shores of Lake Michigan and has been reviewed in Michigan newspapers as a “regional writer.” She has also written about Southwest Oklahoma and once won an award for the best book of the year with an Oklahoma setting.
Eve K. Sandstrom is an Oklahoman to the teeth: she was born there, as were five previous generations of her mother’s family. Both her grandfathers and her father were in the oil business, once the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. One grandmother was born in the Choctaw Nation, and Eve is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Eve and seven other members of her immediate family are graduates of the University of Oklahoma. Eve even knows the second verse of “Boomer Sooner.”
Eve wrote two mystery series: the “Down Home” books, set on a ranch in Southwest Oklahoma, and the Nell Matthews mysteries, semi-hard-boiled books laid in a mid-size city on the Southern Plains.
But Eve married a great guy whose family owned a cottage on the west coast of Lake Michigan, not far from the Michigan towns of Fennville, Saugatuck, and Douglas. Every summer for more than forty years she, her husband and various combinations of children and grandchildren have trekked to the community of Pier Cove for vacations that lasted from two weeks to three months.
The area features gorgeous beaches, lush orchards, thick woods, and beautiful Victorian houses. Eve grew to love it. So when her editor asked her to come up with a new, “cozy” mystery series, Eve set it in a West Michigan resort town, scrambling up Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, Manistee, Ludington and Muskegon with her own ideas of what a resort ought to be to create Warner Pier.
As further background, she plunked her heroine into a business which produces and sells luscious, luxurious, European-style bonbons, truffles and molded chocolates. Most small towns couldn’t support a business like this, but the resorts of West Michigan – with their wealthy “summer people” – can. The “Chocoholic Mysteries” were on their way.
Eve’s editor requested that she use a pen name for the new series, and Eve picked the middle names of her three children, Betsy Jo, Ruth Anna, and John Carl. “JoAnna Carl” was born. So that’s how JoAnna/Eve became a regional author in two widely separated regions.
JoAnna/Eve earned a degree in journalism at the University of Oklahoma and also studied with Carolyn G. Hart and Jack Bickham in the OU Creative Writing Program. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business, working as a reporter, editor, and columnist at The Lawton Constitution in Lawton, Oklahoma. She took an early retirement to write fiction full-time.
She and her husband, David F. Sandstrom, have three grandchildren, whom they love introducing to the lore of their two homes – Oklahoma and Michigan.
She spent 25 years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist, most recently at the Lawton Constitution. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of OK and also studied in the O.U. Professional Writing program. She lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan where the Chocoholic Mystery series is set. She has one daughter who is a CPA and another who works for a chocolate company and provides yummy insider information on the chocolate business.
Eve K. Sandstrom is an Oklahoman to the teeth: she was born there, as were five previous generations of her mother’s family. Both her grandfathers and her father were in the oil business, once the backbone of Oklahoma’s economy. One grandmother was born in the Choctaw Nation, and Eve is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Eve and seven other members of her immediate family are graduates of the University of Oklahoma. Eve even knows the second verse of “Boomer Sooner.”
Eve wrote two mystery series: the “Down Home” books, set on a ranch in Southwest Oklahoma, and the Nell Matthews mysteries, semi-hard-boiled books laid in a mid-size city on the Southern Plains.
But Eve married a great guy whose family owned a cottage on the west coast of Lake Michigan, not far from the Michigan towns of Fennville, Saugatuck, and Douglas. Every summer for more than forty years she, her husband and various combinations of children and grandchildren have trekked to the community of Pier Cove for vacations that lasted from two weeks to three months.
The area features gorgeous beaches, lush orchards, thick woods, and beautiful Victorian houses. Eve grew to love it. So when her editor asked her to come up with a new, “cozy” mystery series, Eve set it in a West Michigan resort town, scrambling up Saugatuck, Douglas, South Haven, Holland, Manistee, Ludington and Muskegon with her own ideas of what a resort ought to be to create Warner Pier.
As further background, she plunked her heroine into a business which produces and sells luscious, luxurious, European-style bonbons, truffles and molded chocolates. Most small towns couldn’t support a business like this, but the resorts of West Michigan – with their wealthy “summer people” – can. The “Chocoholic Mysteries” were on their way.
Eve’s editor requested that she use a pen name for the new series, and Eve picked the middle names of her three children, Betsy Jo, Ruth Anna, and John Carl. “JoAnna Carl” was born. So that’s how JoAnna/Eve became a regional author in two widely separated regions.
JoAnna/Eve earned a degree in journalism at the University of Oklahoma and also studied with Carolyn G. Hart and Jack Bickham in the OU Creative Writing Program. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business, working as a reporter, editor, and columnist at The Lawton Constitution in Lawton, Oklahoma. She took an early retirement to write fiction full-time.
She and her husband, David F. Sandstrom, have three grandchildren, whom they love introducing to the lore of their two homes – Oklahoma and Michigan.
She spent 25 years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, editor, and columnist, most recently at the Lawton Constitution. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of OK and also studied in the O.U. Professional Writing program. She lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan where the Chocoholic Mystery series is set. She has one daughter who is a CPA and another who works for a chocolate company and provides yummy insider information on the chocolate business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 20, 2021
This series has the best cover art! Each book has something zany and fun on the cover! This newest book is no exception! The Chocolate Raccoon Rigamarole is the 18th book in the Chocoholic Mystery series.
A series of break-ins starts out seeming a bit funny -- the bandits only steal food and snacks?? But, soon nobody in town is laughing when the break-ins get a bit more serious than swiping snacks.
With the stress of this past year, I enjoyed escaping into a cozy mystery for awhile. This series is cute, light, cozy entertainment. Just what my over-stressed tired brain needed. Raccoons, a few jokes and a mystery. I enjoyed it! I can always trust this series to put a smile on my face!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
A series of break-ins starts out seeming a bit funny -- the bandits only steal food and snacks?? But, soon nobody in town is laughing when the break-ins get a bit more serious than swiping snacks.
With the stress of this past year, I enjoyed escaping into a cozy mystery for awhile. This series is cute, light, cozy entertainment. Just what my over-stressed tired brain needed. Raccoons, a few jokes and a mystery. I enjoyed it! I can always trust this series to put a smile on my face!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
May 3, 2023
When her night watchman is arrested, but small, sweet things keep disappearing, our amateur sleuth is puzzled. Then a dead body is discovered.
