Jake and Ellie find themselves in a pinch when they agree to spend the night in the haunted house owned by retired actress Ingrid Mayfield in order to get a big catering contract. Jake, whose own house is bursting with relatives, ad her BFF Ellie are excellent amateur detectives, which comes in handy when the hotel turns into a Ten Little Indians situation. There's a big storm, there are murders, there are red herrings. No spoilers from me. I've liked this series in the past for Jake, Ellie, their families and the town of Eastport (and let's face it, the descriptions of the chocolate goodies). This wasn't my favorite of the series but it's still pretty darn good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the fifth tasty addition to Graves' Death by Chocolate series. Summer is gone and business has slowed, so when movie star Ingrid Merryfield comes to town and offers Jake and Ellie a catering job for a housewarming party at the notorious Cliff House, the two jump at the more than generous offer. But the already haunted reputation of the house is joined by a freak damaging storm that brings down an ancient tree, and traps everyone from leaving, enabling a killer's plans to run amok. And like the storm, this is one long run of chaos, for just as Jake and Ellie make inroads on who's who and what's what, another body drops and facts change, and they're off again. For a cozy, it's very exciting stuff. But it does obey the most important of cozy rules - you can stack up the corpses like cordwood, but the dog (in this case a charming Irish wolfhound) may at times be in peril, but is never harmed. And let me tell you, the bodies do stack up in this one. At one point Jake loses track of who is left alive. The fun part is relationships with family and friends, and just how are they going to get out of THIS one? Very entertaining. Recommended.

I love the author's Death by Chocolate series but with so much of the action taking place at a creepy haunted house, this fifth installment in the series was, by far, my least favorite book in the series. It had more of a feeling of an adventure and less of a cozy mystery feel.

I did enjoy meeting all the regular characters again and look forward to further books in the series.

Incidentally, with all the talk about chocolate pizza in this book, which sounds delicious to me, I wonder why that wasn't the title.

Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake by Sarah Graves is the fifth in the Death boy Chocolate series and, in my opinion, the very best yet! It’s fall in Eastport and bakery owners, Ellie and Jake, are considering the tourist-free winter months and deciding whether to stay open or spend the winter developing new products - like chocolate pizza. We’re reminded of the cycle of life as Jake’s son Sam and his wife Mika plan to move out of Jake’s house with their young family and into a home of their own. At the same time, Jake’s father is slowing down and his health appears to be failing.

Out of the blue an old-Hollywood movie star who claims to be from Eastport arrives in town and buys the local haunted house. She hires Ellie and Jake to cater a weekend house party but the catch is that they have to spend the night. Jake is definitely not happy with that stipulation. Nonetheless when they learn how much she’s willing to pay, they accept the engagement and include Mika and Bella, Jake’s stepmother, in their work crew.

What a page-turner! There were so many suspects and the plot was fast-paced with endless twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat and could hardly put the book down, staying up way too late reading. The narrative was so visually descriptive that I could almost feel the icy cold ocean spray as the boat raced along the coast. All of the characters were three dimensional but the returning cast of characters have become old friends. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next in the series. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

Too much! Too long! These were my dominant thoughts upon finishing Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake, Sarah Graves’ newest release. Action packed nearly from the beginning to the end, it finally got to be too much for me, causing me to mutter aloud, “Oh, come on!” Jake Tiptree, frequently accompanied by her best friend, Ellie, go from one dire circumstance to another. Much of the action takes place in and around an old, supposedly haunted house which becomes cut off from civilization after a giant tree falls, blocking the only way out. Graves does an outstanding job setting the scene to be very creepy and keeping the suspense very real; it just was too much for my own personal taste as there was seemingly no end to just how many ways and times our two intrepid heroines and their family/friends could be put into danger. This book seems to have been inspired by the Agatha Christie classic, And Then There Were None, as one stranded houseguest after another meets an untimely, violent end. It’s a great premise and I enjoyed the book to a point and found it hard to put down but, again, too much, too long for me. Three stars.

