This is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries and this time Riley Rhodes has created several custom flavors for a wealthy customer who is hosting a summer art festival. While investigating a murder that occurs on the grounds of the festival, Riley also ends up finding information about a crime from long ago. This secondary mystery is interesting, but takes a back seat to the current murder case.

This is a fun-to-read cozy series with a unique main character. Like a lot of cozy heroines, Riley has returned to her hometown after a failed romance and a career setback. However, Riley has a unique background. Her prior job was as a librarian and occasional undercover operative for the CIA! She doesn't need that experience to run her best friend's family ice cream shop, but it does come in handy when investigating a murder.

So far, the emphasis is on Riley’s sleuthing, ice cream, and friendship. However, there is a man in town that has caught her eye, so there could be some romance in the future. Riley is so busy with the demands of the festival that she has less time to spend in the ice cream shop. I missed that aspect, but I still really enjoyed the book and am interested in continuing to follow this series.

I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin’s Press. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Second in the Ice Cream Shop Mystery series by Meri Allen, this cozy mystery has it all: diverse characters, gothic elements, twists and turns, yummy foods. Riley Rhodes provides custom ice cream to an art event featuring the works of a very unlikeable photographer, who ends up dying in suspicious circumstances. A murder investigation gets underway with everyone being a suspect, causing Riley to do an investigation of her own.

What I loved:
Riley Rhodes - our lead, former CIA librarian, I mean how cool is that! Best of both words - books and intrigue, and current manager of an ice cream shop
Maud Monaco - former supermodel, royalty, supporter of the arts, owner of Moy Mull castle in New England, apiarist
This ridiculous name for the ice cream shop: Udderly Delightful Ice Cream
Moy Mull Castle - a castle with a dark past, hidden rooms, delightfully dark and gothic, imported from Scotland

What I missed:
Romance - most cozy mysteries have some romantic aspect to them
Mint Chocolate - did I miss it? There was a lot of reference to pumpkin spice ice cream (which I can't imagine being good at all
The first book - I did not read it. I think I missed out some of the critical back story here to make sense of all the characters.

My recommendation: if you like cozy mysteries, check this one out - but read the series in order, I'm going back to the first book to fill in some of the details.

Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress fo read and review this book.
Look for this book July 25, 2022 - you won't be dissappointed.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Riley Rhodes is enjoying her new career running a New England ice cream shop known as Udderly Delightful Ice Cream. Riley is summoned to a local castle (yes - a castle) by a retired supermodel, Maud, to cater a fantasy ice cream social. It will be the event of the season as they will also unveil the newest exhibit for renowned photographer, Adam Blasco. When Adam is found dead in the dungeon in a locked room, the mystery ensues. Riley is a former CIA librarian and her spidey senses will not allow her to sit on the sidelines. This book has it all with "ghosts", castles, secret passageways, dungeons, dark art and a reclusive super model. The author provides plenty of suspects and the mystery is interesting. How did he die in a locked room where only one key exists? The characters were fun, but my favorite character was Sprinkle, a diva cat, and I do mean diva. Sprinkle apparently used to be on the model circuit for cats, and when she does not get her way, she shows her displeasure by tearing things up! I can just envision this cat! If you enjoy a fun and clean mystery, you will enjoy this one!

Riley is managing the ice cream shop and providing special treats at an photography art opening. When the artist being shown is found dead in the dungeon of the castle with doors locked, something hits Riley wrong. With plenty of suspects and people who had beefs with photographer Riley is drawn in to investigate. This second bok in the series reads quickly and is well paced. I am interested in seeing more in this series.

I find Riley Rhodes a very likeable protagonist. She has an incredibly interesting background (as a disgraced CIA librarian) and has a very practical personality. Her background means that she makes a solid amateur sleuth as you would except someone to have worked for the CIA to have some relevant skills. But she has some weaknesses – which was evident when a thief took advantage of her in italy, resulting in her “hiatus” from the CIA. However, I think her failings make her more human and more relatable. Even Jack Voelker, the new Penniman Police Chief, is tarting to respect Riley’s detecting skills (albeit begrudgingly).