Took a long time to get going.
Took a long time to get going.
August 4, 2021
It’s the beginning of tourist season, so Lee Woodyard is trying to prepare for the busyness that brings to the shop of TenHuis Chocolade. However, that’s hard to do with the series of burglaries that have been happening on the town’s main street. Someone is breaking into the shops in Warner Pier’s downtown. However, all they are taking is snack food. Still, when your business is a gourmet chocolate maker, that is worrisome. The stakes are raised when someone Lee knows is held at gunpoint as a suspect on the night the thieves hit the jewelry store next door, but again, they didn’t steal anything of value. Will Lee figure out what is going on?
It’s always a pleasure to slip back into the resort town of Warner Pier, and this book was no exception. While many of the supporting characters stay in the background, I felt we got to see more of them than usual, which I enjoyed. The oddest thing with the characters is that we have two named Mike here. One is a main part of the story, and the other is in the background, which helps. I never had a problem keeping them straight as I was reading. The plot was light, even for this series, but it kept me engaged the entire time. The trivia in this book is actually a collection of the rare recipe we’ve gotten in earlier books in the series. Since we’ve had very few, those who like the recipes will enjoy having them all in one place. When you are looking for a light, relaxing mystery, this is the book to pick up.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
It’s always a pleasure to slip back into the resort town of Warner Pier, and this book was no exception. While many of the supporting characters stay in the background, I felt we got to see more of them than usual, which I enjoyed. The oddest thing with the characters is that we have two named Mike here. One is a main part of the story, and the other is in the background, which helps. I never had a problem keeping them straight as I was reading. The plot was light, even for this series, but it kept me engaged the entire time. The trivia in this book is actually a collection of the rare recipe we’ve gotten in earlier books in the series. Since we’ve had very few, those who like the recipes will enjoy having them all in one place. When you are looking for a light, relaxing mystery, this is the book to pick up.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 2, 2021
Carl brings the zaniness in this 18th entry into the Chocoholic series where a pair of burgers is breaking into local businesses, but they only steal some snacks. Lee and the gang are puzzled as to why they're going to the trouble!
Before I wrote this up, I went back and looked and evidently I've never really liked this series. I read it because the library had them. But I took a hiatus from them and then ran across this one as an ARC in Edelweiss. I picked it up and grabbed the previous one used. I had just forgotten that I disliked them. Hopefully when I forget again, I'll look into my old reviews before picking the series up again.
This just made zero sense. The mystery was nonsensical. The characters constantly make jokes that aren't funny in the least. At least this one was one of the rare cozies where no one dies, but this was truly awful.
Before I wrote this up, I went back and looked and evidently I've never really liked this series. I read it because the library had them. But I took a hiatus from them and then ran across this one as an ARC in Edelweiss. I picked it up and grabbed the previous one used. I had just forgotten that I disliked them. Hopefully when I forget again, I'll look into my old reviews before picking the series up again.
This just made zero sense. The mystery was nonsensical. The characters constantly make jokes that aren't funny in the least. At least this one was one of the rare cozies where no one dies, but this was truly awful.
August 31, 2021
One of the tenets of the cozy genre involves an otherwise idyllic community suddenly dropped into chaos after a murder. Author JoAnna Carl, though, offers a refreshing change of pace in her eighteenth Chocoholic Mystery. The denizens of Warner Pier are on high alert after being plagued by a series of break-ins. The weird part? The thieves aren’t stealing anything of much value—just food. However, when yet another burglary results in police suspecting an innocent man, it’s up to master chocolatier to Lee Woodyard to take the case and clear his name … and deal with a rambunctious raccoon problem along the way.
Carl shaking thigs up starting with the first page is a great trick. One of the biggest struggles, I assume, when writing a long-running series is keeping things feeling fresh and new. After all, how many murders can Lee truly solve in what’s supposed to be an otherwise sleepy town? That Carl has chosen to highlight a series of thefts and the mood they cast over the community immediately sets this book apart from others in the series.
That’s not to suggest there’s a massive deviation from the seventeen previous titles. No, Lee is still out there running her own investigations and occasionally muttering malapropisms—mixing-up similar words—all while working at TenHuis Chocolade. Carl still weaves in plenty of chocolate facts, breaking them between chapters that are filled with the shenanigans involving her large cast of old favorite characters. Above all, her humor is on full display, and things never get too heavy—even when a dead body finally makes an appearance.
And it does take a while. While there’s a mystery from the very beginning, the traditional murder develops slowly, leading to some tension as delicious as finest truffles. Regular readers of cozies know that one should be coming, yet Carl holds off as long as possible, creating a thick sense of anticipation. It’s incredibly effective, and ultimately makes Lee’s investigation and all that follows feel particularly rewarding.
As fresh as the morning display at TenHuis Chocolade, The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is the perfect addition to a great series.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Carl shaking thigs up starting with the first page is a great trick. One of the biggest struggles, I assume, when writing a long-running series is keeping things feeling fresh and new. After all, how many murders can Lee truly solve in what’s supposed to be an otherwise sleepy town? That Carl has chosen to highlight a series of thefts and the mood they cast over the community immediately sets this book apart from others in the series.
That’s not to suggest there’s a massive deviation from the seventeen previous titles. No, Lee is still out there running her own investigations and occasionally muttering malapropisms—mixing-up similar words—all while working at TenHuis Chocolade. Carl still weaves in plenty of chocolate facts, breaking them between chapters that are filled with the shenanigans involving her large cast of old favorite characters. Above all, her humor is on full display, and things never get too heavy—even when a dead body finally makes an appearance.
And it does take a while. While there’s a mystery from the very beginning, the traditional murder develops slowly, leading to some tension as delicious as finest truffles. Regular readers of cozies know that one should be coming, yet Carl holds off as long as possible, creating a thick sense of anticipation. It’s incredibly effective, and ultimately makes Lee’s investigation and all that follows feel particularly rewarding.
As fresh as the morning display at TenHuis Chocolade, The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is the perfect addition to a great series.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
December 30, 2021
Review to follow
January 3, 2022
It has been a few years since I read a book from this series. For some reason, I remembered Lee, our female amateur detective, as smarter. I thought Joe, her husband (later in the series) was a bit distracted, but clever and strong. And aunt Nettie was business-like and thoughtful.
