A CHRISTMAS CANDY KILLING is the first book in the brand-new Killer Chocolate Mysteries by Christina Romeril. From the darling mystery book and chocolates shop, Murder and Mayhem, to the “killer” chocolates named after deadly poisons used in murder mysteries (Ricin Raspberry Creams anyone?), to the identical twin sisters, of a certain age, who run the shop, this new series has an appealing premise. The main protagonist, Alex, runs the bookshop while her sister, Hanna, creates the poison-themed chocolates. The core characters are well-developed and I enjoyed seeing the interaction between the two sisters. Sometimes, in a new series, the details of getting to know the setting (which is in picturesque Montana), the townspeople, and the personalities, can slow down the plot just a bit. But I still found the storyline enjoyable with a solid mystery to solve, and it whet my appetite to read more in the Killer Chocolate Mysteries now that the foundation has been laid.

When the organizer of the Sleuth Book Club is found murdered by one of the chocolates, Alex is thrust into the role of suspect. Using (non-poisonous) chocolates from the shop, Alex tempts townspeople into talking to her. The victim had confided in her, without naming names, that she suspected a murderer featured on a true crime show was now a resident of the town. Ms. Romeril weaves in researching the past and piecing together who might fit the bill. Needless to say, some of the secretive townsfolk aren’t happy with the implications and having their past brought to light. I greatly enjoyed the potential love interests between the sisters and the two men who supported their investigation and were good sounding boards. The reveal was quite suspenseful, no matter that I had a strong suspicion who the culprit was. The author wrote a heart stopping scene that kept me engrossed until I’d read the last page.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I always love a good cozy mystery set during the holidays. Unfortunately, Christina Romeril’s first novel, set during the Christmas season, fell short of my expectations. Set in Montana, the series focused on twin sisters (Alex and Hanna) who own a bookstore/candy making business, and whose friends begin dying as a result of real poison placed in their poison-themed chocolates. The author should have spent more time introducing the reader to the main characters, as well as to the place where the novel occurs. A cozy should make you want to visit the place where the mystery takes place and to get to know the characters. Humor is also important and there really isn’t any here. Without details that invest you in the story, reading the mystery feels like playing a game of Clue. 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril is the first book in the Killer Chocolate Mystery series. Harriston, Montana is known as a safe town. No one locks their doors. But then a woman was murdered. Town gossip ran rampant. Alex and her twin sister Hanna get involved in the murder investigation. After all Alex is a suspect and they don't think the sheriff has an open mind in her investigation. The twins learned a lot from town gossip and questioning their suspects. These characters and the secondary characters in this storyline are all very likable. There's plenty of suspense and some danger as Alex takes point on the investigation. I really enjoyed this book. It a great first in the series.

This book was fun to read! I look forward to reading more books by the author. She has a way of drawing the reader into the story's action. The story was action packed and suspenseful. Alex , co-owner of a bookstore/gift shop
in a small Montana town becomes an amateur sleuth when her elderly friend, Jane, is murdered. There are several suspects to consider, and the murder of another elderly woman named Netta complicates matters even further. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop and they sell their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. Hannah makes the chocolate and Alex runs the book shop. Alex is involved with the Garden Club and Jane is her mentor. Jane loves the murder mysteries and watches several real life cold cases that they are profiling on a program she watches. In the past she has accused people of being the person profiled and she was mistaken. People think she is nosy but she tells Alex about a case she saw and she recognizes one of the people but before she can tell her about it she is murdered and Alex finds the body. Jane is a dear friend and a box of Alex's chocolates are beside the murder scene. Jane has to investigate to clear her name and the episode that Jane wanted her to watch has been deleted. This is a fun read I recommend it.

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah own Murder and Mayhem, a mystery books and poison-themed Killer Chocolates store. But when the sisters encounter a real killer who may be connected to an unsolved crime, Alex is considered the main suspect, and their chocolates were found at the scene. The sisters are determined to clear their name. Soon, their investigation may turn the entire town against them and they could become the next victims. Will they solve the crime before Christmas?
This book is interesting. I didn’t connect emotionally with the twins, but I enjoyed the premise of a bookstore that sells chocolates. The twins are lucky to live in their town with forgiving neighbors. Alex especially is quite nosy.
And I thought I solved the crime early on, but there are plenty of red herrings that lead to an unexpected ending.
I would definitely read more books in this series.

