"Fudge Bites" by Nancy Coco is the 7th book in the "Candy-Coated Mystery" series. I think I have only read about 3 of the previous books but I remember I really liked the series, this installment does not disappoint. I am glad I chose it and highly recommend to cozy fans.

Halloween on Mackinac Island is a season of fun tricks, but finding a corpse is no treat for fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy . . .

NIGHT OF THE REALLY DEAD

It’s late October, off-season for tourists, but locals are up and lurching for the annual zombie walk charity event. Though everyone’s living it up, trouble is just a few pawprints away. Allie follows the bloody tracks of her calico cat, Carmella, to a body in the alley behind the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop. Unlike the island’s other walking dead, this one’s flatlined for good. It seems that someone is using the zombie fest as the perfect backdrop for murder. Now amateur sleuth Allie and dreamboat officer Rex Manning must use every trick in their treat bag to unmask a killer in disguise.

I requested and received an Advanced readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fudge Bites is an entertaining murder mystery. Loved the plot with its excellent writing, cast of characters and setting. I look forward to reading more books in this series. Mystery fans will love this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

FUDGE BITES is the seventh book in Nancy Coco’s “Candy- Coated” cozy mystery series. Allie McMurphy is the owner of the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, but she also frequently gets involved in murder investigations. Often, her pets lead her into a mystery to solve. In this installment, it’s a little reminiscent of the classic Disney film THAT DARN CAT! Allie’s cat Carmella discovers a body and does a disappearing act through much of FUDGE BITES. Allie and her friends spend much of this book looking for clues, trying to figure out if the murder involved a case of mistaken identity, and looking for her missing cat. In addition to the various mysteries in FUDGE BITES, Allie struggles with feelings of loneliness and uncertainty about what to do over the winter – both personally and professionally.

This mystery is fascinating because, from the very beginning, it focuses on disguises and deceptions. The story opens with most of the main characters, including the victim, disguised as zombies for a Zombie Walk for charity. From then on, it’s not totally clear whether the murdered man was really the intended victim, or if it was really another man similarly dressed. There are a handful of red herrings for readers, and the fictional amateur sleuths to separate from genuine clues. I like the assortment of puzzles for readers to work out in FUDGE BITES, as well as the personal drama for the main character. Although this is a classic cozy mystery, things do get explosive when the murderer seems unpredictable in the choice of target and method of violence. Although Allie feels lonely at times, it’s great seeing her friends and romantic suitors trying to lift her spirits and support her as she works this case and goes through the motions of running her business.

FUDGE BITES is full of disguises, danger, and one determined amateur sleuth. At the end of this book, Nany Coco gives a hint about which way things are leaning for Allie’s love life. As expected, FUDGE BITES is packed with super yummy fall favorites-flavored fudge recipes. I look forward to reading the next “Candy-Coated” mystery.

This is such a good cozy mystery book that has twists and turns that keeps you reading.

It is a fantastic book to read for Halloween or really anytime this Fall.

I give this 4 out of 5

Fudge Bites by Nancy Coco is the 7th book in the Candy Coated Mystery series, and another great adventure. Allie McMurphy runs the fudge shop and the historic McMurphy Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Allie and her dog Mal, short for Marshmallow, have a reputation of discovering dead bodies, but this time Carmella, Allie's cat finds the body. Allie is busy making fudge, starting her remodeling and searching for the killer. The mystery was full of twists and turns, and is fast paced and has well developed characters and plot. This book has mystery, romance, and humor, which I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more books by this author, and can't wait for the next one in the series. I strongly recommend this book and this whole series, for who love cozy mystery books with darling animals.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Fudge Bites is the seventh book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series.

Many of the residents of Mackinac Island are getting for the Zombie Walk which will raise money for charity. Allie is walking down the alley heading for where the walk will begin when she notices her cat Mella who appears to have blood on her paws. Allie soon hears a scream and heads back to near where she found Mella and finds her friend Sophie in a frantic state. Sophie relates that she has discovered a dead body. Rex Manning, police chief, starts his investigation. Allie, in turn, heads for the vet to have Mella checked out and to have samples taken from her blood-stained paws. By the time she returns, the walk is almost over. As she's checking out the remaining zombies she notices that there was another zombie dressed very much like the body that was just found. The first she thinks is, was the wrong person killed? Soon there is an explosion at the Senior Center that completely levels the building. One of the people saw something suspicious and was able to get everyone to safety without any serious injuries. Then at the McMurphy Allie is having some remodeling which needs reinforcing of the roof, when there is an explosion in the work area. No serious damage. Allie begins to wonder if this all related and if so, how? With the help of her island friends sets off to find a connection of these events and hopefully, the murderer will be discovered.

