A Christmas Candy Killing is a cosy holiday themed mystery that I loved. It had great characters, a great storyline and a great setting - I could not fault it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC.

OMG! What a fantabulous, completely engrossing and delicious (the killer chocolates are to die for! pun intended) cozy series debut. I absolutely loved and enjoyed reading every bit of this book. Be it the story telling, the characters , the mystery and chocolate-and-murder-themed cozy mystery - absolutely marvelous!

When Jane confided in Alex about a murderer in their village, Alex did not think that Jane would be the next victim. Jane had previously accused neighbors of being criminals so nobody gave it a thought when Jane said she recognized the murderer from a true-crime show. But this time, she was right.

Alex finds herself in the suspects list. The local sheriff wants to close the case before Christmas and a local handyman with a criminal record is arrested for the crime. But he claims innocence. Alex wants to prove her innocence as well as find Jane's killer. But this isn't as easy as eating a piece of chocolate, you see...

Alex and her twin Hanna juggle between managing the bookstore and solving the case. The list of suspects is long, after all, a few people were seen arguing with Jane on various occasions.

The identity of the killer was a huge shocker. This was a classic case of wolf-in-sheep's clothing. Alex comes face-to-face with the killer, not once but twice. The first time, she somehow managed to escape. The second time... um, well let's just say the killer was caught red-handed at the end.

I absolutely loved Christina's writing. A perfect and fantastic debut novel. If you are looking for a Christmas themed cozy mystery filled with chocolates and mystery, I recommend you to give Christina Romeril's A Christmas Candy Killing a try.

A Christmas Candy Killing is book #1 in A Killer Chocolate Mystery series by Christina Romeril.

Twin sisters Alex and Hannah own a bookshop and sell chocolate. Jane, Alex’s friend, asks her to come over the next morning because she wants to share something, but she has been murdered.

This is a great start to a new series. You can’t go wrong with chocolate and books and a murder mystery. The characters are interesting, the murder kept me guessing, and there are instructions and recipes for making non-poisonous chocolates at the end. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to the author, Cooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril is the debut of A Killer Chocolate Mysteries. I enjoyed this fun cozy mystery. We get to meet Alex and Hanna Wright. They are twins who own Murders and Mayhem which is a shop that sells books (mostly mysteries) and killer chocolates. I love that they name the chocolates after different poisons (very clever). I enjoyed getting to know the twins. There is a good cast of secondary characters. The story moved along at a steady pace. Alex finds herself at the top of the suspect list for the murder of a dear friend. Unfortunately, it is an election year, and the sheriff wants to make a quick arrest. Alex who has been reading mysteries since she was a child and belongs to the Sleuth Book Club is eager to solve the case. Alex gets assistance from her twin along with other Sleuth members (plus the ruggedly handsome next-door neighbor). They make a list of suspects and Alex sets up a murder board. One by one she works through her list until there is one person with no alibi. I enjoyed following the clues and solving the whodunit. There was a surprise or two along the way to the reveal. I did feel there was a little too much repetition of case details as well as information regarding Alex’s life (I got it the first time that she did not like banking). There are wonderful descriptions of the handmade chocolates (had me heading to local chocolate shop). I loved Alex and Hanna’s dog, Miss Marple. This was a good debut and I look forward to the next A Killer Chocolate Mystery. A Christmas Candy Killing is a mouthwatering tale with winter weather, delectable chocolates, a mysterious murder, a stubborn sheriff, rampant rumors, a cold case, and Christmas cheer.

This was a fun and festive book, full of mystery and lovable characters! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Why do cozy mystery sleuths always end up with the best jobs? Take Alex: along with her identical twin sister, Hannah, she acts as co-proprietor of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that serves up poison-themed chocolates. On the flipside, after her friend and fellow true crime enthusiast Jane is found murdered, the sheriff has a short list of suspects and Alex's name is right at the top. Not exactly a great trade-off for such a cool job.