Several of the supporting characters that were featured prominently in the first book (including Riley’s best friend Caroline, and farm managers Darin & Pru) are pretty much MIA in this book but it gives others that were just introduced in the first book to get more involved this time around, including Willow (Darin & Pru’s daughter), and sisters Flo & Gerri.

Plus, there are lots of new characters to meet, including retired model Maud Monaco, Luca (a farm intern from Italy that is romantically involved with Willow) and Maud’s assistant, Prentiss Love. I really liked Prentiss – he’s a bit over-exuberant, but he seems like a lot of fun and I felt like we were able to get to know him (and the other new characters) fairly well considering they’ve only appeared in this one story. I do hope several of them appear in future instalments.

Of course, the ice cream could count as a supporting character on its own. There are lots of traditional flavours, but as someone who has often made her own ice cream, I absolutely drooled over the inventive ice cream flavours that were mentioned. My favourite flavour was the “Cherry Vanilla with Luxardo Cherries Poached in Bourbon and Cinnamon”. YUM. And I DEFINITELY want to try to recreate the Cranachan (a traditional Scottish dessert) that Riley gave her own twist to.

Since I read mysteries pretty carefully and with an eye on trying to figure out the perpetrator, I did figure out who did it very early on, HOWEVER, the motive was a lot harder figure out. There were several viable suspects and lots of red herrings and it was a really enjoyable ride to watch the story play out.

The only thing that would have made the story even enjoyable for me was that I wanted to hear more about the beekeeping aspect as I find bees and beekeeping fascinating. Since two of the suspects were beekeepers, I thought we’d spend more time on that subject.

This is quickly becoming a favourite series of mine. While the ice cream gig is currently temporary for Riley, I obviously hope that it will be something she decides to do on a longer term basis. There hasn’t been any romance for her yet either and, while I don’t need a lot of romance in my mysteries, I feel like this is an area that could be developed in the future.

Oh, and by the way, I know some of you will vehemently disagree with me, but I’m totally with Riley – there are so many amazing flavours out there, but so many people seem obsessed with the flavour that I often lament “What was it with Pumpkin Spice?” as she does. LOL. I may not be a fan of of Pumpkin Spice, but I’m huge fan of this series and I’m looking forward to the next scoop!

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

I was gifted to read this book from netgalley and the publisher.
It's about a art festival and the ice cream shop in town is the one supplying all of the ice cream for the art festival with a theme and there doing a good job.
Then there is a murder a guy named Adam was found dead in a dungeon bathroom a bee sting they need to find who really did it and why. It gets interesting

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing me with a free ebook ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

I've read lots of cozy mysteries and always enjoy the quirky characters and the huge range of occupations they all seem to have. I did read the first in this series, though I honestly can't remember much about it other than the ice cream stand. Still, I was excited to be given a chance to read and review this title.

The story is a fun, relaxing read full of the range of characters and setting most expect from a cozy mystery. Riley is a bit different, though, and I do wish I understood more of her back story. The setting of a castle from Scotland was an interesting twist.

I'm a bit confused by the title, as I don't recall much talk about a mint chip ice cream in this one - I kept expecting that to play a larger role in the book. The descriptions in the book are a bit long winded as well. I prefer to have a few details and let my imagination fill in the blanks, so portions of the story felt a bit long and bogged down for me. That said, I'm sure I will look for book 3 when it comes out. It is a fun series and very readable.

