This was a good beginning to a new cozy series that I would definitely recommend trying! (And I love the cover of it!)

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I was hooked within the first few opening pages. There were so many things about the main character, Riley, and her hometown that appealed to me. From Riley’s father’s used bookstore (The Penniless Reader) to Riley’s rented blue mustang convertible. I also loved almost everything about Riley herself – she’s a librarian at the CIA library who travels the world and runs a food blog called ‘Rhode Food’ and definitely someone I would love to hang out with.

I also really liked some of the supporting characters in the story, which included Riley’s best friend, Caroline, an older couple Darwin and Prudence Brightwood, and Riley’s new friend (and Mike’s girlfriend), Angelica Miguel. All the characters were very distinct and had interesting personalities, but they all had a great sense of community and being able to pitch in to help, which I found really appealing without being overly sugary.

I wasn’t sure if any of the characters were supposed to be potential boyfriends for Riley, but that’s kind of a nice change of pace too. I find that the main characters in these cozy mysteries almost always have a suitor (or two, or three) on hand, so not having an immediate romantic angle for our amateur sleuth is refreshing. There were several good-looking candidates, but the only romance hinted at was between Detective Voelker, who was investigating Mike’s murder, and Caroline.

The Rocky Road to Ruin is a great start to what promises to be a fun series. Riley is the perfect amateur detective – she has the skills and background to make her a realistic sleuth but she also has lots of interesting subplots swirling around her.

There were lots of hints, clues and red herrings throughout the story and several characters kicked my instincts into overdrive. I actually had one part of the mystery solved by page 31 but there were several surprising twists and revelations before the full resolution and the killer was revealed at the end. While I had figured out who was the murderer before the final big reveal, the motive and backstory were far more interesting than I had expected. It was definitely a race to the finish.

The book is well-paced and rarely lags in moving the story forward. I think the first book in any series has the toughest job since it has to establish a lot of the characters and the setting, while at the same time presenting an interesting mystery to keep the reader entertained and ready to come back for more.

The Rocky Road to Ruin definitely hit all the right spots for me and I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.

*** Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Title: The Rocky Road to ruin
Author: Meri Allen

Ch: 48

Pg: 352

Series: Ice Cream Shop Mysteries book 1

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s press



The Rocky Road to Ruin is the first book in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries by Meri Allen I don't think I've ever read a book set in an ice cream shoppe let alone a cozy mystery book set in an ice cream shop. But I enjoyed this book and loved the fun setting. Riley Rhodes is a former librarian with the CIA (is that even a thing) masquerading as a travel and food blogger who finds herself back in her hometown for her best friend's Caroline's mom's funeral when she finds herself not only trying to solve a murder but running an ice cream shop. This one was a quick read for the first book in the series and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.










I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I thought that the book, was such a page turner. A great read. I loved the book. The plot was very well written and I cannot wait to read another book by this author. I truly need to add this author to my favorite list.

What a treat this debut series is! It's just as delicious as the scoops served up at the Underlying Delicious ice scream shop! Riley Rhodes returns home to attend the funeral of Buzzy, the mother of her best friend, Caroline. Shortly after the funeral, Caroline's brother is murdered leaving Caroline as one of the two main suspects. Riley steps up to help Caroline to manage her family ice cream shop, solve the murder and clear her Caroline's name. Luckily Riley can take the time from her job as CIA librarian and undercover field operative to stay. Well-plotted and -paced with fully realized characters, this series has a lot of potential.

This is a rare gem.... the first in a new series that is actually a fun read, and keeps you guessing till the end as to "who dunnit". The characters are fun and well imagined, and I can tell you I never expected the twists the author threw in. Every character could be the culprit - it's a real mystery to decipher who the murderer is and why they did it.

Riley and Caroline have been best friends since school. When Caroline's mother dies, Riley comes home to attend the funeral and ends up making life-altering decisions as she stays in her hometown and helps solve the murder of Mike (Caroline's brother). But there is more to Mike's murder than meets the eye. Riley and Caroline jump in to run the ice cream shop and delve into who hated Mike enough to kill him and why.

I read this book quickly, and can't wait to see what is next for Riley and Caroline.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's press for allowing to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ice cream and murder are a perfect pair in this new cozy mystery by Meri Allen! I enjoyed getting to know the main character and this well-planned mystery had enough twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. As an added bonus, the author included some ice cream recipes!
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

This is a great book 1 in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Set in small town Penniman, CT., Riley is in town for a funeral. She is a librarian for the CIA and has decided she likes being home. She is helping her best friend, Carolyn, run Udderly Delight the local home made ice cream stand at her farm. When Carolyn's brother Mike is killed , it becomes clear that the farm is valuable land and someone is willing to kill to make a real estate deal happen. Can't wait to read book 2. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Ice cream and lots of it, a kitten with the name of Rocky Rhodes, who happens to be a good sleuth, a kitty diva named Sprinkles and characters who are both interesting and intelligent- there is a lot to like about this book. And I did like it. A lot.

