You just have to love a book with Christmas and candy in the title, although in this case the word "killing" is also in the title. This was a fun a mystery. It was a little slow in the beginning but it picked up steam. Alex and Hannah are identical twins and they own Murder and Mayhem Bookshop (love the name). While Hannah runs the bookshop, Alex makes their famous poison-themed chocolates known as Killer Chocolates with names such as Belladonna Black Currant and Strychnine Strawberry. As with all cozy mysteries set in small towns, I enjoyed reading the names of some of the businesses. One of my favorites (besides Murder and Mayhem Bookshop) was Cookies 'n Crumbs which was a bakery in town. Of course you have to have your amateur sleuths as well. They were known as the Sleuth Club. When their leader is found dead, they are on the job! I could almost smell the chocolates cooking. Some of the descriptions of the chocolates will make you long for Christmas and make your mouth water! I also like the banter back and forth between the sisters. They were quite obviously very close, but they enjoyed each other's company. There are some wonderful recipes included in the back of the book as well. This was a clean book with mystery and suspense. Just looking at the book cover will pull you into the book!

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Twins are so special and I love the relationship between Alex and Hanna. I also enjoy reading about nosy, fisty older ladies, especially since I guess I could be classified as one of those older ladies. Can’t let young folks have all the fun. I’ve always loved the relationships between the younger and older generations, no matter which end I am/was on. I loved this story line. It was interesting when Alex was trying to find out the backgrounds of her fellow villagers. Are you an open book? Another character I just adore is Miss Watson. Couldn’t ask for a better friend that her. I hope I get to go back and visit with this group of new friends again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Loved this one! All new cozy series with interesting new characters and exciting mystery. By the middle of
this book, it was a comfortable feeling, like I was reading a book in a series I’ve reread many times. I can’t wait for the next one in this series.

Book 1 in the new Killer Chocolate series. Good characters and setting. I love the idea of a book store connected do a candy store. All the chocolates get killer names. When Alex the owner of said store finds her neighbor Jane, dead she becomes a prime suspect. Jane had invited Alex over to convince her that a killer featured on tv was living in their small town. Jane was right but how do they find the killer.

I enjoy reading cozy mysteries, especially those with a holiday theme. It's even better when the book is the first in a new series and from a new-to-me author! When I saw this book available for review, I jumped right on it. Had to read it!

Felt a little weird reading a Christmas theme cozy in August.....but just thinking about Christmas and snow and the holidays somehow made the afternoons feel a little less blazing hot. I even made a cup of cocoa at one point because the book kept mentioning chocolate. Had to have some!

The basics: Murder and Mayhem is a mystery bookshop owned by twins, Alex and Hannah. Just before Christmas, murder becomes something real and not just something in the books they sell. One of their neighbors is killed and one of the twins is a suspect!

This is a fun, entertaining read! I like the characters, the basic premise, the idea of a mystery bookshop, the plot -- I just had a fun time reading this story in general! The mystery progresses at a nice pace. There is a good amount of amateur sleuthing and surprises along the way. Great start to a cozy series!

I will definitely be reading more of this series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

A CHRISTMAS CANDY KILLING is the first book in the brand-new Killer Chocolate Mysteries by Christina Romeril.
I liked the concept, the killer chocolate names, the twists and turns, and the recipes at the end of the book.

This was great! It is based on the child crying wolf. No one wants to believe Jane could have figured out who the killer on the true crime shop and that the killer was in their community.
I look forward to the next book by this author.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

A Christmas Candy Killing is a fun book that includes many elements I love--bookshop, chocolate, small town, Christmas. Twin sisters own the bookshop that also sells homemade chocolates named after poisons--Strychnine Strawberry, Candy Cane Coniine, Veronal Vanilla Creams. When a townsperson is found murdered, one of the sisters, Alex, makes it her mission to solve the crime before Christmas.

The town is full of gossips who are more than willing to inadvertently throw red herrings at both the actual criminal investigation as well as Alex's more personal investigation. Lots of references to yummy food in addition to the chocolate permeate the story, and the novel ends with recipes for making wonderful chocolates at home.