What happened? Was my memory foggy from all of the books in between? I hope not. I hope something went terribly wrong, and the author refused to write another installment, so a ghost writer was brought in. One who made aunt Nettie hysterical and doddery, and Lee a kind but not very bright accountant and business manager in a town of equally slow law enforcement.
The author confessed--in this book--that she was not a chocolate expert. I think some of us realized that early on. No big deal. Sadly, she didn't research a couple of clues (or even think them through logically for a moment), and as a result, caused me to literally slap my palm to my forehead in despair. I can overlook a small thing or five, but writers should at least treat readers as brighter than a 25 watt traditional lightbulb.
The story--minus the "mystery"--was okay. But I can't ignore things that sound so ridiculous, that I'm not sure whether they should be funny. It's just too tragic.
I regret paying for this book, but I do hope the earlier books were as good as I remember.
2/5 Stars
Quote:
"I immediately knew that Alex had some purpose for this odd structure. He had not simply forgotten to finish his decorations."
-------------
Quote:
“Okay,” he said. “Everybody get ready for a new emergency.”
“Oh, surely not!” Aunt Nettie said. “Can’t we have a calm dinner?”
-------------
What happened? Was my memory foggy from all of the books in between? I hope not. I hope something went terribly wrong, and the author refused to write another installment, so a ghost writer was brought in. One who made aunt Nettie hysterical and doddery, and Lee a kind but not very bright accountant and business manager in a town of equally slow law enforcement.
The author confessed--in this book--that she was not a chocolate expert. I think some of us realized that early on. No big deal. Sadly, she didn't research a couple of clues (or even think them through logically for a moment), and as a result, caused me to literally slap my palm to my forehead in despair. I can overlook a small thing or five, but writers should at least treat readers as brighter than a 25 watt traditional lightbulb.
The story--minus the "mystery"--was okay. But I can't ignore things that sound so ridiculous, that I'm not sure whether they should be funny. It's just too tragic.
I regret paying for this book, but I do hope the earlier books were as good as I remember.
2/5 Stars
Quote:
"I immediately knew that Alex had some purpose for this odd structure. He had not simply forgotten to finish his decorations."
-------------
Quote:
“Okay,” he said. “Everybody get ready for a new emergency.”
“Oh, surely not!” Aunt Nettie said. “Can’t we have a calm dinner?”
-------------
August 20, 2021
I know this is going to sound harsh....but....I just could not get into this story at all. The characters gave me a headache. Didn't really care for any of them. Joe and Lee constantly laughed at inappropriate times and at situations that weren't even funny. Every one seemed to be a fan of freaking out over even little disruptions to their lives. It was like they all just needed to calm down a bit. Aunt Nettie was the only character I found myself liking. I have read other books in this series and do not remember being this annoyed with them.
January 3, 2022
I love this series set in West Michigan, revolving around a luxury chocolate store and its staff. The stars are more for the series than for this particular volume, which suffered a bit from its improbable plot. Also, all these long running series make it easy to spot the villain who is always the new person on the scene. I did learn how to spell rigmarole, which apparently I have been adding an extra vowel to!
April 20, 2021
I’m always excited to catch up with Lee & Joe Woodyard in this fun series. Filled with murder, tidbits about chocolate, and a cast of colorful characters, this is a sweet series by JoAnna Carl.
Perfect for an afternoon read.
Perfect for an afternoon read.
August 6, 2021
Lee is still running her chocolate store and the town is having trouble. Several break ins have happened where nothing is taken except junk food and snacks. They are also having trouble with raccoon rummaging through the town. Things seem funny until someone turns up dead.
December 14, 2022
This is a lighthearted entertaining story with lots of chocolate and adorable baby racoons sweetening up the action. The characters are entertaining but not particularly etching their impressions into your soul; whatever drama is unfolding is the kind that would make you want some popcorn. It's a fitting book to pick up when you are looking to simply relax. It is unassuming. It uses simple words combined into simple sentences as it describes, bless their souls, simple people. These women cook, make chocolate and feed people. And in an emergency, they remain cool, collected and will beat a no-good to bloody pulp with an umbrella.
The particular edition I read had a fantastic feature: VERY large font. Font so large that my eyes felt totally at ease. I wish all the books had font like that!
I give it 3 stars because it's not a piece of great literature. But if ranked against other pieces like itself, it'd be definitely more.
The particular edition I read had a fantastic feature: VERY large font. Font so large that my eyes felt totally at ease. I wish all the books had font like that!
I give it 3 stars because it's not a piece of great literature. But if ranked against other pieces like itself, it'd be definitely more.
March 17, 2021
Cookie burglars, raccoon babies, Tzarist imitation jewelry and old army buddies all mix in to bring confusion to Warner Pier. Lee is curious why there are snack burglaries, but since no one has been hurt -yet- she's more concerned about trapping the raccoon family that has moved into the alley behind the chocolate store. But then the violence escalates, with a store owner trapped into a storage room, a dead deputy in the alley, and claims of large lumpy things hanging about.
This mystery was a bit confusing at times, but everything gets wrapped up in the end, and I was not sure who the killer was.
This mystery was a bit confusing at times, but everything gets wrapped up in the end, and I was not sure who the killer was.
August 4, 2021
About The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole: In this eighteenth mystery in the national bestselling Chocoholic series, a gang of crooks with a wicked sweet tooth wreaks havoc on the resort town of Warner Pier, and it's up to Lee Woodyard to rout the hungry rascals.
A frantic late-night phone call from her right-hand woman Dolly Jolly brings Lee Woodyard to the scene of a break-in at the Warner Pier jewellery store next door to TenHuis Chocolade. To her shock, the suspect being held at gunpoint by police is Dolly's boyfriend, Mike Westerly, who was recently hired as a night watchman specifically to prevent break-ins. Dolly hopes Lee can help straighten out the crazy misunderstanding.
Even crazier? The thieves took nothing of value from the jewellery store, only swiping some snacks. It's another in a series of break-ins by burglars the media has dubbed the Cookie Monsters. They've been hitting shops selling everything from sunglasses to shoes but stealing only sweets: lollipops, cookies, even chewing gum!
It all seems pretty funny--until the discovery of a dead body. With her friends and community in danger, Lee must stop one very sour killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.
My Thoughts: I jumped headfirst into JoAnna Carl's series featuring Lee McKinney Woodyard here at book 18 so I'm very much a latecomer!
