I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Murder A La Mode
by Lena Gregory
Series: Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries #1
Published by Gemma Halliday Publishing on August 8, 2023
Setting: New York
Genres: Cozy Culinary Mystery
Pages: 230
Format: Kindle
Source: Great Escapes Book Tours
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Kobo, Nook
Also in this series: Grounds for Murder, Double Scoop of Murder , Buried on a Sundae
When twenty-five-year-old Danika Delaney, black sheep of the Delaney clan, returns home to Long Island to take over Jimmie's, her eccentric uncle’s old fashioned malt shop on eastern Long Island, she’s not exactly thrilled. But things start to look up when her uncle tells her she can do whatever she’d like with the shop, and it seems she might realize her dream of a small trendy café. That is, until she discovers the body of her ex-boyfriend’s estranged wife in a melted puddle of rocky road in the malt shop basement. With her two sidekicks, her sister and a good childhood friend, in tow, Dani searches for–or stumbles upon—one clue after another. But as she narrows down the suspect list, she realizes if she’s not careful she may end up in a puddle of her own...
Murder a la Mode by Lena Gregory is a page-turner that keeps you guessing.
Will Danika figure out who killed the ex?
Danika Delaney
Danika Delaney is the black sheep of her family because she didn’t stay in their small town on Long Island. She is coming back after a bad breakup, and the fact that she doesn’t really have a job or a place to stay. I felt bad for Danika in that sense, but at least she has a family that owns some businesses that they can leave to others. Dani ends up in the middle of a lot of different rumors, thanks to her ex-boyfriend’s future ex-wife. I loved Danika in here, and I was laughing at some of the things that were being said. Maybe now that Dani is back in town, she will become a bit more aware of her surroundings so that in the future, when she finds more dead bodies, it will be easier to find the clues.
The Mystery
Danika Delaney ends up finding the dead body of an ex-classmate and an almost certain ex to a man that she may still have feelings for. She is pushed to investigate to clear her name and her uncle’s name from this heinous crime. A lot comes up when the victim dies about the past that Dani just didn’t realize happened. I have to say I solved the mystery before Dani did, and I might have done so with some evidence as well. Ms. Gregory still did an awesome job of setting everything up!
Five Stars
I am giving five stars to Murder a la Mode by Lena Gregory and recommending it. This is my first book from Ms. Gregory, but it won’t be the last, as I loved everything about this story and how the author set everything up. I also can’t not read a book that references Nancy Drew, and I Love Lucy! Danika is going to have some fun back in her hometown, especially setting up her uncle’s ice cream shop with her own touches.
Giveaway
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Card
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Thank you for dropping by! What do you think of Murder a la Mode by Lena Gregory?
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Lena Gregory
Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of Central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.
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
- 2023 Six Shooter
Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed the story and thrilled to have a new reader. And thank you for sharing the release of Murder a la Mode!
You are so welcome. I loved the storyline so much. Especially Danika’s family with the guilt tripping as it felt like an extension of my own family.
Oh my! Such a cute setting for a murder.
It was a very cute setting and I can’t wait to dive back in when the next book comes out.