I am crossing all my fingers that this is not the last in the Ice Cream Parlor series because I love it so much and I would miss all of the characters! Win has said it over and over again--she is not getting involved in finding out who killed a woman she has known most of her life from school and beyond. But then, somehow, she gets pulled into the investigation. At the same time, she is now also trying to run a food truck on top of the ice cream store, manage new and existing employees, and maybe...just maybe...find someone she is interested in romantically. I will sorely miss this series if this is the end, but I absolutely loved every book!

I loved reading this story. Even though this book is now archived, I want to read it again. I loved the mystery of the plot and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

A KILLER SUNDAE is the third book in the Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series by Abby Collette. With tempting ice cream flavors, a darling ice cream food truck, a harvest festival, and a close-knit family, this book has a lot going for it. Bronwyn (aka Win) is the manager of her family-owned Crewse Creamery. She is an incredibly dedicated and hard worker and has turned her family’s business into a very successful venture. I loved the interaction Win has with her family (despite her tattle-tale brother) and all the descriptions of the ice creams. The cast of characters surrounding Win are supportive, although one of her friends is a pushy annoyance, and I also liked seeing the addition of new characters that I hope will be featured in future books.

That said, Win is a VERY reluctant sleuth. She repeatedly says she’s not getting involved and gives reasons for not doing so. It happens so frequently throughout the story that it became a great distraction from the mystery. The mystery itself has twists and turns, and there were several viable suspects to make it interesting. While I guessed early on who the culprit was, I didn’t know the particulars, so I enjoyed watching the clues unfold as they supported my guess. If you enjoy ice cream, a strong, diverse family unit (Pop-Pop is still my favorite character in this series), and a small-town cozy murder mystery, then this book will appeal to you.

I love this series so very much! The characters and their backgrounds, the hometown feel and family always willing to help (or intrude), the mystery and the ice cream shop!

Another cozy mystery comes from Abby Collette: “A Killer Sundae” (Berkley). Bronwyn Crewse, known as Win, owns an ice cream shoppe in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Fall has arrived and the town is holding its annual harvest festival, which features hot-air balloons, hayrides, delicious food and the crowning of a festival queen.
It’s all fun until someone is poisoned, and Win becomes a suspect. As might be expected, Win doesn’t wait around for the police to solve the mystery.

Idk I feel like I’ve always liked this series enough but this was a DRAG. i struggled with it and also the Murderer was kinda obvi

I’ve come to the realization that cozy mysteries may not be for me. This one fell super flat for me and I didn’t feel connected to it at all.

The mystery didn’t feel like as big of a deal as it should’ve been. I didn’t mind the main character, but nothing about her stood out to me. This was the 3rd book in a series, but you definitely don’t need to read the first 2 to understand what’s going on.

This was a new genre I tried, so I’m glad I did, but I think I’ll stick to thriller mysteries for now.

A Killer Sundae is the third book in the Ice Cream Parlor mystery series by Abby Collette. Bronwyn Crewse—boss chick as I've nicknamed her—is an ice cream shop owner in the gorgeous fall town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Crewse Creamery is a family business with all hands on deck, especially with the addition of the ice cream truck at the annual Harvest Time Festival.

Win gets into a sprinkle of trouble when old friend and festivalgoer is poisoned and Win is implicated. She knows of the severe nut allergy but pretty sure she cleaned the scooper before serving. As much as Win wants to clear suspicion, she kind of falls into her sleuth detective skills to solve the murder.

A Killer Sundae really does remind of an old school gumshoe mystery. I just love the Crewse family and the ice cream shop happenings. The small town murders involve everyone making residents likely suspects and keeps the readers guessing. I kind of figured it out early on but was nice to see it unfold. Another good cozy foodie mystery that "desserts" your attention!

Happy Belated Pub Day, Abby Collette! A Killer Sundae is now available.

~LiteraryMarie

I really liked the premise of this book - I haven’t read the first two in the series yet - so I appreciated that you could read this one as a stand alone book and still be provided with somewhat detailed descriptions of the town, the business, and various characters. There are spoilers present in this book for the first two books if you happen to not read them in order. I had a hard time getting into this book because I found that sometimes the grammar used throughout broke up the flow of the story - making it feel a bit choppy at times. I also felt like the ending wrapped up very quickly and that, as the reader, I had to make assumptions about how the main character figured out who the murderer was. Overall a great idea - I love the punny title and the cover (the simplistic design and bright colours) caught my eye at the outset. I might recommend this to cozy mystery fans but I would definitely suggest reading them in order to avoid the spoilers.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

A Killer Sundae is the third book in Abby Collette’s Ice Cream Parlor mystery series. It is a cozy mystery and addition to this series. It definitely made me want an ice cream sundae.