Lee helps to run TenHuis Chocolade, a gourmet chocolate making business located on the Great Lakes, Warner Pier, a resort town in Michigan. She looks after the mail order side of things and the retail shop, whilst Dolly Jolly is Lee's Aunt Nessie TenHuis Jones's chief assistant chocolatier. It's the start of a busy season and the shops in the area are being burgled. On the night the jewellery store next to TenHuis Chocolade takes a hit, a suspect is held at gunpoint, and it's someone Lee knows so she steps in to help.
This was an amusing, brilliant story that worked well for me as a stand-alone read. The plot was tight and full of little surprises. The author's characterisation was excellent and I wished that some of the cast were actually in my life. I delighted over all of the choccy trivia and recipes and I will be reading all of this series although it might take some time! Very highly recommended and a well deserved five stars.
Disclosure: Thank you to Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole by JoAnna Carl for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
A frantic late-night phone call from her right-hand woman Dolly Jolly brings Lee Woodyard to the scene of a break-in at the Warner Pier jewellery store next door to TenHuis Chocolade. To her shock, the suspect being held at gunpoint by police is Dolly's boyfriend, Mike Westerly, who was recently hired as a night watchman specifically to prevent break-ins. Dolly hopes Lee can help straighten out the crazy misunderstanding.
Even crazier? The thieves took nothing of value from the jewellery store, only swiping some snacks. It's another in a series of break-ins by burglars the media has dubbed the Cookie Monsters. They've been hitting shops selling everything from sunglasses to shoes but stealing only sweets: lollipops, cookies, even chewing gum!
It all seems pretty funny--until the discovery of a dead body. With her friends and community in danger, Lee must stop one very sour killer before someone else comes to a bitter end.
My Thoughts: I jumped headfirst into JoAnna Carl's series featuring Lee McKinney Woodyard here at book 18 so I'm very much a latecomer!
Lee helps to run TenHuis Chocolade, a gourmet chocolate making business located on the Great Lakes, Warner Pier, a resort town in Michigan. She looks after the mail order side of things and the retail shop, whilst Dolly Jolly is Lee's Aunt Nessie TenHuis Jones's chief assistant chocolatier. It's the start of a busy season and the shops in the area are being burgled. On the night the jewellery store next to TenHuis Chocolade takes a hit, a suspect is held at gunpoint, and it's someone Lee knows so she steps in to help.
This was an amusing, brilliant story that worked well for me as a stand-alone read. The plot was tight and full of little surprises. The author's characterisation was excellent and I wished that some of the cast were actually in my life. I delighted over all of the choccy trivia and recipes and I will be reading all of this series although it might take some time! Very highly recommended and a well deserved five stars.
Disclosure: Thank you to Berkley Publishing via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole by JoAnna Carl for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
August 16, 2021
Someone has been breaking into local businesses but not taking anything of value only snacks. It seems like a harmless crime until someone ends up dead. Lee wants to help with the investigation any way she can because her good friend Dolly has gotten mixed up on the mess and might be in danger. Dolly's new boyfriend has also gotten mixed up in the mess and the two are in hiding until the police find the killer. Meanwhile Lee is having to deal with an invasion of raccoons behind her store and removing them doesn't seem to be an easy job. Follow along as Lee digs into the clues left behind, can she bribe the right people with chocolate to get some real answers. This is such an entertaining series filled with full fun plots, great characters, and yummy chocolate recipes.
September 14, 2021
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Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I tremendously enjoyed this new offering in The Chocoholic Mystery series! It was wonderful to visit the folks in Warner Pier, Michigan again and meet some new folks. I could almost “see” the little town with the author’s picturesque descriptions. This armchair sleuth couldn’t figure out who the bad guys were and was in as much denial when identified as a few of those in the story.
I’m a confirmed chocoholic and wish I could get samples of TenHuis Chocolade’s “Luxury Chocolates in the Dutch Tradition”! Every time Lee mentions having a bonbon of the day, she gives a description – wow!! This summer, the specialty chocolates are in the shape of four woodland animals, including a raccoon.
Nettie, Lee’s favorite aunt, began the shop many years ago with her late husband after learning the secrets of chocolate making in Amsterdam. Lee came to Michigan from Texas to help Nettie and is the business manager. Since then, she met and married Joe, an attorney in nearby Holland, with a boat restoration business in Warner Pier, and is its volunteer city attorney. Lee, with the help of hubby Joe and Nettie, have been known to help Nettie’s husband Hogan, the chief of police, with murders and other mysteries that often involve family or friends.
Dolly is Nettie’s right hand assistant in chocolate making. She and Mike, a night watchman for the Warner Pier PD, have romance brewing. Many evenings he can be found at Dolly’s during his work break. Late one night, Dolly called Lee in a panic. Paige, a deputy for the county sheriff’s office, is holding Mike at gunpoint after responding to a break in at the neighboring jewelry store.
When Lee, Joe, Hogan, and the sheriff respond, they go into the back room of the jewelry store. There was no evidence of a break in, but they heard a muffled pounding. The owner, Alex, was tied and gagged Inside a storage closet. Two unidentified people had gotten into the shop and stuffed him in the closet. The store has not yet opened, so he had no jewelry. The only thing missing is – cookies? It was the same as a couple other shops broken into recently. The news dubbed them as the Cookie Monsters.
There is a rash of urban raccoons in town, including a mama and babies under the steps at TenHuis. Lee hired a man named Watt to capture and release them, but this mama raccoon was one smart bandit. Late one night, Watt was found, badly injured, lying next to the humane trap he was checking. Days later, a shocking death was discovered; this is clearly not a good start to the tourist season.
I appreciate Lee and Joe, and Aunt Nettie and Hogan, in the way they treat, respect, and love each other. I also like the mixture of residents, from college grads and professional people to tradespeople, and even an old hippie. Most get along with others very well, as there is minimal social distinction. In a town of 2,500, most people are “in it” together.
The mystery was intriguing! I was impressed with some details that seemed almost trivial until reading further into the novel. Nabbing the bad guys turned into a race against time as Lee and Nettie tried to escape their clutches! The resolutions were perfect, and all loose ends were tied up. That includes the raccoons, who played a major role throughout the novel. One can read this as a standalone mystery, as in most cases sufficient backstory is provided for the new fans. I highly recommend this addicting chocolate novel that includes recipes and information about chocolate!
