Dollycas's Thoughts

We are back in Penniman, Connecticut just in time for the Halloween Happening and a Halloween-themed wedding complete with an ice cream cake created by Riley. A crew is also in town filming a rom-com with child star Cooper Collins at the helm.

There is some drama with the wedding as socialite Diantha, who happens to be the child star's mother, is marrying the long-time chef, Dominic, of Inn on the Green. He is recently divorced from Riley's friend, Mary Ann, who is also a chef and she has worked side by side with her husband for years.

The event takes a deadly turn when the bride-to-be is found dead in her bed and the wedding cake is destroyed. Of course, the prime suspect is Mary Ann but it seems every wedding guest including her children, had a reason to want the woman dead.

While Riley's work at the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop winds down for the season she needs to put on her sleuthing hat and use her CIA librarian instincts and skills to swirl up a way to put the freeze on the real killer.

______

Riley continues to show her sleuthing chops while she handles to day to day business at Udderly Delicious. She gets some fun news at the beginning of the book and part of her past tries to reinsert itself into her present. By the end of the story, she makes a big decision but another is still pending.  I love the supporting cast of family and friends the author has surrounded her with. I really enjoy getting to know her dad and step-mom better and love it when the frisky feline, Sprinkles steals every scene she is in. Diantha was quite the diva and had no trouble stirring up the drama. Her sons were really out for themselves as well.

The murder mystery was really interesting and the murder weapon was surprising and unique. Riley did find ways to be at the inn a lot to keep an on eye on all the suspects and I had fun tagging along with her. There were plenty of clues and nice twists but I did focus on the guilty party long before Riley. That did not hinder my enjoyment of the story at all. There is a subplot concerning George Washington that I found really intriguing. It was a true puzzle to solve as those clues fell into place. The movie being filmed really added to the story and the author found cute ways to inject a lot of humor there.

I enjoyed the Halloween theme and all the Halloween plans for the town's Happening. The leaf peepers were out in force. While I liked the description of the autumn weather I am not ready to leave summer behind. All the stops at Udderly Delicious sent my ice cream cravings into overdrive.

Fatal Fudge Swirl is a fine third installment of the Ice Cream Shop Mystery Series.  I am hoping Riley's decision at the end of the book is setting up book four. I am excited to see what happens next.

I can guarantee you will be craving ice cream as soon as you start reading so dish up a scoop or two of your favorite and enjoy it while reading this fun mystery.

I haven't read many cozy mysteries, but this one might take the cake... or ice cream? I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the town. While this is the third book in a series, I read it as a standalone and haven't read the first two. I thought the pacing was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed all the characters and the roles they played throughout the book. They added a lot to the story and there were a multitude of them, but thankfully the main character/ice cream shop manager/former CIA agent Riley wrote a list to help everyone keep track.

If you want a light mystery, this is definitely for you.

While summer is the time when most people enjoy frozen treats, Riley and her team are dishing up some spookily festive flavours for Halloween. While her staff manage the ice cream shop operations, Riley spends most of her time at the Inn on the Park, most of the time helping out as a housekeeper, and finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery.

There was less focus on ice cream (unfortunately) but we still heard about some of the yummy-sounding flavours (my favourite would definitely be the Spiced Eggnog) and of course, there was Diantha’s Halloween themed-wedding cake – an ice cream creation with 3 layers (Pumpkin Spice, Chai Latte, and Fudge Swirl, with a filling of bitter chocolate ganache and caramel cookie crumbles – YUM) and the action was definitely more centred around the Inn, which was a nice change of pace.

The pacing is even – there were lots of suspects to question and follow, and the mystery was set up very nicely. If you paid attention, you would have a good chance at figuring out who the killer was as there were clues cleverly planted throughout the story, leading up to the final reveal. It was a very well though-out plot and I appreciated having my own “A-ha” moment when I figured out whodunnit.

Riley’s convenient placement has a member of the Inn staff allows her to snoop around and chat with the suspects fairly easily, but it never felt contrived or forced. With her background as an ex-CIA librarian, Riley has the skills to do research, background checks, and sleuth unobtrusively. I do like that she almost never takes too many risks – I always cringe when amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries do something dumb, like running after suspects into a dark cellar alone, or leaving their phone at home (who does that?) But Riley is competent, level-headed, and smart. She’s also warm and loyal, making her a great friend, and a main character that readers can cheer for.