A Killer Sundae sees Win accused of murder after her former classmate ends up dead. It follows Win and her friends as her friends encourage Win to investigate and try to solve this murder. Win again was very reluctant to investigate, which made this book less about the investigating for me and more about her business and new venture into a food truck. The conclusion was one I saw coming that I felt was a little predictable and there were a lot of characters to keep track of.

I definitely recommend A Killer Sundae if you're looking for a cozy read featuring women of color!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series of diverse characters, clever plots, warm family ties, and strong multi-cultural friendships! A Killer Sundae definitely delivered all those things and more.

Bronwyn has done such a great job since taking over the family ice cream parlor, and her new food truck (not to be called an ice cream truck haha) for Crewse Creamery is off to a fabulous start, too! Par for the course for this poor reluctant amateur sleuth, however, a murder takes place nearby and she’s dragged into the investigation before she can say ‘Rocky Road’. A subplot involving a recipe book with some … interesting … notations that might have belonged to her grandmother (and may or may not have anything to do with this most recent murder) adds some intriguing dimension to the plot and had me fully hooked. The trio of best friends in Riya, Maisie, and Win makes a hilarious crime-solving trifecta and their scenes together had me laughing more than once – especially at Maisie’s antics (as usual). And of course, PopPop and Rivkah whom i love so much!

Bottom Line: A Killer Sundae has it all – great relationships, a hint of romance potential (I’m still pulling for O), and a layered mystery to solve. I loved the characters (as always) and the mystery kept me engaged & guessing whodunnit. I was way off in my prime suspect until just before the big reveal, and the author did a skilled job of seamlessly weaving all the clues and red herrings together. A delicious way to spend your weekend!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Dollycas’s Thoughts

It’s time for the annual Harvest Time Festival in Chagrin Falls, Ohio and Crewse Creamery owner Bronwyn Crewse is excited to put her new ice cream truck into service. She has loaded up the truck’s freezers with all kinds of treats and is dishing up sundaes too. Her beautiful new truck has even drawn the attention of the local television station. The reporter and Win were in school together. They were never really friends but Win is very aware of the woman’s nut allergy and took all the precautions when preparing her hot fudge sundae.

Later the woman collapses and dies right in the middle of the Hot Air Balloon Glow and her boyfriend accuses Win of serving her nuts to cause her death. Win knows she did no such thing.

It seems the reporter was still as abrasive in her adult life as she was back in school so there had to be more suspects out there.

In a strange twist, the boyfriend that accused Win now wants her help finding the real killer. She tells him she has no intention of investigating but he continues to come back every day trying to change her mind. Her friends Maisie and Riya are also pressuring Win to investigate for their own reasons. So Win bows to the pressure and starts trying to get the scoop on the killer.

Win continues to be one of my cozy faves. She is smart and funny with a huge heart. She has been through a lot since returning home to take over Crewse Creamery but is driven to make the family’s ice cream business a rousing success. Getting the food truck to take her ice cream on the road for all kinds of events has turned out to be a great idea even though it put her on the scene of the crime. Her updates to the shop have helped to increase business as well. I love the relationship she has with her grandfather. Their morning meetings are inspirational. She has his full support and he helps her in any way he can. He also has a new friend and that just warmed by heart.

This story had other members of her family stepping in too to be sure both the truck and the shop was fully staffed. Her brother Bobby definitely has issues that need to be addressed. Of course, Maisie and Riya play vital roles in the story too but Maisie started out really rubbing me the wrong way. Even the chickenpox couldn’t keep this woman in check. She was so bossy and pushy. I mean she is an “expert sleuth” because of all the television shows she watches but this time her antics were more grating than funny. I was intrigued by a new hire Win made. I hope he returns in the next book.

The author did whip up a very twisty mystery. There were a lot of dead ends and true clues were hard to pin down. Win makes a visit that took a lot of strength and that made me like her even more. That visit started to give her investigation a better focus and drove the story to a very exciting reveal that validated my theory. A theory I almost threw by the wayside a few chapters earlier.

While some of the characters really pushed my buttons A Killer Sundae was a very entertaining and enjoyable read. Ms. Collette making Win a reluctant sleuth this time made for a very captivating story.

I am very excited about the next book in this series. Win has been asked to participate in an event that in my neck of the woods is usually associated with wine, but let me tell you if it featured ice cream I would be pushing people out of the way to be first in line.

