Sucker Punch

A Candy Shop Mystery #5

by Sammi Carter

Abby's life is sweet. She's settling into running her candy shop, dealing with her busybody family, and maintaining a solid-if-slow relationship with local police detective Pine Jawarski. But Abby's smooth sailing soon turns into a rocky road when a friend asks her to audition for a musical with some considerably talented locals. Out of curiosity, Abby pops her head into the chaotic audition-and finds a dead star center stage. Now she needs to find the true culprit and clear her friend's name before her newfound happiness is totally fudged.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Chick Lit, Adult, Cooking

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 2, 2009

About the author

Sammi Carter is the multi-published, award-winning author of the popular Candy Shop mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Abby Shaw. Sammi Carter is the pseudonym of Sherry Lewis.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable entry in the series. I liked the setting in the playhouse this time. While Abby has been more likeable over the last couple of books she was kind of annoying this time. I did like how the book ended. #readforkimberly

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute! I've enjoyed reading about Abby and her candy shop Divinity. The mystery was a little slow to start, but this is a fun series.

[Kayliana Rydman]

to tires to write reviews tn

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this 5th book in the candy shop mystery series! I'm assuming it is the last one, as it was published years ago and no new ones since. If so, it definitely wrapped things up in a really good way. I enjoyed all the different characters at play in the murder mystery, and while I sort of suspected the right person at one point, I definitely wasn't certain until the end. This is one of my favorite cozy series, I love the sleuth, I love the relationship she has with her family and boyfriend, and I love hearing about all the yummy candies she makes at her shop! :)

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the last book in this series and I wish there had been a more decisive ending to the relationshop of Abby and Pine. The story line was good and the characters are great. With Pine missing and the wishy washy Abby wondering what to do about their relationship I was getting bored with that wishy washiness of Abby and just wanted in this last book for her to say you are the one I want. I will miss this series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a star comes to town for a play at the local playhouse, everyone is in awe! When he turns up dead it is amazing how many people hated him and wished him dead. The Abby's friend is suspected of the murder she sets out to find out who killed the star as she knows there is no way her friend could have done it.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, and I can't wait to try the candy recipes from the book.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Didn’t like the writing style .. too dramatic 4 me.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

[Ashley Barthel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice ending wrap up to the series that was getting predictable.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think there were too many characters for it to be likable. I thought it would be more about the candy aspect

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book and thought the murder
mystery within it to be good... kept me guessing a lot.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 of the Candy Shop Series.

I accidentally read this book first, thinking it was the first in the series. I am now reading the rest from the beginning, and although the others are good, I feel this one was the most involved.

Abby's candy shop is swamped with Valentines Day orders, but she doesn't care for the whole "Romantic Theme" of the day due to her hurt over the betrayal of her ex husband. She is having a hard time trusting any man, even though she is in a "relationship" with a police officer named Pine Jawarski.

This on deals with some heavy-hitters coming to town to help out with a musical at the local theater. Even though Abby turns down the offer to be in the play because of all her work at the shop, she still can't help sticking her nose into the theater.

While watching the first rehearsal, Abby witnesses some tension between the cast and the musical director, Laurence. She is surprised to find out that the charismatic man who everyone thinks is saint, and is much beloved by the public, is really an overbearing, mean, and self-centered man, who gets into arguments with just about everyone.

When Abby and Vonetta, who is the plays' theaters production manager, find Laurence dead on the stage, and her friend Richie becomes the prime suspect, she just has to get involved.

In this book, Abby and Jawarski's relationship takes a major turn...but I won't ruin it by saying which way....

[Angela Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though Abby Shaw turned down the invitation to be part of her Vonetta's production, she goes to the Playhouse out of curiosity, only to find a star dead in the middle of the stage. One of her best friends is "a person of interest" but she knows he couldn't have done it so she tries to clear his name.

What I liked:
The dog named Max.
The candy recipes at the back of the book.

What I didn't like:
We only saw Vonetta and Serena a couple of times. If someone was murdered in her Playhouse, wouldn't we see more of her and her daughter?

There is almost no backstory to Abby Shaw. What are her quirks? What is her family like?


