Fun story taking place in the woods at a Bed and Breakfast where they will be having a conference on ice cream. Only a few people make it to the conference because of a big storm that knocks trees down blocking the road in and out of inn. The gal running the conference has her own ice cream shop where she makes her own ice cream from scratch. Only about six people make it through to the inn. Once they all get settled into their rooms they come down for dinner introducing themselves seething down to eat. After dinner one of the guests is found dead at which time everyone is guessing who did it. They are all stuck at the inn because of the weather and no help can get in. They go ahead with the conference with the few people they have learning facts and making ice cream in different flavors. This was a fun enjoyable who dunnit right through to the end.

Synopsis:

In Cynthia Baxter's fourth Lickety Splits Mystery, ice cream shoppe owner and amateur sleuth Kate McKAy doesn't waffle around scooping up new clientele at a historic hotel, but her hopes of becoming the Hudson Valley's reigning ice cream queen melt fast when murder checks-in!

From the moment Kate arrives at the imposing Mohawk Mountain Resort, not even luggage brimming with hot fudge can sweeten her stay. Instead of savoring alone time with her on-again boyfriend Jake and leading workshops on whipping together delectable frosty treats, she finds herself stranded at the isolated hotel with a small group of nutty characters--and a dead body.

When the corpse of wealthy cosmetics executive Bethany La Montaigne is suddenly found following a blackout, any of the five strangers trapped with Kate and Jake could be the killer. Chilled to the core, Kate vows to discover whether the victim's mortal enemy was a smooth-talking playboy, bubbly millennial, mousy librarian, charming Englishman, or the Mohawk's creepy general manager...

Bethany's life was chock full of scandals and there's little doubt that someone refused to endure another taste. With just a sprinkling of clues, it's up to Kate to bring justice to a culprit who believes that revenge is a dish best served cold... (Goodreads)
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Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. In this book, Kate and Jake head off to a historical hotel, where Kate is supposed to give some demonstrations for ice cream and its history, and spend some alone time with Jake. But when a storm hits and a fallen tree strands them at the hotel, things get a little tense. And when one of the guests is killed, they really have their hands full trying to figure out the murderer. Kate has to try and get close to the remaining guests and see who had the most reason to do the deed. It was good to spend time with Kate and Jake again, they have to figure out where their relationship is headed.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I could picture the ice cream treats in my mind’s eye. The mystery was well plotted, and even though there were a limited number of suspects, I was still surprised at who the culprit was.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted cozy mystery. Trying to solve the mystery and trying some of the ice cream recipes is a good way to spend your time.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is the 4th in the Lickety Splits mystery series. Kate McKay has always wanted to visit the historic Mohawk Mountain Resort and she is invited to come from the general manager she jumps at the chance. She brings Jake along to help with her ice cream themed workshops and with a bad storm and when a tree falls right behind their car on the road they are essentially cut-off as they head to the resort. Kate still proceeds with her workshop and when the power goes out and one of the participants is killed Kate jumps in to solve the murder as she is stuck there with a potential murderer. This was a good story but a few flaws as they don’t go much into what they did with the dead body. This is a classic closed room mystery as there is a limited number of suspects and Bethany the murder victim had secrets and enemies. I enjoyed this and will continue to read this series so looking forward to the next installment. Well done.

A fun book modelled on classic mysteries - the quirky characters, the picturesque setting, the fantastic dialogue all add up to a book which will meet the needs of those who like a little humour with their mystery. I am keen to read the other books in the series as the character development was so strong and the prose so inviting. You could easily start reading and then find yourself lost in the world this author has created.

A cozy mystery about ice cream? Yes! Game of Cones? Meh. I really wanted to like this, but none of the characters had enough of a personality and I just couldn't get into the story; from the protagonist on down, I had issues with the characters or there just wasn't enough info for me to get into it and then all of a sudden, bam! A sudden reveal! I did like the ice cream facts at the start of every chapter as well as the recipes included at the end.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series but I thought this was good! I wasn’t confused or lost so that’s a plus to me. It was a laid back mystery story, if that makes any sense. Very entertaining and doesn’t hurt that the cover is adorable!

Thanks so much to netgalley and to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book.

Loved the DIY on how to make ice cream at home, cute and fun series, only problem is that it makes me crave ice cream as I read!

Game of Cones is a fun cozy mystery of a group stuck at a hotel when a bad storm passes through. While at the hotel. a murder takes place. The main character is an ice cream lady named Kate. I found the story a bit drawn out, but it was OK. The characters were not that likable, but I think that is what she was going for.

this is actually my first time coming across this series(?) and author and i am shocked that there are books that took place before this one and because i love a laid back mystery, why not? i would definitely try to read her other works, the books that preceded this, all in all thoughts about this book: it was cozy, and kind of cute, my first time reading something of that vibes from a mystery genre (considering i love mystery and thrillers) and would recommend this to some who would love to check out mystery but doesn't centralize on much heavy and dark things.

As the fourth book in this series, I was hoping to really enjoy it, however, I found myself skimming the pages until the end.
I wasn't able to get involved in the storyline and found some of the parts dragging out.
The characters lacked personality and as a loved of cozy mysteries, I found this book not to be for me.

Game of Cones by Cynthia Baxter is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery. Who doesn't love a story that is centered around ice cream, murder and intrigue? Author Baxter creates fun and lively characters in this whodunit and keeps the reader salivating over the many ice cream references.

