Fatal Fudge Swirl is a cozy mystery told from the MC POV. Riley Rhodes is a CIA librarian turned ice cream shop owner who lives in a small, New England town. After being present the day a body is discovered she makes it her goal to solve the mysterious death.

This book is a fun, fast paced read with a bevy of quirky characters. I enjoyed the storyline, setting and appreciated the sub-context of the antiquated letters.

This book is a stand alone, but third in the Ice Cream Shop mysteries. I will definitely be reading the other books, if for no other reason than to find out more about how one becomes a CIA librarian. I highly recommend this delightful cozy mystery read that will leave you hungering for more!

Thank you to publisher @stmartinspress and the author for my ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen is the third book in the Ice Cream Shop Mysteries.

It’s Halloween in Penniman. There is a movie crew in town and there is a Halloween themed wedding. I loved that!

I love Riley, who is the manager of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.

The characters and the mystery are so fun and well written.

Riley, Caroline and Rocky are great. characters.

In Fatal Fudge Swirl, it’s the day before Halloween in small town Penniman, Connecticut. Diantha, the rich owner of the local 5-star inn, is planning her wedding for the following day complete with a black wedding gown and a Day of the Dead theme. The next morning, Diantha is found dead on her bed. How was she killed? Why? And by whom? All questions that ice cream shop owner and former CIA librarian, Riley, is trying to investigate without tripping over her best friend’s boyfriend, the local police chief.

There are so many characters in this book that the publisher lists them in the beginning, which will be incredibly helpful for readers new to the series. Yet, despite the sheer number of suspects, the murderer is obvious from the beginning of the book. Once the murderer is pinpointed, the why is also incredibly easy to determine. The best mystery here is the question of how the victim was murdered. And that was ingenious.

Overall, Fatal Fudge Swirl is a pleasant afternoon’s reading that won’t tax anyone’s armchair detective abilities. But that may be exactly what you are looking for. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

Fatal Fudge Swirl the third Ice Cream Shop Mystery and features a unique main character. Ex-CIA librarian Riley Rhodes now manages an ice cream shop owned by her best friend. Another friend, Mary Anne Dumas, has agreed to make a cake for her ex's wedding being held at the luxury inn where she works. Riley gets involved when Mary Anne becomes a murder suspect.

The investigation is complicated by the fact that a movie is being filmed in town and the key players are staying at the inn. A few are related to the victim, so Riley needs to find someone with more of a motive for murder than her friend. The book kept my interest from the beginning until the end, even though I was able to figure out the solution to most of the subplots. The murder weapon is a creative one and although I guessed it would play some sort of role in the story because of hints given by the author, I would never have guessed how or by whom. The murder is solved, but the book ends on a mini-cliffhanger related to something in Riley's past which should lead to an interesting story when the series continues.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

This is the third book in the fun cozy series by Meri Allen. The Ice Cream Shop Mystery series centers around Riley Rhodes, and XC I a librarian, who now works at her friends, ice cream shop as manager. as Halloween is approaching, Riley is hired to make a spooky cake for a Halloween themed wedding. at the same time there is also a movie being filmed at the same hotel. The brides famous Child star sign is doing the movie which only complicates matters when the bride is found dead in her room, the morning of the wedding. between the wedding, the movie, and employees at the hotel, there is no shortage of suspects with some having motives for wanting her dead. The wedding cake Riley made is quickly taken into evidence and her friend, Mary Ann, a chef at the hotel, is accused of the murder. Riley uses her time at the hotel, and her knowledge of some of the suspects to prove her friend is not a murderer.

I really enjoyed this new installment of this series and learning more about the characters already developed. The Halloween theme brings a spooky twist to the story. The plot was good with the addition of new people, and I was kept guessing as to who the murderer could be. This is becoming a must read cozy series for me.

Loved this quaint little cozy mystery. My first from this author and in this series and I loved it so much I will be going back to read the first two. The characters were well developed and I loved the dialogue all the way thru.

Feeling the heat? Maybe it’s time to read a cozy set at Halloween when the weather is cooler, the leaves are turning and winter will be coming.

I find the protagonist of this series unusual as she once worked for the CIA as a librarian and now is at an ice cream shop-quite a change! I enjoyed getting to know her.

This is entry number three in a series where all the titles refer to my favorite dessert of ice cream. This time amateur sleuth Riley will try to figure out the case of who killed Diantha.