Fortunately, author Christina Romeril in her debut cozy, A Christmas Candy Killing, has provided Alex with all the proper qualities to prove her innocence. She's smart and generally collected. Romeril has crafted a grounded investigator who relies more on logic rather than brute-forcing her way through a mystery. Plus, as someone ensconced in crime in both her personal and professional life, she has a theoretical knowledge of murder that translates to well-thought-out snooping. This isn't a cozy with explosions and whistles, but that makes the moments Alex does take a risk all the more pulse-pounding.

Yet it's not just a fun job and solid detective work that makes this a success. All of this would be for nothing if Alex didn't inhabit a fully realized, almost idyllic world—there's a murder on, after all. Where on earth could a shop made up of toxic-punned chocolates and books succeed? Montana, apparently, with an absolutely charming lot of locals ready to help and hinder Alex's prying. From unrequited love over freezer-burnt casseroles to a gossipy coterie of true crime buffs, Romeril has infused plenty of unique flavor to keep this new series going a good, long while.

Ultimately, A Christmas Candy Killing is a solid debut with the added bonus of featuring one of the best jobs in cozy fiction.

Chocolate, Christmas and Cillings (alright it should be killings but it doesn't have the alliteration thing going). Some of my favorite things. Well, the killings I like only in books. Good characters, plenty of twists, a very satisfying mystery, and even a touch of the holiday spirit. An excellent choice for a holiday read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good start to a new series. I liked the idea of a bookstore with chocolates and found the various names of their chocolates creative. The mystery was OK but I really hate when the MC doesn't actually go to work. The premise of the series is based on their profession - it's what cozies center themselves on - so when you're not actually there, then why mention it? I also didn't really connect with any of the characters and the writing. Whereas there was tons of description of places, several conversations that should have been detailed were glossed over, particularly one section very early in the book with the Sheriff where so much information could have been laid out in the conversation but it wasn't even covered. I may continue with the series but it depends on availability at the library.

This was a fun read. The book drew me in right away, kept me invested and guessing until the end with a bunch of suspects. I loved the premise of a bookstore & chocolate shop, I’d be there all the time! 🍫📚 Overall I loved this book and getting to know Alex & Hannah. Alex did a great job sleuthing and fitting all the pieces together. I can’t wait to see what she’s up to next!

A Christmas Candy Killing, book one of a new series.

I think the premise is a good one. A specialty store with a "murder" theme, a book club and a murder.

Unfortunately, there were just too many characters to keep straight and nothing really to distinguish them apart. I was constantly having to go back to remind myself who was who.

I didn't get a Christmas feel in this book or even a sense of a Montana life or atmosphere.

Also, and this is a small thing, Alex keeps referring to her weight/figure and after a while I was done with the fat shaming.

I won't be going forward with this series.

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first book in the A Chocolate Killer Mystery series by Christina Romeril.

A Christmas Candy Killing is an excellent beginning to a new series that I am looking forward to reading more books. This series is located in the quaint village of Harriston, Montana. Alex and Hanna are identical-twin sisters who have opened a handmade chocolate candy shop with a bookstore sharing space called Murder and Mayhem. Their specialty is chocolates whose names have the name of poison added, such as Belladonna Black Currant, Strychnine Strawberry, Poison Pear Ganache, and others. They also host the Sleuth Book Club, headed by a retired school teacher, Jane Burrow.

Jane asks Alex to watch a true crime program. Jane says the person in the show is living in Harriston. Jane adds that it would be someone who moved to town about years ago. When Alex arrives the following day, there is no answer to her knocking. Alex finds the door unlocked and enters, calling Jane’s name. When there is no answer, Alex starts searching the house and soon finds Jane’s body on the floor of her bedroom, having been stabbed. The police will have two suspects, Zach, a local handyman that Jane had used and has a coin collection that reportedly Jane had given him, and Alex, as the cause of death was found to be chocolates laced with poison from her shop. In addition, Alex was named in Jane’s will, getting half of her estate. To clear her name, Alex soon finds several people who moved to town about ten years ago and sets out to learn if any of them might have a criminal history. Alex wonders if the two deaths are related when a second suspicious death occurs. She knows she must find the killer before any more suspicious deaths occur.