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

Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake by Sarah Graves is the fifth in this long running series since the reboot and opening of Jake's bakeshop. Set on the island of Eastport, Maine it follows Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree co-owner The Chocolate Moose bakery. The story follows her, her extended family and bakeshop partner Ellie as they navigate life in the remote coastal town.
THis mystery surrounds an aging Hollywood actress who buys a huge "haunted" mansion in town and hires the Chocolate Moose to cater a housewarming party. Cliff House has a horrific reputation, as it's past owner murdered himself, his family and staff decades earlier. So the women hesitate to say yes. That is until they see the checks offered for their services and how that money will get them through the quiet winter off season.
The mystery centers around the night of the party and they get trapped in the house of horrors overnight. Very "And then there were none" Agatha Christie vibes. I found the plot a bit ridiculous at times, a huge storm, gunfire, ghosts, earthquakes, hidden tunnels, almost drownings, multiple trips in and out of the house - each one almost deadly for the main characters. The action and suspense out did the plot development. I didn't care for the multiple victims and it was all a bit much. I mean at some point you should just leave the house and get the police instead of going back time and again.
Still, very faced pace and exciting. If you like your cozy mysteries grittier and more action packed you'd enjoy the book.

This is the fifth book in the Death by Chocolate Mystery Series, but my first to read. I didn't have a problem reading the fifth book first.

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White are the owners of the Chocolate Moose Bakery. They're hired to cater a party at a local home that's rumored to be haunted. Jake wants to refuse the job but their fee will allow the Chocolate Moose Bakery to stay open during the slow winter months.

Cliff House was just purchased by movie icon Ingrid Merryfield. No renovations, no clean up - just a group of Hollywood people in a spooky house, and a few murders.

One must suspend logic and reason to enjoy this book. The story is like a roller-coaster ride, one tense scene after another. How can so much happen in such a short period of time? And how can an otherwise sane, logical person make so many bad choices?

That being said, I still liked the book.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the fifth book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Winter is coming to Eastport, Maine, which makes Jacobia (Jake) and her best friend, Ellie, concerned about the income for their Chocolate Moose bakery. Ellie is the food wizard of the duo and she’s working hard to create a chocolate pizza recipe. Jake does all the front of store work but they’re both trying to figure out how to get through the financial winter in front of them. As they’re closing one evening, a limousine arrives with a famous former Hollywood star, Ingrid Merryfield, and her bodyguard/driver. Ms. Merryfield hires Jake and Ellie, for a substantive amount of money, to cater an overnight housewarming weekend at the local mansion she’s just bought. Jake and Ellie wonder if she knows the mansion is haunted. While feeling serious trepidation, Jake and Ellie agree to take the job. Unfortunately, they also must stay at the mansion for the weekend and, of course, there’s a storm that traps everyone on the property. When they witness a guest being thrown off the side of the cliffs, they realize they can only trust each other to solve the past and present mysteries at Cliff House. There are so many potential murderers and victims, it’s like a Clue game with chocolate!

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White are the stars of this cozy series, but this particular installment is not very cozy. It's much more like a horror story.

Jake and Ellie, with their bakery always on the edge of profitability, are very glad when a decaying movie star hires them to cater a house party reminiscent of the Golden Age of Mystery. Between the varied and suspicious-seeming guests and the supernatural overtones, they're worried from the start.

They're right. As the bodies stack up and natural disasters arise, it begins to look as though nobody will make it out alive.

It's a complex and intricately plotted story with all Jake's friends and family included -- and endangered. It's well written and will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Maine, island-life, situational-humor, family, family-dynamics, friendship, small-business, small-town, baker, storms, tunnel*****

An island in Maine just after the tourist season, a not-so-young actress who visits with her bodyguard, a creepy old house with a murderous past, a cast of quirky characters, and a chocolate pizza. It's something of a spoof of ghost mysteries but has a real plot that reeled me in and kept me there to the end even though I had not yet read any of the earlier books in the series. What a hoot!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Action packed cozy mystery. More perilous situations than typically found in a thriller. Nail biter. It may make one think of Ten Little Indians, but I didn't make that connection until late in the tale. But then I don't think too deeply and just go with the flow of a story and enjoy the ride. Jake, family and friends are quite the group. I did enjoy one of the other books in this series even more. I should check out the ones I have missed.