While most of the characters we’ve met in the series take a back seat, there were lots of new ones to take their place. Diantha and her family, plus the Inn staff, were all very unique and interesting. While it may seem like a lot of characters to keep track of, they all had very distinct personalities and it was surprisingly easy to remember who was who, even only just a few chapters.

There are also some developments on storylines that have been running through the series, including Riley and Caroline’s relationships with their respective love interests that only offered the reader a glimpse of what may come in future books. While Fatal Fudge Swirl is the third in the series, you can read it as a standalone, but it’s definitely more enjoyable to read the books in order.

One of the things that I love about cozy mysteries is that there are characters that you are comfortable with, and there is always an interesting murder mystery to solve. Here we have former CIA, librarian and inspiring sleuth Riley who now, is it an ice cream shop, but is once again forced to investigate on her friend is a suspect in the murder. I love the interaction of all the characters and really enjoyed the clues to who was the murderer along the way. It’s an entertaining murder mystery to read.

This was another great addition to the series. I especially liked that we got to know the characters a bit more in this book. Their back stories, feelings, etc. I felt like there was growth. The mystery was really good too, nice and Halloween festive!

A Halloween wedding sounds like a perfect time for innocent fun, along with attending the local Halloween happenings about town. It was not so innocent for someone with malicious intent! In this third offering in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries, the death of a bride on the night before her wedding day offers the opportunity for Riley and friends to engage in helping law enforcement solve the crime. Suspects include the sons of the bride Diantha, as well as the manager of the Inn and other assorted locals.

To add to the suspense, a movie is being filmed using town locales, so actors and others from out of town also could be suspects. Toss in a little blackmail, and the stage is set for solving the crime!

This is a cozy mystery that lacks descriptive intimacy, violence or strong language. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. I liked this one the best of all three in the series so far. The food treats sound yummy, and the spooky fun atmosphere add to the enjoyment of the story. The means of committing the crime is unusual, one that I have not come across in many years of reading mystery novels. The lovable supporting cast of characters includes Riley's dad and his wife, adorably feisty cats, and Riley's friends.

Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with interestingly realistic settings and intriguing means, motives, and opportunities will find this a welcome addition to their reading lists.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is the first book I read in this Meri Allen series, but I was able to get into it and follow the characters pretty quickly. The series follows former CIA Librarian, Riley Rhodes who now manages an ice cream parlor in a small town. This story is set in the fall and Riley is hired by her best friend and chef, Mary Ann to do a Halloween inspired ice cream cake for a local socialite's wedding. This is suppose to be a huge exposure for the shop and there's even a movie being filmed in town with celebrities that are staying at the inn where the wedding will be.

Unfortunately, the wedding doesn't happen because Diantha is found dead in her bedroom. Was it murder and if so who could have killed the bride to be?
Fun, quick and entertianing read. Just wish I could eat the ice cream too.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Fatal Fudge Swirl will have you wanting to eat allllll the ice cream!!

This is the third book in the series, but the second book I've read. I was looking forward to getting back with these characters but I'll admit, I wasn't feeling it at the beginning of the story. There seems to be a few too many characters than we need to currently know and some of the character connections are difficult to follow. But once Riley got a good footing on basic details of the murder and began putting things together, I was hooked. Overall, I enjoyed the story but I don't know that I will continue reading the series into book 4.

Fatal Fudge Swirl is out now! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!

I had a fun time reading Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen. I had a work trip to Seattle and I devoured the whole story on the plane ride. It was the perfect cozy mystery. I love reading mysteries taking place in small towns where every character can be considered a suspect. I loved the ice cream recipes it was the perfect combination of mystery and summer read. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this opportunity. I can’t wait to read more of Meri Allen’s work.

I,liked this however I'm not a fan of cozy Halloween mysteries . This was enjoyable by far and I am looking forward to possibly another in this series

When a book begins with a list of characters, I get nervous. Does that mean the author knows that they aren’t defining their characters with individual voices or that there are too many to keep straight? Although the recurring characters were not included in the list, readers should be familiar with the women of Penniman by the time they reach the third book in the series.

I read this Halloween themed book during a summer heatwave and just the thought of cold foggy nights and ice cream was refreshing.

The storyline was a bit twisty and the subplots were weak. There is unnecessary repetition and the clues along the way may cause the reader a moment or two to connect the dots. Am I the only one that removes luggage tags after each flight?

By the end, the male characters all melded together. Which brother was which, who was the manager of the Inn, the groom to be, and who was the chef? Maybe I should have paid more attention to the list of characters at the beginning of the book.