Set in the small town of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is Crewse Ice Cream, an ice cream shop that makes mouthwatering flavors.
Bronwyn, known as Win, is the manager of the shop, which has been family owned for years.
The setting opens as the town is preparing for their Fall Festival and Win is preparing to launch her new ice cream truck, but this is not your typical truck. With flavors like Tin Roof, Carrot Cake, Mocha and so much more,Win is hoping for success.
What Win wasn't expecting was to see a long time friend, on the ground, apparently ill, possibly even worse.
Why would Win be a suspect in this peculiar death?
This is the first time I've met the Crewse family and friends and I absolutely loved them.
Pop-Pop is a wonderful character and I enjoyed meeting him, and I look forward to reading more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#AKillerSundae #NetGalley.

A KILLER SUNDAE is such a sweet addition to this series! I like that Win, the amateur sleuth is a reluctant detective, but that her friends, family, and the entire town end up driving her to do the legwork. The ice cream flavors (as always) sound amazing, and Win is such a charming character!

This was another fantastic installment in the Ice Cream Parlor series. Bronwyn is a fun protagonist, and I love following her on her investigations. The cast of characters is wonderful, and I love the setting. I cannot wait for the next book!

Yet again, this book was great! I didn't realize this was the third book in the series, so I had to read the first two before tackling this. I was grateful to get some more personal plot when it comes to Win's potential love life, and I love how we saw different sides of the victim; we all knew some mean girls from school, and I am grateful that she turned out to be a real, multifaceted person, even if it was too late. The ending of this story gives me hope for the next book and potential love interests, and I look forward to the next murder she stumbles upon (sorry Win) for my next ice-cream-based murder mystery fix.

A Killer Sundae: An Ice Cream Parlor Mystery
By Abby Collette
Berkley
January 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

Bronwyn “Win” Crewse has big plans for her family’s Crewse Creamery, the ice cream shop she’s taken over from her grandparents who opened it as the first black-owned business in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Win will be taking the Baby Blue Crewse Family Food Truck – NOT an ice cream truck, thank you very much – to the annual Harvest Time Festival to sell their specialty ice cream confections. Returning home with an MBA also brings her back into the circle of old high school friends and rivals, with one of the latter being led by Channel 6 news reporter Kaitlyn Toles. Win remembers enough of their Mean Girl interactions to know that Kaitlyn is deathly allergic to peanuts, which is why Win is careful to ensure a cross-contamination-free sundae order. So when Kaitlyn is later found dead and her boyfriend announces that Win must be responsible, she feels both unjustly accused and yet inexplicably guilty.

After a thorough washing down of the food truck and disposal of her entire food truck creameries, Win rallies back with the intention of moving forward with her innocent ice cream concoctions. Her Best Friends Forever aren’t about to let Win go down quietly though, and despite a bout with Chicken Pox Maisie Solomon and Riya Amacarelli enlist Win on an investigation to prove her innocence while tracking down a murderer. Even though it’s quickly proven that Kaitlyn did not suffer from a fatal allergy attack, she was most definitely poisoned with ethylene glycol poisoning. While a common ingredient in anti-freeze it should not be included in a recipe for pie, which is why Win is so shocked to find it included in a hand-written note inside her grandmother’s cookbook. Initially delighted to discover the locally published “Recipes from Chagrin Falls” inscribed to her grandmother, Win now worries that her Grandma Kay may have been involved in something nefarious.

This third in the series is a fun romp as Win is very reluctantly pulled into an investigation involving her high school classmates. After Cameron Aaron Toffey aggressively blames Win for his fiancée’s death, the one-half of “KitCat” quickly shifts gears and instead implores her to once again beat the police to the solution. Despite Win’s protestations that she discovered the identities of the previous murderers only after nearly being killed by them, she finds herself dragged along as she spies on her former classmates and the rivals at the Channel 6 News team. Win’s blossoming relationship with Morrison “O” Kaye has the Wyncliffe University law professor visiting the creamery for daily ice cream splurges, but it’s a new doctor who really has the butterflies in her stomach fluttering. Win has the sanest and most practical head among her group of friends, relieving the ample amounts of stress they sometimes cause through the recipe creations she develops in her kitchen. Hilarious banter, tantalizing descriptions of all kinds of frozen confections, and the adorable Crewse family make this the perfect treat to be enjoyed at any time of the year.

