A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril

Series Name: Killer Chocolate Mystery #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: October 11, 2022

Their chocolates are to die for—but things aren’t so sweet when a real killer comes to town, in this debut mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs.

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. But now, there’s a real killer in their midst. Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village. Unfortunately, she’s also shared her suspicions with town gossip Netta. The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane’s house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane’s body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby.

The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane’s will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene. But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects—townsfolk who’d recently been seen arguing with Jane.

When Alex gets hold of Jane’s journal, she begins to understand the truth. But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year—and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

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Dru’s Short Musing:
This was a fun book to read with elements that I love in a debut cozy series.

A murder or two, a slew of suspects, culinary backdrop, clues dipped within the pages, and a protagonist who must become an amateur sleuth to clear their reputation. I liked the pacing of this whodunit with its comfortable tone making it easy to follow along with what the author has intended. I had a great time watching all the pieces of the puzzle fit together as one by one, the suspect pool narrowed until there was only one person left standing, the killer. The author did a great job in setting this up and keeping me intrigued throughout and I especially loved how the chocolates they created were labeled with poisonous names. There were plenty of plot twists to move the story forward which kept me in the game, especially when the author changed directions, all to enhance my reading pleasure. Boasting a likable cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a perfect backdrop, this was a delightfully appealing debut and I look forward to more exploits with Alex and Hannah.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher.