A Christmas Candy Killing
by Christina Romeril
Series: Killer Chocolate Mysteries #1
Series Rating:
Published by Crooked Lane Books on October 11, 2022
Setting: Harriston, Montana
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
Format: Audible Audiobook, Audio CD, ebook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Nook
Also in this series: Nutcracker Nightmare
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.
A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril is set in a quaint Montana village near the southwest side of a lake.
Will Alex clear her name?
Alex and Hanna
Identical twin sisters Alex and Hanna Wright are co-owners of an adorable chocolate shop in their new hometown, Harriston, Montana. I have to admit it was nice to revisit Montana through a book, especially the Flathead County area. Each of the sisters has their own specialty that makes the store unique. Alex is the twin who handles the bookstore part of their shop and especially the cozy mystery book club she formed. On the other hand, Hanna does the chocolate side of the story because she’s the chocolatier of the two. Granted, Alex knows how to make chocolates, too, but not as good as Hanna. I love their shop and how the sisters use poison themes for their chocolates to go with the theme of their bookshop.
I love how these two interact and how the villagers can’t tell the difference when they both wear their hair in the same style. Another thing I like is how they both have their different strengths to solve a case. Sadly, Hanna didn’t have a big part in the mystery solving.
The Mystery
Alex Wright is invited to Jane’s house to watch a true crime episode that reveals to Jane that they have a killer on the loose in their village. Sadly, Alex was too late as Jane was killed earlier, and now the sheriff suspects her. The sheriff also suspects Zach as he doesn’t really have an alibi. I figured out who did it as something was nagging me about the killer and how some stuff just doesn’t add up. I am glad I was right, but wow, that motive was weird. At first, I wasn’t sure, but then it came into focus later on that I was right.
Four Stars
A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril immediately transported me back to when I was living in Flathead County, actually near Echo Lake. I have to admit reading the book made me laugh as one could tell that the author hasn’t spent a lot of time there. Ms. Romeril, though, did capture a lot of things that I loved about actually living in Bigfork and how all the villagers are very welcoming. I am giving four stars to A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril and a recommendation to anyone who wants to try it. I love reading about fictional towns in places that I’ve lived in before.
Ms. Romeril has a how-to guide for making chocolate molds at home, Candy Cane Coniine Ganache, and Poison Pear Ganache. The recipes use a metric system, so make sure to find the correct amount in the imperial system, aka cups, pounds, etc.
Killer Chocolate Mysteries
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Christina Romeril
Christina Romeril is the author of A CHRISTMAS CANDY KILLING, her debut novel and the first in the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. The series is set in Montana at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, one of her favorite places to visit.
The debut author loves to plot murders, especially by poisoning. When she’s not plotting how to kill one of her characters she’s coming up with ways to dispose of the body. Since writing her debut novel her husband’s friends have been regularly checking on his well-being.
Christina also loves to read, eat chocolates, and travel when she’s not in her she shed writing. She grew up in Southern Ontario and spent most of her summers in Muskoka swimming, boating, and generally getting into mischief. She’s lived on both coasts of Canada and has a love of being near the water and close to a forest. Thus, it makes perfect sense that she moved to the prairies of Southern Alberta over twenty years ago.
During the warmer months you’ll find her escaping to nearby Waterton Lakes National Park with her cooler stocked full of chocolate and pastries. Occasionally, she will even set out on one of the many hiking trails and hope she doesn’t run into a hungry bear.
Christina is a member of Sisters in Crime and enjoys interacting on social media. Be sure to like her Facebook page and follow her on Instagram and Twitter for upcoming book releases, special events, and more!
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2023 Beachcombers Mystery RC
- 2023 Cloak and Dagger
- 2023 Craving the Cozies
- 2023 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
- 2023 Goodreads RC
- 2023 Medical Examiner RC
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