3 start for "I liked it" - I would recommend it to other cozy mystery readers

This is the second delightful book in the An Ice Cream Shop Mystery series. I had purchased the first book “Rocky Road to Ruin”, but it was in my TBR list.
When I got the opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book through Net Galley, I was over the moon! Since the first book was published, I was intrigued by the ‘ice cream’ reference, since I am an ice cream addict, in addition to my being addicted to reading cozy mysteries.
It was easy to get to know Riley Rhodes, the manager of the ice cream shop, but it took me a little while to get all the rest of characters and keep tally of their motives for possibly murdering the obvious victim. Fortunately, the murder does not occur until page 76, so by then I was well into the story, and was ready to hand in a verdict of “not guilty” to whoever murdered the bad person.
Meri Allen is an expert storyteller, describing beautiful pastoral scenes that remain in my mind. She also is brilliant at allowing us to immerse ourselves in the characters’ lives and personalities.
The plot seems simple, but it actually is quite involved and full of twists and turns…when you think you know what is happening, you find yourself in the midst of a new twist.
I tried to guess whodunnit among so many possible suspects, but in the end, I was wrong. Riley proves to be a most likeable and excellent sleuth, and it was fun to share in her adventure, which included an amazing Scottish Castle, a cozy little town in Connecticut, and lovable characters plus two cats…well, one of the cats is a troublemaker, but so entertaining.
As soon as I finished reading “Mint Chocolate Murder” I just had to read the first book, and I found that it revealed some of the questions I had about the second book. It would be best to read the books in order, but either one can certainly be read as a standalone.
I truly and enthusiastically recommend this book to any cozy mystery lovers.

Thank you NetGalley, Meri Allen and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Mint Chocolate Murder. This is my personal review.
Mint Chocolate Murder is the second book in the series AN Ice Cream Shop Mystery series.
I loved this book as much as the first one.
Riley Rhodes is the shop manager at the ice cream shop Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop.
She is asked to cater an artistic event and she jumps at the chance to make some one-of-a-kind recipes for it.
When a murder happens, Riley is all set to find out who is the killer. This book had the twists and turns, and everything needed to keep me guessing who was guilty of the crime!
I am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Riley Rhodes is the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream Shop in the small New England town of Penniman. Riley is excited to be included in the art festival being put on my Maud Monaco at Maud’s castle, Moy Mull. The festival centers around the work of famous photographer Adam Blasco. When Adam is found murdered in the dungeon of the castle, Riley uses her sleuthing skills to figure out what happened. Adam’s reputation soon comes to light and Riley discovers that several of the people attending the festival had reason to want Adam dead – including Maud.
I found the book enjoyable. There were several side stories going on that kept me interested. I’m not sure, however, why it is Mint Chocolate Murder. I don’t remember anything about mint chocolate ice cream in the book.

This is the second novel in “The Ice Cream Shop Mysteries” and I’m really enjoying this series. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first book in order to understand this one, but I highly recommend reading it just because of how enjoyable it is. These are fun and lighthearted murder mysteries ( such an oxymoron!) that can be read quickly.

Our very likeable protagonist Riley Rhodes gets an offer to cater an event at Moy Mull Castle, A huge gothic estate, it has been turned into an artist haven by a former model. When someone is found dead inside the locked dungeon, Riley uses her sleuthing skills to uncover who did it and why.

This series has a lot of interesting characters, both new and returning from the first novel, but I didn’t have a difficult time keeping them straight because they’re all so different and interesting. The plot was a little slow to take-off, but once the murder happened I couldn’t put it down. There are so many twists and turns and possible suspects that I was kept guessing for most of the story. As soon as I thought I knew what happened, something else happened to make me realize I was wrong. I was really entertained! I hope the next one delves more into Riley’s CIA past because I’m really intrigued by that.

Mint Chocolate Murder by Meri Allen is the second book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries series. I always enjoy reading locked room mysteries. In this case the culprit tried to make the murder look accidental. That wasn't about to work with amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes on the case. This book has a well-developed storyline and likable characters. It started out a little slowly for me but picked up and kept my attention through til the end. This has been a fun series so far and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I love ice cream so I wish there were more ice cream related murder series! I was a little surprised that this too place at a farm and not the ice cream shop but I guess the author wanted to mix it up. It was extremely slow to start - it took forever for the murder to actually happen. There were some good red herrings to throw you off the trail and I liekd her mystery solving parts but the other parts of the book did seem to drag on a tad too long. But overall it was a good 2nd book in the series.