I thought this story sounded perfect for me, but I struggled with the rollout of the investigation. It pushed the boundaries of my ability to buy into multiple townspeople sharing their lives with a relative newcomer in town. But that may speak more to my urban life than to the book itself! It has many things that make it appealing to cozy mystery readers.

A Christmas Candy Killing was such a good cozy mystery!! I loved the setting Murder and Mayhem, a bookstore of all mystery/thriller books owned by twins Alex and Hannah where they also sell their own homemade specialty chocolates! I wish there was one of these in my town!! The characters were great too. Definitely a new series I'm sure I'll be addicted to!!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Christina Romeril for the E ARC of this book.
Alex and Hannah are identical twin sisters who run a lovey book and chocolate shop called Murder and Mayhem. The shop specialises in mysteries and the chocolates all have a poison theme.
Alex is friendly with their elderly neighbour Jane and is invited round to her house to watch an episode of a true crime programme, that Jane thinks shows that a member of their village is a murderer. However, when Alex arrives, she finds Jane’s died with a box of their chocolates beside her. Alex becomes the main suspect with the local Sherriff, especially when it is revealed that Jane benefits from Jane’s will. Another suspect is a local handyman. Alex has no choice than to investigate to clear her name. When she finds Jane’s journal, she has little time to find the truth before she could become a victim.
This was a slow burn plot wise. I liked Alex and Hannah, their shop sounded really nice and I could see myself visiting it. I liked the supporting cast of characters and what they brought to the story. If you are looking for a Christmas cosy, maybe this could be one for you.

Alex and Hannah own a bookstore and candy shop in scenic Harriston, Montana and now they're also sleuths! Jane. a true crime fan who believes that there's a serial killer living in town is murdered and Alex is the one who finds her- making her the prime suspect because there's also a box of the twins' "poison" chocolates on the scene- and this set is actually poisoned. Just as Alex thinks she's figured out the answer, there's another murder. It's a nice start to a new series with good world building and characters (including the dog). Very much a cozy, especially given that both books and chocolates are involved! Thanks to Netgalley for the arcs. Oh- and recipes!

This book is a really fun time. I loved the atmosphere and the mystery. I really enjoyed the writing as well. There wasn’t a time I was bored with this one and am really glad I got to read it.

3.5 stars, rounded down

Twins Alex and Hanna are preparing for the last-minute Christmas shoppers at their mystery bookshop that pairs books with poison-themed homemade chocolates. Jane, an elderly neighborhood friend avidly watches – and tries to solve – true-crime shows, and she shares her theories a little too freely. When Jane is found murdered, Alex is among the sheriff’s top suspects, so she and Hanna set out to learn who is actually the killer.

This is the first book in a new series by a new-to-me author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I liked the setting of a small town in Minnesota, and the author did a great job in describing late December in the northern Midwest.

I am undecided about the book’s apparent recurring cast of characters – there seem to be quite a few gossips in the group, which will, of course, be helpful to Alex when attempting to solve future crimes, but it makes me wonder why people tell them so much. Several characters’ secrets were revealed in this book, so I wonder what will be left to reveal in additional books in the series.

The mystery was good, with a few suspects to consider, and my list kept changing as the book progressed. I figured out the motive before it was revealed, but hadn’t quite figured out the identity of the killer, although I wasn’t very surprised when that was revealed. If there is another book in this series, I will read it to see what happens next.

A Christmas mystery involing chocolate. Alex and Hannah bookstore and murder of Akex friend Jane that leads to another murder and serval mysteries.
Good story, like all the name of chocolate after poisions.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I did not finish this book. It did not appeal to me, and I usually like cozy mysteries. The author threw way too many characters at you in the first chapter and I just didn't care enough to keep reading. Not my cup of tea, but it may be someone else's.

This was the nice start to a new series. I very much enjoy the reading about the poisoned candies. I look forward to reading the next one.

This debut cozy culinary mystery was filled with tasty treats and murder. Alex and her twin sister Hanna moved to this small Montana town and opened a Mystery Bookstore that also sells homemade chocolates.

