Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves is the second book in Death by Chocolate Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.

Even though I haven't read the first book I had no problem getting into the story. Having said that numerous characters at the beginning of the book were slightly difficult to follow. However that might be due to the fact that I have skipped book one.
Jake and her best friend Ellie have opened a bake shop named Chocolate Moose. The most popular drink is a chocolate malted milkshake which was found next to the dead man laced with insecticide.
Not only that but the shop is not doing so well and in order to stay opened it needs an influx of money, yet the wedding that was supposed to happen is in danger of being canceled as the bride and the groom are main suspect in the murder. To save not only their beloved shop but their friends as well jake and Ellie must figure out the truth.

Nicely written and steady paced, at times really slow going it almost put me off the book.
Clever story with well developed characters and beautiful setting.
I really enjoyed easy banter between two best friends. Delicious drinks and recipes are an added bonus.

Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree returns in Sarah Graves’ latest mystery, Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake. I found the book to be a decent way to spend a few hours but not a great book. The book seemed to be a bit disjointed and overly long, peppered with characters but often just as red herrings or plot devices. I enjoyed the continuing relationship between Jake and her best friend, Ellie, which was always the best part of previous Sarah Graves’ Jake Tiptree mysteries. The book has a depressing sadness to it; the economy in Eastport is poor and there is a very real possibility that Jake and Ellie will lose the chocolate based shop they own. This leads them to try and solve a murder, sometimes taking ridiculously dangerous risks along the way. This is something that always bothers me when I read a mystery. Jake does even more of this on her own, always rationalizing her decisions in some way. 

It was fun to revisit Eastport, Jake, Ellie and their families. I have read most of the previous books. Though this is only the second in a new series, the characters are found in a previous series. I commend Sarah Graves for continuing to allow beloved characters to exist while shaking up the focal points of the books in an effort to refresh them. I do look forward to following the series in the future to see where it goes.

I give this book three stars and recommend it for those who enjoy cozy mysteries, especially those food based and/or set in a small town. 

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated and the opinions stated are solely my own.

Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves is the 2nd book in the Death by Chocolate Mystery series, and another fun addition. Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree her best friend, Ellie White, from the Home Repair is Homicide series, have opened up a waterfront bakery called The Chocolate Moose. The Chocolate Moose is struggling to stay in business, and they need the money for the whoopie pie wedding cake they are making. Unfortunately when a man is murdered, and the prime subject is the groom, the women are determined to fine the real killer. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is an enjoyable cozy, set in Maine and featuring Jake and Ellie, co-owners of The Chocolate Moose, a bakeshop that will likely go belly up unless the owners get an infusion of cash, such as from making the wedding cake for a couple who stand accused of a murder. With this incentive, Jake and Ellie try to solve the crime.

Though the plot lagged a bit at times, this was an interesting cozy with characters I liked. I hope the author continues this series.

I had missed the last few books Graves had written and was surprised when I started Death by CMM that it wasn't really a new series but a continuation of her Jacobia Tiptree series. I found it interesting that she didn't come up with a new setting and characters, but instead decided her character's focus would no longer be on home improvement, but running a sweet shop. The progression seemed realistic for the setting/characters.

I found the story a little slow and less interesting than I remembered her previous books, though I did think how the shop was used in the mystery was a nice touch. Perhaps it was the overall darkness to the story that just pulled me down. Graves' series has always been very open to the pitfalls of life on the coast, economically, environmentally, etc. But, it seemed to make this book a bit more depressing to me.

I was nice to get back in touch with the characters and see what progression has been made in the last several books (not that much really, I was quickly up to speed). Reading DCMM though did not make me long to get caught up with the books I'd missed for excited to read the next in the series.

