I generally enjoy this series and the action-packed endings. I do wonder if the author considered doing some background on this. The very idea that Jake could survive the fire scenes without hospitalization is ridiculous. The fact that she got a tiny bit of treatment and went on with her life is beyond the realm of even a sliver of belief. Then I simply could not get past the coal chute being called a coal Clute after a character. I do hope this was corrected. I am not sure I will be back for another book.

This was SO much better than the previous installment of the series, so I'm really pleased to see that, Jake, Ellie, and the gang are back to their usual shenanigans, with much-appreciated appearances from Lizzie Snow and Dylan Hudson, and the mystery isn't too badly-crafted, either. To be honest, I feel like this series would be just as successful - if not more - without the mysteries, because the characters can hold their own with their interpersonal and interfamilial drama and chaos, and there's...only so much disbelief that a reader can suspend when dealing with mysteries and murder in such a small town. But I thoroughly enjoyed this quick little read, and am glad that the series didn't get bogged down in the absurdity of the 2024 release.

5/5 stars: This is the eighth entry in Grave's Death by Chocolate Mystery series, which is a Culinary Cozy Mystery set in a small Maine village and follows a pair of best friends and chocolate themed bakery owners who find their post-Halloween plans take a turn after they discover an unpopular local celebrity, a home repair TV show star, fall to his death from his ramshackle mansion's widow’s walk; leading to them to turn to sleuths to uncover the killer. With plenty of suspects and too many motives, the duo will have to work fast to unmask the culprit. With plenty of twists and turns, Grave has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Grave's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's a joy to catch up with Jake and Ellie, their friends and family and the charming folks of Eastport. I especially adore Jake and Ellie's friendship and their families, particularly Jake's housekeeper-slash-stepmother, Bella Diamond. Oh and I love Jake and Ellie's bakery, The Chocolate Moose, and all the delicious goodies described throughout the book and you won't want to miss the yummy recipe Grave has included. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Death by Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake. If you love Jake and Ellie, their sleuthing adventures kicked off with the Home Repair Is Homicide series, which starts with The Dead Cat Bounce. Grave's a longtime favorite author and this entry doesn't miss; Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

This is book 8 of the series and Sarah Graves does not disappoint.

in this installment, we see the ending of Halloween as they prepare for the upcoming holidays. Yet, a body falls to his death as the home repair tv show arrive in Eastport. Lizzie, the amateur sleuth sets her mind to solve the mystery and you can guess what happens next.

A great cozy mystery that I highly recommend!! If you haven't read any other of her books, do so now.

Sarah Graves is very adept at writing a fast paced, nonstop action mystery and Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin is no exception. The action is mainly focused on a creepy old house which is currently owned by a television celebrity of the HGTV variety. The bodies and action mount up, as well as a missing person and various unsavory and unlikable suspicious people. Over the years, Sarah Graves has developed a large and engaging cast of returning characters beginning with Jake Tiptree and Ellie White, whose friendship dates back to when Jake first moved to the remote Maine island town of Eastport. I enjoy the characters so much that on some level, I wish there was a bit less action and a bit more of the characters living their everyday life. I also wish that Jake and Ellie sometimes acted with a bit more common sense when it comes to putting themselves in danger. That said, I enjoyed this book which is quick reading and entertaining. This is a series that I have enjoyed since the beginning and recommend to others. Three and a half stars.

This was a very interesting storyline, one that we don't always read about. Jake and Ellie are owners of a local bakery and tend to get mixed up with mysteries. (I liked that the sheriff wasn't constantly telling them to stop snooping and instead, welcomed their involvement!)
In this installment, they're investigating a landgrab that ends in murder and arson. If I had one negative critique, it would be the scenes of Jake escaping the fire. I felt it was too far-fetched and she most certainly would have died of smoke inhalation. Otherwise, the storyline is good, the friendship is great, and the wrap-up is satisfying. I recommend grabbing a bite of Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin!

"Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin" by Sarah Graves is the perfect mix of cozy mystery, autumn charm, and irresistible baking. Set in the quaint coastal town of Eastport, Maine, the story follows Jake and Ellie as they juggle running their chocolate-themed bakery while unraveling a murder mystery that’s as layered as their desserts. The writing is warm and engaging, the mystery keeps you hooked, and the seasonal atmosphere makes it an ideal fall read. If you love small-town charm, witty characters, and a touch of culinary intrigue, this book is a delightful treat!

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of DEATH BY CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN MUFFIN (Book 8 of the Death by Chocolate mystery series) by Sarah Graves in exchange for an honest review. When a television star offers Jake and Ellie a huge amount of money to cater desserts for a party, Jake measures the trouble caused by the dangerous location against the need for new equipment and against funds to see them through the winter. This leads to Jake grudgingly agreeing to the contract. However, Jake almost immediately regrets the decision. The dead body in the shed is one thing, but the dead customer is entirely too much. With the police chief’s boyfriend becoming the main suspect, Jake delves into the star’s life to figure out who else had reason to kill. However, it looks like the victim had a lot of strife in his life, and a lot of people with motive to kill. Can Jake catch the killer fish before she becomes the third victim?

I liked this book and the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series and the series (as well as the precursor series—Home Repair is Homicide) to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring small northern coastal towns, full households, bakeries, and loyal friends.

#DeathbyChocolatePumpkinMuffin #NetGalley

With Halloween over, and Jake and Ellie's bakery quieter than usual, being hired to cater a new home party by a reality TV star, for a season saving fee, is a welcome relief to their finances! Nothing is as simple as it seems, however, and when they arrive at Stone House they discover a body! The two main suspects need Jake and Ellie to clear their names and so once again they are searching for clues and finding more danger than ever! At the same time, at Jake's house, her grandchildren have recently discovered musical instruments, her daughter in law is unwell with suspiciously familiar symptoms, and the place descends regularly into a noisy, unruly chaos! Can the two friends put the clues together, find the killer and keep the Chocolate Moose running at a profit or is that just too much to expect of anyone?