Another wonderful cozy mystery featuring Bronwyn Crewse and her family Ice Cream parlour. In this book someone turns up dead during a Spring Festival where Bronwyn was debuting her new Ice Cream Truck. Determined not to get dragged into yet another murder investigation, Bronwyn can't help but try to defend her grandmother's honor when it looks like someone has set her up by defiling her recipe book. Full of a great cast of diverse characters and enough twists and suspense to keep you on your toes. I thoroughly enjoyed this newest installment! Recommended for fans of the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series or the Susannah Nix King family ice cream series. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my advance review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

I enjoyed this newest title in the Ice Cream Parlor Mystery series! I have become quite fond of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where an ice cream shop can thrive even in winter. It sounds like a charming place in September, especially for those who enjoy the Harvest Time Festival. Each of the primary characters is portrayed very well, as is the appeal of the village itself. The mystery kept me guessing throughout.

Crewse Creamery was first opened by Bronwyn’s “Win’s” grandparents in 1965. Her grandfather, PopPop, ran the store for almost fifty years with his beloved late wife, Kaylene. It has been almost a year since Win re-opened the Creamery after PopPop gave her the keys and the opportunity to manage the family shop. Win updated it without losing the store’s heart and has been highly successful, using Kaylene’s flavor creations and now, her own.

The Harvest Time Festival will bring a milestone for the Crewse family. The maiden “voyage” of their food truck that sells the family ice cream will occur. On the first day of the Festival, Kaitlyn from Channel 6 stopped by for a hot fudge sundae and to get footage with the Crewse food truck. She planned to include it with the Festival news. Remembering that Kaitlyn had a nut allergy, Win made sure the scoop was fresh, not already used on a product with nuts.

Win had a surprise visit from Gwendolyn Baxter. Next summer, a fundraising ice cream crawl will be held with the top ice cream stores in the Cleveland area. She invited Crewse Creamery to participate in and be the “anchor” store from where the opening and closing presentations would be made. It will raise funds for the Children’s Hospital, for which Win’s father is an orthopedic surgeon. Thrilled, Win accepted on behalf of the family.

Later that day, Win went to see the Festival’s special Balloon Glow with “O”, a friend and law professor at a nearby university, when she heard someone scream, “I think she’s dead!” Kaitlyn was lying on the ground nearby, not moving, with her coffee cup lying on the ground. Yes, Kaitlyn was dead. Cameron, Kaitlyn’s boyfriend, saw Win, and cried out that Win did it. Huh? Later that night, Win and one of her best friends, Riya, who just finished her residency at Lakeside Memorial, learned from the pathologist that Kaitlyn’s death was not natural, but couldn’t tell her more than that.

They learned from an unexpected source that Kaitlyn was poisoned with the main ingredient in antifreeze. Cameron, who accused her of killing Kaitlyn, apologized and began coming to the Creamery every morning. He said he and Kaitlyn had planned to get married next month. He wants Win’s help to solve the murder. Win and best friends Riya and Maisie, who is recovering from chicken pox, had helped solve two murders in recent months. Win had been threatened by their killers and wants nothing to do with being a sleuth.

Win found something interesting at a local bookstore. She picked up a Chagrin Falls cookbook that had been made out to Grandma Kaylene. As she perused the recipes for Kaylene’s hot fudge sundae components, she saw someone had handwritten in the book the amount of antifreeze that was used to kill Kaitlyn. All but a couple recipes in the book had toxic additions handwritten on the ingredient lists.

Of the well-defined characters in the novel, I like Win the best. I’m not a big fan of Riya or Maisie, even though they are her best friends. I can almost see and hear PopPop throughout. Quincy, Win’s new teenage assistant, is interesting, and I hope to see more of him. I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Evan Hayes.

Maisie, Cameron, and even Kaitlyn’s cameraman each had their opinions of who the killer was. One person on my suspect list wasn’t even considered by them. Plot twists added rather than eliminated suspects. The cookbook with her grandma’s name in was a wild card with the poison in the recipe, but they couldn’t find who had it last. Then the real killer had Win in sight and wasn’t going to let her go. Overall, I enjoyed this exciting cozy mystery with two of the best food groups – ice cream and coffee – and a challenging mystery. The ending was satisfying, and I’m looking forward to the next novel. I highly recommend it, and the first two in the series, as well.

I really wanted to like this book but the beginning was boring and the end made no sense! [SPOILERS]

The heroine spends the whole book saying she doesn't want to solve the murder and then....she doesn't? She just discovers that a suspect has a grandfather who has a book of poisons, and then he confesses? Because I guess it was really suspicious that both grandfather and grandson knew about poisons? It made no sense, sorry.