This story did not included chocolate facts (which I missed) but recipes. Another exciting fast passed story.

The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole is the 18th novel in Chocoholic Mystery series, a cozy mystery series set a resort town in SW Michigan. It’s always difficult to jump into the middle of a well-established series like this one but the author did a good job of pulling you along and I wasn’t particularly confused about who was who among the main characters. I wasn’t entirely charmed by the plot, however. I thought I t was a bit convoluted and the details not that believable. I did really enjoy the miscellaneous chocolate trivia and recipes interspersed in the book but I felt their placement in the middle of the action took away from the rhythm of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The whole theme in this book was centered around an elusive mama raccoon and her six babies that Lee and Nettie wanted removed from in back of the chocolate shop. It spiraled into a lot more after that including seemingly meaningless burglaries that led to attacks and eventually a murder as well as an attempted murder.

I just love Aunt Nettie's character! She's one lady you really want on your side and can be sweet as a granny or well, vicious as a raccoon. Let's just say if you're having a showdown with a killer, it'd be a really good idea to invite Aunt Nettie along! The showdown was pretty epic, and I never really guessed the killer. I did have a basic idea of what the burglaries were all about though.

Another character I liked in the very first book, and I'm glad he's not changed is Hogan Jones. (Admittedly, I'd only read the first book of the series so far when I was asked to read this, but with a little working knowledge of the characters from book 1, I had no trouble keeping up.) I love that Hogan's not like the typical cozy mystery cop who's always warning the sleuths off the case. His main interest is always catching the bad guy which means he listens to Lee (or now Nettie seeing how he's married to her lol), and what could come off as a hair-brained scheme to other officers is at least given some thought by Hogan. He's one of my favorite fictional lawmen.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Look for it at your favorite book seller on August 3!

I loved this book. The mystery really confounded me and kept me guessing until the end. The book was well-written and the characters were fully formed. The characters were so fully developed they felt like family! I liked the plot and loved the ending! This book hit all the best parts of a mystery - mysterious characters, missing items, characters hiding, romance! I loved the opportunity to read this book and so grateful that the author is keeping the series going.

I love this series and this one didn’t disappoint. Raccoons,missing persons, robbery, murder and of course chocolate!
Lee is of course in the middle of another murder investigation. This is a fun series that will leaving you craving chocolates.
#TheChocolateRaccoonRigmarole #NetGalley

Chocolatier Lee Woodyard once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery in JoAnna Carl’s “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole.”

When a series of “Cookie Monsters” burglaries start hitting businesses in town, the boyfriend of Lee’s coworker Dolly Jolly gets dragged in as a suspect, forcing Lee to look into the series of seemingly harmless thefts. But when the man whom Lee hired to rid her business of some raccoons is attacked, the investigation becomes more serious.

What follows is Carl’s typically fun cozy mystery, filled with laughable moments and Lee’s continued problem with malapropism — mixing up two similar words, like codfish and coffee. Carl does a great job of developing adorably delightful characters, while building up to some downright bad ones. She also creates a plot that keeps the reader guessing.

And she continues to include several interesting chocolate facts and recipes for the chocolate lovers.

Readers looking for a fun read filled with some mystery will delight in “The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole,” which releases Aug. 3.

Five stars out of five.

Berkley provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

The Chocolate Raccoon Rigamarole is the 18th cozy mystery in the Chocoholic series. I had never read one of these before and it was just kind of boring and simple. The characters were totally flat to me and it seemed very cheesy. I won’t be reading the others in the series.

Sure it was sort of funny that the burglars plaguing Warner Pier took only snacks- and then it wasn't. Lee's BFF Dolly asks for her help when her boyfriend Mike is tagged as a suspect. That's not the end of though- a deputy dies and things heat up. And, someone has to catch the racoons! I'd not read this series before (and it's been going for a long time!) but this was fine as a standalone because it's a classic cozy. There are multiple suspects, a small town, and some nice atmospherics. Some of the jokes were not very amusing but...Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'll look for this series again.

The eighteenth installment of the chocoholic cozy mystery series is as exciting as the seventeen prior tales. JoAnna Carl knows the fans, knocks this one out with ease.

Warning - these books will make you want chocolate.

