A Midsummer Night’s Fudge is the 10th in the series. I love the setting on Mackinac Island. I enjoy the characters - Allie, Jenn, Frances, Shane, and Rex. I like Mal and Mella, Allie’s dog and cat.
Mal has a nose for finding dead bodies, but it’s Allie that find the first in this book. Don’t worry Mal will get his chance. That’s right, the body count rises as the mystery progresses.
The murderer remains hidden in plain sight. I was certain of who was behind it all without knowing the reason. I was sure the danger for Allie would start before it did but the author teased it out until the end.
If I didn’t like the characters and the setting so much I might give up on the series. There are little things that bother me about timelines since I’ve read the entire series in order. Really this many murders couldn’t have happened in the timeframe of just over the year that is implied for Allie’s presence on the island.
In past books, there have been many recipes for fudge. This time other types of dessert recipes were in the book. Some of the food sounded good and it made me wish for those recipes. So far it’s just sweet things as the books are meant to be sweet, I think.
A Midsummer Night’s Fudge will keep you entertained for a few hours. I think that this book could be read as a stand-alone.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back on Mackinac Island just in time for the Midsummer Night’s Festival. There is a variety of events including an outside masquerade ball, a beauty pageant, a bonfire on the beach, plenty of food and drink plus a pig roast, with a fireworks finale.

Like most dogs, Mal is not a fan of fireworks so after the queen has been crowned with a bit of drama Allie takes her pup home. On her way back she sees a body floating in the lake, a woman wearing a white dress with rainbow hair. Allie dives in to save her but it is too late. Winona Higer, the woman in charge of the festival is dead.

Allie can’t get the woman’s death off her mind and is very surprised to be asked to fill Winona’s position on several committees. She realizes by taking her place she may get some information on who could have killed Winona so she accepts. Rex is not happy with her decision especially when he learns of some pranks and threatening notes. He doesn’t want Allie fudging up his investigation and he sure doesn’t want her to be a target for the killer.

It is always a pleasure to visit Mackinac Island and all the wonderful characters Nancy Coco has created. They are some of my cozy mystery favorites. Allie is a very strong protagonist, confident, smart, with a huge heart but this time she made took some super risky moves. She just wasn’t listening at all to Rex’s warnings or at least not taking them seriously. It would have been a terrible shame to have her die so close to home because she ventured out when she shouldn’t have. It did make for some exciting moments though.

Ms. Coco gave Allie and readers a nice selection of suspects to sort through with some twists trying to misdirect everyone’s thinking. I found myself focused on one individual quite early in the story. Something just felt off. There were clues that should have pulled me away from the person but I stuck with them and the story played out in a fantastic way that confirmed every element of my theory. That is something that rarely happens but it is so much fun when it does.

Again, the setting of Mackinac Island and all its uniqueness make the story special. The island is a place where the horse is king, and where the streets have been car-free for over 100 years. Sadly, I have never been there but have seen plenty of pictures. Those along with the author’s descriptions bring each shop, hotel, restaurant, pier, and horse-drawn carriage alive in my mind’s eye. A trip there is on my bucket list but until then I have to settle for the virtual trips the books in this series allow me to take.

A Midsummer’s Night Fudge is a delicious cozy mystery set in an idyllic place filled with delightful characters, an interesting mystery, and recipes too. I really enjoyed my visit and can’t wait to return.

Allie and her senior friends (yep, she's got her own posse much to Rex's dismay lol) had a tough case and as the bodies started piling up with no answers in sight, even Rex and crew might've been willing to admit they needed help. Well, never out loud. ;) I loved how Allie had to ride herd on Carol and Irma, her senior center friends, and it was so funny to hear her telling them the exact same things Rex was always trying to drill into her brain: don't go out alone when there's a killer loose! I've always liked Carol's character ever since she became more of a constant in the story line and sleuthing helper along with Irma, her power walking buddy. Allie figured by keeping an eye on the seniors, it was the perfect excuse to go snooping!