As in typical cozy mystery style the story unfolds with memorable characters and a bit of intrigue as ice cream shop owner Kate hosts a workshop at a mysterious inn. A death and a cast of potential suspects have Kate playing Nancy Drew. As clues are rolled out I tried to figure it out before Kate but failed to choose the right suspect.

Well done and as a part of a series it was not necessary to read others before this one. Fun read and thank you to the author, publishing company and NetGalley for a copy for my honest review.

I never heard of this series before so I didn’t know this wasn’t the first book. Now that I know I’m definitely going to go back and read the first three books because I loved this story. It totally gives off the movie Clue vibe, which is one of my favorite 80’s movie. So even through I’m not really a mystery fan, this book had me hooked and I read it in one day. Also if you’re like me and didn’t know it was part of a series you can still really enjoy this story because the author gives a lot of background information so it doesn’t feel like you are missing anything.

When Kate McKay is asked to host an ice cream making workshop in the mountains, she sees it as a chance to get away with her boyfriend, Jake, for the weekend. A storm is brewing as Kate and Jake drive up to the resort and a very large tree falls right behind their car, essentially blocking the resort off from the rest of the World. Until the storm passes and someone can clear the roadway, a skeleton crew and only a few guests are stuck at the resort.

Rather than cancelling the workshop, the manager suggest that they continue on and keep the things on track. When one of the attendees is murdered that night, Kate not only has to deliver the workshop, she finds herself trying to figure out who the murderer is and why. With everyone, except Kate and Jake, being a suspect Kate needs to watch her back as she tries to get the scoop before the murderer can freeze Kate once and for all.

This is the fourth book in this series, but the first that I have read. There were no gaps and it reads find as a stand alone. I enjoyed the factoids that were shared at the start of each chapter on the history of ice cream and will be checking out the included recipes as well. An enjoyable whodunit. I will be back for another serving in this series.

This is the fourth book in this series and unfortunately I don't think they are getting any better. I have read the previous ones and this one honestly came across as even more unbelievable. It was very glib and insensitive. The characters find the dead body and then go play a game of Monopoly? Mrs. Moody says she will take care of the body with the same intonation as if she were cleaning up a spilled glass of wine. Then throughout the rest of the story, there is no mention of the murder weapon, somehow everyone there coincidentally has a connection to the dead woman, and the dead woman herself is hardly ever mentioned again. It seemed trite and as if the author has read too many Agatha Christie novels. I realize that this was meant to be a cozy mystery but most of them in the genre treat a murder with some seriousness. This was definitely not for me.

I was a little disappointed in this book due to one major plot point which niggled throughout the whole story.

Kate runs an ice-cream shop and had been asked to run some workshops at an expensive hotel resort. Kate and her boyfriend arrive at the hotel in a major storm which results in the road being blocked and therefore everyone being trapped in the resort. In true Agatha Christie style.

Then one of the characters, Bethany, is brutally murdered at the moment the electricity cuts out.

Kate then decides that alongside running the workshops as planned over the weekend she will solve the murder.

The problem I have is with the body. Bethany is found covered in blood in the dark. As the police are unable to get to the site Mrs Moody, the hotelier just says "I'll take care of the body" and that is the last anyone hears of it. They don't find a murder weapon of have any idea how she died.

Everyone then carried on as normal, including the ice-cream workshops, communal meals and snuggling on the sofas. This really bugged me.

3.5 stars

Katherine McKay quit her job as a PR executive to open her store called Lickety Splits Ice Cream Shoppe which specializes in homemade gourmet ice cream.


Ever since she was little Kat has dreamed of visiting Mohawk Mountain Resort, a high-end resort nestled in the Catskill Mountains. So when out of the blue she receives an invitation from the resort’s general Moody, Merle Moody by email, she accepts.


Kate also wants to use her time there as a getaway with Jake, her high school beau. Jake runs a local organic dairy and is there as Kate’s assistant.


According to the manager, the resort frequently conducts theme weekends as a way of attracting visitors during the off-season. They also host ice cream themed workshops. Merle would like Kate to offer classes on topics on how to make some of her exotic recipes such as Exotic Ice Cream Flavors at Home and Thirty-Three Toppings to Make Your Ice Cream Sensational. Seeing as mid-November is an off-season, the manager is hoping to use this opportunity to attract visitors.


Then following a blackout at the resort, one of the participants is murdered. apparently stabbed multiple times, Kate has to identify the killer and bring them to justice. Overall, good read.


The ice cream recipes included in the book all sound wonderful.


Thank you to NetGalley, Cynthia Baxter, and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book.

Love this series and the author. Kate goes on a weekend retreat . When a murder happens she sets out to investigate. Finding interesting information about some. To hear more read the book.

I love love love this whole series. Why aren't there more ice cream based cozies!! I've been reading this series since it started and read this last book in a day. Can't wait for more of them.

#NetGalley # Kensington Books.
A nice little "closed room" case, with delightful and exotic (for) me recipes of ice cream. In this volume, there is a handy DIY workshop: how to make ice-cream at home.

Also the main theme of the murder in this book is false appearance. Well done. Miz Baxter, I couldn't guess who done it.

Game of Cones by Cynthia Baxter is an entertaining cozy mystery. At the beginning of each chapter is a bit of history about ice cream; great information.

I have not read the other books in this series, but I did not feel I missed out on anything by reading this fourth installment. However, I liked the characters so much that I will go back and read the previous books.

The story was good, the characters were interesting, and the mystery was solid and held my interest. I would recommend this series and this book.

#GameofCones #NetGalley