Meri Allen delivers with our favorite heroine, Riley Rhodes, ex-CIA librarian and amateur sleuth. This time, Riley finds herself drawn into the murder of Diantha, owner of the hotel where her friend is the chef, and the prime suspect in the murder. Can Riley find the killer, and save her friend?

Fatal Fudge Swirl is the third book in the Ice Cream Mystery Series by Meri Allen. This cozy mystery is rich with historic details (the author has clearly done her research) and a festive Halloween theme. This rather complex story has multiple plot points merging together within an atmospheric setting and ultimately a satisfying, feel-good conclusion.

In this story we follow Riley Rhodes, our main character. She’s a former CIA librarian and current manager of Udderly Delicious Ice Cream shop in Penniman, Connecticut, her hometown. Riley is asked by her friend who runs the local Inn, to create a Halloween-themed ice cream cake for the wedding of socialite Diantha Collins and Inn chef, Dominic. Concurrently, there is a film shoot occurring at the Inn, and one of the well-known actors is Diantha’s son, and one is the director. The cast and family are all there for the wedding, though not all are celebrating it. When Diantha turns up dead in her room, there are a whole host of possible suspects.

This multi-faceted story is a slow-burn mystery with many elements, and it’s admittedly, a bit confusing at times. I do think the story could have been condensed a bit, but regardless, it’s a smart, surprising, well-written cozy mystery that will be perfect for the fall.

It's Autumn in Penniman, Connecticut and tourists are out in full force. Riley Rhodes, former CIA librarian, is loving her new life managing the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop owned by her best friend and roommate.

Former resident and child star Cooper Collins is in town overseeing the production of a movie. In addition to that, his socialite mother Diantha Collins (maiden name AND the name of the husband that fathered her children?!?) is planning a lavish Halloween wedding at her Inn on the Green. She's been married multiple times and has become more wealthy after each marriage. This time she's marrying her long time cook, after breaking up his previous marriage.

Diantha is murdered before the wedding can take place. The police suspect the cook's ex-wife who is also Riley's dear friend so of course she has to prove them wrong and identify the murderer.

The characters are likeable, but inconsistent. The story is a bit confusing since there are so many sub-plots. Overall, it was a nice read.

This book wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with the characters at all. Their interactions felt forced and disjointed to me.
The plot was okay. It sounded fun, but unfortunately, I don't think the author's writing and me are a good fit.

CIA librarian turned ice cream shop owner Riley Rhodes is having a busy Halloween season, coinciding with her October 31st date of birth. While she and her family are used to postponing her birthday celebrations so that they can honor each occasion separately, someone else in her Connecticut town is intent on combining the date with a pretty significant personal milestone.

Wealthy innkeeper Diantha Collins has always loved spooky season, and wants her latest wedding to incorporate both Halloween and Dia de los Muertos. Her fiance and head chef Dominic is happy to indulge her. As part of the weekend-long festivities, they commission Riley's ice creamery, Udderly Delicious, to create an appropriately themed wedding cake to be delivered to their posh Inn on the Green the evening before their nuptials.

Riley ends up coming back later that night after an emergency phone call from her former Girl Scout Troop Leader Ruthie Adams, who also happens to be the inn’s head housekeeper. The historic venue has been closed to everyone except family, employees and one very special guest ahead of the wedding. That guest is Jenira Ford, the sweetheart of the Skylark Channel and the star of their upcoming movie, Bound For Love. Members of the Collins family have important roles in Bound For Love’s filming, which is taking place in Penniman at the same time as the wedding festivities. Many of the locals are giddy at the prospect, some to the point of recklessness. After Jenira catches two young members of the housekeeping staff taking illicit photos of her, she has them fired, leaving Ruthie shorthanded. In order to entice Riley into helping out while management looks for permanent replacements, Ruthie offers her a free overnight stay in one of the Inn’s historic, and very expensive, rooms.

This is not an offer that history-loving Riley can resist. Little does she realize that her presence at the Inn will land her right in the middle of chaos, after she and Ruthie discover Diantha dead during their housekeeping rounds the next morning. Riley has already overheard a bunch of eyebrow-raising conversations between various guests and employees. The memory of those, along with her keen eye for detail, cause her to believe that Diantha was the victim of foul play even before the coroner officially declares the same verdict.

When Riley's friend Mary Anne becomes the prime suspect in Diantha’s murder due to her well-known grievances against her ex-husband Dominic, Riley realizes that she'll have to assist Police Chief Jack Voelker in rapidly solving the case, whether he wants her help or not (he does not.) Complicating matters is the Skylark film shoot, and the unwelcome reemergence of a figure from Riley's past. Will Riley be able to sort through all these seemingly unrelated issues and discover who really killed Diantha, before her friend takes the fall?