Riley Rhodes has returned to mourn the adopted mother of her best friend. Her own life is in a bit of a shambles and when the opportunity to stick around presents itself, Riley realizes she is sorely in need of a change. Buzzy, the deceased, was a force of nature. She ran a huge farm and built a great ice cream shop that was a destination for its fresh from the farm ingredients. Riley’s friend, Charlotte, is uncertain what will become of Buzzy’s passions but she knows selling the place for development, as her brother wants to do, is not in the cards. When he tries to convince her of the logic of selling, there is a lot of friction between them.

So when Mike’s body is found in a barn on the property the next morning, Charlotte becomes one of the top suspects. Angry as Charlotte might have been, Riley has no doubt she is innocent. The problem is she likes all of the people who could be obvious suspects. In trying to determine the motive and thereby the killer, Riley discovers there is far more to this story than what is on the surface. In fact, some of the backstory goes back many, many years. As Riley peels back layers, she also discovers that her perceptions of many of the people were incorrect. It provides a series of twists that are highly entertaining..

Thanks to Rocky Riley is able to solve not one but possibly three murders. While I had some suspicions, the final revelation was a surprise. This is the first in a new series and I am looking forward to more adventures. Five purrs and two paws up.

Great book that is first in a new series! Riley inherits an ice cream store but things are amiss. Looking forward to the next in the series

I picked this book because it's set in Connecticut, where I am from. I think Penniman is based on Chester, a quaint town with a burgeoning culinary scene.

Riley Rhodes returns to her hometown for the funeral of her best friend Caroline's mother. Caroline's brother Mike is set on selling their inherited property to a developer while Caroline wants to maintain the farm and ice cream shop. When Mike is found murdered, there is no shortage of suspects.

I've found that these cozy mysteries can be hit or miss. Sometimes the mystery is uninteresting, sometimes the main characters don't feel real, sometimes the writing is just plain bad. The Rocky Road to Ruin avoids these pitfalls. The mystery was interesting and satisfying, Riley is intelligent and resourceful and the side characters are engaging. I wish that Riley's past as a CIA librarian (is this a thing?) and food blogger were utilized a bit more. I look forward to more books in this series.

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is first in a new series starring Riley Rhodes as a CIA Librarian and sometimes operative who is helping out an ice cream shop in her hometown, when she gets pulled into a murder investigation. This book is udderly delightful and left me craving more of this character just like chocolate ice cream!

I always hesitant to read the first book in a new series as many 'first' book are so busy setting up all of the characters and details of the location that the book seems to drag a bit. This book kept my interest from the first few pages.

I loved the characters and the mystery as I found that it was well-written and an easy read. The cover captured my interest and an ice cream shop really drew me into the read. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.

The ice cream flavors alone are a reason to check out this book! Riley Rhodes heads home to Penniman, Connecticut for the funeral of her best friend's mom. Unbeknowst to her own family and friends, she is at loose ends--a mishap as a CIA librarian on a courier like mission has resulted in a parting of ways. Riley's friend Caroline and her brother Mike (with a tennis star girlfriend in tow) have returned for Buzzy's funeral. Mike is particularly interested in continuing his mission of selling off Buzzy's farmland, perhaps leaving the Ice Cream Shop as is. When he is found bludgeoned, with girlfriend Angelica missing, the town is thrown for a loop. There are many good suspects peppered throughout the story and it makes perfect sense when Riley steps up to run Udderly Delicious for the family. This was a well paced mystery for a first in a series, I forward to reading more!

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the first in a new series. I am already waiting for book two to come out.
This is a well written Cozy that has you guessing to the end. The characters are likeable. There is family, friendship, a hint of romance and a couple, lovable cats. Overall. a perfect Cozy.
There are yummu recipes included.
I was given an ARC by St, Martin''s press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a eARC.

This book was a great read. It had me guessing who done it till the very end. If you love cozy mysteries the this is for you. I'd recommend it. I'm giving The Rocky Road to Ruin a 4 out of 5 stars. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is one of my favorite cozies of 2021 ! I loved the setting, the characters and the sleuth. The author has created a wonderful debut cozy world that all cozy readers will adore. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

We are introduced to Riley who is our protagnist. She has moved home to small town connecticut to help her best friend after her Mother dies. Riley is a interesting protagnist as she worked for the CIA as a librarian and also was a travel blogger. She is smart, savvy and ready to change her life by making her move home permanent. Her friend owns a charming popular ice cream shop that Riley is happy to step up and help manage. When a murder occurs Riley becomes involved as she is a savvy investigator and her friend is at the center of the investigation. Soon red herrings and suspects abound. Riley is determined to solve the mystery of the murder .

I enjoyed reading this new cozy debut. Well done to the author . I look forward to the next in series.

Returning to her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut, Riley Rhodes wants to support her good friend Caroline Spooner after her mother dies. Caroline’s mother owned the ice cream shop Udderly Delicious and Riley jumps right in to help keep it open. It’s the perfect place for Riley to be at the moment. She’s a travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA, but things didn’t go well on an undercover mission and she needs to do something else right now.