The author does a nice job with the setting, the characters and the mystery. Readers of the genre may well enjoy this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

What do you get when you combine a celebrity-studded wedding, Halloween in a quaint New England town, and a mysterious death? A cozy mystery that's as tasty as any ice cream creation that might be found at the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop.

Fatal Fudge Swirl was something a little different for me, sort of like trying a new flavor at your favorite ice cream parlor. It may not be my new favorite, but it was a flavor worth trying. Three and a half stars!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

FATAL FUDGE SWIRL by Meri Allen
The Third Ice Cream Shop Mystery

Despite the cooler temperatures of late October business is booming at Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop as tourists and locals alike line up for delicious frozen treats. Not only that, shop manager Riley Rhodes has been commissioned to make the Halloween themed wedding cake for the celebrated owner of the Inn on the Green. The whole town is buzzing with excitement, not only about Diantha's wedding, but the fact that a film company has come to town to film the latest Skylark production. There will be no happy wedding bells, however, when the bride-to-be is found dead. A tragic accident? Or something more nefarious?

If Halloween, a wedding, and a film crew aren't enough, add in relationship issues, staff shortages, and star struck citizens and you have an intricate mystery with lots of moving parts. I really enjoyed the twists and turns made by those movable pieces. Lots of new characters with overlapping connections and a variety of plotlines kept me involved, curious how everything would ultimately be tied together. While there was a lot going on, everything fit together without superfluous bits.

I love how Riley's CIA background makes her a smart and unobtrusive sleuth. Respectful of local law enforcement, with a keen eye and mind, she has a unique ability to ferret out the truth. I really got a kick out of Sprinkles, not only her behavior, but how others react to her! I enjoy this series so much, and the third Ice Cream Shop Mystery kept me involved with not only a great mystery, but delicious sounding ice creams (with an odd one or two), captivating relationships, and an exciting hint at what's coming next. It's not just gelato!

Multiple paths converge in FATAL FUDGE SWIRL creating a chilling new mystery.

The fall vibes are strong with this one! I was transported to fall in small town Connecticut. It was fabulous!
Then Riley goes to help out at the Inn and gets in the middle of the investigation. There are so many secrets! I like the pacing with how they were resolved. It was not rushed. We found out little by little what the secrets were. The bad guys were caught and then we got a wrap up of how things worked out after that.
I think this is my favorite of the series. So good!

Who wouldn't love to visit Penniman at Halloween? It sounded pretty awesome with all the decorations and cool pumpkin carvings. Riley had her hands full with having to wrangle Sprinkles, the very-much-not-an-angel cat onto a film set because she was wanted for filming. Too hilarious how the cat from you know where took a liking to the lead actor but sure didn't like the main actress, lol. And she had to keep up that America's sweetheart image too, now that was pretty funny! Good ole Sprinkles can always produce a laugh from somewhere! But she couldn't prevent murder.

The ending had a search going on for a young girl who might've witnessed the murder or heard something, so luckily she was found and the perp was named. Lots of family and friends time was enjoyed in the book as well. I thought Riley's dad and stepmom were just too cute how they ran that bookstore together and now were part of the movie being made. Nice nod to one of everyone's favorite cute romance/mystery channels too! The book releases on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 and I hope you'll find like I did it's nice little escape.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I love cozy mysteries, and the ones that take place around Halloween are always favorites! I love everything about this, the small town, the ice cream shop, the characters, and OMG Sprinkles is the Diva that steals whatever scenes she's in!

This is such a fun and entertaining story, with some great twists and turns that I didn't see coming! I can't wait to read more in this series, and see what shenanigans Riley will get herself in the middle of next!

Former CIA librarian and amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes is settling into her new life back in her hometown of Penniman, Connecticut and it’s Halloween time! This year, Halloween means the marriage of socialite Diantha Collins to celebrity chef Dominic Dominello. The upcoming nuptials also bring former child star (and Diantha’s son) Cooper Collins to town with the entire production of the new romantic comedy he is filming. The weekend takes a turn however when Diantha is found dead on the morning of her wedding and foul play is suspected.

As with the first two books in the series, the mystery takes its time unfolding. We follow along with Riley as she does her own investigation, much to the dismay of her best friend’s boyfriend (who also happens to be the Chief of Police). Though there are many clues dropped throughout the book, I was still unable to figure out who the murderer was until right before the reveal, which is always fun!

