I am always happy to revisit historic Eastport, Maine, where a lot happens in such a small town. When things happen (usually homicide), best friends and partners Jake Tiptree and Ellie White are always mixed up in it. We first met Jake and Ellie in Sarah Graves' first long-running series, Home Repair is Homicide. Jake is a transplant from NY who arrived in Eastport running away from an abusive ex-husband. Her young son, Sam, has drug problems and a penchant for getting into trouble, sometimes life-threatening. Jake also has a somewhat shady past as a money advisor for the NY mob. Ellie is a life-long Eastporter, down to earth with the Maine knowledge that Jake lacks. The first series is set against the background of Jake's endless rehabbing of her early 1800s house. In the second series, Jake and Ellie have opened a bakery called The Chocolate Moose.

When Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake opens, Jake and Ellie are wondering how to keep the bakery open during the off-season for the locals. When a limo arrives carrying a somewhat faded Hollywood icon, Ingrid Merryfield, they think their prayers are answered. Ingrid claims that she was born in Eastport and has purchased Cliff House, a mansion that has been uninhabited for years. Cliff House has quite the reputation since multiple murders happened there, and the locals think it is haunted. Ingrid wants to hire The Chocolate Moose to cater a party she is throwing for a small group of friends. Jake and Ellie have plenty of questions, but the money is too good to turn down, enough to keep the bakery open through the winter. They can't find any evidence of Ingrid's Eastport birth, and why is she having a party before any renovations to Cliff House? And why does Ingrid need a very imposing bodyguard? There are plenty of spooky events at Cliff House, but neither Jake nor Ellie believe in ghosts. What worries them is the motley crew of guests Ingrid has gathered there. Some of them appear to be enemies rather than friends. A devastating storm sweeps in, stranding them all at Cliff House. Murders begin, and they have to get out somehow. The storm was so violent that no help was coming from Eastport or the Coast Guard.

All the Eastport characters have come to feel like friends over the years I have been reading both series. There are no lengths they will not go to for each other. This book is another action-packed entry for Jake, Ellie, Sam, and especially Jake's aging and ailing father. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

Wow was this ever an adventure! I think it's probably been Jake and Ellie's most exciting one so far from the creepy old house where they were doing a dessert catering gig to the narrow and spooky escapes they managed to execute. Someone in that house was leaving a pile of bodies as they went, so I didn't blame Jake and Ellie one bit for trying to figure it out by leaving first. That is, if they didn't die trying! Loved every minute of it and I couldn't put it down!

There were so many great twists and turns it was a little hard at times to keep up, but it was the good kind of trying to keep up. Very nail biting in a good way too and as always, they wrapped everything up at the end explaining any hanging threads. I loved how Jake's dad even got in on the action up at Cliff House to try and help.

At times I felt like the characters might be getting some closure, but I haven't heard anything about the series ending, so I do hope it continues, although I have to admit it'd be hard to write another adventure that's more hair-raising than this one was!

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

This is such a fun series, and I had a great time with this cozy mystery. I loved the plot, the twists and turns, and the characters!

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974
This is my first time reading a book of this series. I was hooked. It can be read as a standalone but you may want to read the previous books as they do provide insight into the main characters and their families. The decadent description of the chocolate goodies will tease you and the story will satisfy you. Great job, hope to read more about this duo.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake was my introduction to the series. I found it to be a pleasant cozy mystery, with many unexpected twists. The main characters, Jake and Ellie, are pleasant enough and keep the story going forward. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think it does help to read the books of the series in order. My interest for the series was sparked by Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake and it will be pleasant to read the previous books. If you like mysteries with surprises and twists, this book is definitely for you.

Retired movie icon Ingrid Merryfield drops into the store on late autumn evening, claiming to be an Eastport native, funny that no one has every mentioned it, well she bought Cliff House (haunted as per local lore) and hires Jake and Ellie to cater the dessert table for a party. One hitch, they have to stay overnight, and the pay will certainly help keeping Chocolate Moose Bakery open and help offset the cost for creating a Chocolate Pizza. What could go wrong?
Perfect cozy to curl up with, hot cup of tea or cocoa and of course a chocolate treat.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for a chance to review this book

Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake is the 5th book in the Death by Chocolate Mystery series by Sarah Graves. I picked up this series with Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake (book 2) and I also thoroughly enjoyed books 3 and 4.

In Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake, Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree and Ellie White, the owners of 'The Chocolate Moose' are the caterers for Miss Ingrid Merryfield, a retired glamorous Hollywood film star who is throwing a housewarming party at her new home - Cliff House. The property looks towards Passamaquoddy Bay in the east and Cobscook Bay to the west and is rumoured to be haunted but Jake and Ellie aren't phased as they need the money to tide them over until the Spring and to develop their modern pizza ideas. However, on the night of the party, there's a terrible storm and a body is found at the bottom of the cliff.

I really adore the way Sarah Graves brings to life this fictional, yet seemingly real, small-town of Eastport. The story is highly entertaining, with plenty of action and an ample choice of suspects. I was delighted with the dynamic in the locked-room style tale and even though I suspected the killer fairly early on I made a perilous reconsideration!

With its fabulous story and wonderful characters, I would recommend Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake to all lovers of cozy mysteries. If you prefer more suspense and mystery than humour to your cozy reading, then this would be a superb choice. I hope this series continues and I can keep following Jake and Ellie's madcap adventures. My rating is five out of five chocolate hearts! 🤎🤎🤎🤎🤎

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I received this book from Sarah's publisher's through Netgalley I couldn't put it down her books never seem to disappoint me witch is why she is now one of my favorites.
I love her covers they are so pretty. This series is always so good, I look forward to the next hope you pre order your copy.
I always love the plots and characters. she's a amazing author.
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Jake and Ellie have a lovely chocolate themed bakery, The Chocolate Moose, in a small town in Maine. When they are asked to cater the desserts for a weekend party at a home that is reputed to be haunted they agree. Things are slow at the bakery and the job sounds like fun. That fun soon turns into the classic locked room mystery when the weather turns horrible and they are trapped in the house with a killer. A killer who isn't stopping with just one victim. If Jake and Ellie aren't very careful, they might just be next.
This is a spin-off series of the Home Repair is Homicide series and I hope it runs at least as long. The mystery is well constructed and the characters have depth. Family and friendships play a strong part in each book and I enjoy spending time with Jake and her blended family.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jake and Ellie are just entering the slow season when a celebrity comes to town and hires them to cater desserts at a party she is hosting at her new home. Tuns out it’s the creepy house Jake and Ellie have experienced before, but the money could tide them over until Spring, so it’s an easy gig to accept. Only it isn’t.

While asked to spend the night in order to cater to late nights snacks, Ellie and Jake pick a room and plan to send Mika and Bella home after dessert is served. But when a storm kicks up and a huge tree blocks the drive way, everyone is stuck until a crew can remove it. Too bad the creep factor isn’t jus that. When Jake sees someone push another person over the cliff, things begin to take an ominous turn. With more guests missing or dead, Jake and Ellie have GOT to get everyone out of there before one of them joins the body count.

A fun cozy series set in Main, you’ll be drawn in from the get go and be sifting through the clues along with Jake and Ellie. Enough red herrings and suspects to keep you changing your mind until the very end.

Jake and Ellie have been asked to cater a housewarming party by Ingrid Merryfield, a Hollywood Icon who has recently purchased a home in their village. The house she has purchased has become quite known over the years as being haunted. She has asked them to stay over as well and with the money being so good the two agree. The evening g starts out well but soon turns into a nightmare. A tree falls blocking anyone from leaving, someone seems to have fallen to their death over the side of the cliff, and the power keeps going in and out. Jake and Ellie can't just sit by while a murderer is on the loose so the two begin to investigate. With so many avenues to go down to two so realize that this endeavor will be harder than they thought. Follow along as the two search for clues and interigate the guests. Will they be able to find a killer before someone else ends up dead or will the killer get away in the end?

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEATH BY CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKE (Book 5 of the Death by Chocolate Mysteries), by Sarah Graves, in exchange for an honest review. Business is slow at the Chocolate Moose Bakery, so Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White accept an offer to cater desserts for a weekend-long house party hosted by a famous movie star of bygone times. However, once there, a storm strands the party goers and the staff alike. When the wealthy guests are slain one-by-one, the staff is desperate to escape before they become join the guests in their ghastly ends. Jake must find a way to get everyone free or identify the killer before they’re murdered, too.

I liked this book and the series. I recommend this book and the series to fans of food-themed cozy murder mysteries.