I enjoy this series as there is always an exciting and interesting story being told. The story is well written and plenty of twist and turns that kept me guessing as to who the murderer was.

Delicious sounding recipes also included in the book.

I can’t wait for the next book in this tasty series.

Fudge Bites is book seven in the Candy Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I have read most of the books in this series and must say, I love them.
It's Halloween and off season and Allie is ready to participate in the charity Zombie Walk when she spots her cat, Mella, in an alley with what she thinks is fake blood from decorations for the walk but it's real blood from a body.
Allie again gets involved in the case. Was the victim the intended or was it mistaken identity. Then when she calls on the senior residents for help in the investigation, the senior center is blown up. Allie is up to her neck on investigating, renovations to the hotel, and then Mella disappears.
There are many twists and turns in this well written mystery along with a hint of a love triangle. You even get humor, friendship, and plenty of recipes.
I was given an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an honest review.

At first Allie thought the red on her cat's paws was fake blood. After all, it was almost time to kick off the zombie walk, an annual charity event. Unfortunately it was real blood and now Allie finds herself involved in trying to solve a murder (with the help of some friends and seniors) at the request of the victim's mother.

This story has a great setting, interesting characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. A well rounded cozy mystery. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Loved this book. I think it would be interesting to live on an island. These folks for the most part certainly enjoyed it. Love stories with “seniors” and these did not disappoint. I think Allie is a special person. She has a huge heart and loves to help others. To undertake the running of her family’s hotel says a lot about her. I would like to watch her make fudge and of course sample some too. Recipes are included. This has an interesting story line, which I enjoyed. I can’t wait to see what happens next on Mackinac Island and how the McMurphy will shine even better than before. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

This is a delightful Halloween theme read perfect for the start of the fall cozy mystery season !
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

"Fudge Bites" is the seventh installment of the A Candy-coated Mystery series set on Mackinac Island and featuring fudge maker and hotelier, Allie McMurphy. The descriptions of the island are done by the author to perfection and I feel transported to Mackinac Island when reading this series. Allie is having the renovations done to the second floor and is beginning construction on the roof top deck at her historic hotel. The tourist have gone away so she can devote her time to construction to fix up her hotel. She is getting ready for a charity walk with her friends where everyone will attend in costumes. .Its a fun Halloween season event that the island looks forward to . I love the return of my favorite charcters, a chocolate sculptor, Allie's ex boyfriend who can be a voice of reason for her and her wonderful friends. .The fudge recipes are divine and you may find yourself trying out the many recipes from this series in your own kitchen. She has a wonderful dog Mal who is a nice addition to the series. There is also a love triangle occurring in the series which may soon find its way to conclusion but it is a nice addition .

Allie is taking a short cut through a alley on her way to the charity walk when she is startled to see bloody paw prints leading down the alley. The dead man is the son of neighbor, Allie feels she must investigate and find out what happened for her neighbor as well as the safety of her island community. Allie is on the case and as a previous investigator in island crimes she soon is on the right track.

This is such a enjoyable read. I loved the Halloween theme, the recipes, the well crafted sleuth and the delightful charcters that I enjoy returning to. I look forward to the next in series.

The main character in this series makes fudge for a living and also runs her family’s small hotel. The setting is an island in Michigan where no cars are allowed, making for a nice idyllic setting reminiscent of days gone by. You don’t need to have read others in the series to understand this book, but you DO need to like descriptions of cute dogs and cats, as well as mouthwatering descriptions of how to make fudge. I hope this series continues on for a long time!

What a nail-biter! The weather may be cooling now that it's the off-season on Mackinac Island, but the action is as exciting as ever! Allie McMurphy is dealing with renovations to her family's hotel, the unnatural death of a well-loved local, her doubt about staying on-island through the winter, her increased loneliness, and she still manages to make fudge for her fudge shop's increased online orders.

This book had plenty of mystery, suspects, and motives to make it hard for me to put it down. Trent makes a few appearances and has an interesting proposition for Allie, and Rex is featured heavily in this story in both his professional and personal roles in Allie's life. I like the characters - though Jenn isn't around anymore - and enjoy reading about the town's activities along with the intriguing mysteries in each book. This book is also peppered with tasty recipes, including Decadent Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Chip, Flourless Brownies, which I fully intend to try as soon as I can!

I love this series with its lovely, old-fashioned island setting, likeable characters, and well-written mysteries, but Fudge Bites can easily be read as a stand-alone for anyone not familiar with the series.

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my own honest thoughts and opinions.