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
I tremendously enjoyed this new offering in The Chocoholic Mystery series! It was wonderful to visit the folks in Warner Pier, Michigan again and meet some new folks. I could almost “see” the little town with the author’s picturesque descriptions. This armchair sleuth couldn’t figure out who the bad guys were and was in as much denial when identified as a few of those in the story.
I’m a confirmed chocoholic and wish I could get samples of TenHuis Chocolade’s “Luxury Chocolates in the Dutch Tradition”! Every time Lee mentions having a bonbon of the day, she gives a description – wow!! This summer, the specialty chocolates are in the shape of four woodland animals, including a raccoon.
Nettie, Lee’s favorite aunt, began the shop many years ago with her late husband after learning the secrets of chocolate making in Amsterdam. Lee came to Michigan from Texas to help Nettie and is the business manager. Since then, she met and married Joe, an attorney in nearby Holland, with a boat restoration business in Warner Pier, and is its volunteer city attorney. Lee, with the help of hubby Joe and Nettie, have been known to help Nettie’s husband Hogan, the chief of police, with murders and other mysteries that often involve family or friends.
Dolly is Nettie’s right hand assistant in chocolate making. She and Mike, a night watchman for the Warner Pier PD, have romance brewing. Many evenings he can be found at Dolly’s during his work break. Late one night, Dolly called Lee in a panic. Paige, a deputy for the county sheriff’s office, is holding Mike at gunpoint after responding to a break in at the neighboring jewelry store.
When Lee, Joe, Hogan, and the sheriff respond, they go into the back room of the jewelry store. There was no evidence of a break in, but they heard a muffled pounding. The owner, Alex, was tied and gagged Inside a storage closet. Two unidentified people had gotten into the shop and stuffed him in the closet. The store has not yet opened, so he had no jewelry. The only thing missing is – cookies? It was the same as a couple other shops broken into recently. The news dubbed them as the Cookie Monsters.
There is a rash of urban raccoons in town, including a mama and babies under the steps at TenHuis. Lee hired a man named Watt to capture and release them, but this mama raccoon was one smart bandit. Late one night, Watt was found, badly injured, lying next to the humane trap he was checking. Days later, a shocking death was discovered; this is clearly not a good start to the tourist season.
I appreciate Lee and Joe, and Aunt Nettie and Hogan, in the way they treat, respect, and love each other. I also like the mixture of residents, from college grads and professional people to tradespeople, and even an old hippie. Most get along with others very well, as there is minimal social distinction. In a town of 2,500, most people are “in it” together.
The mystery was intriguing! I was impressed with some details that seemed almost trivial until reading further into the novel. Nabbing the bad guys turned into a race against time as Lee and Nettie tried to escape their clutches! The resolutions were perfect, and all loose ends were tied up. That includes the raccoons, who played a major role throughout the novel. One can read this as a standalone mystery, as in most cases sufficient backstory is provided for the new fans. I highly recommend this addicting chocolate novel that includes recipes and information about chocolate!
August 1, 2021
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is the 18th novel in Chocoholic Mystery series, a cozy mystery series set a resort town in SW Michigan. It’s always difficult to jump into the middle of a well-established series like this one but the author did a good job of pulling you along and I wasn’t particularly confused about who was who among the main characters. I wasn’t entirely charmed by the plot, however. I thought I t was a bit convoluted and the details not that believable. I did really enjoy the miscellaneous chocolate trivia and recipes interspersed in the book but I felt their placement in the middle of the action took away from the rhythm of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2022
Boy....have I missed these "characters"
Now I'm "impatiently" awaiting the next debacle.
Now I'm "impatiently" awaiting the next debacle.
May 4, 2023
I am fairly new to the cozy mystery genre and HAD to give this one a go. Anyone who knows me knows if there is a raccoon, I am sold.
Unfortunately I have to say this one fell short for me. At first I was excited seeing the character cast had some younger characters (30s which seemed perfect for me) but I couldn't help but feel like everyone was much older. Maybe it was the way they spoke? Or the phrases? (Golly) I sadly struggled to make a connection with any of the characters. Throughout the story the characters seemed disjointed, I didn't really feel or believe any of the relationships which made it difficult to care about them or their problems.
The next portion of the review is specific to the story and may contain spoilers
The mystery surounds a small town in which break-ins are running rampant. The strange part? Nothing goes missing. All that is taken is a few snacks! The criminals also seem to easily let themselves in and out of all of the businesses they rob. After numerous break-ins the robbers for the first time have a run in with a business owner, tying him up and locking him in a store room. The cops come to investigate and one female cop in particular seems a bit strange, fast forward and she is found dead, and it seems to be a suicide. Later the robbers try and kill another one of the small town neighbors. I was incredibly bored throughout and left wanting more story that actually pertained to anything going on. You never get a solid reason for why the robbers were only eatting a few snacks, just that they were "practicing" breaking in just incase anything worth stealing ever came around. You get almost nothing on the person who actually died, it's almost as if she's forgotten untill the end when you learn she was dating one of the robbers and got cold feet so they kill her. And you get the most complicated pointless story as to why the robbers are attacking two other guys in town. Apparently they all served in the military in the past together and had been friends? Some very strange lose story about how one friend was a bit of a trouble maker and now suddenly is I guess a murderer which I don't know how we are expecte to buy the story.
Unfortunately I have to say this one fell short for me. At first I was excited seeing the character cast had some younger characters (30s which seemed perfect for me) but I couldn't help but feel like everyone was much older. Maybe it was the way they spoke? Or the phrases? (Golly) I sadly struggled to make a connection with any of the characters. Throughout the story the characters seemed disjointed, I didn't really feel or believe any of the relationships which made it difficult to care about them or their problems.
The next portion of the review is specific to the story and may contain spoilers
The mystery surounds a small town in which break-ins are running rampant. The strange part? Nothing goes missing. All that is taken is a few snacks! The criminals also seem to easily let themselves in and out of all of the businesses they rob. After numerous break-ins the robbers for the first time have a run in with a business owner, tying him up and locking him in a store room. The cops come to investigate and one female cop in particular seems a bit strange, fast forward and she is found dead, and it seems to be a suicide. Later the robbers try and kill another one of the small town neighbors. I was incredibly bored throughout and left wanting more story that actually pertained to anything going on. You never get a solid reason for why the robbers were only eatting a few snacks, just that they were "practicing" breaking in just incase anything worth stealing ever came around. You get almost nothing on the person who actually died, it's almost as if she's forgotten untill the end when you learn she was dating one of the robbers and got cold feet so they kill her. And you get the most complicated pointless story as to why the robbers are attacking two other guys in town. Apparently they all served in the military in the past together and had been friends? Some very strange lose story about how one friend was a bit of a trouble maker and now suddenly is I guess a murderer which I don't know how we are expecte to buy the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2021
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigamarole is the eighteenth book in The Chocoholic Mystery series.