I have read all the books in Ms. Carl's Chocaholic series and this one was definitely cute but I thought the character of Mike to be less than sympathetic and it was difficult to feel sorry for him.

Lee Woodyard finds herself in the midst of another whodunit when a sheriff's deputy, who is not as she seems, ends up dead in an apparent suicide. There is also a rash of burglaries in the small town of Warner Pier but the only thing stolen so far has been snacks from each merchant. However, the crimes are escalating when the racoon trapper Lee hires winds up hit in the head with a brick in the back of her alley. Lee's hackles are raised to try and puzzle the pieces out before someone else ends up dead.

I appreciate Ms. Carl's attention to delectable chocolate. I also thought it interesting that she points out she has no idea how to make these delicious candies in her books, but I do not fault her for such. I enjoy her bits of chocolate trivia as well as the delectable descriptions she provides of TenHuis' offerings. Makes you wish it was real.

I am so glad she is writing these again after a brief hiatus as I enjoy returning to the small town of Warner Pier with its charming cast of characters and yummy chocolates. I do hope the series will continue.

This series continues to be a guaranteed solid cozy.
Great characters that continue to entertain me, and a whodunit that keeps me guessing.
I recommend this series, and if you haven't read the previous books, endulge yourself, and dive right in!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This is a great entry into to this series in which Lee Wodyard and friends work together to solve the case. Open this book and join them!

This is a fun whodunit with lots of action, great characters and interesting surprises. I liked how one of he main characters, Lee Woodyard was able to figure out clues and help solve the mystery of the break-ins at the businesses in town. This is the first JoAnna Carl cozy mystery I have read but it sure won't be my last.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This series has the best cover art! Each book has something zany and fun on the cover! This newest book is no exception! The Chocolate Raccoon Rigamarole is the 18th book in the Chocoholic Mystery series.

A series of break-ins starts out seeming a bit funny -- the bandits only steal food and snacks?? But, soon nobody in town is laughing when the break-ins get a bit more serious than swiping snacks.

With the stress of this past year, I enjoyed escaping into a cozy mystery for awhile. This series is cute, light, cozy entertainment. Just what my over-stressed tired brain needed. Raccoons, a few jokes and a mystery. I enjoyed it! I can always trust this series to put a smile on my face!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I enjoyed this book. It's fast paced so a quick read. I liked the characters but the ending was a bit convoluted. #TheChocolateRaccoonRigmarole #NetGalley

The chocolate series is always entertaining. I do enjoy Lee and her downhome personality. The story is well rounded with lots of characters that add to the action. My only complaint is that it seems to be a bit shorter than most and it was over way too soon.

The eighteenth edition of the Chocoholic mysteries. There is no death or murder in this one, but there are a couple of racoon bandits causing trouble for the chocolate shop. In addition, there are some real bandits breaking into downtown businesses. So Lee Woodyard looks for someone to help her catch and release the racoons and soon finds herself wrapped up in both mysteries! However, neither set of bandits are caught so easily! This is a fun, cozy mystery.

I’m always excited to catch up with Lee & Joe Woodyard in this fun series. Filled with murder, tidbits about chocolate, and a cast of colorful characters, this is a sweet series by JoAnna Carl.
Perfect for an afternoon read.

This was a pleasant and fun addition to the Chocoholic cozy mystery series by JoAnna Carl. In book #18 in the series, there is a rash of burglaries, but it's certainly a curious case because only snacks are being stolen. Seems harmless, just off, but then things start to get worse, and then eventually someone is killed. On top of trying to figure out who the culprit is, Lee has to deal with a whole family if raccoons who have invaded the neighborhood. Lots of humor, mystery, and mayhem here to keep you entertained.

Cookie burglars, raccoon babies, Tzarist imitation jewelry and old army buddies all mix in to bring confusion to Warner Pier. Lee is curious why there are snack burglaries, but since no one has been hurt -yet- she's more concerned about trapping the raccoon family that has moved into the alley behind the chocolate store. But then the violence escalates, with a store owner trapped into a storage room, a dead deputy in the alley, and claims of large lumpy things hanging about.
This mystery was a bit confusing at times, but everything gets wrapped up in the end, and I was not sure who the killer was.