Also similarly to the first two books in the series, the reveal felt a bit anticlimactic. The story builds up to Riley figuring out who the killer is, but when we actually find out, it’s fairly lackluster. Which is not to say that the journey to get there isn’t enjoyable! There was suspense and drama and excitement along the way that kept me engaged and reading well into the wee hours of the morning just to get to the end.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read. Each of the characters had layers to be peeled away and there were a couple of storylines (aside from the main murder) that helped to flesh them out as well. While some of the side plots felt unnecessary to the story as a whole, I did appreciate how they gave depth to some of the side characters and hope to see them develop further in future books.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for free and have voluntarily written this review.

This book was much better than the second book in the series. I really liked the debut book so I wanted to give it a fair shake and I am so glad I did.

Halloween has come to Penniman, CT and Riley Rhodes is getting ready to close her ice cream shop for the season. As one last hurrah, she has to put together an ice cream wedding cake for an upcoming Halloween wedding. The bride is murdered before her big day, discovered after someone has salted and ruined her wedding cake and stabbed a knife through it. The murder weapon is a true mystery. There are multiple suspects including greedy heirs and a woman scorned. Will Riley figure out whodunit before one of her friends is arrested?

I liked all the misdirection in this book. I appreciate when an author can spring the whodunit on you and it's a surprise but all wraps up to make sense. The murder plot itself is quite clever. I am very excited to read the next book in the series and have some delicious ice cream while I read.

My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the cover. The cover for Fatal Fudge Swirl by Meri Allen completely drew me in and made me excited to start the book. But it's what is inside that had me finish it. How could someone not love a cozy set in a quaint New England town? Riley, the main character, is not only an amateur sleuth, but she's a travel food blogger and former CIA librarian. Dream job!! It's also set when the town is getting ready for a Halloween festival. What better time of year for a murder mystery? Riley ends up helping her friend Mary Ann when she becomes a suspect in the murder of her ex-husband's fiance.
This is the third book in Meri's Ice Cream Shop mysteries, but my first foray into reading this author. It DEFINITELY will not be my last!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Meri Allen and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Fatal Fudge Swirl. This is my personal review.
This is the third book in the series An Ice Cream Shop Mystery. This book was just as good as the first two in the series.
This mystery was one that I thought I had figured out while reading and then there was a twist I didn’t see coming.
Riley Rhodes is just what a cozy mystery needs to keep me turning the pages. Mixing Halloween, a wedding, and a murder makes for great reading.

This is a cozy mystery with Riley Rhodes as the main character. Riley is an ex CIA librarian. It’s Halloween and among all the costumes and decorations, a murder takes place. Riley is determined to investigate and solve the mystery. There are some good characters that readers will like. The plot is easy to follow as readers find out who is the killer.

This book is one you are going to want to put on your fall reading list! I definitely recommend starting this series from the beginning to get a better sense of the characters and their relationships etc. There are a lot of interesting, lively characters that kept the story moving in many directions.

This story had lots of different mini storylines going on which leads to a lot of revelations and a LOT of things to keep track of and possible suspects, though Riley was able to see the smallest context clues and fit them into the big picture. I wish we saw more of the ice cream shop, though this is the 3rd book and I appreciate seeing more of the town. The fancy old inn was a great setting for this familial mystery and I enjoyed watching Riley use the “invisible help” trick to snoop. I really enjoyed it and look forward to more from the series!

Asked to provide a spooky ice cream wedding cake, Riley Rhodes, ex CIA librarian turned ice cream shop manager, delivers. However, when the bride is found dead, the cake ruined, and her friend is the star suspect, Riley must do whatever takes to track down the killer. Her list of suspects proves to be longer than she imagined. Adding to the drama, a movie production team, which includes the bride's children, are filming in the town. Who had the most to gain from the bride's demise? Meri Allen has done a great job with this series. I always enjoy visiting Penniman and those that live there. I look forward to another cozy mystery in the series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

We all know a cozy mystery read is not my thing but I really enjoyed this one. The plot was already intriguing!! A former CIA librarian, who owns an ice cream shop and is an amateur sleuth, Riley is perfection! Let’s add some family secrets revealed and some drama, greed, and a ton of humor, and it’s a winner.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.