SPOILER ALERT!
How exactly was Lawrence killed? They just say that the spotlight was a diversion and that he was poisoned. But the killer never said what he did.
END SPOILER ALERT

The ending was surprising, but it wasn't a bang of fireworks. It was more like the crackling of sparklers.

The Divinity candy shopped wasn't featured much. Maybe once or twice.

While I didn't hate the book, I didn't love it either.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book alot and as usual all my favorite characters. I also liked that this particular book was set during Valentines Day, it let have a look at what Divinity is like during a "holiday". I also liked that Abby took a little break from Jawarski this time around, it showed how she is still very strong she is and that she doesn't always need him to come swooping in and saving the day. It also confirmed some of the relationship "issues" she has with him as well and I think that was a great way to tie them together. My only semi-complaints might be, that the victim was killed a little too soon in the story... it kinda made "downtime" in the story drag on a little. I was left a little stunned to find out that Alexander Pastorelli mysteriously disappears and no one ever says why...? Overall though it was a great book with a very suspenseful ending, and once again Sammi Carter has captivated me :)

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is nice to see Abby continue to get more involved with family/community. When one of her friends becomes a suspect in the murder, she goes out of her way to prove his innocence. I love her dog, Max, but am shocked that he goes everywhere with her and nobody seems to mind. I must have missed it in previous books, but my mind is still goggling over the fact that Jawarski's first name is Pine.

There are three recipes included: Divine Cherry Divinity, Strawberry Lollipops and Marshmallow Caramel Pillows (which sounds amazing).

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice conclusion to the series. It took me a while to figure out who the killer was, but I started getting an idea before Abby did! The reasoning was heartbreaking. I was so glad that they were able to clear Ritchie! Abby being jealous about Pine was nice; it forced her to look at her feelings, but not as well as him getting shot. SO glad he survived! The fact that she finally realized and told him that she does not want to be without him was wonderful! This series was a little inconsistent, but it ended on a high note!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th and as far as I can tell last in the Candy Shop series. I wish the author would write more, I like these cozies.

Jaworski is going to be away for Valentine's Day and asks Abby to bring his mail in for him. He will be visiting his kids in Montana.

Abby is very busy in the candy shop but decides to take part in a play at the Playhouse as well. When one of the guy's is murdered and her friend Ritchie is the prime suspect, she decides to step in and help Ritchie out.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Shaw is busy trying to get her candy shop ready for Valentine's Day. But she can't quite resist the lure of the local theater company, especially when a murder takes place on center stage and a friend becomes a suspect. I enjoyed the characters, but the plot really dragged in the middle.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Cindi Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. Abby was a little grouchy because of Valentine's day. Pine was out of town which didn't help. The mystery was easy to solve because 2 plus 2 does equals 4 so no red herrings to through you off. You just don't know why they done it till the end. And maybe now Abby and Pine will have a better relationship since she found out she doesn't know what she'd do without him.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now that I know that this series is over, I will kind of miss it, even though it wasn't my favorite by far. It ended finitely enough, I'm not sure if the author knew at this point it wouldn't be picked up, but I still found myself wanting more closure with the romantic relationship between Abby and Jawarski.

[Mella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery series. This time it's candy! And who doesn't love candy. Abby is a funny, likeable character with just a bit of ditz. This mystery was straightforwards and typical of a cozy - it was very fun. This is the last book in the series and seems to wrap up all the main points, maybe Sammi Carter will revisit in the future. 4 stars.

[Dhfan4life]

Read as smoothly and solidly as the other books in the series. I just hated that it's down to this book where the MC finally can admit her feelings(somewhat) towards her love interest and then the series is just over. If there were more books I for sure feel things could have been fleshed out MUCH better.

[Nancy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book beause I love the premise and the series. The candy shop milieu and the candy recipes are just as good as the mystery in this series!

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books anything to do with candy or chocolate

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did this book have to have the F bomb in it? It's like putting a piece of dog poop on a yummy cake!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of characters introduced in this story but still a good fluff read :-) Great for summer by the pool which is where I read most of it!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall the series is an entertaining read. The inability to commit gets tedious in the book but the stories were good.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun books.

[Kel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little slow in the middle but had an exciting ending. I am glad that Abby finally works thru her feelings for Mike.