This is the fifth book in the series and I must say I am a tad bit disappointed. The book should have been called something along the lines of Death by Chocolate Pizza since they refer to that through the whole book and not really anything about the cupcake. I really felt like there were a lot of characters and they just jump right into the story and they spent so much time at the Cliff House and not at the bakery like in the other books. I did read the whole story and liked following along with the characters and can't wait until the next book comes out to see what adventure is next.

In Sarah Grave's latest addition to her Death by Chocolate Mystery series, Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake, the action is non-stop. This is a fast-paced murder mystery whodunit. If you are familiar with the Ten Little Indians movie and liked it then I think you will really like this storyline. Murder by murder of guests of movie icon Ingrid Merryfield will keep readers turning the pages of this book. The house party hosted by Ingrid at supposedly haunted Cliff House doesn't turn out as amateur sleuths Jacobia"Jake" Tipton and her partner Ellie White, co-owners of their bakery the Chocolate Moose, expect. Harrowing dangers stares then in the face throughout this story. I cold not put this book down!

Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake is a delightful mystery by Sarah Graves. Light writing, solid plot line and tight writing make this a great read. It is a great novel in the style of many cooking mysteries. Definitely a must read for fans of these novels.

I've been a big fan of Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree for many years, and this newest series is just as much fun as the home repair series.
Jake and her BFF Ellie own The Chocolate Moose, a cute bakery located in Maine.
Jake lives with her husband, her son and his family, and her father and stepmother, and all of them have a rare, unique family life.
Jake has the tendency to stumble into murder investigations, and this time, there's a lot going on.
This story has everything I enjoy in a great book, a solid cast of characters, humor, a great plot twist, and a surprising reveal.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a great whodunit.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Talking about this book? Use #DeathbyChocolateChipCupcake #NetGalley.

Jacobia (Jake) and Ellie have a chocolate bakery in a tiny coastal Maine town. It's a nice place to vacation or raise a family, but the murder rate is a little high per capita. Just bad luck? Could it be that they prove more "accidents" are on purpose, and have a knack for finding the killers? Or finding killers pursuing them? The answers may depend on who you ask!

A still famous, former Hollywood starlet just bought the most notoriously haunted mansion; Cliff House. She wants dessert caterers. Jake and Ellie need money. Will this be an episode of Ozzie & Harriet or Frightmare Theatre? Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, this one's a doozy!

While still maintaining the characters and flavor of one of my favorite mystery series, this author turns a catering gig into a weekend gone horribly wrong. This story is an example of the times in life when nobody can decide who should lead, or who can be trusted. Shadows and distractions hide true intent. And who knew? (Not many of the characters!) Maine really does have earthquakes.

A lot is going on, and may seem confusing, but it's by design--to show how much is happening, while so little is known--and it's worth untangling the knots (a little mariner joke there).

I recommend this action-filled mystery! FYI: I also own the Dead Cat Bounce series (this is a spin-off from that one).

4/5 I'm sorry to deduct a star for swearing, because this book is really fun. It deserves 5 Stars otherwise.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free advanced copy of this ebook! This review is voluntary.

#DeathbyChocolateChipCupcake #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Death by Chocolate Chip Cupcake by Sarah Graves in exchange for an honest review. Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree and Ellie White own the Chocolate Moose Bakery in Eastport, Maine. The ladies have been thinking and obsessing about creating some new chocolate recipes. They agree to cater desserts for a weekend party - at an old haunted house. These ladies have so many wild and crazy adventures. I enjoy all of Sarah Graves books and look forward to the next one.

Jake and Ellie are thrilled to get a huge catering job to help tide there bakery thru the winter, even though it requires they spend a night in a haunted house. Not the best in this series, but still a good read. I cannot wait to make a chocolate pizza.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Great follow up to the previous, as this is the fifth. It leaves off perfectly for more in the cozy mystery series.

The fifth in the series, but first I've read about Jake and Ellie's chocolate shop in Maine. A good cozy mystery, and kept my interest throughout. Would recommend, and plan on reading the earlier works.