I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Winters are tough in seaside tourist towns so Jake and Ellie are really counting on the wedding of Sharon and Andy to boost their bank account. A giant whoopie pie for a wedding cake- count me in! It's really just devil's food with white icing but somehow, well, it's yummy. Then, regrettably, Sharon's ex, Toby, who is not a nice person, is found dead, having sipped the title sweet, a milkshake. Who did it? Hah- both Sharon and Andy confess. You know, just like Jake and Ellie do, that's not possible. The charm of this series (well, the second book in what looks to be a series but feel free to read this as a standalone) is in the characters, especially Jake and Ellie, who are mature women. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun quick read.

A well crafted cozy mystery. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the setting. I anticipate reading more books by this author. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review review.

This is the second book in the series and I think it was better than the first book. I love the descriptions of Maine and the Ice Cream Shop. Jake and Ellie have great back and forth conversations that remind me of friends I know. I thought the idea of a Whoopie Pie wedding cake was very unique and Inliked that the murder weapon was a tainted milkshake. My only issue with this book was that it moved very slow and I almost put it down, but I am so glad that I didn't. I would recommend this book

This is a great mystery, the real kicker was the “milkshake cup” being used to make it look like that is what did it.
Ellie and Jake, May run the bakery but they also help solve crimes, unofficially of course.
This book has cause and several possible suspects it also has a good story line.

Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves
Book #2: Death by Chocolate Mystery Series
Source: NetGalley
My Rating 3/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I simply adore the setting of this series, but I can’t say I am blown away by any other element of this book. While Jake and Ellie are fine characters and I don’t dislike them by any stretch of the imagination, I just haven’t felt, after two books, that I really want and/or need to know more about them. I thought this second book would sort of straighten out and really pull me in as far as the characters go, but I didn’t find that to be the case at all. As I mentioned in my first review, these women are already fully developed characters with an entire history stemming from a previous series. With that in mind, I can’t see a great deal of room for growth which is something I demand out of my characters. I very much liked the descriptions of the Chocolate Moose and the sweet treats Jake and Ellie create, but I found myself mentally wandering off as I was reading about something other than the Moose and its delectable offerings. Since this is meant to be a cozy mystery and I kept wandering during the mystery bits, I can’t see this being a good omen for me continuing with this series. The ultimate assessment is this: yes, I liked this book, I even thoroughly enjoyed some bits, but there are so many series in this genre that one must really set itself apart to keep my attention and keep me coming back for more. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Death by Chocolate series sets itself far enough apart to keep me coming back for another round. Wile I am going to miss the Chocolate Moose, I am quite sure I can find another series with an equally awesome setting that has a bit more bite and ability to draw me in and keep me ensnared.

Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake is the second in the Death by Chocolate Mystery series, though it certainly reads fine as a stand-alone novel. It the story of Jake and Ellie, owners of The Chocolate Moose chocolate-themed bakeshop, and amateur sleuths, who set out to find the killer of the town's resident bad-boy Toby, after he is apparently poisoned by one of The Chocolate Moose's famous milkshakes. Not only was their merchandise involved with the crime, but two of the suspects are Jake and Ellie's clients, kindergarten teacher Sharon Sweetwater, and coast guard Andy Devine, for whom they are to bake a cake for the pair's upcoming wedding, and are counting on the income of that sale to keep The Chocolate Moose open. The plot of the mystery seemed to be well thought-out, and flowed along well, and you felt like you really got a good picture of both who Jake and Ellie are, both inside and outside of the bakery. It was a cute, fun, and quick read, and includes a recipe for Ginger Chocolate Biscotti at the end- yum!!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I always enjoy a new cozy series, and mostly it doesn't matter where you start in one. This proved to be the case here, because I easily fell into Eastport and joined Jake and Ellie while the sleuthed their way to solving a murder! I loved all the chocolate mentions, as I'm a complete choc-o-holic myself, and now I really want a milkshake :/

At times I felt like the plot was rushed, and things weren't fully explained but that was my only problem with this book. Overall I enjoyed it, so this meant I only knocked it down a single star. The character driven novel really held my interest, and I really wanted to know who killed Toby Moran and why. hank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

A fun cozy that keeps up with the action. Four stars!

