I enjoyed this cozy. Hannah and Alex are twins who run a bookshop called Murder and Mayhem. They offer homemade chocolates with names of poison (no actual poison in the candy!). After book club, and elderly friend tells Alex she thinks there is a serial killer in their midst. She wants Alex to come over the next morning and watch a true crime TV show and see what she thinks. However, the next morning finds Alex's friend murdered. The sheriff zeroes in on two suspects: Alex and and handyman named Zack. Alex knows she didn't commit the murder and feels the sheriff is rushing to judgement. So Alex along with Hannah and some friends set out to gather data and see if they can figure out who committed the crime.

Thank you NetGalley for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
A Christmas Candy Killing is the first in a new cozy mystery series, and debuts Alex as our sleuthing protagonist. Alex and her twin, Hannah, own a mystery bookshop and chocolate shop called Murder and Mayhem in small town Montana. When Alex’s friend, Jane, is killed just a week before Christmas our story begins.
I truly enjoyed my time reading this book. The town is filled with a great variety of characters that make Alex’s job of sleuthing that much more interesting. The relationship between the two sisters is a pleasant core to the heart of this book. While I found that as I got closer to the climax it seemed as if the answer to whodunit was being screamed at me by the characters actions thus taking away a bit from the eventual reveal. However, overall this is a fantastic start to a new cozy series.

A secret almost exposed and the mysterious murder of a dear friend lead Alex Wright and her twin sister Hannah to discover who did it.

I liked it although I wasn’t captivated enough, I think there was too much to read and not too many things developed. I definitely want to learn more about Hannah, I found her more interesting than Alex. It wasn't Christmasy enough for me but overall, the idea of the book shop and the chocolates, the details of them and the surprise at the end of the book, the book club, all of that, and the interests of the elderly community, I find it most enjoyable.

I will read the next one.


Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

This was a simply delightful read. Romeril’s not only written a mystery with a nice balance of clues & red herrings that will keep you on your toes but has created a great bunch of characters you’ll fall in love with, especially the MC’s Alex and Hannah, who may be twins but are very much their own women. Also beware your mouth will water with all the yummy chocolate flavors described throughout the book and the scrumptious recipes included. Oh and if you like literary cozies, this will hit the spot since it takes place in a bookshop. This is the first book in the Killer Chocolate Mystery series and I can’t wait for the next.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just in time for the holidays, this is a fun mystery Twin sisters, Alex and Hannah, run a bookstore/candy shop and create special Chocolate treats with Killer names that the whole town really loves. Suddenly in this sleepy little town that is crime free one of the residents is murdered and Alex is considered a suspect since Jane was actually poisoned. Even though the police tell her to not get involved, she is intent on proving her innocence and identifying the real killer. Then there is a second death when another of the town members is found at the foot of her stairs. Is it an accident or something more? Join in the search for the killer and enjoy all the cozy treats along the way. The recipes at the end make it all worthwhile. I recommend this book for all ages.

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril is a fun cozy mystery set at Christmas time! This book includes some of my favorite cozy aspects: small town, cute dogs, bookshop and winter setting! There were a few plot twists which kept the mystery interesting!

This seasonal mystery will be a favorite, unfortunately it's not for me. Thanks for the digital review copy.

I was drawn to this book by the blurb and the premise.
It was an interesting story but was character heavy.
It was okay but not as good as expected.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Christmas and chocolate make the perfect recipe for a cozy mystery and A Christmas Candy Killing is delectable! Twins Alex and Hanna live in Harriston Montana where they own an unusual combination bookshop/chocolate shop. Each month the bookshop showcases a "Killer Chocolate" with a mystery novel (a unique and fun concept that had me instantly fall in love with the story) When a friend Jane is murdered a box of killer chocolates is the suspected weapon and Alex the prime suspect. Nosey, gossipy Alex sets out to clear her name as she slowly creates a suspect list. A fun, at times humorous mystery that had me guessing to the end. And there is an added bonus of chocolate recipes! I look forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this to cozy lovers! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
#AChristmasCandyKilling #NetGalley

First in a new cozy mystery series. Featuring Alex, a 45 year old who runs a bookshop/ chocolate shop with her twin sister Hanna (the bookstore is mystery themed and the chocolate have poison names- but are safe to eat*)

*unless someone wants to set Alex up for murder!

This book kept me interested the entire time, despite reading a Christmas book I am reading in July. I am invested in the characters and want to know more. Will a book be told from Hanna’s perspective? What did Tom want to ask Alex? What is the big surprise gift from their mom? And none of those even have to do with the mysterious murder!

Very engaging, I can’t wait for the next one!

Twin sisters living out my dream of owning a mystery themed bookshop/cafe while solving mysteries? Sign me up. I will live vicariously through their lives! God, that's why I love cozy mysteries so much!

When a friend is found murdered- the sisters must found out who did it! The plot was well done, I adored Alex, Hannah and friends. I am excited for more from this series.