When our son moved to Massachusetts for grad school, he lived a few years in a small town outside of Boston. One of the fun things to do is get ice cream at the local "dairy bar." This is the type of establishment I picture when reading the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Meri Allen. This new cozy mystery series features Riley Rhodes who has returned to her hometown, a small village in New England. She is running her best friend's family business - Udderly Delightful Ice Cream while she rests from her time as a librarian (and undercover operative) for the CIA.. The supporting characters are further developed this second volume and new ones are introduced. I like that Riley's relationship with the CIA is a promise for future adventures and she has little romantic entanglements so far. Cozy mystery series often use all of the intrigue and romance in the first few books. Looking forward to book number three!

I didnt read book 1 before reading this sequel, but most cozy mysteries don't need you to read them all in order, each book is a different case and is solved in that same book, you just miss the background personal life things related to the main character. I felt like the author did a decent job of getting you up to speed with who the MC is without making it over detailed.

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second Riley Rhodes mystery. Riley is a former librarian for the CIA, now the manager of the Udderly Delightful Ice Cream shop in New England. In this installment, Riley and her employees are catering a fancy Ice cream social in Moy Mull castle - a gothic monstrosity built during the gilded age by an eccentric millionaire. Maud Monaco, a former high-fashion model, transformed the castle into an artist colony and the social is for the opening of an exhibit by irritating, but talented Adam Blasco. As the festival opens, gossip and rumor abound, mostly centered around the photographer who has a history of obsession with his models. Of course Riley and her friends are curious and begin looking into the artist's background. It is not surprising that Blasco is found dead in the castle dungeon. Riley's skills turn up more than one suspect in this fun, delicious mystery. Mint Chocolate Murder is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. Fans of alliteration will adore Allen's New England story - Moy Mull, Maud Monaco are only the beginning. Thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

I loved visiting Udderly Delicious and Penniman again! This time we are off to an art festival at Mount Mull. The castle that a rich guy built for his Scottish wife back in the day. Now a retired supermodel and current businesswoman owns it. She has Riley coming in to provide ice cream for the festival and there is even going to be a cookbook.
We meet Adam, the photographer, and learn so much drama that surrounds him. It is obvious that he is the victim, but who is the murderer? Vye, his talented and underrated assistant? Maud, the ex/supermodel? Prentiss, Maud’s long suffering assistant? Luca, Willow’s new love interest who didn’t trust Adam’s intentions? Or someone else from Adam’s past? And how did his body get locked into the dungeon/conference room?
I picked out the important clue, but I didn’t know what that clue meant. Of course, I think I picked up on some unimportant clues as well. So I wasn’t that great of a sleuth.
Oh! And Brandon made another monstrous ice cream creation. It was green with marshmallows and some other stuff in it. Of course you know Riley made some good ones too. Primarily pumpkin spice. I don’t think she made a Mint Chocolate one even though that is the title of the book. That however is the biggest complaint I could make about the book.
The mystery was great. The characters were great. The setting was great. The book was great.

This is a great continuation of Meri Allen's series. If you're looking for a lighthearted, fun cozy mystery, this is the book for you - and it even includes ice cream recipes!

If Riley Rhodes thought leaving her career as a CIA librarian to run an ice cream shop in her hometown would be quiet, she’s in for a surprise. In Mint Chocolate Murder, the second in her series, Riley is embroiled in a murder at an arts festival hosted by a former model. It occurs n a Scottish Castle improbably placed in New England. I think I suspected nearly every character in the book of the murder at one point or another – not an easy feat to pull off! I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Mint Chocolate Murder from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. The setting and characters were all interesting, especially Sprinkles. The locked door mystery came to a plausible conclusion. We were given the clues at the same time as Riley which was nice. The ice cream recipe at the back was a good bonus.