3.5 Stars
The Peppermint Mocha Murder is the fourth book in Colette London's Chocolate Whisperer mystery series. The mystery was interesting but seemed to be somewhat overshadowed by Hayden’s obsession, jealousy, and insecurities over Travis and digging into his past. Some details and descriptions seemed to drag on too long, especially the cookie baking with Josh. This is a clean read, with colorful characters and a touch of humor. There’s no shortage of suspects and multiple people who might have been the intended victim.

Hayden Mundy Moore is a chocolate whisperer and travels the world practicing her art. Travis Turner is her friend, advisor, number cruncher, and arranges consulting work and vets clients for her. He also monitors the trust fund her beloved, eccentric Uncle Ross left her. The inheritance has a few strings attached – Hayden’s required to travel at least six months out of the year. Danny Jamieson is an in-demand LA-based security expert, her oldest friend, closest confidant, and bodyguard buddy. Haley and Danny have a romantic history.

Travis invited Hayden to spend Christmas in Sproutes, Massachusetts and attend the premiere of a holiday-themed musical entitled Christmas in Crazytown that’s based on a sensational lightly fictionalized memoir one of his childhood friends, Albany Sullivan, wrote about her life growing up in Sproutes. Zach Johnson, the host of the B&B she’s staying at, agreed to give her free range in the kitchen, so finding herself unable to sleep, Hayden got up early and headed down to the kitchen to make some chocolate treats. She hadn’t made it to the kitchen when she stumbled upon the body woman sprawled on the dining room floor, with a punch bowl nearby and wassail spilled on her. She originally thought Albany Sullivan was the person on the floor, but learned the deceased was Melissa Balthasar, who, along with her husband, Roger, was one of the musical’s producers, and that multiple women were Albany look-alikes. The authorities declared it to be an accidental death, and even though there were no signs of injury or struggle, Hayden, Travis, and Danny, who was there as Tansy Park’s bodyguard, doubted they were right. Hayden can’t resist an investigation and although Danny felt it was quite possible the killer had targeted Melissa, she couldn’t help but wonder if Albany or one of the other look-alikes had been the intended victim. Travis is convinced it was a missed attack on Albany. Besides Melissa Balthasar, the look-alikes included Tansy Park, a world-famous sitcom star and sex symbol who is staring at Christmas in Crazytown and Albany’s sister, Ophelia Sullivan, is Tansy’s understudy and a social media influencer. The trio begins their amateur sleuthing into with too many suspects and look-alikes, hoping to keep it on the down low.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I really enjoyed this addition to the series. The Peppermint Mocha Murder is full of weird, colorful personalities and has all the makings for murder.
This book will appeal to fans of culinary cozy mysteries and especially fans of Colette London.

It’s beginning to look like a merry Christmas for Hayden Mundy Moore. On vacation from providing her sought-after expertise in all things chocolate, Hayden heads to snowy New England with her friend and financial advisor, Travis, for the opening of his pal’s highly-touted holiday musical. But when the show’s producer is murdered, Hayden trades sampling Chocolate Santas for finding the killer—especially since this time, Travis is the one asking for her help . . .

Soon Hayden discovers there’s more to Travis’s chic hometown than mulled wine and cocoa cookies. But that’s just the beginning. Almost no one, including Travis, is quite what they seem. Did the show’s lead have more savage motives than stardom? Could the dead producer’s husband have felt a murderous envy for his successful wife? Getting behind the mistletoe and jingle bells will take all of Hayden’s savvy—along with some super caffeinated Peppermint Mochas—if she hopes to catch a killer with a heart more bitter than the darkest truffle

I liked the storyline and getting to know the characters. I had not read the first 4 books of the series but I don't feel like I was missing anything, This authors writing had me yelling at her. So Hayden calls Travis her financial consultant and her keeper, constantly, all in one paragraph, So one sentence would have it so Travis said something to her and the next sentence it would have it say her financial consultant said it to her or her keeper. Why we had to keep getting it drilled in our head throughout the whole book that he was her friend, financial consultant and her keeper was beyond me. Also Danny was her friend but also bodyguard and so the author also did the same thing in the same paragraphs. It only had to be told to us once at the beginning. I don't think i will read anymore of this series.

The peppermint Mocha Murder by Colette London

I really wanted to give this one 5 stars but sadly I could not. Who does not like the title? Hayden Mundy Moore is on vacation from her world of chocolate. She goes to New England with her friend Travis for a friends holiday musical. Just then the shows producer is murdered and Hayden must find out who the killer is. Along the way she finds out that those around her, including Travis, may not be who they say they are. Unfortunately, I could not really get into this book. There were good and bad parts. I felt like there was way to much talk about chocolate. And I love chocolate. Th writer does a good job with weaving the storyline and keeping you guessing as to ho the real kille is and what it is about the people in NH that has her wondering what is going on. Overall, I will say that this is a 4 out of 5 stars.


Thank you to the author as well a netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this ARC via Netgalley in return for an honest review. Interesting story about a world-renowned, if you're in the know, chocolatier. As she joins her financial advisor, Travis, in his home town for a special holiday performance of a new theatrical performance, she's disturbed to learn that Travis appears caught up with old flames(?) and it's not quite the holiday 'Friendsmas" that Hayden expected. Add in her best friend turns up in a bodyguard gig, then a woman is killed at the B&B where they're staying and it's a holiday like no other. The characters are well-written and the setting is really well done. The relationship between Hayden and her two non-significant, significant others is interesting and unusual for a cosy mystery. Fun to curl up with for the holidays and wonderful recipes are added at the back. Enjoy!

I may have enjoyed this book if I had read the previous books.
However, I found the characters not very interesting and the whodunit just didn’t keep my interest.

Chocolate and Christmas in Jul;y/August. I needed a good story to take me away from the heat and humidity and brought back memories of many trips to New England to visit family. Fun characters and a well done mystery. I've enjoyed this one and the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it started out a little slow and I was worried I wouldn't be able to follow along since I hadn't read the previous books in the series but I shouldn't have been worried. Fun characters, I might go back and check out the other stories.

Hayley Mundy Moore had the best job in the world. She is a "chocolate whisperer" who travels the globe inventing new chocolate treats for her clients and improving existing ones. But she spends all her time traveling and has no real home so when her friend and financial advisor, Travis, invites her to spend Christmas in his hometown of Sproutes, Mass. to see the premiere of the new play based upon his childhood friend Albany Sullivan's recent best selling memoir, Hayley is all in. She gets to the bed and breakfast she and Travis are staying in and, once again, becomes involved in a murder investigation when Melissa Balthazar, one of the producers of Albany's play is found dead. The police seem to consider it an accident but Hayley is not sure that it was. She realizes that Melissa looks just like Albany and also Tansy, the lead actress in the play, and wonders who the real victim was supposed to be. Hayley's good friend Danny is also along, as Tansy's bodyguard so Hayley and her posse are on the case. Between sleuthing, making chocolate treats and trying to figure out what Travis is hiding about his past, Hayley has her hands full.This is an appealing book with delightful characters, a wonderful Christmas in New England setting and, of course, wonderful chocolates. I enjoyed it and highly recommend it.