This was another smart installment of the Ice Cream Shop mystery series that effortlessly balances a cunningly woven murder plot with realistically tangled interpersonal relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed the subplot with Paulette and Sprinkles, and especially the latter's crush on a movie star. This novel’s ending points to the next installment happening outside of Riley’s home state: I'm excited to see what happens there, too!

There were two recipes for hot fudge sauce included, one decadent but relatively complicated, and the other fast and fabulous. No prizes for guessing which one I chose to try:

QUOTE
Fast and Fabulous Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup dark cocoa powder
1 stick (½ cup) salted butter, cut into 8-10 pieces

Put everything in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter melts and everything combines into a velvety smooth mixture.

Pour into a heat-safe container (mason jars work well) and cool. Use while still warm or store it in the fridge and rewarm in a bowl of hot water until it's the temperature you like.
END QUOTE

This is honestly the perfect hot fudge sauce and I have no idea why anyone would even bother with another variation. It does take a little while to come together – I even cut my butter into 32 little cubes instead of just 8 to speed up the melding – but the result is astounding. Even on its own, the sauce is rich but not too heavy.

That said, this hot fudge is definitely best when paired with (another) dessert! I decided to make a sundae with vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries, and top it with the sauce. It was absolute perfection. I also drizzled some of the fudge over pound cake the next day, and felt rather like I was enjoying delicious restaurant-quality chocolate fondue. I highly recommend whipping this up the next time you're looking to jazz up your usual sweet treat with a knockout condiment.

Next week, we stay in New England to make some delicious fusion food while investigating the murderous tail of a case long gone cold. Do join me!

This third book in the Ice Cream Shop series was very entertaining. I have enjoyed getting to know the characters. Riley’s expertise as a former CIA librarian adds to her ability to work on solving murder mysteries. And the ice cream shop has your mouth watering at the delightful flavors they offer … especially seasonal versions. There is family drama, insecurity, love, greed that keep you invested in the story. I look forward to another adventure with the people of Penniman, Connecticut.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Once a librarian (albeit for the CIA), Riley has settled down in small town Connecticut to run an ice cream shop. Winter's approaching and so is the annual closure of the ice cream shop..once they get past Halloween and the big fancy wedding taking place at the historic Inn in town. Unfortunately, her beautiful Halloween themed ice cream cake.for the wedding was found mutilated, and then the dead body of the would be bride is also found. To keep her best friend from being arrested, Riley starts investigating. Another good book in this well-done series. Full of interesting characters and a twisty plot.

Fatal Fudge Swirl
by Meri Allen
Book Three in the Ice Cream Shop series

Book Details

A movie production brings drama—and murder—to a close-knit New England village, forcing Riley Rhodes to scoop out the suspects.

My Thoughts

Fatal Fudge Swirl is a quick, enjoyable read. Suspects include employees of the wealthy murder victim’s inn, family members not happy their money flow was cut off, and the ex-wife of the victim’s fiancé. The murder victim also has links to the movie currently filming in the village but were those links strong enough for someone to commit murder? It’s a possibility, which expands the number of potential suspects.

Not only is the ‘why’ of the murder a mystery, but so was the method. Keeping the murder weapon an unknown until the murder was solved added another layer to the novel. For this reader, I enjoyed trying to figure out the murderer’s identity as well as the method he or she used to accomplish the deed.

Fatal Fudge Swirl is the third book in this series, and I haven’t read the first two. Some problems/issues/relationships clearly have their beginnings in the earlier books, but enough context was given that I wasn’t left confused as to what was going on in this book. Reading the books in order though would mean not having those “I wonder what happened prior to this” questions.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Fatal Fudge Swirl. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an e-copy for review.

Publishing Information

Published by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9781250267108
Genre: Mystery
320 pages

"Fatal Fudge Swirl" by Meri Allen is a delightful and atmospheric cozy mystery that immerses readers in the charming town of Penniman, Connecticut during the Halloween Happening. As a fan of the genre, I thoroughly enjoyed following Riley Rhodes, the former CIA librarian turned ice cream shop manager and amateur sleuth, as she unraveled the murder of socialite Diantha during her lavish Halloween-themed wedding. With a long list of suspects and chilling motives, the suspense kept me guessing until the very end. The Halloween theme adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the story, making it a perfect treat for cozy mystery enthusiasts and those seeking a festive read.