An enjoyable debut cozy mystery. Middle-aged twin sisters Alex and Hanna own a combo mystery bookstore/chocolate candy shop. An elderly woman, Jane, is convinced a killer in a true crime show lives in their village and invites Alex over to view the show. When Alex arrives, she discovers Jane dead, with a box of their chocolates nearby. The police suspect her since she is a beneficiary in Jane's will. Alex begins snooping around to figure out who killed Jane. There are various suspects and quirky characters and this was a fun read.

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first in a new series. Twin sisters Alex and Hanna own a bookstore that also sells gourmet chocolate candy. When Alex finds her friend Jane dead she decides to track down the killer.

Alex is the main character in the book. Hanna is the one who makes the chocolates, which have fun names inspired by poisons, while Alex works on the sales floor. She is also the main one investigating although they get some help from their friends. I enjoyed those discussions. Tom, Maggie, and Drew were my favorite characters. There are a lot of characters introduced though. They were hard to keep track of until near the end of the book. I wanted to see Hanna involved more and don't feel I got to know her.

Reading was pleasant but not exciting. I also didn't get enough Christmas feeling. The story takes place in winter, obviously, and the main character hates the cold weather and kept wishing for it to heat up. I don't know why that bothered me and I know it's realistic. Not everyone likes snow. I guess it's because it took me out of the setting. And if Alex is going to hate the cold and snow so much maybe more reasons need to be shown as to why. Anyway that's just a tiny thing.

There is potential here for future books in the series. Some characters will provide amusement and there are potential love interests for both sisters. I enjoyed the showdown with the killer and how it played out. I think readers will enjoy that scene.

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read.

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first book in Christina Romeril’s new series, A Killer Chocolate Mystery. Alex and Hanna own Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and Bookshop in Harriston, Montana. Alex’s elderly friend, Jane, has been murdered. The only two suspects the police are looking at are Alex and Jane’s handyman. Alex is determined to figure out who murdered her friend, so that she doesn’t end up spending Christmas singing carols from a jail cell.

This was a great start to a new series. It’s a fast-paced, easy read. Harriston is a quaint little town with wonderful little shops. It’s the kind of town where everyone knows everyone else’s business, almost, as there a quite a few people in Harriston who are keeping secrets. The characters are relatable and well developed. Louise is my favorite, her attitude made me laugh. Some of the characters have a lot of baggage in their past that brought a lot of depth and realism to the story. Even Alex and Hannah’s dog, Miss Watson, reveals a previously unknown side of her personality. The mystery is cleverly plotted, with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Just when you think you can eliminate someone as a suspect, you learn something new that puts that character back on the list. A little cliffhanger keeps the intrigue alive waiting for book two. And of course, there are recipes at the end. Chocolate recipes. I think this mystery will appeal to a very wide audience. You won’t regret reading A Christmas Candy Killing.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a digital advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Christmas Candy Killing gave me classic cozy vibes. You’ve got an older female amateur sleuth with an emotional and practical reason for sussing out the killer Jane, the victim, was one of Alex’s friends.Bonus - cute pup named Lady Watson.

The small town is full of quirky characters - many with motives and secrets. One of the sisters’ secret weapons is that Hannah dated one of the town’s deputies and they’re still on good enough terms that he’s willing to share confidential information.

You get delicious descriptions and even recipes of Hannah’s chocolate creations that Murder and Mayhem sells.

My one quibble is that as suspects get eliminated, it becomes glaringly obvious who the killer is.

But if you’re looking for a mystery with all of the holiday vibes, give this delicious read a try.

I love a holiday-themed cozy… especially a Christmas one. This is a super cute book. The characters are great and I love the candy shop setting. I am look forward to the next installment.

If you enjoy a good cozy mystery set at Christmas time, then you may want to read A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romerill. Twin sisters, Alex and Hannah own their own mystery book store, Murder and Mayhem. Besides selling books, the sister also sale chocolates which are named after poisons used in murder mysteries. One evening, Alex goes over to Jane’s house to watch a movie. Unfortunately, she finds Jane dead with a box of some of the killer chocolates nearby. The police are suspecting two people with one of them being Alex because she is listed as a beneficiary in Jane’s will. Will Alex be able to figure out who really did kill Jane or will she spend Christmas in jail?

A Christmas Candy Killing is set in a small town full of quirky residents. The story is suspenseful as well as entertaining.