Ms. Romeril does a wonderful job of developing believable and endearing characters. I would love to have them as friends, except for the killer. The story is well-written and plotted, moves at a good pace, and was hard to put down.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the delightful new series.

This is the first book in a new series which appears to have plenty of promise!

Sisters Alex and Hannah run a mystery themed bookshop called Murder and Mayhem. They also sell home-made chocolates which are in keeping with the theme, with fillings named after poisons often used in the literature like Strychnine Strawberry. (Clever and entertaining but seriously it would put me off eating the chocolates!).

When Alex's close friend Jane is found murdered Alex gets The Sleuth Book Club motivated to help discover the killer. It is a race against time when other people die or are threatened and even Alex herself has a narrow escape. Once or twice I thought Alex's actions were a little naive but then if everyone was smart all the time nothing dramatic would ever happen, and the story would be very dull.

A Christmas Candy Killing is far from dull and I would recommend it, especially for during the holiday season.

A Christmas mystery is a little more magical and what a perfect time to set the first book in this new series. The characters and plot are entertaining, the mystery intriguing, all delivered at a quick pace. The chocolates sound good, and the naming is so clever. A couple of the poisons mentioned I wasn't aware of and had to look up. I like them speaking German and discussing German recipes (don't see that much, if a character speaks another language it's generally not German), but written so any non-German speaker will understand. And the recipes! I'll definitely be trying those! Looking forward to the next book and many more from this new author.

The title and overall concept mixing Halloween and Christmas vibes with books and chocolates named after poison were very intriguing. At first I enjoyed the atmosphere but, sadly, soon after my interest in the plot dwindled away.

A Christmas Candy Killing combines fun elements to bring the reader a mystery to solve. Alex and Hanna are the main characters and twins. They live in Harriston, a fictional town near Echo Lake in Montana. Alex left a career in finance to open a bookstore that specializes in mysteries. To add a special something Hanna makes chocolates and they have a special line for the bookstore that include a poison in the name.
When Jane, Alex’s friend and fellow lover of true crime television, is murdered, Alex starts asking questions. Hanna was more of a supporting character as Alex drives all the action.
Alex overlooks a villager who seemed like a good suspect to me, and I knew this person was the murderer long before it ever occurs to Alex to wonder about them.
All the parts of the book are interesting, but the length feels a bit long.
I enjoyed reading A Christmas Candy Killing and recommend giving it a try if you like mysteries, books, chocolate or Montana.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this book prior to publication.

Alex Wright decides to move to Montana and open a mystery bookshop. She convinces her twin sister, Hannah, to join the business. Hannah is an expert chocolate maker, and her specialty is poison-themed chocolates. They are the perfect item to sell in a mystery bookshop. Their customers love them.

It’s almost Christmas, but a friend of Alex’s has a real-life mystery to share with Alex. Jane Burrow’s is a devoted fan of a true crime show and always spreads her theories about the latest culprit. She is sure the latest subject of the television show now lives in their little village. She invites Alex to view the show to get her opinion. Unfortunately, Alex never gets to watch the show. Instead, she finds Jane’s dead body with a box of chocolates.

The sheriff immediately picks two suspects and doesn’t seem to be interested in anyone else. One of those suspects is Alex. With the help of her sister and their friends, Alex sets out to find the real killer and clear her name.

This is the first book in a new series. I always love getting in on the ground floor of a new series. This one started off a bit slow for me as the author introduced the characters. However, the mystery begins early in the book and, once it did, I was completely engrossed in it.

Alex is a strong character who doesn’t back down, not even after her sister begs her to. I really liked both Alex and Hannah. They work well together. Sometimes it was difficult for me to keep all the other characters straight as there are quite a few, but they all had their purpose…some nicer than others.

I found myself quite intrigued with a storyline that revolves around a true crime episode, which could possibly come to life in this small town. The storyline took many twists and turns. Several red herrings are thrown into the mix. There are quite a few potential suspects. I narrowed it down to two and I actually figured it out before Alex.