As Caroline and her brother Mike disagree on dividing their mother’s assets, Riley tries to be there for her friend. When Mike winds up dead, the police turn their attention towards Caroline as the number one suspect. Riley has no intention of seeing her friend blamed for a crime she didn’t commit. She starts her own investigation and uncovers Mike’s many secrets. She learns there are quite a few other suspects. She has help from a spoiled cat named Sprinkles and their new feline friend named Rocky.

The is the first book in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. Summer is a great time to read a book set in an ice cream shop. Unfortunately, it had me craving ice cream throughout the entire book, especially my favorite Rocky Road.

I liked Riley right away. I think she’s a strong character and I’m looking forward to getting to know her better. Her devotion to Caroline is admirable. I liked their best friend relationship. The supporting characters are interesting and quirky. There’s even a dachshund named McGillicuddy.

The story moved along at a nice pace. There were several red herrings thrown in and it kept me off track. I didn’t start to realize who did it until I was at the end of the book. I could not put this one down and stayed up way too late reading.

It’s always fun to start a series from the beginning and I’m looking forward to another visit to Penniman and seeing what Riley is up to next.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Riley Rhodes is heading home. After her years as a librarian in the CIA, she’s ready for a new challenge. But first, she heads home to Penniman, Connecticut, for her best friend’s mother’s funeral. Riley had grown up with Caroline and her older brother Mike, and now that their mother, Buzzy, has died, Riley can’t be anywhere except by her friend’s side.

Buzzy owned the Fairweather Farm and the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop, both beloved parts of the small town. The ice cream shop usually has a line out the shop for her hand-made ice creams and sundaes made from the freshest of ingredients. And now, the whole town is grieving.

Mike had left Penniman to become a real estate developer. He came for the funeral with his girlfriend, tennis sensation Angelica Miguel. Caroline was an art appraiser who lived in Boston, and she still came back every weekend to help her mother at the ice cream shop. Now that Buzzy is gone, the property goes to Mike and Caroline. Mike is interested in selling it and developing high end homes while retaining the beauty of Penniman. Caroline doesn’t want to sell, and when Mike tells her his plans, she gets very angry at him.

So the next morning, when Riley finds him stabbed to death in the barn, it doesn’t look good for Caroline. When Riley goes to look for his girlfriend Angelica, she’s missing, along with her sports car. Riley knows that Caroline would never hurt her brother, and she thought very highly of Angelica, but Detective John Voelker can’t just take her word for it. Especially since, as the person who found the victim, Riley automatically becomes a suspect.

But she can’t worry about that. Buzzy’s ice cream shop is a town institution, and the customers are not happy that it’s closed. So Caroline and Riley decide to open it back up, especially with the town’s Sunflower Festival coming up in a week. Not only do they have to keep up with the customers who are lined up, they have to make ice creams to keep the freezer full, craft the special sunflower ice cream for the festival, and keep up with Buzzy’s special orders. With all that going on, Riley hardly has time to try to solve a murder.

The more time Riley spends back home, the more potential suspects she comes across. There’s the cowboy with the great smile that is flirting with all the women working at the shop. There’s the customer who comes in with dirty clothes and a cap but has a very expensive diving watch. There’s the realtor who was a girlfriend of Mike’s when they were in high school and wanted to meet up with him until his girlfriend showed up. There’s Buzzy’s farm manager, who fought with Mike about how he wanted to sell the land. Clearly, there is more going on in Penniman that Riley remembered from high school.

But will Riley be able to run the ice cream store, save the farm, exonerate her friend, and solve a murder before the killer sets their sights on her?

The Rocky Road to Ruin is the first in a new cozy series. Author Meri Allen brings this charming small Connecticut town town to life through its love of its hometown ice cream shop. This story is packed with everything—delicious ice cream concoctions, a champion cat who likes to drink from the toilet when no one is looking, baby goats, a spirited kitten, a used bookshop, and a cast of characters who add so much life and spirit to this story.

I loved The Rocky Road to Ruin. I thought the plotting was clever and the characters were a constant entertainment. I love this charming small town, and I can’t wait to go back for another double scoop of murder and fresh peach ice cream, served in a waffle cone that’s still warm. If you can take the pain of hearing about the ice creams, the hot fudge sauce, the caramel, the brownie and cookie mix-ins, without getting to taste them, then you may just fall in love with this book too.

Egalleys for The Rocky Road to Ruin were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen is the 1st book in Ice Cream Shop Mystery, and it is off to a great start. I really loved this book, it kept my attention, and I had to keep reading. Riley Rhodes is a travel food blogger and librarian at the CIA. When Riley's best friend, Caroline, mother died, she rush to to childhood home in Penniman Connecticut to be with her. Caroline's mother owned Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. When Caroline's brother was murdered the morning after their mom's funeral, Caroline falls apart, and Riley is there to help. Riley is ready for a change after her last undercover assignment and agrees to run the ice cream shop, while looking for the murderer. I strongly recommend this book if you enjoy cozy mysteries, I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.