#DeathbyChocolateChipCupcake #NetGalley

Winter is coming to Eastport, Maine and Jacobia and Ellie are evaluating their options--stay open, close, stay open part time. But regardless the bills will mount up and the furnace will still need replaced. So, when an outrageous offer comes from the new owner of the Cliff House, they feel forced to accept. Even though the offer includes an overnight stay in the haunted mansion. The night arrives and Eastport is saddled with earthquake tremors and an unpredicted storm. But it seems there’s a murderer on the loose also.

I enjoyed the book as I always enjoy Jake and Ellie. However, the was too much up and down the cliff and not enough about the mystery and I ended up a little disappointed.

An action filled, haunted, yummy mystery that keeps you on edge until the en withd all the twist and turns going on.

Do you believe in ghosts? No, let me rephrase that. Do you believe in homicidal ghosts? How about things that go bump in the night, not to mention shrieking and screaming?

Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree and best friend/business partner Ellie White decide they're being offered too much money to turn down to provide dessert at a housewarming at a supposed haunted mansion to believe in ghosts. Admittedly, however, Jake has a bad feeling about it. Then they're trapped there by a storm that downed a monster sized tree blocking the narrow access road. The power goes out. The storm rages. Lightning flashes. Then, one by one, the bodies start piling up. Hmm, do I detect homage to Christie's "Ten Little Indians"?

I won't detail the plot, summations are easily found, but will simply say that it is full of twists, turns, and just as Jake and Ellie think they've begun to figure it out, more mayhem. Sarah Graves' series based on home repair was one of those that hooked me on mysteries but, wow, I don't recall any previous book being quite this action packed. Those who like their mysteries with lots of action, fleshed out characters, and twists and turns, not to mention the occasional thing that goes bump in the night, real or fabricated, will definitely enjoy this book. Start reading early in the day, however, as this one kept me up past my bedtime.

Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to check out Jake and Ellie's adventures, fortunately virtually. Hope to visit with Igor, the Irish Wolfhound, in future books.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinion is my own.

“Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake” is the 4th instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves. This is a charming series set in a seaside village in Maine. Jake and Ellie own a Chocolate Bakery which they are barely keeping afloat. Hard times have hit the village in the off season . They are experimenting with receipes to entice customers and are invited to a event at a mansion in town. Jake is mixed up in another murder case and this case involves the famous seaside mansion and plenty of suspects. A enjoyable read

I’ve read all of this series, and the entire home repair is homicide series, and have decided that in order to fully enjoy the 2 most recent books I really need to suspend belief and just go with the story, no matter how far fetched the characters actions become. I’ve grown to love Jake, Sam, Ellie and the other characters over the years, along with the description of small coastal Eastport. This book starts in the bakery Jake and Ellie own, and moves to a house that has been left empty for years, and is purported to be haunted. A freak storm traps Jake and her crew there, and as guests start to die one by one it becomes a race against time, to stop the murderer.
Forget that helicopters can make rescues without landing….they can hover and drop rescue baskets, speaking from experience! I missed police chief Bob Arnold having any sense of urgency when his friend are trapped with a killer. But….It’s still a fun mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

“Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake” is the 4th instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves. In the quaint island village of Eastport, Maine, Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White run the Chocolate Moose bakery, where delicious treats take the spotlight—but murder sometimes gets a walk-on role . . .

I enjoy this series set in the village of Eastport, Maine and really like protagonist Jake and her BFF Ellie. Plus I love her family especially Bella. We meet a loveable Irish Wolfhound named Igor who we will hopefully see in future books.

There were plenty of suspects amongst the guests at Cliff House and plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. I did suspect the killer early on but then second guessed myself. The book was engaging from start to finish, grabbing your attention from the very beginning.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I have with certain reservations previously enjoyed Sarah Graves' Death by Chocolate Mystery series, this latest offering was so ridiculously implausible that it was laughable. Jake and Elle weren't adventurous, they were simply foolish. In addition, it was written like it was a book report, not a story related in real time. I have never seen so many colons in a book before. If there is a next in the series it will have to be more substantial for me to be a continued fan.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This book read like it wanted to be an homage to And Then There Were None. It was not comparable.
I’m not sure why cupcake was in the title, should have been pizza. Too many times we heard about the chocolate pizza.