When one member of the book club hosted by the store is found stabbed to death in her home, Alex begins to look into the case. Jane was a friend of hers who frequently thought that people living in her town might be criminals hiding from the law. Jane was a devoted watcher of true crime shows. This time she is sure of herself. Before she could tell Alex who she suspected, she was murdered. The two main suspects are a local handyman with a secret past and Alex who is, unknown to herself, the beneficiary of Jane's will.

To keep herself off the suspect list, Alex begins to look into anyone who might have wanted Jane dead. She finds a number of suspects and a number of people who are determined to keep their pasts secret.

I enjoyed this story and found Alex an interesting character. She is long-divorced and not really looking for a new relationship though she is concerned that she will have a lonely old age. I liked the bookstore and the intriguing chocolates named for various poisons. There are recipes at the end for two of the chocolates and their fillings which are way beyond my culinary abilities.

I thought the plot was well-written. As the story went on, I began to suspect who the killer was and was pleased to be correct. Fans of culinary cozy mysteries will enjoy meeting this new sleuth and look forward to her further adventures.

A Christmas Candy Killing is a good Christmas mystery read who will appeal to cozy mystery readers . Christina Romeril has written her first debut novel which takes place in a mystery bookshop that is owned by identical twin sisters that sell their famous poisoned- themed Killer Chocolates. If you are a fan of Joanna Fluke as I am, you will definitely need to read this debut series , A Christmas Candy Killing. Bravo Christina and thank you for a great debut novel.🙋‍♀️🇨🇦🥰👏 Thank you NetGalley for this early E-book arc copy.🙏

What a deliciously, delightful read! A Christmas Candy Killing is a cozy mystery surrounding sisters who own a bookstore and candy store. They have an extremely clever twist on their store: they sell mystery books and "poisoned" chocolates, or rather gourmet chocolate named after poisons.
When bodies begin dropping, the sisters much find the killer before it is too late. With a few twists and turns, I was kept guessing until the end. I loved the characters and the storyline. When I finished, I was definitely left wanting more!! A great read and one that I recommend for cozy mystery lovers!

A CHRISTMAS CANDY KILLING is the first book in the brand-new Killer Chocolate Mysteries by Christina Romeril. From the darling mystery book and chocolates shop, Murder and Mayhem, to the “killer” chocolates named after deadly poisons used in murder mysteries (Ricin Raspberry Creams anyone?), to the identical twin sisters, of a certain age, who run the shop, this new series has an appealing premise. The main protagonist, Alex, runs the bookshop while her sister, Hanna, creates the poison-themed chocolates. The core characters are well-developed and I enjoyed seeing the interaction between the two sisters. Sometimes, in a new series, the details of getting to know the setting (which is in picturesque Montana), the townspeople, and the personalities, can slow down the plot just a bit. But I still found the storyline enjoyable with a solid mystery to solve, and it whet my appetite to read more in the Killer Chocolate Mysteries now that the foundation has been laid.

When the organizer of the Sleuth Book Club is found murdered by one of the chocolates, Alex is thrust into the role of suspect. Using (non-poisonous) chocolates from the shop, Alex tempts townspeople into talking to her. The victim had confided in her, without naming names, that she suspected a murderer featured on a true crime show was now a resident of the town. Ms. Romeril weaves in researching the past and piecing together who might fit the bill. Needless to say, some of the secretive townsfolk aren’t happy with the implications and having their past brought to light. I greatly enjoyed the potential love interests between the sisters and the two men who supported their investigation and were good sounding boards. The reveal was quite suspenseful, no matter that I had a strong suspicion who the culprit was. The author wrote a heart stopping scene that kept me engrossed until I’d read the last page.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I always love a good cozy mystery set during the holidays. Unfortunately, Christina Romeril’s first novel, set during the Christmas season, fell short of my expectations. Set in Montana, the series focused on twin sisters (Alex and Hanna) who own a bookstore/candy making business, and whose friends begin dying as a result of real poison placed in their poison-themed chocolates. The author should have spent more time introducing the reader to the main characters, as well as to the place where the novel occurs. A cozy should make you want to visit the place where the mystery takes place and to get to know the characters. Humor is also important and there really isn’t any here. Without details that invest you in the story, reading the mystery feels like playing a game of Clue. 3.0 out of 5.0 stars.