Book eight in this series is a great read. Written in the first person this is laugh out loud funny, it has sympathetic main protagonists and Jake's home life take it to another level. There is a recipe for the Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins at the end of the book too which look scrummy!

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it highly, especially if you like a humorous read.

Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin by Sarah Graves is a delightful and charming mystery set in the picturesque town of Eastport, Maine. The story's blend of suspense, humor, and mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods makes for an irresistible read. Protagonists Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree and Ellie White have a wonderful dynamic that keeps the plot engaging and their banter adds an extra layer of fun. While the ongoing multi-family chaos at Jake's house is starting to feel a bit repetitive, it doesn’t overshadow the joy of the mystery or the warm, inviting atmosphere of the story. A perfect cozy mystery with a touch of sweetness! (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

Book 8 in Sarah Graves Death by Chocolate series finds Ellie and Jake still working hard to keep their bakery financially solvent. So, when they are asked to bake some goodies for a celebrity who is rehabbing an old mansion, they say yes. But, as usual, they stumble upon a few dead bodies and risk their lives trying to solve the crimes. I really enjoy the virtual visit to this fun Maine town, but I have to think that perhaps as the characters age, the author might need to dial down the physical stress on their bodies. While this is obviously fiction, the goal seems to be to have as realistic a setting as possible. Subjecting the characters to super human physical adventures spoils that feeling of reality. But, a fun read on the whole!

I am always drawn into a book with a clever title themed around sweets or if there is an animal on the cover, and this has both! The dog's expression on the cover is hilarious and chocolate pumpkin muffins are delicious. I did enjoy the Halloween theme as it is my favorite time of the year.

I enjoyed the best friend dynamic between Ellie and Jake and I think that the Chocolate Moose is the perfect name for a bakery. They go on quite the adventure together as they explore a haunted house together and find themselves trying to solve a murder.

In my opinion, there were far too many characters. It was a bit difficult to remember everyone from their children to their spouses. A lot of them just didn't add anything to the plot and I felt like it would have been better to just leave some of them out. I understand that it allows for more suspects, but when a character is only mentioned a couple times they usually aren't the culprit. I did have a slight suspicion as to who was the murderer, but there were multiple things going and and multiple twists that did catch me by surprise. Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Publishing, and Sarah Graves for an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion.

I love the bakery shop cozy mystery premise but after having read as many as I have sometimes they can seem like they are all running together. This one did not have that problem! I enjoyed this book, and can't wait to go back and read the 6th previous books.

A tantalizing mystery set in Maine with lots of twists and turns.. A lot of characters to keep track of, but a really enjoyable read. Anyone could read this in one sitting. Engaging plot snd the author is a very good storyteller. Lots of humor too. Definitely a very good mystery.

amateur-sleuth, baker, families, family-dynamics, family-expectations, famous-persons, friends, friendship, investigations, island-life, Maine, murders, read, recipes, reckless, situational-humor, small-business, small-town, state-police, unpleasant-host, unpleasant-victims, verbal-humor****

Did he fall or was he pushed? Was it an accident or murder? Was there a person or a ghost? Who is the arsonist and why? Will Jake and Ellie be OK or will the bakery's finances go bust?
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected e-galley from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you! Available Apr 29, 2025
#DeathByChocolatePumpkinMuffin by Sarah Graves #NetGalley #DeathByChocolateMysteryBk8
@kensingtonbooks @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones **** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #CozyMystery #Murder #Fires #HauntedHouse

“ Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin” is the 8th instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves. The Chocolate Moose, where people treat themselves to the most decadent desserts. But the island town also seems to cater to those with bitter dispositions . . .

I enjoy this series set in the village of Eastport, Maine and really like protagonist Jake and her BFF Ellie. Plus I love her family especially Bella. There was lots of excitement this go around with a haunted mansion, celebrity DIY host and a scared teenager…

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. The book was engaging from start to finish, grabbing your attention from the very start.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this next in series a Halloween theme haunted house is the focus . Jake and Ellie are concerned about keeping their business afloat so they sign onto provide treats for a haunted house event. With their wonderful chocolate pumpkin muffins they are looking forward to a fun event, A murder occurs and Jake and Ellie put on their investigative hats to find clues and soon red herrings abound.

I enjoy this foodie based series for the wonderful characters, the enjoyable small town community and the sleuthing . The author has all the perfect cozy elements here for another enjoyable addition to this fun cozy series.

Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Jake and Ellie are worried about covering expenses in their bakery thru the winter months when they are offered a well paying job that makes entering a haunted house seem worthwhile. Luckily they got 1/2 up front because fires, murders, and more fires make their profits vanish. This sleuthing duo is again in fine form

This was my first in the Death by Chocolate series and I think it had all the makings of a drool-worthy mystery. Chocolate pumpkin muffins and Halloween! When a TV host falls to his death, the two owners of a chocolate shop—Ellie and Jake—must solve the mystery. This story was filled with suspects, red herrings, and cozy, Halloween atmosphere. It was a lot of fun and I definitely would love to read more from this series!!!

#DeathbyChocolatePumpkinMuffin is another fun addition to this series by a favorite author.
Jake and her bestie Ellie are always stumbling over dead bodies, getting involved in the murder investigation, then finding themselves face to face with a killer.
I like all the little details in these books, I'm a fan of the author's previous series featuring Jake and Ellie, and this new spin off series is just as great.
In #DeathbyChocolatePumpkinMuffin, Jake an Ellie find themselves helping a young woman who is a top murder suspect, but untangling the clues may take longer than expected, and time is quickly running out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.