This story had me at chocolate! An engaging tale that gets you in the mood for Christmas and all things sweet and sleuth related. I was hooked by the delicious sounding chocolate candies and the tantalizing tale of murder. Have you ever watched one of those Most Wanted shows and then thought that just maybe your neighbor wasn’t the person you thought they were? Nope, me either (thank goodness). Poor Jane, she so wanted to be a sleuth, and not just a member of Sleuth, the book club that meets at Alex and Hannah’s confections and mystery bookshop, instead she becomes the victim. Did she cry wolf one too many times? The town of seems to be filled with a slightly older demographic and I do believe that this is the first time that I have read about a 43 year old, single, sleuth. Single by choice following an early marriage that only lasted a year, Alex is a bit gun-shy, but maybe there is a little something to those looks that her neighbor Tom has been giving her. Tom is one of the few who are not on the suspect list, he’s a pastor and former prison warden after all, he is also a little older than Hannah, which is probably why she just isn’t sure, and since he has only been a widower for six months, she really doesn’t think that dating is on his mind…is it? There are plenty of other people on the suspect list even though Jane wasn’t a gossip, which is quite rare in the small town atmosphere; unfortunately, it still left a bitter taste in more than one mouth. As suspect #2, Alex is determined to find the real killer since the Sheriff is looking to wrap up this case in time for Christmas with as little effort as possible. Thank goodness she has Hannah (her twin) and a few other friends to help her. Plus, who can say no to a Christmas visitor who comes bearing chocolates in exchange for answering a few questions? Great gang of friends and each is decidedly different much like that box of Killer Chocolates. I cannot wait for the next one to come out and to try my hand at making chocolates, that way I can make some to snack on while reading the next Killer Chocolate Mystery.

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.

When Alex gets hold of Jane’s journal, she begins to understand the truth. But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year—and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

Absolutely loved this cozy mystery story! The plot had me hooked from the beginning! Love a good mystery that has me guessing throughout the book! This one will do just that!

Perfect mystery premise. Twin sisters leave their existing careers to open a bookshop + cafe, that specializes in mystery books and chocolates. One of their friends, Jane, is killed suspiciously. The investigation has lots of twists and turns.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane, for allowing me to read and review ‘A Christmas Candy Killing’.

Two twin sisters, Alex and Hanna, own ‘Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and Bookshop’. When Alex goes to a friend’s house and finds her murdered, the Sleuth Book Club turns their attention to solving the case, much to the chagrin of the local sheriff. The dead woman was intent on solving a cold case that was highlighted on a television show, so Alex, Hanna, and the group try to focus on possible suspects, while trying to prove the local handyman’s innocence.

There are several twists, turns, another possible murder, and several poisoning attempts, even using Alex and Hanna’s chocolates, even making Alex a suspect in the case. As the days to Christmas count down, the race is on to find the killer, before more people are killed.

Two sisters, Alex and Hannah, give up their previous careers to open a bookstore in a small town in Montana. Their bookstore specializes in mystery novels and wonderful chocolates. One of Alex's friends, Jane, is killed. Although well-liked and respected by most, she had a bad habit of seeing others in the town as killers in hiding. Usually, her suspicions died a natural death. But one didn't. The killer decided to murder Jane.

But it didn't stop there. Jane had shared information with a friend who became the second victim. But she had also shared information with Alex. As Alex gets closer and closer to figuring out whodunnit, the murderer comes for her.

This is a nice cozy mystery. The characters are well developed. But the author doesn't take us down numerous rabbit holes of irrelevant information like many of these novels can do. The characters are likeable. We look forward for more mysteries from the two sisters.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The amateur sleuth Alex and her twin sister Hannah did a great job. In this story they had a real important reason to find out who murdered Jan as Jane had invited Alex to watch True Crime show with her the next morning and Alex finds Jane in her bedroom stabbed to death.contrary to what Alex thought , Jane didn't have that many true friends. Read as to how they pick suspects and find out who killed Jane . I really didn't figure it out until almost the end.

Alex and Hannah are identical twin sisters, working together to operate a candy shop/bookstore in Harriston, Montana. They're still new to the small town, but Hannah's "poisonous" candy has drawn attention and Alex is keeping the citizens of this snowy northern town supplied with mysteries to keep their blood pumping through the long winter nights. But the peace of the little village is shattered when one of the oldest and dearest citizens dies a tragic death in her own home and no one knows who to suspect.

I will admit the first few page were a bit awkward for me and I feared I was in for a slog. Very quickly the pace picked up and I grew to really like the main character and her sister. There are lots of unique characters in this book and it was a bit of a change where all the players weren't either too nicey-nicey or too suspicious. I was able to pick out the killer pretty quickly, but there were plenty of red herrings to keep me interested.

The poisoned chocolates were a fun addition and the town was charming, I look forward to reading more books in the series and to "see" more of the town in books where the characters are able to spend time outside without freezing.

One thing to note is that this is Romeril's first published book, which bodes will for future books in this series and others. I look forward to seeing more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This book was very disappointing for me. I adore books with Christmassy vibes, and when I saw that this was Christmas and chocolate, I couldn’t say no!
But something felt off through the whole book. It didn’t feel like Christmas at all, thenI just found myself completely unable to relate or Alex. Picking up this book felt like a chore than something I couldn’t put down…