4.5 stars

This is the third book in the Candy-Coated mystery series by Nancy Coco.

When I first opened this book I wasn’t sure if this was for me. But as I started reading it, I was totally digging it and found it was an awesome read. What was my problem, right? I guess you just can’t judge a book by its cover or by its title. I am not sure what had me so flummoxed. Most cozy mysteries have odd titles and contain foodie references. I know this. I am a cozy reading expert for heavens sake.

Once I got over my weird issues, I found the jewel in the mix.

This book was very well written and the mystery was just spot on. I was totally invested along with the protagonist from almost page one. I love the cast and the addition of the new cat into the mix seemed to be a fun secondary storyline that made me laugh.

I really liked the idea of the two guys who were romantically linked to Allie: Detective Rex and Trent. This concept seems to go over very well in cozy book land and I always look forward to who is in the protagonist’s life at the moment.

The book start off literally with a bang when the pyrotechnic guy gets himself blown up right before the fourth of July fireworks extravaganza for Mackinac Island. Allie is pulled into the story since she is on the city board who hired the pyrotechnic guy and if they don’t have fireworks for the fourth, someone on the council is going to lose their mind and blame Allie! So she is totally invested in finding the killer once she realizes that he is dead and Rex keeps her from getting herself blown up.

Real fun story. Loved it so much. Definitely a series I want to continue with.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

This is book 3 in the Candy-coated Mystery series. In October, book number 8 will be available for purchase. I didn’t feel lost at any point, so I have to say, it works well as a standalone. There are a lot of characters in this book for a rather simple cozy mystery—some just pop in and then I don’t see again. I did have some trouble keeping everyone straight in my mind, and took some notes as I went along.

It was good book to read for the summer months especially this year when I am staying at home more than usual due to COVID 19. The main character, Allie, comes across as a strong character. She has a handsome, rich boyfriend who, while I didn’t think was responsible for the murder, I didn’t really like him in the beginning; however, I changed my opinion as time went went on. Allie’s puppy Mal is mentioned quite often and adds a nice, additional touch to the story.

The book has many fudge recipes that sound delicious, and I’m sure a lot of readers will wish to try them.