The residents and businesses of Warner Pier are unsure if they should laugh at or be worried about what is going on in town. There have been several break-ins around town that have been nicknamed the “Cookie Monster” burglaries. So far, the only thing that has been stolen is snacks.
When Lee is informed that there is a mama raccoon with babies, she hires Watt Wicker to catch the raccoons and release them into the countryside. But on the evening he goes to trap them, he is attacked with a brick and has to be hospitalized. Soon, Lee also hears an incriminating phone conversation, new Deputy Paige Timothy, is having on her cell phone. When Lee hears a disturbance in the alley behind TenHuis, her aunt’s chocolate shop, she sees what is going on and learns someone was seen leaving a garage. The police arrive and enter the garage. There, in her squad car, is Deputy Paige Timothy, dead. The police feel that her death is a suicide, but Lee has her doubts. Lee, with her employee, Dolly Jolly’s boyfriend Mike, being suspected of assaulting Watt, is determined to clear his name.
I love this series and have read all but two books. The books are well-written and plotted and have a well-developed and believable cast of characters. Previous books in the series have had interesting tidbits on chocolate, but in this book, Ms. Carl has included delicious-sounding recipes using chocolate.
I will be watching for the next book in this series.
The residents and businesses of Warner Pier are unsure if they should laugh at or be worried about what is going on in town. There have been several break-ins around town that have been nicknamed the “Cookie Monster” burglaries. So far, the only thing that has been stolen is snacks.
When Lee is informed that there is a mama raccoon with babies, she hires Watt Wicker to catch the raccoons and release them into the countryside. But on the evening he goes to trap them, he is attacked with a brick and has to be hospitalized. Soon, Lee also hears an incriminating phone conversation, new Deputy Paige Timothy, is having on her cell phone. When Lee hears a disturbance in the alley behind TenHuis, her aunt’s chocolate shop, she sees what is going on and learns someone was seen leaving a garage. The police arrive and enter the garage. There, in her squad car, is Deputy Paige Timothy, dead. The police feel that her death is a suicide, but Lee has her doubts. Lee, with her employee, Dolly Jolly’s boyfriend Mike, being suspected of assaulting Watt, is determined to clear his name.
I love this series and have read all but two books. The books are well-written and plotted and have a well-developed and believable cast of characters. Previous books in the series have had interesting tidbits on chocolate, but in this book, Ms. Carl has included delicious-sounding recipes using chocolate.
I will be watching for the next book in this series.
June 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this installment in the Chocoholic Mystery Book series, set in Warner Pier Michigan. Some robbers knick-named the "Cookie Monsters" are breaking in to local businesses and stealing snacks, candies and other junk food. Why is this happening? And why did someone kill the young female police officer? What did she know? I love how Lee Woodyard and her husband Joe help the police investigate the crime and find out who is responsible. And Lee barely escapes with her life at the end...I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
July 17, 2021
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigamarole is the 18th cozy mystery in the Chocoholic series. I had never read one of these before and it was just kind of boring and simple. The characters were totally flat to me and it seemed very cheesy. I won’t be reading the others in the series.
August 3, 2021
Summary of The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole
In The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole, unexplained break-ins have plagued the town of Warner Pier, Michigan, for weeks and when Deputy Paige Timothy spots Mike Westerly, a part-time police officer for the town, in a dark alley she tries to arrest him. Paige was answering a call about a break-in at the soon-to-be-opened jewelry shop when she spotted Mike. Mike is a huge man and a relative newcomer to the town. Paige claimed she didn’t recognize him, which was odd because, as Mike later reveals, he was introduced to Paige some time earlier.
The phone call about the break-in still needs checked out, and Lee McKinney, business manager and co-owner of TenHuis Chocolade along with her friend Dolly Jolly are helping the police when loud noises start in the front of the jewelry store. Inside a storage closet is Alex Gold, hands bound behind him. He’d returned to the store after dinner and surprised two men in ski masks. They had tied him up and locked him in the closet. Like the other break-ins, nothing is stolen except snacks and junk food.
Mysterious break-ins aren’t the town’s only problem. Urban racoons have become a nuisance and Lee hires Watt Wicker to catch the racoon family living under TenHuis Chocolade’s back porch. Watt is later found sprawled in the alley with an empty trap. Someone hit him in the head with a brick and left him unconscious and bleeding.
Not long after, Deputy Paige goes missing. Her body is found in a garage across the alley. Why would someone want the deputy dead? Will solving the murder help in solving the break-ins, or are they unrelated? Lee and her husband Joe assist the Warner Pier’s police chief in solving not only the break-ins, but the murder as well. But those who’ve killed once won’t hesitate at killing again. Will Lee or her husband be next?
Recommendation
It took me a while to get into this story. I put it down for a short time before picking it back up again; it took a bit for the mystery-side of the story to grab me. But grab me it did, and the identity of the murderers caught me by surprise. Once I got into the story, The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole was a quick read.
Interspersed throughout the book is chocolate trivia. The trivia inserts slowed down the book for me and were more of a distraction. But other than the placement of the trivia and the slow-for-me start, The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole was an entertaining way to spend an evening.
The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole is the latest in a series that spans twenty-years.
Author Information
JoAnna Carl is the pseudonym for a multi-published mystery writer and the national bestselling author of the Chocoholic Mysteries. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, and columnist. JoAnna holds a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. JoAnna currently lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan.
Other books in the series are here.
*Copy provided by #NetGalley #TheChocolateRacoonRigmarole
In The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole, unexplained break-ins have plagued the town of Warner Pier, Michigan, for weeks and when Deputy Paige Timothy spots Mike Westerly, a part-time police officer for the town, in a dark alley she tries to arrest him. Paige was answering a call about a break-in at the soon-to-be-opened jewelry shop when she spotted Mike. Mike is a huge man and a relative newcomer to the town. Paige claimed she didn’t recognize him, which was odd because, as Mike later reveals, he was introduced to Paige some time earlier.