A Christmas Candy Killing introduces Alex Wright and Hannah Eastham, identical middle age twins who together own Murder and Mayhem Killer Chocolates and Bookshop. They have a book club, Sleuth Book Club. Jane Burrows, a book club member and friend of Alex, tells Alex that she recently saw a show about an old case that was never solved in which a killer murdered 4 people and Jane is convinced that the killer is living in their town. She invites Alex to come to her house but when Alex arrives, she finds Jane dead. Next to Jane is a box of Killer Chocolates.

The sheriff has two suspects. One is a man named Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving Jane’s home at a time relevant to the time of Jane’s death. The other is Alex whom the sheriff suspects because she is named as a beneficiary in Jane’s will. Seeing no other choice, Alex decides to commence her own investigation to unmask the real killer and cleae her own name.

There are plenty of plot twists and interesting characters and Ms. Romeril has a great writing style which keeps the plot moving smoothly. I’m not a huge fan of foodie mysteries but this one both held my attention and was very enjoyable.

Behind Halloween, Christmas is my favorite holiday... but a Christmas murder mystery? SOLD. I adored the mystery and really found myself enthralled and engaged in solving the mystery of the story. I can't wait to read the next book and see what it brings to the table.

Fun start to a new series, but I had moments of confusion because the author writes like I I should already know things. Besides the confusion, the setting was good, the characters fun, and the mystery zippy. Looking forward to reading book 2, especially now that I’m actual caught up.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

This was good read. I loved the setting. I will be honest I thought there would be more snow in Montana during Christmas so that detail of not a lot of wintery weather did not compute with me.

I enjoyed the main character Alex. She has an identical twin. I actually liked her twin better. She did not seem depressed like Alex.

The bookstore and idea of poisoned chocolates for sale in the store is a unique idea. The town was very charming.

The romantic interests are definitely a slow burn so hopefully we see more for both Alex and Hannah in the next book.

The mystery was methodical and had several suspects. I did not figure it out until the end was is good. I like that suspense feeing as you try to figure the murder out.

My overall rating is 4 stars snd looking forward to next book in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the first in a new series. The characters are interesting and fun to get to know. It did feel like there is some background with the main character that we don't know yet, but that is the great thing about a series, it will be revealed as we get to know the characters more in each book. The story line was easy to follow and flowed smoothly. With this book, I had an idea of who the murderer was and was actually right this time. The setting was well done. I enjoyed getting to know Alex and Hannah. They are twin sisters that are a little bit older and have moved to a new town to start over. They open a book shop and Hannah makes chocolates to sell at the shop. One of their friends is murdered and Alex becomes one of the suspects. They do some investigating to help prove her innocence. Alex is the main character in this book. I am looking forward to the next book and getting to know more about the sisters and their friends.

I really liked this! I enjoyed all of the characters. I especially loved the idea behind the candy shop. Very clever and you could tell that the characters were fans of mysteries too which I thought added a fresh side to cozy mysteries. I'm hoping this becomes a series because I would 100% continue with it.

Christmas, chocolate, and mystery are fun times for all. Being from Michigan, I loved the talks about Frankenmuth in the story. I found the mystery fun to read but I struggled from time to time with how much Alex left a lot of the store work to Hannah while she "worked the mystery". I wanted Hannah to be out more and about with Alex, and the both of them together to solve the case.
I am interested to see where the next book leads..

Thank you Crooked Lane Books, and NetGally for this advance read.

I consider myself fortunate to have received an ARC of #AChristmasCandyKilling by Christina Romeril from #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks.
Although I found the beginning of the book to be a tad bit slow, Romeril quickly picks up the pace and creates a fascinating mystery with a large number of suspects and a surprising number of people with secrets for one small town. The number of residents hiding something in their past put me in mind of the witness protection program.
The book is well-written, and while I found the examination and re-examination of clues to be repetitive a few times, once the action picked up, the book became a page-turner for me. The artwork on the cover is lovely as well.
Mentions of the twins' hometown of Frankenmuth made me nostalgic for my own two visits there, and descriptions of their family's restaurant definitely brought to mind a certain establishment in the Bavarian tourist town. I did find the naming of edible treats after poisons an odd choice, but it does give the book a unique feature that isn't found elsewhere in the crowded genre of cozies.
All-in-all, I recommend this #cozymystery for fans of the genre.