I actually had the killer picked out pretty early, stuck with my choice, and I was happy to find out I was right for once! There wasn't anything in particular early on that made me choose this person, kinda a sheer dumb luck thing, lol.

At least Rex and Allie were at a stage now where he wasn't always getting on her case, and when he did he was gentler about it--and she didn't get all defensive like she did in the past. She's always gonna be Allie and do impulsive and uh yeah sometimes stupid things, but she seems to have more lives than a cat right now since this is the tenth book. Gotta love her for who she is and how much she loves her friends that're really her adopted island family.

Being the tenth book, there's been an ongoing theme about where Allie usually ends up tossed by the killer, and I had to giggle when she commented on it in the narrative because I'd just had that same idea!

I haven't read the teaser chapter at the end, but I'm always eager to do that and keep it as a little treat for when I'm completely done. Even sight unseen, I'm always ready for the next book! Mackinac Island is one of my fave places to visit and I can't wait to go back both physically and via this series!

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

Really fun mystery! I love the fudge recipes...they are always so mouthwatering. I love how Allie uses all the residents on the island to help solve her mysteries. Fun story that kept me guessing till the end.

A Midsummer Night’s Fudge by Nancy Coco takes us back to Mackinac Island, Michigan in time for the first Midsummer Night’s Festival which celebrates the beginning of the summer season. The fireworks are scaring Mal, Allie McMurphy’s bichenpoo so she takes take him back to the McMurphy. On her way back to the festivities, Allie sees someone floating in the water. Allie dives into the water to bring the person back to shore. It turns out to be Winona Higer who had just crowned the Queen of the festival before the fireworks began. Winona has crowned her last queen. The next day as the parade is beginning, Allie is recruited to take Winona’s place on the festival committee. It has Allie in the right place to hear all the juicy gossip about the victim. Allie with help from Mal begins digging into the case when the killer strikes again. Allie works to sift through the clues, but she will need to be careful so that she does not get burned. A Midsummer Night’s Fudge is the tenth A Candy-Coated Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. I like reading the series in order because it allows me to get to know the characters and the setting. I thought A Midsummer Night’s Fudge was well-written with developed characters. Allie, Rex, Jenn, Frances, and, of course, Mal are back for another adventure. I just love Mal who has a nose for crime. He is good at sniffing at bodies and clues. I enjoy the vivid descriptions of Mackinac Island with its charming shops, lovely hotels, and delectable fudge. Allie is busy at the hotel since she lost her assistant. She must get up early to make the various flavors of fudge and take care of the hotel guests. Plus, she does fudge demonstrations during the day with free samples (yum). Of course, no matter how busy Allie is, she cannot resist a mystery. The whodunit was fun to follow. There are various suspects along with a red herring or two. The clues are there if you pay close attention. I enjoyed the dramatic reveal. The only thing that I did not like was Rex constantly discouraging Allie from investigating. One or two mentions I could live with, but it seemed like every time Rex saw Allie, he gave her a warning. I was sorry to see my visit to Mackinac Island come to end. There are recipes included for the fudge Allie made for the McMurphy Fudge Shop. A Midsummer Night’s Fudge is a tasty tale with a contentious contest, fabulous fudge, fatal fireworks, a clever killer, a fun festival, and an inquisitive fudge maker.