The phone call about the break-in still needs checked out, and Lee McKinney, business manager and co-owner of TenHuis Chocolade along with her friend Dolly Jolly are helping the police when loud noises start in the front of the jewelry store. Inside a storage closet is Alex Gold, hands bound behind him. He’d returned to the store after dinner and surprised two men in ski masks. They had tied him up and locked him in the closet. Like the other break-ins, nothing is stolen except snacks and junk food.
Mysterious break-ins aren’t the town’s only problem. Urban racoons have become a nuisance and Lee hires Watt Wicker to catch the racoon family living under TenHuis Chocolade’s back porch. Watt is later found sprawled in the alley with an empty trap. Someone hit him in the head with a brick and left him unconscious and bleeding.
Not long after, Deputy Paige goes missing. Her body is found in a garage across the alley. Why would someone want the deputy dead? Will solving the murder help in solving the break-ins, or are they unrelated? Lee and her husband Joe assist the Warner Pier’s police chief in solving not only the break-ins, but the murder as well. But those who’ve killed once won’t hesitate at killing again. Will Lee or her husband be next?
Recommendation
It took me a while to get into this story. I put it down for a short time before picking it back up again; it took a bit for the mystery-side of the story to grab me. But grab me it did, and the identity of the murderers caught me by surprise. Once I got into the story, The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole was a quick read.
Interspersed throughout the book is chocolate trivia. The trivia inserts slowed down the book for me and were more of a distraction. But other than the placement of the trivia and the slow-for-me start, The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole was an entertaining way to spend an evening.
The Chocolate Racoon Rigmarole is the latest in a series that spans twenty-years.
Author Information
JoAnna Carl is the pseudonym for a multi-published mystery writer and the national bestselling author of the Chocoholic Mysteries. She spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business as a reporter, feature writer, and columnist. JoAnna holds a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. JoAnna currently lives in Oklahoma but summers in Michigan.
Other books in the series are here.
*Copy provided by #NetGalley #TheChocolateRacoonRigmarole
September 15, 2021
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole by JoAnna Carl is the 18th book in the Chocoholic Mystery Series. As with the others in the series this book takes place in Warner Pier, Michigan a lake front tourist town in the SouthWest corner of the state. Lee Woodyard helps her Aunt Nettie run a luxury chocolate shop in the downtown area. They make their chocolates on site. Lee is married to the part time city attorney and vintage boat repairman, Joe Woodyard. Aunt Nettie is married to Hogan Jones, the chief of police in the small town.
The town is experiencing a rash of puzzling burglaries where nothing of value is ever taken. Only assorted snack foods are ever missing from the businesses. Also, there has been a sudden influx of Mama Raccoons and their babies in town. Then, there is an attack on a newly arrived citizen of Warner Pier. Soon after a sheriff’s department officer is found dead in her car. The mystery continues to evolve as there are disappearances, kidnappings and a residential break-in. Lee can’t keep her curious nose out of the action so, she investigates her suspects and suspicions. Lee always takes her findings and information to Chief Jones, after all he is her Uncle, lol.
There were enough new characters and unusual happenings to keep me from solving the crime too early. This was a fun book to read and it was nice to revisit characters in The Chocoholic Mystery Series.
The town is experiencing a rash of puzzling burglaries where nothing of value is ever taken. Only assorted snack foods are ever missing from the businesses. Also, there has been a sudden influx of Mama Raccoons and their babies in town. Then, there is an attack on a newly arrived citizen of Warner Pier. Soon after a sheriff’s department officer is found dead in her car. The mystery continues to evolve as there are disappearances, kidnappings and a residential break-in. Lee can’t keep her curious nose out of the action so, she investigates her suspects and suspicions. Lee always takes her findings and information to Chief Jones, after all he is her Uncle, lol.
There were enough new characters and unusual happenings to keep me from solving the crime too early. This was a fun book to read and it was nice to revisit characters in The Chocoholic Mystery Series.
July 29, 2021
The whole theme in this book was centered around an elusive mama raccoon and her six babies that Lee and Nettie wanted removed from in back of the chocolate shop. It spiraled into a lot more after that including seemingly meaningless burglaries that led to attacks and eventually a murder as well as an attempted murder.
I just love Aunt Nettie's character! She's one lady you really want on your side and can be sweet as a granny or well, vicious as a raccoon. Let's just say if you're having a showdown with a killer, it'd be a really good idea to invite Aunt Nettie along! The showdown was pretty epic, and I never really guessed the killer. I did have a basic idea of what the burglaries were all about though.
Another character I liked in the very first book, and I'm glad he's not changed is Hogan Jones. (Admittedly, I'd only read the first book of the series so far when I was asked to read this, but with a little working knowledge of the characters from book 1, I had no trouble keeping up.) I love that Hogan's not like the typical cozy mystery cop who's always warning the sleuths off the case. His main interest is always catching the bad guy which means he listens to Lee (or now Nettie seeing how he's married to her lol), and what could come off as a hair-brained scheme to other officers is at least given some thought by Hogan. He's one of my favorite fictional lawmen.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Look for it at your favorite book seller on August 3!
I just love Aunt Nettie's character! She's one lady you really want on your side and can be sweet as a granny or well, vicious as a raccoon. Let's just say if you're having a showdown with a killer, it'd be a really good idea to invite Aunt Nettie along! The showdown was pretty epic, and I never really guessed the killer. I did have a basic idea of what the burglaries were all about though.
Another character I liked in the very first book, and I'm glad he's not changed is Hogan Jones. (Admittedly, I'd only read the first book of the series so far when I was asked to read this, but with a little working knowledge of the characters from book 1, I had no trouble keeping up.) I love that Hogan's not like the typical cozy mystery cop who's always warning the sleuths off the case. His main interest is always catching the bad guy which means he listens to Lee (or now Nettie seeing how he's married to her lol), and what could come off as a hair-brained scheme to other officers is at least given some thought by Hogan. He's one of my favorite fictional lawmen.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Look for it at your favorite book seller on August 3!