Overall, this is a good start to a new series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book and revisiting these characters.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril is the first book in Killer Chocolate Mystery series.

I really liked the premise of chocolate shop/bookshop and two sisters solving murders. The book is set at Christmas, but truthfully it wasn't so atmospheric ,as quite understandably main heroine wishes for warmer weather, but on the other hand it lacked that holiday vibe.

The characters are numerous and at times I wasn't sure who was who and who did what, but most of the time had no trouble following the story.
Main heroines are very likeable, smart and down to earth. Nevertheless they sometimes do silly things which I am not a fan of.
The tale was pretty absorbing and I kept reading although it was a bit dragged out especially at the middle and there are some in my opinion unnecessary repetitions.
However, the story is rather compeling and I enjoyed reading it. I am also looking forward to the next installment to see how things progress as this is a interesting blend of cozy and romance set in the small town.

This was such a fun Christmas read! I'm a summer fan who's simply ready for Christmas once summer's all over. I could ideally skip fall aka allergy season lol, and this helped put me in a good Christmas mood. I really liked these sisters who were different enough but still enjoyed sleuthing together, although it was usually Alex doing the legwork since Hanna was the chocolate maker and felt she needed to stay put. The people making up their circle of friends were just so awesome it made me wish I could be friends with them too, like Maggie and Drew, bless his li'l hypochondriac heart anyway lol. The store was so cool too with the poison-named chocolates and the bookstore selling just mysteries.

That sweet doggie Miss Watson reminded me so much of the adorable boy who looked just like a Staffordshire that we fed over Labor Day, and her adoption story was similar. (Happy ending: the dog we helped has his forever home with someone now). Watson was super gentle but boy, when Alex needed her in action, Watson made her proud!

I'd sorta suspected someone from when clues just started to click, but it was definitely before Alex had the idea. She and Watson were holding their own in the showdown, but the help from a couple friends was very appreciated too. Hopefully one of said friends might be thinking in terms of being more than friends with Alex.

And the end was a little bit funny and a little bit sad for Duncan who'd broken up with Hanna a while back but still liked hanging out with her. He realized he might not be the only guy interested in her now! And a refreshing change from the MC getting a triangle--I think I could handle it better for a secondary character. I'm definitely eager to read the next book which does have a GR title listing only, but I'm waiting until there's a cover picture to add it to my WTR. I'm just weird like that lol. Don't miss this awesome embodiment of all things expected in a cozy mystery when it releases October 11!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I gave A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril four stars.

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. But now, there’s a real killer in their midst. Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village. Unfortunately, she’s also shared her suspicions with town gossip Netta. The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane’s house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby.

The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane’s will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene. But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects—townsfolk who’d recently been seen arguing with Jane.

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When I read the book blurb I felt so eager to pick it up. A murdered from a true crime show who want to keep their identity a secret. It sounded like an amazing plot. And it was! I really enjoyed reading this debut novel by Christina Romeril. The characters are well developed and relatable. The mystery was intriguing, but I did figure out whodunit almost halfway through the book. However, I was biting my nails and couldn't put it down until I had finished the last page.

I really adore a holiday themed cozy mystery and this book didn't let me down in that aspect either. Christmas carols, food and lots of snow. It put me in a festive mood, even if it is October.

This book comes out October 11th.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Death by chocolate is the theme and marks the start of a new cozy mystery series set in a small town in Montana. Twin sisters Alex and Hanna run Murder and Mayhem, a duo of mystery books and chocolates. Alex is in charge of the books store and Hanna is the creator of poison themed chocolates. Only the name is deadly not the product until a woman dies from a poisoned chocolate and the police focus on Alex. Knowing full well that her sister is innocent and feeling that the police are not going to figure out who the killer is, Alex and Hanna set out to get answers. It seems that somebody in town has a dark past and that secret is worth killing for. Small town gossip is the sisters best investigative tool.
Besides the draw of books and chocolate, the main characters of Alex and Hanna are middle aged. Add the small town in Montana, a nice supporting cast of characters and a good dose of humor and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.