It's Summer on Mackinac Island, the lovely scent of chocolate is coming from the McMurphy hotel and its fudge shop. The tourists are everywhere and so is a killer. Allie McMurphy and her sweet pup, Mal are not in the least bit interested in investigating another murder. This time it isn't Mal who sniffs out the dead body. Allie gets that job after the local fire works show. She finds one of the committee members floating in the water. Taking a step back, vowing to stay away from the case becomes a tough promise to keep when it looks like the committee members are the killer's target and Allie's is a new name on that list.
This is the 10th book in the series and it gives the reader another winning mystery to engage in trying to solve. It works as a stand alone but I'm one of those readers who wants to read in order. I have enjoyed every visit to the island, getting to hang out with the regular characters as if they were my old friends. Given my love of fudge it's a good thing there are no motorized vehicles (aside from emergency vehicles) and I would be walking everyplace. Maybe Allie would let me borrow Mal for a couple of long walks every day.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Nancy Coco's fudgy series about a hotelier on Mackinac Island is always a hit as far as cozy mysteries go. Who couldn't love a book about fudge, in a big old house, on a island, with pets, and love interests, and nosy old folks? It has all the cozy mystery staples! And this book is no different. When our lead, Allie, discovers a body, and then another, it's unclear if a beauty pageant is to blame or it's something else all together. This quick read fits right in the series, and while it's not a stand-out, it's sure to be a hit with cozy mystery fans.

Thanks to Kensington Books for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 8/10

Whenever I get a book in this series, I know I need to set aside a big block of time because I will not want to put it down. Nancy Coco’s writing just flows so smoothly for me that I read right through the night. I love how the series has evolved over the years and how the characters have grown. The mystery was good but I figured out the killer early on, which rarely happens, so it’s puzzling to me why Allie didn’t figure it out and got herself in trouble yet again. That’s my only complaint about this book: I get that Rex has to keep discouraging her from investigating but does the conversating have to happen every time? It gets repetitive. Otherwise, another solid entry into the series.

Nancy Coco takes us on another journey with her main characters trying to solve another murder. I found the book enjoyable and easy to follow, but I kept second guessing who the killer was. I love a book that makes you put your detective hat on and work with the characters in solving the mystery. Such a fun and entertaining book.

I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

The Midsummer Night's Festival was a big hit until it got to naming the pageant queen and then it went downhill quickly. It ended with a floating body. Allie feels the need to help find the perpetrator by doing a little investigating much to the displeasure of Rex, her boyfriend/police officer.

I have enjoyed all of the books in A Candy-Coated Mystery series. There are likeable characters, a cute dog and a good mystery. Nonetheless, I have reservations about labeling Allie's somewhat impulsive and unsafe decisions as being a strong woman. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Allie McMurphy the owner of a building called The McMurphy. A cross of fudge shop and a hotel. After the Midsummer Night Festival and before the fireworks she takes her pup home. On her way back to see the fireworks she finds a body floating and tries to save the woman. But the woman has a bullet hole in her forehead. Allie then tries to find the killer before she's next.

This was my first Nancy Coco novel and my first in the series. This is book 10 of the Candy Coated Mystery Series. Not knowing anything about the series, I was able to start this and not feel completely lost. I think once I have time I will definitely go back and read the beginning 9 books of the series. I really enjoyed the setting and the characters.

This is the 10th installment in the Candy-Coated mystery series. The series is set on Mackinac Island and Allie McMurphy along with her boyfriend Rex (Chief of Police), friend Jen and her husband Shane are all enjoying the festivities at the Midsummer’s festival. Allie decides to take her dog Mal back to the hotel (Allie runs the McMurphy Hotel) and on her way back to the beach she sees what looks like a body in the water. She goes in only to find the dead body of the Winona the festival organizer. Allie does not plan on investigating after too many close calls in the past. At the festival one of the pageant contestants was disqualified at the last minute and festival committee members begin to receive threatening notes including Allie’s good friend and fellow sleuther Carol. Allie agrees to help Carol but there is no real suspect and so many at the festival who could have done it. This was again a solid mystery, I had my suspicions before it was revealed who the guilty one was but no motive known so it could have been yet another red herring. I really enjoy this series and all the fudge recipes. Looking forward to what will happen next. Enjoy.

I find these books fun and charming and a great tourism advert for Mackinac Island in Michigan. Except I think Ms. Coco grossly underexaggerates when she says there are five fudge shops on the island. That place is teeming with them.

Allie McMurphy is participating in the Midsummer Night's Festival when she stumbles across yet another dead body. The woman is the festival chairman and no one liked her, so there are a lot of other suspects,. When the other festival committee members start turning up dead, Allie gets involved again, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend and Island cop, Rex Manning. Allie promises to keep out of harm's way but stubbornly continues to investigate...