October 17, 2021
The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is the 18th installment in JoAnna Carl’s Chocoholic Mystery Series. In this novel, Lee Woodyard, the protagonist, must solve a weird mystery which includes a series of break-ins of local businesses where the only things taken include foodie treats. That doesn’t last, however, when a dead body is found, and Lee must work her hardest while still running the chocolate company, TenHuis Chocolade, and keeping her friends safe.
This novel is part of a bestselling series, and has gone on for years, it includes characters that readers know. And while the characters are familiar, they don’t seem real. Some even have unlikely names like “Dolly Jolly,” “Jerry Cherry,” and “Phil McNeal.” Reading this series is like reading comic books where the characters aren’t supposed to be real, and the scenarios aren’t supposed to be things that really happen. That is not a negative, however, and these mysteries, including The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole are feel good books with no stress and very little (but some) suspense. Readers already know that their favorite characters are going to be all right, but it’s fun to read and see just what they have to go through to find the bad guys and see that everything is now all right in their world. One of the best things about this culinary mystery is the fact that it includes chocolate recipes and trivia – fun information,
This series is a good one for all ages, and like a good cozy, does not contain graphic violence, profanity, or sex.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
This novel is part of a bestselling series, and has gone on for years, it includes characters that readers know. And while the characters are familiar, they don’t seem real. Some even have unlikely names like “Dolly Jolly,” “Jerry Cherry,” and “Phil McNeal.” Reading this series is like reading comic books where the characters aren’t supposed to be real, and the scenarios aren’t supposed to be things that really happen. That is not a negative, however, and these mysteries, including The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole are feel good books with no stress and very little (but some) suspense. Readers already know that their favorite characters are going to be all right, but it’s fun to read and see just what they have to go through to find the bad guys and see that everything is now all right in their world. One of the best things about this culinary mystery is the fact that it includes chocolate recipes and trivia – fun information,
This series is a good one for all ages, and like a good cozy, does not contain graphic violence, profanity, or sex.
Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.
July 19, 2021
Chocolatier Lee Woodyard once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery in JoAnna Carl’s “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole.”
When a series of “Cookie Monsters” burglaries start hitting businesses in town, the boyfriend of Lee’s coworker Dolly Jolly gets dragged in as a suspect, forcing Lee to look into the series of seemingly harmless thefts. But when the man whom Lee hired to rid her business of some raccoons is attacked, the investigation becomes more serious.
What follows is Carl’s typically fun cozy mystery, filled with laughable moments and Lee’s continued problem with malapropism — mixing up two similar words, like codfish and coffee. Carl does a great job of developing adorably delightful characters, while building up to some downright bad ones. She also creates a plot that keeps the reader guessing.
And she continues to include several interesting chocolate facts and recipes for the chocolate lovers.
Readers looking for a fun read filled with some mystery will delight in “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole,” which releases Aug. 3.
Five stars out of five.
Berkley provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
When a series of “Cookie Monsters” burglaries start hitting businesses in town, the boyfriend of Lee’s coworker Dolly Jolly gets dragged in as a suspect, forcing Lee to look into the series of seemingly harmless thefts. But when the man whom Lee hired to rid her business of some raccoons is attacked, the investigation becomes more serious.
What follows is Carl’s typically fun cozy mystery, filled with laughable moments and Lee’s continued problem with malapropism — mixing up two similar words, like codfish and coffee. Carl does a great job of developing adorably delightful characters, while building up to some downright bad ones. She also creates a plot that keeps the reader guessing.
And she continues to include several interesting chocolate facts and recipes for the chocolate lovers.
Readers looking for a fun read filled with some mystery will delight in “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole,” which releases Aug. 3.
Five stars out of five.
Berkley provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
August 23, 2021
I never read any of the previous book in this series but I was invited to read this book, the cover was cute, and the story sounded good to someone who like cozy mysteries so I was looking forward to reading it.
Lee is a chocolatier, her husband is lawyer and her uncle is the police chief. I definitely think I missed out of some character development and relationships by starting with the 18th book in the series, but I was absolutely expecting that so it really didn’t take away any enjoyment from reading.
There’s been recent break-ins that have been quirky, snacks are the only things that have been taken. Of course, that’s not actually the only mystery of the book because things lead to murder and then Lee and co. are really starting to investigate what happened.
The mystery was good with plenty of red herrings. It was certainly a funny and more amusing cozy than some others out there. It certainly makes me want to go back and start with the first book of the series!
Lee is a chocolatier, her husband is lawyer and her uncle is the police chief. I definitely think I missed out of some character development and relationships by starting with the 18th book in the series, but I was absolutely expecting that so it really didn’t take away any enjoyment from reading.
There’s been recent break-ins that have been quirky, snacks are the only things that have been taken. Of course, that’s not actually the only mystery of the book because things lead to murder and then Lee and co. are really starting to investigate what happened.
The mystery was good with plenty of red herrings. It was certainly a funny and more amusing cozy than some others out there. It certainly makes me want to go back and start with the first book of the series!
August 19, 2021
What a fun word, rigmarole, it is not used nearly enough in today’s conversations. It has been a while since I read a TenHuis chocolate mystery, it is good to be back in Warner Pier, Michigan. I had forgotten about the fun idioms that Lee uses and I don’t mean her malapropism, I mean the phrases such as “not getting a nickel’s worth of sleep” the stuff that her Texas grandmother would say. Chock full of fun characters some of which are a little nutty, plus who doesn’t like reading about chocolate! The plot hits the ground running, and what an unusual start to a story, a mass of break-ins caused by snack stealing thieves and urban raccoons on the loose. Surely the raccoons aren’t casing the joint? Plenty of clues and red herrings, I didn’t figure out the “who” but was pretty sure about the why. Looking forward to making some potato soup and finding a recipe for Kahlua bon bons!
November 11, 2021
I really, really, really hate to give this book such a low rating because I have been a HUGE fan of this series since its inception. HOWEVER, this addition was off in so many ways. It was almost as if Carl didn't write it at all. Joe and Lee make jokes and laugh at odd times, the counter girls and the shoe shop girls sticking their tongues out at each other was juvenile, the whole Watt and Mike thing was just that, a rigmarole. The whole book was just one big thing that was nothing, and at the end I was really disappointed. And something that I have always liked about this cozy series is the history of chocolate interspersed throughout the chapters. That was even off this time. It wasn't new and it seemed forced. I don't know, but everything was just off about this one. Maybe it is time for Lee, Joe, and everyone in Warner Pier to retire. :(
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