A delightful cozy mystery. Several interesting characters. The various issues were neatly explained and wrapped up by the end. Enjoyed the food hints about using real products, not substitutes. I may never eat cake frosting again though.

Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake is the second book in Sarah Graves’ Death by Chocolate Mystery series. The mystery is well plotted, and the characters are well developed in this entertaining and easy read. This book can easily be read as a standalone.

Jacobia ‘Jake’ Tiptree and her friend, Ellie White, recently opened a bakery, The Chocolate Moose, in Eastport, Maine and are in the process of trying to create a whoopee-pie wedding cake for the upcoming nuptials of kindergarten teacher, Sharon Sweetwater, and Coast Guard Captain Andy Devine. The Chocolate Moose suffered financial problems during the winter, and Jake and Ellie are depending on the wedding to keep them open. The body of Toby Moran, a man who isn’t well liked in the small town, is found early one morning, and the cause of death appears to be one of The Chocolate Moose’s fastest-selling items, Moose Milks, laced with insecticide. Sharon briefly dated Toby until she realized what a louse he was, and doesn’t have an alibi. Andy was seen arguing with the victim at the Rubber Ducky Bar & Grill and following him out of the establishment the evening before his body was found behind it. Jake and Ellie feel compelled to try to solve the mystery and clear Sharon and Andy’s names so the wedding will proceed and help The Chocolate Moose’s cash flow problems.

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

This moved a bit slowly but the plot was rather interesting and characters were fine just nothing special
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc for an honest review

I love the Jacobia Tiptree series. All the snooping & trouble they get into, also all the relationships between them and the people around town. I'm so glad this series is continuing. #DeathByChocolateMaltedMilkshake #NetGalley

The Chocolate Moose bakery is having cash flow issues and may very well have to close their doors, if the wedding they are baking for doesn’t work out. Ever the optimist, Elie sets her mind to finding the right filling recipe for a whoopee pie cake to keep things afloat while Jake is a bit more pessimistic and is planning for the inevitable. But when the Bride and Groom are arrested for murder of the town’s drunken bully, presumably with a shake from The Chocolate Moose, the ladies find themselves looking for a murderer.

Set in Eastport, Maine, small town where businesses depend on the seasonal visitors, we get a full cast of locals who make their living during the tourist season and eek by during the rest of the year. The characters are interesting and diverse, which brings you into the community and life in Eastport. The mystery is solid and you have just as many potential suspects as you do motives.

While I did not read the first book in the series, this entry is a solid standalone and does not have gaps that can only be filled by having read the first book. You’ll be rooting for Ellie and Jake as they struggle to save their business and find the murderer. A fun and enjoyable read

It’s summer in Eastport, Maine and wedding bells are ringing for Sharon and Andy. BFFs Jake and Ellie are planning a smashing reception for the happy couple at The Chocolate Moose, but then Sharon’s ex, Toby is poisoned and the cops think Andy’s to blame. He’s about to be sent up the river when Sharon speaks up and takes the blame. It’s up to Jake and Ellie to find the real culprit and save the da

I've loved this series since the very first book and I've lived and died with Jake as she worked to fix up her old house, dealt with her relationship with her ex-husband, and his death, her wayward father and seen her son grow up and finally thrive. Now she is at a good place in her marriage to Wade, her friendship with Ellie and their new chocolate themed bakery with its delicious milkshakes. But finances at the bakery are bleak during the long, cold Maine winter and the only way to stave off closing the shop is by making the wedding cake for local kindergarten teacher Sharon who is marrying Andy. But when Sharon's ex-boyfriend, the local trouble maker Toby is murdered with poison put into a milkshake from the bakery and Andy is arrested, Jake and Ellie once again get involved in investigating - to not only save Andy and Sharon's wedding, but to keep their bakery dreams alive. This is a wonderful series with great characters, a well developed plot and a picturesque Maine setting. Keep the books in this series coming!