I figured out whodunit long before the reveal, which was a disappointment. I was not sure of motive but it did make sense. I did find it particularly annoying that Allie continued to put herself (and her DOG!) in harms' way and her going off about being her own person and it being a free country was stupid and out of character for her. I always enjoy meeting these characters and there are some new arcs set up for hopefully continuing the series. I will continue to read these as long as Coco writes them but I hope she can convince Allie to stop being ridiculous.

Let's start with the positive.

The story and setting sounded very interesting.

I'm sorry. But that's the end of my positivity. I may have gone in to this with my hopes too high. I'm an avid cozy book reader and know that there's a basic outline to all the stories. (If you read cozy mysteries, then none of this is a spoiler.) A midsummer Night's Fudge synopsis followed they typical cozy candy shop murder mystery. Single woman, hot boyfriend, close friends, owns her own business, small community, a surprise murder of a local, sleuths to find the murderer, endangers herself, boyfriend upset and wants her to stop investigating, murder solved by the end. What makes each book different is the writing. The settings. Descriptions of each character, their surroundings, and their relationships with each other. A basic plot can become imaginative and unique with twists, turns, and the use of a thesaurus.

I found the dialogue to be blunt, plain, curt and a little too frank. The characters reactions to anything where stiff and bland. They reacted the same to finding a dead body as they did to buying a cup of coffee. I've heard of Mackinack island. And knew it to be a unique place to visit. This book did not make me want to vacation there. It made it sound like any small town in America. Small. Quaint. Nice place to live. I looked up the island after I finished reading the book. The pictures confirmed that story does not do the setting any justice. The main character, Allie, was flat. Her interactions with other characters, flat. Her boyfriend, flat. Her dog was the most animated character of them all. It reaches a point where every other page, someone mentions about her sleuthing and her investigating. How good she is at it and how she's solves murders. Then her boyfriend Rex, the cop, is constantly reminding her to leave it to the pros and then shrugs his shoulders and lets her investigate.

In case you couldn't tell, I did not like this book. The writing is gruff and lack luster. I struggled to finish it, even though I would still consider it a quick read. It was honestly like reading a story I may have written when I was 12. Underdeveloped characters. Very basic writing style. Not something I was expecting from the 10th book in a series with so many readers already rating it with 4 or 5 stars and reviews with nothing but praise. But It. is just my opinion. And I truly hate to be so negative. But I will not be reading any more of this series. Even so, thank you to #NetGalley and #Kensington Books for this eARC title. Free read for an overly honest review.

During the Midsummer Night’s Festival, Allie watches as Winona Higer crowns the festival’s queen. Then, when the fireworks get too much, she decides to take her dog, Mal, home to spare her little ears. On her way back, Allie spots Winona Higer’s dead body in the lake. After Allie’s recruited to sub for the late Winona and serve as parade float judge, she hears rumors and gossip, and learns that threatening notes have been sent to some of the other judges. Her instincts kick in and Allie starts an investigation that becomes way too deadly. Will she find out whodunit before she’s in the killer’s crosshairs.
In my opinion, this was a great cozy mystery because it consists of enjoyable characters, a puzzling plot, a wonderful seaside town that embodies the word “cozy,” and chocolate. The main character is a strong woman who doesn’t let anyone push her around, and she always informs the police about the clues she discovers. The mystery is full of interesting plot twists that made me rethink the solution, and surprised me in the end. And, I love mysteries that take place in a seaside town because it reminds me of my childhood living near the shore. But, fair warning, all the fudge recipes will make you hungry. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced reader’s copy of this story. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Allie discovers a body floating in the harbor and another a day later in the bushes. She and Mal are quietly investigating, which doesn't sit well with Rex. When other members of the same committee seem to be targeted, the sleuthing really comes to a head. Lots of action in the story and the killer is a surprise to Allie. Luckily Mal will manage a rescue! Great read with good characters. Can't wait for the next installment!