Here we are with the 7th entry in one of my favorite series. Set on Mackinac Island and centered around Allie and her family's hotel, the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, it's now the Halloween holiday and the end of the tourist season. Allie is a master fudge maker as well as a hotelier and that is usually all that she has to deal with. Until, of course, murder lands on her full plate. Today is the big event, a Zombie walk and everybody is having lots of fun with creepy costumes. Allie has joined into the fun, dressed up and ready to go until her cat turns up with what looks like zombie blood on her paws? Nope, that's the real deal and when the kitty tracks are followed they lead to a very dead body in the alley that runs behind the hotel and various businesses. The victim is the son of one of the business owners.
Allie has a lot going on with emotions, too. Her best friend has left the island for a job in Chicago and then there is the ex-boyfriend who wants to rekindle their relationship. That makes for a very full, almost too full plate to juggle. Allie can handle it, getting help from various friends and hotel employees and, last but oh, my, not least, Officer Rex Manning. He lights her fire for sure.
I have enjoyed every book in this series - the setting, the characters, the very cute dog, Mal and the well crafted mysteries. Each is multilayered, full of enough twists and turns to keep me guessing - usually guessing wrong to the very end. I'm already looking forward to the next book. I have no doubt that it will be another winner.

Fudge Bites is a fun and fast paced cosy mystery with various twists and turns. I also liked several of the characters, Rex included. A nice bonus was the recipes.

Fudge Bites is the seventh installment of the A Candy-coated Mystery series set on Mackinac Island and featuring fudge maker and hotelier, Allie McMurphy. It's late October and the tourist season is over so Allie is having the renovations done to the second floor and is beginning construction on the roof top deck at her historic hotel.

Allie and her friends are dressed up and ready to attend the annual Zombie charity walk, but a shortcut through the alley behind the McMurphy finds Allie following the bloody pawprints of her cat Mella straight to the lifeless body of a zombie. The dead man turns out to be the son of neighbor, Maggs, and before she knows it Allie finds herself committed to finding a murderer and the target of a serial bomber.

A fast paced plot featuring many series regulars including newlywed hotel employees Frances and Douglas Devaney, chocolate sculptor Sandy Everheart, Officer Rex Manning and Allie's ex boyfriend Trent Jessop. Allie's delightfully fluffy pup Mal and a variety of tasty fudge recipes will put you right in the mood for Fall and Halloween. And, much to my delight it seems as though the author just might have finally put an end to the dreaded love triangle.

I received an advanced copy of Fudge Bites from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

This was a fun look at one of my new favorite places in the fall. I'd love to see Mackinac at Halloween. During the Zombie Walk for charity, Allie found herself in the middle of another murder again. This time her cat Mella had found the body. After the man's mother, a friend of Frances's, begged Allie to help, how could she say no. Allie didn't have her usual sidekick with her, because Jenn was at a new job in Chicago, but she and Liz from the newspaper did a little sleuthing together. I've always liked Liz and was glad to see her in more of friend role than just a snoopy reporter.

In the meantime, Allie's ex-boyfriend Trent was in town trying to entice her to go to Chicago for the winter. He's nice, but I'm just not a fan of his. Allie made her decision at the end, and I was proud of her. Little Mella was a big help in fighting off a killer in the show down. I wasn't quite sure who the killer was but the real one was on my radar at least. I love the tie-in with something in the past, this time concerning one of the churches, having something to do with the main case. I'm never ready to leave magical Mackinac and can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Terrific book with interesting, funny and intelligent characters. The way of life on mackinaw is well drawn Well worth your time

This was a fun book to read. Allie and her pets are at it again. This time, Mella her cat finds the body. He is the son of one of her friends. The poor woman is heartbroken and asks Allie to find his killer. This story had lots of clues and would send me off thinking the murderer was one person and then more clues dropped and I would think it was someone else. It kept me going. I like the characters. They are fun and the location sounds beautiful. This is an easy-to-read cozy. There is fudge making and recipes, lots of snooping and sleuthing and a little bit of romance all rolled up into one neat story.

This is a fun cozy mystery that is a part of a series taking place on Mackinac Island. As I started reading this one I realized I had read another in the series but I didn’t remember many details and yet still enjoyed this book which shows that the book stands by itself. Allie McMurphy is running a quaint hotel with a fudge shop in a windowed area where she keeps up her grandfather’s traditions of making yummy fudge. The book is complete with recipes that I am definitely looking forward to trying and I always enjoy the presence of recipes at the end of chapters although often a particular recipe seemed to bear little relationship to the chapter where it was placed. As is often the case with cozy mysteries, there is an adorable dog and an adorable cat involved, but also lots of interesting characters and many shifts in to whom the writer seems to be pointing to as the possible murderer. I am rather good at solving mysteries and I hadn’t figured out all the things that were uncovered as the mystery was solved. I will say though that I am rather proud that I was suspicious of one of the characters who did turn out to be a “villain”.

This Candy-Coated Caper doesn’t disappoint. Full of action, romance and twists that’ll make you dizzy, it was impossible to put down. A great Halloween read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.