“A Midsummer Night's Fudge“ the 10th instalment in the Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco. I really love this series and visiting Mackinac Island! After a summer celebration on Michigan’s Mackinac Island ends in murder, hotel and fudge shop owner Allie McMurphy puts on her sleuthing hat . . .

THERE’S NO SUGARCOATING A KILLER’S SCHEME

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading in a couple days. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I especially love little Mal which reminds me of my little Lindi. I think this might be my favourite book in the series but I say that every time.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I did figure out who the villain was shortly before Allie did.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Midsummer Night's Festival is a big deal for Mackinac Island and for Allie. who is busy making fudge for all the tourists. Unfortunately not everyone is excited about it- someone murdered Winona, the chairwoman of the committee! She's not going to investigate, no she's not. which makes her love interest Rex, a police officer happy. But then she's asked to join the committee, someone else is murdered, and she's getting nasty notes. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a classic cozy with a good setting (and recipes) and don't worry if you haven't read the earlier installments in the series- it will be fine as a standalone.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S FUDGE by Nancy Coco is the tenth book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series. This newest release is another fun return to Mackinac Island where summer is in full swing with the Midsummer Night’s Festival. The author does a marvelous job of bringing the unique island setting to life, with its shops, tourists, and no motorized vehicles (aside from emergency vehicles). Instead, the sound of birds, lakeside waves, and the clomping of horses pulling carriages can be heard, and the aroma of chocolate fudge fills the air. The protagonist Allie McMurphy owns the McMurphy hotel and fudge shop and is elbow deep in fudge as she caters to the tourists pouring in. Another strength of Ms. Coco is the development of her characters over the course of the series. Allie is genuinely likeable and you can’t help but adore her bichonpoo pup, Mal. The entire cast of core characters, including Jenn, her best friend, and Officer Rex Manning, her boyfriend, have shown growth and change over the years, making them relatable. It’s like catching up with old friends whenever you pick up the newest book.

Unfortunately, Mal has a penchant for sniffing out dead bodies. However, this time around, Allie is the one to find the first victim floating in the lake right after the festival’s fireworks show. Who could have wanted the festival’s chairwoman dead? Thrown into the list of suspects is a disqualified beauty pageant contender. As Rex investigates, Allie is determined to let him do his job without interfering… except Mal sniffs out another victim and another committee member is threatened. Allie can’t stand by and risk becoming a victim herself, having joined the committee. There are plenty of suspects to question and regrettably, despite Rex’s admonishment to not put herself in danger, Allie seems to put herself at risk by constantly taking Mal for a walk. She even strays from the “safer” populated areas of downtown. As she susses out secrets and digs to find the truth, the list of suspects grows. At the hair-raising reveal, I was shocked by the culprit… which always makes me happy when I’m fooled by misdirection and a well-plotted story!

Allie spends a lot of time in her fudge shop, making a multitude of flavors. On top of that, she gives two fudge-making demonstrations a day. All I can say is yum! I loved reading all the descriptions and couldn’t wait to try several of the recipes included in the book.

Allie McMurphy has taken over the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop on beautiful Mackinac Island. Her best friend Jenn is helping to keep the hotel full with her event business. Frances is the hotel general manager and her husband Douglas is the handyman.

The town is having a Midsummer Night's Festival. It opens with a masquerade ball, bonfire on the beach. Allie and Jen are at the bonfire with Allie's boyfriend Rex Manning and Jenn's new husband Shane Carpenter, As the fireworks start Allie realizes the noise is making her puppy anxious so she takes him home. On her way back to the bonfire Allie sees a body in the lake. It's the woman in charge of the festival committee and she's been murdered.

When Allie finds the body of another committee member, the pattern is clear. All of the committee members are in danger, including Allie.

Allie needs to identify the killer so she can get back to her normal daily routines.

I really enjoyed the book and intend to read more in this series.